GE2017… Where’s the compassion?

It’s been 10 days since the snap election was announced. Quite rightly, it’s dominating the news…in all its glorious partiality (but that is for another day!) Social media has been filled with information, true and fake news, and opinion. My Twitter and Facebook feeds have been filled with views on the General Election, about what this will mean for them and for the country. I’ve seen countless questions from people trying to educate themselves and learn more about what each government would mean for them. But my observations have shown me that there are too many people out there concerned about what it will mean for them. What about others in our society?

Many of the comments I’ve seen have said Labour will allow mass immigration and there’ll be no jobs left. Others have said they’ll be taxed more under a Labour government and be worse off. I’ve seen questions asking if their mortgage will go up under Labour. There have been the typical comments about not wanting to pay for others welfare because they’re “too lazy to work.” Many of the comments and questions have been valid and I do understand the concerns people have. But what has struck me the most is the lack of compassion and the outright selfishness of many people. I follow like-minded people on Twitter so the comments I see are from compassionate people who even though they might be doing well understand that there are countless others who aren’t. They want a fair country for all regardless of their status in society. I want to address those people who are thinking of themselves and their immediate family.

Let me be clear, I absolutely understand that our first priority must be making sure we are housed, fed and clothed and I’m not suggesting that we give everything away to ensure others fare better. What I’m asking is how much do we really need?

My husband has a good job and he is on a decent salary. I work part time and earn a fraction of what he does. He pays 40% tax plus his National Insurance on top. He earns just enough to mean we don’t qualify for child benefit for our children. On paper, between us, we have a great income. Factor in a house, bills and 3 children, there’s never much left after pay day. I’m not complaining. I’m just outlining my situation. Under a Labour government we might be worse off. Whilst we have our jobs we will probably fare the same under any government. We both work in the private sector for companies that provide pensions, life cover, private healthcare for us and our children. We are very fortunate. So, he pays 40% tax, as do many people. And we don’t receive any child benefit payments. We don’t live a flash life. Our house is modest and my car is basic and a few years old. Halfway through the month I’m usually into my overdraft to buy the weekly shop. However, there’s food on the table, clothes on our backs and the bills are paid. We have it far easier than so many people out there.

Under a Labour government we might be a bit worse off. I don’t know. And I don’t care. My husband’s 40% tax plus NI will be going towards helping others have a better life. That’s what I care about. I’m outraged that we work hard and contribute a high percentage of our salaries to a Conservative government which takes money from disabled people. Which has plunged the country into the worst poverty in decades, which cuts funding from education under the pretence of setting up better schools, which has decimated our NHS to the point where nurses are having to go to foodbanks because they can’t survive on their wages. A government which is selling off our public assets to the highest bidder at such an alarming rate whilst charging us more to get the train or bus into work. A government that wants to frack our land for profit instead of investing in clean energy. A cruel Tory government that puts profit before people yet has almost tripled national debt. I hate that I’m paying for this government to rape our land, demoralise our public sector workers, punish our vulnerable in society whilst giving huge tax breaks to billionaire CEOs.

I grew up in the eighties to a young, single mum who had to go back to work full time in a factory where she worked long hours for poor pay. She never received a penny from my dad. We lived with my grandparents and my auntie and uncles. It was cramped! I was one of just a few kids on free school dinners and I hated it. I never went on the school trip to France. I told my mum I didn’t want to go and I suspect she was beyond relieved that she didn’t have to try and find the money for that. And if I had’ve gone I know she would’ve turned to the Provvy (The Provident for those who aren’t from Merseyside!) woman she’d used in the past who would charge interest at an extortionate rate. When we moved out of my grandparents house when I was 9 I watched her go around Kwik Save with a calculator adding up the shopping in case she didn’t have enough money in her purse. I know what it’s like to grow up without money and I know the shame it can bring. Even back then we were better off than many. And I was loved. That’s the main thing. But I often wonder what would’ve happened if we hadn’t had family. How would my mum have coped without a family? How could she have worked? Who would’ve looked after me? When I hear complaining about people on benefits they have an image in their head of a lazy, uneducated person. There are people who defraud the system but they are a miniscule number (although mainstream media won’t tell you that!) The vast majority are desperate to be out of their situation. Many on benefits are working but are not earning enough to live. That is shocking!

Don’t mistake my intention in writing this blog. I do not want to come across as holier than thou (I’m far from it) or to be seen as preaching from my soap box. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by (both in my personal life and in my social media life) really decent, compassionate people who do want a better world for us all. I’m addressing those who aren’t thinking outside of their little bubbles and seeing what a Labour government can do for everyone. I’ve felt so angry, upset and disheartened by the terribly selfish comments I’ve come across since this GE was announced and I needed to vent. I’m not analytically minded. I write as I would speak and I write about my observations.

I’d be happy to give even more tax if it meant it was getting spent wisely. If it was helping those less fortunate have better lives. If it was making our NHS brilliant. If it was going towards looking after our elderly. If it was making state education great for all. Imagine how the country would thrive with happier, cared for people.

It’s not about me or you. It’s about US.