Chez Spud

The general election looms, 11 days and counting or something like that. Shouldn’t I know which party I’m going to vote for by now? I ‘think’ I do…but I have some questions:-

• should I vote for a political party in general, or the specific wannabe Member of Parliament in our area? What should I do if I like the party, but can’t stand the local candidate?
• what should I do if, overall, I’m happy with the party manifesto and the local candidate passes my acceptability test…but the LEADER of the party (ie potential Prime Minister) is a ninny?
• thus, in truth, are we voting for a Prime Minister and not a party?
• why can’t I pick and choose bits and pieces of various parties’ manifestos. My personal, winning manifesto is a bit of a pick ‘n’ mix.
• are ‘safe seats’ ever really safe? Does apathy play a worrying part in the creation of a ‘safe seat’?

Things about politics that bother me:

• No doubt, a long time ago, every serious politician went in to politics because they ‘wanted to make Britain a better place’, wanted to be part of the process to effect change, make a difference etc etc. But somewhere along the way, and probably pretty soon on, ego got in the way. I can’t ever get past the fact that a large proportion of politicians are in it because they get a personal kick out of being ‘someone’, and the power and fawning go to their heads and turn them in to people it’s hard to warm to.
• Thus, as per above, most politicians will say anything to get elected. They promise the moon at this stage in the game, but once in power it’s all about staying in power rather than delivering on promises.

I don’t really have a clear idea of who to vote for. I’m not sure I feel passionately enough about any of the local candidates/party manifestos to vote with real conviction. I’m still weighing it up but, most likely, I will ‘donate’ my vote to my friend who died last Autumn (Emily Pankhurt must be turning in her grave). He was a truly, madly, deeply supporter of one political party…and loudly vocal about it. I miss him, I wish he were here to metaphorically beat me around the head about my sappy wishy washy approach. He’d agree that there’s no ‘easy’ path through the process of deciding which way to vote, but he’d be very clear that you have to pick a party and then support them to the hilt.

He wouldn’t approve, although deep down I think he’d be a little bit flattered, but in the absence of a clear ‘winner’ for me I will be going with his party of choice. Which party? Well, that’s between me and the ballot box…on the basis that it’s terribly impolite to discuss politics and religion. You can never win, and you’re bound to cause offense.  But I ‘can’ say that it won’t be Labour for the simple reason that Gordon Brown looks too tired for another term and he doesn’t seem to be able to add up very well.

Case dismissed.

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