Politics and Rants.

Will, 20, Student at Hull University, Lib Dem. This blog is my outlet for my political interest and views, which are naturally slanted towards the Liberal Democrats. This blog is not offically endorsed by the Liberal Democrats and is my own personal political Tumblr.

[politicsandrants]

In Which I Support May and wonder what the hell happened.

Well. I’ve not posted in a while due to university and tiredness from politics. But well.. British politics right now...

Basically.

We have Labour playing a game of Leadership-Chicken, except it involves both sides just reving their engines daring the other to charge first. It’s not going well and its embarrasing frankly. It’s also damaging Labours ability to be seen as an effective party as it deepens the cracks and makes the time period needed to pull Labour together in the eyes of the public ever longer.

Meanwhile my own party is seeing its highest membership figures in 10 years (15,000 new members, whoop whoop) but is caught at a time when its membership is mostly exhausted having fought the May local and devolved elections (where we mostly did well, thankfully) and then the referendum. This really isn’t the best of times for the country to fall apart. My party could really benefit from the way the countries going but its kind of been caught in the flank and seems to be having to organise itself as it moves, thankfully we’re good at it but still.

And then the Tories. Well at least we know that the next British Prime Minister will, for the second time in history, be a woman. And once again its the Tories. When a friend put out a call asking for people to make sure there was no sexism in our discussions I offered the titles "Horrific absense of hope" and "The undying fog of dispair" for the two of them. Andrea Leadsom and Theresa May are our two choices for 150,000 people to elect as our next Prime Minister (what happened to taking back democracy Brexiters?). And god help me given the alternatives views on just about everything Theresa May is the best hope we have, which is actually terrifiying and shows what’s happened to this country since Brexit.

I won’t go into the Brexit vote in detail here, but essentially anyone who knows me will know I consider it a foolish move and I am 100% behind my parties efforts to rejoin the EU as soon as possible. But we must take it upon ourselves to realise that what Brexit called “project fear” has proven to be true, as businesses begin to pull out and the country gradually sinks in largest economies rankings. My dads own company, which relies heavily on trade with europe and is only small, is going to struggle and if Dad keeps it going he deserves a bloody medal.

What’s more is in the time since racist attacks and incidents have increased. Now I’m not saying that the 52% of the voting population that voted for Brexit are racists, but now they believe that 52% of the population agree with them.

I have no idea where the countries going, but I’m going to fight it out with my party as much as I can. Hopefully whoever becomes PM will call a general election by next May in order to at least pretend we have democracy in this country. I have a feeling if its Leadsom we won’t get that election.

We’ll have to see. Meanwhile anyone who wants to go to the Wincester and wait for this to all blow over may want to prepare for a long wait.

[politicsandrants]

The Liberal Democrat party in the UK has pledged to fight the next election on a promise to bring the UK BACK into the EU!

I know lots of us here in Britain are upset with the results of the EU referendum! Whilst it looks like we’ll end up with an anti-EU prime minister the Lib Dems are pushing forwards to try and stop Leave!

16 million people voted to stay IN! 75% of young people who voted voted to remain. Their voices matter! If you’re unhappy, help fight against the rise of racism and intolerance that has been let loose by Brexit!

If you agree with this consider supporting them or even joining, which you can do for cheap if you’re a student!

[thepoliticalnoteboo1deac]

Churches refused to bury the victims’ remains. Their deaths were mostly ignored and sometimes mocked by politicians and the media. No one was ever charged. A joke made the rounds in workplaces and was repeated on the radio: “Where will they bury the queers? In fruit jars!”

Before Orlando, the biggest mass killing of LGBTQ people in the United States was an arson at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans in 1973 that left 32 people dead and stirred up little sympathy from politicians, media or even the families of those lost. (via thepoliticalnotebook)

[politicsandrants]

My first conference

The sudden rise in Lib-Dem merch in my room and the Lib-Dem Lanyard next to me can only mean that I attended my first ever Lib-Dem Conference this weekend in York!

It was a fantastic experience, good to meet so many other liberals, even if I didn’t manage to meet any of my heros (partly because of my own shyness). I had a wonderful time, and tried to do as much as I possibly could.

I’d been to York a few years prior and it was nice to be back, wondering around the old city. York is a beautiful place and once you get used to the street design its fantastic. I love the Shambles, and have to force myself not to call it Diagon Alley since that’s effectively what it is.

