ELECTION 2010: Close-fought contest but undecided voter is ahead

Published: 30 April, 2010
by ROISIN GADELRAB and PETER GRUNER

GRUDGING and reticent. That was the only way to describe the mood of a random sample of Islington South voters polled by the Tribune this week.
Whether in the Popham estate, off Essex Road, in Barnsbury Street, where Labour’s Emily Thornberry’s HQ sits alongside private flats or in Milner Square, a mix of council and private homes, the message was clear – as mud.
It’s still a tight Lib-Lab fight, but on the evidence of our survey more a question of who voters dislike the least – Ms Thornberry, Lib Dem Bridget Fox or their respective parties.
In our snap poll on Wednesday, Tory candidate Antonia Cox  trailed, with fewer than half the votes of the other two. For the Greens, there was the prospect of the odd protest vote.
Many had not yet decided who to back, and more than 10 per cent said they would not be voting at all – in protest at all politicians. “None of them care about us,” one non-voting Essex Road grocer said.
Jay, 37, a demolition worker from the Michael Cliff estate, thought it was time for a change. “I might vote for Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems nationally,” he said. “I’ve voted Labour for years but I’ve not been happy with them recently.
“I didn’t like Gordon Brown calling that woman on TV a bigot. I’d like to see what the Lib Dems can do. Locally, I might vote Conservative.  It would be good to see what they can do in the community that is different.”
One butcher was full of praise for Ms Thornberry, telling customers to back her if they thought she was doing a good job, but added that, for personal reasons, he would have to vote Tory.
“It’s the inheritance tax. We’d have to sell up,” he said.
Another voter, an architect, told how Lib Dem hopeful Ms Fox had helped his family, who were all geared up to vote for her – until Nick Clegg launched his manifesto. Now he’s switching to Conservative.
He said: “I didn’t like the [Lib Dems] support of the euro. I feel it’s very important we have a strong government. The Tory policy on education is extremely useful. Clegg – here’s a man who jumped 10 points for sticking his hand in his pocket and remembering names in the debate.”
A Barnsbury Street resident – mindful that Mr Clegg may back David Cameron in a hung parliament – said he was voting Lib Dem “as a tactical Tory vote”. He added: “The Tories can’t win here. It’s time for change.”
A traditional Labour voter backed Ms Thornberry but said she would vote to keep the Lib Dem council. She said: “Labour’s got the best policies but the council’s done a good job. I just don’t think the local Labour party are competent.”
A neighbour said: “I’ll probably vote Lib Dem. I wouldn’t be particularly sorry to see a hung parliament. I’m pretty disillusioned with Labour but I’d never vote Tory. Vince Cable’s had a big effect on people noticing the Lib Dems.”
And then there she was – the elusive voter who has no doubts. A Milner Square tenant, and staunch defender of Gordon Brown, she said: “I’ve voted Labour all my life and I won’t change ever. Seventeen  years of Thatcher – I was there. Locally, the Lib Dems are hopeless.”
But hers was a lonely voice in the wilderness – her words ringing out without a hint of that creeping doubt so many others showed.