| General Election Thread 17:46 - May 22 with 260422 views | loftboy |
This will be the first election that I have no idea who to vote for, will never vote Tory again after the lies during covid where my dad lost his life, don’t trust starmer, would never vote for a bunch of racists like reform , anyone give me a clue?
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| General Election Thread on 22:20 - May 22 with 3286 views | derbyhoop |
I'll echo those who say you SHOULD vote. If you don't know who to vote FOR, vote for the candidate you find least objectionable. |  |
| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
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| General Election Thread on 22:25 - May 22 with 3262 views | slmrstid |
I would absolutely love it if following the election a proper PR system was properly implemented in this country and FPTP ditched. I'm a firm believer that compromise where you do the best for the most people as possible is the most ideal way to go, even if you have to sometimes compromise on your ideals, rather than the ridiculous divisive dogma we do see.
Leicester City is an island of red in a sea of blue in Leicestershire, although that said there were some interested council results in the county but I'm not convinced they'll be replicated in a general election.
It seems to be Labour's to lose but its such a huge majority the Tories have...we will see. |  | | |
| General Election Thread on 22:45 - May 22 with 3217 views | westlondonisRs1882 |
I’ve voted Labour all my life, but after what they did to sabotage Corbyn ( who it turned out was not ruthless enough to confront his internal enemies) I could never vote for Starmer and friends .
I’ll be voting for The Workers Party and hope for a coalition government ( which will frustrate all of them ) so they can keep off our backs and leave us alone. Come on you R’s 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵⚪️ |  | | |
| General Election Thread on 22:58 - May 22 with 3158 views | Hoopstar |
Lifelong Labour member, but living in Mid-Sussex constituency nowadays. Will be voting Lib Dem, a party I have never worked out what they stand for, but only party with a chance to oust this horrible and incompetent government. |  | | |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 23:00 - May 22 with 3150 views | Stainrod |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 22:03 - May 22 by Northernr |
My perhaps unhelpful contribution to this is that if you do go and write CNTS on your ballot paper, the candidates all see it.
Discovered this when I covered election counts. Spoiled ballot papers have to be agreed as spoiled by all parties. So they all line up there and get shown the spoilt ones and have to say "agree" or "object".
The reason being somebody might put a tick in one of the boxes, but write on the bottom "I hate all these cnts but this is the one I hate the least". Officially it's a spoilt paper, but it's pretty clear who the person wants to vote for. So the 'less cnty' party would want to object and claim that one. But it does of course mean that they have to stand there for 15 minutes or so being shown multiple bits of paper that people have written NONSE on. Which was always quite amusing.
Anyway, unrealistic to think we won't have a general election thread so here it is - please just keep it respectful of each other as QPR fans. |
It is fine to spoil your ballot as long as you understand a) it is a deeply conservative (small c) action because you are basically saying that altho’ you are mildly pissed off you have no plan, idea or motivation to do anything about it, and b) the candidates who do see that just think “what a c@nt”.
I don’t really get the faux sophisticated / cynical “they are all as bad as each other” argument. It’s either advanced by people who are either a) lazy and can’t be arsed to take responsibility for being a citizen and form a view or b) (not remotely saying this is the case with you, clearly) too thick to have an opinion but it makes them look passably intelligent | | | |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 23:04 - May 22 with 3140 views | Stainrod |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 23:00 - May 22 by Stainrod |
It is fine to spoil your ballot as long as you understand a) it is a deeply conservative (small c) action because you are basically saying that altho’ you are mildly pissed off you have no plan, idea or motivation to do anything about it, and b) the candidates who do see that just think “what a c@nt”.
