 Op-ed; Talk to some young people about politics and the upcoming elections and you will get a mixed response. Nothing is ever cast in stone and we are all individuals but on more than one occasion this woman has encountered the politics of apathy.
But the politics of apathy strikes all ages. Last year one taxi driver aged in his late 60s bragged to us he never voted and never had when asked about the EU in / out referendum. But for some others it is genuine unresolved concerns and in other cases bone idleness. "I live such a busy live I have no time for voting" is a good one. My Dad worked hard all his relatively short life but he always managed to get out and vote. Sometimes this meant a 7am visit to a polling station as soon as it opened other times in the evening after work. Certainly current shift patterns in NHS hospitals where nurses work around 13 hours in one shift are tricky but these days it's so much easier to register for a postal vote. At one time you needed to be at death's door, if you know what I mean, to be allowed a postal or a proxy vote. There is still a timeframe and voting deadline for postal votes but it means there is really no excuse for not voting if you are eligible. And how many times have you heard "we do or did not get taught anything about politics in school?" That has been the case on and off for years. Politics is of course taught in the public schools toffs attend ensuring they have an edge when it comes to elections. Many older people adopted the habit of voting as a type of citizenship responsibility after watching their parents tootle off to vote. Family time TV viewing meant all age groups watched party political broadcasts and there was no live broadcasting from Parliament. Currently it seems a younger generation wanting to appear more grown up than we were at their age are babies when it comes to some things. The Internet is at peoples' fingertips and most younger voters are competent users of modern technology. Surely this means they can do a random search and find out what voting means for them, how to register to vote and register, which political party suits their views and actually vote? Many times we hear and say "politicians are all the same" but that is not really true. How about "politics does not interest me." Funny that one as politics ultimately determines what taxes you pay, education standards and so much more. On May 4 you can help decide what matters in your area by voting in local elections On June 8 you can decide which political party and people form the next government and what it will offer others. Maybe you prefer to let others do it for you so that you can complain but if you do not vote you cannot complain. This General Election could be make or break in many ways and on many issues and you have to be in it to win it. Am I eligible to vote? "To vote in a General Election you must: ... be 18 or over on the day of the election ('polling day') be a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen. be resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)" How do I register to vote? "When you move you need to re-register to your new address. If you want to register to vote in England, Scotland or Wales, you can register online any time at gov.uk/register-to-vote. To register to vote in Northern Ireland, visit the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website." Possibly just for fun https://www.politicalcompass.org/test More; http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/voting-systems/ http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/eileen-kersey/voting-matters http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/eileen-kersey/general-election-you-have-to-be-in-it-to-win-it
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 In 2014 it was announced House of Commons authorities have destroyed all evidence of MPs' expenses claims prior to 2010, meaning end of official investigations into scandal It can be a pain getting holidays and annual leave booked at work but what if you are an MP? In the UK, as things stand, we need good, decent and honest politicians but we are sometimes left wanting. The people who stand to represent us however are only human beings when all is said and done. They have their own skills and life pressures. They will never be able to please all of their constituents all of the time. Doing the best they can however should be a given. The salary of a politician is something many people can only dream about. But there are pros and cons and the system is used and abused by some. Members of Parliament at times work long hours and are often working in their constituencies when parliament is in recess. But that is not true of all. Recess, House rises, House returns The set dates of recess mean any emergency that warrants a parliamentary recall will cost taxpayers dearly. When the house is sitting MPs enjoy perks such as a subsided bar and restaurant. Who oays for this? Why taxpayers of course. A politicians working life is not always easy but Operks include a decent salary although at least one MP has complained it is not a living wage for him. In 2014 "An income of almost £120,000 a year is not enough to live on in London according to Government minister Mark Simmonds, Tory, who says he is quitting politics because this does not “stretch” far enough. As a Foreign Office minister and MP, Mr Simmonds receives a salary of £89,435 and is also entitled to an annual housing allowance of £27,875 for him and his family." A Toy minister? A member of a government slashing budgets and inflicting financial pain. Pay and expenses for MPs. Some MPs such as Jess Philips employ a relative to run the show. Mrs Philips husband took on the role of her office manager a month after she was elected in 2015.
Is that two on board the gravy train or a necessary expense funded by taxpayers? But check out this report in the Birmingham Mail "New MP Jess Phillips employs her husband as assistant in taxpayer-funded job." That report highlights mainly Labour MPs as it is concentrating on one area of the country but it is a cross-party problem. The electorate in the UK is being turned of politics for many reasons. One is certainly the them and us culture reinforced by politicians who set the bar low for the population but raise it for themselves. Is it a hard life being a politician? Possibly. Is it a hard life being a refuse collector, road sweeper, nurse, carer, supermarket shelf filler, office worker and more earning the minimum wage and coping with in work benefit cuts handed down by politicians? You tell me! Valuable resource https://www.theyworkforyou.com/ More: http://parliamentarystandards.org.uk/payandpensions/Pages/default.aspx http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/latest/remembering-maria-miller-expense-scandal http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/latest/allegations-of-sleaze-and-corruption-still-dog-westminster |
