Would you have to be insaine to vote Labour?

[RG Four Litre]

With the talk of elections looming next year and the current state of the country, seems to me that you would have to be slightly "off the wall" to vote for another four years of Team Gordon?

Apart from benefit scroungers,immigrants and employees of the BBC, who is really going to vote for them and why would they?

Is there something I'm missing as I cant think of one reason....

[Road Pest]

I can think of one. Gordon saved the world, insaine indeed.

[limpsfield]

I think they are at the point the Tories were in 1997 - where many thought you would be insane to vote Conservative and there was a massive groundswell behind Tony Blair which carried them into office.

But there will always be a hard core of labour voters (as there is for any political party) that will vote for them every election.

I think many have become vehemently anti Labour in recent years - like me - but I also don't think the Tories have so far managed to garner the sort of support that labour had in 1997.

There is no way that Labour are getting back in next year but I don't think we are looking at a Tory landslide.

[Martial Arts Man]

Never underestimate the stupidity of the average person.

Having said that, I'm not at all concerned about the GE's outcome. I see nothing but a large Tory majority.

There aren't enough turkeys imho.

[Crusoe]

The millions in the public sector that are still expecting a raise in 2010, pensioners if they are offered a big enough carrot, dole and disability allowance people who think they will be in for a harder time under someone else, and any ex-miners etc.

[Elroy Blue]

Reality check. Public sector workers (and I don't mean tactical equality and diversity managers) have been shafted by this Government for years. There is no sweeping desire for more of the same.

[OnTheOverrun]

You don't have to be insane to vote labour. You do however have to be of low expectation, still believe in class war, the politics of envy and that reducing hard won freedoms is a good thing.

[5unny]

Crusoe said:

The millions in the public sector that are still expecting a raise in 2010, pensioners if they are offered a big enough carrot, dole and disability allowance people who think they will be in for a harder time under someone else, and any ex-miners etc.

+1


6 Million + benefit claiments, millions of non-essential public service workers, OAPs (4/5 million?).

Sadly that's quite a large votebank.

The above may not like Labour but they do know life will be tougher for them under the Tories thus will vote accordingly.

[esselte]

5unny said:

Crusoe said:

The millions in the public sector that are still expecting a raise in 2010, pensioners if they are offered a big enough carrot, dole and disability allowance people who think they will be in for a harder time under someone else, and any ex-miners etc.

+1


6 Million + benefit claiments, millions of non-essential public service workers, OAPs (4/5 million?).

Sadly that's quite a large votebank.

The above may not like Labour but they do know life will be tougher for them under the Tories thus will vote accordingly.

And you reckon they'll turn out..?

[Soovy]

RG Four Litre said:

Apart from benefit scroungers,immigrants and employees of the BBC, who is really going to vote for them and why would they?

Should just about be enough.

[EDLT]

5unny said:

Crusoe said:

The millions in the public sector that are still expecting a raise in 2010, pensioners if they are offered a big enough carrot, dole and disability allowance people who think they will be in for a harder time under someone else, and any ex-miners etc.

OAPs (4/5 million?).

Sadly that's quite a large votebank.

The above may not like Labour but they do know life will be tougher for them under the Tories thus will vote accordingly.

Are you sure about that, Gordon Brown stole most of their pension money a few years ago.

[heebeegeetee]

5unny said:

Crusoe said:

The millions in the public sector that are still expecting a raise in 2010, pensioners if they are offered a big enough carrot, dole and disability allowance people who think they will be in for a harder time under someone else, and any ex-miners etc.

+1


6 Million + benefit claiments, millions of non-essential public service workers, OAPs (4/5 million?).

Sadly that's quite a large votebank.

The above may not like Labour but they do know life will be tougher for them under the Tories thus will vote accordingly.

I've never understood this thinking - firstly if it was true then Kinnock would have won an election, and secondly, it's the tories who have the reputation for putting millions on the dole, so if you like being on the dole tory should be your vote.

And they have absolutely no track record of making life harder for dolies. Twas the tories who shifted 'em all to incapacity benefits.

