Barbara Holroyd, 67 The retired occupational therapist from near Aylsham, north Norfolk, has never voted Labour, but is considering it at the next election. She has voted Conservative and Liberal Democrat in other general elections. She said: “I want to see how they perform in the conference. I don’t mind that Keir Starmer has changed his mind on certain things. The government has trashed everything so much, you have to modify your policies. “I would like to see them taxing wealth. I hope they can put the NHS and social care on a good footing. I think social care needs sorting before even looking at the NHS. Unless you can get people out of hospital, and reduce the need for people to go into hospital, we will just get winter pressures all year round. “I would like to see a minimum wage of £15 an hour. I really like Labour’s clean energy policy.” She said she would evaluate the local candidates before making a final decision. “I need to see who is standing in my constituency and will vote for whoever will evict the incumbent, who is a Tory. He is quite good, but I am thinking of the bigger picture. Never have tax bills been so high, but never has the social and physical infrastructure been so poor.”
Gareth Jones, 64 The project manager from Littlehampton, West Sussex, was a traditional Tory voter for many years, but has become disenchanted with the party over Brexit, its rhetoric against asylum seekers and its environmental policies. He voted Lib Dem at the last election. Jones said he could be persuaded to vote Labour if Starmer provided a more forceful and critical opposition to Tory policies. “There is excessive caution,” he said. “They seem desperate not to say anything they might be criticised for.” He would like to see Labour announce a package of health and welfare reforms, while promoting the benefits of immigration. He said he would support a Labour party that spoke out for a more compassionate approach to immigration and the need to support the most vulnerable in society. He said: “It seems to me [Starmer] is desperate to attract the ‘red wall’ voters and is convinced they are anti-migrant and low tax. He has decided to take his base for granted and go after people on the fringe of the Conservative party.”
Jacob Rosamond, 37 The oncology clinical nurse from Manchester, has always voted Lib Dem, but is considering Labour. He thinks the Tories have “poisoned political discourse” and made the UK a laughing stock. He said: “We are being dragged more and more into personality politics. The Conservatives seem to be being pulled into Trumpism. Keir Starmer seems like a more serious politician. I would like to see a return to integrity in politics. It seems to have vanished.” Rosamond said he would like Labour to be more candid about the harms caused by Brexit. “I think having a conversation about what Brexit has done to the country would move me more into the [Labour] camp.”
Emma Norton, 55 The film production executive, who lives near Barnstaple, north Devon, voted Lib Dem at the last election, but is likely to vote Labour at the next one. She said: “I am pretty much decided I will vote Labour, but to secure it, I would want to see a little more bravery from Keir Starmer.” Norton said she would like to see Labour move back to its socialist roots. “The government has lurched to the right,” she said. “Labour needs to occupy strong left ground to get us back on track.” She said she wanted Labour to be a stronger supporting voice for employees in the NHS and education. She said voters wanted Labour to address the key issues that dominated daily life. “We care about the failing NHS and the cost of living,” she said.
Richard Pascoe, 47 The management training company director from Leeds has always voted Lib Dem, but is considering Labour. He said: “I’m not anti-Conservative. I would even consider voting for the Conservatives, but they have become so right wing and populist. “I would like to hear some bolder policies and ideas from Labour. I am pro-Europe and I like the idea of making stronger connections with Europe in areas that make sense.” He said he would also like to see Labour commit to providing better infrastructure for electric cars.
Ian Pretty, 59 The chief executive of an organisation that represents further education colleges voted Green at the last election. He was a Labour member, but left when Jeremy Corbyn became leader. He said: “I am inclined to vote for Labour, but I struggle with Labour’s approach to Brexit. I would like to see a leadership that says: ‘This is not working – and this is why.’” He added that Labour needed to tell the country the UK must be in the single market for economic success. Pretty said he would also like to see Labour embrace electoral reform. He said: “If you want a progressive majority in power for a long time, you need electoral reform.” • The contributors in this article responded to a community callout. You can contribute to open callouts at the Guardian community team