I don’t really get the faux sophisticated / cynical “they are all as bad as each other” argument. It’s either advanced by people who are either a) lazy and can’t be arsed to take responsibility for being a citizen and form a view or b) (not remotely saying this is the case with you, clearly) too thick to have an opinion but it makes them look passably intelligent |
And to be clear I’m not calling any individual on here “thick”. I just think whatever your politics (left, right or centre) it does MATTER - it’s not overly dramatic to say some people will live and others will die as a result of how people vote. At the very least some peoples’ lives will be demonstrably better/ worse according to the result of a general election. | | | |
| General Election Thread (n/t) on 23:29 - May 22 with 3091 views | ScubaHoop |
[Post edited 22 May 23:31]
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| General Election Thread on 23:30 - May 22 with 3083 views | ScubaHoop |
Born in 1977, from birth until I was 20, Tories Tories Tories, enriching themselves and shitting in the rest of our hats. Then for over a decade it was an oasis of competent and even occasional compassionate government. Followed by the most incompetent, cynical, corrupt, morally repugnant 14 years of this ever diminishing return? How many prime ministers is it now? Labour is not perfect. I went on marches against the Iraq War, the way the deregulated gambling is literally appalling but holy mother of God unless you're actually Micheal Gove (qpr fan) how anyone could bring themselves to vote for the conservstives is beyond me. Vote your conscience. Vote Labour. | | | |
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| General Election Thread on 23:41 - May 22 with 3063 views | essextaxiboy |
| General Election Thread on 22:45 - May 22 by westlondonisRs1882 |
I’ve voted Labour all my life, but after what they did to sabotage Corbyn ( who it turned out was not ruthless enough to confront his internal enemies) I could never vote for Starmer and friends .
I’ll be voting for The Workers Party and hope for a coalition government ( which will frustrate all of them ) so they can keep off our backs and leave us alone. Come on you R’s 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵⚪️ |
Corbyn led Labour to a huge defeat . The majority of votes are left or right of centre. |  | | |
| General Election Thread on 00:26 - May 23 with 2991 views | E17hoop |
| General Election Thread on 23:41 - May 22 by essextaxiboy |
Corbyn led Labour to a huge defeat . The majority of votes are left or right of centre. |
Not quite right. The largest group - just over a third, identify themselves as centre-led. To move left of right is about a quarter of the electorate, and 1 in 6 don't know.
As Labour moved left last time they lost centre votes. The Conservatives have moved further right to appeal to their base and left the space open in the middle for Labour to retake the centre ground again.
It's interesting seeing the harder left attacking the centre; they see it as a sellout. However, it's the only way Labour will get into power. The desire to protest more than govern is strong in many on the far left.
Labour will win comfortably and if you can get anything other than an odds on bet pile on. Campaigning for 6 weeks might move 2-3% points but not enough to prevent a substantial win. The Conservatives will win 100-150 seats in total and be the largest opposition. However, expect Labour to win 470+ seats and a 150+ majority. [Post edited 23 May 0:30]
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| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 00:31 - May 23 with 2985 views | Match82 |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 19:25 - May 22 by stevec |
I’d like them to give us a ‘none of the above’ option. |
I suspect that they are worried that this option would carry the day Steve |  | | |
| General Election Thread on 04:06 - May 23 with 2899 views | SydneyRs |
The current government is an embarrassment and has been utterly incompetent for years. They simply have to go and the frankly incredible betting odds suggest it will be a deservedly disastrous outcome for them. | | | |
| General Election Thread on 04:41 - May 23 with 2883 views | PlanetHonneywood |
I think of it like this.....After the last 14 years and everything that's happened from: the outright demonstrable lies and abject bloody incompetence; trashing of our finances; people in power who were, at best, time wasters and at worst, leeches; to the sheer embarrassment that its been at times...means, I could never contemplate voting for five seconds much less five more years of Tony Fernandes!
In which case, for me at least, it would be unconscionable to ever think of voting for the Tories.
The fact that people are wavering is both a sad indictment of the state of politics and how the vested interests of the very few will seek to obfuscate the basic facts of the last 14 years to keep this nasty and pernicious lot in power!
