Tories – dzx2.net – Daniel D. Z. Zylbersztajn

Nach dem konservativen Parteitag: Heilung der Fronten des Landes und Torysieg in den Sternen.

October 4, 2019October 4, 2019by Daniel Z. Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

Mit dem Angebot eines neuen Brexitauszugdeals von der Regierung Boris Johnsons, unmittelbar nach dem Ende der konservativen Parteitages, ging leider ein Teil meiner Reportage in der taz unter, nämlich was sich nach der Konferenz vor dem Konferenzzentrum noch ereignete.

Bericht aus Manchester.

Wer den Menschenmengen vor dem Konferenzzentrum glaubt, dann endet die Fähigkeit Boris Johnsons das Land für sich gewinnen und zu vereinen, bereits 100 Meter außerhalb des Konferenzzentrums in Manchester.

Vor dem Kongresszentrum und der Sicherheitszone werden die den Parteitag verlassenden Delegierten von einer lauten und kleinen Demonstration von einigen 100 Frauen empfangen, die der Vereinigung Waspi (Women against state pension inequality). Ella Bennett einer der Sprecherinnen erzählt, dass sie hier sind, weil ihr Rentenalter, ihrer Meinung nach ungerecht, erhöht wurde. „Wir waren auch bei den Parteitagen der Liberaldemokraten in Bournemouth und der Labourpartei in Brighton, konnten da aber umsonst oder billigst Infostände innerhalb deren Konferenzzentrums führen. Hier bei den Konservativen wäre die Gebühr dafür zu hoch gewesen, behauptet sie. Von den vorbeigehenden Delegierten, hätten die meisten die Gruppe ignoriert, statt auf sie zu zugehen, hätten ihnen manche sogar Toryplakate entgegengehalten um sie zu hänseln, schildert sie.

Gleich daneben hält Dave, 67, eine Ein-Mann Kampagne für Brexit aus seinem Rollstuhl heraus und trägt ein Schild, dass ihn jemand aus dem Konferenzzentrum gebracht hat, dass „Get Brexit done“ fordert. Er hat Fahnen aufgehängt, darunter die englische und die britische. „Alles was ich will, ist dass Boris uns Brexit gibt, damit wir nicht mehr eine Milliarde Pfund pro Monat an die EU zahlen müssen, und ich will, dass nur noch Migranten mit bestimmten Fähigkeiten. „Wir brauchen Einwanderer. Sie helfen unserem Land, aber nicht Leute ohne Ausbildung.“

Neben ihm steht eine kleine Gruppe mit gegenteiliger Meinung, Es sind Remainer*Innen – EU-Unterstützer*Innen, ausgestattet mit EU-Fahnen, EU-Kappen und Ansteckern. In dem konservativen ehemaliger Stadtrad, Ian Proud, 75, aus Westlondon, der gerade vom Parteitag kommt, haben sie einen Diskussionspartner für ein Wortgefecht gefunden. Proud spricht vom „demokratischen Entschluss des Landes im Jahr 2016“ und den seiner Meinung nach fürchterlichen Plänen der EU für eine Armee, die konträr “britischen Interessen” stünden. „Das ist eine Lüge!“ giftet Adam Purkins, 32, zurück, in der linken Hand eine Europafahne. „Als ehemals konservativer Wähler, habe ich das Vertrauen zu Euch verloren. Das Referendum glich doch einer Meinungsumfrage, und Großbritannien hat außerdem ein Veto bezüglich den Plänen einer EU-Armee.“ Außerdem verhandelte David Cameron weitere Konzessionen bezüglich der immer enger angebundenen Union ausgehandelt.“

Ein älterer Mann, Jeffrey, 74, er will seinen Nachnamen nicht nennen, gesellt sich plötzlich hinzu. Auch er will Proud, der für ihn hier repräsentativ für “die Tories” steht, seine Meinung sagen. „Ich bin ein ehemaliger Grubenarbeiter aus Manchester. Was ihr Konservativen wollt ist nicht das, für was ich beim Referendum gewählt habe“, schimpft er. „Ich wählte Brexit für unsere Fischereirechte, um eine 1-A Insel zu schaffen, und um Kontrolle über unsere Grenzen wiederzuerlangen. Und jetzt bekamen wir diesen Boris, für den niemand gewählt hat, der jeder Frau hinterher läuft und macht und obendrauf eine Grenze zu Nordirland aufbauen will,, obwohl ihr versprochen hattet, dass ihr das nicht tun würdet.“ Eine junge Frau, die sich nun auch mit einmischt, betont, sie stimme mit Jeffrey überhaupt nicht überein. Ihr Argument ist dass jeglicher Brexit alles das was bereits jetzt nicht richtig funktioniere, noch schlechter machen würde.

