Tactical Voting

[Oneeyedvic]

I think I would like to vote Lib Dem in the next election ( I seem to float between Lib Dem and Tory), however there seems little point - in the last election , Labour had 50.4%, Conservative 39.1% and Lib Dem 8.4%.

Therefore, should I still vote Lib Dem (at the moment I am 55% in favour of them to 45% tory, in the knowledge that it is a 'wasted' vote since we do not have proportional representation, or should I vote conservative to try and make sure Labour don't get in.

On the other hand.....

Much as I would prefer a conservative government to a Labour government (and lets face it even the Lib Dems know they will not form a government), I firmly believe that we are going to go into an economic slide in the next 5 years.( don't want a debate on this - just my opinion.)

Therefore (on the basis of my opinion) should I actually vote Labour in the knowledge that the economy will really get messed up, and look to the future general elections where people will remember Labour messed up the economy and therefore have a strong tory government?

Any thoughts?

[stevie21]

Why not just vote Tory? I'd never do such a thing but there must be tons of people who have lost faith in Blair over his Iraq excapades who would now not vote Labour.

[Dom Tuk]

As the poll suggests even if there is a 5% swing inn favour of the Torys it will only reduce the labour majority, but they will still form the govenment. I am hoping that we whittle down the majority to a level where an effective parliament is formed and Labour cannot steamroll acts through parliament. The pity though will be the 2 main mongers of the Iraq war will have won their respective elections giving history the impression that their baisis for the war was correct.

[Ducati]

Interesting points - I think the Libs Dems are a lost cause, and their election slogan, the real alternative, is just laughable - I assume it is one of those things that if they repeat it enough they start believing it!

 

Voting Laboour in the hope they hash up the next term even more than the last two is certainly tactical voting in the extreme, and certainly an interesting gamble, and if I had the finances to cope with another Labour term I might just have joined you.

 

However, I will be voting Tory because I simply don't think I will be able to afford another Labour term: It is the general consensus of wisdom amongst political commentators, commentators who are significantly more savvy than I am about polictics, that the next term for Labour, should there be one, will be the tax hike term - even more so than the last two terms.

[Lillabet]

Surely this depends entirely on where you live.

If you will be voting in a constituency where the sitting MP is a Tory - then as someone who supports the Tories vote for them.

If the sitting MP is a Lib Dem and the Tories are lying second then vote for whichever you feel most drawn to.

If it is a Lib Dem majority and Labour are in second then bearing in mind you mainly want to vote against Labour then a vote for the Lib Dems is likely to be most useful.

 If the sitting MP is Labour then vote for whoever is the most likely to unseat him / her.

As I see it trying to make your vote a tactical one on a national scale is largely an academic exercise as our system is based on constituency elections rather than a national proportional representation system. The only influence your vote has is on who gets to be YOUR MP. Therefore there could be value in voting tactially depending on the circumstances there.

[FP]

Shall be voting Lib Dem because our local Lib Dem MP is amazing and has served us so well and honestly.  I want him to continue to make the improvements to our area that he works for so tirelessly.  Long live Mr Norman Lamb MP!

[bazwillrun]

CKennedy has just shown how pathetic he and his party is. I happen to earn over �100k, so not only would he like to take 50% off me in tax he will also hit me for god knows how much with a local  income tax which he reckons will only amount to more than the council tax for those who earn �40+k. Yup thats an election winner ! what a prat he is. Does he really think that i and countless others workour nuts off to give him even more money. He should look back to the days when people with high incomes left this country in planeloads because of the high tax rates. I can do my business from anywhere on the planet as long as i have an internet connection, so i wouldnt hesitate to go. I would always vote tory as a matter of principle. All politicians are liars but at least the Tories aren't hypocritical with it

[FP]

It's pretty obvious you are angry bazwillrun.  However, do you really believe that Charles Kennedy himself would get your money.  And your attitude smacks of  'as long as I'm OK, blow everyone else'.  Lots of people work just as hard as you do for very small rewards.  Each to him own ability.

Both higher taxation and the proposed fairer council tax would affect my family adversely as well, but I do appreciate that there are others in this country who are not as lucky as I.

[FP]

error:  'his own ability'

[mike1222]

Don't vote - they are all liars who say things in their manifestos that they know full well will never be implemented.  It's an absolutely futile waste of time and energy going to the polling station!!  Apathetic, cynical or just a realist???

[jenstar]

Unless you are somehow legally registered several thousand times AND are prepared to spend the entire day marking crosses on several thousand ballot papers, it really doesn't make a lot of difference how you cast your vote. Mathematically, one vote really won't make any difference.

[Lorcan]

I heard that the musician Billy Bragg, a known Labour supporter, plans to vote Lib Dem in an attempt to unseat Oliver Letwin.

[acw]

Bazwillrun....WHAT!?!  Torys not hypercritical?  Eh?  Do the words Micahel Howard and assylum policy mean nothing to you!?!