Why I have voted for Chris Huhne

Why have I voted for Chris Huhne to be Leader of the Liberal Democrats? And why, es hewing national politics on this blog because my Journalism isn't up to it , am I telling you now?
I suppose the most direct answer is because there are hints it might be a closer election than many thought and perhaps one or two last minute waverers might look at this and think about my argument. More importantly though is the reason for my decision. I haven't decided who I think the best Leader will be but what I want the Leader to be.

To the extent that any of us can look into the Crystal Ball this is going to be a very Difficult Century. Perhaps humanity's hardest to date. I'm not a scientist but my horrible gut feeling is the earths cooling feedback mechanisms are closer to the tipping point than we hope. If gaia wants her revenge and feed back mechanisms start heating the Earth rather than cooling then we are in for a bumpy ride. We will soon hit the Hubbard peak if we haven't already. In the long run we are all dead but it looks likely that in about 2050 China will pass America as a Hegemonic power. When advancing and declining empires pass each other there is usually global trouble. In this context the advent of mass casualty terrorism from groups with no real negotiable demands seems like a second order consideration. Finally the building of nuclear bombs will succumb to the same technological processes as the DVD or the iPOd. In human History technology always gets cheaper and knowledge is always democratised. We are going to have to build a worlds where people don't want to use such weapons as opposed to pretending we can put the lid back on Pandora's box.

Many readers may ask what the third party of a small north European island has to do with this sweep of history. In any case as we don't all live on the moon and commute to work by jet pack we should remember that futurology has a poor record.

That's where I come to the " Bully Pulpit". Britain's Third party may have no national power but it gives its leader a soap box, a mega phone and local and regional clout to show how we would do things differently. My judgement is that on balance I'd rather hand the bully pulpit to Chris Huhne as we start this turbulent Century. In the best traditions of Focus I will give three reasons.

Firstly because I'd rather shout about " Green Switch" than " Life should mean Life". This reference will be obscure to anyone who isn't a Lib Dem activist. In positive terms the Work that Chris has done on carbon trading, Green Switch tax proposals and the Huhne Commission on Public service reform is exemplary. I want to put an intellect in the bully pulpit.

Secondly because scrapping trident is brave and right. I'm well aware its also designed to appeal to people exactly like me in an internal election. But the colossal expenditure of Trident epitomises the out dated militarism than we need to challenge if we want real security. I know what the right wing press will do to us in southern marginals. Ships are safe in harbour but its not what they are built for.

Thirdly I want some one who with in the next 10 years be a Cabinet Minister or Prime Minister. The old cosy two party consensus isn't going to morph into a cosy three party one. We are entering a pluralistic phase where coalition building will be the norm and I trust Chris just that little bit more with the Bully pulpit to maintain our distinctiveness that breeds successful coalitions.

So without a word of criticism of Nick Clegg that's why I have voted for Chris Huhne. For the handful of undecided voters posting last minute ballot papers please mull it over.