[tank slapper]

limpsfield said:

I think they are at the point the Tories were in 1997 - where many thought you would be insane to vote Conservative and there was a massive groundswell behind Tony Blair which carried them into office.

The interesting thing is, that economically we were in an extremely good economic position in 1997, something which can't be said today. Labour effectively got a free ride for the first 4-5 years because they didn't have anything to worry about with regard to finances. There was money to spare to give to the Labour voters, which they did with wanton abandon.

Assuming they get in, the Conservatives are going to be facing an up hill battle from the outset. The countries finances are in a perilous state, and there are going to have to be some things done which are going to be extremely unpopular with those who are used to the state giving them everything. The Conservatives are damned whatever they do - if they come down hard on state spending they get accused of pandering to the rich and hurting the poor, but if they don't do it, then there is a real risk of national bankruptcy. Brown has set a very nasty trap for Cameron and it will be extremely hard for him to avoid falling into it.

[fido]

heebeegeetee said:

I've never understood this thinking - firstly if it was true then Kinnock would have won an election, and secondly, it's the tories who have the reputation for putting millions on the dole, so if you like being on the dole tory should be your vote.

You obviously forgot about Labour in the 1980s - they were too busy battling their former comrades on the hard left, and too cosy with CND. Read about the 83-87 period (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Kinnock) when people still remembered the industrial unrest of the 1970s.

[RG Four Litre]

Well thats 13 replies so far and no reason to vote Team Gordon. Judging by the replies I throw down a PH challenge to put 1 reason forward to vote GB?!

As mentioned earlier I cant think of one, but I may have missed something...

[Martial Arts Man]

RG Four Litre said:

I throw down a PH challenge to put 1 reason forward to vote GB?!

It all depends on perspective though.

There are many lefty/commie types who get great pleasure out of a recessionary economy and more direct Labour policies of the past.

Just not many of them lurking on PH!

[Mondeohdear]

5unny said:

Crusoe said:

The millions in the public sector that are still expecting a raise in 2010, pensioners if they are offered a big enough carrot, dole and disability allowance people who think they will be in for a harder time under someone else, and any ex-miners etc.

+1


6 Million + benefit claiments, millions of non-essential public service workers, OAPs (4/5 million?).

Sadly that's quite a large votebank.

The above may not like Labour but they do know life will be tougher for them under the Tories thus will vote accordingly.

Actually, as a recipient of JSA myself I will be voting tory on the basis that they may actually do something to get us out of this hole. After all, my only chance of getting a job and crawling my way back is if there is an economy for me to climb up. I won't vote for Gordon's Morons just on the basis that I can carry on living off my £60 per week. I want a chance to earn a decent wage and keep what I earn.

[Soovy]

Mondeohdear said:

I want a chance to earn a decent wage

And that's why you are not like the majority.

[thinfourth2]

RG Four Litre said:

Well thats 13 replies so far and no reason to vote Team Gordon. Judging by the replies I throw down a PH challenge to put 1 reason forward to vote GB?!

As mentioned earlier I cant think of one, but I may have missed something...

The only reason to vote for labour is they aren't the torys

And the only reason to vote tory is they aren't labour

Which pretty much sums up the entirety of mainstream british politics

[heebeegeetee]

fido said:

heebeegeetee said:

I've never understood this thinking - firstly if it was true then Kinnock would have won an election, and secondly, it's the tories who have the reputation for putting millions on the dole, so if you like being on the dole tory should be your vote.

You obviously forgot about Labour in the 1980s - they were too busy battling their former comrades on the hard left, and too cosy with CND. Read about the 83-87 period (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Kinnock) when people still remembered the industrial unrest of the 1970s.

Er, well i did mention Kinnock. But either way, they weren't in power so it doesn't matter what they said.

All I'm saying is, if you like dole and benefits and want more of it, then vote Tory 'cos their track record in that department is nothing short of brilliant. There are generation who haven't worked since Maggie threw 'em all on the dole and they've loved it, it seems.

thinfourth2 said:

The only reason to vote for labour is they aren't the torys

And the only reason to vote tory is they aren't labour

Which pretty much sums up the entirety of mainstream british politics

absolutely.