"As neither Labour nor Tories have ever boiled anybody's granny down for soap, or sold kids into slavery ..., that's rather a stupid comment ..."

You may characterise my comment as 'stupid', Don - that's your prerogative - although it doesn't advance the debate very far. Actually, my intention was 'dramatic exaggeration' to emphasise the real 'stupidity' of those who habitually vote the same way even if they disagree with most of 'their' party's policies. Where I live I know lots of Labour party supporters who state that they deplore the growing gap between rich and poor (even though that gap has widened under Labour), are against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are dismayed by the recklessness of the banks (even though Labour failed to regulate them when they had the chance) and don't even have a lot of respect for the local Labour Party candidate. Yet still they go canvassing, deliver leaflets, put posters in their windows and will obediently vote Labour when the time comes. And don't tell me that they are attempting to 'change the party from within' - since Bliar the party's 'grass roots' have had less power than they've ever had.