post election thoughts

Dear Lib Dems,

I think I've worked out why your polling figures and results don't tally. The majority of the people in this country are very conservative (that's a small 'c') about declaring their voting intentions, a figure that grows as you move through higher age demographics. Younger people are far more inclined to shout about and share their voting intentions but they are a minority of the electorate.

My daughter (11) thinks that she'd support Nick Clegg because "he seemed the most natural and honest in the debates". I, on the other hand, looked at the broader picture of how he has conducted himself in politics over the last parliament and made the decision that he was little different from Brown or Cameron.

So there is your problem. Lots of support from the noisy younger generation but lots of cynicism from the older generation which, because of its greater size, has more electoral clout.

I've heard it argued that the electoral system is rigged against you, that you need to get get more votes to get a seat, which is why the voting system needs to be reformed to make it fairer. What you really mean is you want it to be fairer for you.

But you knew the rules when you started playing the game so why are you complaining about it? You faced the same hurdles as the other political parties from Labour to UKIP but, rather than growing your support and winning more seats that way, you bitch and moan and claim "it's not fair".

And now, with the negotiations developing about the new government, you've shown yourselves to be as I thought. Secret meetings with one party while you are openly discussing with another? How is that 'new politics'? You are as craven and power hungry as the other parties and you should be ashamed of yourselves for the deceit you have foisted on the nation.

You want to change the voting system so that we have little choice but to endure this kind of scenario after every general election? Thanks but no thanks. In fact, I'd go further than that. Fuck you. With a big stick. Sideways. I hope your duplicitous manoeuvrings are exposed in full and the electorate punishes you heavily at the inevitable general election within the next 12 months.

I've no particular love for the Tories but I will vote for them, and encourage everyone I know to vote for them too, if your actions leave Gordon Brown as PM for one more day than is absolutely necessary. For all your positive words you are no different from the other parties and I'd rather have a more predictable government than any that I think you could provide.


Yours unsurprised,

manwiddicombe