Help me decide who to vote for?

[JazzyJelly]

In the local elections.

I'm generally quite left-wing. I've previously voted for every left-wing party standing in my area: Labour, Lib Dem, Green, and TUSC. I was a Labour Party member for years.

I'm also a woman (TM) and my sex-based rights are the most important issue to me. TUSC are full self-id like Green and the Lib Dems, with Labour wishy-washy at best (looking at you, Mr 'most women don't have penises').

I'd love to vote for the Communist Party, who understand and support material reality, but unfortunately they're not standing in my area. This leaves the Tories, who I never thought I'd vote for, but Kemi Badenoch has been clear and really quite brave on this issue. I'm hugely conflicted.

Reform are also standing, but they're WAY too far right for me.

Am I going to have to spoil my ballot again?

You are better off contacting all the candidates and asking them about their views on the recent Supreme Court ruling and other issues that are important to you.

It's up to you to gauge which candidate seems sincere and hardworking and dedicated to their constituents.

Also look at previous election results to find out which parties are in close competition with each other - it's usually Labour vs Conservative so if you feel Labour should be 'taught a lesson' and the Tory candidate isn't too bad, then maybe vote Tory.

SDP are a much better alternative to Reform (if you are left leaning) but they may not have a candidate where you are.

Check out any independent candidates too. Personally, I'm sick of party politics and prefer to support independent candidates where I can.

Of course, if none of them appeal, then spoiling the ballot is always an option. Depends on whether you prefer to always vote from a principled standpoint or prefer a more pragmatic approach i.e. vote for the best of a bad bunch.

That's helpful, thank you. I will try messaging the candidates, though I do worry about sending the wrong message to whatever party they belong to even if they personally are supportive of women's rights.

Good shout on looking at which parties are in competition - I'm in the North, very working class traditional Labour land, but there's been a bit of a swing to the right in the last ten years or so. Won't vote Reform, so if I went down that route it would be Conservative.

SDP aren't standing where I am, no. No independents either, or my first shot would have been messaging them.

Agree with you on the party system! I imagine a nice, sensible local person could do quite well if they stood.

I voted Labour in the last election because I'd describe myself as centre left. They said enough to show they understood the need for 'safe spaces' and after the previous Tory governments I wasn't going to vote Conservative. There was also a danger that Reform could do well. I live rurally and we've had the same Conservative councillors for a long time. They do a reasonable job representing the community and, again, I am concerned that Reform will do well so I think, for the first time, I'll vote Tory. However, I haven't seen the full list of candidates so I'll check that first. I agree that individuals matter more than party at council level.

I should definitely be more aware of the individual councillors at my local level @Lovelyview, I imagine that makes it a lot easier.

I see where you're coming from on Labour, I'm just so disappointed in a party I very un-Englishly enthusiastically believed in.

I'm still kind of hoping Starmer will come out and say 'sorry ladies, was a totally craven misogynist there, obviously we'll support women's rights in the future' ahead of the vote, which would solve my problem!

I prefer using very neutral questions... Something like...
"I'm trying to decide which candidates align with my values and concerns before casting my vote. As such, I would be interested to know your thoughts on the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the Equality Act that has been all over the news."

It doesn't overtly signal your own personal stance, and leaves the ball in their court to answer as they see fit.

Another good shout @TheColourOutOfSpace, I did think they might just agree that the moon was made of cheese if I asked! I did send an email to my MP on Thursday to say how very pleased I was with the judgement, but he won't be up for election for ages and I'm not really expecting a response.