I'VE NEVER wholly subscribed to the view that the likes of UKIP or any other party deemed to be on the right of British politics as automatically being a threat to the Conservatives more than Labour.
Pundits, for some reason, always seen to think that they would split the Tory vote and, therefore, cause them the most damage in an election.
However, what people tend to forget is that many traditional Labour voters are actually very conservative (note the small 'c') in their outlook. Maggie Thatcher realised this and that is what won her three general elections.
It's folly to think as Labour as a purely left-wing organisation. Both parties have their hawks and doves because politics, just like life, is not as clear cut as what we'd probably like it to be.
So I suppose the big question is, what impact will UKIP (which has a candidate in Up Holland) and the English Democrats (standing in Newburgh and Scott Ward) have on these seats?
Neither stood at the last election for these particular ward seats, so comparing results is not an option.
Scott was always going to be an interesting ward because of the power struggle between Labour and the Conservatives. But adding the Greens and English Democrats into the mix makes it even more exciting for the neutrals among us.
I suspects there's going to be a heck of a lot of shoe leather worn out on Scott Estate and its environs between now and Thursday, May 3...
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