News 2020

Party leaders condemn "moral self-indulgence"

The Prime Minister today warned electors not to be tempted to vote against the Government simply because of disagreements with its policy.

His remarks came at the unveiling of a new series of ethical policies aimed at solving the problems of the Third World while retaining Britain's pre-eminence as an economic player in the globalised market of the democratised future.

The policies, which include free mineral water for all African under-fives and a pledge to investigate possible solutions to the Palestinian problem, have been called "a squeegee for the electoral conscience" by the Prime Minister's personal aide, Mr Campbelson Mandell.

But the Prime Minister took the opportunity to make clear his opposition to voter irresponsibility. "A democratic voting season is not the time to play political games," he said. "Voting is a serious responsibility and should not be undertaken simply as a means of showing disapproval for a particular political programme."

The leader of the opposition, Boris Johnson, said that the Government's new proposals on aid and ethical land mine sales would end up "costing the British taxpayer an arm and a leg."

However, Mr Johnson echoed the Prime Minister's remarks about voter responsibility. "There can be no conceivable purpose in voting for a minority party or a party which is certain not to win," he said. "A wasted vote is a waste of the lives and liberties of those who have sacrificed so much to make Britain's democracy one which is the envy and wonder of the whole civilised world, apart from America of course which could jolly well teach us a thing or two."

Mr Johnson called on the Government to take firmer measures against the "moral self-indulgence" of voters who supported "issue parties and glorified pressure groups" which preyed on people's emotions but failed to win seats.