Election 2005
It's been a while since I posted on wordage - my ongoing computer hassles have meant I've been concentrating my uptime on eyematter itself.
However, as we've got the small matter of a General Election tomorrow I thought it would be an opportunity to break the silence.
Before the campaign got underway, the general feeling was that it was going to be a pretty dull and unedifying affair - and so it's proved to be. The main three parties are barely discernable from each other on basic economic matters - and indeed in other areas as well - and as a consequence the 'debate' quickly descended into personal attacks and negative scaremongering.
Although the campaign itself has lived down to expectations, I feel this could actually be an intriguing election. Labour may have a relatively healthy lead in the polls, and will take comfort from the fact that, historically, polls tend to underestimate the support for the governing party. However, the 'trust' issue and the general level of dissatisfaction with the Blair government could play out in an intriguing fashion in the marginals. Whilst I suspect that the Labour government will be returned with a 50 to 75 seat majority, there will be some very interesting stories within the overall result.
If Labour is returned then how long will Blair last as PM? This campaign has clearly shown his worth as a political asset has plummeted, whereas Gordon Brown's stock has climbed still further. Brown's public loyalty to his beleagured colleague during the campaign has served to enhance his own standing, whilst undermining Blair's by comparison. It's all working out rather nicely for Gordon, who could turn out to be the biggest winner of this election.
However, as we've got the small matter of a General Election tomorrow I thought it would be an opportunity to break the silence.
Before the campaign got underway, the general feeling was that it was going to be a pretty dull and unedifying affair - and so it's proved to be. The main three parties are barely discernable from each other on basic economic matters - and indeed in other areas as well - and as a consequence the 'debate' quickly descended into personal attacks and negative scaremongering.
Although the campaign itself has lived down to expectations, I feel this could actually be an intriguing election. Labour may have a relatively healthy lead in the polls, and will take comfort from the fact that, historically, polls tend to underestimate the support for the governing party. However, the 'trust' issue and the general level of dissatisfaction with the Blair government could play out in an intriguing fashion in the marginals. Whilst I suspect that the Labour government will be returned with a 50 to 75 seat majority, there will be some very interesting stories within the overall result.
If Labour is returned then how long will Blair last as PM? This campaign has clearly shown his worth as a political asset has plummeted, whereas Gordon Brown's stock has climbed still further. Brown's public loyalty to his beleagured colleague during the campaign has served to enhance his own standing, whilst undermining Blair's by comparison. It's all working out rather nicely for Gordon, who could turn out to be the biggest winner of this election.
posted by Simon C at 3:18 AM
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