...or have it handed to you without asking for it. One of the weirder (and least legitimate, in my opinion) benefits of being a citizen of a Commonwealth country is that I get to vote in Britain, and, as we all know, Tony's head is on the block May 5th. I was under the impression that I had missed the deadline to register to vote in the UK back in March, so I have been following election coverage kind of halfheartedly, just interested in the big quiz sessions on PM on BBC4, or sensational stuff like when Jack Straw was grilled about legal memos regarding Britain's decision to head off to Iraq this morning. Imagine my surprise then, when my voter registration card showed up yesterday.
Boy, do I feel like a democratic slacker now. I mean, of course I'm going to totally abuse this really ridiculous opportunity and vote. But I don't wanna go in and vote for whoever just because it's funny. I gotta do right by my hood (officially: Southwark North and Bermondsey). I'm furiously playing catch up now on who the local candidates are (since none have actually provided me with any information, not a leaflet to be seen) and the issues around here, specifically (I'm gonna go with crime. Poverty. And, uh, crime). Last time we (uh, they) went Lib Dem. I'll keep you up to date on how I do (but not how I vote...it's a seeeeeecret).
Here's some info on my riding, courtesy of the Beeb:
2001 Result: Won by LD, majority 26.1%
Profile: One of London's most densely-populated, inner-city constituencies, this was also one of the poorest. It includes the run-down Elephant and Castle - whose shopping centre is one of the landmarks of the area, along with the GLA building, Southwark Cathedral, Guys Hospital and London Bridge Station. However, a massive regeneration programme on the riverside between Tower and London Bridges, and around Surrey Quays, is already well advanced. The Jubilee line extension through Southwark and Bermondsey has begun to revive the area. Further schemes are planned around the Elephant. Mixed in with this gentrification are some vast council estates, like Aylesbury on the other side of the Elephant and Castle. Some 67% of the population is white; 20% black. Unemployment is twice the national average and there are a high proportion of flat dwellers - 83% and renters 83.5% - half of these from the local council. This used to be a safe Labour seat - and was until 1983 when long-serving Labour MP, Bob Mellish, resigned. The subsequent by-election pitted the far Left Peter Tatchell against Simon Hughes for the Lib Dems. Mr Hughes won and has been there ever since. This was the party's only true inner city seat, until Sarah Teather won Brent East in the 2004 by-election. Southwark Council, having been Labour previously, is now hung with the Lib Dems having the largest number of seats. Labour has made many attempts with a variety of candidates to win back this seat from Mr Hughes, but has yet to be successful. In 2001 he increased his majority to 9,632 or 26%. Currently Liberal Democrat President, he was the party's mayoral candidate for London in June 2004 but came third behind Ken Livingstone and the Conservatives' Steven Norris.
The only thing that might turn this into an embarassment of democratic riches is if the government falls at home and I get to vote by absentee ballot. Whee!