I have never voted Tory before… but I like what they do with stats and decimal points!

I have voted Tory before, and continue to believe that parties should be judged on their policies, not blind ideology based (primarily) on a combination of things that happened a quarter of a century ago and a distinctly distasteful inverse snobbery. (I also continue to believe that screwing the miners, sinking the Belgrano and the Poll Tax all pale into insignificance behind the civilian death toll in Iraq, and I wasn’t even particularly against the war.)

Having said that, I’m highly unlikely to vote Tory this time. Because I don’t find their policies on things I care about to be convincing. Same goes for Labour. And the Lib Dems. In fact, this is likely to be the first election (including local council by-elections) in which I’ve been eligible to vote where I decide to abstain.

Dear Lord, I wish this election was over. All this political willy-waving is just so *dull*.

A quick bit of analysis:

“@NeverVotedTory #IveNeverVotedTory before, but married people are just better http://twitpic.com/13e85s”

Fair political point, although unlikely to sway anyone (basically, who is going to vote for an anti-marriage party?).

“@jamesgraham #ivenevervotedtory Because I don’t believe in rule by aristocracy and selfishness.”

Neither do the Conservatives that I’ve noticed. I suspect this can be filed under ‘class warfare’. So, unless the voter is Sunny, unlikely to work.

“@CathElliott #ivenevervotedtory because I believe in a woman’s right to choose #prochoice”

Presumably a Nadine Dorries reference? Because it is certainly not Conservative Party policy (nor likely to be intention – there are a lot of social liberals amongst the MPs you know) so this would be filed under ‘lie’. Thing is, I don’t think many voters buy the line that the Conservative Party are the right-wing of the Republicans, because it is pretty obvious they aren’t.

“Scalded_Bollock #ivenevervotedtory because Jim Davidson does. And you don’t want to be associated with that cunt.”

File under ad hominem/smear by association. I doubt this will work with voters either, as there is basically sod all chance of them saying I will not vote for a party because some other person votes for them – not a member nor a contributer, just a voter.

So of the examples presented there only one is about policy, the rest are the kind of in-group message exchange that tweeting produces and which basically reinforces existing ideas amongst the converted, but also leads the converted to think that these ideas are widespread as they are constantly exposed to them. They also show a level of elitist thought (can’t associate with Jim Davidson), wishful fiction (aristocratic rule) and what I will charitably class as paranoia (Conservatives will remove womens right to choose).

Now, for fairness:

“@maxrhino #ivenevervotedlabour Because I conduct all my affairs from Belize.”

Are you sure this is by a Conserative? Still, funniest one here (not the most difficult title). File under Manchurian Candidate/Shooting self in foot, as this might be the most effective (for Labour).

“@VANTERHEYDEN: #ivenevervotedLabour because Labour introduced Tuition Fees effectively destroying a generation with debt. Do Labour ever not lie?”

Slightly outdated, since no party wants to abolish tuition fees. But does make a point. File under polemic/blind hatred rather than reasoned argument though, and at best this will reinforce prejudices against Labour.

So a quick reading of the example tweets suggests we are in the territory of reinforcing prejudice, especially as I doubt many non-politicos (Sunny, can I use that word or does it risk you being sued?) will notice much of this. Bluntly, I think this is a lot of fun for those involved (albeit one or two of the tweets were worringly serious in tone) but of very little use anywhere. And I would suggest being careful in thinking this sort of thing is useful for any political party – it has to go viral to be noticeable, and none of this has.

I’ve never voted Tory before… because I believe other people deserve a second thought now and again.

I’ve never voted Tory before… because I’m not a mental.

I’ve never voted Tory before… because I’m Australian, old, evil – and like to meddle in the political elections of other countries for the benefit of myself and my empire.

Excellent.

How much fun this is going to be for the next few months. Tories really don’t know how to do an ad campaign.

Contribution added:

http://badconscience.com/2010/02/15/ill-never-vote-tory/

I do like the Blair one. The rest are all a bit predictable and generally lacking in the wit and subtle “works on many levels” qualities needed for good satire (Mr Sagar’s being a classic example).

http://leftoutside.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/ive-never-voted-tory-before-it-was-easier-to-just-buy-them/

Mine works on at least two levels… and I’m almost completely certain its not libellous.

I’ve never voted tory. They’re my class enemy.

Labour are now too.

Oh bugger.

Unintended consequences, anyone?

Revenues from inheritance Taxes are disproportionately paid by residents of London and the South East region because house are most often the largest single assets in estates and house prices are higher in those two regions than in other regions.

Tax payers in London and the South East are also already subsidising public spending in other regions:

“London is a major net contributor to the Exchequer: Our estimates suggest that London continues to be a substantial net contributor to UK public finances, by between £6 and £18 billion in 2003-04, despite the deterioration in public finances at a national level, with the mid-point of the range of estimates implying a net contribution of £12.1 billion.”
Oxford Economic Forecasting: London’s Place in the UK Economy 2005-6
http://www.oef.com/On-Line%20Services/ClientsTriallists/LPUK05FULL.pdf

For a map showing the extent of fiscal regional subsidies and regional net exchequer contributions in pre-crisis times, try:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23416323-details/The+REAL+north-south+divide:+South-East+is+'bankrolling'+Britain/article.do

Ergo promises to raise the inheritance tax threshold or to abolish inheritance tax altogether are likely to appeal especially to voters in London and the South East.

“I do like the Blair one. The rest are all a bit predictable and generally lacking in the wit and subtle “works on many levels” qualities needed for good satire (Mr Sagar’s being a classic example).”

Mark M

are you saying mine is shit or good? (Your sentence is ambiguous)

“How much fun this is going to be for the next few months. Tories really don’t know how to do an ad campaign.”

How could they do it in a way that couldn’t be mocked?

If any party produces a poster all one has to do is change the wording a bit and hey presto! Admittedly it would be harder without pictures.

Richard,

The thing is, the Tory ads have been so spoofable it’s untrue. Labour has had a poster out, and it didn’t get anything like the same treatment because it basically wasn’t as vulnerable.

You’ve got to admit, the last 3 efforts from the Cons have been really poor.

@12 @11

Its something about the layout that seems especially vulnerable, like they’re hoping they can go viral, but in a positive way. The tory posters, with their big image vs snappy catch phrase has just been easy to spoof.

The CamerON/CamerOff poster just didn’t lend itself to alterations, funny or not.

The messaging with the “ill cut the… etc” and the “I’ve never voted Tory before” see sensible from an electoral or sloganeering perspective, but they still barely seem to connect with most people.

” I make military equipment and I vote Labour “. Thank you Labour for all the conflicts you have joined, my profits have never been higher!

They are funny.
Hopefully this will be the end of Saatchi type campaigns by all parties.
My wish
Pick the ugliest and most boring MP from each party and let them read a short paragraph about their policies and what they intend to for the next 5 years.
Each are given 5 minutes, then ban every thing else

I hope they keep churning out more bad ideas like this because it makes for great fun and photoshop action.

OK Folks,

What do you think of the Conservative’s versions? I thought the Shameless one was quite good because it mixes gripe with a well recognised parody:

http://mylabourposter.typepad.com/blog/

@17

Meh – at least mydavidcameron.com is vaguely independant, in a wishy-washy pseudo-left alliance kinda way ( click ). mylabourposter.com is merely an offshoot of the godawful cuntservative home (sic) site.