We’re a minority so maybe Labour don’t care, but then again we’re not the first
or only minority they’ve outraged into the arms of the Tories or whoever can get
a sitting Labour MP out at the next election. Not only that but it’s not just
wavering, ’soft’ vote, middle of the road mummies they’re loosing, read the
following and weep Gordon:

I used to be a trendy left wing teacher but I’m voting Tory at the general
election. (I still find it hard to put that into writing.) Just off to put
`tweed suit and blue rinse’ onto my Christmas wish list… - Lil

Former treasurer of the young socialists and 1980 - 1998 card-carrying
old-Labour member here. If it takes a tweed suit and a blue rinse to stop Balls
and his stupid cronies playing bull***t bingo with my child’s education, then
it’s time for me to book into the local granny salon pronto. - Jude

…another lifelong but now x-lab voter here. This isn’t democracy, it’s
dictatorship. - Tina

Same here, I won’t vote for them again. I even joined their party a few year
back, never again. I will just vote tory now as even the lib dems have let me
down. - Janet

And another one here - former member of the Young Socialists, with parents who
were stalwarts of the local labout party for over 40 years, brought up
canvassing and electioneering for the labour party - I used to play with David
Blunketts dog in party meetings. My mum will be turning in her grave, and my
dad will consider me a class traitor, and I hardly can form the words “I will
vote Tory” without shuddering, but if that is what it takes to keep home ed
free, then so be it. - Janet

never thought the thought of voting tory would cross my mind, but threaten my
child and I will do what it takes - Maire

I was brought up canvassing … on election day our flat was the campaign
headquarters - I used to love it! My parents campaigned, worked for various MPs
as researchers. I did my work experience for a labour peer and a labour think
tank - I even appeared in a campaign brochure thing on education - bright young
thing with hopes for the future! I told my mum I was a single issue voter and
she was horrified! - Sarah

I used to be a branch secretary and trod the streets canvassing and leafletting.
I even, to my great shame, voted for Tony Blair as leader. I cut up my
membership card the day they scrapped clause 4. I’d never ever vote for them
again. As a socialist I couldn’t countenance it. - Lizxx

My mum says, “I can’t believe you’re getting into bed with the tories!” Never
thought I’d see the day, either. - Rosemary

I won’t be voting Labour for the foreseeable future. I stopped voting
Labour in the run up to the Iraq war. I could not vote for a party that
sends our soldiers to kill people elsewhere. But what else: Afghanistan,
ID cards, contact point database, Foundation hospitals, poor regulation
of the banking system, eliminating the 10% tax band, increasing
inequality, increased paper work for social workers, academy schools,
piece-meal privatisation of the health service, Trident, no
renationalisation of the train companies, SOCPA, detention without
trial, rendition flights, Margaret Hodges cow-towing to the BNP in
Barking, Public-Private partnerships, Working Time opt-out, the ejection
of 82 year old Walter Wolfgang from conference on terrorist charges, and
now telling me how I can or cannot educate my children!
I could go on, but my life is too short, and New Labour’s charge sheet
is long. What baffles me is how come the Labour Party has any supporters left.
Are there any self-respecting Socialists left within the Labour Party,
and if so, why? - Imran

Last Modified: Monday, November 23rd, 2009 @ 09:43