Think Nationally, Act Locally, Vote Tactically

[snorkackcatcher]

I'm pretty much a tactical voter.

Party loyalty is a good thing in general political terms, but in the polling booth it's often an unaffordable luxury under our first-past-the-post system. You need to aim for the best result possible, not the best possible result -- a second-best choice is far better than one you can't stand.

In short, while my general political preferences might best be described as somewhat to the right of Old Labour (i.e. decidedly to the left of New Labour), I simply vote for whichever not-Tory has the best chance to win. Why yes, I do remember the days of Thatcherism and Majorism -- and indeed I have a local council who seem determined to remind everybody what those days were like (thanks to nineveh_uk for pointing out the link). Here in Hammersmith, a Labour vote is in order. In Torbay, where I used to live, there was an easy vote for the well-respected local Lib Dem candidate.

So if you're in a marginal and would prefer not to elect a Tory MP, please, please forget party lines and pick the candidate with the best chance of beating them. Hold your nose if necessary. Labour -- yes, they've made some big mistakes, but do at least have some conception that they're supposed to govern for the best interests of the country in general, not just the Right Sort Of Chaps. The Lib Dems -- untested, but so what? They have some perfectly reasonable policies and overall I have no showstopper problem with them, or with the idea of a hung parliament in which they act as a mediating influence.

The Conservatives -- no, I don't think any changes they've made run deeper than the tactical. As I say, I remember 1979-97, and Mrs Thatcher entering 10 Downing Street for the first time sounding much like David Cameron does now and quoting St Francis of Assisi: "Where there is discord, may we bring harmony ... where there is despair, may we bring hope." That didn't work out too well, did it?

Well, one good tactic deserves another. It's the way to vote.

Comments

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

It's the disingenuousness that infuriates me. If you (general you) want to vote Conservative because you believe that child poverty should be increased (from 1 in 7 to 1 in 3 in '79-97), because you prefer their stance on Europe, want to reduce inheritance tax for the richest, favour limited regulation of business, oppose the minimum wage, support the landed interest, or want to restrict abortion rights, then fine. Say so. That is your right.

But if you say that you are voting Conservative because "they are all the same" then either you are lying, or you are wilfully and shamefully ignorant, and either way I am pretty disgusted. I remember the north in the 80s. I wasn't very old, but I remember it. If you have the privilege of not doing so, well, think about why that is.

(I classify myself as a Scandinavian-style social democrat. Neil Kinnock's daughter-in-law leads the party in Denmark, which I find mentally a bit discombolulating in a generational sort of way. I will be relieved on Friday by anything bar a Tory majority, because my overriding political principle is that all toddlers should get enough to eat.)

[snorkackcatcher]

Sounds good to me. At least things have swung back a bit since the start of the year, when a Tory majority seemed a given. I just hope it doesn't turn into 1992 all over again.

I suppose people who grew up with Labour in power might think of them as the establishment, and the Conservatives as the edgy outsiders they want to vote for as a rebellious gesture. Buyer's remorse seems likely.

I didn't know that about Denmark. I find it oddly pleasing.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

the Conservatives as the edgy outsiders they want to vote for as a rebellious gesture

*throws up* But yes, entirely plausible. And Buyer's Remorse is the perfect way of putting it. It won't seem such a good way to stick it to 'em when your mum doesn't get a referral to a cancer specialist for 6 months.

Personally I do favour full proportional representation (and yes, I accept that means potentially a couple of BNP MPs) giving us Scandinavian-style coalition with a Right, Left, Centre Right, Centre Left party, plus greens, regional parties, nationalists and communists, accurately representing the views of the electorate whilst mitigating the potential for "we've got the votes, screw you".

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Grah, that's why I hate the 1stPtP system so much, and am rather grateful I can't vote in a Westminster election - I hate Tories and New Labour with the same passion. They're evil in different ways and shades, but equally *evil*! Though gut-instinct still makes me flinch harder from the Tories. I'm sort of glad there are other reasonable options here up north.

But voting for most of my adult life under a proportional representation system where the hardest bit of tactical voting was to pick whichever smallish left-wing party actually had a chance of making it across the 5% minimum limit, the though of choosing the slightly less ugly one of two large toads is pretty terrifying...

[snorkackcatcher]

Like nineveh_uk above, I can't agree that they're as bad as each other. That kind of argument got George Bush enough votes to be elected appointed by the US Supremes ... I think New Labour have bought into and internalised too many right-wing arguments in a sort of political Stockholm Syndrome, and getting involved in Iraq was an culpable act of great stupidity, but -- no, not the same for me.

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

It's the combination of pro-war, pro-nuclear weapons, involvement in torture, autocratic government, erosion of civil liberties, slaves to the tabloids, left-wing rhetoric alongside utter lack of left-wing practice, lack of success in fighting poverty, 'light-touch' banking regulation that produced the economic mess, intransparency, corruption...

That's what I'd expect from the Tories - but watching a party I once admired losing its integrity (it's soul, in a way) like that hurts even more. And in their own way, I feel they've become as dangerous and harmful as the Tories.

[snorkackcatcher]

True, the "only Nixon can go to China" effect works in reverse as well, unfortunately. But since all those would likely have been the same or worse under a truly right-wing government, plus anything else they threw into the mix ... I agree wholeheartedly with the argument that a left-wing party that loses touch with its roots and becomes right-wing-lite is a bad thing, and depressing. I just think it's a dangerous gamble to risk what the real right-wing McCoy might do by treating them as virtually equivalent.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

And in their own way, I feel they've become as dangerous and harmful as the Tories.

I'm sorry, but for people vulnerable because of dependent upon social services - and that's an awful lot of people - that is simply not true. I disagree vehemently with some of what Labour has done re. foreign policy and civil liberties over the past few years - although I feel it is safe to say that on their record since 1979 (has everyone forgotten internment?) the Conservatives would have been the same. No, Labour didn't make the progress on poverty they wanted to, but progress they have made has been has been real and significant. Sure Start, the minimum wage, Scottish and Welsh devolution, massively reduced hospital waiting lists, child tax credit, lower crime, the Regional Development Fund - all these have made very real differences to people's lives, and the Opposition opposed them. Where Labour is culpable is in not trumpteting these achievements to people who don't depend on them and so are in the luxurious position of not really risking anything if they are lost.

[lyras.livejournal.com]

I also used to live in Hammersmith - in fact, we got out just after the last general election. Hari's article is extremely depressing. Fingers crossed that Hammersmith and Fulham, at least, gets its Labour MP back!

[snorkackcatcher]

Yes indeed. (I didn't realise you used to live round here.)

[maple-clef.livejournal.com]

I'm all for tactical voting in the current system. That said, I had no idea how to vote - given that my local Labour candidate was the one who publicly denounced Gordon Brown and called for a return of the death penalty! The Lib Dem guy seemed pretty good, but Lib Dems haven't traditionally showed at all well. Mind you, at least I got to vote... Seems like lots of people missed out.

I'm just hoping for anything but a Tory majority.

[snorkackcatcher]

Indeed. Unfortunately, exit polls are suggesting they'll fall short, but may have enough seats with a bit of Ulster Unionist support. Traying to brace for 1992 redux ...