Voting for the same party

[Burnsy2023]

Although policies change, the overall political stance and beliefs don't change that much. Conservatives are likely to appeal to the same demographic over the medium/long term and that's the same for most of the parties.

If you're a labour supporter, you're likely to be more socialist than a conservative supporter (obviously that's relative, I wouldn't call labour socialist per se) and therefore you're likely to support more of the labour policies and more likely to object to more of the conservative policies.

Some people find particular policies especially objectionable from their own parties and may change, but these tend to be more fringe supporters.

I personally think that parties aren't necessarily good for democracy due to party whipping but it's not surprising that people will vote for the same party for their whole life.

 

[Judgeneo]

Thanks. I'll file your opinion under 'Recycle Bin'.

Its because this is the response of so many voters that people belligerently stick to voting for the same party time and time again

If you're right, Labour don't stand a chance!

Indeed

 

[ElliorR]

I gave up with Labour after Blair's first 5 years as that's when they became the same as the tories. Now I pick the party that most represents my overall view if one is available and at the recent local/euro elections I voted Green even though I don't agree with everything they say.

 

[AndyCroft1982]

All Ed Milliband does is waits for Cameron to say something and then he criticises it but never actually gives a solution.

 

[Sliver]

It's people like you that are the problem.

Really. I would refute that. But what's the point. I think conservatives of any stripe are the problem. I'm sure you would refute that.

We're never going to agree. Just cast your vote at the election and I'll cast mine.

 

[AndyCroft1982]

I gave up with Labour after Blair's first 5 years as that's when they became the same as the tories. Now I pick the party that most represents my overall view if one is available and at the recent local/euro elections I voted Green even though I don't agree with everything they say.

This is exactly what everyone should do in a democracy, its the point i was trying to make. You should vote on current policies not a party you think you should be affiliated to because of generalisations or your back ground you from

 

[Duke]

The UK switches between overspending / throwing money about like there's no tomorrow (Labour) to got to save every penny / taxed up to the hilt (Conservative)

Almost correct - Conservative support a small non-nannying Government with low taxes. Labour tax, borrow and spend until they run out of other people's money.

 

[scorza]

Labour are not the same labour of the 80's anymore, hence why they are trying to dissassociate themselves from the unions.

I grew up in the 80's, my mum was a single mother bringing up 2 children on her own whilst holding down a low paid job. We were much better off under a tory goverment than that of a labour one because she chose to work.

Obviously everyone had different stories to tell but that was 30 years ago, political parties are totally different to what they were. You should base your views on current events not what happened 30 years ago.

I certainly agree that Labour aren't the same party of the '80s - when people tell me that the Labour screwed the economy I tell them that we haven't had a Labour PM since Callaghan.

I do think however that there's still a significant element within the Parliamentary Conservative party that are still "the nasty party" and it's these guys that worry me - some of them even get into ministerial positions today (Gove, Fox, Maude to name but a few).

 

[RDM]

Really. I would refute that. But what's the point. I think conservatives of any stripe are the problem. I'm sure you would refute that.

We're never going to agree. Just cast your vote at the election and I'll cast mine.

What you don't seem to understand is that he isn't criticising your political views but the blind adherence to a party. The same criticism equally applies to someone who always votes blue.

You say you are a liberal and yet support a party that was instrumental in bringing in or attempting to bring in some of the most authoritarian laws we have seen in recent years. ID cards, DNA database, RIPA and the list goes on.

As I said, you either don't know what liberalism is or you don't know what the Labour party supports.

 

[scorza]

All Ed Milli******* does is waits for Cameron to say something and then he criticises it but never actually gives a solution.

You mean that he does his job as Leader of the Opposition? That's pretty much all Cameron did in the same role until about 6 months before the 2010 GE.

 

[Efour]

If you're right, Labour don't stand a chance!

me either.. I have voted in 3 general elections and i've voted lab con and lib....

They are all liars.

 

[RDM]

I do think however that there's still a significant element within the Parliamentary Conservative party that are still "the nasty party" and it's these guys that worry me - some of them even get into ministerial positions today (Gove, Fox, Maude to name but a few).

How does Gove get on to that list? His attitudes towards homosexuality certainly aren't old school conservative and a lot of the reforms he has done in education are long needed (though the pace of change is certainly a problem).

 

[Amp34]

Couldn't agree more. I'm happy to be called selfish and jealous. Really doesn't bother me.

Good,. So now you understand how silly generalisations are, especially when laced with bias?

Manifestos are meaningless. The current coalition has highlighted how much worth you can place in these Wish Lists that they are using to attempt to win over the public. Lib Dems and Tories showed this beautifully - neither represented themselves true to their manifestos.

Many of both wish lists were carried through. Not all but that's understandable. What I never understand about many lib dem supporters is how they are disgusted with the way they have acted in the coalition. The Lib dems are a minor member of the coalition yet have managed to push through a number of promises on their manifesto and stopped a number of the more draconian conservative promises on their manifesto. All in all a win win for the lib dems, even if they didn't manage to get many of their promises enacted (but that's understandable, they weren't elected in).

 

[AndyCroft1982]

You mean that he does his job as Leader of the Opposition? That's pretty much all Cameron did in the same role until about 6 months before the 2010 GE.

Maybe the oppostion could say how they would fix the problem, rather than just resort to name calling?

 

[Sliver]

Maybe the oppostion could say how they would fix the problem, rather than just resort to name calling?

All parties are guilty of name calling. It's called politics. Throw enough mud at your opponent and eventually some of it will stick.

 

[Jokester]

Maybe the oppostion could say how they would fix the problem, rather than just resort to name calling?

It's not great* to give the party in power potentially vote winning ideas.

* from the oppositions point of view.

 

[AndyCroft1982]

All parties are guilty of name calling. It's called politics. Throw enough mud at your opponent and eventually some of it will stick.

So what you are saying is that because all of them do it thats it is acceptable and should carry on?

 

[AndyCroft1982]

It's not great* to give the party in power potentially vote winning ideas.

* from the oppositions point of view.

was just about to say something then your edit popped up lol

 

[Sliver]

So what you are saying is that because all of them do it thats it is acceptable and should carry on?

Erm, no, I believe that is what you just said.

 

[Tute]

In my mind that is crazy and would vote for the party that i agreed with their policies at that perticular time.

Their policies aren't binding though. The manifestos mean nothing.

I always tell myself that I should vote. It's important to in my opinion. But why does every party have to make it so difficult?