Barlow's Beef: Election fever - I don't think so

Brought up in a staunch Labour household by a father dedicated to the union he served for 32 years I should be excited by the forthcoming election. My father never missed a party conference and I'd listen enthralled to his account.

I loved his passion and commitment. There were no taboo subjects in our house everything was up for discussion. My dad never took umbrage at an apposing view. Shop stewards, agitators, union officials would gather in our front room and argue into the early hours in no-holds barred debates.

I was immensely proud of my dad. Despite his somewhat restricted vocabulary he told it exactly as he saw it. When my dad made a statement he believed it to be the truth. When it wasn't he apologised with dignity and never made excuses.

That was the backdrop to the politics I grew up with. No family in our neighbourhood was indifferent to an election. It was an unmissable opportunity to fight their case and by hell they did.

Today, the apathy is tangible. While those within the system will be enthralled much of the electorate remains unmoved. Their concerns will remain largely unaddressed in a society where the most important issues are taboo.

Any attempt to discuss a sensible and sustainable immigration policy is likely to brand the speaker racist- a banner of political suicide.

The intimidation felt by local communities by the habitual invasion of lawless travellers is largely ignored.

Public consultations that concluded with overwhelming rejection of plans to invade the greenbelt have been swept aside by political dogma.

The EU, a body sufficiently corrupt that no accountancy practice on earth will audit their accounts, raises no comment.

Politicians have only themselves to blame for our cynicism. Conviction politics has been replaced by expediency. Few MP's resign on a point of principle. Deny everything until faced with incontrovertible evidence is today's dictum.

Disingenuous phrases like 'over-firm denial' and 'economical with the truth' are used to mitigate outright lies and a Prime Minister who should have stood trial in The Hague became our 'Peace' Envoy. (Explain that to your grandkids.)

The enormity of the MP's expense scandal hardly registered before an 'Independent' Authority was appointed and swiftly determined that nothing less than a ten per cent pay rise was sufficient for MP's while everyone else could manage with one.

So, sadly no, I am not excited about the forthcoming election. Like most voters I'm tired of the self-serving hypocrisy. My father would have died of shame at the obfuscation and deceit we see today.

Those within politics will no doubt be wetting themselves with anticipation, if that's not being economical with the truth. The rest of us will make an over-firm denial and watch Bake Off.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of alderleyedge.com.

Tags:

Barlows Beef, Vic Barlow