Guess what?
There's a general election tomorrow, though if you live in Boston, it may well have escaped you.
Where our team members live, a handful of leaflets have dropped through the letterbox, but so far - and we doubt that it will change this late in the game - not one single caller from any of the six candidates has knocked on any of our doors.
They also seem to have been conspicuous by their absence in the town centre.
Our spies have spotted the UKIP candidate, but have seen no sign of anyone else.
Similarly, although this has been billed as the electronic or "virtual" election, our candidates have by and large shunned the use of the internet as a means of passing information to the voters.
The only exception seems to be Labour's Paul Kenny, whose use of Twitter to throw random scares into us has been remorseless since campaigning began. Whilst his postings have been consistent, they have also tended to be wittering rather than Twittering, but no doubt he considers them effective, or he wouldn't keep bothering.
So what is the likely outcome for tomorrow's election?
We don't have crystal balls (that would be most uncomfortable) but we can say with some certainty - along with all the pundits who've expressed an opinion - that the Conservatives will hang on to Boston.
The Tories have held Boston for donkey's years, although it was not always so.
In 1918 William Royce represented the constituency for Labour, followed in 1924 by Tory Arthur Wellesley Dean, then in 1929 by Sir James Blindell for the Liberals. and again in 1931 for the National Liberals. In 1937, Sir Herbert Butcher continued the trend for the National Liberals, then in 1950 as a National Liberal & Conservative candidate. Sir Richard Body nailed the Conservative colours to the mast in 1966, and Mark Simmonds has carried the flag for the Tories since 2001.
At the last election, the results were:
Conservative 46.3%
Labour 31.5%
UK Independence Party 9.5%
Others 12.7%
As we've said before, the inevitability of a Conservative victory is a chance for any voter who wants to to send a message to the three main parties.
We believe that may well provide some interesting voting for smaller parties - particularly the BNP and UKIP.
Stand by for a surprise or two.
The full list of candidates for tomorrow's big day is:
Paul Kenny, Labour.
David Owens, British National Party.
Christopher Pain, UK Independence Party.
Mark Simmonds, Conservative.
Philip Smith, Liberal Democrat.
Peter Wilson, Independent.
Whatever you plan for the day, make sure that you take time out to vote. A polling station is always within easy reach, and it's no good moaning for the next five years if you don't take the trouble.
Strangely, for a merry band that lauds independence at every opportunity, the Bostonionnies' blog - whilst providing links and information for Marianne Overton, a former bosom buddy of the BBI leader who is standing as the Independent candidate for Sleaford and North Hykeham, Gary Walker, Independent Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Lincoln, and even Jim Thornton the Independent candidate for Poplar and Limehouse for pity's sake - makes no mention of the truly local independent candidate for Boston, Peter Wilson.
Editor's note: Yes, we know we rubbished the BBC for the picture at the top of the page - but we just couldn't ignore the opportunity it presented for a caption. If you have any suggestions, send them to us, and we'll put them in the blog.
You can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.
1 comment:
If someone tracked these guys down and told them who you are and how you’re taking the P, would you be happy to share the joke with them face-to-face? I share your dismay at the BBC coverage but rather than take the P out of fellow residents, who are only regurgitating myths they’ve been fed by the BNP, go give them some stick instead!
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