Questions Of The Day (Politics)

[Mick Harper]

That's not what I've been hearing on the doorstep but I'm a brush salesman so I wouldn't expect to.

In my experience people always tell you what they think you want to hear so, for instance, if you're a Labour candidate they never mention either Brexit or Jeremy Corbyn to you. It's mostly the National Health Service and an end to ten years of Tory austerity. I mean, a Labour candidate wouldn't lie on national television to that nice Kirsty Wark about that sort of thing, would they?

[Mick Harper]

[Mick Harper]

But do I want to live in a three-way marginal? We wouldn't want those media people infesting the place. It's bad enough them all living here.

[Wile E. Coyote]

The Lib Dems have parked a enormous great bus outside Wiley's lair. I am getting visited by earnest, eager, bearded men.

"Do you realise only we can beat the Tories."

"Sorry, I have already voted." "Now, can you move your bus?"

"Is there anyone else in the house that hasn't voted? "

"Only you" "Now can you move your bus?"

I am right on the boundary of three seats. They have parked their bus. They aren't going to move.

They have stuffed the equivalent of a forest of trees through my postbox. These leaflets tell me the planet will end, unless I vote for Lib-Dem, as only they can beat the Tories.

It takes me all my time to recycle their doom-laden predictions.

I have tried being nice, but it isn't working, so I am now being flat out mean. I have instructed Mrs Coyote not to take them cups of tea and biscuits, but they are still not taking the hint.

It is a nightmare, much worse than when we had the Travellers.

[Mick Harper]

Apparently the Brexit Party are going to change their name. It will be hard to get used to the fact that they will be the Remainers as in remaining-out once we are out and the debate can begin all over again. The Levellers used to campaign for annual parliaments*, should we start campaigning for annual referendums?

* Don't laugh. The Yanks have bi-annual parliaments.

[Wile E. Coyote]

The only decisive moment in the campaign came when Farage decided to withdraw his candidates in seats that the Tories might lose if the Brexit Party stood against them.

Since that time all the parties have flatlined.

The Lib-Dems have done more to get Britain out of Europe than anybody. They have decisively split the remain vote, by pursuing a revocation of article 50, and being unwilling to do deals with Labour.

Realisation will hit this week as the Lib-Dems get their vote squeezed as folks revert back to two party politics. It is too late for the do-gooders to get creative now.

The remainers have successfully humiliated two prime ministers, taken control of parliament away from the executive, and yet still contrived to lose the argument because they can't agree over tactics or leaders themselves. They must now hope for tactical voting.

Wiley reckons Realpolitik will triumph.

[Mick Harper]

I'm sure you're right but could you tell the rest of us labouring in your wake what that means? I am still going with the flow and expecting a workable Conservative majority. As usual with British general elections, probably the best outcome in the circumstances.

[Wile E. Coyote]

[Mick Harper]

[Wile E. Coyote]

Not only do I have a Lib-Dem bus outside, but I have now been contacted by one Alastair Campbell, who describes himself as a life-long Labour supporter and campaigner.

A quick google reveals that Alastair in fact voted for the Lib Dems at the last European elections, still he is claiming to be voting Labour this time.

Anyway Alastair's message is that Wiley should put aside his tribal loyalties and vote Lib-Dem, as Bojo is a danger.

[Mick Harper]

Aren't you forgetting that Mussolini was just what Italy needed? I used to collect bus numbers in case you are looking for a hobby. I can scout out some of my Ian Allens if you want.

[Mick Harper]

YouGov are predicting a thirty-nine seat Tory majority so I've lost that one.

[Wile E. Coyote]

I don't really understand Italian politics. In UK you still have a sizeable right and left of centre party, which presumably will alternate, the Italians seem to sort of have left, right, centre coalitions, which regularly splinter and fall apart.

The Italian Socialist party, probably the nearest equivalent to our Labour party, was reasonably well placed, around 1 in 3 voters, just after WW2, but despite reforming from the hammer and sickle to the red carnation, dropped to 1.8% of voters in 1994, and then liquidated.

The current lot are pretty difficult to pigeon hole. Are the 5 Star Movement left or right?

[Mick Harper]

[Mick Harper]

I'm a political junkie and election night is my favourite time of year, five years, whatever it is. Alas, the excitement of writing means I'm getting up earlier and earlier with the consequence that I'm dropping off earlier and earlier too. I've got no chance of getting much beyond one a.m. Two tops if I use the ProPlus. OK, I can record it and watch it 'as live' tomorrow but it's not the same, is it? It does though have the bonus of fast forwarding when somebody is thanking the returning officer and his staff and the police for doing such a fine job and last but not least my wife and children who have had to put up with such a lot, rather like this country after eleven years of Tory government.