Sean O'Grady: 'Will I join the election party? I wouldn't bet on it'

Ukip will make it a criminal offence to cold call someone about pension arrangements but this isn't enough to persuade Sean O'Grady to vote for them

A few weeks ago, I wondered rather plaintively whether any political party would "do something" about pensions. After all, the most revolutionary reform since the invention of the personal (formerly "portable") pension has just been promulgated, it affects the second-biggest financial asset most people have after their home – and there's a general election on.

I got nowhere with that, but I was very heartened to see that Ukip has proposed a ban on cold-calling by people trying to get their hands on your pension pot under the pretence of offering a "free review". Although I quite enjoy having some gentle fun at the expense of the cold-callers, I do feel that some vulnerable and confused people (in all senses) might fall prey to them and be fleeced of their savings by these evil boiler-room gangs. According to the Ukip manifesto: "To prevent mis-selling, Ukip will make it a criminal offence to cold call someone in respect of their pension arrangements." The rest of the manifesto is bonkers, but here's one good reason to vote for Nigel Farage.

By the way, this is not the first time I have been deeply grateful to a political party, but not grateful enough to vote for it. In 1993, despite bitter opposition from some vested interests and a chaotic parliamentary position, John Major's government passed the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act. This dull sounding piece of legislation empowered long-leaseholders in mansion blocks, many of whom were previously charged unduly high and opaque "service charges" and other fees. It transformed the lives of many such leaseholders, who then became part-freeholders instead. I still couldn't bring myself to vote Tory in subsequent elections but thank you, Sir John.

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Which brings me neatly on to politics and the betting "tips" I promised last week. To recap, I've bet on the Tories being the largest party (at 1.4-1); Hillary Clinton as Democratic presidential nominee (at 1.25-1, pre-declaration) and as a Liberal Democrat sympathiser, and as an "emotional hedge", my bet was on them winning 25 Commons seats or fewer. For Ukip to get three seats or fewer (1.72-1) seemed a good bet, too. All modest stakes – £5 or £10. Then I got excited. I put £5 on Sajid Javid to be the next Chancellor, at 9-1. And I confess odds of 40-1 induced me to bet a fiver on Caroline Flint to be leader of the Labour Party. Like all gamblers, I can justify it: she's a woman, which is probably obligatory next time, and she's more lefty than the usual suspect, Yvette Cooper. The real lesson to me is how easily even non-gamblers can get drawn in to betting more than they intended. As if the election wasn't exciting enough already…