I’m feeling special today, what with discovering that I’m one of only three million voters to have been sent David Cameron’s new contract.
Obviously I’d be feeling even more special if I’d had my own, individual copy, rather than having to share it with the other two voters in the house, but even I can understand that there must be some limits to Lord Ashcroft’s largesse.
Anyway, we’ve been sent the contract because at this election Norwich North is one of the top 100 marginal constituencies, which means that there’s a chance that this time the vote could go either way: Tory, or Labour.
Despite Chloe Smith winning last year’s by-election by more than 7,000 votes, this week’s election result is by no means in the bag for her. That’s partly because of boundary changes, which have seen the creation of a new Norfolk Parliamentary constituency, Broadland (not to be confused with Broadland District Council, which has different boundaries from the Broadland Parliamentary Constituency. [Confused? Not as confused as those of us who live in Broadland {district} but vote in Norwich North!]), and which have taken some of the more Tory areas out of Norwich North and thus reduced the potential Conservative vote, and also because the Labour candidate this time round, John Cook, is a much stronger candidate than the last one.
On Thursday I don’t have the same dilemma I had during the by-election over being undecided as to who to vote for, and neither do I have to worry about having to vote tactically for the Lib Dems in order to keep the Tories out. In fact, voting for any party other than Labour will do nothing more than contribute to Chloe Smith hanging on to her seat. And I’m not prepared to play any part in helping that happen.
The Lib Dems don’t stand a chance here on Thursday, and nor do the Greens (unlike in Norwich South, where Adrian Ramsay has a very real chance of unseating Charles Clarke). As for the other candidates. Not. A. Hope. In. Hell.
Especially not the odious Glenn Tingle, the UKIP candidate, who as Anton Vowl exposes on his blog today, has been responding with typical Tingle charm to questions posed on the TheyWorkForYou site, describing Afghanis as “backward tribal wankers” for instance, and suggesting that we should blow up Iran. What a lovely man….
Of course it’s not just the Contract that makes it obvious we’re in a targeted Tory area here: the record pile of letters and leaflets that preceded it gave us a bit of a clue. In fact for some reason the word “bombarded” springs to mind:
I keep looking at that ever growing pile of shite and thinking “what a criminal waste of paper”, but don’t worry, it’ll all be going in the recycling once the election’s over. And on the plus side, if the Tories are happy to waste their money on trying to woo me, then maybe it means someone else who’s more likely to be swayed by that tsunami of tut is being left alone. Well I can but hope.
So anyway, I’ll be voting Labour on Thursday in Norwich North. Not because I agree with the way New Labour have handled things over the last 13 years, I don’t; and not because I think Gordon Brown is the next best thing since sliced bread. Although, I have to say, his speech to Citizens UK yesterday was pretty fucking awesome!
But because I really don’t have choice if I want my vote to count, and because I’m old enough to remember what happened the last time the Tories were in power. Seriously, if you think things are bad now, let Cameron and his Eton cronies in and you really ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
So, at the risk of repeating myself:
Vote against Murdoch on May 6th. Keep the Tories out!
Too Much To Say For Myself 
well done for keeping the faith whilst others all around drop their long (but obviously not deeply) held principles and vote for the new kid in town.
I too remember the last tory government and absolutely dread their return. Some people clearly have very short memories.
Sadly I live in a place that is unlikely to return anything other than the tory toff who has held the seat for what seems like forever. As a consequence, I have received very few election leaflets, not had any canvassers round, nothing happening on my doorstep at all.
Here Labour will come third again – but I still can’t bring myself to tick that yellow lib dem box – I just cant do it. For me it would compromise values and beliefs – obviously for others thats not an issue.
And Yes, I thought Gordon’s performance yesterday was awesome too.
Since you’re now bessie mates with Dave though Cath, can you ask him why he’s supporting Phillipa Stroud, who not only believes gays are possessed by demons (I’ll vomit green pea soup over her if she’s not careful) but belongs to a church where women have to obey their husbands?
I’ll see what I can do Polly, although for some reason he’s not answering my calls at the mo: can’t think why 😉
Cath, you’d still be special to many of us even if Dave hadn’t sent you his contract and even if he answered your calls.
Cameron didn’t choose his background and I don’t hold it against him – it’s his present and probably his future I feel bitter about.
I wish you all the best May 6th. Our conservative governor in NJ has only been in office 4 months, but it’ll take years to undo the damage he’s done so far! Vote Labour!
Despite all my many arguments/disagreements(and believe me, I have had a few!!!) with members of the Labour Party, including Government Ministers, MPs and local councillors, I shall be voting Labour tomorrow and no doubt, if they win on Friday, I will still be arguing with them in the future.
However, I just cannot vote for the Tories or the Lib Dems. I worked as a Civil Servant under a Tory Government and would never wish that upon anybody. The thought of a Conservative Government makes me feel sick and I shall be howling on Friday if they get in. I live in a constituency that could go to the Tories if the Lib Dems successfully take votes from Labour.
Dont inflict the Conservatives back on us. Be in no doubt, the posh boy and his mates will always look after their own. Dont let us forget, this is the party that gave us the ill thought out poll tax, introduced the homophobic Clause 28 and engaged in the spiteful pursuit of trade unionists at GCHQ Cheltenham, amongst other horrors.
…..but be careful what you wish for…..ID cards…..DNA database…..etc…..etc…..
Er ID cards have been dropped Gulfstream5, didn’t you get the memo? However if Dave gets in I can probably expect Ms Stroud popping by to exorcise me before that other chap whose name I forget tells me I’m not normal while Chris Grayling stops me staying at a B&B.
On the whole I’d rather not. And while Cameron may not have chosen his parents, or his school, nobody made him join the Bullingdon Club.
Polly – Well what about Brown’s plot to read all your emails and log all the websites you access, to name but a few? A more important issue than who’s who in the Bullingdon club, eh?
Labour’s idea of “liberties” seems to be that only they are entitled to take them!
…..although I quite agree that Chris Grayling was wrong about B&B, one of a variety of reasons why I voted Lib Dem.
Pakeezah: ‘I worked as a Civil Servant under a Tory Government and would never wish that upon anybody.’
Yes, I am a civil servant & heard the same from colleagues.
Streatham is safe…Labour were always going to win.
Ugh, ‘call me Dave’ Cameron, I feel an urge to slap him. Hopefully some form of co-operation/ coalition will stop their worst excesses.