Sad
Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

I barely care about the UK General Election

Given that I'm British and a politics obsessive, people might find that strange. I'm also a member of the party (Labour) that is set to win. I'm not heavily invested in this at all.

One reason is that the result is virtually a foregone conclusion. Ever since the short (but disastrous) Liz Truss premiership, Labour has had a twenty-point lead in the polls and there is no sign of this shifting. After thirteen years of Tory rule, the British public has had enough anyway and it the sentiment you hear everywhere is that its time to give someone else a go. I can't see any way that Sunak loses by less than ten points. Farage's reform party will not win any seats but they will spit the rightwing vote and make even some semi-marginal constituencies flit to Labour. Stamer will win a big majority, albeit in a low-turnout election.

The other reason is that there is such little difference between the two main party platforms. Labour has accepted the Conservative's tax, spending and borrowing limits and has very few distinct policies at all. In effect, the Conservatives have won even in the act of losing because the leadership of both parties is essentially centre-right.

As a Corbyn stan and outright leftwinger, I am going to get accused of ideological purity. For me, its just about having some minimal standards and being able to point to something and say that it is definitely better than something else. On domestic and foreign policy (yes Gaza) there is a paper-thin difference. A lot of less involved people are hoping for the best from a Starmer Labour government that explicitly harks back to the Blair years (minus Iraq presumably). They will be disappointed.

Blair presided over a period of economic growth when a de-regulated City of London (remember how that turned out) produced a surplus that you could use to fund some things while not raising income tax or borrowing much. Now we live in times of permanent slow growth and no such thing is possible. If anyone thinks that Starmer will fix any of Britain's long-term problems like housing shortage, the NHS or crumbling infrastructure, I have some magic beans to sell you.

The experience of a Stamer government is going to be like Cameron and Osborne. Austerity and choosing to prioritise the rich and upper-middle class over everyone else. I wish I was wrong but I'm not.
NickiHijab · F
A lot of people feel disillusioned because we're essentially voting for two sides of the same coin
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@NickiHijab Couldn't agree more.

A lot of centre-left people have tried to convince me that the Staemer project is centre-left. Its wishful thinking.
supersnipe · 61-69, M
@Burnley123 I don't think we'll know for another year or so. Labour's strategy has been to close off as many opportunities for its enemies to attack it as it possibly can, so we can't expect bold statements and grand visions.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@supersnipe It also closes off policy opportunities
MartinII · 70-79, M
I agree with most of this, though I would describe the leadership of both parties as centre left rather than centre right!

One point you imply, but don't make explicit, is that the divisions within Labour may become more obvious during the campaign. Obviously the left dislikes Starmer, with good reason. (So do I, from a liberal right-wing perspective.) But there is also an interesting trade union campaign against Miliband's green policies. I suspect these divisions may damage Labour a little, though not enough to affect the outcome.

More generally, I love general elections, not for partisan reasons but as a lifelong student of politics. I'm sure I'll enjoy this one, both the campaign and on the night, however much I dislike most of the candidates.
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
@MartinII Is that Milliband's original 'green' policy, or the rather tame version that remsins now he can no longer commit to £28bn investment in infrastructure?
MartinII · 70-79, M
@SunshineGirl The current version, specifically the plan to refuse all North Sea oil and gas licences.
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
The difference is that in the 2010s it was cheap to borrow, but Osborne made a dogmatic decision not to invest in infrastructure. The economic climate today is more precarious.

The lack of choice is not down to the parties, but what the electorate can stomach. We could have the more ideologically adventurous Corbyn, who would condemn Labour to yet more "heroic failure".

Labour has committed to decent public services and low taxation. These to my mind are obviously incompatible, so my interest lies in when and how the news is broken to the electorate. I know if the Conservatives are returned to office they will abolish inheritance tax and continue to unravel universal healthcare. That is a big difference for me.

