Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr K
If we had a decent electoral system people wouldn't need to think about tactical voting. As it is, if you choose to vote for a 3rd place party in your constituency your vote counts for nothing.
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In practice, yes. In theory no.
That said, even the most diehard areas can change allegiances. My local ward has been staunch conservative since the Borough was created (around 1965). They usually give the conservative candidate a huge lead, even when Labour are polling well, and the conservatives are doing extremely badly. However, in one of the elections in the 90s, the Conservatives did so badly that it was almost a tie between the Lib Dems (who do traditionally come second) and them. So areas can change.
I have to admit, I am not sure who to vote for.
I like Labours manifesto, but I don't like the anti semitism that appears to be in the party. The sorts of things Jeremy Corbyn protested for in the past do make me uncomfortable, but I do like the fact he felt compelled to protest. This suggests to me that he entered politics because he wanted to change things, not as a career move. I like that, and I think that Theresa May is the complete opposite. She became Prime Minister because it was a promotion.
However, I don't think Jeremy is a strong leader. He has repeatedly failed to attack the government on various issues that should have made it easy for an opposition leader to get the upper hand. He said he supported the Remain campaign during the referendum, but stayed largely silent, not really campaigning for one side or the other (in fact, various members of the remain campaign tried to contact him and had trouble). I do feel he should have campaigned, even if he campaigned for the Leave campaign.
Theresa, I don't like. She switched allegiances because she saw what was popular, and seemingly got voted in as Prime minister because no one else actually wanted the job. Neither are good things in any leader. We need a leader that is going to make the right decisions for the country. These may not be popular decisions. After all, we don't always like to do what is right. e.g. Everyone agrees that it is the right decision to go to the dentist to get your teeth checked, but no one could argue that is a popular past time. I get the impression TM will go for the popular one. TM has compared herself to Margaret Thatcher. Apart from the fact they are both arguably strong women, and their initials are the same but reversed, I don't see any major similarities. There is one major difference though. Mrs T always did what she believed was right, even if it was unpopular. She was also a good negotiator and got the rebate from the EU that almost halved our contribution to the EU and the Leave campaign continually neglected to mention. Also there may be a reason she didn't actually get the job on Merit.
I can't comment one way or the other on Tim Farron. As a Lib Dem supporter, I'd like him to do well, but I don't actually know enough about him or his policies to comment on him one way or the other.
So, my choice is vote Labour, knowing that they have a weak leader, and a problem with anti-Semitism. Vote Tory, even though I disagree with their policies, and have major concerns that TM will just go for what she believes is popular, or Vote Lib Dem (or any one of the other parties) knowing they are unlikely to get anywhere. If I decide to vote tactically, my best option in my area is actually Labour, assuming I want the Tories out.
The one choice I don't believe I have is to not vote.