General Election 2024

Who got your vote?

  • Labour

    Votes: 147 54.2%

  • Conservative

    Votes: 5 1.8%

  • Lib Dem

    Votes: 25 9.2%

  • Green

    Votes: 48 17.7%

  • Reform

    Votes: 11 4.1%

  • SNP

    Votes: 5 1.8%

  • Plaid Cymru

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Independent

    Votes: 8 3.0%

  • UK resident but not voting

    Votes: 18 6.6%

  • Spoiled my ballot

    Votes: 3 1.1%
  • Total voters
    271
  • Poll closed .
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Sweet Square said:
the collapse of the Tory party is also down to how comfortable the ruling class is with current Labour Party.
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Exactly*. It's what brand of ruling class economics we should look forward to which is really being balloted here. I sense a pivot from top-down neoliberalism and a recognition that there is need for generational change. As to that intuition, it could be completely far-fetched.

*The extent of the collapse. The press and other actors have gone all in against the Tory party, which would die if it won this election by the next regardless, because they trust Starmer's Labour.
 
Solius said:
Any chance of Starmer becoming less of a centrist fence sitter once he's gotten those Tory votes and become PM or is that naive thinking?
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neverdie said:
That's the entire conundrum if you are "left" and want to vote Labour. You have to assume and grant good faith without any actual evidence of it, except that the man can pragmatically lie (against the left to get here) when it suits him. I.e., with the largest majority in modern history and one of the largest ever you are entirely free to enact economic reforms (generational changes) without worrying too much for the press.

I don't know is my answer. I would expect him to try and do something much more aspirational, yet, there is also sense in taking a man at his word and that hasn't been great.
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As I mentioned before we had a by-election back in March or April and the Labour campaigner that came to our door I had a fairly long chat with and basically told her in no uncertain terms that I was very disappointed with the direction Labour were moving and wouldn’t be voting for them. She assured me she’s a former green candidate that moved to Labour to make a difference so she’s from the left of the party and had been in Labour meetings and workshops where they are all clear that it’s whatever it takes to get into power and then they have the majority to enact more left leaning policies without opposition. I was skeptical to say the least but also I think it was @Sweet Square that made a good point how entirely undemocratic that is. You get a mandate on from your manifesto, you can’t just plan to scrap it and do what you like in power.
 
altodevil said:
Liberal Democrats pipping the Tories to be the official opposition would mean nothing. Labour will likely have 400+ seats. The opposition has no part to play in government under those terms.

Ironic that you think tactical voting should be employed so we don't allow one more Tory to get in, when Labour has been accepting ex-Tories into the party quite willingly.

Ironic also that you think we should take anything the Lib Dems say with 'a barrel of salt', when Starmer has routinely lied and backtracked on pledges he made to gain leadership of Labour.
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Totally agree with you and have already cast my vote.

I didn't vote for the LDs because of their candidate here being useless, but I find it really strange that 14 years on people are still saying they'll never vote for them again. This is despite the fact that millions who wouldn't have voted Labour last time because of Corbyn will vote for them under Starmer. It's almost like political parties are capable of change - for better or worse - especially when leaders come and go.
 
neverdie said:
Exactly*. It's what brand of ruling class economics we should look forward to which is really being balloted here. I sense a pivot from top-down neoliberalism and a recognition that there is need for generational change. As to that intuition, it could be completely far-fetched.

*The extent of the collapse. The press and other actors have gone all in against the Tory party, which would die if it won this election by the next regardless, because they trust Starmer's Labour.
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I think the apetite for a far more left wing government is absolutely there. Sure, if labour were proposing such a manifesto then the media would be against it and the polls would be much closer as a result, but imo it would still win given the last 14 years.
 
Nogbadthebad said:
Starmer is currently predicted to get less votes than corbyn.

Just saying.
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Doesn't mean anything though. You have to go after the votes that matter most.

The voters rejected the Corbyn brand of socialism on two occasions. Game over.
 
nickm said:
Doesn't mean anything though. You have to go after the votes that matter most.

The voters rejected the Corbyn brand of socialism on two occasions. Game over.
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I thought it was Corbyn they rejected?
 
altodevil said:
It's the right wing media that determine whether a candidate is 'shite' in the eyes of a large proportion of the public.
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Yes, there is a bit of that (although not always, they have tried and largely failed with Starmer, who might not be liked but clearly is up to the job). But voters also make their own minds up.

Here's what I don't get. Let's assume you are right and the right wing press is as all powerful as you say in shaping people's voting choices. Why on earth did you give those crocodiles the perfect candidate to feed on, in Corbyn? It was incompetent.
 
