Poll Axe

So we won't be queuing out in the November rain to cast our votes after all. Gordon Brown has dismissed the idea of an Autumn election and probably also the prospect of a 2008 one too.

It's the right decision.

Think about it for a second. We've had a "New Labour" government for over 10 years... and a change of Prime Minister in only the last few months. If you are in favour of Gordon Brown's leadership... naturally you'll want to extend his reign for as long as possible. If you are against it, I don't think you should be so keen to risk giving him a four year mandate to make things worse.

There are some people who would vote against New Labour purely because they think 10 years under one party's rule is enough. However, change for the sake of change is one of the most erroneous choices a person can make. I have often spoken out against the policies of Tony Blair, so you might be mistaken for believing I'd like to see New Labour out as as soon as possible. In fact, my opinion is that we should give Gordon Brown an opportunity to see if he can keep and live up to his word - he has limited time... not a full term. He will have to hit the ground running to prove his salt... and by the time he is obliged to call an election, we - the voting public will be in a much better position to make an informed decision (for those of us who still believe in doing such things... rather than moronically voting on autopilot for any one party).

However,although we have arrived at what I believe is the right outcome... we have done so in a manner which I believe has damaged Gordon Brown's credibility.

I saw David Cameron's strong arm tactic of calling for an election, as primarily a bluff. It is a gamble that has paid off. Brown has seen a blip in the opinion polls and has been the first to blink. It has weakened his image as a strong leader... but in the long term view, he has given himself more time to prove himself - be that as a success or as a failure.

One of my strongest reasons for not wanting an election now, is that on the face of things we still have two centre right economical and authoritarian parties contending for Government. I want to see if Brown is going to temper Blair's reforms and bring in more laws favouring welfare and less that favour Orwellianism. There is precious little hope of that as it is... but an election would severely damage what hope does exist.

Lets wait and see what 2008 brings.

You can read more analysis and reaction on Nick Robinson's blog over at the BBC.

The Blair Legacy:

So we are finally released from the hold of Tony Blair... for now at least.

Looking at the positive changes his administration has brought in, we finally have the hope of lasting peace in Northern Ireland and we also have a minimum wage... on the surface at least, Britain seems to be enjoying a period of economic prosperity. We have even cast off the shadow of World War 2 debt.

Dig below the surface however... and we see all the negative changes. Prisons full to bursting and judges actually releasing convicted criminals early onto the streets, a health service that under a Labour government has found itself floundering and tied up in red tape... genuine people suffering whilst the cheats and benefits fraudsters (people who have the brains to work their way around a form... but who don't put their assets to use in work or the community), prosper more and more. Civil liberties have been attacked and depleted in the name of counter terrorism. We now live in an age of politics where substance bows and gives way to style... the soundbite reigns supreme.

Then of course we have the repercussions of Blair's foreign policies, most notably in Iraq. Britain's reputation for international fair play has been badly bruised and tarnished. Oh yes we knocked off a couple of dictators... but what have we left in their place? A wake of carnage and destruction where the blood of innocent Iraqis and Afghans is spilled and mixed with that of our own troops on a daily basis.

All this... all this and more. I argue that Blair's true legacy is like Ridley Scott's alien. We thought it was bad when he was stuck to us like a limpet... we might be forgiven for thinking we have been released from the effects of his political decisions. However, something dark and deadly gestates within this country now... it may take 20-30 years but there is a dark cloud on the horizon. It may be avoided, but the danger is real.

Blair has exacerbated the natural tribalism in the collective subconscious. His policies have polarised different groups against one another he has helped to fundamentally raise tensions between:

• The old and the young.
• Islam and Christianity.
• Theists and secularists.
• The home nations, especially Scotland and England.
• The indigenous and migrant communities.

You watch, in the first instance it'll start to go wrong when the baby boom generation (who are reaching pensionable age now), become infirm and in need of increased medical care. They are the largest age group... closely followed by the mass of children in the past 10-15 years who have been born in need of benefits (for whatever reasons). In the middle of that is my age group... the smallest age group. We are going to have to pay out on two very large fronts in about 20 years. I don't really need to go into detail between the troubles of radicalized Islam and how Christianity is currently perceived, thanks to US & UK foreign policy and the fact that Blair and Bush wear their own flavour of "Christianity" firmly on their lapels . As a direct consequence of those tensions, secularists are hopping up and down preaching the abolition of public religion, which of course is a moronic and intellectually bankrupt gesture... not to mention extremely hypocritical!

I don't really need to go on with the other issues. I think I've made my point.

We may as well have had Harold Saxon elected as Prime Minister!

Indeed what this country really does need right now IS a Doctor!

In my next blog I'll look at what my thoughts are on the Brown Government as it takes it's first steps out of the crib.

In the meantime (and trying my best to avoid being a fundamentalist Christian), I'll conclude in the words of W.B. Yeats with my concern over Blair's new role as Peace Envoy to the Middle East:

The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Political Ideals

I am not a politician and I have no real desire to be one... but I've been thinking a lot about politics lately because somebody close to me is considering standing for a political party at the next District Council Election.

They are probably going to stand for a Party I have no love of and certainly do not trust... and so comes the question - do I vote for the person despite the resentment I feel for the institution they represent. It's a hard choice and I don't yet know which way I will jump (I trust the person implicitly, but I in no way wish to be seen as endorsing a political party. Yes you can say nobody will know, however I will know... and that is enough.)

It brings me back to the old dilemma that I am trapped within. Being a slightly liberal leftist puts me in a position where I can't in good conscience vote for anyone in the area I live. The Conservatives, New "Labour" and the Liberal Democrats are all economically right wing. Incidentally, if you are American and reading this then I'm apparently classed as borderline strong democrat/socialist.

If I could spearhead a bloodless coup, a glorious revolution where the slate was wiped clean and we started all over again... and I had the power to create any political system I pleased, I would go for something like the following:

A series of elections take place to create a forum of independent representatives... no parties, no chief whips. The politicians would only be allowed to be governed by private conscience and the interests of their own constituency... they would not be answerable to a party line.

The forum would then meet and members would nominate, second and vote a maximum of say five, potential Prime Ministerial candidates. The five names would be put to the public (each with their own personal manifesto) and voted on in a second round.

The New Prime Minister would take office and interview potential cabinet ministers, based on their skills and experience. The cabinet team would build a framework of policies but would in know way have the authority to force an entire body to vote in accordance with their views (as is currently the case in the Party system). Any member could propose policy. Each issue would stand or fall on it's merit in the eyes of the entire assembly. The system I propose at heart would reflect a political system resembling Camelot, each member being equal. In fact I'd even go as far as to suggest meeting away from Westminster in a circular building that resembled the Round Table. It would avoid the notion that MP's have to oppose one another just because they sit facing each other in opposition.

It is a system that would probably never see the light of day. It is like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas. It's probably as close to a personal ideal as I'm going to get. I wonder how the experts would interpret my political persuasion on the basis of those ideas. If you have any comments or suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Dare I put this to a Downing Street petition? I'm seriously open to persuasion on that. What do you think?