Polling Day

Well today much of the country is at the polls as the 2006 local elections get underway. Many people are expecting controversy, and they will probably get it. If Labour loses anything like 300-seats it will be a disaster, and anything above 350, will mean Blair’s position will be untenable.

It’s impossible to call. The BNP are likely to increase their number of councillors substantially, and their propaganda machine will turn anything other than a humiliating defeat, into a totemic victory. I actually think a lot of people will back out of backing the BNP when they get into the booths. Even a protest vote has consequences, and I like to think that the British people are better, than to back a neo-fascist party just to give Blair one in the ghoolies.

If Cameron can’t bring in an extra 200-seats, there is no-way the rightwing rag-sheets will get off his back. I actually think the Thatcherite papers enjoy opposition so much, they’d rubbish any Tory leader, who looks likely to break their duck. Certainly Labour supporters are realising that being in power is not as glamorous as John Major made it look….

Blair of course is keeping his reshuffle powder dry in case of a potential disaster. If he’s scalded, he can sack the humping Prezzer, the hated Patricia Hewitt, the innumerate Hilary Armstrong, or possibly the unfortunate, but bungling, Charles Clarke. This will provide the PM with a short reprieve, in an attempt to stave off the spectre of Gordie Brown.

Over in the Yellow Corner, we have the unimpressive Menzies Campbell. His performances in the house have been so tepid, one wonders if he’ll last out the year. Ming was supposed to be the consolidator figure, yet he has all the composure of a chess-club nerd asking out a cheerleader. The public disconnection with parliament is so acute however, one wonders if many have seen him fluff his lines, or indeed care.

Still, we’ll know in the morning.