How will the 'Asians' vote in the UK General Election?

[MenInG]

South Asians no longer voting as a bloc could hold the balance of power in key marginal seats in the general election.

Maria Sobolewska, an expert in voting behaviour at the University of Manchester, has researched voting patterns in ethnic groups and found the community elders' grip on Asian voting habits is losing its force.

She said: "South Asians are behaving more and more like a white British voter in a sense that they shop around for a political party.

"A lot of Asian-origin and minority-origin voters want to vote on economic competence, on the NHS, on education.

"In a handful of marginal constituencies, the British Asians could hold the balance of power if the Conservatives manage to successfully appeal to them."

In Pendle, Lancashire, one in five people come from a South Asian background - almost three times the national average.

The majority of them are Pakistani Muslims, brought to the UK by the owners of cotton mills needing cheap labour in the 1960s.

Misbah Rani is Lancashire born and bred. She describes herself as Labour through and through, mainly because of the influence of her family and the community.

She said: "Everybody votes Labour. Your friends and your family - families are very loyal. The Conservatives' reputation is making the rich richer and the poor poorer."

But her husband, Muhammad Hussnain, voted Conservative at the last election - mainly due to their promise of free childcare, a decision at the ballot box his wife jokingly called "betrayal".

Their political views were divided by the EU referendum: Misbah supported Remain, while her husband voted Leave. He said: "Would I vote Leave again? Would I heck. But if I'm being really honest, whoever promises to get Brexit done will win this seat."

Mohammed Hussnein

Misbah admits she's forced to re-examine her political opinions every day, due to the pressures of the Asian community. She said elder members of Asian society, known as 'Uncles' play on family ties for her vote.

She said: "Asian Uncles knock on my door saying 'you're voting Conservative'. And I'm like, 'Am I'? They say 'yeah, I worked with your dad 40 years ago...'"

She said it's taken time for her to "pluck up the courage" to suggest she's voting on each party's policies, but that her friends who are switching sides shows disloyalty: "These are people who came to the country under a Labour government - they're the reason they're here, not the Conservatives."

At Awaaz FM, we hosted a phone-in on presenter Rabia Aziz's radio show, where all the callers were keen to publicly proclaim their allegiance to Labour.

But the constituency voted for a Conservative MP in 2017 - and it's clear the South Asian vote helped secure that victory.

Muhammad Tariq

As a Leave voter, Muhammad Tariq is unconvinced by Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
Estate agent Muhammad Tariq has been a Labour Party member his whole life, until now.

As a Leave voter, he's unconvinced by Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. He said: "I've switched in a big way - in the local election last year the Tory party won because of the vast majority of Asian votes.

"If I can change my views - my very strong views where I campaigned every year - normal people can change just like that."

Another South Asian group noticeably increasing its support for the Conservative Party in both 2017 and 2015 are British Indians, in particular Sikhs and Hindus.

For many of them, this general election is about delivering the result of the EU referendum, even if that means changing lifelong voting habits.

The trend is reflected south of the Peak District in West Bromwich East, which has been Labour-held since its creation in 1974.

Again, one in five people are Asian, who strongly supported the former deputy leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson.

But 68% of the constituency voted to leave the EU, and now the Conservatives think it's winnable.

Manjit and Ravi Phull run a metalworks based in West Bromwich, with a diverse workforce mainly made up of Indians. It's been a family business in the town for decades.

"I voted out", Manjit said. "And I know Conservatives want to leave now. So I have to support my vote, and I'm happy to vote Conservative, because to be honest, I'm with Boris now. I want to be able to set our own rules and regulations for this company and for businesses, for the economy."

Her husband voted Remain, but is still voting Conservative: "Having inherited the business and taken it over, my priorities have changed in terms of what we need for myself, for my family."

But Ravi admits that both main parties have problems winning over ethnic minorities:

"I think as Asians, we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. You've got the antisemitism row with Labour. You've got the 'letterbox' row with Boris Johnson. If you work on, sort of, racism, I don't think we'd vote for any of them."

Professor Sobolewska's research shows that partisan identities are held on to longer in Asian families than in other groups: "We think that is because the patterns of passing on that [political] identity from parent to child is stronger in minority communities than the equivalent young people of white British origin."

For many years, the Labour Party has had the lion's share of the South Asian vote - but the trend from the last two general elections shows times are changing.

The Leave campaign - as divisive and nativist as parts of it were - achieved something that the Conservative Party has been trying to do for decades.

At this general election, it's the South Asian vote in the UK that could pave the way to Number 10.

https://news.sky.com/story/general-...lance-of-power-in-key-marginal-seats-11879224

 

[Halaribo]

I never trust Tory voting asians.

 

[Abdullah]

I never trust Tory voting asians.

lol- do u want to elaborate? or are you a tory voting Asian

 

[Knight_Rider]

Torries have deliberately put some coconuts on display!

 

[MenInG]

The actual headline Sky had on their page was:

 

[Robert]

I was surprised at South Asians voting for Brexit. I suppose it might make immigration from the Subcontinent easier when free movement goes but they are also allying themselves with white racists (who will be pretty shocked when the EU27 medical staff are replaced by Africans and Asians).

 

[irfan]

I was surprised at South Asians voting for Brexit. I suppose it might make immigration from the Subcontinent easier when free movement goes but they are also allying themselves with white racists (who will be pretty shocked when the EU27 medical staff are replaced by Africans and Asians).

