[TobyD]

my votes definitely going green.

Just out of interest, why?

In Sheffield central, Bloomfield will basically win anyway, but...They have some realistic, socially responsible policies which very broadly agree with my world view. Vocal on preserving Sheffield trees. Anti Trump. The LD candidate has an even smaller  chance of winning. I really don't want to vote for a man I disagree with fundamentally, who works for  Corbyn, who is as good an opposition as a fucking chocolate tea pot.

If i still lived in S10, I'd definitely vote LD.

[tommytwotone]

One thing (and a potential saving grace for the non-Tory) I'm interested to see is turnout.


I can only vouch for the random voxpops from recent TV news but a lot of folk seemed to be in a "I'm sick of the whole thing, I'm not voting" frame of mind.


Sadly I think this may be most prevalent among "traditional Labour areas". Presumably many don't want to back JC, can't bring themselves to vote Tory, UKIP seems like a spent force post-Brexit maybe?


As we can be sure the pro-Brexit Tory vote will be out in force, I think we could be looking at a historic blue majority.

[tomtom]

Fair points 3T.. Though don't underestimate the pissed off remainers (like me) who want to show parliament that I still want to be part of Europe (by default neither Labour or Tory will therefore get my vote).

I quite admire JC coming out today and saying he wants a different sort of politics - different sort of campaign etc. I empathise with that sentiment.

I think he'd be a fucking shite PM though...

It seems like many labour MP's agree with that sentiment.. Its now the interviewers favourite 'make the labour MP squirm' question "do you think your leader would make a good prime minister?". I've not heard one say 'yes' outright... they all weasel around it.

[monkoffunk]

Talk to Labour Party activists out knocking on doors in traditional Labour areas and the most common opinion is 'I want to vote labour, but I won't vote for Corbyn sorry'.

I'll be voting libdem in Winchester which is purely tactical, but it's 55% Tory so that's a bit of a joke.

[monkoffunk]

I quite admire JC coming out today and saying he wants a different sort of politics - different sort of campaign etc. I empathise with that sentiment.

I just can't help but think he most be totally deluded.

[SA Chris]

+1. Nice though it is, it seems to have barely a passing acknowledgement of reality.

[tomtom]

I quite admire JC coming out today and saying he wants a different sort of politics - different sort of campaign etc. I empathise with that sentiment.

I just can't help but think he most be totally deluded.

Indeed - a Macron, Treuduea (sp?) or possibly a Clegg of 2010 vintage might pull it off.. But JC.. Its shallow, but its a shallow world we inhabit. Now what channel is TOWIE on?

[Yossarian]

I quite admire JC coming out today and saying he wants a different sort of politics - different sort of campaign etc. I empathise with that sentiment.

The trouble is that this sort of admiration created Momentum, encouraged the rise of Corbyn's delusional narcissistic cronies, and created a situation in which a party with a great history of achievement is now a laughing stock, enfeebled by its leadership and destined for many years of irrelevance and toxic internal wrangling. A situation where you have the best and hardest-working constituency MPs, Jess Phillips for example, resorting to crowdfunding their election campaign whilst still being subjected to a torrent of abuse from fans of the leadership, which the latter have totally failed to deal with. The terrifying thing is not Labour being decimated, but Corbyn somehow managing to cling on to the ship he's been dismantling so he can make sure the job is finished...

[Will Hunt]

I really don't know who to vote for. The reality of it is that I live in a reasonably safe Conservative seat. Because the votes were totted up by local authority as opposed to constituency I don't know how people in Shipley voted in the referendum, but I expect it will have been a comfortable Leave victory.
Given that my MP, Philip Davies, is about at Brexit as they come, and he won the last election with a comfortable 50% of the vote, I don't expect him to be going anywhere.
But do I vote Labour on the smallest off chance that they beat him? But how can I vote Labour if their manifesto states that they will support Brexit under any circumstances.
Do I vote Lib Dem as a protest to indicate my support for remaining in the EU?
Do I vote Green, because, you know, they're Green?

If Labour ran their campaign on a pledge that they would wait and see what the Brexit deal is and then hold a vote on whether to accept it or not, I think I could vote for them with a clear conscience. I don't think they'll do this as it'll play out badly in their Brexit supporting safe seats.

[monkoffunk]

The only hope this election is tactically voting. UKIP are third in your constituency behind Labour in second. I would vote Labour.

[monkoffunk]

And the reality of the situation is that brexit is happening and a big Tory majority is happening. The only reason to vote is to try keep some vague hope that some meaningful opposition can be rebuilt over next 10 years.

[Will Hunt]

And the reality of the situation is that brexit is happening and a big Tory majority is happening. The only reason to vote is to try keep some vague hope that some meaningful opposition can be rebuilt over next 10 years.

But if a vote for Labour is to be perceived as an endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn's incarnation of the party, that's something I'd rather not do.

