A LibDem Perspective - Three Wishes - December 2022
A LibDem Perspective
It started with three. I was giving the annual Christmas polish to my little Aladdin's lamp, and my mind wandered to how I would respond if, like Aladdin, I suddenly found I could have three wishes granted.
The first was an easy and obvious choice, a quick end to the brutal and illegal war being waged by Putin against the innocent civilians of Ukraine, and bringing hardship and misery to countless millions beyond Ukraine's borders. We have all been suffering an unusually extended period of cold weather, but most of us could not imagine living for months at temperatures below those of our domestic freezers, without electricity, and with no roof or windows. We must not allow our Government to waver in its support for Ukraine's amazing people before peace is fully restored.
The second choice was also quite easy. I wish that all our elected politicians would concentrate their efforts on improving the lives of their electorate. Instead of giving or taking large inducements in return for Government contracts, or using their position to obtain enormous fees for speeches abroad or jungle challenges, think about ensuring everyone can eat properly and keep warm. The explosive growth of Foodbanks, and the damage to children's health and educational prospects resulting from failure to offer nourishing free school meals to all, are shameful in such a wealthy country.
But what should my third and final wish be? It could be to see our society place more value on the amazing work of our health, care and educational professionals, rather than allowing limitless bonuses for City bankers whose principal skill is to guess just the right moment to push a button to buy or sell stocks or currencies.
It could be to see our Government take climate change seriously, and not approve the sinking of new coal mines while circling the globe in jets telling others they should abandon coal.
Or how about a grown up attitude towards the EU? The collective political failure to challenge the far right's hardest of hard Brexits has left our farming and fishing industries in disarray, importers and exporters, holidaymakers, scientific researchers, students, musicians and many others with added delays, costs, and red tape. Meanwhile the Truss/ Kwarteng aberration of a 'fiscal event' showed us it was always the international money markets, not Brussels bureaucrats, that were in charge of our economy. We should swallow our pride and start rebuilding EU bridges.
But I'm running out of time. What about housing the homeless, as we do in Rother, so that with an address they can get a job and some hope for the future? What about a justice system that concentrates more on rehabilitation rather than punishment? Restoring trust in the Police?
It's no good, three wishes just won't do it. So I guess my third wish will have to be that you enjoy Christmas as much as you can, and have a much better year ahead. Happy Christmas!
Cllr Kathryn Field