A lot of tweeters on Tom Watson’s feed have been saying that they’ve voted for Ken Livingstone in the London Mayoral contest whilst holding their noses. Look, if you don’t want to vote for Boris Johnson because you believe that he’ll do nothing for London then that’s fine. But if you then vote for Ken whilst wearing a grimace on your face then that’s simply a lack of political conviction. If you can’t vote for either then vote for one of the other candidates, and if none of them tickle your fancy then don’t vote at all. The politicians parroting “a non-vote or spoiled vote is a wasted vote” is just a scam to make sure that you keep any of them in power by making you – the voter – feel disenfranchised and voting for anyone. In these times, turning up at the Polling Station and going away without making your mark is as good a sign of your feelings as any. Even better if there’s a news camera crew outside and ask how you voted. Be honest and say that you haven’t voted because none of the bastards were worth it.
Worse, if you voted for any candidate not because of their political beliefs or leanings but just because you didn’t want the other side to win, then you are the very definition of a sore loser.
