My Media Comment Sat 31/10/2009

After becoming a little more optimistic that an unelected PM is likely to lose a general election, I'm now looking at what's likely to replace the current regime. My optimism is fading fast like Cameron's promises and it's all beginning to sound like a Bliar manifesto all over again. Mr Cameron did in some way seem to offer a little light at the end of the tunnel for a while, but any U turn on a position of allowing the electorate to have a real say in respect of the Lisbon treaty and other EU policies that directly influence the UK would certainly increase voter apathy. I along with possibly very many people in the UK feel that politicians have distanced themselves from the voters to embark upon their own separate agendas. From what I've read, it appears that a say in respect of the Lisbon treaty and matters arising, is a real desire that has been very well communicated in much of the media. Other areas of foreign policy like Afghanistan and Immigration have also attracted huge debate, and yet Mr Cameron has failed woefully to offer us concrete alternative answers in respect of these issues. I suspect that the conservatives will win the general election simply because many people find the current government disgraceful and deceitful. It seems very sad that the result of a general election might come down to the fact that people dislike Gordon Brown with a passion, rather than being passionate that David Cameron is the best person to take us forwards. We are certainly heading for far tougher times than we have already experienced during this recession. The issues with alcohol, crime, drug abuse, are likely to escalate as people lose hope in the face of knowing that their votes and hopes are not going to materialise to allow our nation to pull together and rise up from the tattered ruins of total mismanagement by one or more previous governments. Let's be realistic, it is not going to be a minority party in power after the election, it will be one of the main two. David Cameron appears to be resting on that fact and seems satisfied to possibly take over from Gordon Brown on the strength of people's anger with the current government. Listen up Mr Cameron, coming to power because Labour lose an election is not enough, you have to talk loud and often and clearly about your position on the EU, immigration, and the war we are currently involved in and offer us an alternative set of ideas to support and take forwards. If your hands are tied, as they appear to be, tell us why so we can understand how it is our country is simply blown along on some ill fated breeze, I'm sure we can cope with knowing a few home truths. Perhaps that's it, the truth is no longer a valid currency and eventually the pound will share its fate along with hope for a future that will inspire our children to strive towards a future that offers them hope instead of denying them a decent outlook and a reason to be engaged.

The BNP

As most of us are aware, the leader of the BNP has now appeared on a well known TV debate. I think everyone should be able to air their views as denying them a platform goes against the democratic principles that exist in the UK. A fundamental failure of our government to seriously debate immigration policy seems to be a big factor in creating interest in the views of the BNP. So what is the right approach?

From personal experience and reading a large amount of opinion that has been put up on various news web sites by the general public, I take the view we are overall a tolerant society. I don’t think as a nation we have any aspirations towards excluding the diversity of cultures that have enriched the UK. It looks to be more a case of the limited resources of a small country causing concern within our population in respect of it being unsustainable to have migration continue at the current rate.

“Indigenous people” was a point raised recently by the leader of the BNP and is worthy of exploration to actually decide what that means. What is being British?

I don’t personally have a definitive answer and doubt there actually is one.

Even in relatively recent history our country has been invaded by other cultures with the Vikings being one that springs to mind. All of these cultures from other countries have indeed at some point contributed to the gene pool that exists today. And looking back to when mankind first began to wander the planet, there are some very convincing arguments that favour a theory of us all originating on the continent of Africa before evolving into what we are today.

The burning issue at this time of recession and high unemployment combined with a real strain on all resources seems to be based around the number of people coming here. The issue of who those people are does not seem to be as prominent as we already have a diverse range of ethnicity present. Again having taken a spread of public opinion there seems to be little evidence that supports the idea that there are particular races that are unwelcome. Since we opened our borders and enabled unhindered migration to occur, it’s plain to see that government predictions have in reality been far from the reality of what has occurred.

The people targeted and used as propaganda via the media have been those wishing to come here from outside the EU. It’s now far harder to have a spouse come to the UK and other reasons for coming here of a similar nature have also been targeted. In fact it seems that most people from outside the EU who follow due process in an effort to relocate to the UK have large financial hurdles as well as the bureaucracy to overcome in an effort to have us all believe something is being done to control our borders. If the same approach were to be put in place for all wishing to come here and each applicant were to be given a fair hearing within a constraint of what is a practical number; we wouldn’t have the concerns that now exist.

An even handed approach might be one way to proceed where there are limits set which are subject to review in respect of all countries that have people wishing to migrate to the UK. I don’t believe cherry picking the talent from any country is a fair approach either, as that can lead to a shortage of the brightest in society in a country where the person originated. That method of allowing people to come, is to my mind also discrimination.