As for a "foregone conclusion", I seem to remember people used that as an excuse for not voting in the Brexit referendum . .
@SunshineGirl the electorate doesn't own and control the means of communication - so they don't choose candidates or narratives. Conservatives, oligarchs, do that for us all - since Thatcher announced that we should have no choice. And we all are conservatives, now.
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
@Burnley123 I think it is fine to "prioritise growth", but the proceeds of that growth must be more widely distributed, probably via taxation. We live in a completely different world to that of 2010 and the old economic models are simply unsustainable.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@SunshineGirl Prioritising growth can also be a saying to excuse not doing anything.

I completely agree with the last sentence.
supersnipe · 61-69, M
On the bright side (I'm convinced there is one, in spite of reservations) I can't see anyone on the Labour benches to compare to Braverman, Patel, Rees-Mogg, Truss, or even Sunak. The future Starmer government (I reckon 80%-90% certain) may turn out to be disappointing, we'll have to wait and see. But it is unlikely to be downright sinister. I will be glad when this era is over!
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
@supersnipe Reassuring!
Philth · 46-50, M
As someone who detests the Tories, I will say that I don't think it's at all a forgone conclusion that they will lose. Their mates own almost all the media who have the power to influence beyond our comprehension... And there's still an awful lot of folk out there who are swallowing it. A few random tune-ins to radio shows reveal otherwise decent rational folk wrangling themselves with "well I know the Tories have done spectacularly badly, personally I don't like them and they have proved time and again their serial incompetence / dishonesty, but I think despite this Britain is still better off with their safe pair of hands with the economy"
It's just unbelievable and now is not the time to sit back and expect their demise as a given.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Philth I did say almost.

Because I don't see a huge difference, I don't feel worried about making a strong prediction.
Philth · 46-50, M
@Burnley123 ah.
I don't want to agree with you here, but I do.
Perhaps once day the masses may recognise the indicator of true change, which of course is that when the entirety of the billionaire owned media all gangs up on a person saying they're the biggest threat to the British way of life... A terrorist sympathiser, and anti Semite, someone who hates Britain... Maybe that's the person they're most scared of, the person most likely to bring about change.
smiler2012 · 56-60
@Burnley123 i am like you and want too see the back of the tories and out of power but nothing is ever a foregone conclusion as the f.a cup final showed yesterday a few sweetners and lies about labours plans and uncertain voters
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@smiler2012 As a manchester resident I am as shocked by that result but this one s more like Accrington Stanley vrs Real Madrid odds.
That's because your choices range from Thatcher's man is a wolf to man regime to a mildly apologetic thatcherism starmer - style. Americans feel your pain and turn your country to dollars every second of every killing day. Uber alles - there was never a choice.
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
Sad times.

Labour win yet can't improve anything.
Conservatives wiped out in Parliament.
I doubt Reform will record a Parliamentary seat....doesn't mean they can't cause chaos on local authority councils though.
@Picklebobble2 Hi :). I want to ask something but dont want to ask it publicly so anyone can see coz some people might make fun of me. Would appreciate it if youll send me a message so i can replay you with my question (coz for some reason i can't message first). Thanx :).
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
I think no government at this point can genuinely hope to be a good government. It simply doest attract the best people. And then there are the financial interests wanting a cut. The best you can hope for is the "least worst" government. And that applies no many where you are..😷
At least we can still laugh at (Un)Cleverly admit that he's going to take money from the most deprived areas and "invest it" nationwide...

[media=https://youtu.be/Bo7i2mDqSuk]
Sunak and Starmer are worse choices than Bojo and Corbyn

Neither party are selling their policies to me

Am really tempted to vote Green again
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
@jshm2 Not just any lawyer, but one of the most senior lawyers in the civil service. Boring he may be . . but his competence is tried and tested.
This message was deleted by its author.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@AdaXI this guy is Scottish but he disagrees with everyone about everything.
This message was deleted by its author.
ArtieKat · M
@MarmeeMarch MrNowhereman been reported for harassment by so many people that I'm amazed he's still here.

 
Post Comment