As a Landlord in the General Election I intend to vote for:

I think the sad fact is that at the moment the choice is far right or further right, or far left or further left.
As a democracy, history teaches us we are successful when the ruling party's politics are slightly left or slightly right and not extreme.
I was a lifelong conservative voter, yet I built my business under Tony Blairs Government and watched it come under attack at the tail end of David Camerons time in power. Although if I'm brutally honest I felt the rental sector where I am pretty much escaped the austerity cuts bought on by the recession and perhaps my taxes should have been a little higher ( NOT to the extent that George Osborne thought though, which were out and out destructive)
I will Vote Liberal Democrat this time, not because I am a fan of their policies, but more that I believe the best way forward is a hung Parliament in order to prevent either sides extremism. The Lib Dems, in my opinion are the only way to achieve this. Hopefully, in time we will settle back to middle of the road politics and get on with running the country like a business again as opposed to the primary school food fight it is at the moment.

The only sensible course of action in this election is to vote Conservative.

If we don't see a Conservative majority in Parliament, we will have further Brexit paralysis for months if not years. I voted remain, but if we end up with a Labour/SNP/Liberal Democrat majority we'll get a second referendum which will massively heighten the division in this country, as Leave voters will feel betrayed. We'll also end up with a vote to break up the United Kingdom - so more years spent arguing over the merits of a single in/out issue because the SNP can't accept the democratic decision of the Scottish people in the last referendum and Labour is happy to pander to them to gain power.

As for the Brexit Party, what is the point of them? Under Boris we will be leaving the EU and the EU customs union. Boris' deal is not perfect but it clearly is Brexit. Even Farage has acknowledged that a 'clean break' is a bad option by saying that he wants to compromise and get Brussels to agree to a free trade agreement. But that is exactly what Boris will be negotiating during the transition period. But we can't get to that negotiation until we've left the EU. Amazingly, Farage now wants to delay Brexit. You couldn't make this up!

As for tactical voting, if UKIP is any guide the Brexit Party is highly unlikely to win any seats, so by definition is a wasted voted. Better to vote Conservative in previously safe Labour seats as even these seats will be vulnerable given Corbyn's poor poll ratings and Labour's ridiculous fence sitting position on Brexit.

Two posts I think saying they will vote Lib Dem and one for Labour. Not many but I depair that any landlord - which is an occupation that demands more nous and common sense than many of the TV watching and mobile phone constantly watching classes who will also be voting will ever possess - can even be thinking this way! Heaven help us.

Reply to the comment left by Martin at 05/11/2019 - 10:50
I've heard this comment that Boris is 'far right' many times now. Why? Because he wants to carry out the will of the British people and leave the EU?

It can't be Boris's other policies because he clearly wants to see higher spending on the NHS and has just announced that under a Conservative government the benefits freeze will be ended. Hardly, extreme right wing policies.

If carrying out the will of the people is extreme what are you for planning to vote Liberal Democrat, a party now dedicated to denying the people what they voted for?

So please explain why the Conservative are now 'far right' - I'd be fascinated to understand the logic of your thinking?

As others have said, it goes massively against the grain to vote Conservative after what they have done to landlords taxwise and with the hash they continue to make of the PRS. They don't deserve my vote but if the alternative is Corbyn he would be 10 times worse so what can I do?
To vote Brexit would split the vote and may allow Labour in by the back door and that mustn't happen.
I abstained last time.

Reply to the comment left by AlanR at 05/11/2019 - 08:53
Quite. Most people I speak to in shops etc voted leave and just want it to be over. But they've always voted Labour. I won't vote Labour for the first time in my life. My gran got the OBE for service to the Labour party and was a Labour candidate many, many decades ago. My whole family voted Labour , but I can't risk having my savings and livelihood taken away by a bunch of hypocrites who don't practice what they preach. The NHS is really not very good for anything except acute illness already, and most of the "improvements" have made things worse for people who work in the private sector - eg not being able to book an appt in advance as surgery has to keep appts open for someone who rings up on the day, too much screening that doesn't do much good, poor dietary advice that makes people sicker, means testing care and so on.

I don't seem to have the dilemma that many contributors have, as I'm in a safe Tory seat (maj. 18k+) whose sitting MP is a Brexiteer albeit a little on the soft side. I have no doubt that he'll get re-elected.

I'm going to vote for the Brexit Party assuming they put up a candidate as a protest, even though I know it'll be wasted. I written many times about the way the Tory Government is treating Landlords, and had several meetings as well. Having had a large dose of lip-service from him I cannot bring myself to give him my vote.

Reply to the comment left by Denise G at 05/11/2019 - 10:39
You asked why I get a vote as an ex-pat ...

Maybe because I am British?

I have paid tax in the UK and still do (more than most)

As I am British my Domicile IHT will even be payable in the UK on the value of my estate.

Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 05/11/2019 - 12:04Pfft, I'm in a safe Labour seat - apart from the fact that a huge majority voted Leave - but I can't see many people changing the habit of a life time. Although my MP has been suspended for being a naughty boy

Reply to the comment left by Kathy Evans at 05/11/2019 - 12:06
It's said in some seats Labour could put up a monkey and it would get elected. Given the current crop of politicians this theory is likely to be put to the test 🙂