Mentioning that I intend to vote Lib Dem in the General Election brings with it the inevitable, what’s the point type comments generally from I assume the jaded dinosaurs from Labservatives.
Whilst it would be totally naive, to dismiss such sentiments, it’s also dangerous and stupid to make such comments unless of coarse you happen to be happy to live in a world that never changes.
In Kent a couple of years ago, Labour was the opposition party in Kent council, last year Labour were wiped out in the county elections with the Liberal Democrats maintaining and building on their support.
Lib Dems in Kent are now the opposition at county level, challenging Tories on nonsense like Kent TV, recently putting pressure on Conservative led KCC to be more open in how they spend our money, no surprise then that when Lib Dems wanted to discuss expenses during a council meeting Tories decided to have a 90 minute lunch break instead, lets hope spendaholic Tories didn’t have to put their hands in their own pocket.
Conservatives in Kent do not like us the public knowing too much about how they govern, which is why information on the failed Kent TV the wasteful Kent Health Watch is so difficult to get hold of.
My advice to anyone is vote for what you believe or for ever you’ll end up with lame deadbeat opportunist Labour and Conservatives for ever.
Couldn't agree more Tony. Crikey! Did I just think that, or print it!
ReplyDeleteSame here. I read something the other day from the Conservatives saying that a vote for anyone apart from them was a vote for labour as it took votes away from them. How dare they say who I should vote for?
ReplyDeleteI've spoken to several people who will be voting Lib Dem and I am feeling the same way. People say it's a wasted vote but if all those who don't want to vote for the 'Big Two' voted Lib Dem then they would be a serious challenge.
I don't think anyone is telling Adem how to vote. Instead the suggestion is to consider how one's vote makes a difference!
ReplyDeleteIn the present circumstances a Lib Dem or UKIP vote is more likely to achieve an outcome for Labour rather then the Conservatives and its whether one feels happy with that result?
The point of voting LibDem or for a small party is that over a number of elections a trend starts to emerge and thus you are not wasting your vote. From 1992 to 2005 the number of LibDem MP's returned rose from 20 to 62. So if you have voted for this party in recent years you are beginning to have an impact. Who knows what will happen this time? The only wasted votes are those that are not casted and let nobody tell you any different.
ReplyDeleteDR M please grow up its this damn simple, even for you, VOTE FOR THE PARTY that represents your views they might just get elected.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if more agreed then you wouldn't along with others be in the Tory or Labour party.
Thanks ECR for a rare admission and Adem and others for agree or furthering the strand of thought
Tony, on a balance of probabilities the Lib Dems will remain a minority party at Westminster with unusual ideas on the economy and fundamentally euro-centric policies.
ReplyDeleteGiven that we live in Thanet, rather than Cornwall, you might want to consider what your vote will ultimately achieve here as Thanet represents a marginal constituency which will determine the overall result of the General Election.
That give your vote rather more tactical weight than you appear to recognise!
Well, now that Cameron has said the Tories are the Liberal Party, Tony shouldn't have a problem, should he Doc?
ReplyDeleteHowever I suspect with the polls indicating a hung parliament in which the Lib Dems will hold the balance of power, there's more than a whiff of desperation creeping into the Tory campaign!
The problem with the Labservative gimmick is that, while it does have its charm, it has probably come too late.
ReplyDeleteLast year's KCC election results were interesting and suggest the Lib Dems are now seen as one of the "big" "established" parties. Given the expenses scandal, I expected them to do better than they did.
However, people voted UKIP/Green/etc as their party of protest and not Lib Dem - which is why the Lib Dems only made a net gain of one seat (admittedly a better performance than Labour's loss of 18, which was very nearly all 20).
The expenses scandal, which has changed the way many people see the workings of Parliament - and perhaps has made them look at the workings for the first time - tarred all three parties.
If the "Labservative" idea had been established prior to the scandal, then it may have been more successful and the Lib Dems could have made sweeping gains.
Then again, a lot of the votes would be "anti" something else rather than "pro" Lib Dem, and I'm sure all parties value the "pro" votes far more.
On the base point, as I mentioned to someone yesterday who complained about the number of "safe" seats across Kent, which has led to a feeling of disenfranchisement by non-Conservatives, a lot of it is psychological.
On May 6, when the polling stations open at 7am, every single party will start with zero votes. No previous ballot papers will be counted, only the ones for this election. Whichever party gets the most wins. Simple as that.
The idea of "I won't vote for Party X" because they have no chance of winning is little more than a self-fulfilling prophecy!
But, then again, what do I know!