I'm not allowing myself to talk partisan politics during this election (I'm media-accredited for one count and interviewing PPCs, so I feel I'd be acting unethically); all I'm going to say is that in my dream world, people would -
Know the voting patterns and demographics of their constituency.
Research their MP's voting habits on the issues they care about.
Not be afraid to vote tactically, or to vote for an MP whose voting record they agree with from a party that they don't; genuine conscience-voters are rare and hugely important in the UK parliamentary system (everyone knows what the West Lothian Question is - and I grew up in Tam Dalyell's constituency.)
For instance, in Brighton Pavilion, a vote for the Greens would not necessarily be a wasted vote; they have a serious chance of getting at least as far as second in the popular vote (which would give them a platform for 2009/10). In Medway, it's a battle between the Tories and a Labour nonconformist; one where assuming that Bob Marshall-Andrews is a typical Blairite would be a real mistake. All the Scottish electoral boundaries have changed, so the Tories are weaker in Ayr but could take Ochil or something in the Dumfries and Galloway area.
It's going to be interesting. Both Labour and the Tories could easily lose front-benchers...
The Official 2005 YakYak Election Poll
-
Acronym
- Baaaaaa!
- Posts: 3982
- Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 8:18 pm 0
- Yahoo Messenger: andrew_walkingshaw
- Contact:
The LibDems are trying very hard to challenge in Folkestone and Hythe, but it's far from marginal; http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/cons ... 45,00.html
I'd expect him to get a boost from being the Tory leader, too; his majority might go down, but his share of the vote'll go up.
I'd expect him to get a boost from being the Tory leader, too; his majority might go down, but his share of the vote'll go up.