Why would you be surprised? Do we not have the same concerns about EU as white people, we are individuals with varied political and social leanings, not a monolithic homogeneous group, you make unsubstantiated claims about allying with racists, so you are smearing 17 million people again? I attended a couple of Lexit meetings in 2016 and I would say BAMEs were well represented, one of the main speakers & proponents of Brexit was veteran left winger Tariq Ali.

 

[Robert]

Why would you be surprised? Do we not have the same concerns about EU as white people, we are individuals with varied political and social leanings, not a monolithic homogeneous group, you make unsubstantiated claims about allying with racists, so you are smearing 17 million people again? I attended a couple of Lexit meetings in 2016 and I would say BAMEs were well represented, one of the main speakers & proponents of Brexit was veteran left winger Tariq Ali.

Again? Please don’t put words in my mouth. I have never said the all white Leave voters are racist. All white racists, however, voted Leave.

 

[James]

I was surprised at South Asians voting for Brexit. I suppose it might make immigration from the Subcontinent easier when free movement goes but they are also allying themselves with white racists (who will be pretty shocked when the EU27 medical staff are replaced by Africans and Asians).

Disappointed to read this post to be honest [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION].

You infer that Brexit is a white-racist project in a sweeping fashion, and then you don’t seem to understand why (seemingly due to immigration issues) BAME people might have an opinion of the UK’s EU Membership that is something other than “Remain”.

Really disagree with your theme and your points here.

Honestly this conversation reminds me of the superior attitude of the many dumbfounded elitist people in public life - Hugh Grant, Dominic Grieve and Adam Boulton are good examples - who still really don’t seem to get why or how the UK voted to “Leave” in the first place (and they never will get it).

 

[cricketjoshila]

One thing is quiet true, atleast about my extended family that lives in UK, they mostly voted leave in Brexit. Some of them voted Stay.

All of them are now likely vote for conservative, or atleast Lib Dems.

Something has happened for the Indian origin voters in UK and US, they are moving towards Conservative and Republicans from Labour and Democrats.

 

[irfan]

Again? Please don’t put words in my mouth. I have never said the all white Leave voters are racist. All white racists, however, voted Leave.

you have no proof to make this sweeping statement, if you said many or even most, then it would be more believable. I know personally of white racists who voted Remain, furthermore arch Remoaners such as Blair & Campbell and plethora of others I consider as racist war criminals.

 

[Technics 1210]

I was surprised at South Asians voting for Brexit. I suppose it might make immigration from the Subcontinent easier when free movement goes but they are also allying themselves with white racists (who will be pretty shocked when the EU27 medical staff are replaced by Africans and Asians).

Why are you surprised? Where is the fairness in non-EU citizens [Asians] paying fees and providing evidence just to visit the UK let alone migrate, yet EU citizens are free to enter the UK?

Almost every Asian I know who voted to Leave did so for a fair and uniform UK immigration policy.

 

[JaDed]

One thing is quiet true, atleast about my extended family that lives in UK, they mostly voted leave in Brexit. Some of them voted Stay.

All of them are now likely vote for conservative, or atleast Lib Dems.

Something has happened for the Indian origin voters in UK and US, they are moving towards Conservative and Republicans from Labour and Democrats.

Except for doctors I don’t know any working class Indians voting republicans..

Labour is diff from Democrats.., Democrats are majorly centrists..

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I know one millionaire businessman who is prepared to lose money rather than vote Conservative just out of principle because he believes they have always been racist deep down. I tend to agree, and that is why I find it somewhat ironic that the Tories are trying to push the idea of Labour being antisemitic.

 

[Pakistanian]

One thing is quiet true, atleast about my extended family that lives in UK, they mostly voted leave in Brexit. Some of them voted Stay.

All of them are now likely vote for conservative, or atleast Lib Dems.

Something has happened for the Indian origin voters in UK and US, they are moving towards Conservative and Republicans from Labour and Democrats.

In America most Indians still support the Democrats.

 

[Pakistanian]

Except for doctors I don’t know any working class Indians voting republicans..

Labour is diff from Democrats.., Democrats are majorly centrists..

Currently the Democrats are dominated by the "New Democrats" or "Clinton Democrats" (Biden, Clinton, Pelosi, Kerry and Obama), they're the establishment however the past 2 years has seen the emergence of the "Justice Democrats" (AOC, Bernie, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Beto)- they're the progressive faction of the party.

 

[JaDed]

Currently the Democrats are dominated by the "New Democrats" or "Clinton Democrats" (Biden, Clinton, Pelosi, Kerry and Obama), they're the establishment however the past 2 years has seen the emergence of the "Justice Democrats" (AOC, Bernie, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Beto)- they're the progressive faction of the party.

Yeah I don’t care about labels.. Funny you don’t mention Elizabeth , ..and doesn’t fall on both categories , also except Bernie no one would ever get elected among “justice” lol.

Nothing progressive about making America leftist.

 

[barah_admi]

Hindutvas and some sikhs will vote Conservative, Muslims will largely vote Labour but some of these self perceived middle class Muslims will vote Conservative.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Except for doctors I don’t know any working class Indians voting republicans..

Labour is diff from Democrats.., Democrats are majorly centrists..

Ofcourse most of my doctor friends are voting Republicans.

But my extended family in Maryland,Long Island etc will vote Republican.

Some of them were into helping clinton raise funds during his tenure.

They are not very fond of Ilhan omar or Talib or Bernie etc.

