Busyknitter

And I don’t just mean up Tony Blair’s backside.

 I always vote, would never simply spoil a ballot paper, but for the first time in years I am finding myself in a real state of indecision about who to go for this time round. It’s just a Disctrict election with a third of the seats up for grabs, but Preston is a hung council and there are some big local issues at stake.

 I’ve had a couple of leaflets, but no canvassers have called while I’ve been at home. Mr BK said someone from Respect turned up while I was out but he told them to politely sod off.

Labour 

For - Candidate lives round the corner and has come out very strongly against the bonkers Ribble Barrage idea. I actually support quite a bit of Labour Policy (NHS, Sure Start etc)

Against - Last chance to vote once more against the Blair party and the political machine that has taken us into a disastrous war, is steadily eroding our freedoms and infantilising national life

Tory

For - Boris Johnson makes me laugh -I like their focus on Green issues and localisation. It’s a clear anti-Blair vote

Against - Can’t work out from the website what they are actually standing for at the moment. Need to overcome parental conditioning that the Tory Party is in league with Satan.  Also need to overcome creeping anxiety that the fact that I’m even contemplating voting Tory just betrays me As being middle-aged

Respect

For - I hear good things about the work that the existing Respect councillors do round here. Also strongly against the Ribble barrage. Another big anti-Blair message (but possibly not as effective in that regard as a Tory vote)

Against - Not impressed by their SWP-type posturing, particularly on the NHS and the economy - Not sure they have entered the 21st Century politically yet - Struggle with the concept of voting for anyone associated with George Galloway.

LibDem

For - They are none of the above

Against - Can’t say I can think of anything interesting to say about them at all,