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Voting Intention 6^th April 2010: Labour 31%, Conservative 41%, Lib Dem 18%

Today, Gordon Brown announced that the 2010 General Election would be held on May 6^th, the campaign has begun.  This election as all elections in the UK are is a two horse race between Labour and the Conservatives, Left and Right, Red and Blue.  Of course, there is a sprinkling of Yellow throughout as the Lib Dems go through the motions of a campaign speaking in town halls, school classrooms and local hospitals with an accompanying audience invariably asking ‘who’s that?’.  For your information, the leader of the Liberal Democrats is Nick Clegg.

At the moment the Tories have a 10 point advantage over Labour sitting on 41% giving them the strong likelihood of a majority come May 7^th.  David Cameron is likely to be our next Prime Minister despite Labour warnings of a wolf in sheep’s clothes.

Notable by their absence, or perhaps not, are the TV debates.  Sky had been campaigning hard for ‘Leaders Debates’ between the ‘big’ three parties of UK politics.  However, despite this campaign having strong public support Labour and the Conservatives were unable to agree terms that were suitable for their leaders.  One assumes that the Lib Dems would have fainted with delirium had the debates gone ahead giving their man (Nick Clegg remember?) an equal footing with Brown and Cameron so I doubt they were the spanner in the works.

Alas, we have been deprived of this US style addition to our election campaign which is just as well I suppose as they would not have worked.  Our parliamentary system does not enable us to vote for the leader of a party we vote for a local representative.  So surely it must be a blessing that they did not take up prime time on STV, Sky and the BBC – the three networks involved. 

Equally, how would the nationalist parties and indeed other fringe parties be dealt with?  Would the SNP and Plaid be locked out of the debates?  Surely their leaders deserve equal footing as the ‘Big’ three as they are as much a factor in Scotland and Wales respectively as their competitors.  A potential lock out could also be challenged on the grounds that the London Parties, as Mr Salmond refers to them, do not speak for Scotland on the issues of health, education and justice.  Obviously there are other fringe parties that will command supporters at this election, should they not be given a voice?  It is a UK election so there must be a voice that represents all parts of the UK.

No, it’s probably just as well we didn’t get the debates.  Our political system couldn’t support it it’s not set up correctly.  Besides, it’s not like we need wholesale political reform Labour just need a few years in opposition to sort themselves out.  Sure turnout will be pretty low this election but the public will forget about the expenses scandal and the recession will become a forgotten memory.  After 13 years it’s probably the Tories turn anyway.  In any case, David Cameron is too good a performer for Gordon Brown and the Lib Dem leader.

Voting Intention 29^th April 2010:  Labour 27%, Conservatives 34%, Liberal Democrats 28%

No, just as well we didn’t get the debates, what possible difference could they have made?

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