Nobody has rung my doorbell yet

Week two of the Election Campaign, and not a sign of any electioneering in my part of the world. My constituency is Arundel and South Downs, a solidly Conservative constituency. The incumbent in recent years has been Nick Herbert, a staunch supporter of the government. I think he is now standing down, but presumably the new Conservative candidate will be equally loyal. And unless he or she is hopelessly unsuitable, I will be giving them my vote.

I am a natural Conservative voter. My father was also a natural Conservative voter, and now, in my later life, I am happy to cast my ballot as he would. I think you must vote not for the specific promises made at each election, nor for any inducements dangled, but for the basic ethos of a party, and how well they are proven to master the very tricky business of responsible and effective government. The Conservative approach sits best with me. It isn't a perfect fit - I am most definitely not a capitalist! Profits do not trump all else in my world. I want (and expect) Conservatism with a Heart - or at least Conservatism with Common Sense, Foresight and Good Judgement. I'm also an optimist.

I lived to rue the one occasion I voted Labour. It was to support Tony Blair in 1997. New Labour looked like a badly-needed new broom after way too much Conservative sleaze. But New Labour squandered their big chance to make a fresh start. They hesitated, did nothing worthwhile, and in retrospect seem incompetent, unwise, and blind to impending disasters.

Some people blame Labour for our involvement in the Iraq war. They have a point. Me, I remember that the 2008 financial crisis - which we are still suffering from - happened on their watch. It led to a general loss of confidence and the ruination of the UK property market. That drop in property values cost me personally £200,000, representing the difference between what I put in to buy the Cottage, and what I eventually recovered when it was sold four years later in a depressed market.

That's one heavy reason in itself why I don't trust Labour's ability to sense coming cold winds, and their ways with money generally. I won't make the same error again, especially as Old Labour is now clearly flexing its muscles. I'm all in favour of fairness, kindness, compassion and equal opportunities, but I don't do dogmatic socialism, however softly expressed.

On odd occasions - certainly in all Local Council elections - I have voted LibDem, but for this General Election their passionate anti-Brexit stance must rule them out. Which is a pity; but on this occasion I really must ignore them entirely.

I have to say, though, that the LibDems are usually pretty assiduous in knocking on doors to introduce their candidate. They are the only party so far who have told me (with a leaflet - presumably they did knock while I was out) who their candidate is, and exactly what she stands for. Having a name and a face is vital. The new Conservative candidate needs to take note! As for Labour, they have done no more than drop a flyer through my front door to 'explain' their position, and what they will do, but without naming their candidate. Perhaps they don't have one yet. Useless.

The Brexit party seems to be invisible locally - so far. But a candidate is probably waiting in the wings, ready to reveal themselves. I have no doubt at all that Mr Farage has backers who will put up the money needed to field candidates in every seat in the country. So there should be a Brexit party candidate for me to vote for on 12th December, if after all I don't like the Conservative candidate.

But there are four things I don't like about the Brexit party.

One: what are their policies apart from getting us 'out of Europe'? They are fixated on one thing, and I have no confidence that they can do anything else well.

Two: Setting Mr Farage aside, who else in that party has any stature or charisma? It seems like a one-man band.

Three: I don't like Mr Farage's palsy-walsy connection with Mr Trump. Surely that's being too close to a maverick (and impeachable) US President? What favours might have to be granted to that awful man?

Four: More fundamentally, I want to see the UK independent of the rest of Europe in a legal and cultural sense, pursuing its own policies, and generally being quite distinct. Brexit should ensure that. But I don't want a belligerent break, which Mr Farage's party seems to look forward to. I most certainly don't want us to become Fortress Britannia, a closed, isolated territory behind an iron curtain. Nor do I want the old post-war scenario fulfilled, of becoming the newest state of the US - a perversion of that Special Relationship. Completely turning away from Europe surely means having Uncle Sam's arm around your shoulders. That might suit Mr Farage, but not me.

I want a cordial and cooperative relationship with Europe, with Europe as our best ally. Not too close; Them and Us, certainly; but in a spirit of bon accord, and vive la difference. How else will climate change be best met in our part of the planet? You have to get on well with your neighbours.

Hmm! Still nobody on my doorstep! You'd think that with the result anything but a forgone conclusion, every party would be out to spread their message to the electorate as a matter of urgency. Perhaps they know somehow that I am not a floating voter, and that my mind is made up, as it was for the Brexit Referendum back in 2016. Perhaps they think everyone uses Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram and Twitter, and they intend to bombard the country with persuasive messages. Well they won't reach me, as I have none of the above social media apps on my phone. Lucky me, I'm thinking.

If the Conservative, Labour, Libdem and Brexit party machines do all send their party leaders to my front door, with a camera crew handy, l'd best have some custard pies ready. I expect all of them to take the slapstick with genial good humour, giving the camera a great sound bite, but I suspect that only one leader will manage it. 

Breaking news
Oho! Nige has announced through gritted teeth that the Brexit party won't contest seats that the Conservatives won in 2017, shrinking his task force to only three hundred. That alters the picture quite a bit. I can see how this development might lead to an overwhelming pro-Brexit faction in the House of Commons. I also see that the Conservatives may be hard-pressed to have a good working majority. They may have to pander to the Brexit party get things other than Brexit done. I wonder what price Mr Farage will extract? (The DUP have already shown the way on how to get leverage, of course)

What will now happen with Labour and the LibDems? Will they now lose badly-needed seats to the Brexit party? It all becomes incalculable, and therefore very interesting. I will definitely be staying up all night on the 12th December to find out what happens. (I got my poll card today)