This in from Stewart Blackmore in his own words. Ed
There are only a couple of days during which Islanders will make up their minds about who they are going to trust with their votes on Thursday 7th May, in what is the most important General Election in generations.
Whatever your politics, let’s not forget that the right to vote has been fought for through the blood, sweat and tears of generations of Britons. This struggle goes on for many, across the world, who are fighting and dying to achieve the freedoms many take for granted.
Exercise your right to vote
I hope that people will not submit to apathy or scepticism and use their vote on Thursday.
There are candidates that represent a variety of views and parties who have bothered to stand for office on Thursday.
While naturally I urge you to use your vote to support me and Labour’s vision for a fairer and better Britain, I would rather people exercise their right to vote – whatever their voting intention – than to succumb to indifference.
There are still a great many undecided voters who are going to make their minds up in the next few days, maybe even when they enter the polling booth.
Important decision on local level
Here on the Island the decision is just as important on a local level. Because the Island is by far the largest constituency in the country, by population, many voters are going to decide which of the candidates is best placed to represent them in Parliament, but won’t have had the chance to see them in person.
You may be making judgements on what you have read, heard or been told.
Tactical voting
You may have been told that a Labour Party candidate cannot win on the Island. In past elections the LibDem vote, for example, has been artificially high because many thousands of Islanders have given their vote to them in the hope that, by doing so, they would ‘keep out the Tory’.
Many of those were natural Labour supporters and they now know that their ‘tactical vote’ hasn’t worked in recent elections.
A vote for Labour WILL defeat the Tories
The arithmetic tells you that if you do not want Andrew Turner as your next MP then a vote for Labour WILL defeat the Tories on the Island. I would urge all of you who do not want a right wing MP to vote Labour to make sure that doesn’t happen by voting Labour.
You are entitled to ask – why should I vote for Labour when there has never been a Labour MP elected for the Island?
Some argue that defeating the Tories can only be achieved by voting LibDem, Green or even Independent. That is just not the case. The truth is that it may even be counter-productive and let Andrew Turner back as it has in the past.
There IS a natural left-of-centre majority on the Isle of Wight.
Cannot trust LibDems again
I believe that the LibDems cannot win here because you will never trust them again; and they have had install a candidate from the mainland because they had no local candidate who was prepared to stand.
The Greens have run a clever campaign which has tried to mimic many Labour policies. Of course, that is flattering, and I appreciate that it is difficult for her to justify policies which her Party has not costed and cannot deliver, but Vix herself admits that she cannot win this time.
As for the Independents – they don’t seem to want to win. They have not canvassed you or tried to sway you with argument on the doorstep. Can you remember if Ian Stephens has knocked on your door?
40 years in the Island
Although I wasn’t born here, I have made my life on the Island for the past forty years and have worked on the Island for 35 of those years. I have shared the good and the bad times with all of you.
So this time, trust me and say yes to Labour. Together we can win and give the Island what it has for so long deserved – a place at the top table.
In voting for me you will be voting for a fairer, more tolerant society, whose Member of Parliament will always put you and our Island first.
That is my promise to you.
Image: Shot by Lucy Boynton
