There’s a long editorial this morning, advising readers that ‘a vote for Ukip is a wasted vote’. I think I’ve made it fairly clear that I agree with that sentiment and the Editor’s stated reasons for holding it. Some people might think it a bit odd, though, when it has often seemed throughout 23 days of ‘Expenses-gate’ (sic!! – ugh!!!), that this was precisely what the dear old Telegraph wanted people to do. Maybe there’s a fear that people might vote for the BNP instead, and the warning against that is given both by the Editor and by my favourite Anglican Bishop, Michael Nazir-Ali.
It is right that angry people shouldn’t take out their wrath on innocent people like local government and MEP candidates who are blameless – and Cameron prefaced his actions on expenses in Westminster with dealing pretty harshly with troughing Euro-Tories. And no I’m not up for re-election this year, so it’s not a plea to vote for me!
Simon Heffer, however, doesn’t seem to agree with his editor. He launches an intemperate attack on Cameron for starters. Then for main course he repeats his threat to stand against Sir Alan Haselhurst at the GE unless he apologises in terms sufficient to gratify SH’s righteous indignation. Sir A must be shivering in his boots at that one. I rather hope Heffer decides to have a go, finding his own deposit and paying for sufficient leaflets to tell the voters of Saffron Walden what they’ve been missing in not having him as MP all these years. The leaflet might, perhaps, include details of all Mr. Heffer’s earnings for the last five years and copies of the relevant expenses claims and tax returns. Having been a Telegraph purchaser throughout this period (and much more) I and countless others like me have, after all, contributed daily to his support.
For dessert SH tells us, regardless of the Editor’s sage advice, he is voting for Ukip since, for all it’s had a few problems* in the last 5 years (I’ll say! – master of understatement as ever!!) its problems pale into insignificance beside those of the main stream parties. And to think I used to regard him as quite bright, really. Ah well………
PaulJ's bench.......... 