Royal wedding

Today was the royal wedding and building on yesterdays post, here is my poem dedicated to the occassion, which I see as not just a wedding of William and Catherine, not just hope of love conquering all, but also a marriage to us the people of Britain too! May we all have a happily married life together.

Ding dong, the bells of the ancient abbey chime,

Finally, after all this time,

Today in front of the whole world we are married,

The ring binding us to the young husband and wife,

Hope a glimmer of love to conquer the darkness of a gloomy life

A new energy fills the veins,

Fills me again with hope as new as the blossom on the trees

Remember, your sapphire band binds you my husband, you my wife, to us,

For better for worse, for richer and for poorer, in our sickness as well as our health, Remember!

You have kissed the bride upon the balcony, now with your outstretched scarlet arms embrace us,

Stand by and stick with us!

In sickness and in health- will Wills and Kate stick by their vows to us?

The royal wedding is tommorow. Now I appreciate that some may not welcome it, maybe as a result of overloaded coverage before the big day, some for more principled republican reasons. What I was going to write has been deemed unnecessary due to recent news that the invitation to the Syrian ambassador to the wedding has been revoked due to the violence in Syria which has claimed 500 lives. I praise the royal family and the foreigh office for this principled decision and I feel this leads me on to my main point.

Whilst I am not a republican as I see some of the benefits the royals have provided, such as the dignified behaviour of Elizabeth II, and the charity work by the Princes Trust which has helped many young people. However I have a few issues. First of all, I think we need reform rather than abolition, where we have an elected house of lords, and the monarchy having a ceremonial role akin to that of the German president who by virtue of germany’s parliament system, has no powers. I also feel the succession rules need to be reformed in order to combat primogeniture and also remove the barr to Catholics from the throne or the marrying of catholics, as this is an institutionalised form of sectarianism that has no place in modern britain. Finally i believe they should speak out against injustice- they did with the case of the Syrian ambassador, and I believe they can also speak on issues, WITHOUT being too partisan and thus not being too unconstituional. Maybe this is too much to ask, but baby steps eh, and I think they realise from the crises of the 20th century they need to adapt to public sentiment in order to survive. I hope when they say their vows, William and Kate will remember that their vow is not just too each other but a symbolic vow to the British people.  Reform, modernise and it will be a great honeymoon.

Will you? (wedding vows)

Will you Prince, promise to love us,

Those who face everyday worries,

The spectre of joblessness, hopelessness haunt them day by day,

Will you stand by us in sickness and in health?

There’s a world outside your golden gates, the pomp of your big day,

Speak out when you can, through acts aswell as words,

The acts of a charitable hand, will you share your bouquet?

Will you pledge to modernise, to rid yourself of prejudice deep seated,

Embrace inclusivity, to the dust sectarianism you shall sweep away?

Will you comfort us, show us you do care for all of the people,

For there are 3 in your marriage, you, your wife and the people of this land,

Will you break the chains of the past and be faithful to us.

Will you?

Rogue Landlords- lets evict them together!

Tonight, a petition was brought to my attention courtesy of my good friend Stephen Twigg MP, a petition to  raise standards of rented accommodation and to properly protect tenants from rogue landlords. I must admit I didnt really know that much about it, but after reading one of the stories on Shelters website about a heavily pregnant woman who was evicted by a landlord who blamed her for a rotten window that was no fault of hers, the urgency of this hit home. According to Shelter, “over the past 10 years, the private rented sector has been the fastest growing type of housing in the UK and is likely to continue to expand, as waiting lists for social housing rise and more people are priced out of home ownership.”

With this petition, Shelter want the Government to raise the standard of rented accommodation and to properly protect tenants from rogue landlords, by making sure:

• All local authorities offering landlord accreditation schemes so that people can check whether they are renting from a good landlord.
• There is  a national minimum standard established which landlords can sign up to.

I believe it’s shameful for people to take advantage of other’s suffering and this harrassment must stop! I ask you who read this, to follow your conscience and sign the petition on Shelter – http://england.shelter.org.uk/campaigns/evictroguelandlords/sign_our_petition . Lets send a message that enough is enough!

