The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Do you mean in your own constituency or who you would vote for at a national level? For me, they are different ...

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Stop the count! (At the time of this post I had the only vote).

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I’ll leave that up to you, this is more art than science :D

If you like, we can make as if we’ve created a fictional parliamentary constituency, pretend it’s a 4-way marginal, and whoever you vote for here has a chance of winning the seat.

---------- Post added at 17:49 ---------- Previous post was at 17:40 ----------

Colour me surprised at your voting preferences … :D

When I moved into the urban central belt I moved away from a constituency that was pretty much a three way marginal (has been Tory, Labour and SNP in the last 20 years), and where whoever you voted for, you thought your vote might actually carry it.

Here, it’s either Labour or SNP, so I was long ago reconciled to voting Labour for the first time in my life, just to get the Nat out. As it happens the Tories have so permanently ruined the gaff and betrayed my trust I’m really quite looking forward to giving the red team a go. Who knows if things can get better, I’m just sure they couldn’t get any worse.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Tbh, I'm not as committed as diving in first might suggest. It'll be interesting what happens in my constituency because it'll very much be a barometer of SNP and Labour fortunes across Scotland being a solid Labour seat that flipped in 2015.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I voted Labour, despite Keir being more Liberal than Labour. I suppose I'd be classed as a tactical voter, but as long as we get this lot out I can hold my nose.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

It's a poor electoral system, but it's what anyone with any sense does. I'll be voting Libdem purely because of the constituency I'm in. It shouldn't be like that. But as you say anything to get rid of the ******s.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Another tactical voter here , not because I particularly like Labour but I absolutely despise our local MP (Simon Clarke)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Ok, who is the person who voted Tory then? :)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I will have to decide closer to the day, out of Reform or Conservative who is the most likely candidate to get my Labour MP out.

I have only ever once voted Labour, and that was when Neil Kinnock was leader of the party, obviously I try to forget that voting mistake.

I couldn't vote Labour, as a worker and a small business owner I'm too fearful of Angela plans to look after me. I don't want anyone in government looking after me, because that is going to cost me money.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Labour are a shoe in here but if they weren't I'd vote for whichever of Labour/Lib Dems or Greens had the best chance of beating the Tories. As Rachel Reeves is my MP I'm more than happy to vote that way, can't say I'm exactly buzzing over the prospect of Keir being in charge but it it what it is. Way better than the dismal alternative.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

You mean two persons.;)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Sephi & Homer ?

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Really all we’re doing is voting for who we think will do the least damage as none of the current parties will be making 100% (or even close) popular policies and choices.

So naturally that counts out the rugby-Scrum party, 14 years of that shower should ensure they get nowhere near Number 10 for at least a decade or two.

At the moment I’d cautiously vote Labour, part tactical and part “let’s see what they can do”. Seeing as none of the Blair/Brown era cabinet are still in frontline politics comparisons to New Labour are pointless at best and barrel-scraping at worst.

I don’t think any of us can realistically see them doing worse than the last 14 years.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

As it happens, Yvette Cooper (Mrs Ed Balls) is shadow Home Secretary and had two government posts (one in cabinet) under Gordon Brown.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

It seems Sunak and the Tories are sticking with the 'we have a plan' and 'let's not go back to square one' messaging.

I wonder what polling they have that shows that works? It seems bad messaging to me when they've been in power for so long. Back to Square One? From what?

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

If I don't get the result I want can I demand another vote like remainers demanded after Brexit?


Genuine question.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Depends on whether this vote is based on a pack of demonstrable dogshit lies.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Yes, they're forced to have one after 5 years.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

As I have said before and I'll type what I said then.


I will never vote Labour after Steptoe flipped and became a remainer.


That has NOT changed, well except I won't use Steptoe as he buggered off.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Ok granted but what are the chances of the Blair/Brown variety of Labour seeping through in to Starmer’s cabinet and policies through her?

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Starmer doesn’t have the New Labour knack for presentation but I suspect he’s far better at the detail than Blair. He is a lawyer, after all. I think partly it’s hard to define what Labour is now because it is in essentially the same place as it was from the late 1990s onwards. The Corbyn brain fart was an aberration to that same basic position.

Labour’s big difficulty is that the economy in 1997 was actually fairly decent and improving whereas now it’s in a mess. Starmer won’t seem like the breath of fresh air and he can’t work any great economic miracles in the first 3 years or so.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

That’s a very long winded way of saying ‘you’re right’

---------- Post added at 21:28 ---------- Previous post was at 21:27 ----------

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnn ooooonnneeee…..