The conference itself was an interesting experience, I got a strange enjoyment watching how it was managed. Mike Ross, a local councillor here in Hull, was organising the stewards and he’d be pleased to know I was enjoying seeing them work as well. Even if he was walking around like a secret service agent the whole time.

Glee Club has to be one of the best evenings I’ve had in years, and thanks to it I now can’t stop randomly laughing at the line “which we lost”.

Also, thanks to the OMOV (One Member, One Vote) system I was able to vote at conference for party policies. If anyones interested my voting record (For the motions I can remember, the big ones):

Fracking motion: Voted FOR the ammendment, and then ammendment having failed AGAINST the motion as a whole. I felt personally that the arguments coming from the against team looked a little too reactionary and that the science behind it was too young, and thus wanted to voice opposition to that, rather than wanting to back fracking.

Cannabis Motion: Voted FOR the motion overall. People will and ARE taking it anyway despite it being illegal, so we may as well stop the criminal gangs being able to control the market and profit from it as the tax payers, plus we can regulate the content.

Diversity Motion: (Right, here technically it wasn’t my own vote. Being a white, middle class, mostly straight, male, I decided I didn’t have too much right to decide on this. So I asked a trusted female friend who wasn’t going to be at conference to look through the information and decide for me. I had my own leanings but I can’t guarentee how I’d have voted on my own, but likely FOR.) Her decision was to vote FOR the motion, and AGAINST the Liberal Youth Ammendment.

[politicsandrants]

Watford Action Weekend

After many months up in Hull, where I’m currently at University, I jumped at the chance to get back to my home turf of Watford for an action weekend, and what a weekend it was.

First things first, much of the credit has to go to Nassar who managed to get such a great turn out, including a large number of fellow Liberal Youth members, as well as an appearance by Mike Thornton, Jo Swinson, Duncan Hames and Norman Lamb. It was a fantastic weekend and if I heard correctly we managed to knock on over 5000 doors on Saturday alone! We all know what a challenge it is to organise Lib-Dems.

Secondly a massive thanks to the wonderful Richmonds who put up their home as our base of operations; to stand having 20+ Liberal Youth in your home is a feat that would make Hercules himself sweat with fear.

The number of people from outside the area was fantastic, with a good showing from across the country, including the Birmingham Uni Lib-Dems (hoodies and all), including Sophie Thornton, chair of LY-England and a couple of fellow Lib-Dems from Hull. I know the large number of Liberal Youth members was welcomed by members of the Watford party, with one commenting how good it was to see their enthusiasm and reminded them of their days in the youth.

The response on the door was largely positive from what I’ve heard, and a great deal of data was collected regardless of the response, which will prove vital in the coming weeks and months before the all-up council elections in May. We currently hold Watford council, but only just, having lost seats in that dreadful election last year. It will be so important to have a good showing in Watford this year, the way Watford goes could be seen as a sign of how the Liberal Democrats as a whole in England are going. We were reminded of the importance of our work both locally and as part of the fightback as a whole by talks from Jo Swinson, Norman Lamb and Watford local Sal Brinton (who had taken off her “president’s hat” for that talk).

After the first day we gathered in a local church hall for a thank you gathering, where we were greeted by a short talk from some local party figures, as well as a brief recorded message from Tim Farron thanking us for our hard work. Nothing like a vibrant liberal gathering to get you excited for Conference next week.

If anyone feels like helping out in Watford, there’s another action weekend planned for the 2nd-3rd of April. Facebook link here.

A little side note: In response to the comments on Sal in the press recently, I say this. I was out with Sal with several others on Saturday morning, with her running a board and chatting to us all merrily and never talking down to even the younger members of liberal youth. Also, later on in the evening at the thank you party I witnessed her giving words of encouragement to several Liberal Youth member. She also gave a brief reminder to everyone at the party that the party has been in worse positions before, and that we can and will come back, instilling a new determination to keep fighting. I wouldn’t ask for a better person as party president.

-Originally posted on Lib-Dem Voice

[politicsandrants]

Inspirational Women: IWD 2016

Since its International Womens day I thought I should say something. Firstly, let’s have a chuckle at the idea of a MAN thinking he should say something on International WOMENS day.

But its been a while since I posted and so I thought this would be the right time to.

I won’t ramble on, I’ll simply say this, to all the incredible women I’ve known through my life: Thank You.

