Fighters and believers

Films seldom make me cry, but this video shown at Labour Party conference brought tears to my eyes. An elderly gentleman sitting near me in a wheelchair wiped a tear from his cheek. Young Labour supporter Ellie Gellard has also written about how it made her cry. The film was edited to become Labour's party political broadcast following the Queen's speech.

Politics is partly about debate, but there is nothing that anyone could ever say that would persuade me that it's purpose isn't to build social justice.

The Tories have no moral agenda, and the Liberal Democrats are prepared to back them. When I noted this previously, a local Liberal Democrat councillor suggested I read the Independent - well, I do, and the link I've added here is to their report. The logic of Clegg's morally vacuous argument is that if UKIP or the BNP ever got most votes (unlikely as that is given British common sense), the Liberal Democrats would be prepared to back them.

The Equality Bill had it's third reading in the Commons on 2 December 2009. The legal requirement for public authorities to close the gap between rich and poor, and increased protection against age discrimination outside the workplace, makes this more than consolidating legislation against inequality and discrimination; notwithstanding which, local disability and gay rights campaigners tell me they would like the Bill to go further in protection from harrassment.

After the Queen's speech, Cornwall's five MPs put out a press release saying it "contained none of the key measures necessary to help residents in Cornwall". Are they out of touch with the fact that Cornwall has an older and lower paid than average population, much affected by the gap between rich and poor? Everyone is entitled to protection from discrimination. In the event, three of Cornwall's Liberal Democrat MPs voted for the Equality Bill; and two didn't vote - including recent champion of a Cornish census tickbox, Dan Rogerson MP.

The political slogan 'action not words' was coined by suffragettes a century ago, when they were lobbying the three last Liberal governments to change the law so that women could vote. It took until 1918 - it may be a coincidence, but the Liberals haven't formed a government since women got the vote.

I'm Labour because we believe in and fight for change and social justice; and I personally will always do what I can to counter injustice and pull things forward.