Von einer Heilung der sich verhärteten Fronten durch die Beschlüsse der Konservativen, gibt es jedenfalls hier vor dem Konferenzzentrum in Manchester noch keine Spur, und das leichtes Gewinnen etwaiger nächster Wahlen, welches sich die Konservativen mit ihrem Program versprechen, steht somit auch noch in den Sternen, etwa hinter dem Orbit in den Boris Johnson bei seiner Ansprache am Abend mit der DUP den Labourführer Jeremy Corbyn wegschießen wollte.

Anthony Webber, ein britischer Kolumnist, und ehemaliger Abgeordneter Guernseys, der auf alle Parteitage geht und sich die Rede Johnsons ansah, glaubt beim Verlassen des Konferenzzentrums, dass der wahre Test Johnsons Fähigkeit sein wird, seinen Brexit überhaupt zu liefern. “Wenn er das nicht schafft, sind im Grunde die Reformen der Labourpartei viel großzügiger für ärmere Menschen, als die der Konservativen”, glaubt er. Er wittert Gefahr für die Tories.

commentary, TAZ (Die Tageszeitung), Uncategorized

In English Please!

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016by Daniel Z. Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

Mein Kommentar zu Cameron und seine Englischklassen für Musliminen in Deutsch hier in der Taz http://www.taz.de/Sprachkurse-fuer-Musliminnen/!5269263/

Full English translation of my comment on David Cameron in taz today, just in case some Brits don’t speak other languages:

David Cameron wants to invest 20 Million Pound in order so that Muslim women can learn English. Yes that is right, only women, in fact only Muslim women. And should they come through a family unification to Britain, they will have to have to take language classes within two and half years of arrival.

This is because Cameron believes that these women are not to be integrated without an ability to speak English, and this condition causes radicalisation, FGM and forced marriages.

In fact there are locations in which 20 percent of female migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh do not speak English. Womens’ organisations confirm that at times this is due to the control of their husbands. But also many non Muslim migrants may have deficits in the English language, and some even think that quite a few Brits by birthright are not in possession of good English.

So it is astonishing that out of all things the budgets of local colleges was highly cut, exactly the places where many learn English, and that since the beginning of the austerity era, 32 organisations who specialised in helping oppressed women , had to shut due to lack of funds.

In many of Cameron’s new measures one can see above all one thing: He is a true Tory, who without a coalition partner finds himself in a situation that is just as socially isolated and who acts just as ignorantly, as apparently these women.

Uncategorized

Tear the Housing Bill apart like once the bust of Lenin!

December 13, 2015December 13, 2015by Daniel Z. Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

lub — (c) 2015 Daniel Zylbersztajn, All Rights Reserved

This 1954 famous council building by Berthold Lubetkin near King’s Cross in Central London used to be called “Lenin Court.”Lubetkin tried to bring “the quality housing for all” principle from the USSR to England. There was even a statue of Lenin inside the courtyard. But it was destroyed so often by anti-Communists that in the end the council (at the time Finsbury) decided to rename the building. The building was meant to give social housing council tenants the best available at the time, and the building still stands proudly 60 years on, still serving many people on “lower incomes” in London.

The contemporary residents are quiet and mostly well behaved and take care of the surroundings with wild flower gardening for example. Many are small families of working people. It is projects like these that will become full private estates, if the Tory Housing Bill remains unchallanged. A council tenant unfortunate enough to earn just over £40.000 (London rate) is supposed to rent here on “full or near market-rate” under proposals of the new Housing Bill ( https://www.gov.uk/…/fair-rents-will-ensure-higher-earning-…). A flat (one bed) costs between £2000-£3000 to rent a month in this area of Central London. Go telly up, if a small family with a combined income of about £45.000 can afford this?

People on such incomes are instead brandished as suckers and the policy is being sold to the country as “fair.” Naturally it is to raise money towards the national debt, approx £250 million a year, we hear. That not being enough, the new five year lid on the right to live in council and housing association flats, will create uncertainty and lack of care for the neighbourhood or the building. Gone will be the wild flower community projects, or safety for pensioners in the confidence of knowing all the neighbours.

