Tactical Voting

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Tue May 02, 2017 2:58 pm

My Town has been a bright shade of blue since time began. I will be voting against the sitting party, but is it worth the effort leaving the house ? I remembered the majority being a slender one.......in the past, so looked up the historical results and couldn't believe how close it had been some years, but always the Tories win.

Who should I vote for......all you clever people for maximum impact, given the previous results ? HERE

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Tue May 02, 2017 7:46 pm

Awhhhh pretty, you have a lot of jacarandas and wisteria in your town?

Post by **spot** » Tue May 02, 2017 11:57 pm

Bruv;1508836 wrote: Who should I vote for......all you clever people for maximum impact, given the previous results ?Strewth. That chap could be shown in full colour on the front page of the Kent Advertiser sniffing coke from a rent-boy's navel while stretched out in cami-knickers on the local War Memorial for the third time since Christmas and still get elected, nothing's going to shift him. You might as well vote for the Green Party to pay your respects, but you definitely have to cast a valid vote. It's proper.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed May 03, 2017 5:32 am

magentaflame;1508843 wrote: Awhhhh pretty, you have a lot of jacarandas and wisteria in your town?

Did you look up Ashford UK ?

Post by **spot** » Wed May 03, 2017 5:40 am

She's antipodean, the significance of Blue in this context passed her by.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed May 03, 2017 5:48 am

spot;1508845 wrote: Strewth. That chap could be shown in full colour on the front page of the Kent Advertiser sniffing coke from a rent-boy's navel while stretched out in cami-knickers on the local War Memorial for the third time since Christmas and still get elected, nothing's going to shift him. You might as well vote for the Green Party to pay your respects, but you definitely have to cast a valid vote. It's proper.

I have for some reason shaken the fellows hand, I am immediately washing my hands in Dettol, following your florid description.

Naturally lean very much to the left, I am not opposed to going for the Lib Dems, have switched previously, all to no avail.

I know the mother of the Labour candidate, who is a chubby young professional politician (which also repels me.....William Haig type....know what I mean ?)

Although not entirely against the Greens, a vote for them seems a total waste, UKIP is a a complete no-no.

So will probably revert to Labour this time, maybe Lib Dem.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Wed May 03, 2017 12:30 pm

I've always considered, as a working man, that voting Conservative is rather like punching yourself in the face. I have previously considered the Lib Dems but have been embarrassed by their last venture into real politics when they became the Tory's poodles. Just talking about UKIP makes me feel dirty. Pass me that Dettol Bruv !

I'd like to see the general voting population acquire the ability to disregard the lies and spin of the right wing press and actually take note of what Corbyn has to say. Makes complete sense to me unless of course, you are hypnotised by the drivel written by the Daily Mail, Express, Sun, Telegraph. Those billionaire owners don't want you to vote Labour. They'd lose too much. They'll go to any lengths to prevent the people voting for that reasonable Socialist. (He fell asleep on a train once you know. Outrageous)

It's Labour for me. A Labour Party without Dianne Abbott would be even better.

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Wed May 03, 2017 2:30 pm

spot;1508856 wrote: She's antipodean, the significance of Blue in this context passed her by.

Nothing gets by me. You just dont understand my humour base.

Post by **spot** » Wed May 03, 2017 2:31 pm

Snowfire;1508863 wrote: It's Labour for me. A Labour Party without Dianne Abbott would be even better.

Before the last election all six Cornwall constituencies were Liberal. After the election all were Conservative. To take them away from the Conservatives the only practical option is to vote Liberal. The Labour vote here will be artificially reduced by people ousting the Conservatives by the only means available. I'll be doing it myself. It's still not going to prevent a Conservative government in June but it might bring the majority down to a knife edge.

Jeremy Corbyn has my entire respect and support. I don't think he can kill New Labour and bring a united socialist party back into British politics but I appreciate his effort.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed May 03, 2017 3:38 pm

Looking at my local results over the years the swings have been amazing......back in 97 Labour peaked at 31 % behind Tories at 41 %.