So there is a shift.

 

[barah_admi]

Ofcourse most of my doctor friends are voting Republicans.

But my extended family in Maryland,Long Island etc will vote Republican.

Some of them were into helping clinton raise funds during his tenure.

They are not very fond of Ilhan omar or Talib or Bernie etc.

So there is a shift.

Not a fan of the Muslims I see....although none of them are in with a shot of being Democrat candidates

 

[cricketjoshila]

Not a fan of the Muslims I see....although none of them are in with a shot of being Democrat candidates

Nothing about muslims. Bernie and couple of otjer guys they mentioned are white christians. Just their views is something they dont agree with. They believe Democrats were more centrists and now becoming too leftist.

 

[irfan]

Nothing about muslims. Bernie and couple of otjer guys they mentioned are white christians. Just their views is something they dont agree with. They believe Democrats were more centrists and now becoming too leftist.

Bernie Sanders is Jewish

 

[IMMY69]

I’m in a real dilemma.

If I vote labour it will impact badly on my business and will have a detrimental affect on so many people connected with my business and others I know.

However I can’t stand Johnson and yet i’m a life long Tory and an avid remainer...

 

[Professor]

One thing is quiet true, atleast about my extended family that lives in UK, they mostly voted leave in Brexit. Some of them voted Stay.

All of them are now likely vote for conservative, or atleast Lib Dems.

Something has happened for the Indian origin voters in UK and US, they are moving towards Conservative and Republicans from Labour and Democrats.

This may not be true in every case but I think general hatred for Muslims/Pakistanis is one of the reasons for that. The perception I get is that hate has grown quite a bit in India after Modi and now that hate is spilling onto overseas communities.

Some Indians likely see Labour/Democrats as too pro-Muslims hence they vote for open bigots like Trump and Boris. I am not saying this is the case for every Indian voting for right wing parties but I think it definitely is a factor for some.

 

[irfan]

I’m in a real dilemma.

If I vote labour it will impact badly on my business and will have a detrimental affect on so many people connected with my business and others I know.

However I can’t stand Johnson and yet i’m a life long Tory and an avid remainer...

Are you in a marginal seat?

 

[PetroDollars]

I will vote conservatives, not because i support them or like them but because labour is a cancer who will look to bankrupt the economy, ofcourse blind asians will all vote for labour, falling for there racist accusations and free money they throw away.

 

[irfan]

I will vote conservatives, not because i support them or like them but because labour is a cancer who will look to bankrupt the economy, ofcourse blind asians will all vote for labour, falling for there racist accusations and free money they throw away.

my friend the economy is already bankrupt, just look at the insane debt levels and the fact we've had artificially low emergency interest rates for the last 10 years and round after round of QE & FLS & other schemes by the Bank of England that have flowed and further enriched the top 1%.

 

[IMMY69]

Are you in a marginal seat?

A pretty safe Tory seat (avid exiter)

 

[JaDed]

Not a fan of the Muslims I see....although none of them are in with a shot of being Democrat candidates

They are all leftists, Indians voting for leftists socialists(after the mess it cost in India)after settling in capitalist country would actually be hypocritical of em.

 

[PetroDollars]

my friend the economy is already bankrupt, just look at the insane debt levels and the fact we've had artificially low emergency interest rates for the last 10 years and round after round of QE & FLS & other schemes by the Bank of England that have flowed and further enriched the top 1%.

such high debt can still be handled, even though we still have a low gdp to debt ratio compared to the rest of eu.

what i am talking about is this nutcase corby who is going to make everything free from higher education to what not, £30B extra for NHS, public sector pay hike. Litterly he wants to give everything under the sun to the people - this is what will bankrupt the economy.

 

[irfan]

A pretty safe Tory seat (avid exiter)

as an avid remainer you may as well vote for the main challenger to reduce their majority.

 

[Halaribo]

I will vote conservatives, not because i support them or like them but because labour is a cancer who will look to bankrupt the economy, ofcourse blind asians will all vote for labour, falling for there racist accusations and free money they throw away.

This is pretty much why I don't trust Tory voting Asians, let alone Tory voting Muslims.

The paisa is worth more than the lives of people.

Quote Salahuddin in one's signature, but vote for people like Boris. Salahuddin would have destroyed a leader like Boris lol.

 

[IMMY69]

This is pretty much why I don't trust Tory voting Asians, let alone Tory voting Muslims.

The paisa is worth more than the lives of people.

Quote Salahuddin in one's signature, but vote for people like Boris. Salahuddin would have destroyed a leader like Boris lol.

A complete load of hog wash

As a British Pakistani Tory voter living in London I do my fair share of charity work and at least I know that the little I do actually goes to the needy.

 

[PetroDollars]

This is pretty much why I don't trust Tory voting Asians, let alone Tory voting Muslims.

The paisa is worth more than the lives of people.

Quote Salahuddin in one's signature, but vote for people like Boris. Salahuddin would have destroyed a leader like Boris lol.

what an ignorant post to make, like i said i dont support or trust anyone however given the option you will take a flu over cancer unless you want to die hence i will choose anything over labour.

as for paisa, then its the reason why people vote for labour in the first place - so they can sit at home without a job and claim benefits by sucking the cash of those people that choose to work and build the economy, while complaining how greedy they are.

 

[IMMY69]

as an avid remainer you may as well vote for the main challenger to reduce their majority.

