Have you ever changed political allegiance?

[Craig the cyclist]

Never trust anybody who claims to have held the same opinions for their entire adult life.

How does that work then?

At what points in your life did you believe slavery was acceptable?

 

[Craig the cyclist]

As for political allegiance, I have been mostly Conservative most of my life. I haven't voted for other parties, but I have chosen not to vote at times.

I am not sure about tactical voting, rarely does it produce the result that was intended, and sometimes of course (because of FPTP) the intended 'victim' winds up with a larger majority because the tactical voting doesn't work out because the votes don't all go to one other party.

 

[Bromptonaut]

As for political allegiance, I have been mostly Conservative most of my life. I haven't voted for other parties, but I have chosen not to vote at times.

I am not sure about tactical voting, rarely does it produce the result that was intended, and sometimes of course (because of FPTP) the intended 'victim' winds up with a larger majority because the tactical voting doesn't work out because the votes don't all go to one other party.

Done properly tactical voting chooses the candidate with the greatest chance of sinking the likely winner. The Chesham byelection would be an excellent indicator; it's almost certain that instinctive Labour voters cast their ballots for the Liberal as best placed to beat the Tory.

My parents did the same thing in the then Pudsey constituency in the seventies/eighties in the hope of unseating the Tory Giles Shaw.

 

[Bromptonaut]

How does that work then?

At what points in your life did you believe slavery was acceptable?

Eh? Nobody said you had to run a gamut of opinions or change all of them.

 

[Ian H]

'Allegiance' is an interesting choice of word, seemingly implying that you can't have political opinions without belonging to, or at least always voting for a particular party.

 

[mudsticks]

Or have you always been party faithful?

I don't have party allegiance.

Although I definitely have political convictions.

I currently live in a very 'safe' Tory seat, this time a parachuted in blue rosette who was hoping to gain the seat 'easily'


However, our local, long council serving Independent candidate came as close as ever anyone has to changing that at the last election.

But not quite :-(

Usually here, even 'tactical voting, has little to no chance of changing things.

So I use my 'protest' vote to as closely indicate my overall leanings.

This usually means that I vote Green.

If they're not around then a n other candidate, from whichever party seems most closely aligned with my politics.


Electoral reform now.!

Fptp is not democratically representative !!

 

[Slick]

As for political allegiance, I have been mostly Conservative most of my life. I haven't voted for other parties, but I have chosen not to vote at times.

I am not sure about tactical voting, rarely does it produce the result that was intended, and sometimes of course (because of FPTP) the intended

'victim' winds up with a larger majority because the tactical voting doesn't work out because the votes don't all go to one other party.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_MacKay,_Baron_MacKay_of_Ardbrecknish

This guy was kicked out of Argyll by tactical voting years back and was swiftly made a lord.

 

[newfhouse]

This guy was kicked out of Argyll by tactical voting years back and was swiftly made a lord.

See also Zac Goldsmith and I’m sure many others. I expect there may even be the odd example from parties other than the Cons but they seem to have mastered it.

 

[mjr]

See also Zac Goldsmith and I’m sure many others. I expect there may even be the odd example from parties other than the Cons but they seem to have mastered it.

Lord Mandelson might qualify as an odd example?

 

[steve292]

I am a Labour party member, and have been an Union member for 35 years, which should give you an idea of which way I lean politically. I have voted Labour in all but one election when I voted tactically for the Lib Dems.

 

[Ian H]

I suppose my guiding principles would be democratic socialist, but I always vote for the least worst option.

 

[AndyRM]

Started my voting life with the Lib Dems, but gave up on them after their coalition with the Conservatives. Since then I've voted Green, though if I had the opportunity I would vote for the SNP.

 

[BoldonLad]

I have an allegiance to my political principles and my party allegiance almost always goes to the Party that closest meets them at the time, or not if voting for a different party stops the party that stands furthest from my political principles from winning.

Pretty much the same here.

 

[slowmotion]

I've voted for all three major parties at different times. I tend to vote for "the least bad" option rather than being enthusiast.

 

[Dolorous Edd]

I've voted for all three major parties at different times. I tend to vote for "the least bad" option rather than being enthusiast.

Me too. A lot of people don't realise this is one rational approach to voting, and seem to think that voting for a party means you have to agree with or defend everything they do.