Politics

I have always been interested in Politics, ever since I was a young child.  My father was a member of The Labour Party and was quite often involved in local politics at one level or another,  He stood for Council on numerous occasions and was extremely vocal about his opinions.   I suppose his Socialist beliefs came from his Mothers Liverpool/Irish family roots. His Mother, my Grandmother herself was really a Conservative, helping to vote Margaret Thatcher in, during the 1980s, although as time moved on, she claimed to have switched to Labour.  I have my doubts myself, after having conversations about Politics, without my father present.  If you didn't support his view, you would know it.  He was nasty and really took arguments to the extreme. I went to the Election night counts several times with him and was hooked straight away; I loved Politics.  I also loved Margaret Thatcher, helping to vote her in.  In fact, I don't think Dad even knew that.  Let's hope he doesn't read this then!

When I left home I became more of a Socialist myself.  I was mixing with very different people.  No longer the Middle Class Hampshire suburbs, but rather the urban, inner City, Multicultural and underprivileged  groups, my father had fought so hard to help. My Politics now reflected my circumstances.  I joined the Anti-Nazi League in the early 90s with an ex partner.  We went on a rally to Southampton Common, the Jewish part of the cemetery had been vandalised;  It was very sad to see.  Swastikas were sprayed on every stone, as far as the eye could see. A high proportion of the Headstones had been smashed to pieces and even the ground where the bodies lay, was disturbed and left in such disarray, it bought tears to my eyes!

I knew Politics was the path I wanted to take in life;  I even wanted to become an MP. I was studying Politics and Social Policy at University and I really thought I had a good chance, of becoming everything I desired. That soon changed dramatically and quickly!

Getting involved with the wrong people, will always be a recipe for disaster.  That one partner who wouldn't leave me alone, who stalked me to the point of saying, OK, I will go out with you.  Someone so obsessive, he used to stay outside my bedroom window for hours, trying to attract my attention.  For me it was easier just to say 'yes'.  I lived with a houseful of people who were becoming equally disturbed by his behaviour and my life was becoming unbearable.  By saying yes I really had sealed my fate,  I got involved in the Southampton Gay Scene in a big way.  With it came the advantages of friendship and common cause, but there were a lot of downsides.  Living a Scene lifestyle 24/7.  Getting involved in drugs, meeting the worst of people and of course falling further behind with studies at University.

I finished University, graduated in 1994 and then got so heavily involved in the gay scene, the course I was going on to do, was just too much and I gave up.  I suppose at this point, my interest in Politics was now at its lowest.

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I met Jason in 1995.  My interest in Politics was returning.  We were living under a Conservative Government, with no Policies designed to allow a same-sex couple to stay together.  Our De Facto relationship had no standing in law, so between 1995 and 1997 we yo yo'd between Australia and The United Kingdom.  

I remember watching the Election results come in, during that 1997 Election.  We were living in Perth, Western Australia at the time, and I remember the excitement of Tony Blair becoming Prime Minister.  Of course ABC were more concerned about how Cherie Blair looked the morning after.  She did look frightful to be honest.  Crucially, Labour had won the Election and they had made a  promise of reforming the law relating to Same-sex relationships with a foreign national.

We flew back to The UK shortly afterwards and began the long process  of trying to stay together, proving our relationship was valid, narrowly avoiding deportation, the expense of Barristers and judicial reviews.  It was a tense time...  Eventually a new law was bought in during October 1997, and we could at least breathe a sigh of relief. Things would be hard, but we were one of the first couples allowed to remain together under a new law passed by a Labour Government.  We couldn't be happier!

As the years have passed and times have changed, I have changed my Political leanings dramatically.  I spent a period running my own business during the Blair years.  I saw my taxes rise, red tape hit an all-time high and my business slowly full apart.  All because of a Labour Governments attitude towards those of us, who wanted to get on in life. There were so many hurdles to jump, that the business finally collapsed in 2004.  

I was diagnosed with Depression and for the first time I had to use The National Health Service.  The influx of Migrants from the continent and Eastern Europe, with no provision for their arrival was clear.  My Doctors Surgery was at breaking point.  It was impossible to get a Doctors Appointment, without booking two weeks in advance and a referral to a Consultant was  an extremely long wait.  With thousands of people heading to The UK to work, there was no housing, infrastructure, adequate schools or appropriate employment.  Public Services were bending under the weight of wrong decision-making.  It was a recipe for disaster!

I have been surprised how well The Coalition Government have done since the stock market crash.  They have managed to pull our Country back from the brink.  The Economy is one of the fastest growing in the western world.  Employment is high and while the rest of the European Continent implodes, Britain remains stable and has weathered a very large storm,  

I believe they are correct to reform the benefits' system.  Even today both British and Foreign Nationals are taking advantage of our over generous system, that still needs further dramatic reform.  I can see our Island prospering, while others falter.  I can see hope for a brighter future, where other countries struggle. Above all I have seen my taxes fall dramatically.  I was looking at an old wage slip the other day from the 1980s. On a smaller income, I was paying double the tax I pay now.  The Coalition have actually and tangibly given me back money, when I need it most.  

Nothing is perfect in this world, but I feel able to vote Conservative now, when only a few years I would not.  I am not a one issue voter, or someone who can't forgive the mistakes of the past.  I am someone who listens to the arguments and makes a decision on what is going on today.  Politics affects our lives every day.  We should listen to all those who seek to change us for the better and make a decision based on this alone.  Never vote for someone, because your family did, vote for those who will do the most for you and offer your Country a future, not a return to the bad old days!