I’ve never voted in a general election and I know very very little about politics. With only a few days left till i decide who to vote for and well…. I’m still undecided! A couple of weeks ago I made the decision that I was going to read all the manifestos, this seemed like a great plan so I visited websites and downloaded those bundle of excitements. The excitement latest until i realised just how long they were… The conservatives win with a massive 140 odd pages… that plan has therefore failed and the files remain unopened!

Next I decided the way to do it was to watch all the debates. I managed two. I think I’m with a lot of the country when I say of the leaders; I like/trust/warm to/would like to go for a drink with Nick Clegg. Feel sorry for and secretly like Gordon Brown and Cameron well… is Cameron.

I LOVE the idea of the big society I really really do, but I just can’t bring myself to put my cross next to the Conservatives. This may be due to history and the parties past relationship with the arts and cutting funding or it may be do with my lack of trust and dislike of their posters that ‘bully’ Brown. I’ve tried to get over this and have looked into their policies, but my heart just doesn’t lie with the blue team.

So I find myself deciding between Yellow, Red or Independent…! It’s interesting that Tactical voting has come up into the news because the decision i find myself having to make is between my head and my heart! In the area I live the MP is a conservative, it has been the same man since 1987 (the year i was born) and if we face facts the chances of him loosing this year are slim. It makes me angry that i live in such a heavily conservative area that my vote has little sway…. grrrrr! The party with the biggest chance of beating the tories is Lib Dem, Labour… well it don’t look good even though the candidate is by the looks of things a really great guy! BUT there is an independent guy who I really really like the sound off. His focus on community is genuine and I have found myself at the hands of his generosity. I really would like to vote for him…

So the question is whether I vote tactically and go with lib dem or with my heart and independent… or completely pity Brown and go with Labour or I could take Cameron at his word and believe that the big society could happen and he will make it! I though the best way to decide would be to ask the kids I teach how I should use my vote; if i go with them The Monster Raving looney party will have one more supporter come 6th May!

So after many hours of discussion and thought I guess I won’t know until I go to the polling station close my eyes and make that cross!!!!