What will influence your vote this May?

I always vote in any election (or referendum, come to that) as I think it's the only power we really have, and for women in particular, it took a lot of work and suffering to get us the vote. If I really couldn't vote for any of the candidates, I would still go and be counted as part of the turn out and spoil my paper.

I have no vote in the approaching local elections, as I live in Scotland, so that is what is influencing me at the moment. My views on whether one should vote or not are still valid IMO!

I vote in general elections but not usually in local elections. There’s no point in anyone being influenced by the strikes when they cast their local election vote as local councils aren’t in any way responsible for any of the things causing these strikes.

Voting for the Independent Candidate, they are honest, have excellent local knowledge along with wanting the same things for our area as I do.

Local election so I will vote for the best person who will do the best job regardless of political party

Just driven through main road in our village an abundance of posters etc for The Independent Candidate along with Vote Conservative placards, not one Labour, Lib Dem or Green.

GrannyGravy, I expect that reflects the political leanings in your area.

I haven’t noticed many, perhaps not any, posters out for any parties in my area. There always used to be a lot, mainly Conservative, which reflects the area really. Does few, or no, posters mean people are heartily sick of politics I wonder?

In local elections I vote for the person who deals with local issues, regardless of party. In general elections I vote for the party.

I’m a member of the Labour Party.
They used to pop around trying to get me involved in stuff,
I think that the penny has dropped now that I’m not a joiner in.
I don’t think that they’d be well chuffed that I always vote Lib Dem in the locals, and I also donate money and stuff for book sales to them

My Son is a Local Councillor, first elected when he was 23 Yr old. He's now 35 and vastly experience in local politics, which isn't about WM politics but if your Bins are collected, Social Care support, Pot holes fixed etc .
Getting that across to the General Public is hard especially as people don't vote.

These Councillors work hard for the local area, nearly all like him hold down jobs and fit this around work, this Council has quite a few Councillor's under 40 yrs.

He's now well know in the area, often out on a Saturday in the local Town taking questions with others from the council in a pop up tent. This particular Council is one of the best run ones in England.

I Vote for the person not the Party in local elections always have done.

There isn’t a vote in my area, but if there was I would vote for the councillor who has worked hard throughout the year for the area he represents. Party politics doesn’t usually enter into it for me.

I totally believe in voting because there are so many people worldwide denied this democratic right. However, who to vote for? I don't trust anyone of them, in local or central government. I wish screaming Lord Sutch was still alive, at least then we knew he was a nutter before we voted him in.

I’m in a bit of a dilemma this year. I usually vote for the candidate from the party I support in general and local elections. Last week I met and spoke with the council candidate from another party and was so impressed with him and with his grasp of the issues in our area.

I will vote for the Green Party in this election. She is very active in the community, and it is our only alternative to Conservative. We are a bit of a one-party state (Conservative). At the last election, she came a good second when they also stood Labour and LD candidates. They are not this time, which is interesting in itself.

Sadly, we will not get a vote for our Town Council (the Green lady lives in a village and is on their Parish Council). Only Conservatives stood for the three places up for election, so it's a fait accompli. I get the impression it would be hard to stand if you were not a Conservative Party Member. I have yet to find out why people are also co-opted onto the Town Council - always Conservatives (the Councillors ask before they decide, as I understand it) and what their position is.

maddyone

I vote in general elections but not usually in local elections. There’s no point in anyone being influenced by the strikes when they cast their local election vote as local councils aren’t in any way responsible for any of the things causing these strikes.

Local elections though have an affect on where you live, local councilors may, decisions that do make a difference, or not.

We have a Labour Council
The only posters are Vote Green.
The only visitors are Vote Labour
I always ask about potholes, state of pavements, intention to charge for driving through our city, views on safe spaces for women.

Freya5

maddyone

I vote in general elections but not usually in local elections. There’s no point in anyone being influenced by the strikes when they cast their local election vote as local councils aren’t in any way responsible for any of the things causing these strikes.

Local elections though have an affect on where you live, local councilors may, decisions that do make a difference, or not.

They may have even more effect if Labour get into government and devolve more as they have said they will.

aonk

I’m in a bit of a dilemma this year. I usually vote for the candidate from the party I support in general and local elections. Last week I met and spoke with the council candidate from another party and was so impressed with him and with his grasp of the issues in our area.

My point exactly aonk - I always vote for the person who deals well with local issues, but would not vote for his party in a GE.

Potholes are usually the responsibility of the county councils. In my area, we're only having elections for town and district councils, who can do nothing about potholes.

I tend to vote for individuals. I have three votes in the district council election and seven in the town council election.

I will probably split my loyalty in the district council election with two going to one party and the remaining one to an independent who has served the area well. Unfortunately, a councillor who has helped me personally in the past and worked his socks off is retiring.

If I'm to use all my votes in the town council election, there is no alternative to voting for candidates from different parties. As before, I'll go through the list and cross off the ones I don't want to be on the council.

DaisyAnne

Freya5

maddyone

I vote in general elections but not usually in local elections. There’s no point in anyone being influenced by the strikes when they cast their local election vote as local councils aren’t in any way responsible for any of the things causing these strikes.

Local elections though have an affect on where you live, local councilors may, decisions that do make a difference, or not.

They may have even more effect if Labour get into government and devolve more as they have said they will.

It wouldn't surprise me if the government devolves more responsibility, but the issue is whether they'll devolve the funding.

I wonder how many people are aware that their council tax doesn't actually go to their local council directly, but a central pot, which is then allocated by central government.

Councils often get the stick for local problems, but they're not given the resources or power to deal with them. I found out years ago what the local councils' responsibilities actually are and what they can influence and concentrate on those issues.

Germanshepherdsmum

aonk

I’m in a bit of a dilemma this year. I usually vote for the candidate from the party I support in general and local elections. Last week I met and spoke with the council candidate from another party and was so impressed with him and with his grasp of the issues in our area.

My point exactly aonk - I always vote for the person who deals well with local issues, but would not vote for his party in a GE.

I do wish we could go back to not allowing local councillors to put parties on the ballot.

I got so carried away with the Town Council that I forgot to say about our local Council. I'm stuck. I know nothing about either of them. One is Labour and one LibDem. I shall try and find out more.

I have never every voted for the party that seems to have had a stranglehold on our council from the year dot, and never will. Over the years they have made this city a laughing stock, wasted millions of rate payers money on ridiculous vanity projects that have subsequently had to be scrapped or rehashed and they don’t seem to care a jot because they know they can get away with it. I’m very impressed with the local Lib Dem candidate.

Speaking of potholes…
(Courtesy of today’s Private Eye)

I would vote for the candidate and his/her previous record. If a first timer, I would carefully read what experience he/she has and assess whether views are similar to mine. However I must admit that there is always a great flurry if Councillor activity and appearance immediately before and after elections.

In a General Election I would vote for the party, however at the moment I would find this an extremely difficult choice!