Thank you to my late Grandmother Jackie, who took me to the theatre so often and sparked and tended my love of Shakespear, died too soon to help me meet the challenge of all the Shakespeare plays before 20, but with only two to go I didn’t do half bad. Thank you for supporting me throughout my home education and for supporting my interest in military history, taking me on battlefield tours and to countless museum talks, without her I wouldn’t be studying what I am now.

Thank you to the various female teachers who supported my education (even the ones I hated, even in the subjects I hated), who helped shape me into who I am today. Especially thanks to Rachel, Dani and Viv, my A level tutors, who’s entertainment motivated me through the two years of A levels, shame my grades didn’t match up.

Thank you for Jo Swinson and Kirsty Williams, who time after time have both reminded me exactly WHY I’m a Lib-Dem, and serve as inspirations to me and others in the Liberal Youth.

Thank you to Sophie Thornton, Chair of LYE, for reminding me that I shouldn’t be scepticle about new people and for doing a fantastic job at that. As well as that simply being a wonderful person who never lets a compliment come without throwing one back.

Thank to you Dorothy Thornhill, for being a wonderful mayor and the best first parliamentry candidate to campaign for I could hope for. Your welcoming nature reassured me when I first turned up at the Lib-Dem office to help out.

On that note, thank you to Rayaa, for being equally welcoming and understanding of my nerves and helping me get involved with campaigning.

Thank you to Sal Brinton, party president, who has held the party together through thick and thin and continues to do a fantastic job, regardless of what any idiot says.

And, above all.

Thank you to the wonderful females I’ve known all my life and have called my friends and have been some of the best companions I could hope for. I apologise to any I have hurt or upset, or simply drifted from through my own neglegence. And thank you to those still in my life, my dear best friend Taylor, and my favourite Liberal Youthers Issy and Tatiana, who’s mad antics keep me entertained constantly.

They say behind every great man is a greater woman, but in my case I can safely say behind an average man there are some absolutely incredible women.

[corporations-vs-ducks]

[did-you-know]

[did-you-know]

(More about Katherine Johnson)

Happy International Women’s Day! 

Time to dose you up with lots of facts about a tiny fraction of the amazing women that have helped shape this world into what it is today. 

This is a long post. Don’t hate. They each worked harder in any given minute of their lives than you’ll have to to scroll through their stories. Maybe you can remember just one of them and tell their story to someone else today, or maybe you already know them. Either way, they are #important, and I hope you’ll agree.

(More about Hedy Lamarr)

(More about Masih Alinejad and My Stealthy Freedom)

(More about Emmy Noether)

(More about Elizabeth Blackwell)

(More about J.K. Rowling)

(More about Elizabeth Freeman)

(More about Harnaam Kaur)

(More about Queenie)

(More about Tess Holliday)

(More about Maria Yoon)

[politicsandrants]

My Liberal Year.

It’s been a long while since I posted on here, partly because I was rather fed up with politics and I was more in the mindstate to yell about things and that’s for twits on twitter rather than for a (semi) serious politics blog.

But I got an email today informing me that this blog is one year old today, which means that it must be just a little over a year since I realised that my political loyalty lay with the Liberal Democrats. And what a year it’s been....

Starting off by taking up my mums delivery route of only our small road I eventually ended up joining the Liberal Democrats in mid-February, for the hefty price of £1.

Not long after joining I decided to actually get out and help on the front lines, my town Watford was a key battlezone for the Lib-Dems. We run the council, our directly elected mayor Dorothy (now Baroness) Thornhill is a Liberal Democrat and if the polls were to be believed it was a battle we could win. Let’s just take a moment to cackle at the “if the polls were to be believed”.

Done? Good.

During that time campaigning in Watford I met so many people, and I can safely say most of the Lib-Dems I met were some of the nicest people I’ve ever known. If they hadn’t been so welcoming I may not have got as passionately into the Lib-Dems as I did.

Election day was a hive of energy and I canvassed and delivered as much as I could, taking a brief break to attend some unimportant business known as college. At 10PM I left the office and went home.

And then I saw the exit poll. And then the actual results came. Those who know me will know there are a few things I passionately hate in this world, one of them is smoking. And yet, on May 8th, when asked how I was feeling after really thinking about it I replied “I feel like I now truely understand the “I need a fag” feeling”. It was....well I tried kicking various things and I think I managed to scare off a Tory supporting friend who tried to make a joke towards me. It was a bad day.

