Front page

Blarchive

Shouldav, wouldav, couldav

9 May 13 | Re: Massive political gloat | Link-U-Post

Let’s take a moment to gloat at the Tories, shall we?

These pole-greasing careerists really showed what they were all about during the Alternative Vote referendum. AV does two things: it gives new parties and independents more of a fair chance, and it stops voters who quite like more than one party from having to play a silly guessing game about which is the one to back. Well, phooey to that, said the Tories. We’re one of the established parties, so let’s keep that hegemony going. We know that the right stays united while the left’s been splitting inveterately since first century Judea, so let’s not open the dangerous door to discussion or change. No to AV!

Following that line of reasoning, they made up a bunch of wrong claims and red herrings, the answer to all of which was simply “Er, no”. Sadly the Yes campaign couldn’t deal with their chutzpah and the evil plot was hatched, democracy denied and endless cushy sinecures assured for suits in safe seats. On both sides of the House, yes, but it was only the Tories who had the nerve to make non-democracy the party line.

And what a betrayal it was of their coalition partners. Yes, they only promised a referendum on AV, not their support for it, but it had to be implied that the campaign would be clean. Instead, they and their mates in the media splattered the country with misinformation, correctly counting on the Lib Dems’ weak position to ensure that there was no comeback for their nefarious acts.

That’s why it’s delicious to see the decision coming back to bite them. For once, the new party making waves is on the right! Even in the wake of Thatcher’s death, with tributes providing a perfect rallying point for Tory support and Labour trapped in Akon’s Dilemma (trying to find the words to describe Mrs T without being disrespectful), UKIP got nearly as many council votes as their elder cousins. On votes per seat, they must have pulverised them. And that’s despite all the disadvantages that the first past the post system gives to a new party.

If UKIP keep their momentum, right-wingers at the next election will be in a comparable situation to lefties in 1983. You will see them in polling stations, furrowing their brows over the ballot paper as they try to guess which right-wing party is the vote that won’t be wasted. Even if only a bit, the vote will be split. Seats that should have been Tory will go to Labour. Seats that should have been UKIP will go to Labour. Seats that should definitely have been Tory or UKIP will go to Labour (or maybe the Lib Dems).

Now, that won’t be an expression of the popular will. Every case where a split vote lets in the lefties will be just as much of a travesty as all the Labour/SDP splits that let in the Tories in the 80s. As hard as it is to have sympathy for UKIP/Tory voters, the kind of people who like to say “You couldn’t make it up” about things that mainly are made up, who read news stories only reported for their absurdity and think they represent the way things usually work, I don’t support it. But as it’s a travesty the Tories wanted, because they are people who spend their lives benefiting from travesty after travesty, I do find it fitting that this particular travesty is working against them for once. It has to be worth a quick gloat.

Ha ha ha the Tories. Gloat gloat gloat. Let’s hope this sinks them, but even if it doesn’t, it’s fun to see the terror in their eyes.

Posted by GUILLERMINA PACHECO at 21:52

[Back to main blog]

[Or dive into the blarchive...]

---

Take me home