Britain, please vote

Enoch? All bets are off

I was undecided about the EU Referendum.

Europe was increasingly feeling like a distant and a little too right leaning place to stay in.

So despite the economic arguments I was pondering what Britain might look like outside the EU.

Then last night I was watching the Vote Leave broadcast, which was already looking thin off the ground on the evidence side and presenting rather an insular world.

Finally they finished it all up with a picture of Enoch Powell, famous for his "rivers of blood" speech that never materialized.

My heart fell through the floor.

If that is what Britain wants for its future then I want no part of it.

Decision made.

NHS abuse over criticism

As London goes to the polls to elect the Mayor and assembly and the junior doctor's fight to be allowed into a negotiation over their new contracts, a grieving mother has received verbal abuse.

Sara Ryan who tragically lost her son within the Southern Health NHS trust, has been labelled a "vindictive cow" by someone claiming to be a member of NHS staff.

Sara has been campaigning for accountability within the trust after her son drowned in a bath in the Slade house in Oxfordshire.

Shocking attacks

The message (as reported by The Guardian) started well, with the statement "it's tragic, and I hope you find some closure after the report," but descended into abuse.

A Southern health spokesman is investigating the call.

It is shocking to think that a member of NHS staff would behave in this way, after all a campaign and criticism from a grieving mother should be seen within the context of the loss she has just suffered.

No one is their best self while grieving, especially when that grief is for a child.

Thoughts for the future

I hope that once an investigation has been completed that the trust will identify this alleged member of staff and take them to task.

If you're putting a cross in a box today think carefully about what direction you want the world to go in and which candidate is offering that direction.

Which way now?

I believe that good journalism should underpin the democratic debate.

Alongside my younger brother we put together a short film with interviews in London and Birmingham to address the question of how people currently feel about voting in the UK.

This is a not for profit venture.

Streatham's hustings

Last night there was a general election hustings in Streatham Baptist Church for the local seat.

Six parties were present to contest the seat: Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrat, TUSC and UKIP.

The church was nearly full.

Chuka Umunna who is returning to try and hold his seat put in a patchy performance compared to how strong he has been in the past, he looked dangerously close to resting on his laurels.

The Green and TUSC candidates spoke strongly and are likely to draw Labour votes, challenging Chuka for actions taken by Lambeth council in forcing people out of their housing association properties.

However both the Greens and TUSC are suggesting policies that may cause significant political and economic upheaval in contrast to Labour's slightly more evolutionary approach, it is not clear whether the electorate is ready for these moves.

The Green Party emerged as the most internationally focussed party, seeing problems faced here in Britain as wider issues affecting the international community.

The Liberal Democrat candidate put in a considered performance, aligning herself with the anti-war movement and business concurrently she certainly presented as a leader in waiting and I suspect that she will not disappear.

TUSC also identified themselves as anti-war but picked up the issue of comprehensive education rather than business.

The Conservative candidate seemed weak on policy, making vague comments such as mixed communities being a good thing without offering concrete pledges on actions she would make while in power.

UKIP appeared to only offer a pledge of winning back Britain without any suggestion of exactly what he meant by this statement.

People seem to think that Chuka will win the seat and it is merely a question of lessening his majority.

However, Labour seats have been lost by a split vote in the past, the seat is not won yet.

This is merely a short report of my view on the hustings, I would encourage interested parties to read reports in the local paper.

The votes are in

Boris has won the London mayoral race, again, but it was a tight run thing.

Boris Johnson gained a total of 1, 054, 811 votes, or 51. 5 per cent, to Ken Livingstone, the Labour candidate's, 48.5 per cent in the race for mayor.

Those that went to the polls were still disappointingly low in number according to the BBC.

All those silent voices upset me, if you want them to represent you, you need to vote.

It is no surprise given the state of the country's finances and the levels of youth unemployment, but saddening none the less.

Labour now holds a majority in the assembly, having upped their vote by four seats, the Conservatives have lost two but still retain a sizable minority, the BNP have thankfully been ousted from the chamber - long may they be kept out of politics.

Let's see what forthcoming year's bring.

Voting for the London assembly

So, I've voted and you know what it felt good.

Not because I feel that it will make everything magically perfect, but because I'm saying I want to be part of something.

I want to be involved in what happens in my city.

It doesn't always mean that I'll have time to help with everything.

A wounded city

If I find myself in the middle of another riot I won't necessarily be there with a broom the next day to clear up all the mess.

But the fact that there has been rioting in the areas that I care about has concerned and saddened me and I want to vote for the people who I think also care.

Not the ones that think flinging accusations around and getting heavy handed is the answer, but the ones that recognise there is a serious problem that needs fixing.

Often I feel I am not a large enough part of the solution, but I want to help and that's a good start.

Voting

I also live in a country that seems wise enough to allow people a say in how their world is governed, I am privileged and I want to be a part of that process.

So if you live in London, this is your chance to say something in some small way about where you would like our future to develop.

You don't have to smash everything up.

Just put a few crosses in a few boxes.