JohnShout as much as you like my friend, I'm not in the least bit precious about it (although you can do bold text on here too if you know the code).You have made a good case for not voting Conservative, but also in the most part for not voting Labour either. The Liberal Democrats might be the answer to some of your issues, but I would guess not all of them. Is there a party out there which is likely to represent your own views at the next election?I know people vote for political parties at general elections, and that national elections are about national issues. If I hadn't realised that before the last election I would certainly have cottoned on within minutes of the ballot boxes being opened!Personally speaking I have never yet voted either Conservative or Labour at a general election. That said I am not a person who cares much for ideology, probably as a result of psychological damage caused whilst spending the best years of my younger life engaging in endless debates, schisms and sometimes even fights about the correct position to take on carp farming in Vanuatu. Nevertheless I have views on important issues like everybody else. I was and remain vehemently opposed to the war in Iraq and to US/UK Middle East policy in general, and I accept what you say about the likelihood of a Conservative government continuing to pursue the same policies as Bliar and his government have pursued so enthusiastically.However as well as being a private individual I am also a ward councillor for Isleworth, with constituents, and an Executive member at the London Borough of Hounslow, with a responsibility to hundreds of thousands of local residents. These are the people who will suffer as a consequence of the Keens' childish, unprincipled and completely unsustainable "now we will, now we won't" policy of co-operation/non co-operation with the local authority. I sincerely believe that a local level, these people will benefit from having Members of Parliament who are prepared to work with the democratically elected council for the greater good of the whole community, whether those MPs be Conservatives, Lib Dems, Greens, Respect, UKIP or whatever, irrespective of whether they agree or disagree with their views on major national and international issues.I very much doubt whether the outcome of the next general election will be determined by the results in Brentford & Isleworth and Feltham & Heston. If it is then the government which emerges from it, whatever its complexion, will not last very long in any case and will not be in a position to drive radical change for better or worse.Remember, the ICG is only advising a non-Labour vote in two constituencies, not throughout the country. We are not specifically advising a Conservative vote or a Liberal Democrat vote, and I doubt very much whether we could. Our membership is variously made up of traditional Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and non- voters. We only advise a non-Labour vote on ethical, not ideological grounds.The continued success of the ICG demonstrates that principles can unite people irrespective of ideological differences. Dare I suggest that the HIA experience demonstrates the same? You have found common cause on the council with two former Liberal Democrats as well as with Vanessa, who supported the war in Iraq as passionately as you opposed it. This doesn't seem to have stopped you from working together, neither should it.There is no logical basis to your reaction to our decision not to contest. To suggest that this ipso facto makes us Conservatives is irrational and absurd, and frankly undeserving of a man of your intellect. In the light of our experiences at the hands of the Keens, do you seriously contend that we have some kind of duty to them to split the votes of their opposition and help them back in to office?
Phil Andrews ● 6599d