I’m past that now. We need a majority government to get us out of this rut.
No more dithering.
People voted to exit so let’s get it done and move on

 

[Bewal Express]

Not Labour, too left wing, Not Tories full of haters, Liberals are wasted vote. I voted for save the NHS last time and I haven't registered this time.

 

[Halaribo]

A complete load of hog wash

As a British Pakistani Tory voter living in London I do my fair share of charity work and at least I know that the little I do actually goes to the needy.

Let's start talking then. Why are you a Tory voter. Leave all financial aspects out of your view, as it's not about money. Then explain how Conservative social policies have genuinely helped people in the last 10 years.

what an ignorant post to make, like i said i dont support or trust anyone however given the option you will take a flu over cancer unless you want to die hence i will choose anything over labour.

as for paisa, then its the reason why people vote for labour in the first place - so they can sit at home without a job and claim benefits by sucking the cash of those people that choose to work and build the economy, while complaining how greedy they are.

If my post is ignorant, then it's no different from your hyperbole and rhetoric about Labour voters.

 

[Pakistanian]

Yeah I don’t care about labels.. Funny you don’t mention Elizabeth , ..and doesn’t fall on both categories , also except Bernie no one would ever get elected among “justice” lol.

Nothing progressive about making America leftist.

Warren is not part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus which is the official name for Justice Democrats. Bernie has a good shot at winning although Biden might get the ticket, Warren is a close second and she's also very left wing - wants to break up big tech companies like Amazon and Google and supports Medicare For All.

 

[Pakistanian]

I will vote conservatives, not because i support them or like them but because labour is a cancer who will look to bankrupt the economy, ofcourse blind asians will all vote for labour, falling for there racist accusations and free money they throw away.

Just say you have business interests and don't want to pay more taxes.

 

[Chrish]

Most Indians in USA are financially well off and current democrat movement is all about redistribution of wealth ie take away money from rich and hand out food stamps and free health care to poor. So, it’s not surprising they would vote for republicans despite not liking Trump on a personal level.

 

[Kroll]

At least in Scotland, Asians can and will vote SNP instead of the Tories as an alternative to Labour.

 

[Sidilicious]

I’m in a real dilemma.

If I vote labour it will impact badly on my business and will have a detrimental affect on so many people connected with my business and others I know.

However I can’t stand Johnson and yet i’m a life long Tory and an avid remainer...

This is a brexit election. All other issues are secondary.

 

[Captain caveman]

This may not be true in every case but I think general hatred for Muslims/Pakistanis is one of the reasons for that. The perception I get is that hate has grown quite a bit in India after Modi and now that hate is spilling onto overseas communities.

Some Indians likely see Labour/Democrats as too pro-Muslims hence they vote for open bigots like Trump and Boris. I am not saying this is the case for every Indian voting for right wing parties but I think it definitely is a factor for some.

What a load of tripe!

British people are voting for parties based on their policies on the economy, taxes, health and education, crime and policing.
And of course brexit.
They are not voting for parties based on pro or anti muslim policies!
This is not ithird world india!

 

[Sidilicious]

Let's start talking then. Why are you a Tory voter. Leave all financial aspects out of your view, as it's not about money. Then explain how Conservative social policies have genuinely helped people in the last 10 years.



If my post is ignorant, then it's no different from your hyperbole and rhetoric about Labour voters.

You should not be attacking people’s voting choices.
We can have debates on issues and try to convince the other, but attacking ones choices are out of question.

 

[Sidilicious]

This may not be true in every case but I think general hatred for Muslims/Pakistanis is one of the reasons for that. The perception I get is that hate has grown quite a bit in India after Modi and now that hate is spilling onto overseas communities.

Some Indians likely see Labour/Democrats as too pro-Muslims hence they vote for open bigots like Trump and Boris. I am not saying this is the case for every Indian voting for right wing parties but I think it definitely is a factor for some.

I doubt that. It’s more to do with money. Indians have generally been very well off in the US and now increasingly in the UK too. High taxes means they are affected significantly. So they simply support the party which reduces taxes or doesn’t increase them.

 

[Sidilicious]

As a keyinsian, I am of the firm belief that social government to an extent, focussing on infrastructure and social will actually help the GDP.

Put it simply, when you slightly raise the taxes for the rich vs bedroom tax, you positively impact the economy.

Why?
1. If the money is spent on local infrastructure projects and improving the social services, then money is redistributed within the economy, especially reducing the burden on the poor either by social services or by paying employing more people in jobs generally undertaken by the less educated (construction etc).

2. In general, people have a particular spending pattern. Firstly, on the rent/housing/utilities. Secondly, on food and essentials like basic clothing. And then finally on fancy things such as luxury goods etc.

3. Now, most of the money that goes into rent/housing/utilities boosts the local economy. i.e. houses are generally owned by locals, though utilities nowadays are being owned by foreign conglomerates. However, utilities do not form a significant portion of the rent. Expenditure on food and basics too, helps the local economy, as farmers etc are generally local.

Finally, the luxury items is where the spending is mostly on foreign goods. Most poor people are not able to spend too much on luxury, as most of their money goes into housing and food. So, most of the money they spend remains in the country, boosting the local economy and businesses.

BTW, with the poor, I am talking about the people having to resort to food banks, or having to choose between utilities and food.

However, when you reduce the tax on the rich, and give the rich some extra money, that extra money generally goes on luxury expenditure. For example holidays abroad, luxury cars etc. The super rich will buy yachts etc. Now, this money does not have the same impact on the economy as housing and basics do.

