Listening to the radio recently, I heard an individual describing how they had first entered into politics. They were confused about the different parties’ policies and with a general election looming, they decided to get involved.

My ears pricked up when she said she had taken a couple of blind surveys. These had allowed her to focus on the principles she agreed with rather than the politicians promoting them. She said she was taken aback by the results, which aligned her with a party she simply would not have chosen had she been voting on the personalities in play.

This sounded like a great idea to me and so I found one of the online surveys I could remember her alluding to. It took me a long time to complete quite honestly; due to the fact there are ten topics included and I had to research a few items I just didn’t know enough about.

Once I was ready, I took the survey in its entirety and I must say that I too was surprised by the results. It’s clear I’ll vote differently when my selection is based on the policies I believe in rather than the politician I perceive as most credible at the time.

So, my invitation to you is this:

If you’re at all confused by party politics and don’t feel well informed enough to vote; try out one of the blind surveys available and vote on each policy at your leisure, without being distracted by the name of the party proposing it.

If, on the other hand, you’re already well clued up on each party’s manifesto and have decided how you’re going to vote; take the survey anyway. It will either confirm what you already know or give you something to think about.

Either way, it’s an opportunity to make sure your vote is informed and; if we all do that then together we’ll increase our chances of getting the best possible combination of MPs in the House of Commons to move us forward over the next five years.