Guardian Unlimited Politics | Special Reports | Blair has reached his sell-by date

This article in today's Observer sets out beautifully and passionately what I have been trying to say in my humble way here. It is not an exaggeration to say that Britain is in danger. Everything that we instinctively feel defines us is on the brink of being lost. On Thursday British voters have a small chance to make a difference. Please vote for any candidate who cares about these issues - regardless of party.

If in Henley, vote for Boris Johnson. If in Folkestone and Hythe, vote against that miserable authoritarian Michael Howard. And whatever you do, if you are so blessed as to have a vote in the contituencies of David "Big" Blunkett (Sheffield Brightside) or Charles Clarke (Norwich South), vote whichever way will do those despicable men the most electoral damage.

This is the most important election of our lifetimes, not because the main parties have different programmes (they don't), nor because any party offers a genuine chance to extend our freedoms (they don't), nor because they will improve public services (they won't), nor because any of them will reduce the tax burden (they won't), but because it may be the last chance to signal determination NOT to accept a police state in our country. In the end, as living in ex-Communist former police states for 12 years has taught me, that matters more than the day-to-day issues of politics. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance, and Britons have slept too long.

Guardian Unlimited Politics | Special Reports | Blair has reached his sell-by date