Who thought out a policy such as this? Only people with no connection to realities of people’s lives, in other words a bunch of a certain species of elected politicians. You do not need to be a Communist to understand that this does not come from a caring and sound political mind, but from ideologists prepared to sacrifice small families and lower waged people. Yes In Central London £45.000 in a small family budget is perhaps more than some but still low. But Brandon Lewis the Housing Minister calls it totally just and”fair” to take away some £25-35.000 of that.

And they tore down Lenin’s bust because his ideologies were unsound during the cold war? There can be no doubt, Lenin was an unruly ideological tyrant, but how come the Conservatives, who thought this one out, can escape political judgement of something so evidently unethical and unsound‪?

And if you think this is going to boost home ownership, think again. A family on even 50.000 Pounds can neither buy outright nor purchase a share, if the remainder is to be served up on market rate.

When ideology affects negatively real lives so fundamentally (as it has done with people in social care too), than the public must wake up and tear down the posters of the Neocon leaders too, just like with the Lenin bust or at least shred their Housing Bill to pieces!

Uncategorized

Two comments on British Affairs – Zwei Kommentare zu Großbritannien

July 21, 2015by Daniel Z. Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

Letzte Woche gab es von mir zwei Kommentare in der Taz zu britischen Themen.

1.) Über den Kandidaten für die Labourspitze Jeremy Corbyn.18/8/15

taz_2015_07_18old labour

2.) Über das Streikrecht in Großbritannien: Angriff auf die Labourparty (Strike reforms, an attack on Labour) 16/07/15

taz_2015_07_17StrikeLabour

Korrektur: Der Daily Mail gehört zu DMG Media nicht R. Murdoch

TAZ (Die Tageszeitung)

Wahlnotizen aus Essex – Election Notes from Essex

May 3, 2015May 3, 2015by Daniel Z. Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

Zusätzliche Bilder und Text aus Essex zum Taz Wahlvorbericht Großbritannien (Johnson / Zylbersztajn) (Hier: taz.de/Unterhauswahl-in-Grossbritannien/!159231/)

Pictures and text supplementing the pre-election text in the German taz weekend (read here Johnson / Zylbersztajn: taz.de/Unterhauswahl-in-Grossbritannien/!159231/)

“Mitten in Essex liegt Benfleet, eine dreiviertel Stunde mit dem Zug entfernt von Londons Finanzbezirk. Die meisten der fast 50.000 Einwohner sind Wohnungseigentümer mit einer ungewöhnlich niedrigen Anzahl von Sozialwohnungen unter fünf Prozent.”

In the Middle of Essex you find Benfleet, 45 minutes by train from within the London financial district. The majority of the 50.000 residents are home owners, with an unusual low figure of socially rented flats.

“Auch hier bestrafte man letztes Jahr die Torys mit den lilafarbenen Pfundsymbol gewappneten Männern.”

It is here too, that the tories were punished by the men wearing the purple emblem.

Rebecca Harris, die hier seit dem Jahr 2010 den Sitz Castle Point, zu dem auch Benfleet gehört, in Westminster vertrat, will einen Sieg des Ukip Kandidaten in den Nationalwahlen verhindern. Sie erzählt von immer wieder heruntergerissenen Plakaten und wie Ukip versuche mit Gerüchte und irrelevanten Argumenten Punkte zu sammeln, beispielsweise mit der Tatsache, dass sie nicht in der Gegend lebe. „Der Ukip Kandidat ist selber erst im März hier hergezogen und gibt sich jetzt als Einheimischer aus. Der Kandidat der aber hier am längsten wohnt ist der von Labour!”

Rebecca Harris is the Conservative MP of Castle Point,of which Benfleet is a part. She wants to prevent Ukip entering parlament. She states that many of her posters are torn down, and how UKIP creates rumours about her, and would point at the fact that she would not live here. “However,” she points out, “the UKIP candidate only moved here in March, and now claims he is a native. The only person who lived here for a long time is the Labour man.”

Polierer Lee O’Brian, will eigentlich Ukip wählen. Doch das Argument, dass eine Stimme für Ukip die schottischen Nationalisten mit Labour in die Regierung bringen könnte macht ihn Sorgen.

The French Polisher Lee O’Brian wants to vote for UKIP. “Most jobs in the building industry are undercut by Easter Europeans,” he argues. But an entry of the SNP into government alongside Labour worries him.