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Absolutely, any honeymoon period won’t be a fraction of Blair’s. And I’m fully expecting many unpopular decisions and policies to be based on the premise of “we’re in this position because of the last lot” and whereas I’m sure that will be genuine some of the time, I’m certain it will be used to cover a multitude of sins as we go along.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Michael Gove or ? LD is the only choice...for us.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

With a big majority, I think it makes sense to make the tough decisions earlier and to get them out of the way before the next election. The Opposition will be all over the place after a heavy defeat so they should have a couple of clear years.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Nah I don’t think the Lib Dems will be all over the place at all :D

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

:D

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Two posts already edited here.
Labour, Conservative or whatever, refer to them properly please.
https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...0#post36175330

---------- Post added at 22:12 ---------- Previous post was at 22:09 ----------

Isnt every election ? Seems like few keep all their promises, on either side.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Memories.... It was me, very sorry.....

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I think I speak for the vast majority of the population in welcoming a return to square one and what's the plan other than raping the taxpayer for the enrichment of themselves, chums and donors


Genuine question, you going to know what you're voting for this time?

Blair was a lawyer too btw...

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

None so BS-fuelled as much as Brexit.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

So was Nicola Sturgeon, come to think of it :disturbd:

I guess you could at least suggest that getting to the top of the CPS indicates Starmer was at the top of his game …

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

That’s what I initially liked about Starmer. Solicitors are well-trained in leading their opponent unknowingly down a path during questioning, waiting for the right moment to strike and twisting them up in knots. In the early stages after his leadership win he used these skills to great effect against Boris who would be rendered unable to fall back on his “bumbling lovable rogue” gimmick, until his advisers trained him how to not fall for Starmer’s skills.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Paula Vennels got to the top of an organisation but I doubt she’d make a good Postmistress.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

The main hope for Starmer is that he can be competent and hire the right people. You said earlier that he might be more detailed than Blair, but I think something that Blair and Cameron had is the ability to know the right advisors and then make calm decisions based on that advice. Hopefully, Starmer has that too.

The appointment of Sue Gray might be evidence of that. There are reports she has helped with party management and earlier this week there was a story that she had identified the biggest risks should Labour take government such as Thames Water collapsing. It sounds like an obvious bit of prep work but I am not sure some of our previous PMs would have done that beforehand.

Otherwise, Labour is really not offering that much. It's all pretty unambitious. That might be wise considering how little room they'll have to invest early on.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Didn’t Blair attend some PR course in America just after he became Labour leader run by the same people who advised Bill Clinton?

Starmer certainly won’t have that kind of experience.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

PMQ gimmicks never last long. It always reverts to normal. Starmer still does attempt to lay traps for the PM and isn't bad at it but he has ditched the props he had.

Corbyn had the e-mails for a while.

---------- Post added at 23:13 ---------- Previous post was at 23:07 ----------

Blair was just naturally good at it I think. They all have media training but I think it's hard to fake that natural fluency Blair had. Blair was good at staying on message without sounding like a robot and repeating the same line. He was quick enough to adapt his answer to the question without going off-script and saying something he didn't intend to say when going into the interview.

Starmer has got better at that but he isn't a natural. He doesn't look like he is scared to death of interviews anymore at least.

Thank you Chris........... I havent ever voted to be honest........ I only vote in pols like this online,I love doiing that!!

Lets hope someone GOOD wins this time!!

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I should hope you never voted:p: you aren't in the UK and are ineligible to vote here :D

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Of course he isn’t…

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

These 6 weeks are going to feel like 6 months with the constant repetitive news of politics and bullshit. Not even 24 hours in and I'm already bored of it. I'm aiming to avoiding the news till it's all over.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

If this morning thus so far is anything to go by you better hibernate for the next 6 weeks.;)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Until now I would vote for our local Tory MP but he is stepping down and the boundaries have changed. The Tory candidate covers a wider, geographic area or at least slightly different and supports policies that are more of a benefit to her older area than ours.


The local Tories have also given up on just positive campaigning, I don't care how bad the others are or will be, I want to know why I should vote for you not why I shouldn't vote for the others.


I don't want to vote for leftist parties. So it's a bit of a puzzle.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Understandable, but no need to not vote at all.

Why not one of the no-hopers? #AnyoneButTory

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I don't want to simply not vote Tory. I want to positively vote for someone, after all we cast our votes for a person not a party.


