For the first time in a long time I saw a glimmer of hope in a political no-mans land. The landscape muddied, blasted open and spoiled by the lies and racism of Brexit, the delirium of the Trump win in the US, and the rise in volume of bigoted right-wing voices the world over.
Theresa May and the Conservative Government are a danger to the people of the United Kingdom. Their policies have killed people. This is not an understatement. Poverty, cuts to disability and job seekers aid and benefits, lack of funding for the NHS & Mental Health services to name merely a handful of reasons. They voted down a law that would have made it a legal necessary for Landlords to make their property safe and fit for Human habitation. No prizes for guessing which party has a majority of Landlords in their ranks.
The General Election called by Theresa May was a chance to rid the UK of a party whose austerity measures had done nothing to repay the national debt, done nothing to help those who needed it most, done nothing but put more money into the pockets of the wealthy few.
As a loud, Out and proud gay man, with friends and associates in the creative and campaigning Queer scene I know many who work with some very disadvantaged parts of the community. I have seen through their eyes the human struggle as the cuts have come thick and fast over the last few years. It is not something that happens to other people, and that we can simply ignore because ‘I’m alright, Jack.’
Out on the road both parties went, and while Corbyn held hugely popular and well attended rallies, May stuck to small photo opportunities and avoiding the electorate at every opportunity. Then the record got stuck. Strong and stable. Strong and stable. Strong and stable. Like a broken robot she clattered stiffly from interview to interview coughing up the same empty words, smiling blankly.
Some polls showed positive gains for Labour, and I dared to allow myself to hope for a Labour win. Whatever your views on Corbyn, he has survived two leadership challenges, and he has engaged the youth of the UK – something which no previous party had managed to do so successfully as now. Let’s face it, the future of this country is its young people. If we are voting selfishly, on the basis of immigration, or for fear or hatred – we are doing a disservice to the future of our nation. Labour’s manifesto offered a well thought-through and thoroughly costed future that would level the playing field, and begin to sow seeds across the barren fields of our political no-mans-land.
GENERAL ELECTION 2017 : WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
SNAP!