Election 05/06/2010
 

Election 33

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Well, that's it.

I've cast my vote.

Not, however, because I felt compelled to show my support for one party or another - but because I firmly believe anyone who chooses not to vote doesn't deserve to be able to express an opinion after the election.

Interestingly, although I left home with a pretty good idea of who I was going to vote for, I changed my mind at the very last moment - but, more of that later......

When I went to bed last night, in line with a theme which had been developing as this blog progressed, I had decided to vote for the Liberal Democrats. Not because I was especially enchanted with their manifesto or those who presented it - but, rather more as a means of demonstrating my reluctance to support either of the other two main parties.

I wouldn't deny that, given a straightforward choice between a left or a right-wing political party, my natural inclination would be to support the one on the right - i.e. the Conservative party. This, by the way, isn't because I'm especially fond of them or what they represent - but, it's because, in my experience, the Tories deliver what it says on their tin.

Speaking of 'what's on the tin', as this election campaign has progressed it has been a source of absolute bewilderment to me how many people seem to be deciding who they'll vote for on the basis of events which occurred the best part of thirty years ago. I mean, of course, Margaret Thatcher's regime. Putting aside the rights and wrongs of what she did (and there are many), the fact remains that she achieved what she had promised to do.

The same, however, cannot be said of the socialists - and, in particular, Tony Blair's New Labour. In addition to abandoning long-held working-class principles and adopting (some might say, stealing) Conservative policies, they certainly have not delivered what they promised - a referendum on the European common market, for example.

Anyway, returning to this morning.........

In line with what I had already decided, voting for Labour wasn't on my agenda. Furthermore, since I see characteristics in David Cameron's behaviour with which I'm not entirely comfortable (he reminds me just a little bit too much of Tony Blair) that counted the Conservatives out, too. So, I set off to vote comfortable with my conclusion that the Great British public deserve a hung parliament - and voting for the Liberal Democrat might achieve that end.

Unfortunately, however, when I arrived at the polling station, I discovered that my candidate was the only one who lived outside the constituency. So, I changed my mind and voted for someone else.

Here's a clue .



 
Election 05/05/2010
 

Election 32

Reminder: Latest blog at top of page. Earlier posts towards the bottom

So, how would I sum up tomorrow's election?

Well, despite the vitriol emenating from the left, the fact remains that there will always be an element within the UK who would hope to preserve the traditional values of the right. Accordingly, the Conservative party will still be a force to be reckoned with when this - and many more elections are over and done with.

The same, however, might not be said of the Labour party - not with the same conviction, at any rate. Already changed beyond any recognition of what they were before the 1997 election, they continue to abandon their working-class heritage in an effort to appeal to 'middle England'. Furthermore, somewhat alarmingly, there are signs that their star might be in decline. Even before a single vote has been cast, there are elements within the party who are taking steps to elect a new leader.

In the meantime, to an extent beyond even their own wildest dreams, the Liberal Democrats find themselves in a position to regain their historic role in providing the radical alternative to the Tories. As a by-product of their resurgence, would it be too much to suggest that the electorate have been presented with a unique opportunity to restore a genuine two-party system of government to the UK by casting Labour aside altogether?

Maybe - but, I can dream.

In any event, whichever party ends up governing the country for the next five years (or so) they might grow to consider it to have been a poisoned chalice - because the steps required to resolve the current situation will be hard to bear and whomsoever has to administer them might not end up 'the winners'.



 
Election 05/05/2010
 

Election 31

Reminder: Latest blog at top of page. Earlier posts towards the bottom.

It's said that 'actions speak louder than words', and - tomorrow - talk will become meaningless. Nevertheless, talk about tactical voting seems to be all the rage, at the moment.

The reason I'm mentioning this is that, from my own point of view, voting tactically is unlikely to have any effect whatsoever because I live in a rural area where the prospect of the Tory MP being unseated is extremely unlikely.

Interestingly, however, the house next to where I live happens also to be in the next constituency. What's more, that particular constituency includes a significant urban area and, as a consequence, has been represented by both Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs for the past few elections.

Not surprisingly, I envy my neighbours because it seems that they have the opportunity to cast a rather more 'meaningful' vote than my own. What's more, although I make no claim to understand what is meant by 'Proportional Representation' (in its many forms), if it went some way towards getting rid of what seems to be inequities within the current system - I'm all for it!


 
Election 05/04/2010
 

Election 30

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Who needs enemies with candidates like this?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/04/gordon-brown-worst-candidate-says?CMP=twt_gu
 
Miscellaneous 05/04/2010
 

Get up and go.

More observant visitors to this neck of the web (especially the Rambling blog) may have noticed I'm not getting out and about quite as much as I used to. There's no need to dwell of the whys and wherefores, but I've taken steps (get it?) to get back into shape.
 
Election 05/03/2010
 

Election 29

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Excellent graphics showing history of UK political parties.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8649185.stm
 
Election 05/02/2010
 

Election 28

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Something I find rather difficult to understand about the situation in which the Labour party finds itself at the moment, is the fact that it seems to be the general concensus of opinion that the current Prime Minister is to blame.

OK. So, he's having a pretty bad run, but I believe Gordon Brown is a man of some integrity who was placed (quite deliberately, in my opinion) in an almost untenable position by the actions of his thoroughly disingenuous predecessor.

To add insult to injury, this unfortunate episode has been overseen - and some might say, orchestrated - by someone to whom he turned for assistance; I mean, of course, the iniquitous Baron Mandelson of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham.

Wouldn't it be interesting to imagine what The Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon could have made of such shenanigans?


 
Election 05/02/2010
 

Election 27

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Now, The Independent turns against Labour....

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-vote-for-change-real-change-1960288.html
 
Election 05/01/2010
 

Election 26

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Now, The Observer backs the Lib Dems....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/01/liberal-democrats-endorsement-observer
 
Election 05/01/2010
 

Election 25

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What, on earth is the world coming to?

Yesterday, The Guardian pledged its support for the Liberal Democrats and, today, a leading Daily Mail journalist urges readers not to vote for the Tories.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1270363/This-importan
t-article-I-ve-written--loyal-Conservative-voters-hate-it.htm