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'.
