Posted 7:58 AM by Paul
That Felt Wierd

So we did it. Both of us. Voted not-Labour for the first time in our lives on May 5th 2005.

I hovered briefly over the token vote for the Socialist Allaince candidate. But I put my cross in the box marked Liberal Democrat. Heather summed it up perfectly when, on leaving the polling booth, she shuddered slightly and just said,

"Err that felt wierd."

It did. But I didn't regret it. Was it just about the Iraq War? No. It was more than that. From student top up fees to foundation hospitals, anti-terror laws and ID cards (authoritarian measures even Margaret Thatcher did not try to foist on us) - there was nothing I could support and everything I instinctively oppose in the Labour programme.

Two days earlier David Blunkett had sealed our decision. At a final Labour rally he accused Middle class voters who "could afford a Tory Government" of being "self indulgent" by abstaining or voting Liberal Democrat. Not a good tactic. I have always found that insulting people is not a good way of gaining their support. Blunkett really got my back up.

His comments were also patronising to people from working class backgrounds. People like me and people like him. What was he saying? That "the workers" only care about money and have no interest in ethics? That only wimps who watch BBC2 and read the Independent have an interest in foreign affairs and the deaths of foreigners.

The overall tone of the Labour campaign was depressing. They had two riffs:

Tony Blair is a strong leader and he took the decision he had to make.

If 1 in 10 Labour voters switch to the Liberal Democrats you will wake up to a Tory Government, and you will have no one to blame but yourself! Any moment I expected them to claim that Micheal Howard was ready to launch a chemical attack on the the NHS within 25 minutes.

First there was an appeal for us to follow The Great Leader - the father figure. Sorry too old for that one.

Second there was a threat. If you don't stay with me you will get someone even worse. Better the Devil You Know etc. This is the kind of self justification used by wife beaters.

One in 10 Labour voters did vote Liberal Democrat and we woke up with a Labour Government with a majority of 66 and 10 extra Lib Democrat MPs who can join forces with dissident Labour MPs to vote against foreign adventures and Orwellian restrictions on our civil liberties. And Westminster Blogger Tom Watson got back in as MP for West Bromwich.

All in all not a bad result.