Obwohl die Konservativen und Ukip überall plakatieren und vehement Wahlkampf führen, ist der Enthusiasmus für die einen oder die anderen begrenzt.. Bei den Lokal-und-Europawahlen im letzten Jahr gaben hier 69% Prozent keinen Wahlzettel ab. Köchin Kerry Bird, 46, wird verrät, dass sie genausowenig einen Stimmzettel abgeben werde, wie der neunzehnjährige Spielplatzgestalter Lian Kavaha. Der hat sich noch nicht einmal registrieren lassen, damit er wählen kann.

Altough Ukip and the Conservatives put up placards all over the place, and the battle seems real, many people feel they can not get enthused by all the fuss. At the last elections in 2014 69% of the locals did not vote at all. Cook Kerry Bird, 46, does not want to vote at all. Lian Kahava, 19, a play ground designer, has not even registered to vote, he says.

Doch diese Herren im “Conservative Club” von Benfleet sind sich sicher, dass sie für die Conservatives wählen werden.

But these gentlemen in the Conservative Club of Benfleet say they will vote only for the tories.

Markiert durch die unmittelbare Nähe zur Themse, mit kommerziellen und Privaten Anlegerstellen und Fabriken wie der Pharmakonzerns Proecter Gamble, sieht man im unauffälligen Stadtzentrum merklich viele Ein-Pfund Billigläden und „Cash Converter“, Geschäfte in denen man Gebrauchtes für Geld eintauschen kann. Grays, ein paar Hanltestellen von Benfleet entfernt, ist auch die Geburtsstadt des Komikers und bekannten Lobbyisten Russell Brand. Er forderte, dass keiner wählt, und so beim politischen Spiel nicht mitzumachen, und einige vor Ort bestätigen diese Ansicht, obwohl sie das nicht wegen ihm tun, sondern aus eigenem Missmut zur Politik.

Being near to the Thames, with many commercial and private harbours, and many factories like the pharamceutical company Proecter Gamble, Grays is a town that is not very distinct from many others, except for its unusual high amount of One Pound shops and cash converter stores. It also the former home of Russell Brand, who argues famously that people should not vote. Many echo his views here, though their non affection for the political game is genuinely theirs.

Trotzdem liegt Ukip Kandidat Tim Aker laut Vorhersagen vier Prozent vor Labour und fünf Prozent vor den Konservativen.

In spit of this the UKIP candidate Tim Aker is leading the polls.

Mitten in der Fußgängerzone steht Ukip zu trotz ein Einwandererladen „Europa“. Die rumänische Verkaufsassistentin Elena Nistor, sagt die Engländer beschreiben uns so, wie sie selber sind.

Amidst the pedestrianised centre stands a Europe store, as if to spite UKIP. Romanian shop assistant Elena Nstor claims that the English describe them in a way, that applies much more to themselves.

Auch Barkan Ozgur, 22, mit türkischen Familienhintergrund, der im türkischen Grilllokal Asya Mangal gleich neben dem Bahnhof von Grays arbeitet, behauptet. „Grays ist ein Scheißloch“! „90 Prozent leben hier von der Sozialhilfe, und davon sind viele alleinstehenden Eltern“, weiß er zu wissen“. Obwohl dies übertriebenen ist, nur 13% der Bewohner erhalten Sozialhilfe, nationaler Durchschnitt, stimmen ihm die vier anderen Anwesenden zu. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass der Großteil der Sozialwohnungen, bis zu 14-Stoeckige graue Hochhäuser, fünf Minuten von hier stehen. „Wir sind die einzigen, die hier arbeiten!“, behauptet auch Wesley Mears, ein 32-jaehriger Projektmanager, dessen Eltern aus der Karibik stammen und weiter „Die weißen Jungs wollen weder für einen Job an einen anderen Ort reisen, noch haben sie oft die notwendige Ausbildung“, glaubt er, und wieder sind sich alle einig.

Barkan Ozgur, 22 who works in a Turkish grill opposite the station says, “Grays is a shit hole. 90 percent of the people who live here do not work here.” That is exaggerated, as only 13 percent of the residents receive benefits, that is quite the national average. But maybe it is because a lot of the council flats of the area are situated five minutes behind the shop, including some 14 storey high tower blocks. Wesley Mears,32, of African-Caribbean background argues, that white English boys are inflexible when it comes to work: They don’t like travelling to another place for work and often lack the right qualifications. We are the only ones who work here.”

