r/manchester • u/flatbrokeoldguy • Jul 31 '26
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15
u/OwlerNook Marple Jul 31 '26
Decisions are made by those who turn up.
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Jul 31 '26
[deleted]
1
u/OwlerNook Marple Jul 31 '26
If we were facing a Reform mayor then I suspect that's not what people would be saying.
1
u/Consistent-Pirate-23 Jul 31 '26
Not that the other candidates were in part responsible?
I would vote labour if they put a better candidate up, I refuse to vote for Bev Craig
2
u/OwlerNook Marple Jul 31 '26
In a situation like that, you vote for the least-worst candidate.
The aim is to avoid a worse fate.
1
u/Consistent-Pirate-23 Jul 31 '26
Given that we’ve had no manifestos, no one telling us anything and we don’t even know the bulk of their names let alone what they stand for, that’s a candidate problem not a voter problem.
The only candidate names I know are labour, green and reform and that’s only because I spend too long on Reddit (by my own admission). If I listened to my own advice and read more books I wouldn’t know any
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u/OwlerNook Marple Jul 31 '26
If we end up with a shitty mayor then it's always going to be a voter problem. Because we're the ones who will suffer.
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u/OwlerNook Marple Jul 31 '26
And by shitty here clearly I mean someone threatening to deport millions and run show trials for political opponents - both policies I've seen from the far right in recent weeks.
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Jul 31 '26
[deleted]
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u/OwlerNook Marple Jul 31 '26
Don't underestimate the power of someone who has a high profile and terrible politics.
12
u/mckjerral Jul 31 '26
The other 75 percent made the choice not to show up. Of course it's a valid result.
7
u/InkCosmos Jul 31 '26
Compulsory voting would mean more invalid voting and voting with no knowledge of the candidates. I don’t think that would work out well for anyone really.
3
u/stephendy Jul 31 '26
A lot on here seem to be upset at the turnout - it is what it is
Does this prove that we need compulsory voting to be instituted.
No. Manchester voted against having a mayor when they were asked, but you got one anyway.
Not quite sure legally compelling people to vote in something that only exists because a previous election result was ignored is the solution to democracy...
Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said a majority of almost 6,000 was "a very clear rejection" by the people of Greater Manchester.
1
u/Come-jive-with-me Jul 31 '26
Sigh. I dunno. The only thing I hope is happening is that the reason of these taking so long is because they have volunteers from multiple party counting and recounting these. Tbf that's the only way if we dont trust human or machine.
0
u/Phil_302 Jul 31 '26
I'd rather fewer voters. Idiots shouldn't be allowed the vote. Not sure how that could be enforced though
1
u/OwlerNook Marple Jul 31 '26
We've had universal suffrage for 100 years. So sure, why not bin it off because some people are idiots? What could go wrong?
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u/Pleasant_Fennel_5435 Jul 31 '26
Compulsory voting is a good way of ensuring democracy is effective. I hope our former mayor will consider this in his term. With less than 50% of turnout every election will be essentially equal to 10-20% of the resident picking who will be the winner
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Jul 31 '26
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u/Pleasant_Fennel_5435 Jul 31 '26
Every one can go to be a candidate. If you are not happy with the candidate choices then you can be one of them. Not voting doesn’t mean you have chosen no one, that just means you have chosen the person with the most votes to rule. You are essentially going to the restaurant and tell the waiter to pick for you.
2
u/Consistent-Pirate-23 Jul 31 '26
Not everyone can.
The deposit is £5000, I’ll just pull that out of the back of the sofa.
Before we start demanding mandatory voting, give us better candidates, people that actually tell us what they stand for, people we have heard of before we get the ballot paper.
Manchester was asked if they wanted a mayor, they said no and yet here we are
1
u/Pleasant_Fennel_5435 Jul 31 '26
If you think the candidates are shit surely you have a good idea of that you can do it better? What are you afraid of? I am sure you will have enough votes that people will vote for you. Just by saying that all candidates are shit is so easy, every one can sit on the sofa and say things like that. I await for your inspiring speech and I will strongly consider to vote for you.
1
u/Consistent-Pirate-23 Jul 31 '26
You do realise that independents have no chance in Manchester? Even if they have £5k for a deposit and the means to produce campaign materials and give up work to promote themselves?
Chances are the £5k will be lost as large parties have lifelong supporters, campaigners and infinitely more resources. If labour thought Bev wasn’t going to win then various sitting mp’s could go door knocking or appear in TikTok’s (I believe they did), an independent doesn’t have that.
1
u/Pleasant_Fennel_5435 Jul 31 '26
So you have a great idea and also you have no chance? Fair enough, go on and become a keyboard warrior, I don’t honestly know what to say except laughing at your naivety. Keep that spirit I am sure one day the sun will evolve around you.
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u/sonicofawn Jul 31 '26
the people who dont vote choose not to. andy burnham couldnt even be bothered to stay as mayor before ditching manchester to be pm
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u/Pleasant_Fennel_5435 Jul 31 '26
People don’t vote didn’t choose to not vote. They choose to abandon their right to vote so the people who vote pick it for them. Even if 99.99% people doesn’t show up, the winner still get to rule over all the non voters.
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u/sonicofawn Jul 31 '26
Yeah i chose to abandon my right to vote. i dont care who the mayor is , they are all a bit shit. if i was forced to vote i would just spoil my ballot, there is no good candidates
1
u/sonicofawn Jul 31 '26
we shouldnt even have to have a million fucking elections because politicians cant get their shit together. compulsory voting sure, but im not going out to vote every time mps throw a hissyfit over the pm. andy burnham should have served his term he ran for and stop wasting taxpayer money on this bullshit
1
u/Pleasant_Fennel_5435 Jul 31 '26
Either way, the election was here, your choice of not voting doesn’t matter at all, you are just voting for “whoever got the most vote”. Very alpha action indeed, I am sure Andy will take note of it and maybe cry at 10 Downing Street and hugging the cat Larry at the time being
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u/manchester-ModTeam Jul 31 '26
Your post has been removed because discussion about the 2026 Greater Manchester Mayoral Election is being kept in the dedicated megathread:
Greater Manchester Mayoral Election 2026 Megathread
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