Thanks to Alastair Darling and his new budget, I am now considering a complete change of my life and my morals.

I was brought up by a politically left family that struggled under a politically right Government. In the mid 70’s, my dad had to support my mum and 2 sisters, while working for only 3 days a week. He didn’t choose to work for 3 days a week (unlike some people these days) – under the circumstances, it was all the employment he could get. They didn’t have central heating and mortgage rates were about 17%. Years later, when I came onto the scene, my dad started working for the post office and through hard work and a lot of hours, my family got through the recession.

As soon I got to that age, where I became politically aware, my parents would often tell me not to vote for the Tory party. And even though this happened such a long time ago now (I’m approaching 28 this year), I still can’t bring myself to vote Conservative, on anything – council elections, mayor elections, anything – even on things like I’m a Celebrity and Big Brother, I won’t do it.

Trouble is, over the last couple of years, I have also become disillusioned with the Labour Party. The cost of living has risen. Tuition fees have been introduced (probably to tackle those mature students who have never worked in their lives – I remember those!). Red Ken has brought in the congestion charge (which, I hear, is possibly being extended to greater London, thus causing me greater grief!). Property prices have soared through the roof (excuse the pun). The NHS is crumbling before our eyes and I, a lefty, am seriously considering taking out a private health insurance plan to avoid staying in that sh:thole of an excuse of a local hospital, should I ever need medical assistance.

And now we have the new budget… Thanks to the new budget, my car tax has gone up by £50. This has infuriated me a bit, as I already pay £200 odd in tax and almost £600 in insurance. I’m just glad that I don’t have one of those 4x4, not that I would need one of those where I live… actually, judging by all the road humps that are being built where I live, maybe I do? - Which very neatly brings me to my local Council.

The Lib Dems control my borough and have done since, well, a long time now. And I’ve gotta say, I feel they have become somewhat complacent. There seems to be more traffic wardens walking the beat than Police officers (I should also point out, these traffic wardens are more militant than the police too!). They send junkmail to me, telling me how great a job they are doing and what a nice guy our local MP is – which no doubt, is paid for by public money. Oh, and they’ve just awarded themselves a nice fat pay rise which will cost the tax payer a further £384,000.

Since the conception of New Labour, all the political parties are now sitting, quite comfortably, in the middle. There’s not much choice for voters these days. There’s not much difference between Labour and Conservative, and the Lib Dems lack any sort of identity to be taken seriously in Parliament.

My mum used to tell me that if I don’t vote, I have no right to complain. Thing is, under this government and this council, I don’t feel like a voter. Considering the amount of money I am getting taxed, I feel more like a consumer who is being fleeced.

And to be honest, since I don’t feel that any MP has my (or the publics) interests at heart, I don’t wanna vote. Whats the point? Will make any difference? Maybe, but only as far as to what colour tie the fella living in 10 Downing Street is wearing, but that’s about it.