(c) Daniel Zylbersztajn Ukip Poster in der Mitte. Wohnung in einem Sozialwohnungsbau in Grays. | “Ukip Poster in the middle” Housing Estate in Grays

Der Antikenhändler Mark Johnston, 53, sieht das vollkommen anders, er wir Ukip seine Stimme geben: „Mein jüngerer Sohn hat keinen, der von uns bevorzugen Grundschulplätze bekommen.“ Johnston behauptet, das liege an der Einwanderung von den Osteuropäern. Er sei kein Rassist, hätte sogar polnische Freunde, aber er versteht Grays als bedroht, weil Osteuropäer aus den dort ärmsten Gegenden hier her kämen und sich dementsprechend unmanierlich benehmen würden.

The antique dealer Mark Johnston, 53 wishes to vote for UKIP. He says he could not get his preferred choice of primary school for his younger son and blames Eastern Europeans for that. He claims he is not a racist, and that he even has Polish friends. But Grays would be threatened by Eastern Europeans who come from the poorest areas of Eastern Europe and they would behave themselves accordingly, he says.

Ian Davies, 39, in der Tierhandlung gegenüber, umzingelt von Fischtanken, beschreibt sich als den Konservativen verbunden. Seine Stimme kriege jedoch nur jene Partei, welche in den nächsten Tagen am wenigsten dreckigen Tricks spiele. Seine zur Wahl skeptischen erwachsenen Kinder musste er zur Wahl überreden „Das geht nur“, meint Davies im Hintergrund eines kreischenden Papageis, „wenn Politik glaubwürdig und aufrichtig bleibt“.

Ian Davis from a small animal shop argues he is committed to the Tories. But he will only give those the vote who play fairly in the next few days. He says he had to convince his parents to vote and continues, whilst a parrot makes itself heard in the background, that this would only be possible if politicians remain trustworthy and truthful.

Seltener sind die Spuren der Labouranhänger!

Much rarer are traces of Labour supporters.

Uncategorized

Manifesto Review. UKIP, LIBDems, SNP, Labour and Tories.

April 16, 2015April 21, 2015by Daniel Z. Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

Below you will find my notes on Lib Dems, Conservatives, The Greens, and UKIP Manifestos.

Many people speak about the budget, the austerity cuts and the NHS, and truly that is what bost people in Britain look for in the manifestos, except when you are a UKIP supporter and the only measure of things is the membership to the EU. However reading the manifestos has actually high merit because one recognizes the general political zeitgeist.

One of the really positive things from most manifestos is the drive towards more equality on gender and sexuality and general tightening of discrimination. Even UKIP cough up references on tolerance. The Greens make equality their main theme, but it is also a theme for the Lib Dems and Labour.

However both Conservatives and of UKIP could mean that Britain soon leaves the European Human Rights Court and the guarantees it gives, not to speak of European migration issues and the freedom of movement.

One point UKIP fails but all other parties more than recognise on is actually another, a comprehensive and deep understanding on climate change. Not one of the four others excludes the topic. Whilst the Conservatives are less specific and comprehensive on on it than the Lib Dems, and the Greens the two most elaborate parties on this, as well as Labour, you have a feeling that they felt they needed to act, both on grounds of negotiated global targets and because of the accusation that their aims as the new green party on the block announced last time around where not acted upon.

Education is another key area beyond the budget and the NHS. All parties seem to believe more child care is better, though there are huge differences in outlook. The Conservatives believe in an increase of free schools and tight testing. Labour on the other hand is against free schools. The ib Dems and the Greens are the only two who would take school curriculum development away from state, whilst the Greens are the only party that talks about school to start only at 7 like around the world, and that there must be a new emphasis on the inter-social.

If you like a breath of fresh air it is well worth saving through the Lib Dem and the Green party manifestos. Labour, whilst more socially attune than the Conservatives are not as radical and several issues as Miliband makes us believe. However the reality of the questionable first past the post system will have it that this will remain a race between Labour and the Conservatives.

Of course at the end it is the deficit and austerity and how much needs to be cut that many people ask. The Conservatives stand alone with a fast repay, followed by the Lib Dems in their thought on necessity. Labour remains rather vague on how much the deficit will go down, whilst the Greens feel it is time to invest as the economy changes and new jobs and relationships will transform society.

As a press person I also noticed the Lib Dem reaction to Wikileaks and similar. Newspapers and the Media should be able to argue for exceptional special freedoms in court if their investigative journalism brings to light corruption, and human rights abuse, and infringements on liberty and the like. Most other parties at mention references to Leveson and the need of a charter.

