Another voting post...

[boglin]

Well, I've just been across the road to vote.

I remember the first General Election I voted in was an incredably exciting experience, even if we didn't get the result we wanted. I remember the election when the Tories fell, and the sense of elation watching the results come in that night.

I've always voted Labour, voted from the heart as well as the head. And I've always been in the situation where I could vote for what I believed in. Even when the red flag stopped flying. Even after Blair's first term.

But, as many Labour supporters have had to realise, Father Christmas is dead and there ain't such a thing as fairies.

So today I voted to make a point. I voted because the thing I believed in doesn't exist any more. It may be that because of me, and everyone else round here who's done the same as me, we become a Tory seat. It's not something I've done lightly. And it's actually something that has made me very sad.

As I scurried back home with my poll card folded in half, two of Steve McCabe's minions were coming down the road, red rosettes fluttering in the breeze. One of them just caught me as I walked up the path.

"I'm sorry", I said "but you're too late - I'm on my way back."
"Oh" he says, sounding rather crestfallen "I take it by that, that it wasn't a Labout vote?"

So I told him I'd voted Lib Dem, and that although I'd always voted Labour in the past I couldn't do so with a clear conscience whilst Blair was in No. 10. He was very nice about it, and said he understood.

I told him that I hoped I could vote Labour again in the next General Election. And I do.

Comments

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't be a vote for Labour, it would be a vote for President Blair. (I have the Psychedelic Furs President Gas in my head now, lyrics slightly altered).

[bridiep.livejournal.com]

Nope, still couldn't do it. I do acually quite like my Labour MP, and voted for him. We have an increasingly split vote here as there are two Welsh national-type parties, 'Plaid' and 'Forward Wales', mostly made up of disenfrachised ex-Labour candidates.

I hate Blair as much as the next guy, but I loathe Howard more, and call me a scaredy-cat, but I'm really concerned about the 'Tories in through the back door' possibility of too many disaffected Labour supporters voting Lib Dem. Though I do hope they end up as the official Opposition. Now that would be kewl :)

[ulfilias.livejournal.com]

It comes to something when your not voting labour...it also does when i have half my factory workers saying they are going to vote Tory !

He has to go.

[emma-emily.livejournal.com]

I voted Labour but it took me a long while to make the choice. As youknow im as staunch a socialist as your good self and it comes to something when even we have to carefully consider not voting Labour. I respect your vote for the Lib Dems and totally understand why you did it even though i admire Blair and want him to win again. As for the elationof the 1997 election, that was some night! Its so sad to think how full of hope we all were and how wrong we were about what it would mean. Having said that i dont think any party could have lived up to what we all hoped for. But at least the country is in a better state than it was prior to '97.

[quercus.livejournal.com]

I want Blair to win too, I just don't want him to be such a cocky little shit.


(another LibDem socialist)

[emma-emily.livejournal.com]

I totally understand that!!

[deeply-spurious.livejournal.com]

I identify with most of what you say... didn't decide till the last minute and our constituency also is a Lab/Con fight too....

[papalazarous.livejournal.com]

I've not voted yet, the Lib Dem candidate died and so I get to vote in a few weeks time when they've found another one.

But anyway, while voting for one of the two main parties is the most realistic way of bringing about change I just don't agree with their policies. It's Lib Dems for me, I've even had that confirmed with one of these online tests.

While this Labour government have their failings there simply wasn't an alternative. The only things I dislike is their failings on house prices and inheritance tax. Buy to let should be taxed and something needs to be done about aviation fuel, it's barmy that it isn't taxed.