How many former Tory voters in Battersea or Merton will be voting differently this time? Post Reply

[EthicsOfEJ]

Just to say that I'm finding everything so interesting this time. I have a friend standing in Merton for the Lib Dems, have a former colleague who is the brains behind the business side of the Green Party, a friend who has stood locally (used to live in London, now lives outside) for the Conservatives the other week as well as friends who aren't standing for, but are promoting Labour.

I have friends and family who are teachers, work in the NHS etc who feel very strongly about not being under a conservative government, but also know many who are strongly for Brexit - just not necessarily for this "Hard Brexit" TM talks about.

I want to read more about the candidates standing before deciding as that might help with my decision.....

Whatever happens, I'll always vote as it's a right we have that many don't have.

[GuyD73]

Denwand, thanks for the graph but I'm aware of the numbers. Regardless of what sums might theoretically be 'saved', it remains to be seen whether govt will put any of it towards those who were beneficiaries of EU projects. Or, it may be that our economy is so compromised that those funds vanish. Tories and May have broken so many promises and manifesto pledges, I think it's remarkable that anyone can bring themselves to believe anything she says...

[Denwand]

Denwand, thanks for the graph but I'm aware of the numbers. Regardless of what sums might theoretically be 'saved', it remains to be seen whether govt will put any of it towards those who were beneficiaries of EU projects. Or, it may be that our economy is so compromised that those funds vanish. Tories and May have broken so many promises and manifesto pledges, I think it's remarkable that anyone can bring themselves to believe anything she says...

Well if you truly believe that Corby or Farron have the skills and competencies to negotiate a better deal for the UK then good luck to you...

...and heaven help the rest of us.

[GuyD73]

I'm no Corbyn fan but Mayhem is an utter embarrassment.
She definitely believed that the UK was Stronger IN, then on a 48/52 split she changed her mind (not that anyone else in the country is to be given that chance).
She was against Heathrow expansion and now she's for it. Add to that broken manifesto promises on national insurance contributions, voting rights of Brits living abroad, among other things, then you have a weak, flip-flopping PM.
She's now refusing to take unscripted questions from the media for god's sake, and that's an absolute disgrace (anyone else have views on this particular point, it's unthinkable!) May will almost certainly be PM, I simply wish her commons majority to be reduced or limited so she doesn't have too much power in the commons, hence the exhortation to people to vote tactically. There are many like me who believe Brexit is far from a done deal, so I guess we are approaching this election from radically different angles Denwand.

[newbie_38]

Fully agree. Libdem all the way!
The French have demonstrated with Macron that nothing is impossible.

[parsleysong]

That is what I thought too Denward about the UK fishing industry, which is why I am surprised Guy that you are so massively Remain what with you and your family being in the fishing industry yourself - ok, selling rather than catching but still.... The UK has a really bum deal from the EU over fishing rights.

Your argument for the little guys in the fishing industry should be with Brussels, not the UK, surely? We've been in the EU for 40 or so years and still got a bum deal. The EU was set up for the benefit of the struggling French and then hi-jacked by the Germans.

Anyway, we are getting out, thank god, so don't waste your vote on Corbynista.

[TonsleyDad]

I have to say, coming from a fishing family and my father in his day running one of the largest fishing fleets in the U.K., not one of anyone linked to that industry up there still today voted to remain.

[Scottov]

I'm no Corbyn fan but Mayhem is an utter embarrassment.
She definitely believed that the UK was Stronger IN, then on a 48/52 split she changed her mind (not that anyone else in the country is to be given that chance).
She was against Heathrow expansion and now she's for it. Add to that broken manifesto promises on national insurance contributions, voting rights of Brits living abroad, among other things, then you have a weak, flip-flopping PM.
She's now refusing to take unscripted questions from the media for god's sake, and that's an absolute disgrace (anyone else have views on this particular point, it's unthinkable!) May will almost certainly be PM, I simply wish her commons majority to be reduced or limited so she doesn't have too much power in the commons, hence the exhortation to people to vote tactically. There are many like me who believe Brexit is far from a done deal, so I guess we are approaching this election from radically different angles Denwand.

Who are you really? This sort of parochial, partisan nonsense isn't coming from a "former Tory voter"

If you want to try to infiltrate and promote certain ideas you'll need to be more subtle.

