The Student Room Group

Why is it Acceptable to Proudly Say "Nobody likes a Tory" ?

Whilst in a pub with several people I only just met, something about politics was mentioned on the news.

One of the guys joked about the previous government - which received mixed response.

A few moments later another guy very loudly announced "But nobody likes a Tory!"

This was overheard by a couple of randoms at the bar who turned round, cheered and offered to by him a drink.

Why is this seen as acceptable?!

If it was a religion or race - this would not be seen as appropriate - why should politics be any different?


Oh and for the record I'm not a Tory - voted Lib Dem in 2010 and probably never again Nick Clegg!

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Original post by DoctorInTraining
Whilst in a pub with several people I only just met, something about politics was mentioned on the news.

One of the guys joked about the previous government - which received mixed response.

A few moments later another guy very loudly announced "But nobody likes a Tory!"

This was overheard by a couple of randoms at the bar who turned round, cheered and offered to by him a drink.

Why is this seen as acceptable?!

If it was a religion or race - this would not be seen as appropriate - why should politics be any different?


Oh and for the record I'm not a Tory - voted Lib Dem in 2010 and probably never again Nick Clegg!


It'll be down to the demographic, if you went into a wine bar and said "Nobody likes a Labourite" you'd get the same reaction :teehee:
Reply 2
Because it's their opinion? They're not harming anyone by disliking the Conservatives. If there were Tory supporters there they would have been more than welcome to defend their ideology and policies.

Also some of their policies may have negatively impacted their standard of living so they're not going to be their biggest fans.
Reply 3
Were you in the North? If so, you need a history lesson
Original post by goldie56
Were you in the North? If so, you need a history lesson


Nope - London

I just find it odd because if he had shouted "Nobody likes a (insert religion of your choice)" it prob would have gone down like a lead balloon.

I just find it an interesting contradiction within society.
Reply 5
I think it's because Tories were historically far more right-wing than they are today, and even though they are a little more liberal now, some "classic Tory" features are creeping back into Cameron's government. Take the bedroom tax for example, or the "porn" filter which blocks plenty of sites which definitely aren't porn (including ChildLine, the NSPCC and some LGBT advice sites). There are other things too, like the Royal Mail privatisation and what many call the gradual privatisation of the NHS. And then there's Gove, who seems to be bringing about change for the sake of change, without thoroughly thinking through what his decisions will do nor consulting those who actually know what will happen if his changes are enforced. In addition, many people still have horrid memories of the Thatcher era, so that could easily come into play as to why Tories aren't generally liked.

This list goes on. But I don't think bashing political parties is as bad as racism or religious discrimination. Would you be as worried (for want of a better word) if this person said, "But nobody likes UKIP?" Sure, it's not exactly a civilised debate, but look at PMQs - MPs are constantly shouting at one another for their political beliefs: that's certainly not civilised either.

All in all, I don't think it's a bad thing to mock political parties. It should be their job to "win us over," but clearly the Tories hadn't won the support of the people you met in the pub.
Its true demographics do play a part but you need to realise that when the rich get richer and the poor get poorer the middle class goes down in volume/size.

Eventually the Tories will become less and less favourable. The reason for that is with a smaller middle class people will be drawn to having financial security rather than being drawn to mass consumption.

A good example is our shopping habits. If you go to Tesco you will still see people pile their trolleys full but I can bet you they've been taking buy 1 get 1 free deals and so on.
Aldi was 2013's top Grocer of the year due to its incredible low prices and good quality.

Tories have really dropped their prestige these last 20 years. Instead of being for the middle classes they have lowered the bar for decendents of mining families in basic £15,000 to £20,000 per anum jobs.

Due to the way global population is going I really think the Tory mind set is going to have to lower its prestige again in the coming years.
Reply 7
Original post by Architecture-er
It'll be down to the demographic, if you went into a wine bar and said "Nobody likes a Labourite" you'd get the same reaction :teehee:


Let face it - Tories aren't as big a bunch of ********s. We didn't hold parties when, say, Michael Foot died. Rightly so - in fact, we said nice things and tried to reflect on him as a man with a lot of good in him.
Reply 8
You're right. We should be allowed to proudly say that no one likes religion.

Race however is a different matter entirely.
Reply 9
Original post by tsjmcgrath
I think it's because Tories were historically far more right-wing than they are today, and even though they are a little more liberal now, some "classic Tory" features are creeping back into Cameron's government. Take the bedroom tax for example, or the "porn" filter which blocks plenty of sites which definitely aren't porn (including ChildLine, the NSPCC and some LGBT advice sites). There are other things too, like the Royal Mail privatisation and what many call the gradual privatisation of the NHS. And then there's Gove, who seems to be bringing about change for the sake of change, without thoroughly thinking through what his decisions will do nor consulting those who actually know what will happen if his changes are enforced. In addition, many people still have horrid memories of the Thatcher era, so that could easily come into play as to why Tories aren't generally liked.


Changes to the NHS and education system are designed to make them better and appreciate that they will have to cater for ever more people. The porn filter isn't implemented by the government but by ISPs, and the housing benefit underoccupancy stuff is perfectly sensible and reasonable.
Thankfully political views are still fair game. I would hate to live in a society where it was otherwise.
Because we have free speech
Reply 12
Because they're an odious lot? Also because it is unlikely to hurt their feelings as they don't give a hoot, plus it is blatantly untrue as they have plenty of well fed fox hunting mates.
Reply 13
People choose a political belief. Therefore it is opinion, which is open to criticism and ridicule unlike ethnicity or sexuality.
Original post by L i b
Let face it - Tories aren't as big a bunch of ********s. We didn't hold parties when, say, Michael Foot died. Rightly so - in fact, we said nice things and tried to reflect on him as a man with a lot of good in him.


I'm pretty sure that most of "the left" (I detest using that term, but anyway) were respectful on Thatcher's death. Let's just agree there are bad men are both "sides".

I also detest using sides. We shouldn't boil down politics to a playground game.
Original post by L i b
Let face it - Tories aren't as big a bunch of ********s. We didn't hold parties when, say, Michael Foot died. Rightly so - in fact, we said nice things and tried to reflect on him as a man with a lot of good in him.


And nobody will celebrate when John Major dies either. Please don't try and compare Thatcher to Foot.
Reply 16
I live in a Conservative constituency in the UK and as a person with Hartlepudlian parents they definitely didn't like Thatcher, they remember having no money under Thatcher and the chaos caused by the poll tax, they were children at the time but those memories still mar their view of the modern Conservative party even if they shouldn't so up there that's perfectly acceptable, nobody votes Tory, they probably lose to Labour, Lib Dem, UKIP and the BNP. The northern Conservative constituency I live in is York Outer, it would depend on where you were and the company you kept.
Because your politics says a hell of a lot about your views on a wide number of topics.
Original post by Moosferatu
I also detest using sides. We shouldn't boil down politics to a playground game.


But it's so much more fun that way!
Original post by Architecture-er
It'll be down to the demographic, if you went into a wine bar and said "Nobody likes a Labourite" you'd get the same reaction :teehee:


That's what I reckon to be honest. And personally I don't see anything wrong with being able to say it.

Original post by Swanbow
People choose a political belief. Therefore it is opinion, which is open to criticism and ridicule unlike ethnicity or sexuality.


Because of this - I also wouldn't have a problem with people saying (jokingly or seriously) that labour was a load of rubbish.

And we should also be able to do this:
Original post by Exon
You're right. We should be allowed to proudly say that no one likes religion.

Race however is a different matter entirely.



Because again, it's something that people do choose for themselves.
(edited 10 years ago)

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