As the GE looms, under our first-past-the-post electoral system, the choice is fairly simple: right v left.
Right wing – smaller state, with free enterprise and capitalism acting as the driving forces.
Left wing – believes the government should play an active role in regulating the economy and providing welfare (e.g. NHS).
Politics isn’t some abstract spectacle. If you live in a property, shit, eat, drive a car, your kids or you are in education, are in work, retired or looking for work – you do politics.
If you think every politician is bent, then so be it (even if that’s not the truth) but the alternative to an elected government is anarchy. For all its faults, our parliamentary democracy is my preferred state of affairs.
If you don’t vote, then the likelihood is that you will be governed by a party that does not represent the things that you feel are important. Furthermore, you forfeit the right to moan. Don’t forget the sacrifices that people made to allow us the opportunity to vote.
More recently Taylor Swift poignantly said, “It’s not enough to just want change … You have to go and make change by voting.”
Although – in England – there is significant choice of where to place your cross, the right v left principle holds true:
Right wing:
Conservative party.
Deform UK (climate denying, Trump supporting, Brexit crazies).
UKIP (does this still exist?)
Left wing:
Labour party.
Liberal Democrats.
Green party.
Independents (generally left wing).
If you are left-leaning and want to oust the present manifestation of the Conservative party (who – as right-wing ultras – demonstrate many fascist characteristics) then please think carefully about how you cast your vital vote.
Astonishingly, since as far back as 1918, the government of the day has been overwhelmingly out of kilter with the consensus of the country. For instance, when in power, the right-of-centre Conservative party had a lower vote share ─ bar the odd blip of 1931 – than the combined left-of-centre parties of Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
You may be drawn towards the Greens or Liberal Democrats, but if they don’t stand a chance of winning in your constituency then your vote will be wasted.
Thus, if you are more left than right at the forthcoming GE, I would recommend that you vote for the left-leaning party that can succeed. There are many tactical voting sites out there that can signpost you to the appropriate choice in your particular constituency.
Personally speaking, I have never lived under such a corrupt government and the damage they have caused to every one of us is heartbreaking.
The UK deserves better.
© Ian Kirke 2024
@ianjkirke
Title photograph by Elliott Stallion on Unsplash.