How will you be voting on election day?

Having originally planned to vote Conservative, I am now more prepared to consider a Labour vote. Jeremy Corbyn has come across as much more personable and competent than I would have expected, while Theresa May has failed to stick with (what I consider) perfectly sensible policies in the face of a bit of protest. She is too ready to back down. Also we have seen far too little of Philip Hammond, who I think of as “the real deal”.

Trading manager, income £2-3m per annum

For the first time in my life (I am almost 50), I am considering voting Tory – for two reasons. Firstly, why should I try to protect the interests of those less fortunate than me when their gullibility (“£350m more each week for the NHS?” – yeah, right) and recklessness will affect us all? Secondly, Brexit is now happening: for us to back out now might possibly be more damaging in the long run, and the Tories have the best chance of getting a decent Brexit deal. But I will probably stick to my principles and vote Green.

Ex-director of a recruitment company, £150-300k

I’ve already voted Conservative by post – but a lot more grudgingly than I expected to. While I was (and still am) a fairly passionate “remainer”, I’ve moved on and think the country needs to make the best of leaving the EU and redefining itself for the next century. I thought the Conservatives could do this – but there’s nothing there. It’s not essential for a great prime minister to be a great campaigner, but the election has exposed other serious weaknesses in Theresa May. Overall, the Conservatives remain the best of a poor field, in the absence of a party led by Tony Blair.

Partner in international law firm, £350k

I still plan to vote Labour, but am finding it hard to hold on to my ideals when it seems it would be extremely expensive for me if they win. I accept I should pay more tax: under Corbyn’s proposals, I reckon I’ll have to pay about £6k more annually, which is affordable. But I’m more concerned about the commentary there has been around wealth taxes, and land taxes in particular – I’m not sure where I’d find the ready cash to pay such a tax. And I’m also put off by Labour’s wholesale nationalisation plans.

Corporate financier, £170k



I feel the first bit of enthusiasm for the Labour Party that I have had in a long time. They have some policies finally, Jeremy Corbyn is coming across better, and recent terror events have made people think about what this government has done to our frontline services, now that we need them so badly.

Partner in a financial consultancy firm, £250k

Has your voting intention changed during this campaign?

No, but I have become more disenchanted with all the major parties as the campaign has progressed. I still intend to vote Labour as I like our local MP; however, the national party has moved further away from my views and I have concerns around their competence to implement any coherent plan. The lack of a credible centre-left (or centre-right) option is troubling, as I think that’s pretty much where most of the electorate still resides. We appear to have a choice between two very extreme and marginal interpretations of the traditional party platforms, which would have been unrecognisable even two years ago.

Insurance executive, £500k per annum



I would have voted Conservative on the day the election was called – but now I feel ideologically different with the Tories on everything. They come across as non-transparent, lying, deceitful, arrogant and opportunistic. I think I will vote for anyone but the Tories, even though I know my financial interests are best protected by them.

Tax director, £150k+

Labour have impressed me with how well they’ve communicated their message to the electorate, but I don’t think they have a good enough shadow cabinet to implement their manifesto – and nor is it costed realistically. The Conservatives have been terrible, in my opinion: complacent, condescending, not willing to debate ideas, and only trotting out canned phases which demeans the entire process.

Fund manager, £1m

It is becoming increasingly clear Theresa May is an opportunistic career politician who doesn’t stand for anything, so I am definitely less likely to vote Conservative on the basis of their campaign. Labour’s plans would leave me about £5k a year worse off, so I will most likely vote Lib Dem.

Computer security senior manager, £150k+

Who has been the most impressive party leader?

I have been more impressed by Jeremy Corbyn than at any point prior to the election campaign. I still feel he would struggle as prime minister (when being 100% honest and genuine may be more hindrance than help, sadly) and I do not agree with some of Labour’s policies – but it is no surprise to me he is proving more popular than before the campaign.

Partner in US law firm, £500k per annum



Nicola Sturgeon: I’d vote SNP in a heartbeat if they ran candidates in England.

Corporate lawyer, £300,000+

I’d previously held the view that Corbyn was unelectable, as he didn’t demonstrate the statesmanship/gravitas that someone like Cameron, Blair or David Miliband exhibited. But I think over the course of the campaign we’ve seen a different beast; he’s clearly been advised (and taken that advice) on his look, approach and public speaking, and he’s been able to clearly articulate Labour’s viewpoint.

Technology strategy consultant, £200k



Tim Farron has really surprised me. I wasn’t and am still not in favour of Brexit, and I think the Lib Dems are probably the most pro-business of all of the parties – even more so than the Tories. I just don’t think they have a chance.

Financial technology, about £180k

Caroline Lucas: always honest, heartfelt and a great public speaker, in contrast to the others on offer.

Trading manager, £2-3m

At the start of this campaign, I thought the “media bias” argument was an excuse for Corbyn’s inability to get his message across. But having watched many of the interviews and debates, I’m appalled at how his performance is reported afterwards (including by the BBC and this newspaper). There is a clear tendency to describe his actions as defensive or needing justification, whereas May’s arrogance and self-interest is ignored almost completely. Even so, she seems to be doing a great job of handicapping herself.

