Who the should any of us vote for?

[Heym SR20]

This will open up a really strong debate.

I live in Edinburgh. For all my life I have voted Tory and my basic view is let people get on and run their own lives with as little interference as possible. And if they want to move, trade, do business, worship in a certain way etc, eat certain foods etc etc then get on and do it, but respect others views. Just about everybody will belong to a minority group of some description or other. But provided it doesn't harm others then so be it.

So my choices up here are:

SNP - not a chance. I really do not support nationalism and have seen at first hand what nationalism does in other parts of the world. I could go on a big rant but instead will just say Edinburgh Trams, Forth Road Bridges, Cairngorm Funicular and Rural Farm Payments.

Conservative and Unionist - well they have been in charge for ten years and we in a real mess. The Liberal rational centre of the party has disappeared to be replaced with a Nationalistic right wing. And they are leading the charge those of us who enjoy Fieldsports - they should be the pro-countryside / fieldsports, but they definitely are not.

Labour - well I don't think New Labour were that bad, but rather allowed the Financial crash to happen on their watch as they blinded and bamboozled by the money - they allowed the noses into the trough, and they have stayed there during the current administration. Jeremy is very left wing, but at least he is reliably very left wing.

Liberal Democrats - well the coalition government wasn't that bad was it. They seem like a sane sensible bunch of people - but seem afraid to upset anyone and just get drowned out in the noise - but I think a lot will vote for them, but its a bit like voting for the nice lady in the book shop.

Green Party - well up here just the Vegan part of the SNP. As far as I am concerned green stuff should be eaten by deer and cattle.

Pulled the pin and now standing back!!!

 

[VSS]

Possibly one of the most sensible and rational political posts on this site. Well done!

 

[Alantoo]

I hate party politics and have tended to vote for the local candidate and not his tribe. We have had excellent Constituency Conservative MP's (one stinker in between two good guys) and our current Labour guy is equally good.

There is no party that I wholeheartedly agree with all of their policies and I am always surprised when I meet someone who is happy to be a party animal through thick or thin.

Over the last few years a Conservative party stalwart has had to accept Cameron's remain stance, May's version of leave, and Boris having voted May's deal down three times now has his own...what does a Tory diehard believe? Just my party right or wrong?

Blair and Corbyn versions of the Labour Party?

I did one of those website blind policy choice things a few years ago and they reckoned I agreed with 20% of the Tory policies, 20% Labour, 20% UKIP, 20% Green, and 20%Lib Dem...pretty middle of the road me!


Alan

 

[Woodsmoke]

I'm completely confused. I voted both for Independence, and to leave the EU.

The SNP have never served my needs. Their time in government is littered with examples of incompetence and pandering to those they see as easy votes, and to hell with rural communities.

The Tories? Not a chance in hell. I despise all they stand for, and their patronising Unionist slant gets trotted out whenever they can be bothered interrupting their in-fighting to remind Scotland of just how much we need Westminster.

Liberal Democrats? Well, given that their main manifesto appears to be riding roughshod over the 52% of the electorate who actually want to leave the EU they really should have their heads hanging in shame.

Labour? With a leader who has documented links to some of the nastiest terrorists in UK history, and a track record of dismissing military veterans? Not even with a gun to my head. I'd rather pull the trigger!

With the pathetic offerings we're faced with, I honestly feel I've been effectively disenfranchised. I shall vote, but yet again I'll be returning a spoiled paper . . .

 

[enfieldspares]

Someone said here an Election isn't a marriage proposal. There may not be the "one" the "Mr Right". Very wise advice. Very wise.

So look at all the manifestos and decide on this basis:

Who is nearest to your views, hopes wishes.

Do they have a chance of winning?

If not. Then does the person furthest away in their policies from views and wishes have a chance of winning?

If they do then vote for the candidate most likely to stop them winning.

For sometimes our choice must by force be to hope for the best but at least remove the chance of the worst.

Even if that choice is then only voting for the least worst to stop the possibility of the absolute worst.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Even if that choice is then only voting for the least worst

Or as I'm fond of saying, choosing the colour of the snake that bites you . . .

 

[robinowen]

I am very disillusioned with UK politics, and have little trust in any of the parties. I tend to agree with a previous post, and to vote 'locally', but another side of me says to vote for the party that will do the least damage to things that are important to me. For a start; gun ownership, the countryside, genuine conservation (not the vegan militia!), freedom to do things, the economy, vital public services. Not sure where that leaves me!

