Yesterday’s Survation poll reported that UKIP (22%) are, for the moment, just two points behind the Tories (24%) and therefore and given the margin of error in these things possibly tied or even ahead of the senior governing party. Blimey! It is understandable, therefore, that the idea we are on the brink of a Great Realignment in British (or rather English) politics is popular today. See Iain Martin’s Telegraph column for an excellent example of this. He says it feels as though the right has split irrevocably.
He may be right! British politics has been extraordinarily stable since the Labour party supplanted the Liberals. Nothing, really, has changed. At least, nothing of real importance and at least not in England. That can’t continue forever. So one day predictions of a Great Realignment will be vindicated by events. Perhaps this is that time though the odds, perhaps, are against it being so.
That’s something I consider in today’s Think Scotland column.
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