No, politicians are not all the same.
No, we are not all “fucking corrupt.”
No, we are not all in it for ourselves.
It might well be true that some go into politics seeking only to enrich themselves or gain power over others. Others of us, however, cannot bear to hear stories of social and economic exclusion, of pain and suffering. Of injustices. And, rather than sitting on the sidelines and moaning about everyone else, we get involved. It might be a small contribution, or it might be giving up all of our free time to support others, but we want to make life better for ourselves and everyone else.
If you are still laughing at people like the blazered grifter and his rabble of bumbling mediocrities; or that scatty Yeti with his scruffy, haven’t-done-my-homework man-of-the-people act, have a word with yourself. Really look inside yourself. You might find them amusing because you’re not personally affected, but how many others do you know who are hurt by their presence? They are not serious people. The affable bonhomie towards middle-aged, wilfully ignorant white people is all they have. And you’re buying into it.
No, the Far Right populists do not speak for you. They have emboldened hatred. They have made this country a much worse place than it was, all to appease the primitive resentments of those with nothing to lose. They pretend to be your friend but enrich only themselves.
And if you adopt a lofty, sanctimonious position of deriding every major party because they aren’t a perfect fit with your particular wishlist, please remember that there are 66.97 million people in the UK who also wish that the world were tailored specifically to them. Most of us do not have the luxury of being above it all. Many of us just suck it up and vote for the party which is going in our direction.
I’m not going to talk much here about tactical voting. Under our current unfair, disproportionate system it is sometimes the only way of making an impact but it also has its costs in that it enables and perpetuates a two-party adversarial system instead of compromise and longer-term thinking.
Tomorrow we face the chance to make what is possibly the biggest political shift in a generation. Let’s take this seriously. Be a part of it. If you’re STILL undecided please remember that the choice is between people who want to make this country better and people who think only in terms of holding on to what they have and letting everyone else rot.
Thank you.