I've started so I'll finish
Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 17:55 Hope I'm not boring the pants off readers by listing election candidates as 'friend or foe'.
It began as a bit of fun to relieve the boredom. Leaders' debate, challengers' debate, Paxman in full Rottweiler mode - it all left me cold.
I live in one of the safest Conservative seats in the country and it's obvious the parties are focusing their efforts on the marginals because we haven't received a single flyer or knock on the door from anyone. That's highly unusual.
Election posters are in short supply too. The incumbent Conservative candidate has a large banner on the gate of his house in the village and there's a monster Ukip placard outside another property, but that's about it.
The message is clear: this is a safe seat and no amount of campaigning will make any difference so let's throw our resources into neighbouring seats like Bedford that are too close to call.
If the same thing is happening throughout the country the 2015 election may by-pass many people. It certainly won't encourage them to vote. No-one likes being taken for granted.
The TV debates are said to have been watched by four to seven million people. There are 41 million people registered to vote. What percentage were watching in marginal seats, where the election will be won and lost, and why would it make a difference even if they were?
Marginal seats are often won on the strength of the individual candidate (the incumbent has a big advantage too) not the party or party leader. That's why good constituency MPs like Philip Davies often increase their majorities, regardless of national swings for or against their parties.
But back to my own list of 'target seats'. Writing on Forest's Facebook page someone commented that:
This election is about more than cigarettes. I am a smoker. That's why I'm here but attacking an MP that cares for other issues which are more important is stupid.
He has a point but I felt it needed a response so I wrote:
Plain packaging is not a big issue to most people but I will not vote for a candidate who supports it because of the bigger, more important issues it represents. Ditto the smoking ban, display ban etc etc. I am a non-smoker and I have always said that the battle we are fighting concerns big versus small government, excessive state intervention versus individual freedom. I'm sorry you don't recognise that.
Anyway I've started so I'll finish, even if it drives me (and you) to sleep.
Tomorrow: Ian Paisley Jr. and Bob Blackman.
Reader Comments (2)
Quite the opposite, Simon. I'm finding it very useful and very interesting to have individual MPs highlighted in this way, and I'd imagine it's quite useful, too, for any passers-by who might not like the whole anti-smoking "vibe" but maybe haven't (until now) taken much of an interest in how individual MPs regard the matter. As I said before - it's made this election a whole lot more interesting for me! I'm hoping (if it isn't too much work for you), that you might publish a list after the election with each of these MPs marked with a "boo!" or a "hooray!" (depending on whether they are friend or foe) for those of us who (probably) won't be able to stay up all night to see in all of the results. I'm sure the office would be happy to give you the next day off in lieu of your devotion to duty .... !
I agree with you Simon. An MP's position on smoking will be a big 'tell' on his general disposition - keep it up!