Flying high said:
I think the apetite for a far more left wing government is absolutely there.
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It definitely is among many people, but, and not arguing Corbyn semantics here, with-Corbyn the press shat on the entire set of principles which, rejigged, aren't so radical. Take a few nationalizations out and reconsider things like university fees.
As per @Pexbo. I sense the party wants it, and they will have a chance now. That's the incentive to vote Labour if you are undecided/left (tactically of course). Hold them to the coals if they try to move right.

Housing, healthcare, and education. There really is nothing else by which to judge a government. These are the standard of all elections (one's quality of life is entailed within the broad scope of the three).

This election is also being fought against the backdrop of "let people drown in the English channel" (or Reform/Tory policy). Only so "left" you can be there when x percent of the nation drank the koolaid.
 
neverdie said:
It definitely is among many people, but, and not arguing Corbyn semantics here, with-Corbyn the press shat on the entire set of principles which, rejigged, aren't so radical. Take a few nationalizations out and reconsider things like university fees.
As per @Pexbo. I sense the party wants it, and they will have a chance now. That's the incentive to vote Labour if you are undecided/left (tactically of course). Hold them to the coals if they try to move right.

Housing, healthcare, and education. There really is nothing else by which to judge a government. These are the standard of all elections (one's quality of life is entailed within the broad scope of the three).
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I don't know. By voting for them when they're literally kicking any semblance of leftism out of the party, then you're basically giving them free reign to be as safe and moderate as they like. When the country clearly needs radical rebalancing.
 
decorativeed said:
Totally agree with you and have already cast my vote.

I didn't vote for the LDs because of their candidate here being useless, but I find it really strange that 14 years on people are still saying they'll never vote for them again. This is despite the fact that millions who wouldn't have voted Labour last time because of Corbyn will vote for them under Starmer. It's almost like political parties are capable of change - for better or worse - especially when leaders come and go.
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Corbyn never got into power, the lib Dems did, and fecked over a lot of people in my generation. Fully understand the sentiment of never voting for them.
 
Flying high said:
I don't know. By voting for them when they're literally kicking any semblance of leftism out of the party, then you're basically giving them free reign to be as safe and moderate as they like. When the country clearly needs radical rebalancing.
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They're the only option. Like I said, it hinges upon hoping that Starmer is pragmatically lying. Not the best set of circumstances.

The only take away is the he doesn't upset the apple cart before gaining position (or "power"). Was a left wing candidate for the Labour leadership. Then upset it massively because he wanted the Corbyn electoral (press) poison to fall elsewhere. He has it in him to be careful prior to an election and pay deference to all the right people/positions and then be somewhat radical, albeit not my kind of radicalism, post-gaining power. So we just wait and see really.
 
neverdie said:
This election is also being fought against the backdrop of "let people drown in the English channel" (or Reform/Tory policy). Only so "left" you can be there when x percent of the nation drank the koolaid.
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The sad fact is that Starmer isn't making the case for humanity. The reform/GB news/daily mail etc narrative isn't being challenged at all in the mainstream by anyone of note. Owen Jones is about the loudest opposition voice on issues like Palestine and immigration, and he's easily totally ignored by most people.
 
Grinner said:
The Sun says....
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Would you look at that...

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/28935096/its-time-for-a-change/


TMC-CHANGE-PAGE-ONE-V3_COMP-1.jpg
 
Flying high said:
Starmer isn't making the case for humanity
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If he persists after gaining the majority he is 99% certain to gain, I will judge him very harshly. It's literally the only thing that is stopping me calling him all manner of things. I'm assuming he's playing Machiavelli, which is easily enough understood, and doing nothing to upset anyone or thing (by probabilities and polls) prior to the majority.

In an ideal world he would express these things and win through the expression of them, because they are truthful. In Tory England, however, such is not where people are. Austerity, Scotland, Brexit, Pandemic, Russia, Corbyn, etc. The last 15 years have been shit on a stick.
 
neverdie said:
It definitely is among many people, but, and not arguing Corbyn semantics here, with-Corbyn the press shat on the entire set of principles which, rejigged, aren't so radical. Take a few nationalizations out and reconsider things like university fees.
As per @Pexbo. I sense the party wants it, and they will have a chance now. That's the incentive to vote Labour if you are undecided/left (tactically of course). Hold them to the coals if they try to move right.

Housing, healthcare, and education. There really is nothing else by which to judge a government. These are the standard of all elections (one's quality of life is entailed within the broad scope of the three).

