It was something of a relief when I found that I had supported the Labour Party policies more than any other party’s policies when I chose them without seeing the policies labelled by party. But it comes as no surprise that Greens and LibDems scored highly too.
Of course. the party policies are what they say they are going to do; my voting intentions are also informed by whether I believe them and whether i believe they have a chance of delivering them by being elected.
It is generally thought that this process, choosing blind and then the parties being revealed, favours parties like the Greens because maybe lots of us like their policies but we don’t realise it.
Did any readers of this blog get a shock when choosing policies?
Here is my quick guide to the party manifestos’ environmental content (click on the names for more info):
Labour: B+
LibDems: B+
Greens: B+
UKIP: D
Conservative: D-
SNP: little environmental content as SNP Westminster MPs do not engage, no rating
Plaid Cymru: little environmental content as SNP Westminster MPs do not engage, no rating
DUP: little environmental content, DUP MPs tend to vote with the Conservatives, no rating
Other parties are available.
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I was surprised to get 83% Green, 17% Labour although there is clearly some common ground. However, in my constituency it seems that Labour might have a better likelihood of deposing the incumbent Tory (there has been a Labour MP in the past). A problem as 1) the Green candidate is a former colleague who I genuinely like but 2) I want to see the Tory out of the seat as he has absolutely no idea about the rural component of his responsibility. A dilemma!!!
Check your constituency on https://www.tactical2017.com/#Wells
Unfortunately, although Norman and I only live a dozen or so miles apart, my constituency (and those that preceded it) has been returning Tories to Parliament for every election since 1841 (aside from an Independent Unionist in 1910 which amounts to the same thing). I’ve written to my MP several times on environmental issues (inc DGS) without enjoying any support whatsoever. Hence I feel entirely disenfranchised …
Explain to your friend that unfortunately because there is no PR that you will be voting Labour tacticly to get Tory out. I am sure he/she will understand.
A serious overhaul of UK ‘democracy’ is needed? But why would the usual suspects deliver such an outcome? They seem content with the status quo?
Given all talk about cuts in some areas, then how about leading from the front? Recall promises of a reduction to the 650? As for the 800 on £300 expenses a day …
Just done this survey – I picked 6 categories. I came out a surprising 50% green party, 16.7% each for labour, Lib-dem and UKIP. The last one surprised me most, as I see myself as labour/libdem……it was the health policy question that ended up UKIP (!).
Anyway, doubt I will vote green – no point in south Cambs…….although I doubt that even the lib-dem or labour candidates can reverse anything in this die-hard tory area. Still have to decide lib dem or labour, though…..
Louise – well done.
I came out 50% Libdem 43% Green & 7% Tory not sure which policy I agreed with them.
Tactical web site still undersided as to which is best for you
I was interested to see that Mark apparently favoured UKIP over the Conservative party.
Having looked at all categories, I seem to be a rather liberal democratic green with occasional socialist tendencies who supports not a single Conservative proposal. I’m somewhat bemused by the fact that it was the Labour Party’s environment policy that I supported – and rather more nonplussed by the fact that UKIP seems to be my preferred health policy overseer.
It would have been interesting for the survey to have captured other demographic/social info (age/news media of choice etc.). However, although the mix of folk who bother to fill these things in is rather different to that of the electorate, it would appear that my sitting Conservative MP, in what has probably been a safely blue constituency since long before the year dot will be fighting with the UKIPper for last place in M217.
On the tactical voting front it would appear I should be backing the Labour candidate. The problem is that I ardently believe in an integrated Europe, in a proportional voting system that through stability and providing rather greater chance or representation for all encourages progress built on evidence and what has gone before and is simply more likely to do better by the (natural) environment. So even if the Labour candidate were to unexpectdly sweep to victory in my neck of the (long ago) woods, there is little chance of getting Jezza to implement anything that won’t then be reversed by the next ‘true blue’ administration. ‘Bazza’ would be a decided upgrade as SoS for the Environment but Baroness Parminter is well worth a listen, whilst Caroline Lucas seems the most impressive of all the party leaders.
Surprisingly, the national picture presented by the survey responses so far is very much in keeping with the local viewpoint here. Elsewhere perhaps a change of incumbent looms…
I don’t know if it’s ignorance on my part but none of the parties seems to have a really strong message or convincing personnel vis-a-vis the natural environment. But perhaps that is the fault of those who have had the opportunity to lobby them over the last 25+ years.
Vote early or vote late but do please vote next week and then lobby whomever your MP turns out to be, whenever the need arises. Fineshade Wood, Hen Harriers, climate change, natural capital, marine protected areas, sea horses, pygmy hippos, et al. And also lobby which ever conservation NGOs you support to do rather better, and in a more joined up way, on the influencing front in future. If next week’s vote doesn’t favour responsible stewardship of the environment (and air that kills) then this will be even more important.
I’m also interested that UKIP outscored Conservative for you. Could it be their equal condemnation for the Iraq war and sending our ‘boys and girls’ overseas to fight stupid wars [but for different reasons] that got them points with you?