Election Observations

If Nick Clegg does nothing else in this general election, he is almost single-handedly responsible for actually making this election interesting. At the start of the campaign, as far as I was concerned, it was a bit of a one horse race and I wasn't even contemplating doing my usual of sitting up until the small hours of results night. The election was dull and so were politics.

Now, Nick Clegg isn't the real reason for this; he's just suddenly put the concept of an alternative, a real live alternative, in an eternal two horse race. This is the catalyst for what could be the biggest change in British politics and you can almost feel it in the air. Two weeks ago the subject of politics in the pubs around my way was non-existent, last night, while supping a reasonably local beer, there was nothing but politics on display and while it might be taboo to talk politics at the pub, this wasn't your stereotypical left versus right slanging match; this was reasoned discussion about what having a third party to choose from means.

One thing is sure, if Clegg really has given the youth of the country someone to vote for, then all parties have to realise that over the next 20 years or so, the under 18s on May 6 are going to be the future voters and if they remain as apathetic as they are now then we'll see governments elected with turn outs below 50%, even with PR. Politicians really desperately need to put youth back on their agendas, even if the thought of the cost of it alone is staggering, especially in light of cutbacks that need to be made.

I was rather perplexed by the boundary changes that have made Northampton North and South quite bizarre. I live right on the border of Northampton South, yet Duston, which lies to the north, slightly of me, is also in Northampton South, as is Castle - Councillor Tony Clarke's ward, which is about level geographically. It also seems to me, and I'm probably very wrong, but the areas that have been moved to South have mainly all got Tory votes stamped all over them...

With the growing prospect of a hung parliament, I do hope the parties can all agree that Vince Cable is the best man to have in charge of the Exchequer. Alistair Darling has had a crack and needs to move on, preferably to Scotland. While George 'Lord Snooty' Osborne hasn't even got a degree in anything remotely to do with figures - dates, yes, but figures with £ and $s in front of them - nada. I wouldn't trust that man with my monthly allowance, let alone billions of our tax poonds!