Do I want to choose a Labour candidate?

David Miliband is very keen to follow the Conservative primary event in Totnes, where a GP got voted in over two Tory stalwarts. Miliband is not elaborating much, other to sight the US Democrats and the Greek Socialists.

I thought about the Totnes vote, but my mind boggles a bit at voting for a socialist in a Labour Primary. I've never voted Labour in my life. First they were seen as fellow travellers of the communists and not a very patriotic bunch. Now they've turned all New Labour and are still not a very patriotic bunch. But this time they are demolishing the institutions from within.

I know there are some good Labour politicians. But I'd have a hard time knowing who to vote for in a primary. Should I vote for people who are hardly Labour at all? Or should I do it just because it is a civic duty? If I was asked to vote for a radical lefty just to balance the ticket, could I do it? Should I do it?

This is going to be a hard challenge for every conservative-minded voter in the country. We may have to be halucinated before casting a vote!

DryBonesBlog.com

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MP to quit over second job rules

Labour MP Howard Stoate has said he will quit at the next election because new second jobs rules mean he will no longer be able to practise as a GP. I think this is a shame. I would have thought the leaders of the parties in the Commons could have been a little more sensitive and serious about this attack on second jobs. It is in part a reaction to Conservative MPs and the negative publicity that went with expenses scandal. Some Labour MPs jumped at the chance to be spiteful, not least Harriet Harman, who has a frenetic mind when it comes to petty jealousies. So in the scrum for perceived political cleanliness, the good go down with the ugly, leaving the rest to turn out as possible bad MPs as far as having had a life is concerned.

I would not bother with second incomes. Personally I couldn't stand being represented by a robotic lobby fodder merchant, who just did as told. Dr.Stoate says, "It is apparent that Labour candidates standing for Parliament at the next election will be expected to give up their outside jobs if they are elected. I respect this view but I think my own contribution to the work of Parliament would be diminished if I was to give up general practice, which is why I have decided not to stand as a candidate at the next general election." Sad reflection on the current lemming-like desire for apparatchik politicians.

Dr.Stoate will have contributed far more that someone coming out of a researcher's office at 22 and "never looking back"!

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Norwich not tonight!

For the first time since I don't know when, the counters at the Norwich North by-election won't have to start counting until tomorrow morning. I think the last time a daytime result was on offer was the Honiton by-election in which Sir Peter Emery was victorious. 40-odd years ago! That was a good result - Emery stood to address the assembled masses and said, "The first thing you will want me to do is..." and a chap from the crowd conveniently interjected, "Bugger off back to Reading!". Gales of laughter from the Liberal Party and red faces from the Conservatives.

There are various reasons given as to why democratic tradition such as by-election night is knocked on the head. One is that it costs more to pay people, such as the police, to hang around until the early hours. Another is that bank clerks, traditionally employed for their rapid digit dexterity, are too knackered after a day counting other people's money in the financial product selling shops.

Whatever the reason, Norwich North has gone politically due south. No result until noon tomorrow. High Noon? Maybe. This has been a fairly fevered election, with UKIP and others putting up a bold fight for votes. Can the Conservatives cut the mustard? Maybe. But as Sir Jeremiah Colman wryly pointed out, he got rich by the amount of mustard people wasted on their plates. Can David Cameron get rich in votes or will the electorate waste them by staying at home?

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