I've always considered myself, politically, to be somewhere left of centre - but it's a long time since I supported, or voted for, the Labour Party. Their recent incarnation as 'New Labour' I found particularly unappealing (smug, holier-than-thou pink on the outside, blue on the inside). In addition I see little reason to vote Tory - who I believe are primarily the party of social exclusion and Big Business. In addition both parties are ideology driven and neither's ideology is very palatable. I'm appalled by the behaviour of many voters who either vote unthinkingly along tribal lines or surge madly between the two extremes.

We desperately need a new politics in this country and though I'm depressed that the Tories have got in again - almost by default - perhaps the present coalition will, in the long run, be a step in the right direction.In the meantime standby for much 'poor bashing' and huge chunks of the sytem being handed over to the 'private sector' (i.e. a load of incompetent, greedy crooks and spivs).