So, 6 May it is. Which way will you be voting? For the first time in my life, I am, very seriously, considering spoiling my paper. There's just nothing on offer for me. The party of which I was once a member has spent the last 13 years reducing freedom and privacy, as well as raping the economy. The Conservatives would shit on everybody who hasn't been shat on by Labour, and I can't abide the thought of the least worthy Tory leader of the last 15 years being in the right place at the right time to become PM. I think I'd rather countenance Iain Duncan-Smith running the country than David Cameron. Yes, that bad.
What about the Liberal Democrats? My constituency is a two-horse race and, with the best will in the world, they aren't going to make up the ground they'd need. If it were closer, they'd have my cross, just to revive that February 1974 vibe. As for the rest, they can all fuck right off. UKIP are headcases - we should be sunk to the nuts in Europe, not waiting around for the USA's sloppy seconds. BNP? No thanks. Despite being blond and white, I quite like people who aren't.
I can't allow myself not to show up at the ballot box. I might be powerfully disillusioned, but I still hold to the view that this shit is important. I couldn't enjoy the TV coverage (as I always do) if I hadn't made some effort to be a part of the democratic process. Back in the students' union election days, there was always a candidate called RON. This stood for 're-open nominations'. If I were to spoil my paper (almost certainly by writing "They're all shite" across it in purple fountain pen) on 6 May, it would be a de facto vote for RON. If you're thinking of not voting, go along and write "They're all shite" on your paper.
I live in the Saffron Walden constituency where they don't even have to weigh the Tory votes - they can just make a visual estimate, like guessing how many sweets are in the jar at a village fete.
ReplyDeleteMy vote has always been worthless and without PR it always will be. But I'll probably still limp along to the Village Hall and convince myself that I'm voting for John Cruddas and the minimum wage and the repeal of S.28 and not for Patricia Mandelhoon over the corpses of the Iraqi dead. (Do you think Millbank will want to use me in one of their PEBs?).
My decision is made by having a really effective MP - Lynne Featherstone of the Lib Dems. If it wasn't for her, then I might go spoily-spoily too.
ReplyDeleteJust think of your poor hapless Lib Dem candidate bursting into tears if your spoiled paper ever comes to light. You should add some clarification about the two-horse race scenario just in case that happens.
ReplyDeleteNick - The Lib Dems had a slender chance of securing a vote from me, depending on their performance in the Digital Economy Bill debate yesterday. They lost their chance. The attendance from all parties was a fucking disgrace. Clegg made noises about objecting to aspects of the Bill, but couldn't actually corral his members into turning up at the debate and vote. Doubtless they were more concerned with beginning their constituency campaigns, but the irony is that not turning up yesterday may well have cost them more votes than they could ever hope to gain on the stump.
ReplyDeleteIt's Lib Dem or RON for me, too, though I think our LD might actually have a chance. I notice this year we have a BNP candidate for the first time, which is probably a bonus for our incumbent Labour MP in the tactical vote department. Since she has a 100% vote match with Blair I'm not sure which I'd prefer. Part of me would enjoy a bumbling BNP representative nudging the town (further) into sitcom territory, but it's the voters I'm scared of in that scenario.
ReplyDeleteThe Lib Dems might still swing me round, depending on the DE Bill vote tonight. I've left a rambling message on my MP's voicemail telling him why the record industry can't be trusted.
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