Help! Labour or Liberal?
From Alice Walker
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
My first priority is to beat the Tories. After looking at the figures from last election, I thought I’d decided to vote Labour (though I prefer the Liberal policies) as the Liberals seemed to need too big a swing in our area. But after reading the posts on this website, now I’m not so sure. Help!!
From Christopher Reason
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
It’s easy, Alice. Steph Booth is third in the polls and has run a dreadful campaign. The fact that you like Liberal policies makes the choice even easier.
From Alice Walker
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
It should be easy I know, but I wasn’t aware of Steph’s reputation till I got on this forum and I’m wondering how many other voters will either know or care. I didn’t want to vote Labservative until I checked the 2005 figures and now I feel a panic tactical vote coming on. Where do the figures come from that Liberal is ahead of Labour in C.V.? How can I be sure that it’s not Liberal hype? Actually if I was voting purely on policies, I’d be voting for proper left wing socialists, but my terror of the Tories is too great.
From Andrew Hall
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Labour are a farce. Not heard a word from the Labour candidate Ms Booth. I dislike the smooth besuited smarmy Millibands, Balls and the Lord God Mandelson. I despise all they stand for. So absolutely no way should you vote for them.
A vote for the Liberals is a clear endorsement of Gordon Brown and the lot mentioned above. The Liberals might form some sort of brown nose pact with the above but where will that leave us? In a political limbo where nothing will happen.
It’s got to be Conservative. I know it’s hard to forgive that party for the traumatic Thatcher years, but you have to remember how long ago that was and how things have changed since. The only significant link now is Ken Clark, and he was never a true Thatcherite. I’m not a natural Tory, but in this instance there is no other option.
From Alice Walker
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Typical Tory. I make myself absolutely clear that I’m a left wing socialist and yet you still somehow think I should listen to you just because you know better, apparently. I wouldn’t vote Tory at gunpoint.
From Andrew Hall
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
"Typical Tory"
Actually I said I’m not a natural Tory.
"I make myself absolutely clear that I’m a left wing socialist"
No you didn’t. You said you were desperate to keep the Tories out but that doesn’t per se make you a left wing socialist.
"and yet you still somehow think I should listen to you just because you know better, apparently."
Of course I don’t. You asked for comments and I gave you my views. There’s no right or wrong in this debate, just a spectrum of opinion.
"I wouldn’t vote Tory at gunpoint"
Well thank goodness we live in a country where that won’t happen at present. But if Labour succeeds in turning us into a police state with ID cards and an inordinate amount of control over private individuals, who knows what might happen.
What exactly is it you don’t like about the Conservatives?
From Fran R
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
So Andrew Hall proves to be the closet Tory. I really do give up now - well insofar as I will not ever vote Tory and never ever again read Andrew’s posts.
From Alice Walker
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
I have spent the last many hours doing lots of research; talking to lots of people and checking out all the latest polls. I also have friends in Socialist Labour political circles who have given me helpful and up to date information.
Everything I have learned has finally made up my mind. I am going to vote Labour as they stand the most realistic chance of keeping the Tories out of the Calder Valley. I understand peoples’ desire for change but the fact remains that the LibDems have just too much ground to make up this time. Letting the Tories back into government would be a monumental mistake for this country and for the ordinary working people. Better Steph Booth than another seat for a Tory majority.
The only way to defeat the Tories in Calder Valley, however much it balks, is to vote Labour this time.
From Graham Barker
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Hmm… You’re not a friend of Steph Booth by any chance are you, Alice? Yours seems a very odd question to ask if all you do is reject advice and denigrate some of those who take the trouble to give it.
From Andrew Hall
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Fran, I would hardly call announcing my support of a party on a website which receives thousands of hits ‘closet’!
Anyhow the sad fact seems to be that all the main parties are gravitating towards the safe middle ground. Looking at the manifestos, it’s hard at times to tell which is which.
But whatever, the die is currently being cast. May the best party win.
From Fran R
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Andrew
You are right of course - to announce it on the forum is hardly closet.
I have always found your contributions to the forum to be a great and balanced read, but I was completely taken aback this time.
That’s about it really. A bit like saying "I’m surprised at you of all people".
From Anne H
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Alice, your conclusion - "The only way to defeat the Tories in Calder Valley, however much it balks, is to vote Labour this time." - is an illogical conclusion to reach when the poll on the election pages of this website puts Labour in third place behind the Lib Dems in the Calder Valley!
I know polls change and they may not be very accurate, but I think all you can say for certain is that there’s not much between the 3 main parties, though the Tories seem to be in the lead.
When it’s close like this the only sensible thing to do is to vote for the candidate you most want to respresent you - clearly in your case it’s not Craig Whittaker.
From Andrew Hall
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Fran - don’t read too much into my posts above! I’ve just returned from Heptonstall J&I and my votes might not entirely be what you expected.
There is an argument that suggests whichever party gets in tomorrow will be faced with making such unpopular choices that it’ll possibly never get in again. If the Conservatives do win, they might be that party, giving Labour time to lick its wounds, regroup and maybe come up with something a bit more radical in five or less years’ time - something that all the Labour supporters I know passionately want.