Clegg is also in the 'fortunate' position of leading a party that has never held power, and cannot therefore be accused of having a record of failure (or achievement for that matter).
This government did a terrible thing when they paticipated in the invasion of Iraq - but then the Tories would have done the same. So, if you consider the Minimum Wage, better equality legislation, Sure Start programmes to help poorly resourced families and communities and a multitude of other things the party has introduced to make life better for everyone, labour has done a good job. That doesn't come cheap - so as as wage earner who cannot wiggle out of p[aying my way through tax breaks, I am slightly worse off.
However, a lot more could have been done by this government to reverse some of the financial relaxations imposed by the last Tory government. If the tough rules on investment and financial dealings that were in place prior to the Tory win in 1979, and which were relaxed by them, were re-introduced at the earliest opportunioty, some of the financial mess we are in now would not have happened. It's important that people understand that both the Tories and Labour must share responsibility for the economic situation that has come about as a result of both parties' actions.
I voted Green in the last election and I am tempted to do so again as they now most closely represent the views and ideals that I hold. However, in doing so, I risk letting the Tories back in so I will be voting Labour. In any case, my local MP is a Tory who thought it was OK for the rest of us to pay for his swimming pool to be cleaned! Many people in this city cannot even afford to take their children swimming, yet he thinkls it's acceptable for those people to share the cost of the pool in his SECOND home. By contrast, the labour candidate has pledged to draw only a living wage as his salary and donate the remainder to worthy causes in the constituancy.
