As diligent students of British politics understand, most votes under our first past the post system make no real difference to the result of a general election. The ones that count are those cast by swing voters in marginal constituencies. The Conservatives have been confident in their assertions that, despite a narrowing gap in nationwide opinion surveys, their lead among these defining voters in the marginals is big enough to make the crucial difference. A carefully targeted poll in this morning's Times suggests their confidence may be misplaced.
Perhaps it is the sunshine, or the abnormal atmosphere of peace and contemplation currently pervading the Centre, but I was greatly cheered by this post on the Poynter Institute website. A few people in a handful of places in one advanced nation seem to be waking up to the idea that democracy needs journalism like a bird needs feathers. Let's hope the idea can cross the Atlantic in the opposite direction to the Mayflower, and ideally a little faster.
