Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Which newspaper does your MP read?

Yesterday's Times editorial was an interesting piece. In giving its verdict on who to vote for, it said

"...where the public has an unreconstructed Labour candidate or a moderate and modern Conservative alternative they should be prepared to use a ballot intelligently. Re-electing the likes of Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), Ann Cryer (Keighley), John Cryer (Hornchurch), Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras) Paul Flynn (Newport West), Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate), Lynne Jones (Birmingham Selly Oak), Bob Marshall-Andrews (Medway) or John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington) will not do the country a service. If the Labour contender claims to read The Guardian, electors should cancel their political subscription."

With a Labour victory a foregone conclusion, the Times has concluded the best outcome is a Labour Government with a reduced majority, preferably shorn of its left wing radicals. Now that's a result even Tony Blair would long for!

I particularly liked the Times advice about the Guardian. Wise words when you consider that the Guardian is rapidly replacing the Times as the newspaper of the political establishment, what a terrifying prospect!