Sunday 19th October

Politics are in a particularly febrile state at the moment.  Maybe it is partly the threat of UKIP, maybe it is just a real fear of making a blunder, but our politicians are doing anything but attempting to inspire us.  I suspect that most of us will vote for a party with no great enthusiasm but because there is no-one else we can bring ourselves to vote for.  Labour, my party; are I must admit pretty hopeless.  I sort of feel they might have a bit more compassion than the Tories, will be fairer on taxation and the NHS, but I am sorry; Ed just doesn’t inspire me – I will be voting Labour despite Ed not because of him.  I suspect that many Tories feel the same way about Cameron and Osborne and will vote through gritted teeth and just hope that the next Government will be more to their liking (gay marriage was a step too far for many of them).  Many die-hard LibDems sincerely hate Nick Clegg and feel he has betrayed them by his enthusiasm for the Tories but will still vote LibDem because they hate the other two parties even more.

Which leaves us with the unknown and unknowable UKIP.  I suspect they will poll quite well and may get as much as 20% of the vote nationally and in some areas will get a few M.P.s – but I suspect that many of those voting UKIP will be doing so, not because they particularly like their policies but out of a feeling of disillusionment with all the other parties.  Much as the SNP have garnered support by being the anti-Westminster party UKIP presents itself as “none of the above” – a new voice, unsullied by ever actually having been in power.

And in just this way whoever ‘wins’ or I suspect forms the next coalition, there will be an awful lot of disgruntled voters who didn’t vote for them, or who feel betrayed by the policies of their coalition partners being adopted.   And that in its turn will lead to even more disillusionment.  The only possible good may be that whoever loses party leaders will resign and hopefully more credible candidates will become party leaders.