What gives you the right,

The lives of the vulnerable you blight,

You lie, you decieve, you con,

You double cross,

Make life a misery inside a mouldering wreck,

Condemning them to a living hell out of spite.

Enough is enough, do you not hear their plight?

For now we shall speak up for them,

To control, to exploit, we challenge your right,

For a better life, for a decent home free from your cruel shackles,

We speak out, we shall fight!

We want more- more member engagement from the party!

Funny how the smallest things spark a debate isnt it. I recieved the post this morning from Labour, ASKING for yet more money. Obviously they neglect the fact that I pay a youth rate as I am a student at present and thus money is not a commodity I have in abundance. Needless to say, I aired my anger on twitter and what developed was quite an interesting discussion on party reform and policy thanks to @dsnow  @Neiley83 and @matofkilburnia . What we were angry about was the party seeming to view us with pound signs as just doorsteppers and nothing else. Even Tom Harris MP on a blog seemed to show utter contempt for us members http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2011/01/17/dear-ed-remember-that-party-members-are-not-normal/ , stating that “Let’s face it, as you and I know from personal experience, Labour party activists are a pretty strange bunch,” with the implication we are only good for “shoving leaflets through people’s doors on a Saturday morning” and nothing else.

How rude and inaccurate. For his information, we are normal, we have lives outside of labour, we go out we socialise and we also talk to non members and non supporters in order to guage a wide range of views. There in lies the problem, if we are viewed with such contempt by our MP’s what hope is there for change?

On my friends blog- http://drummerboyblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/15/ourcampaig/ , he states that as a party “we have to engage our members and remember that we cannot arrogantly rely on their support just because they’re already members,” stating that talent within the membership should be taken beyond simply leafletting. He also posits an intersting idea that rather than simply just having communities being represented solely by constituency, we could have people of similar interests banding together.

Don’t get me wrong I will leaflet and have done till my legs hurt, yet I believe there should be other ways we are also engaged, maybe asked for our opinions on policy more than we are at present, more events OUTSIDE of the M25 that don’t cost £50 a head and respect for the membership rather than the insults of one of our MP’s. Lets hope the NEW GENERATION delivers on its great promise! A rose is only as strong as its many petals!

We wish to serve,

We who fight street by street for you,

We who spread the message for you,

We who march till our feet are sore, for you.

We wish to serve,

Yet we want respect,

We want our say in our shared destiny,

We want to serve beyond the leaflet run, the Voter ID,

Let us be more than the roots of the bush,

Let us be more than this, the petals for all to see!

Be prepared- 2011 election?

 

Election 2011? Does Dave want a divorce?

First of all, I hope you all had a great easter in the sunshine and I’d like to thank you for spreading the word on my previous post, my poetic plea to Cameron. I really do appreciate it.

I was originally going to refrain from posting today, but as ever, I found a really interesting post on LabourList which I feel I must pass judgement on. In the post- http://www.labourlist.org/a-2011-election-is-highly-unlikely—but-miliband-should-be-read , Mark ferguson states that with the recent cracks emerging in the coalition over the AV vote and Huhne’s public criticism, a possible 2011 election may be possible, however unlikely.

Stating that whilst realistically there may not be an election as Clegg would try to hold on as long as possible, and such an election result as last time may endanger Cameron, he states that maybe Cameron may risk it in order to gain a majority. However, he states that whilst a 2011 election” seems unlikely… that isn’t the mindset that Ed Miliband should be adopting,” and this is something that I agree with. As the scouts always say, “be prepared” and I think Ed needs to start making plans for this eventuality, create a clearer sense of his idea of an alternative. WE MUST ALL BE READY, as however unlikely this may be, stranger things have happened, haven’t they…..

Be prepared my troops,

For war may erupt without warning,

From the darkness, a new sun may be dawning.

Be prepared, my comrades,

For they tear themselves assunder,

Can you see the clouds, can you hear the thunder?

for this may not be the apocalypse, yet ready me must be,

For in the darkness, show the people the light should we,

Show them a better way, open their eyes to see.

