This election is dying of ennui. Even I -- a political junkie -- am finding it hard to animate myself for this one.
The outcome is so predictable (at worst, for New Labour, a reverse of 1987) and profoundly depressing.
It is clear that in Oxford East, the dire Lib Dems cannot oust Blairite Andrew Smith. Consider these factors:
The Tory vote probably can't be squeezed any more
The Green vote will rise
There is little evidence the working classes are switching to the Lib Dems. And why should they?
The expected low student turnout.
Moreover, much of the anti-war anger has dissipated and New Labour are falsely, but cleverly suggesting that Tony Blair will go sooner rather than later. Forget the Lib Dems' ridiculous hype, they'll halve Mr Smith's majority at best.
All the more reason then to vote for a party of principle -- the Greens or the Independent Working Class Association.
I'm opting for the Greens, as did genius George Monbiot recently. How will we ever get a much-needed Green MP unless we vote for one?
JOHN GREEN
Rose Hill, Oxford
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