There are probably as many different political points of view as there are people, and politicians are a notoriously untrustworthy bunch. Is it the case that in reality there is nothing unusual about this government, that I’m just another person who doesn’t like the Tories making a fuss about them? Or is it the case that there is something unusually bad about this government?
Let’s round up some of the evidence:
- Breaches of the ministerial code, which in earlier eras would have led to resignations or sackings, go unpunished.
- The prime minister lies to parliament, and refuses to correct the record even when his lies are called out.
- Billions of pounds are spent by the government on social security and healthcare projects which give rich rewards to consultants and outsourcing companies whilst failing to deliver value to the taxpayer.
- Manifesto promises to maintain a foreign aid commitment of 0.7% of GDP are dropped.
- The government’s response to the fact that it is consistently and regularly shown to be breaking the law is to move to limit the power of the courts and suggest introducing legislation that allows ministers to effectively override the law.
- The government chose to cut £20 per week from universal credit, whilst spending £4 billion on a tax cut for banks.
I could go on. Every day brings more egregious misuses of power, to the point that one exercise of corrupt authority is simply displaced in the news by the next one.
I do not trust the government to use my tax wisely. As a protest against how they use money, I will be giving my November salary to charities – the money that the government would have collected from my income they will have to give to these charities through Gift Aid payments.
The charities I have chosen to give to represent areas in which government should be worki
- Social care – my local foodbank
- Education – the primary school which my children went to, and at which I was a governor for 12 years
- Health – the NHS hospital where my wife has been treated for cancer for seven years
- Foreign Aid – Médecins Sans Frontières.
I invite anybody who feels similarly to join me in this protest. Please do not feel under pressure to do this if you can’t afford it: part of the reason for the protest is on behalf of those who are finding it increasingly difficult to afford to live. You can support this protest by letting other people know about it.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Paul