Labour and northern england

**DragonsWarrior** · February 17, 2009, 03:32 PM

why is it that huge parts of northern england cities are under labour and that their failing but still vote for them? :hmmm:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2...html/map05.stm

**KozaK101** · February 17, 2009, 03:35 PM

Exactly...i speak to an english guy who still votes labour on the merit that they are labour and not conservatives.

**Ishoss** · February 17, 2009, 03:36 PM

Because the labour culture is strong there. Most of the towns there are old mining/industrial towns and thus it's only natural that they vote labour because of culture etc.

**DragonsWarrior** · February 17, 2009, 03:40 PM

But that was nearly 20 years ago if the next elections come and theirs still a big labour arn't they the problem of us moving on just a though

**Dodge** · February 17, 2009, 03:58 PM

Because we remember

ing Thatcher.

**DragonsWarrior** · February 17, 2009, 04:03 PM

lol great way to say that yh you must love her

**JP226** · February 17, 2009, 04:09 PM

We have the same problem in the US. It's like the worse cities like detroit and new orleans get, and the state of California for that matter, the harder they vote for the people that got them there.

**DragonsWarrior** · February 17, 2009, 04:30 PM

for me i think it will never change

**Каие** · February 17, 2009, 05:57 PM

Two reasons.

Reason one: Margaret Thatcher.
Reason two: We are poor.

**Каие** · February 17, 2009, 05:58 PM

This better suits the Academy, I'll move it for you though.

**~~removeduser_487563287433~~** · February 17, 2009, 06:04 PM

The majority of people will always vote for the same party.

**Muagan_ra** · February 17, 2009, 08:26 PM

Because northerners are very different from southerners. From a northern perspective, the Tories are bunch of toffee-nosed Etonian snobs (with some justification, too!) and although the labour leadership has been lacking, the rank and file labour party still has a decidedly 'working class' character.

There's also the whole "Margaret Thatcher" thing - the woman ravaged everything in the UK that wasn't Southern England, and northern Englanders havn't forgetten that.

**Musthavename** · February 18, 2009, 03:55 AM

Because Northerner's are generally "working class", and inclined to vote for the Socialist Party (which is Labour, although they've hardly been Socialist since coming to power). They'll never vote for a Tory, and it's still a stretch for them to vote for the lib dems.

Course, this works two ways. I'm in a southern county that's voted Tory for ages. Even with all the crap surrounding the Tories in the 90s, it was still a safe Tory seat! Why? Because it's a rural-middle class place.

**Yorkshireman** · February 18, 2009, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by Musthavename

Course, this works two ways. I'm in a southern county that's voted Tory for ages. Even with all the crap surrounding the Tories in the 90s, it was still a safe Tory seat! Why? Because it's a rural-middle class place.

It's the same where I live. The consituency of East Leeds was created 54 years ago and has been Labour for every one of those years. My father and grandfather when he was alive voted Labour no matter what, because if you live where we do, you just don't vote Tory.

I think times are changing though with the 2 main parties converging somewhat on style and policy. Gone are the days when Labour was "loony left" and the Tories were all stereotypical Alan B'stards.

I never thought I'd see the day when a Labour leader (Blair) was spending millions of pounds on a house in the trendy part of London. Most working class people have very little in common with them.

This change in attitude is starting to be reflected in election results, Leeds, for example, a traditional Labour heartland, returned a local council last year (May 2008) with NOC (no overall control). The percentage of votes were;

Conservative 31.4%
Labour 28.6%
Lib Dems 18.8%
BNP 11.3%

Local elections are always a bit of a way for people to register a protest though, so I would'nt expect tp see the same sort of results in a general election.

**Каие** · February 18, 2009, 04:40 AM

The next generation of Leeds folk will vote Lib Dem, I know that much. My area used to vote Tory all the time until Blair in '97. If the Tories want Leeds, they just have to go Centre.

**Yorkshireman** · February 18, 2009, 04:54 AM

Originally Posted by ЯoMe kb8

The next generation of Leeds folk will vote Lib Dem, I know that much. My area used to vote Tory all the time until Blair in '97. If the Tories want Leeds, they just have to go Centre.

I think the Labour seats will take longer, the Tories would need a swing of over 40% to win my constituency. Its safe as houses.

**Каие** · February 18, 2009, 04:57 AM

Safe as houses? Housing prices are crashing, so what you're saying is....Labour is crashing down too?

Never know really. Last poll showed the Conservatives on 49%. At the last election with only 32% the Conservative Party won England. With damn near 50%, they could take a few Labour strongholds, or better yet, let the Liberal Democrats clean house there.

They should employ a tactical voting alliance with the Liberals, as Labour did with the Liberals in '97. that would kill Labour.

**Yorkshireman** · February 18, 2009, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by ЯoMe kb8

Safe as houses? Housing prices are crashing, so what you're saying is....Labour is crashing down too?

Lol, yeah, bad analogy to use in these times.

**Каие** · February 18, 2009, 05:09 AM

Yet it's still appropriate.

**Bovril** · February 18, 2009, 06:35 AM

How has Labour failed the North? Public funds have been massively shifted northwards during their ime in power and urban renewal projects have focussed largely on northern cities. Labour have also increased social spending, which benefits northerners who have higher rates of unemployment. Also, failing is a relative term. Compared with their time under the tories, northern cities are doing excellently. Unemployment has fallen significantly, as have most measures of crime. Look at what happened in shefield in the 80s if you need an example.