A year ago I'd have voted conservative......
Discussion
I guess I'm the kind of voter that the conservatives need to attract. Willing to change and not a dyed in the wool 'I always vote for xxxx' type.
A year ago I'd have definalty counted myself as a new Tory voter, having voted for Tony Blair's lot on the previous 2 occasions.
But I'm wavering badley. I know that Labour has made terrible decsions and ultimatly are responsible for the finacial fiasco.
And I also know how important it is to address the borrowing/debt problem the country has.
But the big problem I have is that I'm afraid of what affect voting conservative will have on my family. Camerons promise of swinging cut backs means my employment prospects over the next 3-4 years would be worse. His carte-blanche to wield the axe and blame all the future hard ships on the previous government scares me.
I cant see myself voting conservative anytime soon. Sometimes its better to stick with the 'devil you know'. I hate Brown, and Labour should get rid of him. But I can see them getting my vote yet again.
Browns pulling off a bit of a coup by letting the Conservatives talk themselves out of votes. IMHO, this recession needs to be fully behind us before we make big inroads into our debt. Put another half a million on the dole by cutting back services and projects, and you could well see another recession follow straight on the back of this one.
The next election is going to be far closer than Labour deserve it to be.
A year ago I'd have definalty counted myself as a new Tory voter, having voted for Tony Blair's lot on the previous 2 occasions.
But I'm wavering badley. I know that Labour has made terrible decsions and ultimatly are responsible for the finacial fiasco.
And I also know how important it is to address the borrowing/debt problem the country has.
But the big problem I have is that I'm afraid of what affect voting conservative will have on my family. Camerons promise of swinging cut backs means my employment prospects over the next 3-4 years would be worse. His carte-blanche to wield the axe and blame all the future hard ships on the previous government scares me.
I cant see myself voting conservative anytime soon. Sometimes its better to stick with the 'devil you know'. I hate Brown, and Labour should get rid of him. But I can see them getting my vote yet again.
Browns pulling off a bit of a coup by letting the Conservatives talk themselves out of votes. IMHO, this recession needs to be fully behind us before we make big inroads into our debt. Put another half a million on the dole by cutting back services and projects, and you could well see another recession follow straight on the back of this one.
The next election is going to be far closer than Labour deserve it to be.
Clearly you are pissed and will do the right thing come the day.
Geoffrey Howe was previously criticised for spending cuts at the end of the previous recession and was proved correct as it was the right decision (as watched in a news article yesterday).
I will never vote for Brown and his crowd as long as have a hole in my arse and we need a change as soon as possible.
I think it will be close with a Tory majority of 30-40 or so maximum.
Geoffrey Howe was previously criticised for spending cuts at the end of the previous recession and was proved correct as it was the right decision (as watched in a news article yesterday).
I will never vote for Brown and his crowd as long as have a hole in my arse and we need a change as soon as possible.
I think it will be close with a Tory majority of 30-40 or so maximum.
Edited by M-J-B on Saturday 20th February 18:52
i think you have hit the nail on the head - people will see labour who will keep services or tories who will cut them back. most people do not understand the debt issue or care. why would they vote for higher tax ( perceived ).
i will still vote tory to get them out but i can see how they are going to lose it.
i will still vote tory to get them out but i can see how they are going to lose it.
The problem I have is I don't actually believe any of them, and I don't think I am the only one if the apathy I hear is typical.
There should be a 'none of the above' box on the form which is where my X would go.
The trouble is I honestly think politicians from both current Labour and Conservative would say absolutely anything they think you want to hear to get into power, and once in will renage on their promises and line their own pockets at our expense.
They should be held accountable for every manifesto pledge they make. There was an interesting comment made about how to do this on a radio 4 program the other night.
Each manifesto pledge is worth a number of points.
Then each year they are given those points for each pledge they have failed to follow through.
A certain number of points gained - say 12 for the sake of argument as its a number close to all our hearts - and your licence to govern is revoked for a year. Potentially forcing them out of a job.
It would get my vote, but can you ever imagine a government implementing it? I think not.
There should be a 'none of the above' box on the form which is where my X would go.
The trouble is I honestly think politicians from both current Labour and Conservative would say absolutely anything they think you want to hear to get into power, and once in will renage on their promises and line their own pockets at our expense.
They should be held accountable for every manifesto pledge they make. There was an interesting comment made about how to do this on a radio 4 program the other night.
Each manifesto pledge is worth a number of points.
Then each year they are given those points for each pledge they have failed to follow through.
A certain number of points gained - say 12 for the sake of argument as its a number close to all our hearts - and your licence to govern is revoked for a year. Potentially forcing them out of a job.
It would get my vote, but can you ever imagine a government implementing it? I think not.
loltolhurst said:
i think you have hit the nail on the head - people will see labour who will keep services or tories who will cut them back. most people do not understand the debt issue or care. why would they vote for higher tax ( perceived ).
i will still vote tory to get them out but i can see how they are going to lose it.
+1i will still vote tory to get them out but i can see how they are going to lose it.
