All the major parties are in the firing line over their expense accounts and their use and misuse. Although most of what is being done is legal and within the rules, the rules themselves seem to be more generous than some people believe necessary. Even Vulpes Vulpes’ sly admission that he apologises for his team misusing bad rules suggests that if senior Tories had been able to avoid the same scrutiny as fell upon Labour at the end of last week, then they might well have felt it was all right to keep using the same methods as Labour.

The Guardian discusses the insinuations that the Telegraph is soft-pedalling their scrutiny of senior Conservatives’ accounts and that they gave Cameron a longer warning than they did Brown. Cameron should either pledge to change the rules and say what he would do otherwise, or pay back the money, or stop weaselling out of it if he doesn’t want to fall into the same hole that Brown is in electorally. Loki did kill Heimdall – but died of his wounds during the battle. Cameron needs to think harder about his response if he wants to avoid the same fate.

Focussing back on the Prime Minister, where does this leave Labour (apart from lagging in the polls) and where will it take them within the short and long term? How effective will it actually be for the Conservatives to push their rather silly and immature line that although they dislike the rules, they still exploit them?

PART 1. LABOUR.

Situation

Queen of Wands. The Queen of Wands is a mature, practical person with a great down-to-earth wisdom. Charming, sympathetic, and graceful, she is less outgoing than her bold King but has very strong character and self-possession. She gets things done by talking to individuals rather than groups, and thus getting below the surface of events. Often she is the real leader of a group without being noticed.

What springs to mind instantly, independent of the card description, is “damage limitation”. The Queen cannot dictate or directly control events, so the emphasis here for Labour is channelling them into productive use and development of a response rather than mere denial or bluff. Publicly they are still trying to wrestle with the press and co-ordinate a response, and the card suggests they cannot, even as a government, do this pro-actively – they must bend to the will of the press. However the response can be grappled with and used to defuse and deflect the issue, and this shows that kind of development rather than any devastating annihilation of their agenda and authority.

Appearance to the Public

V Cups. Unhappiness and dissatisfaction cast a shadow over your relationships. Dwelling too much upon the past will only make the situation worse. What you need is a renewal of vision and it will come if you are patient, but in the mean-time, resist laying the blame for this situation on those around you. The problem lies within you.

The public is obviously disgruntled and disappointed in its representatives; it doesn’t take a tarot reader to prove that. However the Five of Cups contains within it some unspent force, some new direction and new promise that is hidden to the viewer: the public has not revolted over this, all parties are equally culpable, there is a possibility that real change can be effected through this widening of the issue from one or two wayward incidences (such as Derek Conway and the Wintertons last year) to the wider ministerial and backbench cadres being found to be wanting if not actually corrupt. The seeds of change to the system are seen by the public, and with the Five of Cups here they have to see it changing to be mollified.

Appearance to the Media

II Wands. A possible partnership offers a way of furthering your ambitions. Unnecessary self-doubt is blocking your way, however, so you need to be decisive and trust in your instincts. Or, if this is not possible, ally yourself to someone who has that confidence. The prospects are good – just have faith.

This is a political card and perhaps in this context a rather exploitative one to have in this instance. The media have opportunities to persecute and bestow their blessings or curses on one side or the other, and the fact that Labour have been hauled over the coals far more strictly than the Conservatives have is possibly a sign of naked partisanship rather than a legitimate effort to expose general corruption or develop a more genuine investigation into the issue. Just as essays and investigations on electoral fraud confine their questioning to narrow areas (partisan manipulation of postal votes) and ignore wider issues (the security of the system when postal votes have reached the local authorities responsible for their administration), so the media is preoccupied with attacking one side and letting the other off the hook with a few tendentious promises and obvious absurdities. Jolly bad show, chaps.

Appearance within Labour

The Hierophant. Providing comfort, security, the wisdom of the ages, and generosity in others’ time of need are among the many virtues of the Hierophant that make him someone to turn to in troubled times. But inflexibility – a lack of openness to change – can often negate these virtues. Too great a reverence for the past can become hostility toward all change, and then the Hierophant symbolises an obstacle to growth. He can also indicate marriage or other lasting union.

Labour are balancing themselves with some inner knowledge that they are still based on something more solid than it appears in the press. They are shown as guarding their territory jealously; it might well be that they have closed ranks somewhat since the activity of the last week and are trying to staunch the wounds. They feel that this is the best response; there is no warmth between them, no sense they can relax, but there is no chaos, no open warfare, and no destructive influences. They are licking their wounds and building their future behind closed doors and giving nothing away.

Appearance to Brown

King of Swords. In astrology the character of Saturn in his benign aspect closely resembles that of the King of Swords. He represents power, authority, and the law, splitting complex arguments with the edge of his sword. His judgements can at times seem lacking in tolerance of human frailty, but are never unfair. The card usually represents an authority figure that the querent can look to for justice.

In other words, Brown is reduced somewhat from his usual role – the pro-active King of Pentacles – to someone who can only arbitrate and give judgement rather than do much to sort the problem out. This is consistent with his problems at getting his original plans for expenses through, and his need for an independent commissioner might help to ease the situation. (I was disappointed with the media – like Cameron’s U-turn on the post office, when it was first announced, it was met with welcome by the opposition parties on Newsnight – it was only when the media came out against the issue that people got upset with it.) So Brown can only referee in this situation, but he will be able to do so in a direct and forceful manner to restore his own fragile self-confidence.

Roots of the issue

III Swords. Argument and strife threaten your plans. Be patient. Separation, frustration, and disillusionment all threaten, but if you hold onto your long-term goals they can still be realised – you just have to work out who your real friends are. Break-ups are always painful, but totally necessary in the long run.