I remember voting tactically one year only to find if I had voted for my first choice ( Labour) they might have won, if others had had the same thoughts as me......of course.

So it might just be us clever clogs tactical voters that deny us getting what we really want.

I am with you Snowfire, I would rather not vote than vote Tory, May has shades of Thatcher about her, David Davis makes my skin creep like Blaire used to.....and still does.

The only problem with Labour is they come across as starry eyed idealists, innocents abroad in the real world where bad guys really do live, and thrive. Where global bankers and corporations already have plans to avoid the possibility of any (to them) local irritations such as UK tightening tax loopholes. Plus Corbyn's ideal, of internationalism......workers of the world unite etc. in a time of growing nationalism is a worry too.......perhaps his obvious decency, honesty and consistency will sway it his way.

Thats it I have made my mind up....................Labour for me.

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Wed May 03, 2017 7:06 pm

The name Thatcher even puts a shiver up my spine...... dont mention THAT politician.

So you guys are voting so May can exit the EU ligit?

Post by **LarsMac** » Wed May 03, 2017 7:26 pm

You kind of have to just vote your own way, and hope that other folks see the wisdom of the same choice.

Trying to make a tactical call at an election never really works out, from what I have seen.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Thu May 04, 2017 3:24 am

Thankfully I have a fourth choice. The result of the last election was amazing no one expected such a landslide - the last tory in scotland won with a majority of 798 whether he will keep his seat or not is interesting. the remaining labour and lib dem MP's have their coats on a shoogly peg to use a descriptive idiom peculiar tro these parts. Labour have basically commited suicide and still can't handle having a woman leading the scottish party.

If corbyn had said labour would havee another referendum on the eu I think they would wipe the floor with the tories as it is at least half the voting public won't vote for either party but what choice is there? The lib dems don't exactly have a good record I can't see their core support coming back any time soon.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu May 04, 2017 6:42 am

What a load of sh1te we have to choose from ?

Don't know if as I get older I get more cynical or discerning, but they all seem a shower of amateur point scoring shysters.

The smarmy Tory right wing are looking to enrich themselves further by playing the system from within entrenching the position of their school mates.

The opposite is a bunch of far left kumbaya singing, one world,communist leaning, trade unionists, who want to share out the worlds riches, including the lazy b*ggers.

In between comes an assortment of the uncommitted, middle groundsmen...... nationalists, little Englanders, racists of varying degrees................alluding to whatever will get them votes.

I shall be voting for the party led by the most consistent and honest and least polished of the leaders.

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Thu May 04, 2017 2:28 pm

Oh dear, thats what the Americans did Bruv.

Dont you guys have an app or thingy wherw you can put in whats impoetant to you and the computer spits out the candidate the sharws your principles?

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu May 04, 2017 2:37 pm

magentaflame;1508896 wrote: Oh dear, thats what the Americans did Bruv.

Dont you guys have an app or thingy wherw you can put in whats impoetant to you and the computer spits out the candidate the sharws your principles?

Simply...No.

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Thu May 04, 2017 2:49 pm

:yh_rotfl One of our pollies laughed so hard at an episode of Veep that he knocked himself out ........ now that PM matierial.

Its basically around the brexit thing so whos best at wading through all the crap?

Look up each parties websites and see what they stand for?

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Fri May 05, 2017 12:11 pm

Unfortunately, what the Party stands for & what the candidate stansd for are rarely the same thing.

I am TRUE Labour. Socialist & a Corbynite through & through - just the same as the vast majority of the Labour Membership - as demonstrated by 2 successive record majoritys in Leadership Elections. Corbyn is the Membership's Democratic choice - that is beyond question. The problem is that the REAL power lies in the inner clique of the CLPs. They are the ones who continue to put forward the BLUE Labour candidates. The Blairites. The candidates who have openly opposed Corbyn & supported Tony Blair. Even Tony Blair is now showing his true (Blue) colours by telling Labour voters to vote Tory.

