A Social Conscience

It's been a while since my last blog post - following a lovely weekend visit by my parents I fell ill with a throat infection so I haven't been spending much time at the computer. This weekend we are up at my parents in Scotland for a well deserved Easter break but I have a bit of time on my hands (with the boys out and Mum watching Holby City) and shock, horror, I have some political views to blog (or whinge!) about.

Wednesday saw hubby selected as the Lib Dem candidate in the local by-election for the Irwell Riverside ward. The recent Clifton and Pendlebury by-election results were disappointing for the local Lib Dems (coming fourth behind Labour, Tories and BNP) despite the current Labour council's insistence on insane spending that sees money squandered on 'tourism' (ice rink!) while essential services are cut back. However, I am increasingly amazed, esepcially while visiting the Highlands, by the widening gulf between the social conscience in England and in Scotland.

I am the first to admit that Salford Council does some things exceptionally well. The refuse collection in Salford is probably the best I've experienced in 10 years living in Manchester, and Salford is one of the few councils to offer energy grants, in the form of totally free loft and cavity wall insulation, to the over 60s. My parents would fall into this category and are far from infirm, but there are many over 60s that are already quite vulnerable, especially those with serious or terminal illnesses. It is a great comfort to me that older people living in Salford can take advantage of schemes like Heatseekers, even if they are not necessarily that vulnerable now. These schemes will allow them to stay in the homes in comfort as they do become more infirm and will hopefully help them to maintain financial and physical independance into their later years. However, Scotland seems to be doing so much more.

My Dad, SNP council member for Badenoch and Strathspey, is always talking up a storm about the great things the SNP are doing for Scotland. These days my political allegiances may lie elsewhere - it'd be pretty difficult for me to support the SNP from Salford - but I can't deny that he's got a point. Council tax has been frozen - a vital relief in tough times that I'm certain most Salfordians would praise - business rates have been cut to boost the Scottish Economy, prescriptions are free now and so is education. All part of a series of improvements that benefit every Scot while free nationwide public transport has been available to the over 60s for several years while. It almost seems, in some respects, that England has lagged behind while Scotland marches forward. There is still plenty of room for improvement in Scottish politics but there is a different air here. There is a freshness while English politics grow stale and stagnant. The difference is social conscience.

In our house, we have a running joke at Hazel Blears' expense. We never see her, we never hear from her, in fact, we often wonder what exactly it is that she does for Salford. And then we open the Salford Advertiser and see her face over and over in photo-op after photo-op. It seems that she has a sixth sense for getting snapped and comes running back to Salford only when an opportunity knocks (or snaps!). While this is only a joke, there is also a disturbing element of truth to it that isn't just limited to one woman, or indeed one political party. These days it seems like all Labour and the Tories care about is looking good on TV or in public. They carefully craft their public image. They are careful to say and do they right thing - not for their constituants, but for their political careers - all hoping one day that they might be... who knows? I have no problem with ambition, but in local and national politics, the ambition should be to 'change the world': to improve the lives of the people around you, not to make more money or be more popular or more powerful.

We live in a self-centred, target driven, money orientated, selfish society, where everyone cries out 'What about me?', usually while climbing all over someone else. Look to your left and you will see the benefit leach popping out kids to claim more benefit just so that they can have the new car or the big TV, while the rest of us have to work damn hard to earn it. Look to your right and you see the NHS and social care networks trying their best but unable to deliver really good care because they are targeted like sales people on how many people they can get through the revolving door. In front of you is the company you work for that has cancelled your annual pay review in the name of profit, while your food and fuel bills escalate (also in the name of profit) and the banks collapse and take your savings with them (in the name of profit). Finally, behind you is the politician, slyly weaving his propaganda and whispering sweet nothings and empty promises in your ear, more interested in his own position of power than in solving any of these problems.

We need a change. We need a breath of fresh air. We need honesty. We need to demand it - from our politicians, from our neighbours and more importantly from ourselves.

Election!

My postal ballot arrived yesterday so let's talk about the local elections on the 1st of May.

First and foremost, no matter what the circumstances I intend to vote. I have voted in every election (bar one, when I was out of the country) since I was 18 and don't plan to break the habit. 'Why?' I hear you ask. It's my right! All over the world there are people who can't vote or people, like those in Zimbabwe, whose vote is made meaningless by their corrupt leaders. It may often seem like a vote in this country is meaningless but to those who honestly believe that I suggest you try living in dictatorship for a while and see how you feel about British politics then! Also, remember that just as there are many people whose vote means nothing, there are as many who can't vote. In the past many women have fought and died in this country for my right to vote and I am not about to insult their memory by squandering my vote. Thus, I would rather spoil my ballot than not actually vote and I encourage EVERYONE to think alike. It's your right, your voice and your power. If you choose not to wield it, you choose not be heard and not to act therefore you can't complain when everything's going tits-up!

Anyway, returning to my point, who should I put my trust in as my chosen representative in this local election? Well, in my ward I can vote Labour, vote Conservative or vote Lib-dem. What a choice! I am salivating at the endless possibilities!

Lets face it, by voting for the Labour representative I am effectively giving a seal of approval to the existing Labour dominated council. Here in Salford, our council tax is one of the highest in the area and we have just had the highest percentage increase of an council in Greater Manchester. For that increase we have roads that are riddled with pot holes, a substandard recycling programme and not much else. True, the Labour council are redeveloping my area - knocking down derelict buildings in favour of new 'low cost' housing - but they are also in favour of introducing congestion charging in Manchester and, the so-called low cost housing is, in reality anything but, the new housing is years from being built and the council is also looking to close schools in favour of larger super schools. All in all, not a great picture. I feel it could be time for a change.

So, what of the other candidates? Well, I have no idea what the Conservative candidate will stand for since we have had nothing from them. In general, however, the Tories are against anything that Labour want to do so you would think that makes them an ideal replacement. But I have a problem voting for a candidate that hasn't made any effort to convince me to elect them. It's almost as if the Tory candidate has decided that I won't vote for Labour therefore I will vote for them. They are not worthy of my vote.

That leaves the Lib-Dems as the only other choice. However there is always the concern that the Lib-Dems, as the 'third' party in this country, are unelectable. Even if they did get power, I'm not convinced they would know how to use it. At least THEY have made an effort to try and convince me!

So, what to do?