What would be good is a competent independent who will stand up for what the constituents want. Imagine parliament where the majority are independents! Chaos but interesting. It is being able to vote for independents and the odd parties that make UK politics more interesting and why I hate the idea of (national) PR.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

The only "leftist" Party you might have to vote for in Winchester are the Greens. Labour and Lib-Dems are solid centrist so I do not see your dilemma. Danny Chambers (LD) seem a solid, if slightly boring, choice.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Ah well. Always worth a try.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Oh i don't know, the increasingly deepening desperation rhetoric/spin that hopefully will appear as the Tory party realise that they're plummeting to a loss or even better political oblivion should provide some comic relief in the proceedings ?

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

But some forms of PR is more likely to give the Independents seats.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

"The current choices are rubbish but I hate the idea of restructuring the system to change that" is an interesting take.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I think another 5 years of the Tories would mean 5 more years of in-fighting as MPs try to decide whether they want to be right of centre, or centre of the right. Even if they won, would Rishi still be PM in 12 months time or would there have been the successful plot to overthrow him?
Are Labour as united as they appear? What are their policies, other than top-level ideas? What would they do in government and - crucially - how will they do it?
As for the Lib Dems, I think they did some good work in the coalition and got an unreasonable amount of flak for it. But I want to see their policies too.
I don't think any of the others stood in my constituency last time. So, if the election was today. I probably wouldn't vote.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Naturally that is your right and nobody should take that away but surely not voting is increasing the chances of the rugby-Scrum party retaining at least some seats.

We need to see them obliterated at this election. Make them a minority party in parliament. Reward them for all their corruption, austerity and contempt they’ve shown for the common man.

I would strongly discourage anyone from not voting. Give one of the no-hopers a chance (and for once I’m not referring to the Conservatives). A non-vote is wasted opportunity punish this current shower.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I'll definitely be voting come election day. It's on my birthday and I'll be away on holiday so, for the first time, I'll be registering for a postal vote. I consider myself a floating voter and I expect parties to convince me to give them my vote. I just feel that, as things are today, I dont yet have enough information to make an informed decision. Thought there's a good six weeks to go yet, so it'll all fall into place.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Just registered to vote by post, I've never done that before, it was a doddle and means hopefully I can do my bit to get this government out easier as I hated voting in person and often wouldn't bother.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I would have thought the events of last 14 years, and the actions of 5 Prime Ministers, 7 Chancellors of the Exchequer, 8 Foreign Secretaries, 8* Home Secretaries, 10 Education Secretaries, 11 Housing Secretaries, & 13 Culture Secretaries, might have provided a reasonable amount of information to make an informed decision.

Not sure what could happen in the next six weeks that could drastically alter an already formed opinion…

*2 of them the same person…

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

l have been voting by post for ther last 10 years and everything has always gone fine.

Just double check everything before you seal the envelopes.

Ah man!!

Yup same here this time which is why I think its pointless to vote....

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Rishi knows Welsh people well

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/po...-gaffe-375425/

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

The question isn't who not to vote for though.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Can someone check on Russ, he may have seen this and blown a blood vessel :D

---------- Post added at 17:45 ---------- Previous post was at 17:37 ----------

As I indicated yesterday I have closed a couple of other threads and all election related discussion should take place here. If there is some major political/current affairs development that really does need its own thread we will start one off, however from the experience of the 5 general elections that have happened since the creation of the parliamentary constituency of Cable Forum, this is unlikely to be necessary. :D

---------- Post added at 17:53 ---------- Previous post was at 17:45 ----------

And for the closet Stattos amongst you, here are the results for this seat going back to 2005, taking our exit poll thread in each case as a vote for a fictional candidate in the Cable Forum constituency:

2005
Lab 23
Con 35
LD 34

2010
Lab 24
Con 32
LD 25
UKIP 4
BNP 3 (5 votes!)

2015
Lab 25
Con 36
LD 6
UKIP 21
SNP/Plaid 3

2017
Lab 40
Con 48
SNP 5
Ind 3

2019
Lab 21
Con 55
LD 9
Green 4

Can’t believe we had 5 actual BNP voters here in 2010! :disturbd:

So you can see from the above this has been a pretty safe Tory seat since its creation at the 2005 election. I’m going to stick my neck out and suggest it might not be safe any more.

(Edited to add 2017 results)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I think the question is "How many flip-flops can Starmer do in six weeks?"

Place your bets. :D

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

2017 exit poll thread here:
https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...php?t=33704990

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Nice find. Glad I wasn’t asleep on the job in 2017. Just lazy with my thread titles. :D

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I read it just before I went in the gym tonight. Never came out of a gym so pumped up before.

The way he tries to be “a man of the people” is absolutely pathetic. Stick to paying for your car fuel by trying getting your bank card scanned by a barcode reader you absolute plank.

