Victoria S

My postal vote came in today, I'll send it back tomorrow when I head to town. It's a shame, I enjoy going to polling stations and taking my kids and showing them why it's important. But this year I need to vote via the postal system, it's just too far away to get to my "local" polling station.

And I'm not thrilled by the options available to vote for either. In our area Labour is not different enough from the Tories to make me want to vote for them on a personal level, they're right leaning Labour options and don't share my values especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, especially trans rights and "woke" culture issues (I'm pro "woke" cos it literally means being awake to social injustices). I know why Labour is leaning right, to get those Tory voters to pick them. But the Lib Dems are the ones who are saying the things I want to hear more often, especially when it comes to child poverty.

I feel I have to vote Labour, to get the Tories out, but I want to vote Lib Dem. It's a shame that being a candidate is so hard to achieve in this country, how many amazing leaders are out there that have real lived experience of low income life and the skills to make improvements but can't because it's so expensive to become a candidate that only those in the upper rungs can really get in. Frustrates me.

I understand why many people I talk to don't see the point in voting anymore, all the parties are the same just in different colours. All are rich who prioritise their profits. Voting doesn't feel like your getting a say in the government that'll serve you but more like your picking which future national abuser is the lesser of the available leaders.

Today's I'm voting for police commissioner and mayor. Still going to pick Labour, over Lib Dem, cos need to get rid of as many Tory influencers in local council as possible. This year is when we need to strategically vote for Labour across the board, only party big enough to overthrow Conservatives, then hopefully next time we can get Lib Dems in who seem to be more left leaning by the year.