The best policy that UKIP offers and biannual people’s referenda on major policy issues, however such votes whilst they increase democracy, will also come with a price tag.

Many parties are making huge promises on the NHS, even UKIP finds somehow 12 Billion Pounds, the largest amount of all parties.

on with my notes which were first shown on my facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/dzx2.net/

UKIP

So read the ‪#‎UKIP‬ Manifesto. Here are some of the points I picked up:
The ‪#‎UKIPManifesto‬ is interesting to read because it is not as far removed from reality as some may believe to be, though some policies may let some raise eye brows, such as their cavalier attitude towards the climate change targets (they are not mentioned. Their key policy is the stop of EU membership which has a set of consequences. Their trade vision is global, and they talk of Japan, China and the U.S. alongside Europe as equal partners. They also want to leave the European Court of ‪#‎HumanRights‬.

But it insists that Britain is and UKIP is a as a party tolerant. One of its policies states however to work against policies in the name of “multiculturalism that are divisive.”

They are against the keeping of data of innocent people, but the DNA samples and similar foreigners to be sentenced abroad are to be kept.

They like the budget for the ‪#‎NHS‬ to be lifted to £12bn and reintroduce housing benefit for the under 25s. To save costs it wants to abolish three departments, and offices, the Environment and Climate Change department, the National Service Office and the Big Society Office, the the Department of Overseas Aid.

They like to see an increase to police and security personnel
and a moratorium on ‪#‎unskilled‬ migration for 5 years. Generally they want an Australian point system on migration.

On housing they support new builds on brown fields and they support the right to buy option.

Big housing projects should be able to be opposed with 5% of local votes, there are to be biannual referenda on the most important issues of parliament to give back democracy. They are pro fracking and want to abolish incentives in wind and solar power as only hydro would work, they say. To solve the airport crisis they suggest the opening of a small airport that was closed. HS2 is to be scrabbed, and there are several pro car policies such as a 25 yr rule on classic cars excise duty release, ending toll roads, and decreasing speed cameras. They also are opposed to any pay as you drive schema, part of some environmental policies of others.

The ‪#‎Smokingban‬ is to be reviewed according to UKIP to add smoking rooms to pubs, and micro-breweries are to be assisted. As ‪#‎FGM‬ is non-British, it is specifically mentioned in the section on “British culture” as an issue that needs to be watched by all agencies involved. Similarly they specifically mention sham marriages and honour killings as to be watched. I wonder if it tells us something about how UKIP views certain migrants and how they position themselves against them?
They support the NATO 2 percent investment (they still like to be member of that) and support the nuclear deterrent option and ‪#‎Trident‬.
They are big on animal welfare but also pro GM.

Taxationwise they have a three tear system between normal tax, 30% for mid level earners and 40% for high earners

Those studying Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine will be excluded from tuition fees. They like to create schools that look after kids between 08.00 and 18.00 and during the holidays.

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LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

The #LibDemManifesto. The first thing to mind is the size of the Manifesto of the #LiberalDemocrats. 158 pages, almost double the amount necessary by Labour, the Conservatives or the Greens, whilst there are thinned down easy read versions available I thought!

Once you have a look at manifesto number four (after Greens, Conservatives, Lib Dem), it becomes clear that all parties have decided on several key areas which are the same, based on assessments of what they thought are important. With the Lib Dems you even recognise this on the cover page. #LowCarbon Economy, Education, fight climate change, raise personal allowance, £8 bn for #NHS, emphasising in particular the Mental Health system, it says in colourful blocks.

The comprehensive copy of the LibDem Manifesto is well worth reading. It is mature and understands global challenges such as on the climate. It also knows how to work things out from the inside. But they do mostly without the dogmas of other parties work hard gain much, although their policy is not that much different it aims to emphasise positives. As LibDems their policies on the economy but also on rights in general,, democracy and human rights shine out as much as an incredibly strong drive on meeting the climate change targets, though some will be disappointed about their position on nuclear.

On the economy the Lib Dems intend to balance the books, but like Labour intend to do it in a fairer way. In that way they intend to upkeep taxation as a way to reduced the budget and be able to use a more sustainable percentage from 2017/2018. They say that would be the fairer way forward. They feel that further cuts to public services would be unsustainable. A big diagram states they will cut less than the Tories and borrow less than Labour.

