Picking a Political Party Pickle

So the debates wage on, the leaders verbally abuse each other in their own special high-brow manner, and the nation becomes divided over where their loyalties lie.

As the day draws near where we, the people, will have our chance to select who we will be grumpy with for the next few years, I find myself becoming firmer in my decision as to who to vote for. Normally I wouldn't divulge such information until after the election, or if I knew I was in a room of complete political security and tolerance, if there is such a thing, but this time round I feel I shall make an exception.

It was somewhere around 1922 that we last had a Liberal Prime Minister, don't quote me on that but I know it was somewhere around that period. Since then, it has been an eternal tennis match with the power being hit back and forth between Labour and Conservative. With two parties holding such dominance for such a length of time, you can't help but notice an almost undeserved sense of security between them; the knowledge that if their party doesn't get in, the other will and that the Lib. Dems. are never really in the running.

For me, this certainty gives them a backing which has allowed the true drive and passion to serve the nation to wither and rot. Given that they 'know' it's between one party or the other, politics seems to have sunk into a popularity contest where the winner is the one who is hated the least, not the one with the better agenda or ideas for the future. I wouldn't be surprised if Simon Cowell managed to turn it into something new for Saturday night TV.

Over the last few weeks, the Lib. Dems. have come across as a kid in a playground with a great idea for a game, but going unheard because they are shorter than everyone else; and if you haven't guessed yet, I'm going to be voting for Nick Clegg.

Not just because I find myself attracted to some of his policies, but also because it would be the kick up the arse the other two parties need to get them thinking about why Labour and Tory have become words said through gritted teeth.

So far I have lived through four Prime Ministers, Thatcher to Brown, and John Major is the only one I liked, but I think that was more for his looks. I hope the next five years will change that.

Brown Going Down?

That time has come again, and some would say it's been too long in the waiting. Gordon Brown announced at the start of this week that a general election will be held on May 6th 2010 sparking the proclamation of pledges, plans and prosperity by the three main parties scrambling to take the throne for the next few years.

The Labour Party has come under a great deal of fire during their time in power, with the Iraq war continuing to claw at their backs, Tony Blair stepping down after poor election results and with the more recent expense scandal, you have to wonder, is Brown going gentle into that good night?

Honestly, after listening to what people near me have to say about the government, local councils and politicians, I get the distinct impression that whoever takes the reigns of prime minister next will be drowned by the voices of discontent. During the height of any political battle, the news will be inundated with people criticizing a party's plans or performance, and any positives only seem to be presented as a defense case.

One thing is guaranteed, whoever is voted in will have some high expectations to meet and I feel no matter how hard they try, it seems certain they will be struggling to keep up their popularity next time the voting season is upon us.