Right now I have a dilemma facing me. There is no REAL Labour candidate. The one who is standing has always been a vehement opponent of Jeremy Corbyn & someone who is continuing to campaign for a 2nd referendum (in an area that voted overwhelmingly to Leave, I might add). I refuse to support a return to Blairite Policies, so I won't be voting Labour this time round. I certainly won't be voting Tory. Lib Dems simply cannot be trusted - they just go toadying hand in glove with whatever party offers them the chance of getting into power.

I have absolutely no doubt that the Tories will be returned to power, with a greatly increased majority. The Blairites in the PLP will blame this on Corbyn being 'Unelectable', when it is they who have (successfully) done their utmost to destroy all credibility the Labour Party ever had with their treachorous coups in the face of massive democratic majorities. And quite frankly, I think I would prefer Tories in power than a Blairite Government. At least you know where you stand with them. They may well be an evil dictatorship, but at least they're open about it and, on the whole, show some level of unity in supporting their Leader. This is what the Blairites have done to me.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Fri May 05, 2017 12:46 pm

Which one would you believe? Same facys different spin.

Tories on track for best local election showing in DECADES | Daily Mail Online

Sturgeon's independence gamble BACKFIRES as Tories surge in Scotland while Ukip is obliterated and Labour flounders under 'radioactive' Corbyn

â€˜ClearÂ victory' for SNP as party sees more councillors voted into office than 2012 (From The National)

Following yesterdayâ€™s poll, the SNP remains the largest party in local government in Scotland, with 431 councillors voted into office, up from the total of 425 in 2012.

How about the labour leader

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said it was "obviously a disappointing election" for her party.

She said: "Across Scotland, there has been a clear backlash against the SNP's plans for a divisive second independence referendum and anger over the SNP's woeful record running our schools, hospitals and public services.

:yh_rotfl:yh_rotflDon't mention the backlash against labour.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Fri May 05, 2017 1:03 pm

The future of British politics looks dire.

At this time there should be a backlash against the ruling party, especially with their record on the NHS, but they seem to be doing just enough to swing it their way.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Fri May 05, 2017 3:02 pm

The problem is that the entire election campaign is going to be based on Brexit. Believe it or not there are other issues that requires looking after on the Home Front, and just as was succinctly pointed out on Question Time, all the Tories are interested in doing is talking about Brexit & throwing abuse at Jeremy Corbyn. No policies That's their one & only Battle Plan. The thing is that they don't need to really do anything. The divisions in the Labour Party caused by the Blairites, as well as Blair himself advising Labour Members to vote Tory will win the election for her. There has been a referendum. Article 50 has been triggered. There can be no going back. Corbyn's stand is to accept it & work towards the best deal. Officially, that is May's stand as well. Therefore that should cancel each other out, but it was the same during the referendum campaign. Both Labour & Tory were campaigning to Remain, but the main tactic was to do it by slinging mud at each other. I never could understand why, when the desired outcome was the same (even though I didn't agree with it).

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Sat May 06, 2017 10:20 am

Corbyn's image has been destroyed by the right wing press. They're obsessed with persuading the public that he's not to be trusted, is friendly with terrorists, he is dangerous, is a traitor, blah, blah, blah. They are terrified of him, or at least, the billionaire owners are. They will lie and manipulate the facts to convince their readership that Labour is poison. Now the Left of the Labour Party is having to face the prospect of Blair returning to politics. He should be languishing in a prison for war crimes but instead had made more than a pretty penny on the curcuits since he left.

Who is in politics for the right reason. Corbyn or Blair ?

Who has lined his pockets as a result of being in politics, Corbyn or Blair ?

Who would you trust more, Corbyn or Blair ?

Just look at the records of them both

Blair back in our lives is as bad if not worse than the Tories.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat May 20, 2017 4:54 pm

Brexit will simply swamp all other issues. They all mean a paltry few billions. I think brexit will be an order of magnitude bigger.

Attention span. Remember climate change, anyone? Brexit hasn't gone away either. Even if you're bored with it.

Details of this election completely irrelevant.

