Like many others, I was devastated with the result of the
general election. I can see why the Conservatives appeal to the rich, and even
the aspiring middle class. However, what astounds me is the number of working
class people who will continually vote for people who cannot, and will not ever
represent them or attempt to help them. The
fact that David Cameron, George Osborne and Boris Johnson were a part of the
Bullingdon club is surely the biggest insult to every hard working person in
the UK. It is the
perfect illustration of British class privilege, initiations into the said
club included burning a £50 note in front of a homeless man. Do the less privileged voters of the UK know
this? And if so, why vote Conservative?
The only response I have to this is that politics is about
unification. The Conservative election campaign emphasised the glory of
Britain, working together and a ‘brighter future’ for all. Aware that after five years his record has
not borne out the promise to the people, Cameron spent many interviews talking
in grand generalisations about the economy and keeping on the same path; even
abstaining from some of the leader’s debates. However, people are always more
inclined to find comfort in a simplistic message. In comparison, Labour was tackling
education, the NHS, social housing, tuition fees, and the huge inequality that has
increased over the last 5 years. Unfortunately for Labour, the details and
complexity of the issues they were tackling in the elections never got through. In addition, the press has a biased coverage.
Many people were influenced by the right wing newspapers that strive to shape
public opinion rather than reflect it. The impression is created that the
Conservatives can offer the working man or woman a way out in life but what is
not disputed is that under this last government, Britain’s
billionaires have seen their net worth more than double since the recession,
with the richest 1,000 families now controlling a total of £547bn. Since the
Conservatives won their unexpected narrow majority, it is widely believed, even
among their right wing media friends that a new Cameron government will waste
no time in implementing massive benefits cuts. Who will bear the brunt of that?
One particular fear for the
next 5 years is the Tory promise to repeal the Human Rights Act. It was
announced that Michael Gove, with no legal experience or training is to become
Justice Secretary. The same man who advocated the return of hanging, and the
death penalty. Mr Gove wrote that abolishing
the death penalty “has led to a corruption of our criminal justice system, the
erosion of all our freedoms and has made the punishment of the innocent more
likely”.
He further argued that “Hanging
may seem barbarous, but the greater barbarity lies in the slow abandonment of
our common law traditions. Were I ever alone in the dock I would not want to be
arraigned before our flawed tribunals, knowing my freedom could be forfeit as a
result of political pressures. I would prefer a fair trial, under the shadow of
the noose”.
Mr Gove quickly became a
controversial figure after his reckless handling of the education reforms. He
was eventually removed after the National
Union of Teachers (NUT), unanimously passed a
vote of no confidence in him. The future is bleak if Mr Cameron plans to repeal
the Human Rights Act. The rights protected by this Act are listed below. Which
of these would any right thinking person want to be rid of?
1)
Right to life
2)
Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading
treatment
3)
Right to liberty and security
4)
Freedom from slavery and forced labour
5)
Right to a fair trial
6)
No punishment without law
7)
Respect for your private and family life, home
and correspondence
8)
Freedom of thought, belief and religion
9)
Freedom of expression
10)
Freedom of assembly and association
11)
Right to marry and start a family
12)
Protection from discrimination in respect of
these rights and freedoms
13)
Right to peaceful enjoyment of your property
14)
Right to education
15)
Right to participate in free elections
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