Was Is Worth It?

Well, well, well. It's been a month since Labour's landslide in the British General Election. Removing fourteen long years of Conservative austerity, corruption and greed. At first, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

Suddenly, everything felt brighter, and it re-installed the feeling of hope. Here was Angela Rayner, a woman from a working class background as Deputy Prime Minister. The ideal change Britain so desperately needs. However, there was this niggling feeling that this newfound hope was actually disguised as dread.

Make sure to grab some snacks and a cuppa because there's a lot to unpack here.

Prelude

For too long, the tories exploited us, lied to us, stole from us and, above all, betrayed us. They partied while people died alone, piling up in their thousands!

They:

• Completely destroyed the NHS, increasing waiting lists in their millions.
• Allowed the most vulnerable to suffer in poverty and then blame them for it.
• Took pay rises for themselves, while leaving nurses to rely on food banks.
• Neglected our water supply to filth and feces, with absolutely no care for our health or the environment whatsoever.
• Allowed Victorian diseases to make a comeback.
• Blamed refugees, immigrants and the disabled for economic strain rather than admitting Brexit is a complete failure and the pandemic has taken a huge toll.
• Criminalised our right to protest.
• Dropped our standard of living to the 1950s.
• And above all destroyed our trust in absolutely everything.

The list is endless...

Objective

Needless to say it's a terrible situation for a new government to inherit. The country's broke and vulnerable and those on the international stage know it.

We are a laughingstock.

• How has the newly elected Prime Minister Keir Stramer done during his first month behind the cold black gates of 10 Downing Street?
• Has this "change" been for the better?
• Or has it driven division further?
• Or has it brought us together united against racism, xenophobia, and any form of bigotry?

Positive Signs

1. Scrapped the Rwanda Policy.

Within the first twenty-four hours in office, Starmer scrapped the cruel and wicked Rwandan Policy that broken international law.

The policy was going to remove asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda. The policy was inhumane and expensive, estimates projected within five years Sunak would have cost the taxpayer 3.9 billion pounds.

What was he thinking?

2. Shut down the Bibby Stockholm.

It was like a prison on water, and quite symbolic of the Conservative treatment towards vulnerable people. The home office was sending 300,000 pounds a week to the Bibby Stockholm. It's believed they spent 22 million pounds on this idea.

3. Supporting the ICC arrest warrant for Israeli Leaders.

Finally, our government has seen some form of sense. I mean if you're going to arrest people for conspiracy, you can support the arrest warrant against a genocidal maniac.

Although, there is still the matter of selling arms to Israel. Recently, the license ran its course, and the government has hinted that they don't have any plans to renew the license, but they also didn't suggest they would revoke it either.

War is an indiscriminate business that accepts any form of currency. Ad everyone knows Britain is broke. What will they decide, morality or money?

4. A well-deserved pay rise.

Public sectors have been ripped into pieces and destroyed by the tories. Scandal after scandal. Lie after lie. They went from key workers to a government pest.

So I am very happy to see these people are getting the respect they have earned more times that once.

• 6% for Armed Forces
• 5.5% for NHS workers and teachers
• 5% for prison officers
• 4.75% for police officers

It will cost £9.4bn - 2/3 funded by government and the rest from savings.

5. Banned the use of Neonicotiniods.

Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine. They kill bees and other pollinators, and in turn harm human health and the environment.

I believe this was the tories way of telling the EU we are doing it like this now, and there's nothing you can do about it. Until democracy kicks in that is...

#Savethebees

6. Eliminating the hereditary element within the house of lords.

Initially, Starmer proposed he would abolish the house of lords entirely. However, this has not been the case.

Although, I think that something so drastic and ambitious isn't going to happen overnight.

It has to begin with small steps, and I believe this could be the first one.

7. Private schools will be charged a 20% VAT from January 1 2025.

Amazing, a political party that has not gone back on their word. Private schools are an outdated system. Education is a right, not a privilege.

Personally, I think individualised education is the right way forward, and will even the playfield more equally. Encouraging social mobility and creating the best of the very best in every essential sector.

Additionally, it will alleviate stressed teachers, who are already educated in a specific discipline and, therefore, can concentrate their efforts on students who have skills and interest in the subject. Rather than combatting students whose attention is elsewhere, as they either struggle with the subject or have absolutely no interest or skill in said subject.

If you're going to invest in a future, invest in education, because children are the future.

Concerning Signs

1. Removing the winter fuel allowance from pensioners.

The winter fuel allowance (WA) is a one-off payment (yearly) that helps pay towards heating bills. This allowance is only available to those who were born before 25th September 1957.

The payment (if eligible) can be anywhere from 250 pounds to the maximum £600.

However, Rachel Reeves has decided to make some cutbacks; for those not in receipt of pension credit or mean-tested benefits will no longer be eligible for the WA.

She explained:

"[...] this is not a decision I wanted to make [...]it is a responsible thing to do to fix the foundations of our economy and bring back economic stability."

Just like the children, you need to invest in the elderly. Age comes for us all. As much I don't agree with this generation in question in terms of attitudes, ideas, and overall opinions.

They have earned their rest. Granted, they took the ladder back up with them, but that doesn't mean they should have to go hungry or cold.

We are all human beings and no matter what path we walk as individuals, we all arrive at the same place.

2. Didn't end two-child benefit cap

The two-child benefit cap was first announced by the Conservatives in 2015 and came into force in 2017.

The cap means parents can claim a payment from the government for their first and second child. They can’t make claims for any further children.

Those who earn upwards of £60,000, can still claim the benefit, but they would have to pay tax on it.

1.6 million children are impacted by the cap as there are more than two children in their household.

The Resolution Foundation has said abolishing the two-child limit would cost the government between £2.5bn and £3.6bn in 2024/25.

