Do not vote Labour into Downing Street

Widdecombe

IAM regularly told by people that they are not voting in the General Election either because it does not make any difference or because they are outraged by the actions of a particular party leader, citing Cameron and gay marriage, Clegg and tuition fees and Miliband’s likely dependence on the SNP.

First of all it not only makes a difference who wins, it makes an ocean of difference. Remember the note of the outgoing Labour Treasury minister? There is nothing left.

There never is at the end of Labour governments and the pattern that follows is that the Conservatives put it right, often at the cost of much austerity which causes resentment, so Labour comes back and wrecks the economy yet again.

The difference between the two is no longer the vast philosophical divide that characterised the last century and ended with Blair’s creation of New Labour but straightforwardly that one party runs the economy well and the other beggars Britain. Do we really want to go through it all again?

Those who want to demonstrate disgust at past actions and who cannot be persuaded to vote will waste their ire if they simply stay at home, indistinguishable from the lazy or forgetful.

Politicians and commentators will waffle on about the supposed reasons why people do not exercise their vote but it packs greater punch for abstainers to go to the polls and put beside the candidate they would have voted for a short comment such as “would have but for gay marriage/ tuition fees/ failed pledge on whatever”.

As all spoiled ballot papers have to be counted and agreed to be spoiled by the candidates and returning officer the message gets home.

Those really thinking of abstaining should first at least find out how their own MP voted on the issue in question.

If he or she defied the party leadership, which means putting conscience before career, then that MP deserves support not abandonment. In the end we cannot alter what is done but we can influence the future and we have a respons ibility to the country not just ourselves.

Refusing to vote or voting for a small party that cannot form a government is a way of relinquishing that responsibility.

However strongly we feel, the over- riding question remains: to vote for those who crashed the car or for those who pulled us painfully from the ditch.

In my case the decision is made so much easier because I have an MP, Mel Stride, who has always voted the way I wished on matters that are important to me. I admit to gritting my teeth at the thought of Cameron continuing to lead the Conservative Party but that pales into insignificance beside the thought of Miliband leading the country. Into bankruptcy. Into being ruled by the demands of the SNP. Into class warfare.

So my advice to abstainers don’t.

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