So we’re having a little election in the UK tomorrow

And that might very well be the last time I shall be able to say that. There are scares that the rise of the Scottish National Party, who despite losing the referendum on independence, are on the ascendancy in Scotland. A traditional heartland for the left-leaning Labour Party, there could be a rout with the SNP winning every seat in Scotland. Meanwhile the rise of smaller parties could cause some upsets. UKIP, the anti-Europe party, could take voters away from the right-leaning Conservatives and the Green Party could sap Labour support.

Up to 4 million people have already voted via postal voting and so the frantic last day will not be able to change their votes. I remember when I voted for the first time, aged 18. It was in the election which swept Margaret Thatcher to power in 1979. I was a student at University and like many, knew little about what the next turbulent years would bring. The effect of that election can still be seen in the UK today – our over reliance on financial services, loss of the manufacturing industry, privatisation and overseas ownership of our national infrastructure and ‘Me, Me, Me’ culture. Much of resentment of membership of the UK from the Scots comes from these days too.

This election has been lack lustre to say the least. Polls have hardly changed since we started the process and every event is carefully stage managed to make each party look adored by the public. The odd difficult question gets through, but no party leader has really been quizzed on where they are going to get the cash to pay for their promises. Yet they still keep making them – £8bn for this, £12bn saved from that – except they never tell us exactly what they plan in case that’s just too hard for us to bear.

In terms of Transport Policy, the BBC has put together this guide:

BBC review of Transport Policies

BBC review of Transport Policies

In my local constituency, there is unlikely to be a change of MP. A huge majority plus lots of hard work are likely to keep the incumbent in post.

We hear in the papers this morning that the Conservative MPs are already in discussion with the Liberal Democrats about continuing the coalition that has been in power for the past five years. This seems the most likely outcome although what it means for our membership of the EU remains to be seen. It’s possible by the time we go back to the polls in 2020, we won’t have those lovely red passports, will have shed 3 million jobs, and will be a small island in the Atlantic, fairly irrelevant to all. Not a happy prospect in my view.

Unlike the 1989 election, I won’t be staying up all night. An early bird by nature, I shall be up at normal time and see what the BBC is saying. There is, after all, the chance that not much will actually have changed after all.

Comments

  1. I guess you must have forgotten that Maggie Thatcher single handedly saved the UK’s bacon and brought it out of years of economic doldrums.

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