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p>Wearied by political debate in the UK? Well here is a wake up call. I will start with a headline concerning a Syrian cleric shot dead in Wembley in recent days. Abdul Hadi Arwani was a fierce critic of al-Assad and has possibly paid the ultimate price for the democracy and freedom of speech we Brits mostly enjoy.
Events in Nigeria should also be recalled if you are feeling jaundiced by the political process here in the UK. Last month, Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressive Congress party took power in what was seen as a victory for democracy. Previously no incumbent president had lost an election in Nigeria but outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan had the grace to offer congratulations to his successor well before the last votes were counted.
So why do we have a tendency to take democracy for granted? Possibly because none of us has ever walked 17 miles in bare feet under a scorching sun to cast our votes. But the 7th May is approaching fast and your participation is essential if we are to acknowledge what our forebears fought and died for - the right to vote.
If you are not moved by the history, or the contents of the Magna Carta for that matter, consider this: the up and coming general election is the most important in 30 years. Granted we have a rag bag of politicians to choose from but choose we must.
Putting aside personalities in politics, there are policies to consider and media myths to bust. In the last year the greatest numbers of immigrants to the UK have come from Spain, not Eastern Europe. And while Labour is busy lambasting the Tories for failing GP services, it's worth remembering that a Labour government introduced, what some have labelled as, questionable changes to GP contracts allowing them to opt out of certain out-of –hours services.
Then there are the cuts to the military as proposed by Cameron when ISIS is popping up all over the place, and the prospect of slipping into a foreign policy backwater. The dreaded referendum that could result in a Brexit comes next (personally I think that outcome would be the equivalent of covering myself in fish paste and jumping into shark infested waters). Almost as bad, there doesn't seem much point in calling for a debate on policies intended to create an environment for SMEs to thrive. As far as I am aware, there aren't any such policies!
Nothing much on renewables either as the low oil price will, of course, remain forever. Although I can see the debate on fracking taking centre stage after the election, as oil prices rise and energy security takes a very high priority in an uncertain world.
On the upside "crime" currently ranks around 10th in voters' priorities so perhaps cuts to police budgets were not so bad after all - I have long suspected that the Police Federation was something of a lobbying, rather than a democratic, organisation and the law enforcement budget does seem to stretch to locking up plenty of ageing paedophiles, which I wholly commend, especially if represents a refocusing of resources away from motorists.
So, moan, moan, moan and our politicians are all self-seeking professionals unsullied by any notion of public service but proficient in a diatribe of quips that might get them elected. Some may say, Nicola Sturgeon is the most dangerous woman in Britain and only seeking power so Scottish Nationalists can cause enough disruption in parliament to get Scotland ejected from the UK, dispensing with the need to hold a second referendum. In my eyes, Nigel Farage is somewhat right of Attila the Hun but can be thanked for his contribution in shaking up the aforementioned self-seeking, slick political professionals.
So, tripwires abound on the way to the ballot box but this is one journey you must make. Make it in gratitude for those who fought and won the right for you to vote and between now and 7th May, remind all those you meet to get out and do the same. If they don't, the beast that lurks in the darkness hating the idea of democracy will eventually come out and threaten us all.
Wearied by political debate in the UK? Well here is a wake up call. I will start with a headline concerning a Syrian cleric shot dead in Wembley in recent days....
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