Election? Not in my backyard

THE distance by road from Littlejohn Towers in North London to the Little Italy restaurant in Soho, my lunch destination on Wednesday, is approximately 12 miles, not counting humps, roadworks, diversions and stupid one-way systems.

I have to pass through several parliamentary constituencies on my way in to town, including Finchley, Hampstead, Camden and Holborn & St Pancras.

So I thought I’d count the number of election posters in the windows of the houses en route.

How many do you think I spotted? A few hundred? A few dozen?

None. Not one. No Vote Tory posters in true blue Finchley. No Vote Labour signs in trendy, Lefty Hampstead. Not even a Vote Green in Holborn & St Pancras, where the Green Party leader is standing.

OK, so I stuck largely to the main roads, since all the old back doubles have either been closed off or turned into obstacle courses.

But, still, you might expect some evidence that there’s an election going on. None whatsoever, though I did see a Ukip sticker on the back of a white van.

Of course, if you put up a Tory or Ukip poster these days, you can probably expect a ‘liberal’ to throw a brick through your front window.

Even so, you’d think self- styled Hampstead ‘intellectuals’ and Leftwing Camdenistas would want to wear their colours. But it seems they can’t be bothered, either. As Stephen Glover reported in yesterday’s Mail, this a closed election, a navel-gazing, selfserving circular conversation among the political class, with the public and the popular Press not invited.

I’ve been trying to avoid writing about the election up until now, because I’m assuming most of you are as sick as I am of having your intelligence insulted by politicians, pollsters and pundits.

It’s incredible, when you think about it, since the outcome could have frightening implications for the future of our country, yet the political class have managed to alienate just about everyone.

I’ll get back to you nearer polling day. Until then, enjoy the sunshine.