“Sunshine will win the day”

Posted 7 Jun 2014 by Walaa Idris

There has been some furore and excitement in recent weeks about Ukip and their advance in the polls.

No denying they did well in both elections, local and the European, and took votes from almost everyone.

However, I am of the believe that they did so only because most of those who voted for them wanted to send a message and register their dismay with the main parties and British politics as a whole.

In the past that protest vote was the reserve of the LibDems. Now that they are in government, the voters are unrealistically punishing them for it.

If we look at why the LibDems, during this parliament, are doing so poorly in election after election and poll after poll, it does not make any sense. Because in all honestly they are not worse than Labour, they did not break more promises than any party, plus they have delivered some great things while in government!

So why punish them so harshly unless, they were the main protest vote and that vote is now Ukip!?

Those who don’t want Ukip to progress are relieved that they don’t control any councils. But in a way I wish they did. Because it’s the only way we can test them and see how they work in government. Or as in the Greens’ case don’t work. Just look at the Greens controlled Brighton Council. It’s a disaster.

Politics might be showbiz for ugly people, but unlike showbiz, new is not always better. Because politics is not make-believe and there are no scripts to read from or second takes to prefect a scene. It’s real, instant and mistakes in politics can have adverse consequences.

Europe will be Ukip’s biggest test. Their record thus far is not promising. Most of their MEPs don’t bother to show up for votes or contribute to any debate, and are there solely to claim expenses and draw a monthly cheque.

In Newark, although the Conservatives campaigned hard on their record and achievements in government, a trend emerged on the ground. The people of Newark were adamant not to send a Ukipper to Westminster, hence the 52% turnout – which by by-elections standards is high.

That tells me, alongside the feeling of public dismay with mainstream politics; there is still a feeling of sensibleness in Britain’s streets and cities. A sense of unsureness that this new kid on the block is still untested unverified and can’t yet be fully trusted in serious politics. It shows that there is strong anger but also a lot of care to not “cut your nose to spite your face” common-sense.

Mainstream politicians and political parties need to pay a great deal of attention to that anger and address it. This might sound cliché but they need to listen, listen and listen much more than they have been doing.

It’s not at all late; we’re still at the beginning to stop any serious damage from happening.

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