So, even as business owners (assuming you do not produce luxury goods, or are not involved in a good that is mostly exported) you will be better off by improving the condition of the poorest.

Please note that I am not talking about a communist government, but a more socialist form of government like that of Sweden and Denmark.
[MENTION=491]IMMY69[/MENTION], [MENTION=130076]PetroDollars[/MENTION] happy to have a detailed discussion as to why you think this tory government will help the economy and labour will not, when you have the last 20 years on record.

 

[Halaribo]

As a keyinsian, I am of the firm belief that social government to an extent, focussing on infrastructure and social will actually help the GDP.

Put it simply, when you slightly raise the taxes for the rich vs bedroom tax, you positively impact the economy.

Why?
1. If the money is spent on local infrastructure projects and improving the social services, then money is redistributed within the economy, especially reducing the burden on the poor either by social services or by paying employing more people in jobs generally undertaken by the less educated (construction etc).

2. In general, people have a particular spending pattern. Firstly, on the rent/housing/utilities. Secondly, on food and essentials like basic clothing. And then finally on fancy things such as luxury goods etc.

3. Now, most of the money that goes into rent/housing/utilities boosts the local economy. i.e. houses are generally owned by locals, though utilities nowadays are being owned by foreign conglomerates. However, utilities do not form a significant portion of the rent. Expenditure on food and basics too, helps the local economy, as farmers etc are generally local.

Finally, the luxury items is where the spending is mostly on foreign goods. Most poor people are not able to spend too much on luxury, as most of their money goes into housing and food. So, most of the money they spend remains in the country, boosting the local economy and businesses.

BTW, with the poor, I am talking about the people having to resort to food banks, or having to choose between utilities and food.

However, when you reduce the tax on the rich, and give the rich some extra money, that extra money generally goes on luxury expenditure. For example holidays abroad, luxury cars etc. The super rich will buy yachts etc. Now, this money does not have the same impact on the economy as housing and basics do.

So, even as business owners (assuming you do not produce luxury goods, or are not involved in a good that is mostly exported) you will be better off by improving the condition of the poorest.

Please note that I am not talking about a communist government, but a more socialist form of government like that of Sweden and Denmark.
[MENTION=491]IMMY69[/MENTION], [MENTION=130076]PetroDollars[/MENTION] happy to have a detailed discussion as to why you think this tory government will help the economy and labour will not, when you have the last 20 years on record.

Thank you for this post. It's where I was going, in a far less diplomatic way. However, I would also have commented heavily on social policies too.

You are of course also right about my previous posts. What was initially a mere friendly jibe regarding asian Tory voters, took a turn when reading Petrodollars post.

No matter what one's politics, I have yet to come across anyone who can justify why in this particular moment in time, a Conservative government is worth persevering with.

 

[GBK_Fan]

As a keyinsian, I am of the firm belief that social government to an extent, focussing on infrastructure and social will actually help the GDP.

Put it simply, when you slightly raise the taxes for the rich vs bedroom tax, you positively impact the economy.

Why?
1. If the money is spent on local infrastructure projects and improving the social services, then money is redistributed within the economy, especially reducing the burden on the poor either by social services or by paying employing more people in jobs generally undertaken by the less educated (construction etc).

2. In general, people have a particular spending pattern. Firstly, on the rent/housing/utilities. Secondly, on food and essentials like basic clothing. And then finally on fancy things such as luxury goods etc.

3. Now, most of the money that goes into rent/housing/utilities boosts the local economy. i.e. houses are generally owned by locals, though utilities nowadays are being owned by foreign conglomerates. However, utilities do not form a significant portion of the rent. Expenditure on food and basics too, helps the local economy, as farmers etc are generally local.

Finally, the luxury items is where the spending is mostly on foreign goods. Most poor people are not able to spend too much on luxury, as most of their money goes into housing and food. So, most of the money they spend remains in the country, boosting the local economy and businesses.

BTW, with the poor, I am talking about the people having to resort to food banks, or having to choose between utilities and food.

However, when you reduce the tax on the rich, and give the rich some extra money, that extra money generally goes on luxury expenditure. For example holidays abroad, luxury cars etc. The super rich will buy yachts etc. Now, this money does not have the same impact on the economy as housing and basics do.

So, even as business owners (assuming you do not produce luxury goods, or are not involved in a good that is mostly exported) you will be better off by improving the condition of the poorest.

Please note that I am not talking about a communist government, but a more socialist form of government like that of Sweden and Denmark.
[MENTION=491]IMMY69[/MENTION], [MENTION=130076]PetroDollars[/MENTION] happy to have a detailed discussion as to why you think this tory government will help the economy and labour will not, when you have the last 20 years on record.

Sorry but this is primarily textbook stuff and is in no way related to what the Labour Party attempts to do. When you have a party which right at the outset provides a load of freebies to everyone, not just the poor, talks about increasing personal taxes and corporate taxes, what your theory discounts is capital flight. When you have companies/HNI leaving or reducing investment, where will the money for these schemes come from? Borrowing.

As you increase the debt, you reduce your ability to roll freebies out to the population and the state of services provided dropped. It’s not a sustainable model anymore.