For they may not come, they may not advance,

Yet be prepared my brothers, don’t miss our chance!

Dear Mr Cameron – my poetic plea

This is my poetic plea to David Cameron asking him to consider what effect his cuts are having and hoping he may slow down. With your help, lets hope he gets to see it!

Dear Mr Cameron,
I speak with the upmost honesty,
Though not a millionaire or famous man,
I hope you still listen to me.
Take a walk into the real world, let the muck stick on your feet,
Take a look at all the homeless struggling to make a living on the street.
How can you claim to fight for fairness in foreign lands,
Yet you place a heavy burden on the poorest with your other hand?
How can just walk on by,
When the jobless, the hopeless of your creation just break down and cry?
To the youth who want a better life, the ladder you kick away,
With no support, no job, no prospects, no hope of a better day.
 ”We’re all in it together” a line you always say,
Yet you know nothing of worry, no job and bills to pay.
I plead with you slow down with the axe swung highly in the air,
Think of those with rash action you condemn to the pit of despair,
Slow down your onslaught Mr Cameron, show us that you care.
Dear my honourable friend,
I speak with the upmost honesty,
Though not a millionaire or famous man,
I hope you still listen to me.

St georges day- our multicultural saint!

 

St Georges Flag, which we also share with Genoa, Barcelona and others!

Happy St George’s day people, hope you all had a great day today celebrating in the sun if you did celebrate today rather than those are strangely choosing to do it on May 2nd! I’m in the mood at the moment for flags, with it being St Georges day today seeing all the England Flags and also seeing the Union flags that are being hung in place for the wedding next week. This along with it also being the allegedly birthdate and anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare another symbol of the country has also made me proud.

I think we should be proud of today, as St George himself would epitomise who multicultural our society is. St George was a Roman soldier from modern day Israel and as such would underline how we as a society have been able to absorb influences from outside our country and adopt them as our own. Like tea for instance and words like shampoo, both of which are foreign concepts. Even his symbol, the St George’s flag we share with other places who venerate him, such as Genoa and Barcelona, again showing how we can incorporate many cultures into our society.  

Should we be afraid of celebrating this? No, not in the slightest and on Progress today, http://www.progressives.org.uk/articles/article.asp?a=7986 , it was stated that “it is time for Labour to start speaking of, to and for England with the same sense of patriotism that would be natural for Scottish Labour and Welsh Labour to use in Scotland and Wales.” With a patron saint that if and when people are told about his origins, it will be symbolise the kind of tolerant multicultural and fair nation we are, an England we should all be proud of no matter what race or religion we happen to be. Now is the time to reclaim our heritage from racist far right groups and use it to show  how we are stronger as a diverse, multicultural society. Happy St Georges Day!

Raise a glass,

To OUR saint from a far-off land,

Who faced dragon and death for faith without fear,

Yet embrace him absorb him we have, hold him dear,

Symbol of the melting pot we should be,

A nation stronger with the roots of diversity,

We should raise this glass, raise the flag without shame, without fear,

Black, white, asian, brothers are we,

Raise a toast to St George, the Bard,

To this ‘precious stone set in the silver sea!’

Rainbow labour- why each shade should have a say!

Over the past few weeks, i have bore witness to much discussion over the twittersphere about colours. Yes comrades, colours, such as Blue Labour, Purple Book and Pink Labour (yes i must admit this was a comical addition from a friend ). I must admit, I have been slightly lost as to what these mean as I had the slight distraction of labour doorstep *slaps himself on the wrist*. This brings me to my first reservation, why now, when much of the country is up to its ears in fighting the good fight in the local elections, are we trying to redefine what we are fighting for? One conrcern about this was that if we are on the doorstep, will voters wonder why to vote labour when labour isnt sure about what it stands for?

However, this concern aside, I welcome all of this discussion and debate within our party. With Refounding Labour in commission, it shows that the leadership are eager to gain new ideas on our direction. What has concerned me and to a certain respect over the past week or so is the hostility from some quarters about these ideas especially Purple Book which is yet to be finished. I say before passing judgement, wait till it is complete and out there, read it for yourself and then voice your views on it.