Marketing consultant, £200-250k



What single policy has most influenced your thinking?



The “death tax” – I actually quite liked it. I don’t see why people feel it’s a bad thing to have to pay towards your care, especially once you have died. The money has to come from somewhere.

Banker, £150k per annum



What has become clear to me during the campaign is that the Tories put very little thought into their manifesto, despite being the only party who had advance warning an election. The dementia tax now seems like a moment of madness. From a progressive point of view, it’s unfair to be taxed randomly and heavily for social care after paying for the NHS for your whole life. If the aim is wealth distribution, it would be fairer to raise inheritance tax.

Software engineer, £250-300k

Increased taxation of high earners and corporations. As a country, we already have one of the lowest levels of corporation tax, and high earners get to keep too much of their income. It’s simply not fair compared to the rest of society.

Technology strategy consultant, £200k

The debacle over the dementia tax. It’s a sensible policy; the reality is we need more wealth taxes to pay for such things as end-of-life care. I remember thinking at the beginning of the campaign: I hope the Conservatives are brave enough to take advantage of their electoral position, and address some of the necessary harder truths regarding the choices we have to make as a society. Well they did, and look what happened. Maybe this is why I’m a lawyer and not a political strategist.

Partner in an international law firm, £350k

What issue should have been given more attention?

The relentless focus on income rather than wealth is absurd. This country already has a deeply entrenched class system, and the mechanisms for wealth to be hoarded in property/trusts and passed across generations are badly in need of reform. Because I am self-employed and have a different accounting year to HMRC, my effective tax rate last year was 88%! It therefore makes me angry when Corbyn insinuates in interviews that those with the highest income (not wealth) don’t pay enough, and avoid paying their fair share.

Fund manager, £1m per annum



The disparity of wealth in this country is greater than the disparity of income. The Gini coefficient is 0.64 for wealth, compared to 0.34 for net income. And yet this entire campaign has focused almost exclusively on Labour trying to decrease income inequality, without even addressing wealth inequality.

Financial technology worker, £180k

Brexit! Why has everyone forgotten about Brexit? I still feel totally bereft that we are leaving the European Union and am disappointed the Labour Party has not been stronger on this issue. It seems no one has a real plan.

Financial consultant, £250k

Censorship - ranging from the charity gag laws to the government attacks on internet freedom.

Head of engineering, £200k

Income inequality. I saw that we’re the only developed nation where the economy is growing but real wages are decreasing. I’ve been fortunate enough to buck this trend, but it’s crippling for society as a whole to see so much wealth being redistributed upwards.

Software engineer, £250-300k

Will you be voting for yourself, or the wider electorate?

If I was voting for my household alone, I would vote Tory all the way (we don’t use the NHS due to work-provided private healthcare; we pay for private education for our kids; we can effectively buy our way out of any future problems; we are highly educated and employable so unlikely to be hit by any Brexit-related downturn in the economy). But exclusively voting for your own wallet is a depressing way to view society, and life. Tax isn’t a “burden”; we need to change the language around it, and understand that you pay for benefits that create value later.

Asset manager, £350k pa (£1m+ for household)

If I was only thinking about my household, I would probably focus on just two issues: taxes for high earners and house prices for my children. But I’m definitely not voting Tory because I disagree with their policies in so many areas. They are economically regressive and socially harmful – in other words, negative for the broader electorate.

Corporate lawyer, £300,000+

The electorate is being treated with disdain over Brexit. Theresa May has asked for the nation to “trust her”, yet has provided no further details on what she aims to achieve and which existing rights she aims to protect. There seems little point in voting unless it makes a difference to the outcome of Brexit – which, after all, is the reason this snap election was called. The smart move is therefore to vote tactically, weakening the mandate of Theresa May without feeding the delusions of Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow cabinet.

Management consultant, £500-700k

Voting Labour is surely not in my personal financial interests, but their policies are right for society as a whole. I’ve been lucky enough to be good at a job where supply is much lower than demand. This means I’ve been socially mobile, having come from a poor background and suffered poor health as a child. None of this would have been possible without free education and healthcare. That kind of investment only happens under Labour governments, in my experience.

Software engineer, £250-300k

Please sum up Theresa May in one word

Robotic (three votes), heartless (2), one-dimensional, scary, stubborn, opportunist, slippery, brittle, anachronism, disingenuous, overconfident, “projects competence but isn’t” (I can’t think of one word that covers this), arrogant, panicked, cowardly, flakey, drone, arrogant, disappointing, calculating, tricksy, lost, opportunistic, impersonal, dispassionate.

Please sum up Jeremy Corbyn in one word

Principled (six votes), honest (4), naive (3), sloppy, well-intentioned, ideologue, improving, inept, obtuse, woolly, thick, dogmatic, sincere, relatable, dangerous, passionate, consistent, theoretical, quixotic.

Read more of the Guardian’s new Inequality Project here. To get in touch, email inequality.project@theguardian.com