Conservative politicians have started to be seen as “weird”, and few members of the public – even including the party’s own voters – are able to identify the Tory leadership candidates, research suggests.

Asked who had the best chance of winning the next election for the Tories, 70% of respondents either said they did not know or that they thought none of the candidates could win – with James Cleverly given the greatest chance, on 8%, followed by Priti Patel.

Multiple focus groups of former Tory voters suggested that those who switched their vote at the last election were not inclined to back to the Conservatives any time soon.

The research by More in Common said the party struggled with relatability, particularly in Liberal Democrat areas, by focusing on topics “which excite the base, or the highly politically engaged” but were distant from ordinary people’s lives.

In a similar vein to the attack that US Democrats have levelled against Republicans, especially the vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, the research found “there is a danger that the Conservatives have started to become seen as ‘weird’”.

  • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.ukOP
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    3 months ago

    Weird would be a step up in my assessment of them. Also “weird” needn’t be a bad thing. I like weird. I"d vote for a weird party if given the option.

    • apis@beehaw.org
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      3 months ago

      Most of them seem closer to being wrong’uns than weird.

      It is only working in the US context as it isn’t an insult per se, yet really gets under the skin of their conservatives due to their obsession with conformity, and enables everyone to mock their ludicrous ideas without expending energy explaining why each of them are so awful.

    • Justas🇱🇹@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      We live in a weird world nowadays. I would accept a leader who embraces the weirdness to navigate the current situation.

      But I would never vote for right wing populists.

  • katy ✨
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    3 months ago

    can we just make david tennant leader of the tories? he already owned them anyway.

    • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
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      3 months ago

      British conservatives are liberals.

      Unless you want to admit that, being fucking weirdos, they’re a third option that doesn’t believe in human rights or democracy.

  • kbal@fedia.io
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    3 months ago

    How now, you secret, black, and midnight Tories! What is’t you do?