Don't Con Dem the coalition!

Having campaigned for the Lib Dems at the election, I had major reservations about the present coalition. However, the raft of proposals presented by Nick Clegg and the tone of the two leaders in bringing leading community leaders and activitists into serious partnership appears to offer a very positive basis for progress.

New Labour is now shown up for what it was; authoritarian, reactionary and politically and morally bankrupt (not to mention fiscally!). Any deal with Labour would not have been a 'progressive alliance' so much as a cloak for retaining power by the existing political elite at any price. This is not to question Brown's ethics as I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt in terms of his political values. However, he is a man whose career was founded on old approaches and whose temperament was not relevant for today's challenges. We now have the real - and totally unexpected - prospect of a new approach to government and governance, one in which governments seek to do less, but do it better. Instead of seeking to gain a popular headline and be 'seen to be doing something' the focus now seems to be on improving the way things work and not claiming to have all the answers. That way, you can involve more people, avoid bad mistakes and strengthen participatory, as well as representative, democracy.

One practical benefit of the new Con Dem coalition is that it may make it easier for Cameron to keep his right wing in check. To my surprise, I suddenly feel positive again and will put my reservations on hold.

Out for the count!

Yes, tonight I will be out for the count - the election count! Election day 2010 is the first time for decades when it really seems possible - though by no means assured - that things really could be different and the arrangement by which a party which gets only about 30% of votes can get enough seats to form a government.

This morning, I went out delivering leaflets locally. It took me back to being a kid delivering newspapers before going to school, though this took me far longer than a paper round! I feel immense sympathy for postmen (and women)since some letterboxes are so small you cannot get more than a postcard through and others seem to have built-in shredders which devour papers as they go in.

People were invariably friendly and up for a chat and I get the impression that the turnout will be high. Whatever the outcome, at least people are involved again. I just hope we don't go back to the way it was before.

Getting involved

Yesterday I went campaigning for the LibDems - the first time I have ever got actively engaged in politics and I must confess it was great fun asking what issues are of concern to people and how our policies can help them. It means empathising and thinking on one's feet and trying to persuade people without hectoring.
I had one case where the woman answered the door and said she had always voted Labour but was angry about Iraq, etc and was voting Tory. I told her I had stopped voting Labour for the same reasons, but felt the LibDems were now the party that represented left of centre values.
At this point, her husband came to the door and said he and two of their chidren agreed with me. I felt I had to say I did not want to cause any domestic discord - at which point she said they had far more reasons for that than politics! I withdrew saying we valued every vote and respected other viewpoints!!
Another young woman answered the door and said she was not interested in politics so was voting Labour. You meet all sorts. This could be addictive.