Anonymous Poll - General Election

Whats gunner be the 4 words to asses the next Government, it'll be summat similar, hopefully not, time will tell.

 

In the elections since 1992, the turnout in Barnsley Central has not exceeded 60%. In 2019 it was 56.5%. That means that over 28,000 didn't vote at all - for whatever reason. Major Dan's majority was just 3,500. I have heard more than one person repeat the opinion: "They're all the same." Many other weird and wonderful reasons are advanced for voting or not voting. So for all the earnestness displayed by those of us who are engaged with the political news and campaigning, rationality only takes you so far in anticipating results. A sizeable chunk of the electorate are not so engaged. Handwringing about which policies should be adopted as being right and just is misplaced. Getting elected is the first and paramount consideration. Policies have to be firmed up later.

 

I agree that its demoralising. It seems so obvious to me that Reform is not a friend to the working-class yet a few million may vote that way. I hope Starmer has some answers in the next 5 years.

 

Although in a slightly different tack I do think people vote for all sorts of reasons. Boris is cuddly so Ill vote for him. Farage likes a pint so Ill vote for him. Corbyn can't even be bothered to shave so I'm not voting for him. I remember an election in the 90's when someone was asked why they voted for David Mellor the Tory....'He supports Chelsea!!!' Policy? What policy? Perhaps its me that's stupid -I'll just vote for someone who reminds me of my Dad.

 

In Keir we trust!

 

I hope that the 28000 do not grumble at the government (regardless of affiliation). If you can’t be bothered to vote, how can you be dissatisfied with the outcome?

 

I suspect the ‘all the same’ tag is not the real issue but more that Political parties struggle to connect with the general public and give them a reason to vote for them.

 

Agreed. Going to have a couple of ales to settle the nerves before the exit poll is released. Then off to sleep for a few hours before setting the alarm for 3 to watch the decimation in all its glory.

 

I'll give them a reason to vote for Dan Jarvis. My daughter was having issues with her electricity supplier that were getting nowhere for over 6 months. Within 48 hours of her contacting Mr Jarvis, the electricity supplier contacted her, resolved the issue, and paid her compensation (and then more compensation when she received a bailiff letter). I'm not saying it would have been different with a different MP, only that Dan Jarvis DOES work for his constituents and is not "just in it for himself" or "like all the rest" (whatever that means).

 

Me too; I've booked tomorrow off work.

 

Unfortunately for you then you don’t even know when you are doing it.

 

They aren’t all the same. Unfortunately the 2 main right wing parties cons/Lab are pretty identical

 

Hilarious. The first left winger to role out the 'they're all the same line'.

 

Have just been out, and put my vote in for Labour. I'm living in the Burnley and Padiham constituency, where Lib Dems and Greens have got precious little vote share in the past.

As for the "they're all the same". They're simply not. My big hope (though not expectation) is to see a Labour Government with a Lib Dem oppostion. Fear the Tories and Reform parties will do a lot better than people let on to pollsters.

 

Daily Star never fails with their front pages.

So come on who's going to admit to waiting outside a polling station at 7 am for them to open Bet there are some very early voters on here.

 

Either direct me to the post where I have directed personal abuse at someone, or apologise please.

 

I lived in the Buckingham constituency where he was campaigning in 2010 when the crash happened. It will forever be the weirdest GE I've ever voted in, and is the reason why I've been strongly supportive of Proportional Representation ever since.

John Bercow held the Parliamentary seat, and was standing as 'Speaker seeking re-election'. By convention, none of the major parties stand against the Speaker, so these were the options I had to choose from that day. Monster Raving Looney almost got the vote, as most of the Independents were Tories in one form or another. I voted for one of them, based on a local issue, but can't recall which one now.

Candidate/Party Votes Share Change

Bercow, John
Speaker
22,860 47.3% 47.3%

Stevens, John
Independent
10,331 21.4% 21.4%

Farage, Nigel
UK Independence Party
8,401 17.4% 13.9%

Phillips, Patrick
Independent
2,394 5.0% 5.0%

Martin, Debbie
Independent
1,270 2.6% 2.6%

Mozar, Lynne
British National Party
980 2.0% 2.0%

Dale, Colin
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
856 1.8% 1.8%

Howard, Geoff
Independent
435 0.9% 0.9%

Hews, David
Christian Party, Proclaiming Christ's Lordship
369 0.8% 0.8%

Watts, Anthony
Independent
332 0.7% 0.7%

Strutt, Simon
Cut The Deficit
107 0.2% 0.2%


I'd been a member of the Labour Party since the 1990s, but cancelled my membership around this time due to the farcical nature of not being able to vote for them at a GE. I only rejoined on the day when Corbyn had the whip suspended, which seemed a symbolic enough sign that they were going to try to become electable again. I expected it to take two electoral cycles for the recovery to occur, so getting to vote today with the opinion polls as they are is something of a political miracle. I'm keeping expectations in check regarding what some of the MRP polls are showing. I'll be happy enough with a comfortable Labour majority, but the mere fact that there's mention of the Lib Dems having a shot at becoming the official opposition is mind-boggling.

Let's see how things pan out when the exit poll drops. As someone with a mathematical background I love the fact that sampling circa 40,000 voters at 133 polling stations can produce a result that will be accurate to within a few seats at the precise moment that the polls close. From a mathematical perspective, it's a thing of beauty.

 

Labour through and through but living in North Norfolk means voting Labour is pointless so I’ve lent my vote to the Lib Dem’s as getting the Tories out is the most important thing in this election.

 

And that’s a great reason to vote for the person but how many people across the country think like that.
I have this debate regularly with my mates about are you voting for the person or the party/PM?
I look at it as I’m voting for the person none of my mates agree they see it as voting for the PM/party.
If as a general rule people don’t feel aligned to a party they are less likely to go out and vote.