Divided loyalties on public display (From Stroud News and Journal)

Divided loyalties on public display

A STROUD couple have puzzled neighbours by displaying campaign posters for two different parties in window of their home.

Richard and Dinah Jefferies have placed signs urging passers-by to vote for both Labour and the Green party at their house in Lansdown, Stroud.

Mr Jefferies said: "A couple of people have remarked, asking why we have got two different parties in the window.

"They have assumed it's because my wife and I have different political views. There is an element of that.

"I don't think my wife would ever dream of voting Conservative while I vote for what I think the country needs at the time and it's not necessarily the same thing all the time.

"My wife is quite keen to support the Green party in the local election but we support Labour at the party constituency level.

"While we don't necessarily think that the Green would make good national government, they certainly are good at a local level."

A former member of the Confederation of British Industry, he has also voted Conservative in the past, Mr Jefferies said: "I don't think I am a natural Labour supporter.

"I am in business and run a consultancy but we have had some of the longest periods of sustained growth, low inflation and unemployment."

He is also impressed by David Drew.

Mr Jefferies said: "Forgetting which party they are from, almost all the other MPs tell me their views.

"David Drew takes notes, listens, asks questions, says 'I'll do something about it' and does.

"I think there are two sorts of floating voters. There is the sort that doesn't quite know what he believes and is waiting to be convinced and there is the ones like us who know what we believe but don't think any of the parties are catering to that."