lol!
David I suppose whats gained by joining one or the other party is that you can play an active part in getting the opposition out of power, or to put it Howards way, getting the one you least like out of power. There is probably some satisfaction in delivering leaflets and so on, particularly if you are well miffed with the opposition over a particular tax hike or something.
Here we see Paul Watkins himself out with several such volunteers during the last election...active bods, all shovelling madly in support of the local leader!
I wonder what the trend is though. Do all parties in power lose members? thats the key question. People are motivated more by dislike of the opposition I suspect rather than a devotion to active service for their own side.
As an aside I see the unpopularity of David Cameron has raised its ugly head again...Im talking about within Conservative ranks. With the fall from grace of Osborne, young Boris is being touted for leader like never before, this following his high powered pop-star involvement with the Olympic Games. It surprises me about Cameron, he appears tailor made for the job. A natural Tory if ever there was one...but..there are grumblings of serious disatisfaction amongst the rank and file..