The sub-plot is a bit thin too:

As the French swing round to "yes", a new leader needs to be in place with the best chance of winning that tough argument for us.

Saying yes would be a silly idea. It would be saying yes to a Europe shaped by the world’s most delusional and egotistical man, Valery Giscard d’Estaing. It would mean saying yes to the world’s most ludicrous economic policy, the CAP, and it would mean saying yes to the some of the world’s most corrupt people – MEPs.

However, back to the main thrust:

Our wicked voting system obliges pointless warfare between Labour and Lib Dem: there is more political difference within each party than there is between them.

Many would argue that there is more difference between Labour and Lib Dem than there is between Labour and Conservative, hard a pill as it is for some to swallow.

All in all, however, not too bad, but the producers, keen to capitalise on past glories have once again insisted that the fallacious ‘vote Labour or you get the Tories storyline’ makes another appearance.

Just when you were thankful that that particular train of thought didn’t get a starring role once more, you find it playing the lead in Guardian pictures’ blockbuster, ‘Labour plays the Gordon Brown card’

Sigh.

Seeking to redeem themselves, and still showcasing the stars, former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has written a state-the-obvious-but-in-a-rather-lovely-way nostalgic drama about how Michael Howard is no Winston Churchill and how Lynton Crosby is genetically evil.

Before we leave the Guardian studios, there’s time for this from the cuttings reel (their blog):

The last question is a corker – can we have a show of hands from the cabinet of who thinks first past the post is still the best way to run an election? “No we can’t!” snaps Mr Blair, and with that Election 2005 is all over bar the voting.

Not wanting to be outdone on the superstar front, The Independent Film Company have signed up Mo Mowlam, fresh from her appearance in Derren Brown’s Trick of the Mind. No tricks here, however, as Mo gives it to us straight.

The sad truth is that we cannot move on to a new politics where the views of the electorate can be more clearly delineated through proportional representation except by having a hung parliament and a Liberal Democrat leadership that sticks to its guns on this issue to give parliamentary support. I know Kennedy has said he will not form a coalition with any party, but there are ways that these things can be sorted out if the prize is good enough.

The Times can’t do stars, but it can do comedy. Made in Wales, ‘Meanwhile, in the marginal with a 19,000 majority…’ is the funny story of the stupidity of all-women shortlists.

And finally an intricate crime thriller about devious vote-riggers who plan to attack British Democracy, before finding out they’re too late and the system has been corrupted for years already.

You now just have time to purchase refreshments before the commencement of out feature presentation, ‘The Magical cure for apathy’ written by David Lipsey, produced by The Times and starring the whole country. Don’t miss it.