The banks are going. As predicted. Big chunk of GDP going missing. We haven't even started the negotiations yet.

Stephen Hawkings' 100 years is looking optimistic from here.

Vote Green, Lib Dem and Remain in no particular order. I'm Lib Dem, and we'll try to hold off Goldsmith's bid to re-establish himself in the Richmond Park constituency. It'll be tricky because he's personally charming and Richmond is wealthy.

It seems the country is however reluctantly saying it's done now, no going back. My view on that is you are trashing the country and good luck to you. Get on with it. I don't support trashing the country but you want to. I support you trashing the country since that's what you want.

Congratulations.

Goodbye School meals for the poor. Goodbye NHS. Hello Poverty.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Sun May 21, 2017 3:11 am

Clodhopper................seriously ?

The die has been cast, we have been given lemons, we used to have an enormous empire......things change.....................stop keep on looking over your shoulder.

And I say that as a remoaner as well.

There will be a time of transition, but we are a resilient people, down to our famously changeable weather, no good sitting on the sidelines whinging at this stage, we all need to start squeezing those lemons.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun May 21, 2017 4:08 am

Absolutely. It is my patriotic duty to help destroy the country. Point me to it! What bit do you want me to trash?

Brexit and its consequences won't simply go away because you are bored with it. I don't see why you brexit supporters (you are one now, bruv) aren't out there making up for the huge loss of business we are already beginning to suffer. Why aren't you all campaigning for your non-right wing brexit that wasn't going to happen under the tories?

Time of transition...Brexit is going to trash the country and since you are too unconcerned to bother about it any more, nothing will stop it. Nothing you or I can do will make any difference to the massive economic forces which we will be exposed to with no protections. We will have to be the most business friendly space possible: No environmental regulations, no labour protections, no free school meals, no NHS worth the name, low taxes, no subsidies except to government approved targets like Nissan (partly owned by the French government who know the terms of the deal made to keep them when the British people don't. Sovereignty? Don't make me spit) Helping brexit means helping these processes. So vote tory for a successful brexit - at least for the very rich. Everyone else will be poorer and without as many rights.

Turkeys who voted for and actively support Christmas. Hope you enjoy being eaten by the very rich and doffing your cap in gratitude to Liar Johnson.

Transition period. The rest of your or my life. At least.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Sun May 21, 2017 4:24 am

What should we all do then ?

What are YOU doing ?

I really want to give Corbyn the chance, so I will vote tactically and hope enough people see things the same as me, it's what passes as democracy these days.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun May 21, 2017 5:19 am

I joined the Liberal Democrats officially and am helping in the election: Trying to keep Sarah Olney in and Goldsmith out. I'd vote Labour here if they were the opposition as long as they weren't brexiters. Green would be my other possible vote.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Mon May 22, 2017 5:12 am

Larsmac re tactical voting not really working:

Tactical voting here can work. In my constituency it's a 2 way fight between Lib Dems and Tories. Labour poll around 4%. I think Labour is actually stronger than that, but to oppose the Tories many vote Lib Dem because a Labour vote is effectively wasted. Bruv's example of voting tactically and finding his original preferred choice did better applies where there is a closer 3 way fight between the parties. In that situation I reckon he's right you're better off going with your own feelings.

There was a Liberal/Labour electoral pact back in the 1970s (iirc) where the two parties didn't put candidates up against eachother in certain close constituencies in an attempt to maximise the anti-tory vote but it didn't work. People want the chance to express their opinion even if it's a wasted vote and dislike being denied the chance. The result was that people who might have voted tactically resented being told who to vote for and didn't vote at all.

There was a Lib Dem candidate a few days ago reported as encouraging voters in his constituency to vote Labour since the Lib Dems had no chance there. Dunno what's happened to him. If he were a tory he'd be flogged to death by David Davis while Liar Johnson in a jester's outfit made Latin quips and Queen May looked on approvingly from the throne. Corbyn's Communists would send him on a Long March to Siberia. As a Lib Dem he's probably been belaboured briefly with balloons on sticks.