In one week’s time, the UK goes to the polls for the 2024 General Election. Speculation is rife that the incumbent Tory Administration, in power since the 2010 Election, will be obliterated in what could be the worst election they have contested in their very long and very successful political career.
That should be familiar background noise to the Eldergoths amongst us, who will recall another embattled Tory regime that held sway through a period of international turmoil, domestic corruption – and a fantastic soundtrack! More recently, regular readers of The Blogging Goth will know I’ve polled my audience on their intentions for the last three elections. I’m again keen to get an insight into where the Velvet Vote will be placed – as I term the enfranchised goth electors of the United Kingdom!
In an effort to get a more undiluted view, I’m also running an additional poll on my Patreon pages, where I hope registering will provide something of an obstacle to the casual visitor who may have little to no association with our subculture – and I’m not referring to Andrew Eldritch this time! If, whilst there, visitors decide they’re also keen to publically pledge their support to The Blogging Goth Party, then onwards to victory – together!
Whilst manifestoes have now been released for all the major contenders, there’s sadly little on research for stronger hairspray or subsidies for black dye purchasing – but the Music Venue Trust has made a strong case for suppporting those vital homes to goth nights the length and breadth of the country with their own manifesto. All the key parties have made general promises to support the events, tourism and hospitality sector but are frustratingly light on the detail, commentators note.
So it will be on the more mundane issues this election will be decided! Regardless of any predictions, which party has your best interests in mind? Which political ideology most matches yours? Previous entries in this blog have identified a generally left-of-centre view amongst our readership, representing a small but hopefully substantial proportion of the UK goth scene. But as with other broad trends, goth is not the jet-black monolith of singular opinion that outsiders might presume. It has no unifying political, religious, philosophical or other mindset. It can barely agree on what bands are even involved!
So let me know in the comments what influenced you to cast your vote. And please share this article with others, so we can broaden our sample size and get the best possible look at what people really think as we go into the final stages of Goth Election ’24!
Parties are listed alphabetically, and selected based on the total number of candidates they are fielding across the UK according to Wikipedia and Democracy Club