In recent days, I have often had to reflect with increasing consternation on the current dismal political scene and the country that I was born and live in going off in a dangerous direction.

I will begin with “Let’s Go Brandon“, a political slogan and Internet meme used as a euphemism for the phrase “**** Joe Biden” in reference to former U.S. president Joe Biden (see here for more) and most recently in the UK  “Starmer is a ******” (see here for more). For my thoughts on Biden and Starmer, check out previous blogs, e.g. my recent “Trumpwatch 71 – Donald goes to Scotland” (see here) posting, when the Donald had articulated some of the same concerns as those of the “Starmer is a ******” chanters; but I have no intention to rewind the gramophone record further, other than to point out that with Starmer’s latest bad call, to recognise Palestine as state, this is the latest in a long line of his making bad decisions. With the anti-Starmer brigade increasing in numbers by the day and the rise of not racist, not far right people, increasingly frustrated and angry at what they see happening to the UK, but at the same time ostracised in the face of two tier justice, I feel it is time to once again weigh in on UK politics and reflect on what is happening in my country.

While I have been disappointed at a Labour Party that more or less goes along with its leadership and backed up by a huge majority in Parliament, I am not enamelled with an opposition (Conservative, Lib Dems and Greens) either as it shows too little evidence of being able to bring Labour to account and demonstrates it can address issues such as attacks on free speech, immigration and cultural identity. As for a leader and rallying point for a populist uprising, albeit alongside the real threat of civil unrest or war, unlike in other places, e.g. in mainland Europe and in the USA under Trump, I don’t see one. The nearest we have, perhaps, is Nigel Farage, although there are other voices, e.g. the much maligned (including by Farage) Tommy Robinson that too have a part to play. As for Reform UK, the nearest it would seem to having the right ideas to tackle these issues, I am far from being convinced, for reasons set out in my recent “Can Andrew Bridgen, Ben Habib and Rupert Lowe HELP Us?” (see here) article. There are other political parties that share some of my concerns, e.g. Heritage and UKIP, but it is Reform that is mostly attracting the disaffected sharing my concerns and look most likely in overcoming the two party (Labour and Conservative) dominance of British politics. Most recently, I note the entry of two new players (linked) seeking to champion these very concerns: “Habib’s “Advance UK” & Lowe’s “Restore Britain” Ignite English Restorationism” (see here). As for Advance UK, the following resonates:

The Advance UK website (see here) sets out its store by telling us: “Our constitution has been steadily eroded by supranational institutions, creeping international law, and unaccountable domestic quangos. Our elected representatives act against the people. Borders have been dismantled. Mass migration is eroding our culture and destroying our economy. Free speech is being systematically shut down to silence the majority. Our children are indoctrinated in schools. Justice no longer means justice. Dangerous criminals walk free while law-abiding citizens are punished for what they say. Nothing works. The NHS is broken. Our armed forces are a shadow of what they once were. The police are compromised. The courts are politicised. Our schools and universities have become hotbeds of radical ideology and are no longer seats of learning. The economy has stagnated. National debt and taxation are at post-war highs. More are on state benefits than ever before. Dependency has replaced aspiration. Wealth redistribution has replaced wealth creation. We are descending into decay, not building a future. Our very existence as a free and sovereign people hangs in the balance. The political establishment has failed. The old and new parties morph into one.  They all sing from the same hymn sheet, offering nothing but decline”.  

As well as being interested in UK national politics, I am also interested in local politics, partly because I know several of the players (including those mentioned below) and often in the past it has had a bearing on my community activism and that as a concerned resident. Today’s Southend Echo report (see here) begins: “A former mayor is among the two Conservative councillors to have announced their joining of Reform UK. Former Mayor of Southend, Judith McMahon and past deputy leader of Southend Council’s Tory group, Daniel Nelson, will bring the number of Reform councillors in the city up to four. They have pointed to a lack of faith in the future of the Conservative Party and fears of green belt development as reasons for their switch. Ms McMahon will now serve as the Reform councillor for Shoebury, while Mr Nelson will represent Southchurch for the party. Mr Nelson said: “This is not a decision that I have made lightly. “It is not born from personal grievance or political ambition, but from deep reflection and an ever-growing concern that the Conservative Party both locally and nationally, no longer reflects the values that first inspired me to serve. “The Conservative Party is no longer a political movement – it has become a management structure and a single road to careerism. “When I look at the party’s local and national ranks, I do not see any vision or principled leadership or bold thinking. Instead, I see short-termism, crisis management and a slow slide to irrelevance”. Ms McMahon said: “I am leaving the Conservative Party as Reform UK are the only party that truly reflect my values and is the only party that that can pull this city and the nation back from the brink. “Staying with the Conservatives is akin to moving the deckchairs on the Titanic but the iceberg goes away. “When I uncovered Southend council’s shocking plans to build 10,000 houses on the Greenbelt, I never imagined that trying to mobilise most of the Conservative council group would be like pushing very large boulders uphill. “Only Reform UK will protect the Green Belt in Southend”.

We live in extraordinary and on the face of it alarming days, when it often appears there is little we can do to change things for the better. My “political neutral” position is not that I don’t care or have a view. What I have written today and been writing about on my website these past ten years, along with my community activism, is evidence enough that such is not the case. I am merely fulfilling my watchman on the wall remit and expect my readership will include those who would be associated with all of the afore-mentioned parties as well as none of them. Not that I would urge folk to follow my example but I should add that I generally do vote and it is for the person who, after careful evaluation, I judge would do the most good for those he/she wishes to represent, irrespective of party. Part of that is to do with his/her resolve/ability to stand up against “in the shadows entities” that actually rather than should run Britain.

My final message is to urge readers to test and weigh, watch and pray, to recognise the folly of hoping in individuals or political parties and, in terms of what really is going on, we don’t know half. While I do not believe that opting out of getting involved in our community, including politics, is the right thing to do, I would urge all those with concerns for our nation to first and foremost put their trust and hope in God and to love God and their neighbour.