As often before, I agree with your analysis regarding the party loyalty of those who arn’t party members. I have never voted for a party or even for an individual. I place my cross where it will be tactically most effective in countering what Tony Blair called “the forces of conservatism” which hasn’t so far meant voting for the Conservatives.

The closest I ever came to voting for an individual was when I voted for Anne Lorn Gilles in Western Isles. I would have voted for her on the normal basis anyway, but after seeing and hearing how she was treated by the Christian right at an election meeting, I would now give her my vote anywhere any time even on Big Brother or Pop Idol.

There were people there baying like dogs because, while they expected the LibDem to support liberal polices and the big party candidates to dissemble, they were shocked that a Gaelic speaker, imbued in Gaelic culture as she is, and claiming to be one of their own, did not share their views on abortion, divorce, hanging … etc. .. and the Establishment of a national Presbyterian church.

“a bit lke Christians and Lions” Winnie Ewing said to me afterwards, but she was wrong. It was the lions that got eaten.

I was looking for the fire exits.

I suspect there was a big swing in the working class votes (particularly C2) which were direct losses for Labour, and gains for the Tories.

The Tories would also have regained quite a lot of 1974 Liberal votes, and some abstainers from Oct 74. But they also did well amongst new voters according to the polls.

I suspect Labour just about replenished their 11.5million net by getting some extra voters out compared to Oct 74, making some gains from the Liberals, and even some middle class votes generally, plus they secured a favourable swing in Scotland, and some parts of the north west.

Regardless of the churn and where the votes went, I think my comment is still valid, Labour were traumatised, and the Tories equally in 97.

Perhaps the warning is double edged not only shouldn’t you believe your own propoganda about your supporters, but you shouldn’t believe propoganda about what actually happened at an election…..

Peter.

I’ve heard some estimates that about 5 million working class people switched to the Tories in 1979. But there must have been some churn in the figures. Labour still came out with 11.5 million votes – slightly up on October 1974 and a similar share of the vote to February 1974.

There was a higher turnout.

The Tories probably advanced less amongst middle class people, whereas Labour made some gains in this area – according to the polls.