The Press in London | Out with the Tories!

(London) The Conservatives are no longer wanted, but Labour is not much better… This is, in a nutshell, what emerges from our discussions with the Londoners we met in the days following the call of the elections in the United Kingdom, at the end of May.

Very stupid things

“I’m 86. I’ve been voting Conservative for at least 50 years because they’re a pragmatic party, not an ideological one. But not this time! They’ve been in power too long. They’ve done some very stupid things. They’ve had discouraging leaders. They’ve caused a real mess. I’m thinking of Brexit. A government is supposed to grow the economy, Brexit has had the opposite effect! I’m going to vote Liberal Democrat. At least they’re arguing for a return to the European Union…”

Ian Maitland

Think short term

“Sorry, I don’t vote. Politicians have huge responsibilities, but they don’t take us seriously. Is Labour the answer? They haven’t had a decent candidate for a long time. The Tories? Ugh… I don’t really know what they want. [Le premier ministre Rishi] Sunak wants to bring back conscription. Does he really expect to get the youth vote with this? These people are really thinking short term…

Joanne Iles

A fine part

“We’ve voted Conservative all our lives, but this time we’re tempted to vote Labour. The Conservative Party is finished. It’s left the country in such a state! Brexit has been a disaster. Our children can’t work in Europe. The City is in decline. Poverty, homelessness, drugs… You have to be compassionate, but it’s still intimidating. There’s a malaise in this country. Labour has refocused, we can deal with that.”

Gill et Tony Philips

The less bad of the two

“The country is in crisis. People are struggling. Everything has gone up. People are suffering. Look at the homeless. The families who can’t get by. The university tuition fees are tripling. I’m not a Labour fan, but in my eyes they are clearly the lesser of the two parties. Labour seems to me to be more capable of restoring confidence and helping the young people of the country. Their proposals are more exciting. Will they deliver on their promises? That’s another story…”

Cairo Watson

Not clear on Gaza…

“I’m generally more Labour. But I disagree with the vision [du chef] Keir Starmer on Gaza. He waited too long to call for a ceasefire and has no clear position on arms sales to Israel. He has also backtracked on some of his climate positions. If he had stronger positions on humanity, I would vote for him. But with Starmer, it feels like Labour is a Tory party in disguise…

Tess Morvern

Like a white screen

Maurice: “The Conservatives really haven’t done a good job. Normally, the logical thing to do would be to change. The problem is that the alternative option is not very exciting… and is less talented. So I’m undecided, like 15% of the population.”

Paul: “Labour doesn’t say much and doesn’t offer anything better. I can’t remember Starmer saying anything really interesting in the last few months. It’s easier for voters to project themselves onto someone who doesn’t say anything. It’s like a blank screen.”

Maurice Conray et Paul McKee

Labour, who else?

“I’m a socialist. In a real sense I would vote Labour. But I don’t think the party is what it used to be. Since they forced Jeremy Corbyn out and refocused, I’m not interested in Labour. I don’t like Keir Starmer, particularly his views on Gaza, which aren’t particularly empathetic. The problem is I don’t see who else I would vote for.”

Sirak Alkhitani