Can we please, PLEASE make this the last election where we get this:

• Don't vote Lib Dem here, you'll let the Tories in.
• You can't vote Labour here, they've got no chance, you'll let the Lib Dems in.
• Tories can't win here.
• Vote Conservative to keep Labour out.
• SNP are the only ones in this seat who can keep the Tories out.
• A vote for Plaid Cymru is a vote for Labour.
• You do realise don't you that if you vote Lib Dem you could let Labour in here?
• Vote tactically for us to keep them out.
• Only Lib Dems can keep Labour out.
• Only the Conservatives can keep Labour out.
• Only the SNP can keep Labour out.
• Etc.
• Etc.
• Etc.

Are you sick of it yet?

It is the First Past the Post system that forces all parties (yes, yes, I know including my own) to indulge in this very negative way of campaigning. A change to Single Transferable Vote which allows voters to list their preferences would transform all of this. Instead of scaring voters with the possibility of them "letting in" the candidate they fear most, candidates would suddenly find the way to win is to appeal for people to vote *for* them rather than *against* someone else. It's built into the system and comes for free.

Please let's make this the last election under this sort of relentlessly negative system.

Conservative contradictions

There is something a bit odd in the way the Conservatives have approached this election campaign. They seem to be simultaneously saying two things that are diametrically opposed to each other.

The first approach is to appear to be all-inclusive. The title of their manifesto was "Invitation to join the government of Britain". Here's a quick snippet from the introduction:

"Britain will change for the better when we all elect to take part, to take responsibility – if we all come together. Collective strength will overpower our problems"

Both George Osborne and David Cameron have also oft repeated the phrase "We are all in this together".

Now that is fair enough. I think the approach of collective strength and recognising that we need breadth of experience and ideas to sort the problems out is a good one in principle. However contrast this with the scaremongering rhetoric from them in the last few days. Here is what Cameron said yesterday:

"Any other outcome (than a Conservative overall majority), any other vote, could lead to a sort of stagnation, to a sort of haggling and a bickering amongst politicians and we won't get done what so badly needs to be done in our country. If we end up with a hung parliament, the world is going to look at us and say 'How are you going to sort out your problems?' We need decisive action to sort out those problems and that is what a Conservative government would bring."

Every Conservative spokesperson has been out there making the same point. So what are they actually saying? Is it the inclusive message that recognises we are all in this together and reaches out across the political spectrum? Or is it that we absolutely must only allow the Conservatives to have all the power, otherwise it will be devastating for the country?

I don't think these two positions are compatible with each other.