Unfortunately the deadline for registering to vote by proxy has passed, and it’s quite likely I’ll be at my university address and so unable to vote this year. I’m not sure I can really justify the petrol money to travel back home simply to vote, although I have considered it.
There’s a definate sense that it’s an important time for political history, although I don’t agree with ‘many outraged members of the British public’ that this is due to the fact that all MPs from the major parties should be ousted for a minority of them making spurious expenses claims. The whole issue just goes to show how much we love to point the blame at a group of privaleged individuals following on from people’s obvious willingness to tar all ‘bankers’ with the same brush. But regardless there is a high chance that Labour may not win this time, combined with economic difficulties and concerns about direction of the European Union. Which makes it disappointing that I might not be able to cast my own vote and have some part in the change of direction of the newly elected government.
It’s nice to see that there are many new parties forming (and surprising so many of them seem to have the money to make party political broadcasts?!). But still none of the parties represent a majority of my own views, so I suppose I needn’t feel hugely dissapointed not to vote. When political parties start getting involved in the campaign for real ale, and would like to offer a free pint for voting for them, I might get a little less apathetic… if you want a student to vote for you, you know what to do!
