In politics it is almost all perception – the truth often lies somewhere else.  So, what is the perception; what is the generally conceived idea of where we are, what the parties stand for, how the respective leaders come across – and what is the truth behind the perception?

Let us start with Ed, and the trouble with Ed is that he is simply Ed.  He looks awkward, his physiognomy is strange, hardly good looking, and the papers have painted the caricature of Wallace which seems to stick.  Of course the press always have it in for Labour and their leaders; they crucified Kinnock and ridiculed Brown – only Blair, with the blessing of Rupert escaped relatively kindly.  But generally the public like their ideas if not the actual policies – okay they spend a bit too much but do care about ordinary people.  The truth is that Ed is a very thoughtful intelligent man who understands the difficulties he is in, possibly only too well and the party ideally needs a bit more time to rediscover its identity, to bring forward the next generation of talent…

Cameron is perceived as a bit more modern and with it than his party, a bit Blair-lite.  His party is still thought of as nasty and a bit loony.  The truth is that he is a very shrewd operator, but one who maybe takes unnecessary risks and who has let his ministers proceed with some stupid ideas such as the re-organisation of the NHS and the wholesale Welfare changes.  The party is still pretty nasty, believing that only tough medicine will cure the work-shy poor and that the rich should be rewarded for  -well for being rich I suppose.

Clegg is seen as hopeless, a disaster and a liar.  All of which are true, but he has somehow held his party together and faces no serious challenger.  The party is seen as weak and having no real ideas, whereas it has simply lost its way, the Coalition was against its deepest instincts and should have been an emergency measure at best.

Farage is still seen as the outsider, the man down the pub who talks sense, who cuts through the political weasel words and says it like it is.  His party is perceived as still full of fruit cakes, but hey we might as well vote for him; we’ve tried all the others.  The truth is that he is a clever political animal who will be attempting to win enough votes or seats to be able to forge a new Coalition with the Tories.

Where that leaves us I am not sure – oh yes, the Greens.  Well, if only they were getting over 10% in the polls one might be tempted to vote for them, they cannot possibly win – or is just that perception.