Thank god for an honest opinion. I haven't got a clue either. If there was an election tomorrow, I think I'd possibly vote Labour as they seem to have a clear direction whereas the Conservatives are in disarray. I think you've answered your own question really. Vote for who you think will make your life better or, at least, who you think will do most good. That's the sensible thing to do. I don't understand this picking a party and then sticking to it rigidly. They are there to do a job for you. It's like walking into B&Q and saying "I'm going to buy a hammer, my Dad always had a hammer. He swore by hammers, always saw him right, his hammer. So I'm going to buy a hammer" when what you actually need is a cement mixer. That's my motivation for posting on this thread. I know I'm wrong a lot of the time, I just find this "I'm a [insert party here]" attitude astonishing.
At the time of elections read the respective manifestos would be my best advice. Whichever resonates best with you, vote for the party putting it forward. Be aware though that depending where you live, then there's a chance your vote will make very little difference under the first past the post electoral system we have in place. For example, unless you live in Brighton, it's unlikely that voting for Green will result in a Green candidate being elected in your constituency so it could be considered a wasted vote if there is such a thing.
You're correct on the sides thing and I agree. However people do usually have an ingrained set of values and beliefs that one party will have historically represented better than another. There was room for switching between the parties when they all converged on the centre ground but when one or the other lurches to the more extreme ends of the political specturm then there is less scope for that. I've voted for several different parties, though admittedly not the Tories as their politics simply don't align with mine on the vast majority of issues.
People definitely do have a set of ingrained values and beliefs. I do think it's worth challenging your own beliefs though as that's the way to greater understanding. I do think it's always worth looking for another opinion on things and not following the generally accepted narrative. Often there is, what seems like to me at least, a more reasonable explanation or view of things. Most people's views vary over time and, despite their traditional images, the position of the parties oscillates too. It seems to me that it's better to tread your own path and then, when it comes to election time, vote for whoever is most aligned with your own views at that moment in time. I mean, if you tie yourself to one party, what do you do if their position is different to your own? Surely you don't vote for something you don't believe in just out of loyalty? I think a lot of people do though.
OBR Forecast coming next week. You'd imagine that's the last thing they'd want, but it's reported that Kwarteng has asked for it. Interesting.....
No idea how reliable this source is but it's interesting. Places the blame firmly on the mini budget and credits the BoE for the rally but also says there's a lot of unnecessary panic going on. https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/g...dollar-following-bank-of-england-intervention
Also hands up to being political thick - what to do if 100% for party A nationally , but 100% against useless MP of that party at local level and the B local candidate is looking good for his local ideas and promises ?
Vote for who you think is the best person for the job, regardless of rosette colour. Getting better people into parliament helps everyone.
I'm not saying I'm not politically thick by responding to this but I always understood that the idea was you voted for who you wanted to represent your area. And so the party that had the most people who were considered good enough to represent their area got into power. That's why I don't like the sound of PR because it's contrary to that idea. I know in reality it doesn't work like that anymore, but I think it's how it was originally intended.
The Conservative Party is its an institution governed by a cartel of Old Etonians who believe its their inherent right to Govern. These latest incompetents are merely pawns in the game, well intentioned but they wont be tolerated for long , just my opinion.
Fair enough. I don't personally have a problem with what school people went to. Eton doesn’t exclusively produce Conservatives,Tam Dalyell and Mark Fisher both went there, as did Guy Burgess. The idea that Eton prepares its pupils for high office seems like a good one to me- it means they are prepared from an early age to understand what is required.
I’ve thought about this and the Labour Party is the same now as it was before the Conservatives went tits up, just because Starmer has made a speech means knack all to me, they were s hit before the Tories blew it and they are still s hit now, they’ve changed nothing of note that can I see.
She's only there because her Eton predecessor was such a spectacular failure tbh ... ... which Eton product would you have preferred to Truss.