I will pin my colours to the mast and say that I am a die-hard Labour Loyalist, and thus, would vote Labour if it were it were a donkey wearing a red rosette.
Few people identify so strongly with a political party. Come election day, many have to decide which is their best-fit choice or their least-worst option.
I would say that there can be an element of laziness within this - John Cole said on eve-of-poll 1992 that many people like to pick who they perceive to be the eventual winner, thus correctly predicting a Tory victory. This worked the other way in 1997 when some people thought it fashionable to vote Labour, so did.
However, the evidence suggests that the greater number of people cast an 'anti' vote. This can be lazy - "I'm fed up with This Lot, I'll give the Other Lot a chance." Or it can be Tactical.
If I lived in a Tory-LibDem marginal, where Labour was distinctly in third, or lower, place, I would have to consider whether an anti-Tory vote was more valuable than a pro-Labour vote. I have never faced this dilemma, never having lived in a seat where the Lib Dems were a serious electoral consideration. I do know somebody who voted Lib Dem in 1992 as the best placed runner-up to the Tories, and was astonished to see Labour overtake the LibDems.
I would also argue very strongly that if you live in a Constituency where the BNP are fighting a significant campaign, you vote for whatever party is most likely to keep them out. I don't think there are any Tory-BNP battles, if there was, and I lived there, I would soul-search, think very very carefully, and seek a Tory in a Labour-BNP battleground to 'swap' votes with.
There is a temptation to select a fringe party or an independent candidate as a protest against the ruling party. I would not criticise someone for doing that out of ideological reasons, but as a protest, I see it as an exercise in futility.
It may look big and it may seem clever, achingly trendily so, but, in essence, it is tantamount to abdicating responsibility.
General Elections serve two purposes: one is to determine which party forms the government. This is almost always the Party that has the greatest number of MPs in Parliament. It is also the method of electing somebody to be your reperesentative in Parliament. For most of my life I have lived in constituencies served by diligent and conscientious constituency MPs - Fergus Montgomery, Teddy Taylor, and for the past thirteen years, the great Keith Hill. The less said about Martin Bastard-Brandon-Bravo the better; William Shelton never grazed my consciousness.
The three named were/are characterised by:
- responding to my letters of lobbying
- respected in the local Community regardless of political persuasion
- responsive to issues of local and national importance
- demonstrable track-records of fighting for the betterment of their communities
I also know of Keith, because of my work as a councillor, how vital is it to have an MP with a personal commitment, and a competent staff , to deal with personal casework.
I recall a story from some years ago, told to me by someone who worked at the DHSS, or Benefits Agency, or whatever it was called. They often got MPs' letters representing their constituents. If it was Tony Lloyd, the managers' attitude was 'Finger out. Now.' If it was Fergus Montgomery, the manager's attitude was 'This needs addressing'. If it was Winston Churchill 'I suppose we ought to deal with this.' My many years of audit have shown me that this is not uncommon in Central and Local Government.
Simply, some elected representatives are not taken as seriously as others. Some have the ability to understand and analyse the problem, the tenacity to pursue the matter, and the confidence to hold officials accountable. Others don't. And that is why I would never respect someone who votes for a fringe party to make themself feel good, without considering whether that candidate has the ability fully to represent the often great needs of individuals.
As a great man once nearly said, "Ask not what my community can do for me but what I can do for my community..."
