It is a quite common tactic to depress turnout on the left by convincing the base that their elected representatives are ineffective in rolling back the Thatcherite agenda.

Of course it works best if, as in the case of the SPD, it's actually true. Or if, as in the case of Tory Bliar and New Labour, they aren't even trying. But it's quite possible to do it in the face of contradictory facts.

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.