Ps the unscripted question thing was shown to be untrue shortly after Michael Crick first tweeted it.

[Spenner]

I'm really surprised to see so many people assuming that the EU is out to destroy the UK and only the Tories can negotiate a strong deal etc etc. The entire 'war' rhetoric is coming from the Tories to excuse the fact that the UK will not be as well off out of the EU as inside it. You can't have the benefits of membership without membership - that's obvious, not a punishment. If you think the Tories are doing a good job of handling the run-up to these negotiations, read David Allen Green in the FT or on his blog. He is agnostic about Brexit (in fact, leans towards it ideologically) but is extremely clear-eyed about the chaos that is coming from the Conservative Party and Theresa May in particular. She is not a good politician. Anyone who knows anything about her time at the Home Office knows that she fought pointless, expensive battles on immigration while cutting police funding. She is posturing in the same way in the run-up to these negotiations.

I am not a UK citizen although I have lived here for a long time and I read European newspapers. Please don't be taken in by the right-wing press. May will not be a better negotiator for having a larger majority. The best chance for a 'good' Brexit (which will hurt the UK; there's no way around it) is to have a strong opposition in parliament. Realistically there is no way that anyone but the Conservative Party will win but they need the checks and balances of parliament to restrain and guide them.

[Denwand]

I'm no Corbyn fan but Mayhem is an utter embarrassment.

Who are you really? This sort of parochial, partisan nonsense isn't coming from a "former Tory voter"

If you want to try to infiltrate and promote certain ideas you'll need to be more subtle.

Ps the unscripted question thing was shown to be untrue shortly after Michael Crick first tweeted it.

Totally agree Scottov.

I think the use of childish "puns" on the name of those politicians that you disagree with is the biggest indication of this NVN members quality of argument.

"Mayhem" is neither apt or witty, it reflects a childish fifth-form attitude to political comment and has no place in constructive, adult discussion.

That's a bit unfair as I'm sure there is solid intent here, to show a tory government that there are people out there who don't totally agree with it...but the expression of that intent so far displayed is counter productive IMHO.

[Punctured Bicycle]

I have major concerns over the direction of the Conservative party. They seem to be pandering to the extremes while ignoring areas which voted strongly to Remain such as Putney, Battersea and Wimbledon. How any one can back Theresa May's Team given the ever growing obsession with immigration over economy is beyond me.

[storm35]

Former Tory voter here who will be going Lib Dem also. I totally agree with the earlier poster that Macron has demonstrated that anything can happen. Yes they didnt get many votes at the last election, but if a percentage of the 75% Remainers in Battersea still feel strongly enough about it and dont like being ignored by their local MP which we have (an MP who is more concerned about her Treasury Minister position), they should use their vote to highlight so. I met Richard Davis the LD candidate at their election launch night which I went to check out and I was impressed. As well as Brexit, he is very passionate about education also (he was a governor at High View), and against the cuts.

[gemima]

Bye Bye NHS!

[Spenner]

Yes, I think people need to look beyond Brexit alone (even though I think the Tories are handling it very badly indeed). The NHS, library services, children's services, the increase in food bank usage, the huge increase in government debt despite austerity... these are not people you would really want running something you care about.

I am not a Corbyn fan - in fact, I think he is dreadful - but five years of a weak, feeble opposition will do nothing for the UK. If Corbyn isn't the leader and someone else takes over they will be hamstrung by their lack of seats. Labour is on 30% in the polls; they really can't win but the more opposition there is of any party the better it will be for the country. I would encourage people to look at how their vote might be used tactically (vote Lib Dem where they can challenge the Tories, vote Labour where they are in a stronger position). Voting for the Tories means more of the same. Look at St George's Hospital - a flagship under Labour, deep in the red under the Tories. It does affect all of us.

[parsleysong]

One thing I find really frustrating that nobody mentions is why the UK isn't demanding and getting our fair slice of resources from Brussels in Brexit negotiations. We've been one of the biggest contributors into the Brussels machine with all of its staff, expertise and infrastructure since the 1970s so doesn't that give the UK a right to a quota of those staff working for us? Instead, it just seems to be May and Davis against the full might of Brussels. If Brussels expects the UK to pay an exit bill then I hope Theresa May deducts the UK's costs of negotiating Brexit from it and of all those salaries we are still paying for but not benefiting from, starting with Juncker's.