Maybe Blue Labour Glasman is onto something when he notes that in the early 20th century, in community politics, growing out of co-operatives and mutuals. Maybe he isn’t, however, as long as this doesnt sidetrack the attention needed for the final few weeks of the elections, I welcome this debate. I welcome every member of the party voicing their views whether Purple, red, blue or ordinary Labour like me. In my RAINBOW LABOUR, we can debate differing views and build a new future together, respecting that others have different views but we all have something in common, we all care about each other about helping those in society who need help. WE ARE ALL LABOUR and can coexist like a rainbow!

We need debate,

New ideas to sustain us, this flower to germinate,

To debate with a open mind,

No fear, no hatred to poison the mind,

To listen to each other,

Respect each other,

Like a rainbow with many colours, co-exist with each other,

For we are still brothers, no matter the colour, no matter how we diverge,

For in our faith in justice and fairness, we are indeed brothers!

Can we welcome JUDAS back with open arms?

Can we welcome judas back with open arms?

 

Last night came the news that if asked, Ed Miliband would be welcomed back into the party if life under the Tory yoke became too much. Speaking on Channel 4, When asked if Labour was a home for Cable, Miliband said:

“Of course, and there’s a home for any Lib Dem who wants to come and join our Labour party…I think we are now the natural home for progressive politics because we are the only party that can meet a credible claim on social justice.”

Miliband has been open about his desire to win over disaffected Lib Dems, making it clear that he could appeal to such voters. Yet today’s interview with Newman was the clearest indication that he’s targetting Lib Dem MPs, and even cabinet ministers.

Whilst I am all for welcoming those disallusioned lib-dems and I have met a few who have become members, part of me is wary of welcoming people like Vince Cable who willingly went along with the betrayal of students with the tuition fee rises. He who openly said this was a progressive measure and incurred the wrath of the students he betrayed. I know from personal experience to be wary of those who have betrayed me in the past, whilst showing some forgiveness. As today is Maundy Thursday, I ask the question, can we forgive Judas for the betrayal and can we welcome him back to our embrace?

Can I welcome you back into my arms,

When your kiss delivered me straight into their arms?

Your betrayal cut like a knife, deeper than the whip,

Deeper than the nails they drove into my palm,

Your betrayal cut me like a knife.

Yet all this pain I survived, I rose from the dead,

Yet what you did,

How you hurt me with your false words and deeds still fills me with dread.

If seeking forgiveness, I forgive you,

Yet can I trust you again, in brotherly embrace can I kiss you?

Libya- another Vietnam?

Mission creep was what was warned by people when the debate on the no-fly zone was held, and we had the assurance that we would abide strictly within the UN resolution. Fast forward to the past couple of days when it was announced that the UK would send 10 or 12 “experienced military officers” to Benghazi and many see mission creep clearly.

The ex-Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: “Sending advisers for a limited purpose is probably within the terms of Resolution 1973, but it must not be seen as a first instalment of further military deployment. Vietnam began with a US president sending military advisers. We must proceed with caution.”

You all know I supported the no fly zone back when Benghazi was under threat of falling to Gadaffi’s forces and inevitable massacre as reprisal. However this latest development, it has to be said, also fills me with concern. As Campbell rightly points out, Vietnam started with the sending of military advisors and ultimately escalated into much more. I don’t claim to have the answer and I am, like many others conflicted in my attitudes here. This is something that needs to be debated further and something where the full implications of this act will be examined as this CANNOT lead to an occupation, which i fear would be a disaster for everyone.

Are we in too deep,

Stagering blindly into mission creep?

Sinking into the quicksand,

Up to our shoulders, stuck, we are sinking,

Are we walking a slippery slope,

Step by step we slide to occupation,

Devastation, for all sides recrimination.

I urge you to open your eyes,

To think, to look before you leap,

Not to have our blood flowing in yet another distant land!