Xbow magazine - Conference 2009

It is notable that the two most radical governments of the previous century, Labour after 1945 and Conservative after 1979, were both swept into power in the wake of the century’s two most severe economic downturns (and one ruinously expensive war) which provided both the stimulus to develop new ideas and the wider popular discontent with the status quo necessary to give a radical manifesto an electoral mandate.

It seems likely that the economic slowdown will do more to reduce man’s impact on the environment than any number of Green MPs or MEPs. In the short term this disenchantment with the political classes and the readiness to look to alternatives, has lead to increasing support for UKIP, the Greens and the BNP in the Euro and local elections. However, in the longer term it is how the two major parties react to the economic and political challenge which will be of greater significance, first-past-the-post militating against one of the smaller parties making much of an impact at Westminster.

To read the full article by Mark Nicholson, download this edition of Crossbow Magazine...