Many of their policies are based on what has already been set during the coalition, including building on new banks, the New Green Investment Bank, and the building of #HS2 and double innovation in the next government. One of the familiar themes, supported by most parties is their drive to apprenticeship increase and the regional growth fund, which they label success. The financial policies are directional rather than specific, like wanting to support more alternative financing like crowdfunding and supporting an independent #Banko England. If they had their wy they would like to introduce Land Value Tax. Interesting is their commitment to set a zero carbon economy by 2050, they want more legally binding targets on pollution and inadequate resource use and put the Green agenda on the list of the NHS and school priorities. They have the most interesting policy on airport expansion, being opposed to the expansion of any of the London airports and rather seeing this as an issue for Britain as a whole. Airports should not interfere with the 2050 zero carbon policy. Like the Greens they specify of the need of energy reduction. By 2030 60% of the energy should come from renewables, however they remain open on nuclear energy and on fracking but insist on stringent safety. 70% of waste should be recycled they argue. They also like to create more national parks where local communities want it. One tree is to be planted fpr each baby born, amounting to 750.000 trees a year. They like to support all EU emission and pollution standards. They will introduce a Green Transport Act, a Zero Carbon Britain Act, and a Green Buildings Act (to include insulation regulation). 300.000 new homes to be built per year with new rent to own housing and 10 new Garden Cities. They like to ban letting agent fees to keep rental costs down and consider licensing rental, and rent repayment orders where rental properties are deficient of standards.

Their increase of #personalallowance is the same as the Conservatives, £12500 and they state they like to introduce free child care for two year olds, and free child care of up to 20 hours fr children up to 4 years old and expand the shared paternity leave and make child care up to £2000 tax free. Like Labour they support a mansion tax set at a £2 M threshold and wish to ensure there are no ore tax loopholes. On benefits they support the Tories Universal Credit. The fuel allowance and TV licence for pensioners is to be means tested. The Lib Dem education policy is based on fairness and access and making sure qualified teachers ensure set standards in numeracy and reading and writing. However interestingly they mention the #Education Endowment Foundation in order to establish what world in education rather than pre assume politically what works (e..g. Tories grammar schools), and an Educational Standards Authority that is totally removed from ministerial interference. They also specifically mention the teaching of religious and non religious views. Other policies they mention are for looked after children and a 2/3 reduction on bus for young people between 16-21 years. The abolish tuition fees promise is gone, they focus instead on making the student debt repay as fair as possible and helping those who most need it to study.

On rights they would like a digital bill and freedom of rights act introduced to protect from undue governmental interference or spying. They champion equality on gender and sexuality and like to see a continuation of it, with targets of 30% of women in companies boards. They also like to increase legislation for secular ceremonies allowing humanist weddings for example. To make employment more equal they like to have name blank recruitment in the public sector. Interestingly on freedom of press, they like to allow journalists special and exceptional powers to break the law in order to expose and judicial approval before journalists have to give free their sources. They are generally supportive of penal reform, including special education programmes for drug offenders, and to review both #LegalAid. They also want to permit cannabis for medical use and review the experiments on legalisation elsewhere. They support on the other hand strong border checks (exit and entry) and want to continue employment and school checks. But #EUmigration is not to be interfered with, although they will tighten some rules like on child benefit to children abroad. Loss of life in the Mediterranean trafficking is supposed to be worked with on a united approach. Despite having lost out on parliamentary reform in the last government they want to continue to work for a reform of the house of lords an proportional governmental representation. Parliament must also become more family friendly with more job shares on offer. Naturally they support the devolution and decentralisation processes. Their foreign and defence policies are mature with many specific examples. They explain why they kept the NATO 2% spending requirement and know what challenges lie ahead. However crucially they see defence as a partnership with others arrangement rather than one of sole lead. Economically they support the EU market and #Ttips. Their overseas Aid is supposed to be kept at 0.7% with aims on eradicating poverty and discrimination and promote sustainability.

