Reasons for vote choice fairly straightforward

A COUPLE of weeks ago I mentioned my belief that more opportunities are created under a Tory administration than a Labour one.

This topic has been referred to by a couple of readers, including Michael Somerton, who recommended that I should refer to recent reports written by the Social Mobility Commission.

He suggested that I should study these reports on the basis that I might then alter my opinion.

Now, Michael is a retired lecturer from the University of Hull, and my guess is that he lectured on subjects including assorted aspects of workplace practice, possibly including unionism.

As a member of the North Hull Labour Party, his mind and opinions will be steeped in such matters and I’m sure that, even in retirement, he will have “kept his hand in” with reference to his area of expertise.

When it comes to election time, I wonder how many people put down their usual reading matter and start “mugging up” on things like social mobility, in order that they cast their vote in a better informed manner? No, me neither.

So, which factors determine voting preferences? Some people have always voted X/Y/Z and will never change; many talk to friends and most people watch the TV and read the newspapers, hard copy or online.

On that basis, I reckon voting trends are mainly the outcome of people’s general perception, and that is the point I was trying to make.

On occasions the trend one way or another can be overwhelming, as was the case with Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher, but mostly the winning majorities are quite close.

Boris Johnson won a clear majority, not that he would have been the first choice for PM of many voters - including some Tory stalwarts - but when you look at the only logical alternative, there’s little wonder there was such a clear outcome in December 2019.

“You pays your money and takes your choice” whether you read assorted government commission reports or Viz magazine, or anything in between.

Rob Miner, Hedon.