UK Election

Fire of Liberty

The UK has kicked of its election cycle with several speeches by the respective parties. Unlike the US election, the Brits have an campaign process that lasts for only several weeks thus when Parliament dissolves on April 4 or 5, they have just about a month to campaign then the people will vote in the general election on May 5, 2005. For anyone not up on the UK politics, let me fill you in on who's running. Since this is a parliamentary system, there will be more than your US style two candidate election. While there's several minor parties in the running, we'll just focus on the Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat parties to safe time and prevent confusion. Anyway the candidates in these respective parties are Tony Blair of Labour, Michael Howard of the Conservatives and the rascal Charles Kennedy of the Liberal Democrats. Lets put it this way Tony Blair is the UK's version of Bill Clinton (The difference is Blair has been faithful to his wife), he's a master of triangulation but seems to have a steely nerve, what with Iraq and the War on Terror. Next up, you have Michael Howard is a devotee of Margaret Thatcher but doesn't seem to have the fire or a pocketbook with Hayek's The Constitution of Liberty in it. He seems to be gaining on Blair and could overcome the Labour tide that's been blowing the Tories around John Major lost the government to Labour in 1997. Finally, you have Charles Kennedy of the Liberal Democrats who is in the same league as Ralph Nader. If this man and his party ever win, It's going to be a cold day in the UK and will ice over a relationship with the US in Iraq.

While I like the steely nerve of Blair during our four year fight with Al Qaeda and the war in Iraq, I'm not really interested in the man's politics and its creeping socialism. Therefore, If I could vote in the UK election, I'd pick Michael Howard and his Conservatives. They'll restore some of the culture and policies that the British people adore. He also will prevent the UK from finding its way into the single euro currency or joining the EU(I think the Brits will vote down the EU without Howard). Go Tories and knock it out of the park for Mrs. Thatcher.