370.
I am becoming increasingly troubled by both the generally high levels of political apathy and ignorance in this country, and by the fact that there are no real left-wing alternatives for people like me. As this 'damp squib' of an election (to borrow a phrase used by the Prime Minister) limps towards its all too predictable and ultimately unsatisfactory conclusion on Thursday, I find myself trying to reconcile the nation's apparent contradictory views: the majority believe Tony Blair lied to the British people and our parliament in order to wage what most people believe was an illegal war against Iraq; the majority believe that Blair is too close to Bush and right-wing European leaders and former leaders, such as Berlusconi and Aznar. Most of the recent opinion polls have indicated that Blair is the least popular and most untrustworthy of the three main party leaders. Yet, come 5 May it is widely expected that Blair's New Labour party will win their third absolute parliamentary majority - with the spread betting agencies predicting an overall majority of 70-84 seats. It would appear, then, that the best way to win power and keep it in this country is to betray all of your party's principles, move to the right of the political spectrum, introduce legislation that you specifically stated in your election manifesto that you would not introduce, lie to the country and to parliament and ignore the United Nations, send troops to be killed and to kill in a war of dubious legality, and then keep on pedalling the old mantras long after everyone has given up caring. I was once a card carrying member of the Labour Party, and campaigned for them in 1987 and 1992. I was in Portugal when Blair won in 1997, and cheered at the thought of the first Labour government since 1979 and the end of 18 years of Thatcher's and Major's Tory rule. I celebrated too soon. Still, I was prepared to accept Labour's shift to the right in 1997 as a price well worth paying for being rid of the Tories. Eight years, two elections and one war later, and Blair's 'New' Labour Party has stolen Thatcher's clothes - and has perhaps even gone beyond anything the Iron Lady might have considered. Eight years of Tony's lying Labour Tory government. Whilst I am dismayed at what has happened in this country, I must point out that it has not all been bad: they introduced the minimum wage, which whilst set at almost poverty level, nonetheless has provided a guarantee for the lowest paid... And... Errrr. I can't think of anything else, to be honest. As well as being on the political left, I am very strongly pro-European. I do not think that the EU is a perfect institution - of course it isn't. Yet neither do I believe that it is the devil incarnate, whose raison d'etre is simply to make life difficult for the British. Like all large institutions it can be unwieldy and slow, yet I think that Europe is a force for the good - particularly where Britain is concerned. Our European partners have introduced laws that make the quality of life better for working people - notably through the Social Chapter regulations that provides basic rights to workers - such as detailing holiday entitlements, maximum number of hours that can be worked, sickness and injury entitlements and protection from arbitrary dismissal. I also strongly believe that we need to join the single European currency as soon as possible - preferably yesterday. Most of our trade is with countries using the Euro: we need to join them. Most importantly, however, I believe that Britain is standing at a crossroads just now, and that we are in real danger of being pulled too far in the wrong direction - so far that there will be no way back, and we will carry on being little more than the 51st state - without voting rights. So who is there to speak up for me and people like me: disillusioned pro-European ex-Labour socialists who have not yet been canvassed by any of the candidates standing for election? Liberal Democrat? Scottish Nationalist? Green? Scottish Socialist? I'll tell you what... the first Dundee West candidate from any of these parties to ask me for my vote will get it. How's that for democracy in action! I'll keep you posted (but don't hold your breath).

This time last year I was thinking green