So, where should we start? Perhaps with the expectation that Labour's Big Pink Bus designed to get women to vote, will spew forth a gaggle of women draped in hen party sashes, a slew of penis headbands and a few gallons of Lambrini. Or maybe it's a bit like those gender specific Kinder Eggs: women, come join us on our big pink bus! Join the voting fun! It's a bit pink and sparkly so you will like it, not like that blue 'difficult' voting, no that won't do at all.

Labour's pink bus

Labour, your colour is red! We all know this, probably even my wee kids know this too! Why oh why oh why the big pink bus?

Way back in 1867, a lady called Lilly Maxwell found a technical loophole in the law and was subsequently the first woman to vote in this country. Incidentally, she was from Manchester, just like this blog. If she knew that one of our only female politicians would be reduced to gallumping around the country like a giant toddler in a nursery school mini-bus, she would be rolling in her grave; what had it all been for?

Lily Maxwell

Women fought and died for the right to vote. The very idea that less than half of the voting age female population actually vote in the first place, is perhaps beset by interventions and 'ideas' like the big pink bus seemingly designed to put us off in the first place.

Such infantilising and infuriating 'expectations' of what women want speaks a ton of the general political attitude toward anyone who isn't an Eton-educated, white, and middle class male.

Politicians spend millions on PR, on data collecting, surveys, think tanks and polling voters. Could they not have spared just the few quid it would have taken to ask someone if a big pink barbie bus would be a good idea?! Can you imagine the meeting?

"Right chaps, we've got to get these women to vote..."

" How will we do it Ed 1?"

"I know Ed 2, we'll get a big pink bus that reminds people of either a) a hen party (women like hen parties right?), or b) a toddler outing (women do things with those children-y types, don't they?). It'll be great!"

"Yes! Fab idea! Ed 1! Let's go and have a g&t in the tuck shop - oh, and Harriet? You'll trundle around in it won't you love? You're a woman, it'll be fun yah?"

Harman, trying to look 'on message'

And oh, how my heart weeps for the party that were my only real hope of ending the horrors of Tory party, un-voted for, rule...

But you know what? It's not going to stop me voting, no way, no how.



So tell me, what do you think of the big pink bus?!