If Labour had restricted itself to say NHS and social housing/food banks, no one would have had an issue with it. Their policies at all points of time have been far more radical right from wealth tax, to increased taxes on private health and schooling.
To point an utopian picture and imply that Labour can help achieve that, is dishonest imho

 

[Sidilicious]

Sorry but this is primarily textbook stuff and is in no way related to what the Labour Party attempts to do. When you have a party which right at the outset provides a load of freebies to everyone, not just the poor, talks about increasing personal taxes and corporate taxes, what your theory discounts is capital flight. When you have companies/HNI leaving or reducing investment, where will the money for these schemes come from? Borrowing.

As you increase the debt, you reduce your ability to roll freebies out to the population and the state of services provided dropped. It’s not a sustainable model anymore.

If Labour had restricted itself to say NHS and social housing/food banks, no one would have had an issue with it. Their policies at all points of time have been far more radical right from wealth tax, to increased taxes on private health and schooling.
To point an utopian picture and imply that Labour can help achieve that, is dishonest imho

There is no proof that the flight of HNI will happen. Sweden has much higher taxes and social security contributions and has been the fore front of startups in Europe. Despite all these higher taxes, there has not been a flight of businesses and high net individuals. Same is the case with Germany. I live in Germany, pay way more in Taxes, Health and Social security as compared to the UK. Still, more people from UK and USA keep coming here every year.

Also, have you carefully read the Labour manifesto? Its not some communist agenda that everyone is making it out to be. Its actually, still more right than the current situation in Sweden.

Also, answer me this. Despite all the reduction in public spending in comparison to the GDP, the austerity etc, why has the UK's national debt increased? Why have the tories not managed to reduce national debt when the public spending as a proportion of GDP has reduced?

 

[Professor]

What a load of tripe!

British people are voting for parties based on their policies on the economy, taxes, health and education, crime and policing.
And of course brexit.
They are not voting for parties based on pro or anti muslim policies!
This is not ithird world india!

Not sure why you got all worked up, It was just an observation.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-uk-general-election/articleshow/71911496.cms

Anyways can someone from the UK explain why BJP groups were campaigning for the Tories, was it a cause of their economic policies?

 

[GBK_Fan]

Not sure why you got all worked up, It was just an observation.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-uk-general-election/articleshow/71911496.cms

Anyways can someone from the UK explain why BJP groups were campaigning for the Tories, was it a cause of their economic policies?

And you believe the Indian groups have no right to be aggrieved that the Labour mayor of London allowed Pakistanis to vandalise the Indian HC. Then went ahead and allowed a protest on Diwali to boot? This is besides the resolutions passed by different Labour groups without taking the Indian viewpoint into consideration.

 

[Robert]

Disappointed to read this post to be honest [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION].

You infer that Brexit is a white-racist project in a sweeping fashion, and then you don’t seem to understand why (seemingly due to immigration issues) BAME people might have an opinion of the UK’s EU Membership that is something other than “Remain”.

Really disagree with your theme and your points here.

Honestly this conversation reminds me of the superior attitude of the many dumbfounded elitist people in public life - Hugh Grant, Dominic Grieve and Adam Boulton are good examples - who still really don’t seem to get why or how the UK voted to “Leave” in the first place (and they never will get it).

I inferred nothing of the kind. Post #8. Does nobody understand basic Venn diagrams?

As Technics points out, many Asians voted Leave to allow a more uniform immigration policy from the EU27 and outside the EU. Though the two are not directly comparable as the EU is a federal state in its own right.

 

[Robert]

There is no proof that the flight of HNI will happen. Sweden has much higher taxes and social security contributions and has been the fore front of startups in Europe. Despite all these higher taxes, there has not been a flight of businesses and high net individuals. Same is the case with Germany. I live in Germany, pay way more in Taxes, Health and Social security as compared to the UK. Still, more people from UK and USA keep coming here every year.

Also, have you carefully read the Labour manifesto? Its not some communist agenda that everyone is making it out to be. Its actually, still more right than the current situation in Sweden.

Also, answer me this. Despite all the reduction in public spending in comparison to the GDP, the austerity etc, why has the UK's national debt increased? Why have the tories not managed to reduce national debt when the public spending as a proportion of GDP has reduced?

Because austerity measures have merely brought down the annual deficit. All those previous annual deficits added together make the debt.

It will take decades to bring the debt down. We owed more debt-to-GDP after WW2, but the economy was in surplus, and the sixties manufacturing boom helped us trade our way out of debt. We have to get rid of the deficit before working on the debt.

 

[barah_admi]

They are all leftists, Indians voting for leftists socialists(after the mess it cost in India)after settling in capitalist country would actually be hypocritical of em.

None of them are socialists.

 

[GBK_Fan]

There is no proof that the flight of HNI will happen. Sweden has much higher taxes and social security contributions and has been the fore front of startups in Europe. Despite all these higher taxes, there has not been a flight of businesses and high net individuals. Same is the case with Germany. I live in Germany, pay way more in Taxes, Health and Social security as compared to the UK. Still, more people from UK and USA keep coming here every year.

Also, have you carefully read the Labour manifesto? Its not some communist agenda that everyone is making it out to be. Its actually, still more right than the current situation in Sweden.

Also, answer me this. Despite all the reduction in public spending in comparison to the GDP, the austerity etc, why has the UK's national debt increased? Why have the tories not managed to reduce national debt when the public spending as a proportion of GDP has reduced?

