As the closest election for generations draws ever closer, Lawrence Gosling outlines which policies would really get his vote.
I will vote for a party that does not blame immigrants for everything they think is wrong with this country.
I will vote for a party that does not create policies based on focus groups.
I will vote for a party that does not cynically try to appeal to pockets of the electorate without any intention or idea of how to fulfil the policies
I will vote for a party that makes it easier to save money than it is to borrow money and has a minister for savings.
I will vote for a party that is honest about the housing situation in this country and will commit to building 600,000 new homes a year, not the current 150,000 to 200,000.
I will vote for the party that does not indulge in housing gimmicks.
I will vote for a party that recognises the way to tackle the housing crisis is to ease the burden of planning restrictions and create enough apprenticeships to have the skills to build those homes.
I will vote for a party that does not think education standards are measured by constantly testing school children.
I will vote for a party that says its education policy will be measured by the levels of literacy and numeracy when kids leave school at 18, so we do not have an adult population with the average skills of a 12-year-old.
I will vote for a party that does not lie to young people that going to university will guarantee them a job.
I will vote for a party that promises not to change the exam system for a full parliament.
I will vote for a party that is honest about the NHS and does not try to trick us into believing another £8bn will cure the problems.
I will vote for a party that tells the population to take control of its own health and only to use the NHS when there is a genuine emergency.
I will vote for a party that bans gastric bands on the NHS, and taxes high fat food and drinks.
I will vote for a party that puts a limit on the number of betting shops and fried chicken shops in each town and replaces them with libraries.
I will vote for a party that stops promising to tax banks and financial institutions and give the money away.
I will vote for a party that makes it easier to save money than it is to borrow money and has a minister for savings.
I will vote for a party that promises to reduce tax complexity, so Tolley's Tax Guide is reduced from 16,000 pages to under 500.
But, most of all, I will vote. We should remember, even after months of mindless electioneering by some of the least inspiring individuals this country has ever produced, if we do not vote, we will carry on getting the out-of-touch elite.
Lawrence Gosling is the founding editor of Investment Week. His views are his own. Send any comments to him at [email protected]