---------- Post added at 18:11 ---------- Previous post was at 18:08 ----------

For the first time, I think it is. We need this shower out at all costs.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

If they're winning on here....:erm:

---------- Post added at 18:24 ---------- Previous post was at 18:23 ----------

Starmer can't believe his luck! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn00rlnd2ygo

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

l think your memory has conveniently forgotten Boris Johnsons flip flops and wild trolley escapades.;)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

We're talking current not historical.;)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Not impressed with tories but having lived with labour and the mess they have made in Wales. Really not sure about them .More money than England for NHS yet worse figures on delivery. Elected a leader who
was funded by a company convicted environmental crime. Money was given after conviction so was known about. Not forgetting 20mph

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Ah, yes, back in the olde timey days of yore of 2019-2022… ;)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Sunak's historic legacy would have been the PM who banned smoking. However, this has been binned now so he won't have much to show for his term. I guess that's better than Truss though.

---------- Post added at 19:55 ---------- Previous post was at 19:52 ----------

I think calling an early election so that your hard-fought for policies like Rwanda and the afore-mentioned smoking ban can't actually become law are up there on the flip-flopping front.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Doubt that it matters what I vote.We have a Perpetual Tory MP here but recently/locally the Lib Dems have a small toe hold in local council.

It will be interesting to see how the next door borough will vote considering it's Bravermans fiefdom at the moment.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I would like to know what prompted the seemingly rushed announcement.

Is the economy as good as it's going to get?
Scandal on the horizon?
Was Graham Brady about to knock on his door?
Something else?

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Yes, but do others?

---------- Post added at 22:06 ---------- Previous post was at 22:04 ----------


That's me out of this thread then.


I will never call KS party but it actual name,

---------- Post added at 22:11 ---------- Previous post was at 22:06 ----------

Its about time the UK changed the voting from Thursdays to Saturday & Sunday.


More people would likely vote, plus parents wouldn't be forced to take a day of school when it's a polling station.


I've been voting by post for about 4 years

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I think it should be Saturday and Sunday as well.

That said I do like the overnight count hitting on Friday morning before it takes us into the weekend.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

It’s not an airport, you don’t need to announce your departure.

I’m not sure moving the vote to a weekend would increase turnout here’s some interesting reading

https://post.parliament.uk/election-...ople-not-vote/

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Not Redwood!

Another one deserts the sinking ship.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I’m sure this was nothing to do with it…

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...eral-election/

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Indeed.

It'd be interesting to know on current polling (usual caveats) what seats are actually "safe". There must be a ton of "at risk" big names.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Well if we take the extremely accurate CF poll, 10% support would leave them with 5 seats :)
https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/...tion_home.html

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Seph has no reason not to vote for another Party now that his favourite MP has bottled it. ;)

---------- Post added at 09:22 ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 ----------

They're de-risking by not standing!

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Ahh, he was on my ‘Portillo moment’ list… Jacob Rees-Mogg, Jonathan Gullis and Grant Shapps, don’t let me down

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Seph will be in uproar.;)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I'm sure Seph will step up and vote Lib Dem. Now that his favourite politician has bottled it, his excuse to continue voting for what he acknowledges as incompetence is gone.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

If we could vote online I think that'll increase turnout.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...3&d=1716547340

Context

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...4&d=1716547580

On a related note…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-69052837

Nothing to do with this, then?

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre...neral-election

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Seph’s a card-carrying party member. Given the mass exodus of Tory MPs and there being around 100 local associations who have apparently yet to choose a candidate, it’s more likely he’ll throw his hat in the ring himself, just 4 teh l0lz.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

He'd get my vote if only to help him save his deposit.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Wasn’t that the premise of an episode of Rab C Nesbitt? :D

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I tried watching that programme before subtitles were a thing! :D

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Michael Gove standing down. Not sure if previously mentioned

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

No it was not as he obviously realises like many other sitting Tory MPs that the Tory ship is heading straight into the oncoming iceberg.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Another typically cowardly Tory MP.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Yesterday's yougov poll was LD 33% CON 30% at Surrey Heath.... With Gove going, the cocaine prices will stabilize here.... but I think with a semi-decent candidate, the army lot and the rich guys will make it a CON hold.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Andrea Leadsom standing down.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

In any other era her leadership bid would be peak banter years but so much has happened since I'd almost forgotten it.

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

I'm wondering if Old Boy is coming up to Scotland to help put the Conservative case forward? With the SNP's recent misadventures, he might find a more receptive audience. ;)

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

Does he even know there's an election on or will he have to wait till the Sunday morning shows go on an app so he can avoid linear television?

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1
 

That sounds daft enough to be true. :D

Re: The traditional CF voting intentions thread, week 1