Would you ever vote labour again?

[theaxe]

Labour have been in power ever since I've been old enough to vote. I assume that they'll lose the next election (it remains to be seen just how badly) and so we'll have a Tory government. Now assuming they too succumb to scandal and crisis in 8 years time who would I vote for then? I can't see myself ever voting for labour but then in 8 years maybe I'd feel differently..

So I guess I'm asking, to those who are old enough to see governments come and go: do you tend to stick to the same 'least worst' party year after year or do you tend to vote for a change of government once the incumbent screws things up?

[AndrewW-G]

I couldnt see myself ever voting labour, but do think another option would be beneficial, the current situation is similar to the end of the conservatives last stint in power, in that most people irrespective of political leaning accept that labour have been in too long, have run out of ideas and generaly made a balls up of things again.

[Pooh]

I have always voted Conservative at least in part because Labour have a long history of leaving the country in a worse state than when they started and because I never fell for the "new" Labour con.

[Asterix]

If we go back and look at the last time there was call for change - the tories had been in for ages, rudderless and policy light - along came Tony Blair. Forget about 'old Labour'. Blair's proposition seemed to have nothing to do with them. Remember that he was the housewives favourite - they are always the swing voters you need to embrace.

Embrace? He felt them up and they loved it! The core Tory and Labour voters are tiny groups. Get the floaters in bulk and you get a massive swing. Only this time, virtually everyone is hacked off with Labour and what has happened over the last 5yrs will resonate in history - that never really happened to the last Tory administration - it sort of pettered out with a whimper. This administration is going out with a huge bang for all the wrong reasons.

The only thing I can see in the future is a new party that is far more UK centric as the EU will really start to bite hard.

Just my humble opinion of course.

[NismoGT]

No!

[Exoticaholic]

Never voted for Labour in any of the general elections and I'm 43 yrs old.

When they got voted in, in 1997 I knew the country would go into the s*** long term.

The past 12 years speak for themselves!

[Puggit]

I'm 35, so my adult working life has been spent under Labour. I grew up under the Tory administration of Maggie and Major.

I've never voted Labour, and certainly after this government - I never will.

[Alex]

What do you mean, "again"?

[Fittster]

Vote? You've got to be kidding.

[tank slapper]

1997 was the first election I was eligible to vote in, and I didn't vote Labour then or since. I thought Blair was incredibly false, and did not trust him. I can remember a lot of people my age being vociferous in their condemnation of the Conservatives and how it would all be different and wonderful under 'New Labour'. I wonder how they feel now looking back.

[SGirl]

Asterix said:

Only this time, virtually everyone is hacked off with Labour and what has happened over the last 5yrs will resonate in history - that never really happened to the last Tory administration - it sort of pettered out with a whimper. This administration is going out with a huge bang for all the wrong reasons.

I was wondering about this. I wonder whether people will still be saying in 15 years' time that things are all Blair's/Brown's fault, the way they do with Thatcher even now?

[SeeFive]

Never have, never will.

[TheLemming]

SGirl said:

Asterix said:

Only this time, virtually everyone is hacked off with Labour and what has happened over the last 5yrs will resonate in history - that never really happened to the last Tory administration - it sort of pettered out with a whimper. This administration is going out with a huge bang for all the wrong reasons.

I was wondering about this. I wonder whether people will still be saying in 15 years' time that things are all Blair's/Brown's fault, the way they do with Thatcher even now?

Problem is we will likely still be feeling the aftereffects of this government even then.

[s2art]

SGirl said:

Asterix said:

Only this time, virtually everyone is hacked off with Labour and what has happened over the last 5yrs will resonate in history - that never really happened to the last Tory administration - it sort of pettered out with a whimper. This administration is going out with a huge bang for all the wrong reasons.

I was wondering about this. I wonder whether people will still be saying in 15 years' time that things are all Blair's/Brown's fault, the way they do with Thatcher even now?

Labour screwed up almost as badly in the 70's. Trouble is that by 97 too many people had either forgotten or were too young to remember the utter disaster Labour were.
So it will be similar this time, massive pain for a few years, ala Thatcher, to sort things out. An large number of people blaming the Tories for evermore because they cant accept that blame lies with the socialists. A new generation of voters come along in 10-15 years and believe the BS, so Labour get in again. Rince, wash and repeat.

[Exoticaholic]

tank slapper said:

1997 was the first election I was eligible to vote in, and I didn't vote Labour then or since. I thought Blair was incredibly false, and did not trust him. I can remember a lot of people my age being vociferous in their condemnation of the Conservatives and how it would all be different and wonderful under 'New Labour'. I wonder how they feel now looking back.

[rpguk]

Politics is organic and a good party should evolve it's ideas in line with the needs and wants of their electorate. Therefore even though I've not voted Labour before and certainly won't be voting Labour at the next election I will listen to what they say and in the future if they are right for the time I'd consider it.

As it happens I don't think the first term of Blair was too bad.

And 'safe' votes are dangerous for society IMHO, just like these old northerners who bang on about never voting conservative.

[s2art]

rpguk said:

As it happens I don't think the first term of Blair was too bad.

It takes a while before bad policies can really do significant damage, the rot was there for anyone to see after Winky abandoned 'prudence'.

[BrassMan]

If Labour fielded a strong candidate in my constituency, definitely. However as they seem to impose candidates from party headquarters now, that's not really going to happen.

[eldar]

rpguk said:

And 'safe' votes are dangerous for society IMHO, just like these old northerners who bang on about never voting conservative.

I live in a solid labour, northern working class place. 10 years ago solid labour, full of "old northerners who bang on about never voting conservative". They were Old Labour, and started to get pissed off with Blair fairly quickly (but still solid labour). They died off, and their place has been taken by a new generation of more floaty voters, better off and without the tribal loyalties. Still instinctively trust labour more than tories (though distrust all politicians).

One side effect is a fairly large move to BNP from Labour, which means this solid labour seat is now marginal, with the tories benefiting from BNP defectors.

[Balmoral Green]

BrassMan said:

If Labour fielded a strong candidate in my constituency, definitely. However as they seem to impose candidates from party headquarters now, that's not really going to happen.

Brave post on this site.

No respect for your right to vote for whom you want to on here, just abuse. One of the less savoury aspects of this site IMO.

"I don't agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

But just not around here