People vote with their own interests above that of the nation and who can blame them (it's human nature).
Those on benefits, students, OAPs,new immigrants, many civil servants, local authority workers will all vote Labour because of the perception that the 'nasty tories' will make sweeping cuts in their sector. Even if those cuts are beneficial to the nation in the long term.
Thats a huge vote bank Dave has to overcome.
s2art said:
Tony*T3 said:
wiffmaster said:
You mind telling us what sector you work in, to feel at risk from the cutbacks?
Big I.T. outsourcing, paid for by the Taxman generally. Yup...
Cuts are coming.
The difference between the big two in this regard is that one is being honest to us...and the other one is not. You have a guess at which one is not
I'm not too impressed with the way the Tories have handled this situation. They had a golden opportunity to put this election in the bag long before voting day....and they have thrown it away through lack of action in my opinion.
There is no way in Hell that I am voting labour after being lied to the last 13 years. But I probably will nott be voting Tory eitther, unless I hear some dramatic change in policy leading up to the election.
I am so disillusioned with how our Parliament is behaving and treating the citizens....and I think a message needs to be sent. On that basis, I am probably voting for one of the fringe parties at the moment....hoping for a hung parliament.
In my eyes, both Labour & Conservatives have become extremely complacent, and do not have mine, or the countries best interests at heart.
Cuts are coming.
The difference between the big two in this regard is that one is being honest to us...and the other one is not. You have a guess at which one is not
I'm not too impressed with the way the Tories have handled this situation. They had a golden opportunity to put this election in the bag long before voting day....and they have thrown it away through lack of action in my opinion.
There is no way in Hell that I am voting labour after being lied to the last 13 years. But I probably will nott be voting Tory eitther, unless I hear some dramatic change in policy leading up to the election.
I am so disillusioned with how our Parliament is behaving and treating the citizens....and I think a message needs to be sent. On that basis, I am probably voting for one of the fringe parties at the moment....hoping for a hung parliament.
In my eyes, both Labour & Conservatives have become extremely complacent, and do not have mine, or the countries best interests at heart.
Tony*T3 said:
wiffmaster said:
You mind telling us what sector you work in, to feel at risk from the cutbacks?
Big I.T. outsourcing, paid for by the Taxman generally. Funk said:
s2art said:
Tony*T3 said:
wiffmaster said:
You mind telling us what sector you work in, to feel at risk from the cutbacks?
Big I.T. outsourcing, paid for by the Taxman generally. fbrs said:
Tony*T3 said:
having voted for Tony Blair's lot on the previous 2 occasions.
thats great thanks very much. your man and his chancellor did a great job.and ffs vote one way or the other. if we get a hung parliament the country is finished
Edited by fbrs on Saturday 20th February 21:20
Tony*T3 said:
But the big problem I have is that I'm afraid of what affect voting conservative will have on my family. Camerons promise of swinging cut backs means my employment prospects over the next 3-4 years would be worse. His carte-blanche to wield the axe and blame all the future hard ships on the previous government scares me.
And therein lies the problem we as a nation face. What's to stop Labour (or any other political party for that matter) increasing the public-sector ad-infinitum such that they are in effect buying votes? I don't particularly blame you for putting your and your families well-being first. However, should everyone do as you do, Britain will decline further and faster in my opinion, with an incumbent Labour government who are out of ideas and have shown how to run a country in such a way as to be on the brink of losing our triple-A credit rating.The general voting public won't want to vote for even higher taxes, Labour know this and so have borrowed instead. What joe public don't think about is that this debt has to be repaid, by higher taxes in the future. Public borrowing = deferred taxation. We simply cannot afford as a country to carry on - change is needed. We need a government with a mandate for change. Labour won't be able to admit their mistakes and thus make the radical changes necessary. Though I am disappointed in some of the policies (or lack thereof) that the Tories have come up with thus far, they're the only realistic choice and just hope they have the courage to make the right decisions if and when they take charge.
the_smalls said:
Tony*T3 said:
But the big problem I have is that I'm afraid of what affect voting conservative will have on my family. Camerons promise of swinging cut backs means my employment prospects over the next 3-4 years would be worse. His carte-blanche to wield the axe and blame all the future hard ships on the previous government scares me.
And therein lies the problem we as a nation face. What's to stop Labour (or any other political party for that matter) increasing the public-sector ad-infinitum such that they are in effect buying votes? I don't particularly blame you for putting your and your families well-being first. However, should everyone do as you do, Britain will decline further and faster in my opinion, with an incumbent Labour government who are out of ideas and have shown how to run a country in such a way as to be on the brink of losing our triple-A credit rating.The general voting public won't want to vote for even higher taxes, Labour know this and so have borrowed instead. What joe public don't think about is that this debt has to be repaid, by higher taxes in the future. Public borrowing = deferred taxation. We simply cannot afford as a country to carry on - change is needed. We need a government with a mandate for change. Labour won't be able to admit their mistakes and thus make the radical changes necessary. Though I am disappointed in some of the policies (or lack thereof) that the Tories have come up with thus far, they're the only realistic choice and just hope they have the courage to make the right decisions if and when they take charge.
