* Labour's share of the popular vote has declined successively in 2001, 2005 and 2010 from the high point of 1997. Falling from 43.2% in 1997 to 29% in 2010 - a loss of nearly three million votes over thirteen years.
Although the unpopularity of the Iraqi war was a contributing factor to Labour's electoral decline from the heights of 1997 it merely reinforced the general trend. Even before Iraq Labour's vote was declining. New Labour clearly did introduce some beneficial reforms (such as the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies, the minimum wage, and civil partnerships) but taken as a whole thirteen years of New Labour in power has meant a continuation of neoliberal policies. In other words the longer it remained in power the less the Labour Party came to be seen as a vehicle for progressive change, therefore the less motivated people became to vote for it. So right wing has New Labour become that often the Lib Dems could position themselves to its left, shown for example in the general election campaign by their emphasis on past opposition to invading Iraq, opposition to the replacement of Trident, and support for raising the income tax threshold. * Green jobs and fair votes Caroline Lucas, the first Green MP to be elected in Britain set out her priorities: *Green principles and policies will now have a voice in Parliament. Policies such as responding to climate change with a million new "green" jobs in low-carbon industries, fair pensions and care for older people, and stronger regulation of the banks will be heard in the House of Commons. I will also use my influence as an MP in the city of Brighton & Hove to push for affordable housing, a new secondary school for the city, and greater backing for the creative industries, for example. 'Finally, as this election shows, the firstpast-the post voting system used for general elections is utterly discredited. I will be strongly backing calls for a referendum to replace it with a form of proportional representation that properly reflects the needs and views of 21st century voters. If a form of proportional representation is introduced, the Green Party is confident that its true level of support nationally can be represented properly."