My main memory of that day was waking up to see Nick Clegg’s email annoucing his resignation to the party. I can stil remember just muttering “Oh....Nick...” and wanting to give the poor bastard a hug.

As the leadership election got into full swing I switched from supporting Lamb to Farron, a man I believed could give a new energy to the down hearted liberals and rebuild our base so we could really get back into action at some point soon.

Since then I’ve come to university and helped form the Liberal Democrat society here, it’s been slow going but it’s getting somewhere. And today I take part in the first meeting for the “Better In” campaign of Hull. I’m looking forward to having a new battle to fight, although god help me working alongside Tories will be an experience.

I’ve made some amazing friends in the Lib-Dems, and met some honestly outstanding and incredible people. Some of my best friends now are fellow Liberal Youthers and I’m booked to attend my first Lib-Dem Conference this March.

It’s been a rough year to be a Liberal, but we’ll be back, and I’m looking forward to many more years of being a proud (and defiant) Liberal Democrat.

[micdotcom]

The first plane of Syrian refugees headed for Canada touched down in the country late Thursday, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on hand to welcome the arrivals. Just a few hundred had landed, but Canada is on track to accept many, many more.

[thepoliticalnoteboo1deac]

This is a video of a Canadian children’s choir singing ‘Tala’ al-Badru 'Alayna’ as a gesture of welcome to the Syrian refugees beginning to arrive in the country. The song, one of Islam’s oldest, is the song Muhammed was sung when he sought refuge in the city of Medina.

Via @HKezvani.

[micdotcom]

Watch: In one quote, President Obama told the nation tonight what we must do about Islamophobia.

[gaywrites]

This Transgender Day of Remembrance, say the names of the 22 trans women who were murdered this year – and take a moment of silence for the victims of transphobia around the world whose names we don’t know.

[iran-daily]

Religious scholar Reza Aslan answers CNN’s question, “Does Islam promote violence?”

[visualistic]

This

[ezekeilreyes]

“Whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all humankind”

Quran 5:32 (via bonnniebennett)

[politicsandrants]

Breastfeeding in the Commons 'would risk tabloid ridicule' - BBC News

Allowing MPs to breastfeed in the House of Commons could risk ridicule from the tabloid press, a former Conservative minister warns.

So the rules on breastfeeding in the Commons shouldn’t be changed because the press might ridicule it?

Anyone thought of the fact that maybe the press should grow up and stop being judgemental of women all the time?

Just a thought.

[politicsandrants]

As a young girl involved in politics i have always taken great comfort and drawn strength in the existence of feminism and what it can offer girls like me. Yesterday i attended the 'Feminism in London' conference and I can honestly say that i came away feeling rejuvenated. In the morning I attended a workshop about the history of feminism which was specifically catered for 12-18 year olds.   It isn't just politics that is personal, politics is woven into feminism which makes politics and feminism a potent combination. It got me thinking about the opportunities for young girls in politics. The patriarchal nature of the political system is intimidating. PMQs pre-Corbyn resembled a swarm of well educated white men all baying to see who could shout louder. As a 16 year old girl I am constantly frustrated with the lack of gender equality within politics. There are several wonderful organisations that exist to help young people become involved in politics, such as Bite the Ballot, but there is barely anything that aids young girls. Entering the political world as a young girl can seem like an impossibility and this is evident when i talk to female friends of my own age. Several of my female friends have expressed their confusion over the political jargon used by high ranking politicians the political processes involved. The problem of not having  women in politics was addressed in a session called, 'women in parliament' which spoke the gender imbalance within the houses of parliament. This session was hosted by '50:50 parliament which calls for gender quotas to be brought into the British political system to deal with the gender inequality` of 29:71 female to male MPs. Whilst i recognize that gender quotas may not be the ideal way forward, for fear of being labelled 'tokenism', i do believe that it could provide many more female role models in politics for young girls such as myself. The Lib Dems received very favourable mentions. Although the 50:50 parliament organisation remained politically impartial through out the talk several of the speakers praised the Lib Dems for  our gender quotas in the EU elections. Tim Farron will be pleased to know that his approach to gender equality was praised during  this conference. . Needless to say I was very proud  that the Lib Dems were being presented as the forerunners for gender equality and at a feminist conference. Even so, there still aren't enough female role models in politics to encourage young girls to take an active interest. A lot more needs to be done. I look forward to having more young women enter politics because being a teenager in politics is an experience that I would commend to any of them.