David, I completely agree with you.

I've always been attracted to the idea of proportional representation but I wonder if it would give us a better government?

The fans of first past the post always point to the shambolic PR in Italy or the shakey coalitions in Germany, but the problem with starting on that debate is that the UK media is so utterly rubbish at covering European politics that very few people in this country (myself included) really know what is going on beyond the tired stereotypical narratives that lazy journalists like to trot out when a particular European leader does something dastardly or bumbling. Meanwhile we get endless coverage of what happens in the US almost as if we get to vote in their elections.

The big problem with this election is that everyone knows there are going to be huge cuts after it but none of the three parties are being really honest about what those cuts would be, so no-one knows what they are voting for.

A lot will depend on tactical voting in marginals (like North Kent) where Tory-hating Lib Dems have voted Labour in the past, but with the chance of real power in a hung parliament will Lib Dems stick to their own side thus letting the Tories sneak in?

My election prediction: historically low turnout, minor parties getting a large share of the vote but not winning any seats (though Caroline Lucas is in with shout in Brighton) and probably a Tory win with a slim majority that will give us the sort of crap ineffectual parliament we had in the dying years of the Major government (remember him?)

Maybe it will be disastrous enough for whoever wins that there will be some electoral reform. Here's hoping.