The party of Boris Redknapp, Suella Barton, Jacob Wright-Phillips, Liz Beale and Pritti Dozzell can fcuk right off!!! [Post edited 23 May 5:40]
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| General Election Thread on 07:02 - May 23 with 2778 views | plasmahoop |
It's undoubtedly time for a change, but I can't see any advantage in labour being in government at all. Over the years they have evolved into the middle class public sector workers wellbeing party. Nothing will improve, but they'll just put taxes up even more. It's all Pretty depressing. I keep telling myself they can't be that bad, but I think they will. I could also do with living in a cave for the next couple of months so I don't have to listen to all the drivel | | | |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 07:03 - May 23 with 2779 views | Paddyhoops |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 22:03 - May 22 by Northernr |
My perhaps unhelpful contribution to this is that if you do go and write CNTS on your ballot paper, the candidates all see it.
Discovered this when I covered election counts. Spoiled ballot papers have to be agreed as spoiled by all parties. So they all line up there and get shown the spoilt ones and have to say "agree" or "object".
The reason being somebody might put a tick in one of the boxes, but write on the bottom "I hate all these cnts but this is the one I hate the least". Officially it's a spoilt paper, but it's pretty clear who the person wants to vote for. So the 'less cnty' party would want to object and claim that one. But it does of course mean that they have to stand there for 15 minutes or so being shown multiple bits of paper that people have written NONSE on. Which was always quite amusing.
Anyway, unrealistic to think we won't have a general election thread so here it is - please just keep it respectful of each other as QPR fans. |
Perhaps writing the C word on a voting paper is the wrong word to us e and for that I apologise. The point I was trying to make is that I would prefer that people make an effort to get to the polling station . The majority like myself will vote for a party. Some however will spoil their vote but I applaud their efforts in making a political point.
Lots of work colleagues complained about the result of the the London mayoral election.
Lots of them didn’t vote . I pointed out to them they had the power to affect the result but sadly for them didn’t take that option.
I’m all for keeping the debate civilised. Most of us are. | | | |
| General Election Thread on 07:14 - May 23 with 2769 views | dmm |
As Clive's given the green light to this thread, my tuppence worth...
I am another who won't vote Labour despite having always done so. And there are a lot like me. Most know the reasons why but, in a nutshell, it is because Starmer has shown himself to be an establishment man without principles who, along with his chums, is enthralled by the prospect of power. There are almost no socialist values directing Labours' course and they continue to drift to the right. Who knows where they'll end up?
This election is more about the rejection of the Tories than the election of Labour. And the massive majority Labour appears to be in line to get is not a good thing in an adversarial Parliamentary system. There will be a weak opposition and Labour will be able to do what they like. This is what we will get under our ridiculous and outdated FPTP elections.
However, I will vote because I believe in the hard won democracy that was gained through the blood sweat and tears of ordinary people. But I will do so with a heavy heart because the system will not and cannot represent my views in any meaningful way. |  | | |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 07:20 - May 23 with 2750 views | Northernr |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 23:00 - May 22 by Stainrod |
It is fine to spoil your ballot as long as you understand a) it is a deeply conservative (small c) action because you are basically saying that altho’ you are mildly pissed off you have no plan, idea or motivation to do anything about it, and b) the candidates who do see that just think “what a c@nt”.
I don’t really get the faux sophisticated / cynical “they are all as bad as each other” argument. It’s either advanced by people who are either a) lazy and can’t be arsed to take responsibility for being a citizen and form a view or b) (not remotely saying this is the case with you, clearly) too thick to have an opinion but it makes them look passably intelligent |
Yeh just to clarify I'm not in the 'they're all the same/as bad as each other' camp, and I won't be doing that with my ballot paper. |  | | |
| General Election Thread on 07:33 - May 23 with 2715 views | PlanetHonneywood |
| General Election Thread on 07:02 - May 23 by plasmahoop |
It's undoubtedly time for a change, but I can't see any advantage in labour being in government at all. Over the years they have evolved into the middle class public sector workers wellbeing party. Nothing will improve, but they'll just put taxes up even more. It's all Pretty depressing. I keep telling myself they can't be that bad, but I think they will. I could also do with living in a cave for the next couple of months so I don't have to listen to all the drivel |
You say putting taxes up, but there's a difference between approaching tax from a purely ideological bent, and having to put taxes up!
