As the year passes flowing past like an unstoppable torrent , we reflect on the short period we have experienced this year. Not an encouraging one for the world, conflict and division, death and destruction, the seemingly irresistible rise of the populist right. In America it is going to be Biden v Trump once more, neither man being a particularly good choice but Trump of course would be a disaster, an incomprehensible mistake that would encourage right wing politics everywhere. Let’s hope that their voters are sensible. Biden is too old and the lack of alternate candidates on both sides is concerning!
We will also have an election this year, unless Sunak decides to hang on to the bitter end? It seems almost certain that Labour will form the next Government but there is still a long way to go and anything could happen. Starmer maybe in the lead but he is not personally popular and cannot afford to make any more mistakes. If the predicted defeat of the Conservatives comes to pass, it will be interesting to witness how they react and how the internal factions will fight each other to control the party. There are many sitting MP’s who will be standing down at this election, including as of this morning Theresa May.
Whilst there are always new candidates hoping to become a member of parliament, it is one of the worst times in my memory to want to be one. Having said that, I recently listened to a podcast about the troubles of the Heath government in 1974 and the problems they had with powerful unions, oil prices, 3 day week and much more, it did put todays problems in perspective without diminishing them in any way! We all have witnessed the decline in our country, its health and social services, councils going bankrupt, the roads in terrible condition and so many other issues, far too many to list here. We understand that not all the causes are controllable and world events affect much of what has happened but there can surely now be no doubt that Brexit, the prevarication that followed and then he heightened by the pandemic bears much of the blame for our present problems. 14 years of poor governance and a merry go round at no 10, as the party that is supposed to be governing seems to have spent more time fighting itself!
We may never get the representatives we want, not all of us will get the government we would like, we may be disillusioned with all politicians but when that election comes around those who can must vote, it is our only recourse to have our say! Indeed I believe that we should have compulsory voting, Australia do and it has changed their political landscape for the better.
Stay well
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