I am out so cannot give you a far more detailed reply. But the links below should put things in perspective. Labour plans to introduce a wealth inheritance tax for amounts as low as 125k. That’s almost less than what most wealthy save in a year.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/20...abour-election-win-jeremy-corbyn-wealth-taxes

For perspective Facebook and not a big bank or a boutique hedge fund pays an average salary of 200k. Do you believe most of their employees, mostly immigrants will keep their wealth here and not move it abroad?

https://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/304126/facebook-pay-london/

Then comes Labours pet move. Handing over 10% shares to employee unions in companies with over 250 employees. Most companies in the financial and IT industry are headquartered in Europe or USA. Do you believe they will happily part with 10% and not move jobs to more favourable locations?

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...sector-employee-ownership-plan-john-mcdonnell

 

[irfan]

I am out so cannot give you a far more detailed reply. But the links below should put things in perspective. Labour plans to introduce a wealth inheritance tax for amounts as low as 125k. That’s almost less than what most wealthy save in a year.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/20...abour-election-win-jeremy-corbyn-wealth-taxes

For perspective Facebook and not a big bank or a boutique hedge fund pays an average salary of 200k. Do you believe most of their employees, mostly immigrants will keep their wealth here and not move it abroad?

https://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/304126/facebook-pay-london/

Then comes Labours pet move. Handing over 10% shares to employee unions in companies with over 250 employees. Most companies in the financial and IT industry are headquartered in Europe or USA. Do you believe they will happily part with 10% and not move jobs to more favourable locations?

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...sector-employee-ownership-plan-john-mcdonnell

Lies and damn statistic etc, that is the whole package of which 50% is roughly share options so not gross or take home pay. I would like to see median salaries rather than average which are no doubt skewed by a few getting paid millions. My friend works at Facebook in a senior IT position, he doesn't get paid anywhere near that amount.

 

[GBK_Fan]

Lies and damn statistic etc, that is the whole package of which 50% is roughly share options so not gross or take home pay. I would like to see median salaries rather than average which are no doubt skewed by a few getting paid millions. My friend works at Facebook in a senior IT position, he doesn't get paid anywhere near that amount.

Yeah mate lies and truthful anecdotal examples from friends in “senior positions”

 

[Technics 1210]

Because austerity measures have merely brought down the annual deficit. All those previous annual deficits added together make the debt.

It will take decades to bring the debt down. We owed more debt-to-GDP after WW2, but the economy was in surplus, and the sixties manufacturing boom helped us trade our way out of debt. We have to get rid of the deficit before working on the debt.

You need to get over the national debt, the UK is not paying it off.

 

[Pakpak]

Indians like they did in US with Trump, as usual will latch onto the Tories. Anything anti-Muslim or anti-Pakistani and they're on that gravy train.I just recently argued the same with a bunch of Indian doctors, who ofcourse would be voting tories. And hilariously one of them let slip why and then tried to cover it up as a mistake. Their hatred runs pretty deep.

Pakistanis I know for the most will vote Labour.

 

[Technics 1210]

I’m in a real dilemma.

If I vote labour it will impact badly on my business and will have a detrimental affect on so many people connected with my business and others I know.

However I can’t stand Johnson and yet i’m a life long Tory and an avid remainer...

You are not the only one.

2019 GE is not really a general election in any sense, it's another referendum on the EU in what has become a polirised nation of politics.

Vote Conservatives if you want to Leave the EU.
Vote Labour is you are unsure about the EU.
Vot Liberal Democrats if you want to remain in the EU.

This rest of the non-Brexit policies are irksomely similar across all party manifestos.

 

[Markhor]

Sorry but this is primarily textbook stuff and is in no way related to what the Labour Party attempts to do. When you have a party which right at the outset provides a load of freebies to everyone, not just the poor, talks about increasing personal taxes and corporate taxes, what your theory discounts is capital flight. When you have companies/HNI leaving or reducing investment, where will the money for these schemes come from? Borrowing.

As you increase the debt, you reduce your ability to roll freebies out to the population and the state of services provided dropped. It’s not a sustainable model anymore.

If Labour had restricted itself to say NHS and social housing/food banks, no one would have had an issue with it. Their policies at all points of time have been far more radical right from wealth tax, to increased taxes on private health and schooling.
To point an utopian picture and imply that Labour can help achieve that, is dishonest imho

I don't agree with every dot and comma of the Labour manifesto, and the revenue projections in their grey book are optimistic to say the least.

However Labour's spending plan isn't as radical as perceived as public spending as a percentage of GDP would still be lower than in France and Germany.

 

[Tommo]

Asians voting for the Tories. LMAO.

 

[Tommo]

A complete load of hog wash

As a British Pakistani Tory voter living in London I do my fair share of charity work and at least I know that the little I do actually goes to the needy.

You voted for the Tories..my ribs hurt with laughter.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Asians voting for the Tories. LMAO.

Why are you LMAOing?

 

[Tommo]

Why are you LMAOing?

Well because as someone rightly pointed out earlier, majority of people who let's just say dislike Asians and in particular Muslims will be voting for the Tories.. the same people also voted for Brexit. It's funny to me how those Asians are essentially digging their own graves to look good in front of their caucasian mates and work colleagues.

Boris Johnson has made plenty of outrageous remarks pertaining to Islam over the years, the 'letterbox' comment is just one recent example and not to mention his strong affinity towards Zionism.

Sadiq khan - "I am agnostic".
Sajid Javid "the only faith practiced in my house is Christianity". We all know what Sajid thinks about his own community, the less said the better.

 

[IMMY69]

You voted for the Tories..my ribs hurt with laughter.