Yes taxes may have gone down under the Tories, but look at it in the wider context. The military has been massively underfunded and left exposed somewhat; education, which used to be free, is not; public services are dying on the vine and councils around the country are broke despite your counciltaxes going up; the NHS is in such a state, they have to charge you to park in their grounds; the care of elderly people is now on the person/family to find a minimum £4,000 per month; transport systems are decrepit after decades of underfunding; water is undrinkable because again, no investment; and pensions are such, that you're going to have to work longer.
Meanwhile, the tax burden has shifted on to poorer people and it cant be a coincidence that as the Tories tell you they're the party of lower taxation, people are paying for those tax cuts elsewhere and there is an ever widening wealth gap. | |
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| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 07:42 - May 23 with 2665 views | denhamhoop2 |
I had a look the fact Labour haven't even nominated a candidate yet in my area gives you a clue how likely anyone winning that isn't wearing a blue rosette is. I hate to say it but I may have to vote Tory first time in my life because having had dealings with Joy Morrissey on behalf of a neighbour who's wife needed to be moved from one care home to a better one for her found her to be excellent and her influence made all the difference.
My cousin also found her most pleasant to speak to when talking to her about stopping Marlow film studio project so I guess I am now a Tory voter | | | |
| General Election Thread on 07:42 - May 23 with 2667 views | NorthantsHoop |
I worked for the government for 36 years from the Thatcher administration to the May administration in 2017. The only real period of improvement and optimism was during the Blair years from 1997, development of New Deal through to say 2008 when the financial crash happened. Investment in projects, public services etc and better relationships with our European neighbours were at the forefront of policy. The Tories spent most of their time looking at dismantling and knocking the state, telling us all that they propose a tax cutting agenda when they know that is not a sustainable line when a growing country needs to be paid for. |  | | |
| General Election Thread on 08:03 - May 23 with 2628 views | stevec |
| General Election Thread on 07:33 - May 23 by PlanetHonneywood |
You say putting taxes up, but there's a difference between approaching tax from a purely ideological bent, and having to put taxes up!
Yes taxes may have gone down under the Tories, but look at it in the wider context. The military has been massively underfunded and left exposed somewhat; education, which used to be free, is not; public services are dying on the vine and councils around the country are broke despite your counciltaxes going up; the NHS is in such a state, they have to charge you to park in their grounds; the care of elderly people is now on the person/family to find a minimum £4,000 per month; transport systems are decrepit after decades of underfunding; water is undrinkable because again, no investment; and pensions are such, that you're going to have to work longer.
Meanwhile, the tax burden has shifted on to poorer people and it cant be a coincidence that as the Tories tell you they're the party of lower taxation, people are paying for those tax cuts elsewhere and there is an ever widening wealth gap. |
Except taxes under the Tories have actually gone up, the highest tax burden for the public in 70 years! Theyve been an absolute disaster.
Bottom line is Labour (1997-2010) and the Conservatives (2010-2024) have run this country into the ground.
Collectively they’ve all turned their backs on the industries that generate wealth for the country. The countries that didn’t make this mistake now hold all the cards. They have the financial strength to overwhelm us both economically and militarily and undoubtedly that day will come.
Could we fight a war like we did in 1939, not a chance.
We live in a critically weakened country that any time in the future could be overwhelmed either externally or internally.
Whoever gets in will carry us a little closer in this tragic direction. |  | | |
| General Election Thread on 08:20 - May 23 with 2569 views | Monkey_Roots |
I’ll hold my hands up and admit that I’m not the most politically-minded, but I am one of these ‘all as bad as each other’ types. I don’t trust any of them.
You back me, and I’ll give you a job… regardless of whether or not you’re right for it.
^^ This is how I see politicians.
