Sealing the deal

By Matthew Dear / @positivematt

Well, I did it. By my own hand, with my favourite pen, I joined the Labour Party. Despite making a poster for the 1983 election (in crayon) and displaying it in our window down a lane in Norfolk that no-one ever journeyed past, and despite literally dancing in the streets of Swaffham on 2nd May 1997, I’ve never actually been a member of the Labour Party. But I am now, or will be soon, and it already feels like a marriage, where my previous attempt at being a Tory felt like a sordid and illicit affair. Forgive the marriage analogy – remember, I’m still in rehab.

So, what should I do now with all this new-found enthusiasm? I fully intend to be ‘involved’ as much as my very busy job and three and a half young children will allow. I’ve also got a wealth of marvellously interesting things to say: so much so that I’ve even put together an Andy Coulson style ‘matrix’ of things that I’d like (with the kind consent of your editor) to bore you with in the weeks to come.

Funny how the Tories’ matrix isn’t bolted together as well it might be, isn’t it? You’d imagine that, with oodles of bright young things on the staff, heaps of Ashcroft money, and four years to prepare, their pre-election announcements might be at least loosely joined-up. Only, in recent weeks, we’ve had “cuts” turn into “efficiency savings” of only £1.5bn, and George Osborne trying to steady the ship by saying “I know – let’s have a green investment bank!” We’ve seen his delight turn to dismay within hours as Lord Stern’s “agreement” to advise on its creation was rapidly “clarified” with a statement stating that his Lordship has, in fact, no such plans of the sort.

We’ve seen Tory connections to lobbyists and businesses causing them visible discomfort, as they allegedly take advantage of parliamentary facilities for personal gain. We’ve seen a spot of local bother in Westminster North (no spinning your way out of an unedifying personal spat.) We’ve seen division, confusion, wooly thinking, and a steadily diminishing poll lead.

The election is by no means a foregone conclusion, and I wouldn’t say that I’m pleased at the Tories’ modest yet evident descent, as I’m not given to schadenfreude. But I am mightily relieved. I’m relieved that this Labour government, which has strengthened the structures which help and serve the most vulnerable; which has kept unemployment down to 7.6% during the worst recession the globalised world has ever known, against a Tory high of 15% during a period of growth; which has consistently served the many, and not the few, may live to fight another day. I’m honoured to have the chance to fight on its behalf.