That's what politics is about - the nuts and bolts of acquiring and exercising power. We make choices.

My aunt loathed Margaret thatcher - everything she did, everything she said. But my aunt served as a tory councillor most of her life, and she did her best for her community.

Have you ever met an American republican who wasn't ashamed to be supporting and voting for Ronald reagan - a man who didn't seem able to put a sentence together without being prompted and scripted.

Look how the democrats were humiliated by Clintons antics in the Oval Office.

For years I used put radio 4 on in the mornings, and my heart would sink as neil Kinnock launched into one of his idiotic tongue twisters on the floor of the House of Commons. It was a really depressing start to every day.

We vote for these parties because, they are the best choices open to us.