Election Night Part 3
May 7, 2010
Rochdale and ‘Bigotgate’ was a big deal to a lot of people. But apparently not to the people of Rochdale, who still returned a solid Labour majority. Surely this proves, without being patronising, that there is a core set of voters who cannot be sweet-talked round to the Tory agenda.
Let’s not pretend that this election has gone beyond class boundaries. I was privately-schooled and I sometimes used to feel embarrassed by the Conservatives by association. I feel that if I admit the provenance of my education, I am admitting to something else politically. But not anymore, my parents paid for me to be educated, but I think that education should be free and a means of equalising everybody. I am not tied to the opinions of my parents yet sadly the political opinions of many others are bound to eighties norms, which often end up damaging the Lib Dems as a force for equality in 2010.
What the fuck is going on now as the Tories continue to dominate? I thought, and hoped, that the public response to the debates led to a complete rejection of rightwing values and policies. Apparently it was easier to vote as you did before than voting for actual change. If anyone brings up the Conservatives’ slogan for change, I will be angry, ‘cos we all know fuck all will actually change. Serves me right for being a dreamer, I guess.
Esther Rantzen not elected. Is anybody surprised?
Jacqui Smith loses her seat dramatically to the Tories, surely Campbell cannot spin this one.
But I’m not gloating, I’m mourning, watching seat after seat of (vaguely) leftwing ideology getting lost to cheap electioneering on immigration.
The politicians have to be magnanimous but I don’t. ‘Those Eastern Europeans’ are from Eastern Europe and I feel proud of a country that lets people come in and share in the best that we have to offer. If you work hard and do well, no ‘immigrant’ is going to steal your job. Let’s remember what we fought for sixty years ago and accept the vibrancy and multiculturalism of modern British life.
