Apr 7, 2005
A General Election Primer
Yep, we'reoffand running. Our Heroic Leader (albeit slightly delayed) has been to the Palace to see the Queen, and it's time to get down and dirty – sorry, I mean, have a fair and constructive political debate after which we The Fully Informed and Politically Engaged People will trot off to the polling stations (or some of us will go down to the postbox, as long as nobody pinched your ballot)... well, we probably will eventually anyway.
If you don't know what any of it's about, here are some basic questions answered, and you can compare and contrast the policies of the major parties too. And if fictions are your thing, you're welcome to browse the three main parties'officialwebsites.
And, of course, the electionwillbeblogged. (This might just be essential reading.)
The politicians will be kissing babies (Charles Kennedy, the Lib Dem leader, should have his very own baby to kiss, aahh) and making promises nobody expects them to keep. John Prescott hasn't punchedanybody yet, but there's plenty of time. The Murdoch papers haven't decided which way to jump (they have to make sure they go with the winners so they can take the credit). Quite a lot of voters feelthe same way.
Now, let's face it, I'm not exactly caught up in the heart of things out here in Wales. I'm in a fairly safe Plaid Cymruconstituency, with the Lib Dems as the only challengers. But then, most of our votes are irrelevant. It doesn't matter what nationwide polls say: what counts are the marginal constituencies. The outcome of every British general election is decided in a minority of key seats. According to one major pollster in January, the Tories shouldn't be getting their hopes up. I agree with these bloggers: New Labour isn't going to lose this election.
But if anything exciting threatens to happen between now and 5 May, I'll let you know.
If you don't know what any of it's about, here are some basic questions answered, and you can compare and contrast the policies of the major parties too. And if fictions are your thing, you're welcome to browse the three main parties'officialwebsites.
And, of course, the electionwillbeblogged. (This might just be essential reading.)
The politicians will be kissing babies (Charles Kennedy, the Lib Dem leader, should have his very own baby to kiss, aahh) and making promises nobody expects them to keep. John Prescott hasn't punchedanybody yet, but there's plenty of time. The Murdoch papers haven't decided which way to jump (they have to make sure they go with the winners so they can take the credit). Quite a lot of voters feelthe same way.
Now, let's face it, I'm not exactly caught up in the heart of things out here in Wales. I'm in a fairly safe Plaid Cymruconstituency, with the Lib Dems as the only challengers. But then, most of our votes are irrelevant. It doesn't matter what nationwide polls say: what counts are the marginal constituencies. The outcome of every British general election is decided in a minority of key seats. According to one major pollster in January, the Tories shouldn't be getting their hopes up. I agree with these bloggers: New Labour isn't going to lose this election.
But if anything exciting threatens to happen between now and 5 May, I'll let you know.