 

[CarlW]

Not sure where that leaves me!

It leaves you well and truly up the swanny, just like the rest of us...

 

[enfieldspares]

Trouble is on their track record the party that HAS done the most damage to shooting is...the Tory Party.

And before anyone says Labour would have been worse remember this:

It was in 1988 a Labour MP, Robin Corbett, who in Committee told Douglas Hogg his ban would go no further unless compensation was offered.

It was also in 1996 Blair who by converting the Tory's de facto .22 Rimfire ban into a de jure ban that ensured comprehensive compensation for everything.

History has repeatedly shown that the Tories can't be trusted on shooting!

 

[Brighty3006]

Corbyn. Really!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Freeforester]

The ban on deer trophies etc hasn't yet happened as far as I'm aware, no?
If the lefty Grinaud is already having doubts about it, I'd imagine there is a chance that serious and dispassionate lobbying will sway the matter back to a more sensible, evidence-based decision.

Interestingly, given the cultural importance placed on deer stalking etc throughout Europe, this is one aspect that FACE might even be able to help influence in the sensible direction.

No need to throw the baby out with the bath water, imv; I should rather suggest you look ahead to the potential pitfalls of each party's approach, if you do this, then the Nats are obviously the choice no self-regarding lunatic would see beyond...

 

[bowji john]

Arguing or even discussing political preference is about as useful as arguing about sexual preference.

For most of us it is pretty much hard wired into our DNA

Pointless

 

[Freeforester]

Look on the bright side too - post Brexit, at least you will be able to stand a reasonable chance of influencing your elected representative, or removing them if not.

 

[paul o']

If you could boil them into a soup they would all taste the same ,that being full of gristle and a unpalatable tasteless brown mess smelling of BullShat . none are worth the ink on litmus paper .

 

[reloader54]

I am very disillusioned with UK politics, and have little trust in any of the parties. I tend to agree with a previous post, and to vote 'locally', but another side of me says to vote for the party that will do the least damage to things that are important to me. For a start; gun ownership, the countryside, genuine conservation (not the vegan militia!), freedom to do things, the economy, vital public services. Not sure where that leaves me!

"me too, , for around 6 decades now"

 

[bowji john]

For many it is not a vote for those they like

They vote against those they loath

 

[paul o']

Thats why I wont be voting ,iam not to be trusted to have a view and a free will ,this must be true as I voted out last time ??

 

[kes]

I'd prefer not to vote but regard that as the worst of all options.
Free internet for everyone massive spending, massive taxes for Labour, assuming one trusts a terrorist sympathiser of truly unbelievable stupidity and his bit of fluff who is even more vacant. Be clear you are voting for John McDonnagh if you vote Labour.
1p on income tax (minimum)for £37 billion to the NHS and considerably more for the spending plans of the Liberals, who would ban firearms tomorrow, possibly because they dont trust the people who use them because they dont wear socks and sandals.
I am expecting Boris to get the boot in a major upheaval after BEXIT, thus bringing to an end the 'rule of the mistress' and a return to at least a neutral attitude to fieldsports.
Given the woeful lack of effective politicking in support of our sport, external influences in support of shooting and the countryside are lacking an effective voice.
Voting Conservative for me is the least worst option and my MP is a fieldsports supporter.
If one were voting for competence there is no-one, voting for supportive policies, there is no-one.
So final default position - vote least worst.
The corollary is, of course that our view must be heard - anyone any guesses what that needs ?
Perhaps those who are members should ask ........

DEFRA binned lead - despite BASC, General Licences are back and available for comment - no thanks to anyone but the thousands of ordinary folk who 'rebelled'.
When you look at the party which has done the least damage (despite no discernible help to our cause from BASC) its the CONS - without Boris's mistress definitely for me the least worst. I truly feel for the OP but all things must end, let us hope the SNP do too this time or the Scotts are stuffed and probably on their own and outside the EU. Back to local cattle raids and territorial claims.
Other opinions will differ.

 

[User00035]

Conservative and Unionist - well they have been in charge for ten years and we in a real mess. The Liberal rational centre of the party has disappeared to be replaced with a Nationalistic right wing.

It was the liberal, rational centre - the heirs to New Labour - that created the mess.

 

[DeLaRue1953]

I'm no Tory but the only party that promises to uphold the democratic vote taken to leave the EU should they remain in power, is the Tories...as far as I'm concerned why should I vote for a party that promises to overthrow the decision taken by the majority the last time I voted?