There are several problems with that, though, Ian. One is that it is pretty unlikely that as a voter you agree with the whole of any manifesto in the first place; also thanks to the weasiliness of politicians the manifesto might not mean what it appears to (eg Labours promise not to introduce University fees in that term actually meant that they would pass the legisation that term but the fees wouldn't start until the next term). Finally every manifesto must change as a result of events ("events, dear boy, events"). So I don't think of a manifesto as much more than an outline of general principles. Then again, I remember a talk by Robin Cook we he said our normal approach has been to have strong governments that do what they like because no-one can prevent it, then the other party comes in and overturns it because they can and then when the first comes in again they overturn that "and I'm sick of that kind of strong government". A strong change is really one which is lasts across governments because everyone fundamentally accepts the broad approach.