This election is also being fought against the backdrop of "let people drown in the English channel" (or Reform/Tory policy). Only so "left" you can be there when x percent of the nation drank the koolaid.
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It’s why Lib Dem opposition rather than Tory or Reform is so fecking important. Lib Dems have quite a progressive manifesto and as opposition party they need to be pushing Labour as far away from austerity as possible.
 
The Sun's reasoning:

And that is what we're going to do every day of the next Parliament.

There is everything at stake for our country in this election.

Common sense values are what the Sun believes in.

Britain as a meritocracy where people regardless of background can get on in life, through their own hard work.

Freedom of speech, a free Press and freedom for our journalists to expose hypocrisy and wrongdoing.

Free trade. Freedom for businesses to thrive and create jobs, and for consumers to buy what they want.

Strong borders for controlled immigration. Decent public services that provide taxpayers with a great education and medical care.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has many policies which we support.

The Rwanda plan to stop the small boats. His commitment to scrap the National Insurance tax on jobs.

The ban on teaching harmful gender ideology in schools. Putting the brakes on the headlong rush towards Net Zero. His long-held and principled commitment to our Brexit freedoms.

He has done his best to right the economic mess he inherited, much of which was caused by the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Inflation was running at 11 per cent when he became PM. He has got it down to 2 per cent - in part because he resisted wild trade union pay demands.

But the insurmountable problem faced by the Tories is that - over the course of 14 often chaotic years - they have become a divided rabble, more interested in fighting themselves than running the country.

By the time Rishi Sunak moved into No10, Britain had had five Prime Ministers in just 12 years. In 2022 alone, there were four Home Secretaries, four Chancellors, and five Education Secretaries.

All this upheaval, backstabbing and mayhem came at a price.

The Tories allowed a Work From Home civil service "blob", activist quangos and human rights lawyers and judges to run rings around them, thwarting sensible policies. Illegal and legal immigration have not been kept under control.

Taxes have ballooned to the highest level since World War Two. Plotting against the leadership has been endless. Sleaze scandals - most recently gambling on the timing of the election - have broken public trust.

Put bluntly, the Tories are exhausted.

They need a period in Opposition to unite around a common set of principles which can finally bring to an end all the years of internal warfare.

It is time for a change.
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Pexbo said:
It’s why Lib Dem opposition rather than Tory or Reform is so fecking important. Lib Dems have quite a progressive manifesto and as opposition party they need to be pushing Labour as far away from austerity as possible.
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Yeah this would be huge in terms of what gets airtime. It would also be far more difficult for the tories to come back if they're not the official opposition.
 
Frosty said:
The Sun's reasoning:
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I’ve read that multiple times and struggling to deduce who they are backing other than “we need change from the Tories”
 
Pexbo said:
As I mentioned before we had a by-election back in March or April and the Labour campaigner that came to our door I had a fairly long chat with and basically told her in no uncertain terms that I was very disappointed with the direction Labour were moving and wouldn’t be voting for them. She assured me she’s a former green candidate that moved to Labour to make a difference so she’s from the left of the party and had been in Labour meetings and workshops where they are all clear that it’s whatever it takes to get into power and then they have the majority to enact more left leaning policies without opposition. I was skeptical to say the least but also I think it was @Sweet Square that made a good point how entirely undemocratic that is. You get a mandate on from your manifesto, you can’t just plan to scrap it and do what you like in power.
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Perhaps but this has always been my viewpoint.

Step further, felt starmers job was to get them into power and it's the PM after to enact change.
 
I’ve already put my vote in and voted for the Greens. I'm lucky in a way because this is a strong labour seat.

In a PR system, I'd also vote greens, or a version of labour that would exist which is actually not just a Tory lite with less corruption party.

If I was in a seat where Labour wasn't guaranteed.....it would be a struggle. Starmer has made voting for him (as opposed to voting against the Tories) so damned difficult.
 
The Sun are hedging before they throw everything behind Reform. If Farage and co do well they will feel emboldened and go all out for them after the election.
 
Put my postal vote in for Labour before I went on holiday. Too close to risk the Tories getting in again. I dislike whatever this version of Labour is and Starmer seems to be vacuous lying prick but I do this mainly because I'm a far better person than all those blaggers who couldn't vote for Labour under Corbyn because had an allotment or something.
 
Pexbo said:
I’ve read that multiple times and struggling to deduce who they are backing other than “we need change from the Tories”
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Agreed. I'm half expecting them to come out for reform but that would break their 'streak' I guess.
 
