My political journey and perspectives

I have been threatening to do this for a long time and have released snippets, especially in my blogs, but today I trace my own political journey and perspectives, from the time I was a young, idealistic starry-eyed teen to now, when I might be better described as an old, world weary, cynical dodderer.

The first thing to say is I have always been interested in politics and this despite cottoning on way back that skulduggery and shenanigans often play a part in the repertoire of ambitious politicians. As a community activist working at grass roots level, I can see how politics and politicians can make a difference. The second thing is I have never run for political office (although politics, albeit not of the party ilk have often featured when I have been in the running for or gone after some positions). As tempting as it might be to go after a political office nowadays (given the need and what I might be able to contribute), I am at an age that I feel, not so much that I am past it, but there are other things I think I should be doing in the few days that are left for me on Planet Earth. Besides which, I know I can be an influence for good on the next generation of wannabe politicians, whether left or right.  

I grew up on a working-class council estate in the 1950’s and 60’s and, while there were several exceptions, people tended to vote on class lines. Unsurprisingly my parents voted Labour and despite children supposedly rebelling against their parents, I often found they followed them politically. I was no exception. My parents both served in the War and it was for them a defining experience. They were delighted Labour came to power in a landslide victory in 1945 with an agenda committed to radical welfare reform including founding the NHS. But in 1951 the Conservatives with back and what follows, if my (to become) hero Harold Wilson is to be believed, was: 13 years of Tory misrule. I recall my mum taking the Tories to task for proudly making the claim that they abolished rationing, pointing out that it only benefited the rich as after prices shot up! Improving the lot of the less well off was my motivation.

But it was in 1964 I began to be a political activist, although I was only aged 13 and I was five years away from being able to vote (I was among the first to do so when aged 18 the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18). It was then I began to follow what was going on politically and I was with Harold on his ambition to nationalise what he could so the less well off could benefit. At age 15, I got religion and got involved with the Plymouth Brethren, who tended to the view that being involved politically was not the right thing for a sound Christian lad like me (even though I was to discover many of those who did vote, voted Conservative, attracted by the argument that government priorities ought to be law and order).

While my focus began to switch from politics to religion, I didn’t lose interest in matters political. While my preference was more toward Labour than Conservative. I was never attracted to Liberals for, despite trying to take the best from the two main parties, I felt did not succeed and their liberal agenda did not align with the sort of liberalism I wished for. I began to steer more to the right politically speaking when I saw what the lefties at University were up to, who might be described as Marxists even if not taking that title. That dissatisfaction, principally to do with the undermining of the rule of law, continued when I took my first job as a teacher. I was seeing a descent into lawlessness and, while not into laissez faire economics, felt the Conservatives would better address that issue and also that of the economy. But I still preferred Labour, especially when Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan were its leaders.  

While remaining politically inactive, at least until I began my third career, changing from software engineer to community worker, shortly after the turn of the millennium, things began to change when Michael Foot became Labour leader in 1980. While I admired some of his stands, just as I did when Jeremy Corbyn, also of the Left of the Party, became leader in 2015, it began to show as far as I was concerned that Labour was going in the wrong direction.  The only Labour leader I liked after Michael Foot was John Smith, possibly the best Prime Minister Britain never had. The Labour leader I liked least was Tony Blair, followed by Keir Starmer, who I both see as World Economic Forum (definitely among the baddies orchestrating some of today’s world craziness) globalist stooges.

I did have hopes for the Social Democrat Party, but these were dashed when they joined forces with the Liberals. While thereafter I voted locally and nationally for candidates from all the main parties, based on who will best serve my ward (locally) and my town / country (nationally), but I never became a convinced Conservative. While I describe myself as libertarian with social justice concerns with belief in free markets and individual freedom, I was never convinced conservativism could stop the rich and powerful from exploiting the poor and weak, just as I was never convinced in trusting any government to deliver on these matters. I have been very disappointed with the Conservatives under a series of hapless leaders, not least under its current incumbent, Rishi Sunak, and for all sorts of reasons but Labour is worse!

I liked some of the policies of UKIP and supported their campaign to get the UK out of Europe, but they have since fallen by the wayside, and their successor, Reform UK, have failed to impress, as have every other alternative on the right, although I have hopes for the Heritage Party. Of the rest, while I admire some of the idealism of the Greens, in their climate emergency fixation I fear they are barking up the wrong tree and along with the other main parties, do not understand the real issues, i.e. the world is being run by a bunch of elitist scum and they are letting them do so!     

I live in Southend, which for as long as I can remember have been served by two Conservative MPs. When Sir Teddy Taylor and Sir David Amess served, I had little cause for complaint, because they were outstanding representing their constituents ahead of party considerations (they also shared my pro-life, pro traditional marriage and pro religious freedom concerns). I liked it that they were their own men and forewent political advancement rather than betray principles. Sadly, their successors, James Duddridge and Anna Firth are not near to being in the same class and Southend is landed with representatives not best for the City, all because of UK’s First Past the Post system for deciding election outcome.

Regarding past voting, I am an enigma. In the last General Election (2019), I voted for an old friend, Ashley Dalton (Labour), even though Ashley, unlike James, failed to get why Brexit, but I am pleased Ashley can now realise her political ambitions, having won a winnable seat. As for who to vote for next time, bearing in mind we are likely to see boundary changes, I cannot say as I don’t know. The current political scene is a depressing one and my hope is definitely not in politics or politicians.

When it comes to local elections, my voting has been mixed. For one thing I know many of those who have stood for election, partly due to my community involvement. I vote on the basis of who I think will do best for my ward irrespective of party, noting in recent years the rise of the independents, often coming together as an alliance in order to wield more power. I have voted at different times for all the main contenders. One bizarre happening a few years back was my voting UKIP locally and Green nationally, based on who I felt would do the best job. While in the early days I liked the Independents representing my ward, I would have liked to have voted Independent consistently but due to the dubious dealings of those in the alliance in order to get power, I can only support true independents. I have some hope for the new kids on the block as they have both enthusiasm and good ideas: the Confelicity Party.  

Going back to the relationship between religion and politics, I believe the aversion of my early religious mentors to political involvement to be right but also more wrong than right. They were right believing politicians do not have the answers to our deepest needs, that it can be a distraction from worthier occupations and that improving society can be found in religion of the right sort – the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were wrong because if we were to truly love our neighbour, notwithstanding all politicians are flawed, we should want the best of who is available to be voted in or suffer the consequence as so often seen of being ruled by baddies. My role in the few years I have left is to encourage those wanting to make a difference in the political arena for the right reasons, irrespective of the party they support (I have those I respect and regard as friends from all parties). But even more important than that is to spread the Good News of the Gospel, our only true hope!