Between 2007 and 2014 I lived in Leeds, having visited for years prior to chase gigs, friends, and notorious clubnights. The common denominator attraction was always that dark legacy of goth, which had its ascendancy in the 80s as the sound and scene developed for the very first time. I strive to celebrate this fact at every opportunity, even as we acknowledge the equally vital and contemporaneous contribution of the Batcave in London – because it’s nice to have a worldwide cultural phenomena that actually began in the North of England!
As predicted, the Labour Party has swept to power in the UK General Election and formed a new Government with the lion’s share of MPs elected. However, it was largely predicated on the outright collapse of the previous incumbents, the Conservative Party – and the Labour vote share would have been higher without the astonishing recovery of the Liberal Democrats, not to mention encroachment from the left by the Greens, and from the right by Reform UK. In spite of the UK’s stubborn adherence to the archaic First Past The Post (FPTP) voting system, any seats going to these parties is representative of the fragmented political landscape in this country, and the less than fervent appetite voters have for Sir Kier Starmer’s party and government.
Did the goth electors of the UK also have a more fractious political appetite, or were they less indicative of national trends? How did this election’s polling differ to previous returns? Let’s dig into it!
In one week’s time, the UK goes to the polls for the 2024 General Election. Speculation is rife that the incumbent Tory Administration, in power since the 2010 Election, will be obliterated in what could be the worst election they have contested in their very long and very successful political career.
That should be familiar background noise to the Eldergoths amongst us, who will recall another embattled Tory regime that held sway through a period of international turmoil, domestic corruption – and a fantastic soundtrack! More recently, regular readers of The Blogging Goth will know I’ve polled my audience on their intentions for the last three elections. I’m again keen to get an insight into where the Velvet Vote will be placed – as I term the enfranchised goth electors of the United Kingdom!
In an effort to get a more undiluted view, I’m also running an additional poll on my Patreon pages, where I hope registering will provide something of an obstacle to the casual visitor who may have little to no association with our subculture – and I’m not referring to Andrew Eldritch this time! If, whilst there, visitors decide they’re also keen to publically pledge their support to The Blogging Goth Party, then onwards to victory – together!
Whilst manifestoes have now been released for all the major contenders, there’s sadly little on research for stronger hairspray or subsidies for black dye purchasing – but the Music Venue Trust has made a strong case for suppporting those vital homes to goth nights the length and breadth of the country with their own manifesto. All the key parties have made general promises to support the events, tourism and hospitality sector but are frustratingly light on the detail, commentators note.
So it will be on the more mundane issues this election will be decided! Regardless of any predictions, which party has your best interests in mind? Which political ideology most matches yours? Previous entries in this blog have identified a generally left-of-centre view amongst our readership, representing a small but hopefully substantial proportion of the UK goth scene. But as with other broad trends, goth is not the jet-black monolith of singular opinion that outsiders might presume. It has no unifying political, religious, philosophical or other mindset. It can barely agree on what bands are even involved!
So let me know in the comments what influenced you to cast your vote. And please share this article with others, so we can broaden our sample size and get the best possible look at what people really think as we go into the final stages of Goth Election ’24!
Parties are listed alphabetically, and selected based on the total number of candidates they are fielding across the UK according to Wikipedia and Democracy Club
Mark Chisman is a Senior Thought Leader at Dark Entries the influential (and wholly fictional) goth think tank. He enjoys Goth, industrial and punk musicandDC comics. HesupportsMiddlesbrough FC, plays cricket and turn based strategy games (not at the same time), and holidays at Butlins.
Here’s an exercise for you. Say, ‘Bauhaus is goth music’. Of course it is. Because in the film ‘Night of the Demons’ Amelia Kincaid seduces some dumb bloke, and bites off his tongue to Stigmata Martyr. How can that not be goth?
The bones of this article were compiled on the terrifying early flight back on May 21, from my very first visit to Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig. The day before the celebrations of World Goth Day, it seems apt to share my thoughts on goth through the prism of this major festival!
The Blogging Goth 