Grinner said:
The Sun are hedging before they throw everything behind Reform. If Farage and co do well they will feel emboldened and go all out for them after the election.
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This is my take too, or at the very least they're keen to retain the option.
 
Are Labour even centralists? I'd argue they're slightly right leaning right now. They've gutted out most of anyone left leaning. There's no way they revert back after the Election. Starmers got too many high profile (rich) backers.

I honestly can't tell any difference between him and David Cameron. It's certainly a positive change away from the extreme right wing of the current Tories. But don't expect the UK to improve much, they'll just be better at hiding the scandals.
 
Grinner said:
The Sun are hedging before they throw everything behind Reform. If Farage and co do well they will feel emboldened and go all out for them after the election.
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I think the Reform vote will largely dissipate in a lot of areas unless there is a "lightning rod" local event that solidifies their vote in a particular constituency.

Farage will play the "celebrity" card in Clacton and some will vote reform as a message to the Tories to lurch even further right. But I think some of the Reform vote in the polls will evaporate away. A few weeks ago I thought that it would revert back to the Tories but it doesn't seem to have done so far, probably down to their terrible campaign.

I think the desperate "throw of the dice" of unleashing Boris Johnson at a rally was to try and lure back some of this reform vote. It was clearly a "nothing to lose" act as he is box office poison in many areas of the country now and is a painful reminder of the worst excesses of these criminal goons that have ran the country. If the Reform vote in the polls doesn't actually turn up then I suspect many of them were disaffected tories struggling to find a home for their views.

Good luck everybody...here's to the Tories sinking to 3rd Place on their way to electoral irrelevance!
 
Labour won't stop the boats because they can't. This issue will continue to get hammered by the media and exploited by tories and Reform.
 
Grinner said:
Labour won't stop the boats because they can't. This issue will continue to get hammered by the media and exploited by tories and Reform.
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If they were sensible they would come to an (expensive) agreement with France and the EU this Summer, and lie and blame the excessive cost on something the Tories did this year.
 
Sweet Square said:
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Sweet Square said:
It seems Starmer is currently more unpopular than Corbyn



And the party overall is less well liked than both the Corbyn and Miliband era.
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None of these are particularly shocking, I think we've all known this for a considerable length of time now. Still, to see it numbers like that and confirm what we already knew is dismaying. The absolute state of politics in this country!
 
SalfordRed18 said:
Corbyn never got into power, the lib Dems did, and fecked over a lot of people in my generation. Fully understand the sentiment of never voting for them.
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That coilition fecked over the people of my generation too, but it seems odd that we're blaming the Lib Dems party of 2024 for the policies of a mainly Conservative government from 2010. The Tory party have fecked over every generation bar the boomers and anyone older than that for the last 14 years.

Nick Clegg was the Richard 'the hamster' Hammond to Cameron's Clarkson - just looking on with a daft smile from the sidelines under the delusion he held a position of influence and importance.

How bad the Tories would have been without the Lib Dems, we'll thankfully never know, but Clegg is in the dustbin of history now. Their current manifesto is probably the most fair, ambitious and progressive of the lot.
 
Pexbo said:
I think the point is that the voters the Tories lost to Labour already had a choice to go to Reform and didn’t. So logically the choice for them would either be the Lib Dems or back to reluctantly voting Tory.
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I very much doubt many Tories went to Labour, most Tory defectors will have gone straight to Reform. True, some of the 'fleeing' Tories might have 'stiffened the sinews and summoned up the blood ' to go back to the 'natural party of government' now that Farage has blamed the West for taunting that nasty Mr Putin and forcing him to attack Ukraine... and Boris has put his head above the parapet, again. ( *)


Pexbo said:
Oh for feck sake I just realised who I replied to. This is going to be painful as ever.
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*See above, I've let you off lightly, because we will all know definitely what's what.... in 48 hours or so
 
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africanspur said:
I’ve already put my vote in and voted for the Greens. I'm lucky in a way because this is a strong labour seat.

In a PR system, I'd also vote greens, or a version of labour that would exist which is actually not just a Tory lite with less corruption party.

If I was in a seat where Labour wasn't guaranteed.....it would be a struggle. Starmer has made voting for him (as opposed to voting against the Tories) so damned difficult.
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I'm voting Green too. I live in one of the safest Labour seats in the country so my vote counts for feck all but at least it's one more vote to add to the Greens overall vote share.

You know Farage is going to spend the next few weeks moaning about his parties lack of seats despite vote share. Hopefully the Greens get to do so too as a counterbalance to his rhetoric.
 
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