But the other side of the argument is that the move would take half a million children out of relative poverty, according to an estimate by charity Save the Children.

Seven Labour MPs rebelled against party orders and voted for the amendment, with the prime minister suspending their whip for six months.

Having the whip suspended means the MP remains an MP and hasn’t lost their constituency, but they are independent (without a party), unless restored. It can be temporary or permanent.

3. Back to work.

The conservatives were not shy in their attitudes towards the millions of disabled people in the UK. Often using the vulnerable as a scapegoat. If it's not an asylum seeker, it's an immigrant and if it's not either, it is a disabled person.

Firstly, your worth is not defined by your economic value. Secondly, disabled people don't choose not to work. Some can, some can't. Most, if not all, want to.

Thirdly, there is no proof whatsoever that work improves health. There is, however, plenty of evidence to suggest the opposite.

Labour have shown no signs or even addressed disabled people's concerns that they will end this, instead it appears they will uphold it.

Just google UN report on disabled people in the UK and go from there...

4. No new North sea oil and gas.

Starmer vowed to block new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. This is part of his strategy to move the country towards renewable energy.

However, the new Labour government will not block drilling or revoke licenses (for the Rosebank oil and gas field).

A party spokesperson, however, denied the accusation of an oath u-turn, claiming that:

"Labour’s policy is unchanged. We will not grant licenses to explore new fields.

We have also always said we would not revoke existing licenses. So if Rosebank, for example, is licensed by the time of the election, then it will be able to continue to operate.”

I guess only time will tell on this one.

5. Early release.

To put it simply. The prisons are too full. Instead of changing the rehabilitation system, Starmer wants to release prisoners early to ease overcrowding.

Starmer wants to release prisoners, serving less than four years behind bars (excluding those convicted of domestic abuse and what the government calls "connected crimes", such as stalking offences and controlling or coercive behaviours).

Anyone released will be monitored by the Probation Service, and this could involve the use of electronic tagging and curfews.

This seems like a quick-fix solution to an ever-increasing problem. The focus should be on revising the rehabilitation process.

Prison is the punishment. From the moment someone becomes an inmate, the rehabilitation process should begin.

Chief Inspector for prisons in England and Wales has said the focus should be more on rehabilitation to help cut re-offending.

If Starmer is the change he claims to be, then this is the change that is needed. There are plenty of examples he could follow. Denmark and Norway spring to mind.

6. Harsh Punishments.

I, like many, was deeply concerned by the riots that happened last week over the weekend. However, I was also concerned by Starmer's warning to rioters. Declaring that with the use of facial recognition will identify participators.

From social media post, to looter, with the punishment either imprison and/or restrict individuals' mobility, i.e. can board a train.

As stated above, prison is the punishment. The threat of capped freedom is concerning. Using this dystopian tactic means anyone can be a target if the government and its judge deem it so fit, even if it was just planning a protest on zoom.

7. Censorship.

Now this one I really wasn't excepting...

The police UK website is unavailable to anyone outside the UK. I am not sure why. The media isn't talking about it. However, word on the bird (Twitter because I am and never will call it X, Elon), that it is indeed blocked for users aboard. This is... odd? No?

Because why? What do they not want the world to see? I really dread to think. It's giving a of sovietsque atmosphere. Like someone read 1984 and went, what a brilliant idea!

What will they do next, cut the phone lines?

Chapter August 2024

Blimey, that is a lot for one month. As you can see, it's a mix bag of pro and con so far, and of course it is still early days whether we can determine that this was worth it or not.

Personally, I want to say no, because it has divided us further, driving our identity into the mud. Although in some places, it has also brought us closer together as communities standing up against bigotry and discrimination. Which is a wonderful thing to see.

BIG issue

So what's the issue? The establishment, the system and the very constitution. Britain needs real change and I believe it begins with the abolishment of the monarchy.

I am a citizen, not a subject. I do not acknowledge Charles as King. In my eyes, the monarchy ended on the 8th September 2022 the day Queen Elizabeth passed. The longest reign and the last.

It's a 1000-year-old outdated system that has proved itself not suitable for the 21st century. Imperialism has no place in the modern world.

A moment of madness.

It's going to sound mad I know, but regional governments for England are the way forward. The union doesn't work. We are an island of different people. It's never belonged to one group of individuals.

We need to start again. Which means regional governments. Heck, it's because of regional governments the Scottish Parliment and the Welsh Assembly even exist.

We can ensure fair distrubition of wealth, resources and power. Allowing people to invest more into their local areas, and therefore rebuild their communities and the sense of.

I think if we can distinguish between us it would actually help us establish a new identity as one people. Not one that is stuck in a crisis between the old and the new.

Britain has never belonged to one group of people, that is why we have a 'union.' And how knows we could re-unionise for different reasons, with different methods.

All I know for certain is we need to remove the old the system and replace it with another, because you can't fix the system within the system you are trying to fix. It's impossible.

Why?

Britain is falling under the weight of its own imperial past. One that many have refused to let go. One of that history has decided to pay a re-visit. There tends to be a problem when a country builds its constitution on the backend of a conquest. Conquering becomes the very nature, whether known or not.

It's spreads, creates a 'union'. Spreads further then creates an 'empire'. Like some blackhole that absorbs everything in its path until one day it begins to gorge on itself until there is nothing left but total collapse.

That is England.

But once fallen, there is only one place to go.

How?

We as people need to decide what sort of future Britain really wants. An election isn't going to achieve that. What exactly is our vison of tomorrow? What do we really want from our lives and the legacies we leave behind? I don't have answers, but I think I do have some suggestions...if anyone is willing to listen.

What do you think?

How has the new PM done so far? Was it worth it?

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That was a lot, wasn't it? F*ck. Sorry about that.