The Cost of Staying Alive

The recent local elections and the swing from Labour to Conservative in many areas have resulted in commentary on the obvious aspects to political allegiance.

Yet the apparent approval of Boris Johnson’s Tories does not mean that they are ‘popular’.

Above - A nice house with a garden in an increasingly impossible dream for most people

Kevan James

What it means is that many voters see no viable alternative. There is no party other than the Conservatives who are thought of as being able to realistically deliver anything. People are describing themselves as ‘politically homeless’ however and are looking for something other than the two traditional parties of government. Yet both of them – Conservative, Labour and their MPs - are very removed from the reality of life for people across the UK.

We seriously doubt whether it is possible for a new party to be formed, funded, develop a comprehensive set of policies and field candidates in all 650 constituencies in time for the next general election. So we are probably stuck with what we have.

And what we have has dismally failed to represent real people and real lives. For all the posturing, point-scoring, palpable nonsense over Brexit, the NHS and the shambolic, stultifying, confusing and oppressive moves over COVID-19, no Member of Parliament, no government minister, and no elected representative anywhere, of any party or persuasion, has said or done anything that reflects the needs of the people they serve.

The cost of merely staying alive continues to rise and rise; water, heating, eating, clothing on one’s back and shoes on one’s feet, are going beyond the means of increasing numbers. And even the most basic and necessary part – that of having somewhere to live, is rising to the point where the numbers of homeless will rise also.

And this despite ongoing remarks from politicians about building yet more houses; houses that people cannot afford and on land we cannot afford to lose.

Driven by the naked greed of property developers, estate agents and many landlords, tenants continue to be second-class (or lower) citizens. With no rights, feelings or emotions and subject to the whims of those who lord it over them, tenants endure unfair conditions imposed on them and can be thrown on to the street with no recourse and nowhere to go. Rents rise remorselessly but mortgage payers also are still subject to the abusive over-pricing of homes and with the effects of the COVID-19 restrictions still to be fully felt, many will be unable to pay the absurd price of having somewhere to live.

Yet not one single MP has spoken out against this. Why not? Is it not time to compel those insulated in the House of Commons by comfortable salaries and expense accounts, to look at the real lives of real people?

We believe it is.

©KJM Today 2021