Two events have come together this week which have determined where I shall place my cross on May 7 One is the report of the special Argus hustings (April 9), and the other is the quite despicable and inexcusable remarks of Michael Fallon accusing Ed Miliband of stabbing his brother in the back and now being willing to do the same to the UK.
With the single exception of 1997 I have always voted Lib Dem.
For me this party has always put forward sensible and yet radical policies, and although much maligned recently they have acted as a moderating influence on the Conservative party over the last five years.
And they are the most pro-European party.
Sadly, I shall not be voting for them this time. But I shall still be voting with my conscience, but tactically.
Our first-past-the-post voting system makes the election result dependent on the outcome in about 60 so-called marginal seats.
Is it any wonder that those who live in the other 590 safe seats where the result is pre-determined won't bother to vote?
The referendum on proportional representation (which the Lib Dems demanded as part of their coalition agreement) was in my view sabotaged by the Tories.
But the crucial issue for me is the EU. When Simon Kirby, for whom I have the deepest personal respect, said that ‘businesses need a decision one way or another’ on whether to remain in the EU, he overlooks the fact that if his party – under pressure from UKIP and the Little Englanders within its own ranks – had not promised a referendum on our membership, then we and businesses would not be in a position of having to make a decision.
UKIP’s view, as represented by Kevin Smith, that ‘we can still trade with the EU. We just don't have to be in that club’, is both naïve and ignorant.
Having one’s cake and eating it comes to mind.
He should check the truth of Caroline Lucas’s reference to the position of Norway which is bound by so many EU regulations and yet, because it is outside the Union, has no voice in Brussels and so has to accept meekly what is imposed on them.
I shall follow the remainder of the campaign meticulously and if all stays as it is at the moment, my cross will be placed against the Labour candidate.
Dr Michael Johnson, Kevin Gardens, Brighton
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