To the OP, to put your family first you must have a good income hopefully whilst enjoying what you do.
To achieve that you need a sustainable successfull econmy built on solid foundations around you.
You are putting the cart before the horse burying your head in the sand saying that Labour will give you a job for life, its the one you have, you must keep it at all costs.
You must not fear change.
To put you family first you need to vote for a sustainable balanced economy.
Labour never have and never will give you that.
To achieve that you need a sustainable successfull econmy built on solid foundations around you.
You are putting the cart before the horse burying your head in the sand saying that Labour will give you a job for life, its the one you have, you must keep it at all costs.
You must not fear change.
To put you family first you need to vote for a sustainable balanced economy.
Labour never have and never will give you that.
lets start a list of reasons not vote labour or for a hung parliament like the other group, heres a few but there must be thousands by now...
1. Iraq
2. Afghanistan
3. Economy
4. Unemployment
5. NHS
6. Failed IT Projects costing the taxpayer billions lol maybe relevent to the op
7. Removal of Civil Liberties
8. Spying on the public using CCTV
9. Torture on British Subjects
10. Student Fees
11. Drones to be implemented post election to spy on the public
12 ID Cards to be mandatory post election, criminal offence not to carry one
13 Billions of taxpayers money to be sent to Africa via the Copenhagen Climate Change Scam
14 British Workers jobs to be offshored, with grants by the UK Government to India and China to expedite it.
15 Public to be charged for using major public roads with a congestion charge/tax
16 Married Couples to be penalised via the tax system
17 Open door policy on immigration to lower the wages of the working classes
18 Commit troops to fight a war in Iran
19 Fraudulant payments to Labour cronies via PFI
20 All public assets to be sold off to Labour cronies
21 Blair and Brown to continue to evade the international criminal court
22 Destroying private sector pensions
23 Spending hundreds of millions on publicity when the bbc could be used for free
24 Home information packs right before a house market crash
25 no more boom and bust
26 selling all the gold off and quandering the proceeds
27 selling mobile phone licences for billions and squandering the proceeds
28 no referendum on lisbon treaty
29 pumping 200billion into the economy and lowering rates to 0.5 achieving nowt growth
30 suggesting that making cuts will send us into recession when a recession is needed to rebalance
31 the iraq enquiry
32 health and safety
33 fred the shred and his massive pension
34 golden handshakes for the fat speaker etc
35 mps claiming expenses for achieving nothing of value for the country
36 mindless bureaucracy
37 endless amount of new taxes and laws
38 devaluation of sterling
39 penalising savers for the wrongs of others
40 rise in obesity
41 rise in crime
42 quangos
43 bringing sleeze to downing street
44 ignoring warnings of the credit crunch
45 breaking up regulation in the city and turning a blind eye to it
46 manufacturing down from 22percent to 11percent
47 loss of corus jobs
48 increase in social security
1. Iraq
2. Afghanistan
3. Economy
4. Unemployment
5. NHS
6. Failed IT Projects costing the taxpayer billions lol maybe relevent to the op
7. Removal of Civil Liberties
8. Spying on the public using CCTV
9. Torture on British Subjects
10. Student Fees
11. Drones to be implemented post election to spy on the public
12 ID Cards to be mandatory post election, criminal offence not to carry one
13 Billions of taxpayers money to be sent to Africa via the Copenhagen Climate Change Scam
14 British Workers jobs to be offshored, with grants by the UK Government to India and China to expedite it.
15 Public to be charged for using major public roads with a congestion charge/tax
16 Married Couples to be penalised via the tax system
17 Open door policy on immigration to lower the wages of the working classes
18 Commit troops to fight a war in Iran
19 Fraudulant payments to Labour cronies via PFI
20 All public assets to be sold off to Labour cronies
21 Blair and Brown to continue to evade the international criminal court
22 Destroying private sector pensions
23 Spending hundreds of millions on publicity when the bbc could be used for free
24 Home information packs right before a house market crash
25 no more boom and bust
26 selling all the gold off and quandering the proceeds
27 selling mobile phone licences for billions and squandering the proceeds
28 no referendum on lisbon treaty
29 pumping 200billion into the economy and lowering rates to 0.5 achieving nowt growth
30 suggesting that making cuts will send us into recession when a recession is needed to rebalance
31 the iraq enquiry
32 health and safety
33 fred the shred and his massive pension
34 golden handshakes for the fat speaker etc
35 mps claiming expenses for achieving nothing of value for the country
36 mindless bureaucracy
37 endless amount of new taxes and laws
38 devaluation of sterling
39 penalising savers for the wrongs of others
40 rise in obesity
41 rise in crime
42 quangos
43 bringing sleeze to downing street
44 ignoring warnings of the credit crunch
45 breaking up regulation in the city and turning a blind eye to it
46 manufacturing down from 22percent to 11percent
47 loss of corus jobs
48 increase in social security
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