h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My experience of FT readers would lead me to conclude that they are in no way shy of being termed Tories which is why I found the result surprising. Mind you the survey doesn't give total numbers so could well be skewed.

Yesterday I read a call for the Cons to roll out more old big guns like Ken Clarke and Michael Heseltine and lo and behold up pops Wiliiam Hague on Question Time. But, it must have been dissapointing when Michael Portillo criticised the anti immigration line.

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I see Malcolm Rifkind is trying to be make a come back as Tory Leader, Thatcherite and Scottish, no way Jose.

Well some people are just *born* optimists, aren't they?

Well I would suggest:

FT readers are probably on average more educated.

The educational establishment is on average more lefty.

Therefore...

I would suggest FT readers are capitalists and you would expect them to tend towards the Conservatives.

See what I mean? Funny old world innit?

Btw, since when was Hague regarded as a'big-gun'? He's not a member of the shadow cabinet (though of course that in itself is a sore point with the Tories - how many members of their shadow cabinet can yoo recognize? or even name?) and last I saw was a columnist for that paragon of serious political reportage, The News of the Screws.

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Are the Labour politicians other than Blair and Brown that visible? I think that I could name a few other cabinet ministers, but I wouldn't be guaranteed in placing them correctly to their current jobs.

Im 25 and I still remember Thatcher Kerr however I came from a very political family so not that surprising.

On a slight digress seeing as Plottilo has been mentioned. I used to *despise* Portillo, I absolutly hated him. Football aside I dont think I have ever cheered as loud as when he was voted out in '97.

However now I think he is allright. I still disagree with him on a fair few policy issues but in the main to me he sounds like a voice of reason on "this week". What on earth has happened to me?

Have I sold out to the dark side?

I would expect the Tories' most recognisable member would be Anne Widdicombe.

Hoon is pretty well known after that guy who got shot without the body armour.

I don't dispute these guys are out there, but what distinguishes them all is that they are firmly on the back bench. (I doubt Clarke is even really interested in getting Howard into power - I've not seen him in any media outings at all.) Wheeling that lot out is almost an admission of defeat - 'the best we can manage is to wheel out the losers that you didn't vote for last two times'. And they certainly can't wheel out IDs because he's an all too painful reminder of Howard's way as he still has the dagger between his shoulder blades.

Lets face it, the next best known memeber of the shadow-cabinet after letwin and davies is the utterly mad Vulcan. And he's only there to stop him rocking the boat too much. And he certainly doesn't present well to the British public.

I too find ortillo a much more engaging character these days. I think he's mellowed a great deal. I think '97 taught him a valaubale lesson in humility.

And Heseltine certainly won't have anything to do with supporting Howard I suspect. The wounds there run far too deep.

Which makes MH fundamentally more honest than Anne Widdicombe (increasingly loking like she's trying to be 'mini-me to MT) who said some vile things about MH, and vice versa yet know we are supposed to believe that they are united?

Almost to a man the tory shadow cabinet come across badly on TV. They all seem smarmy and untrustworthy. Of course whether they are or not is beside the point, this is how they appear. The only one I feel that doesn't is Liam Fox.

I wonder whether, due to the policy differences being so small, we are being driven into presedential style of politics where personality matters more than policy.

I was inclined towards that view, but as the campaign has gone on, it seems to me that the party divides are stronger than at any time since the New labour revolution.

If New Labour are going to abolish council tax and immigration seems to be flat lining the Conservatives I'm struggling to see where the big policy differences are. Voters must be splitting on tribal lines, which is probably supported by the Sun's ridiculous red smoke stunt. Quite depressing really

You had a man from the institute for fiscal policy on the news yesterday saying that in real terms there was very little difference in the economic policies as well.

Afternoon All,

Given that TB has now adopted a 'similar' stance to the Tories, both on immigration (Tone'd down!) and Council Tax there is not much to chose between them......except the hoary old chestnut TRUST. I find it impossible to believe TB and I certainly wouldn't trust his henchmen, within whom I count Milburn Campbell, and even 2 Jags.

However, since I reckon there are many chickens heading home for the coup I wouldn't be heartbroken if Labour win. It would be LibDems or Tories next time!

Novo