[andy popp]

I started a long post about the particularities of my constituency etc etc. ... but the reality is that I am at a complete loss as to what to do that will feel in any way meaningful.

[Oldmanmatt]

And the reality of the situation is that brexit is happening and a big Tory majority is happening. The only reason to vote is to try keep some vague hope that some meaningful opposition can be rebuilt over next 10 years.

There won't be anything left.

No NHS.

No Welfare state.

No social justice.

No Police force.

No University for the less than wealthy.

No state education worth the name.

I don't think this country has seen such an extreme rightwing government in a century. All that post war progress is gone.

The entire population that sits left of the Tory/EDL/BF/UKIP party of government, is so fractured and lost; there is no hope now or in the near future of any change.

Despite almost half the country being decent human beings, the fucktards of the right are always relatively united behind their evil overlords.
Free thinkers are just that and will always be lost because of it.

[monkoffunk]

But if a vote for Labour is to be perceived as an endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn's incarnation of the party, that's something I'd rather not do.

Yep appreciate that. Widely reflected sentiment.

[tomtom]

I started a long post about the particularities of my constituency etc etc. ... but the reality is that I am at a complete loss as to what to do that will feel in any way meaningful.

At least you're not here at the moment to witness the 24 hour news wank fest... though I appreciate its not all gravy in the USofA. Frying pan, fire etc..

[tomtom]

Nice article on how tactical voting may (or may not) be any use...

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/20/tactical-voting-to-beat-the-tories-does-the-maths-equal-a-coalition

[SA Chris]

I started a long post about the particularities of my constituency etc etc. ... but the reality is that I am at a complete loss as to what to do that will feel in any way meaningful.

At least you're not here at the moment to witness the 24 hour news wank fest... though I appreciate its not all gravy in the USofA. Frying pan, fire etc..

I was about to say that. Life in Trumpton seems interesting enough as it is.

[mrjonathanr]

I quite admire JC coming out today and saying he wants a different sort of politics - different sort of campaign etc. I empathise with that

He said exactly that in his acceptance speech when he became party leader. He's given us a different sort of politics all right, the sort where there's a vacuum of meaningful leadership and opposition.

I think a lot of people understood that JC would go on to stand up to Tory policy, not just meekly wave it through.

[BrutusTheBear]

Oh gosh!  This entire thread is very disheartening.  For the 1st time in my lifetime there is a party leader that is not owned by corporate entities, that has policies that I broadly agree with, gives a f**k about the least fortunate, that is clearly not led by ego or self interest, wants to save the NHS from profiteers (and isn't lying), believes in a living wage, wants a more equal society, wants to end the murderous abusive cuts to welfare..  and you folk are bleating (pun intended) on about lack of leadership, lack of opposition...  etc. Etc.   This isn't a pissing game it, real life and real life at the moment for those who need their society to look after them is really not  f**king good!  Finally we have someone proposing policies that would improve life for the masses and you don't like it?! I don't get that...   Am I a lone voice? are folk scared of the wrath of UKBs more vocal political and seemingly mainstream commentators?  Or is it genuinely the consensus that you would prefer to be shafted further rather than support the policies above?

[dave]

This is what bites me about the whole Corbyn thing - we have years where folk moan that all the parties and leaders are all the same, career politicians who just roll out soundbites who don't really have any principles, don't offer anything different and don't really care about real people. Then one comes along who's got some principles, not just playing the soundbite game, and then we don't like that either.

[mrjonathanr]

I was pleased when he became leader; at last it seemed the Labour Party was going to have a think about what it was actually for.

He is unfortunately ineffectual and rejected by the overwhelming majority of the electorate. Some policies are good, but they have been a long time in articulating and one 10 day flurry alone won't overcome that.

He's got plenty of ego; it may be sublimated into a 'for the good of the cause' rationale but the governement is at sixes and sevens, he can't land a punch ( yes, that's politics, not a discussion group) and the ship is sinking. He should recognise that the party is a broad church not a faction and under his stewardship is insufficiently supported as to be able to help anyone as it is unelectable.

When you're not up to it, quit. Defeat will help no one.

[nik at work]

I agree with BtB. I don't really understand what's going on tbh.
My facebook feed seems massively more pro Corbyn, not sure what if anything to read in to that.
I'd probably put myself as a sort of middle class chump (with a 'working class' job whatever that means??!) with what would probably be described as an historical tory leaning. However I would (were i eligible to vote) be voting for Corbyn. But I'm not, hey-ho. I remain bamboozled by the whole situation.

[mrjonathanr]

To answer your point Dave, I want someone leading a party into power, not years of regret.

Politics is the art of the possible they say. That means compromising with the electorate.  JC isn't doing that.

[mrjonathanr]

No one is asking to be shafted Brutus, they are bemoaning the lack of competence in the LP which will usher in misery writ large.