Recently, articles that have appeared in the press and attitudes amongst people I have spoken to suggest that the forthcoming election is in the bag for the Conservtive Party. I have heard it from both their supporters and detracters alike.
I don't think it is. I believe that it will be decided on election day, 6th May, and not before.
I also hope that they do not win.
Each day leading up to the election I hope to put forward one clear reason why I will not be voting Tory. I hope that those reading this blog will be either persuaded not to vote for them or reminded of why they know they've believed they would not do so but can't remember why.
I have not yet decided who I will be voting for, but it will not be the Conservatives under any circumstances. I believe that the other main parties - Labour and the Liberal Democrats - have something to offer. I also believe that some of the local independent candidates are worth considering, as well as single issue parties and other smaller parties, such as the Greens.
Additionally, I am aware of arguments for not voting or for spoiling ballot papers for various reasons. There are those arguments to consider too. But when I look at the Conservatives, when I look at their track record and their policies, when I learn of their voting habits in the House of Commons, when I hear them speak on programmes such as Question Time BBC 1 or the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4, I can only come to the conclusion that I disagree with them.
As a consequence, I am not voting Tory.
