Although you may well know the results of the EU elections when you read this post, I am writing it before they are announced. I wonder what they will be?
The council elections (there weren’t any where I live) show a surge of support for UKIP – which I find depressing. It looks as though UKIP is taking votes from every other party but, perhaps, mostly from the Conservatives. That, to my mind, is the ray of hope in the results, in that it may make a Labour victory more likely next May. But a year is….
I got lots of pleased responses from Green Party members and supporters when I wrote that I would vote Green in the EU elections. I need to tell them that they cannot count on my vote in any domestic UK election as I cannot imagine voting anything other than Labour. Maybe at the next EU elections, but five years is…
And to my fellow Labout Party friends and colleagues, some of whom expressed their disappointment at me voting Green last week, I would say that Labour needs to buck up its ideas on the environment, the countryside and wildlife. At the moment, those Labour supporters and members, like myself, who care passionately about these issues see precious little to inspire or impress us in the Labour offering. I wonder what the Labour manifesto will offer on these subjects ahead of next May’s general election? Ten months is…
On a slightly lighter note, I couldn’t help but smile at the headline ‘Tories lose control in south Essex’ – that just plays to so many preconceptions that I chuckled out loud.
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My sentiments exactly.
The results are now in and UKIP have done even better than expected. The Lib-dems have been wiped out. The will of the people has been expressed and we have to accept it but I think it is a hugely disappointing (if completely predictable) result. My Lib-dem MEP always responded constructively and helpfully on the occasions I wrote to her about environmental concerns and I don’t see how UKIP’s nihilistic approach to the European Parliament is in any way an improvement over that.
The EU undoubtedly has serious faults that need reforming but it has also been a force for good and I believe that if UKIP eventually gets its way and we leave it entirely that would be regrettable. Since Europe is our major trading partner we may well find that we are still subject to many EU rules without any say in the making of them.
“a surge of support for UKIP – which I find depressing”
… but not unpredictable. This is what happens when political leaders treat us with contempt over a long period, regarding the populace merely as fodder to feed their ideological whimsy. I’m thinking of investing in Ifor Williams, who have just launched a new line in tumbrils. I should be able to learn knitting in a twelvemonth …
But I can only dream – our corrupt voting and electoral boundary system will probably deliver us a gormless PM even more toe-curlingly embarrassing than Prudence G Brown – which I find depressing.
What I find depressing was the voter turnout and the results across Europe as a whole.
Turn out was so low in my area the polling station was closed early which meant by the time I finished work I was unable to vote! Is that legal? Definitely not
Understand the concerns about environment and conservation but never understand the bit about strong Labour views.
Why,well the economy has to be very important and Labour has without fail always left the economy in a terrible state worse than when they took over.
How did the brains? of the Labour party sell a substantial part of our gold reserves for a quarter of the price gold is today.
Could it have been to get some more ready cash to stay in power a bit longer.Very little doubt there,disgraceful and terrible judgement by Chancellor who is supposed to be clever at such things.
Same way the ConDems sold the Post Office for less than its real value, quick money? Profit for pals? Bribery for workforce (bit like local authorities nodding fracking through their planning system)? Maggie must really be celebrating, even she didn’t take that on and now look at what’s left in public ownership. How long before they try to sell more family silver?
Chancellors clever, how do you evidence that, in any colour?
Dennis, This is one area where I struggle. In 2010 the then Govt were heavily criticised for the amount of national debt we had. Figures of 1 trillion on the ‘Credit Card’ were being bandied about although that turned out to be about 3/4 trillion. I thought that level was appalling.
We currently in 2014 have a national debt of 1.25 trillion (BBC figures) but no-one now seems to worry about that. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the UK’s stock of debt will keep on rising for a number of years. Apparently we are likely to hit 1.5 trillion by 2018.
If my Credit Card kept going up like that I would worry.
“a surge of support for UKIP – which I find depressing”
Yes agreed – but I also find the apathetic approach to politics found in many people my age is also depressing.
Mark’s favourite quote has been very much on mind this week: “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing”.
Maybe the frightening rise of UKIP may shake a lot of good people of out of their apathy and make them realise that a decent, pluralist society is something that should never be taken for granted. I live in hope!
Don’t believe “the counter-factual gibberish” you read in the newspapers! A better interpretation? – http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/local-election-results-2014-aav.html
Mud Lark,one difference is the Cons have always left the economy in good health,Labour always leave it in a very poor state and if we had more years of Tony and Gordon then we would have gone down the drain.
I’m not defending Labour’s handling of the economy, far from it, but I hardly think that the Conservative party can be considered free of serious error.
Does ‘Black Wednesday’ ring any bells Dennis ?
What about Anthony Barber’s disastrous budget in 1970 ? Or looking much further back, Churchill’s decision to re-join the Gold Standard in 1925 during his time in office as a Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Cheers Dennis, obviously an accountant, economist or an investment banker:) & thanks Ernest.
The state of the economy is always placed above that of the environment, “What has nature ever done for us?”, a darn sight more I think than “What has politics/politicians ever achieved for the environment?”.
It has taken a while to respond to this post!
Unfortunately, staying alive has been a priority:
http://www.myvi-magic.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/little-things-bring-big-changes.html
I had hoped that a poor Labour vote would prompt a leadership change, but alas there was a bit of a non-event for Labour. Unfortunately. Labour is now looking very shaky.
Whilst on paper Labour seems tons better than the Tories, in practice that feels questionable ~ PFIs ect. ….. and then support for military intervention recently…..
Makes it very difficult to go vote … but usually manage something!!!