The Final Days - 11:02 pm, Mon 3rd May 2010

Do you remember those people at school who went around the days before the O level results came out, acting like they had 9 As in the bag?  That is what Cameron reminds me of this weekend.  It's such a convincing act that he even had Andrew Marr asking him what "will" you do as PM, not "would".  Hubris is a wonderful thing but tonight's polls show further evidence of a narrowing gap.  The caveats are there though: Bank Holiday polls are traditionally flaky apparently, and the marginal picture may be quite different.  But, Labour have been the underdog throughout this Election, but we are still in there with a very realistic shout.  If we can keep the energy and the drive up across the next two days, anything can still happen.

Someone responded to a message I sent on Facebook the other day saying that Labour had to be more positive.  I think they are right.  Whilst I fully endorse the need to warn voters of the horror that will be a Tory administration with a perceived mandate to cut through public services like a madman with a chainsaw, we also need to be clearer about how we will be different.  We can acknowledge the need for cuts - indeed we must do - but there is nothing wrong with also outlining where we will continue to invest and more importantly why.  So let's here more about the Green Growth Fund and the Hi Tech Investment fund, and the new Child Centres, and the National Care Service and the front-line policing.  If we are clearer about the things we hold dear it will be a more reassuring and realistic message.

In the meantime, I've written to my Liberal opponent pointing out that a letter he has written in which he says I acknowledge that tactical voting could unseat the Tories is false - and possibly even in breach of the Representation of the People Act.  I do acknowledge that some people think tactical voting could work, but I think those people are wrong, and I have never stated a belief to the contrary.  He owes me an apology: what are the chances I will get one!?

 
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