Labour Losing Friends...

Good Evening,

Now that the debates are out of the way and we are in the home straight of this truly remarkable election, the thing that anoraks, commentators, columnists and politicians are asking is who the newspapers will suggest their readership vote for.  There is no doubt in most of our minds that we are seeing a seismic change in British politics, possibly irreversibly.

Already this weekend, we have seen the Guardian and this evening the Observer pull their substantial weight behind the Liberal Democrats, though they did the same back in 2005 – so that is probably not a surprise all in all.  Could we see other papers, such as the Independent, or dare we say the Mirror pledge their support for Clegg?

Citizens have votes. Newspapers do not. However, if the Guardian had a vote in the 2010 general election it would be cast enthusiastically for the Liberal Democrats. It would be cast in the knowledge that not all the consequences are predictable, and that some in particular should be avoided. The vote would be cast with some important reservations and frustrations. Yet it would be cast for one great reason of principle above all. - Leader in The Guardian

At the same time, the Tories have gained the support of the Times this morning, reports are suggesting that the Sunday Telegraph will do likewise later this evening – and there is opinion strengthening that the Financial Times will put 18 years of Labour support into the archive cabinet next week, and come out in support of Cameron. 

There is no doubt that we are seeing the final rights of New Labour – hopefully we will see the party renew itself and allow itself to revert back to its socialist and working class roots, whilst disowning its links with big business and making the likes of Mandelson and Blair irrelevant.

However, there is the deep and dark fear that for Labour, the White Working Classes could be gone for a generation if not forever, due to the perceived pandering by Labour towards certain minorities – and as much as we hate to admit to their existence, the B*P are doing a good job in encouraging those same disillusioned voters to support them.

That is one thing that comes out of this election that will need to be dealt with...