Hello Readers!
This week, I've been thinking about politics and the upcoming vote (take a minute just to let that sink in). Ok, so earlier in the week I received a letter from the Liberal Democrats asking for my vote in the upcoming election. I understand that this may have been some generated letter that just came through the post by chance but, I really appreciate that I actually heard from them.
When it comes to politics I'm clueless, my dad's very much a Conservative and my mum is like me, she doesn’t stick with a party just decides nearer the time of the vote, based on the parties speeches and pitches. Now in the last election I felt very passionate about the Liberal Democrats but, now I'm not so sure?! So I've been doing some research and I've created opinions based on all parties, and before I get into this, I understand that a lot of people have very strong opinions based on the subject but, this is just mine and as a first time voter, this is what I think. Also, don't take these opinions too much to heart, because I probably don't really know what I'm talking about... Well here we go...
UKIP
Claim to be the party for Britain. They
have spoken very publicly on getting more work for the British
citizens and less for immigrants. They have claimed that they would
like to exit the EU, cut the foreign aid budget, end the bedroom tax,
no tuition fees and allow more funding for the NHS. Some of which I
am for and against but, it seems to me that the majority of the
points that they've raised, I'm against. There's something about UKIP
which doesn’t seem right (women's intuition) to me, for those
reasons, I believe that this party isn't for me.
I'm pleasantly
surprised by, what I've found out from the Green Party. They believe
very much in the people, our country, social media and want to start
a debate, asking what the people really want. Some of there pledges
are as followed.. Introducing the Robin Hood tax (genius), lower the
voting age to 16 (mixed opinions), stop the privatisation of health
care and invest more into the NHS (stand out winner) and get rid of
the bedroom tax (which the people want). As well as their pledges to
help the people, they really care about our country and the
environment and they've stated that they'd like to invest more money
into recycling and waste disposal, which will yearly earn the country
an extra 4billion pounds. So far I do like what I hear about the
Green Party and I think that they will find a rise in votes, as they
have actually made an effort to talk to the younger generation by
going into uni's, communicating through social media and appearing on
YouTubers videos.
Conservatives
I don't think this party is for me! In my opinion it seems that the Conservatives care very much about the privileged people in the UK, as opposed to the norm. In a recent debate Cameron, kept blaming the fault of the economic climate to the previous government (Labour- for overspending, rescission ect) but, failed to say how much progress he has made since becoming Prime Minister and what he would do, if the Conservatives were to stay in power. He just spent his whole speech blaming the labour party, which seems to be a bit cowardly on Cameron's part. I have very mixed thoughts when it comes to the Conservatives pledges some include, 8billion pounds going towards the NHS, not to raise VAT or national insurance tax and well that's about all I think is half alright, when it comes to the Torries.
Liberal Democrats
It seems like a
lot of the Lib Dems campaigns have been based towards young people
(adverts, letters, and reaching out on social media), of which I
respond to, being a young person. However, in 2010 after the
coalition, the Lib Dems worked hard to lower university fee's but did
nothing, when the Conservatives decided to make them even higher. It
is now said that it would take an average young person 25 years to
pay off their university fee's/student loans, which to me just seems
ridiculous and I don't really understand why Nick didn't fight harder
over the topic? His whole campaign in 2010 was to lower uni fee's,
only to sit back and watch Cameron make them even higher.
However, Nick Clegg does support some good points when it comes to his party for example, not only does he want to invest 8billion pounds to the NHS but, he wants in increase equal care for mental health, which will benefit a lot of members in our communities. He also, cares very much about children and education and wants more funding to go towards schools, so that our children can have the best education possible and he also wants every primary school student to have free school meals and I think this aspect of our community really gets overlooked because, people thinks it's fine, when really it does need improving. Overall, the Liberal Democrats care for an equal community and a fair economy, which I think we all want really. Plus, as I said before, the Liberal Democrats were the only party to write to me and ask me for my vote, which makes me feel like my little voice does matter, when it comes to politics.
They care about
the people in Britain. Ed Miliband recently spoke to Russell Brand
and he claimed he would be the person able to speak for the people,
he would take on high corporations and make them pay more tax. He
would take on the bankers when it came to fraud and give punishment
to the guilty. He would get rid of 0 hour contracts and give more
work to the people, including more apprenticeships. I like this party
(not only because Martin Freeman starred in their campaign AD and
that David Tennant featured on the voice-over) they seem to have
remorse after the Gordon Brown controversy and they have identified
that if we continue living under a Torrie leadership, that the
economic climate will be even worse than it started off and a lot of
the average people will be struggling even more than they are now.
Labour believe in the people, they want to invest 10billion pounds
into the NHS and reduce privatisation in GP's and they want to give
mental health more equality, so it will be treated like a physical
health condition. Other Labour pledges include lowering the vote to
16, reduce university fee's, raise the minimum wage, not to raise
national insurance, VAT or the income tax, increase paternity leave
and paternity pay, get rid of the bedroom tax and Labour have said
that they would like to introduce a 'all out-assault' on tax
avoidance, so that the working people don't have to pay more.
Overall, I do like Labour, I like what they stand for and I really
like there pledges. However, some of there pledges are quite big
statements and it seems that the main question that everybody is
thinking and that's, where are they going to get the money? Can we
trust Labour not to overspend? Well, that gives you guys something to
think about.
So, some of you might be wondering 'Megan, why do you care? Half of this stuff isn't going to affect you, why don't you just vote for the Green Party as everyone else your age is, just because they are for legalising marijuana', well you people that are wondering that, just no!! I'm not that stupid, I care about our country, I care about the people in my community and I want my vote to mean something because, it just has to. Women died so that I could vote, laws and history changed all so that I could vote, it's important. As a first time voter, this election has well and truly opened my eyes to what's going on in our economy, I have learned over time what each party stands for and what is needed to be done and what isn't so necessary for our country.
I still don't know who I'm going to vote for but, I will be voting because, my vote matters and so does yours. Also, don't let anyone influence your vote, just because your friend might be voting for one party doesn’t mean you have to do the same and just because I'm not a massive fan of the Conservatives, don't let me influence your decision. I wrote this post to help young voters who are in a similar position to me. I wrote this for the ones that are just trying to figure this whole politics thing out and to learn about the different parties and who they are and what they're stand for.
I'm sorry for the
rambly post but, I feel that it's an important message to go out. I
hope in anyway big or small, that I've managed to help and if you have
any questions, I will try and answer them.
Thanks for
reading,
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