I’m undoubtedly ignorant I guess, but I’ve got a lot more evidence to support my view than anyone that tells me that politicians care about me andthe country i live in, over their own ambition and agenda. Of course there are politicians out there that want to do right, but these are the minority IMO.
Our system is archaic and out of touch, and in a different world to the one I walk around in.
Just my opinion. |  | | |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 08:29 - May 23 with 2547 views | Gus_iom |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 19:04 - May 22 by QPR_Jim |
Once the manifestos are out, I like to do the vote for policies thing where you blindly select the policies you think are best without knowing which party they belong to. Normally gives me a good idea of who's at least talking the best game, whether they're able to deliver it is an altogether different conversation. |
Well, I could vote this time round but won't, as I don't feel it's right as I don't pay tax in the UK.
Last time I voted, it was on a local, single issue, the lot I voted for got in, and then went back on their promise on the issue I voted them in for. Manifestos should be a binding contract, as it is they are pointless.
Could never vote conservative, wouldn't vote for this Labour or corbyns iteration of it. I worry about the authoritarian left more then the right at the moment.
If I chose to vote and they had a candidate in my area, I'd vote SDP.
Labour and Conservative both seem like loose alliances of disparate groups at the moment, p.r would possibly make for more honesty on this issue, and give the smaller parties an opportunity to make a breakthrough and give more people an actual voice.
Over here, we'll be looking/worrying about how the next uk government views our vat rebate, and we might also get an influx of people looking to move over, again putting immense pressure on our housing stock. | | | |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 08:48 - May 23 with 2503 views | Esox_Lucius |
| First voted in 1985 as a naive 18 year old on 21:52 - May 22 by stowmarketrange |
My local Tory has turned into a labour mp and the locals aren’t happy,but he’s standing down at the election anyway.
I’ve written to him three times since he’s been our mp and he hasn’t replied to any of them.Funny though that he got involved when the Ipswich northern bypass was expected to go close to his mansion.
They could put pol pot in a blue rosette up here and he’d be elected.But I can’t see myself voting for Starmer’s Tory light brigade,so I’m at a loss at the minute.
Stevec’s none of the above looks like my preferred option. |
Vote for an independent candidate then. Especially someone who supports PR. That's the only way that UK politics can be overhauled. |  |
| The grass is always greener. |
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| General Election Thread on 08:55 - May 23 with 2479 views | GaryBannister86 |
| General Election Thread on 08:20 - May 23 by Monkey_Roots |
I’ll hold my hands up and admit that I’m not the most politically-minded, but I am one of these ‘all as bad as each other’ types. I don’t trust any of them.
You back me, and I’ll give you a job… regardless of whether or not you’re right for it.
^^ This is how I see politicians.
I’m undoubtedly ignorant I guess, but I’ve got a lot more evidence to support my view than anyone that tells me that politicians care about me andthe country i live in, over their own ambition and agenda. Of course there are politicians out there that want to do right, but these are the minority IMO.
Our system is archaic and out of touch, and in a different world to the one I walk around in.
Just my opinion. |
Yeah I have major issues with our politics. In the absence of a young tyro-type like Blair / whoever to inspire, I can't see how our politics system is moving forward. We want the best minds to run the country, but if you were a young genius right now, why exactly would you want to get into politics?
> MPs don't get paid enough to attract the best talent (or the problem then of the independently wealthy simply getting into it for the power)
> every single time an MP of any party is interviewed (pet hate of mine this - they are automatically treated as a liar, charlatan, tested and tricked by the interviewer rather than let them get their point across. I know some MPs are charlatans and do deserve this, but the rest don't)
> maybe because of the above it's getting ever more dangerous
> For me, this all skews opinions on them. Personally I thought May was a dreadful PM, yet her work since leaving the job shows - whatever you think of her politics - that she generally does want to serve the people. Always telling when an ex-PM works just as hard on the backbenches afterwards I think.
I know there are good people who want to "serve the people" and "change the world", but we still need our brightest minds running our country. I can't see how our system encourages that. |  | | |
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