Election dilemma

2017 was an odd election anyway, and too much has happened since for it to be a good guide to this one. Lib Dems then were still in the post-coalition doldrums, while Labour mopped up the anti-Tory vote, even in Henley. Meanwhile moderate Tory voters (yes, there used to be such creatures) stayed loyal to Theresa May in the hope of strength and stability. We know how that ended.

This time the Lib Dems stand to catch most of those who are disgusted enough with Johnson to desert the Tories, which makes them the best bet in ‘safe’ Tory seats like Wokingham— where one Survation poll had them at 38 percent to Redwood’s 42. But I’d still vote Labour in Reading.

The Labour broadband plan isn’t as mad as all that. If we consider internet access to be a necessity of modern life and, unlike water or electricity, not something that really costs more to deliver the more any one household uses it, then why not have a flat-rate, good-enough service for everybody? Government purchasing power ought to reduce the cost per household, which we’d just pay through our taxes rather than our telephone bill. There could still be Eton or BUPA broadband for those who simply must have something superior, but most people would be happy with something fast that works.

BT pays its engineers to dig holes well and fill them in badly, not to consider economies of scale or the hazards of social exclusion. I wouldn’t consider them experts in this field.

Tough call here too. Our constituency was a long term Labour stronghold under Gwyneth Dunwoody until her death in 2008. She was succeeded by a Tory, Edward Timpson ( he of the shoe repair family )

In 2017 it reverted to Labour by a margin of only 48 votes I think. Both the new Tory candidate and the incumbent Labour MP are strongly in favour of Brexit, as indeed it would seem, are a majority of the local public. ( Christ knows why when one of the biggest employers is Bentley which is of course German owned )

Lib Dems were nowhere in 2017 so it's really hard to see how to best excercise the pencil.

I think it's going to have to be a follow the heart thing.

It does come to a pretty pass when we have to decide on who is the "least worst" choice rather than the best though doesn't it?

There are at most 300,000 identifying Jews in the UK. They are spread all over but with probably 80% living in and around London in say five constituencies at most. The next largest community is Manchester (30,000), with the main community spread over two constituencies. Other Jewish communities have little chance of influencing any outcome.

But, for those six or seven constituencies there is the idea of voting for anyone who will best defeat Labour. This is not an economic argument but purely defensive. We genuinely fear a Corbyn led government will affect adversely our way of life in terms of being attacked on the streets, our ability to travel to Israel, send money there, send our children there for gap year programmes (even those that have no obvious Zionistic theme) and that our loyalty to the UK will be questioned (despite a prayer said every Sabbath morning in every synagogue for the health and welfare of HMQ).

If we can avoid five or six Labour MPs it might make a difference to who governs us. It is a totally different political calculation to most people whose priorities do not include such basic aspects as personal safety or freedom to visit another country.

So the question is not as simple as persuading my family not to vote Tory. They have good reasons for doing so. I need to find a better reason to vote independent. As yet I haven't found it. But we have hustings next week in one of the synagogue's hall. That will be interesting with the Momentum candidate being faced with 300+ Jews, some with tattoos on their arms....

What will be interesting will be Finchley, where the very pro-Israel sitting Labour MP (not Jewish) could be ousted by the Jewish Luciana Berger. Former Labour MP in Liverpool but now a LibDem candidate. I'm not convinced she will get in.

Ah well.

So funny today. I was asked to attend a conference with a barrister over a big divorce case on 12th December. 'Was I free?' "I'm not sure. I'm sure I have something on that day.." I check diary; nothing in there. Just realised... Oh yes, it's the election. Doh!

Ah apologies. There is (or was) a Labour MP in the area who was very pro-Jewish/Israel. Maybe he was defeated in 2017? The contest will be interesting anyway. In my constituency we have had two elections with Labour and Tory Jewish candidates. The victor on both occasions was Labour, who is now independent. Whilst he claimed he left due to anti-Semitism there were other reasons for his departure, hence my hesitation at voting for him.

Luciana Berger does have a Marmite reputation. Given she is an attractive, Jewish woman, when she married a Jewish man from Liverpool, the normal outpourings of delight; 'mazal tov!' and such like were a bit muted.

I think it was partly to do with the concept of a posh Londoner being parachuted into a safe (new)Labour seat when a goldfish wearing a red rosette would be elected. Not a true northener and didn't really make an effort to be one. Not like Espadrille, who wouldn't go back South if you paid her.