When I draw this card, I know I will be sick, and I know it will be difficult to avoid it, but I know I have to go through it, and I know it won’t be serious or damaging in the long-term. Here the situation is obviously hurtful – a trial by ordeal – but it is a learning experience for all concerned, and not a lasting wound; something that will actually in the long run let out bad blood and help the body politic renew and heal itself properly.

Seeds of the issue

Ace of Cups. The Ace of Cups represents the beginning of a period of joy, abundance, friendship, fertility, love, and just about every other good thing you can think of on the emotional plane. It stands for the promise of being able to act out your dreams in a period of happy creativity while enjoying yourself along the way and being appreciated by those around you. Nonetheless, it will call upon all your finest qualities.

Things can only get better. The only way is up. There is a chance for a solution, if there is no interference from outside, and interference in this way would only strengthen the resolve to solve the problem rather than let it fester. The media won’t let up with their destructive tendency towards Labour but this challenge is one which Labour can rise to and present a united and coherent front – because they know they have stiff competition from others.

Action needed

Knight of Wands. The Knight of Wands is a versatile warrior, armed and fearlessly ready for action. The card signifies departures, change, and adventures into the unknown. It’s a warning to keep your eyes and ears open, because you are surrounded by challenge. But if, like the Knight (or with his help), you face it with courage, flexibility and imagination, there’s every reason that you should triumph in the end.

Labour need to be responsive to this, to take charge of the situation, to reform, renew and re-establish. The Knight suggests they are no longer fully in control, but there is no doubt that they still have the capacity to change the situation simply by opening themselves up to action and going on a policy offensive, changing the system, changing their own habits, and being flexible enough to bend to the will of the public and carry out the necessary works to put this situation back under their control.

Action actually taken

Ace of Wands. The Ace of Wands represents the beginning of some great new practical venture or career. The time is right for putting your boldest ideas into action, pushing back the boundaries of possibility, and sharing your enthusiasm with the world. Now, when everything is flowing your way, is the time to exercise your talents, stake out your territory and show the world what you can do.

Labour are able to make a start, to make a killing blow on this, and plug the gap in the dyke. In the card image for this pack, a raging volcano is spewing forth lava and flame; although this often means that the querent has initiated something volatile and direct, this to me now with Owlperson’s guidance suggests that the draconic soldier in the card is wielding his rod to stop up the mountain and cease the lava flow. This is Labour at their responsive best; whether the rod holds is a matter for Fate, but at least they do take the necessary action to stop the brewing eruption successfully, probably through moving to fully stop the abuses before they get a distinctly illegal flavour.

Solutions

The Hanged Man. You are at a life crossroads at which sacrifices and patience are needed if the right choices are to be made. Submit gracefully, and all will be well. Life needs to be viewed from a fresh angle, and what may seem a total distraction to your plans may just take you in a fresh, creative direction. You may feel you are wasting time hanging around, but it will prove to be well worth your while.

Labour need to consider their next move carefully, as they have one chance above to stop this volcano before it completely destroys them. They are helped by an opposition who couldn’t lace its shoes up without consulting the tabloids first. They are helped by still having a working majority and they are helped by the opposition having to make up a deficit of 150 seats before they have an overall majority – this isn’t like the mid-1990s where one brush from a feather would have toppled Major’s government overnight. Labour have the time and patience to get out of this mess, but they have to know where and when to direct the forces inherent in both Aces above, and the solution is to consider their actions carefully rather than charge into battle indiscriminately and risk the opposition coming fully to their senses in the mean time.

Direction

IV Wands. It is now time for a well-deserved rest and the enjoyment of good company. Your plans were well-laid, so you can allow yourself to bask for a while as you see your ideas take shape in reality. This could also be a good time to consider moving house, or formalising a romantic attachment. Enjoy this time, but don’t allow complacency to creep in.

Order and structure returns to the situation, and Labour begin to rebuild a certain confidence in themselves. They can’t make firm plans yet, but they can go on adding to their internal structure to  solidify and strengthen their tentative unity in the face of an onslaught from their opponents who are now also caught in their own traps. It is not so much time to bask or relax as time to construct and build and turn the attention to something else through growing confidence in their own unity in culpability.

Short term outcome

Nine of Pentacles. You are likely to receive substantial reward for your accomplishments, and you will be able to afford to relax and enjoy your more contemplative inclinations. Don’t shut out your family and friends, however, because they have had to put up with your darker moods and have probably helped you through them much more than you know.

The party knows and understands its situation and is rewarded by a period in which they are able to rely more on its policy standing than on petty, short term politics. Perhaps it is because of problems with the opposition, or better than expected election results, or perhaps Brown begins to claw back a poll rating not redolent of an open sewer. It is also what Labour can rely on in policy substance – they are blessed with an opposition who are interested only in winning on one day rather than building afterwards, and believe they can capitalise on government unpopularity – as well as underlying figures which suggest Labour can still pull their vote back into the polling booths. Labour strategists have been so publicly pessimistic lately that they must know something we don’t.

Long term outcome

III Pentacles. A very promising outlook for new ventures is forecast, which calls for the exercise of all your best talents. Creativity flourishes in this situation, so bring out the artist or craftsman in you and do your best. You have a chance to prove your mastery to the world and reap the rewards. Integrity is everything.

Labour can reconstruct some sort of advantage and policy substance, and use it to their advantage, if they repair their shattered reputation here – but this is an optimistic note to end on, suggesting the need to keep building and keep designing and innovating to remain in the public’s political favour even if they are no longer able to wipe the floor with their opponents and sweep the board electorally. The day is fast approaching when policy becomes more important than politics, and Labour are best placed to win that battle even if they are losing this one.