One And All

Cornwall and West Wales are Britain’s two poorest areas. The Lib Dems are now doomed in both of them.

Among the large numbers of local Independents, there must surely be someone in each constituency who is, as Peter Peacock in the Highlands turned out to be, easily social democratic enough for Labour to stand aside and organise funding wherever it is not currently in first or second place (and it is not in first or second place anywhere in Cornwall) while also useful in keeping the coming Labour Government attuned to the concerns of areas that have not hitherto voted Labour often or at all.

Concerns such as a universal postal service bound up with the monarchy, the Queen’s Highways rather than toll roads owned by faraway petrostates, Her Majesty’s Constabulary rather than the British KGB that is the impending “National Crime Agency”, the National Health Service rather than piecemeal privatised provision by the American healthcare companies that pay Andrew Lansley, keeping Sunday special, no Falkland Islands oil to Argentina, a free vote on the redefinition of marriage, a referendum on continued membership of the EU, the historic regimental system, aircraft carriers with aircraft on them, the State action necessary in order to maintain the work of charities and of churches, and the State action necessary in order to maintain a large and thriving middle class.

The very concerns of which Ed Miliband’s Labour Party is now the only national political vehicle. But if it still needs a little help from friends in certain areas, then so be it. That would be very much to good of all concerned.