There was a time when elections were straightforward affairs for voters, reflecting the binary nature of society and politics.

If you came from a working class background, or worked in the public sector, you were more likely to vote Labour; whereas if you came from a middle class family, or worked for yourself, you were more likely to vote Conservative.

If you couldn’t decide whether to vote for either of the two main parties, you might put your cross against the Liberal candidate or, in you lived in some parts of Scotland, against the box for the Scottish National Party challenger.

The world was divided into two blocs, each representing competing ideologies which were influential in shaping attitudes and deciding elections. In general terms, you were on the side of either the workers or the producers.

With the benefit of hindsight, that now seems like an archaic and quaintly tribal way of informing one’s world view, but at least voters knew where they stood.

With handling of the economy a dominant theme, you supported the party you thought best represented your interests and, although it didn’t always work out like that, you rarely switched sides.

In contrast, this general election might just be the most complicated ever in terms of the multiple forces, issues, personalities and parties competing for voters’ attention and support.

Reform threatens the Tory vote (Image: free)

Ironically, given that Labour is predicted to win anything from a landslide to a super-majority, the tax and spending plans of the main parties have, at times, seemed of........

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