Even if I wasn’t I would have to ask who you would vote for and vote the complete opposite...

Now if only I could make you laugh loud enough so you burst an artery

 

[cricketjoshila]

Well because as someone rightly pointed out earlier, majority of people who let's just say dislike Asians and in particular Muslims will be voting for the Tories.. the same people also voted for Brexit. It's funny to me how those Asians are essentially digging their own graves to look good in front of their caucasian mates and work colleagues.

Boris Johnson has made plenty of outrageous remarks pertaining to Islam over the years, the 'letterbox' comment is just one recent example and not to mention his strong affinity towards Zionism.

Sadiq khan - "I am agnostic".
Sajid Javid "the only faith practiced in my house is Christianity". We all know what Sajid thinks about his own community, the less said the better.

Muslims are not the only asians. Plenty of non muslim asians and they may have their own reasons to vote Tory.

 

[Tommo]

Muslims are not the only asians. Plenty of non muslim asians and they may have their own reasons to vote Tory.

So let's get back on track, Asians voting for the Tories, deserve ridicule. You will likely empower the same people who will happily curb stomp your mum for wearing a Hijab. Tut tut.

 

[Tommo]

P.s. Those same people would smack the non -Muslim Asians too, if they had the opportunity. As we have seen so often. So don't give me that.

 

[PetroDollars]

There is no proof that the flight of HNI will happen. Sweden has much higher taxes and social security contributions and has been the fore front of startups in Europe. Despite all these higher taxes, there has not been a flight of businesses and high net individuals. Same is the case with Germany. I live in Germany, pay way more in Taxes, Health and Social security as compared to the UK. Still, more people from UK and USA keep coming here every year.

Also, have you carefully read the Labour manifesto? Its not some communist agenda that everyone is making it out to be. Its actually, still more right than the current situation in Sweden.

Also, answer me this. Despite all the reduction in public spending in comparison to the GDP, the austerity etc, why has the UK's national debt increased? Why have the tories not managed to reduce national debt when the public spending as a proportion of GDP has reduced?

We live in the digital age today, packing up and relocating is not only easy but in this age you can sit here in this country while your business is registered elsewhere. Flight of HNI/corporations/businesses is obvious.

Look what happened in France few years back when they tried to place an 80% tax on millionaires, they had to reverse it before it could even come into effect because the flight of capital was enormous, france would have imploded.

Its even happening in Pakistan where textile mills are going to bangladesh, you think it cant happen in england during the digital era, dont be naive. It will be destructive with millions of job losses and capital flow out the country, putting a dent the size of a black hole in the economy.

Ofcourse tories themselves arnt great but its the best way to stop a destructive party like labour who feed off the blind immigrants to come to power.

 

[GBK_Fan]

I don't agree with every dot and comma of the Labour manifesto, and the revenue projections in their grey book are optimistic to say the least.

However Labour's spending plan isn't as radical as perceived as public spending as a percentage of GDP would still be lower than in France and Germany.

Its radical because we don’t really have a strong homegrown manufacturing base unlike Germany. We are more of a service driven economy and it won’t bear the twin shocks of Brexit uncertainty and a brutal tax regime. The fact that Labour has not made no effort to bring the larger businesses into confidence should set alarm bells ringing for anyone who aspires for a white collar job.

No one has any issues with Labours social agenda, it’s the way they are going about it, fails to give people any confidence in their abilities.

 

[Captain caveman]

Indians will vote bjp and pakistanis will vote pti!
What do you think?
Theres no block vote, most english asians will vote tory, labour or lib dems and the scottish asians will vote snp, labour or tories. The welsh and northern irish are too few in number to know what they vote, probably plaid cymru in wales and God knows who in northern ireland, dup or sinn fein .
But the main thing to note is that there is no asian block vote.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Man in UK Temple Urges British Hindus to Vote for Boris Johsnon as Labour is 'Anti-Modi'

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is astonishing.<br><br>A Hindu temple in Britain (a charity) is allowing people to make speeches urging them to vote Conservative because Labour won't support the Indian govt on Kashmir. <br><br>So problematic on so many levels <a href="https://t.co/W17DKbiqqG">pic.twitter.com/W17DKbiqqG</a></p>— Sunny Hundal (@sunny_hundal) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunny_hundal/status/1191382561504645121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A video from a Hindu temple in England has gone viral on the internet in which a man can be seen urging Indian-British devotees to vote for the Boris Johnson's Conservative party in the upcoming election.

The video surfaced just days before United Kingdom's general election on December 12. In it, a man can be seen delivering a speech to devotees in which he targeted the Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn as an "anti-Hindu", "anti-Modi" and "anti-Sikh" party among others. He also added that the Labour Party supported "jihadist" movements in India

"Hindus and Sikhs feel completely let down by the Labour party," the man said adding that party had been taken over by left wing MPs and ideologies.

Drawing from Indian politics, the man added, "They are supporters of separatist jihadis wanting to cause violence, strife and division all over the world, particularly in India".

The man further declared that the Indian Hindu and Sikh minorities are not safe in UK anymore, urging the people gathered there to vote for Johnson.

The video surfaced on the same day when UK Pm Boris Johsnon visited the Swaminarayan temple in London, another place of worship for Hindus in the United Kingdom and pledged his unconditional support to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/ma...s-johsnon-as-labour-is-anti-modi-2417705.html

Indians bringing their Hindutva agenda in Uk.