Party Party Party

I've just been to vote for a London Region representative in the European Parliament. I forgot this morning that there was an election on, but then the Socialist Workers Party tried to hand me a leaflet at the station and I remembered, so I went after work. If you've forgotten, you've still got time, they should be open till 10 and there are never queues for Euro elections.

I always vote, (unless I just forget, which happens), because it seems obvious to me that people with wierd, stupid, or evil ideas always always do vote, except those who are merely otherworldly. Not using my vote for some platform or other that's at least partially sensible makes them look more important than they deserve.

The ballot paper was longer than my arm. I was invited to choose between at least four different Socialist parties, including the Socialist Workers (bizarrely disguised with an anti-EU slogan) and one led by Arthur Scargill (is he still alive?). Five if you count the mainstream Labour party, who still consider themselves socialists under certain conditions. Then there were about six Independents, none of whom I'd heard of, a pro-EU party (really? Is that all you've got?), an anti-EU party with ludicrous adverts showing Winston Churchill on purple backgrounds, and I think four other anti-immigrant or nationalist parties for at least two or three different concepts of 'nation'. There was also a Christian People's Party, whose ad I had noticed; they promised to declare Jesus' lordship in the European Parliament, which didn't strike me as a useful conceptual approach from someone being paid to argue for my interests about fish stocks, competition law, or the Common Agricultural Policy.

Anyway I voted for the mainstream candidate I thought most likely to make an effort, between lunches. Off you go now, don't forget.