The Greens

The #GreenPartyManifesto spends much time explaining its rational, going through the fact that resources are finite, and that if all people on earthy consumed the same as in the UK we needed three earths, if as much as in the US four earth. They seem most closely to understand voters apathy and dissatisfaction with current politics. Their starting thesis is that they do not believe that the economy is a dire as indicated. More important than growth they argue is equality. They like to stop measuring the UK by GDP but instead by Adjusted National Product which would take into account the environment and unpaid work performed at home. The policies are in part well argued, it looks like experts are behind many of them, for example on the school policy, certainly on their environmental policy. The #Greens surprise with costing at the end of the chapter though whilst they save 21 bn the costs of spending will go up, but it is assumed that the economy will improve through the equality based and environmental system they propose. If the policies of Labour and the Conservatives may only excite in part as new approaches, the Greens come up with a wealth of ideas and policies missing from current political debates. On the other hand some of their policies may need proper checks if they are not to be abused, such as their family unification policy for immigrants. Without prospects of the Greens becoming the winning party in May, some of what they propose could be a useful point of departure in potential coalition or even as a guide to the larger parties how they could enrich their thinking. The Greens make use of pointing at failures over the New Labour and the Conservative / Lib Dem coalition, for example the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Some ideas are merely directive, but others are very clear we will, we will not, many with a price tag. What the Greens do further well herein is to explain the background to each policy, as many people may read such ideas for the first time. Greens want to use the opportunity and interest in them to be understood and pass on their message of a alternative.The policy I disagree with is their call for a boycott of Israel. Here they have fallen in the trap of the anti-Israel lobby. It is singular, as they only ask this of Israel, and sets in the footsteps of a long racist history of boycotting and excluding Jewish people. They would be much better of to engage with all those progressive organisations and parties that exist in Israel.

Should they become coalition partners one or the other policy may enter the actual political discourse.
Some of the bits I picked out:

Local #CreditUnions are to provide alternatives to banks and credit sharks.
Ban on cages in poultry
CCTV in all #slaughterhouses
ban on foe gras, cloning.and ending genetic selection on fast growing animals
protection of UK farmers from low welfare imports
stop non medical animal experiences,
stop #GM animal breeding,
end puppy farming,
review dog legislation.
Publish free publicly funded scientific research,
prevent gene patenting, banning waste food and organic material to landfill,
recycle 70% of domestic waste by 2020 and move towards zero waste,
tighten targets on #CO2emissions taking consideration of the fact that the UK has used above its world population share over many decades. Cut energy demand by ½ 2020, by ½ 2030, 2/3 by 2050
free nationwide retrofit house insulation to avoid fuel poverty, costing £45 bn but creating 100.000 jobs.
£4.5bn into research less energy costing processes over one parliament, priority on community base energy creation.
Invest up to £35bn in renewable grid in next parliament
All public buildings to have solar panels by 2020
up to £2.5bn into research of alternative energy, such as tidal and wave power
phase out all carbon fuel by 2023, exit nuclear within 10 years, ban all fracking, expand electricity storage capacity, prevent new builds on flood plains.

More policies:

Reinstate finding for equality and human rights commission,
Equality and diversity education to be compulsory in all schools,
continue to tackle #institutionalRacism,
40% of all public bodies to be made up of women,
£100M over course of gov. to nationwide rape crisis centres
retain independent living fund
provide 0.5bn for free social care for 18
increase disability living allowance by £1bn per year
increases carers allowance by 50% (=£1.2bn per year) 6.5 M careres saves state £119 bn
end external testing of disabled persons,
free local transport to all young people and students (£4bn/yr)
raise criminal age to 14, lower voting right to 16, make higher education free,reinstate beneft
for under 25 yr olds
free NHS prescriptions for all, abolish #TVlicence, but support BBC
Repeal Health and social care act 2012, gov needs to provide comprehensive health service,
NHS have to declare financial interests and conflict of intr, stop further PFI, increase /
re-establish public governance,
NHS budget incr by 12bn icr tobacco and alcohol taxes
access within one month to talking therapy
schools: democratic accountability, comprehensive system of which grammars should be part!
Local authority to decide how they want to spend education money , play, social cohesion, confidence building for 6yr. compulsory educ. to start at age 7, abolishment of SATS, broad balanced and enriching curriculum, coherent 16-19 framework and mix between vocational and academic, increase outdoor,
Power to #BankofEngland to limit mortgage size, make buy to let less incentful through taxes, scrap help to buy schema,
500.000 new sociallyrental homes,
35 h. week, end 0 hours contracts, living wage, #RobinHoodTax, encourage small firms to thrive because they are closer to local community,
45% GDP to spend on public goods
Wealth tax of 2% on the 1%
make tax avoidance hard
introduction of a basic income as opposed to benefit
double child benefit
#Billofrights with reform of house of lords,
reintroduce legal aid
no cap on council tax. And new taxes, eg. Tourist tax,
devolution
human rights and press freedom
renationalise and electrification of railway, but no expansion at Gatwick and Heathrow,
Migration. International policies to help stop war and crisis
family reunification facilitated because of family benefit
allow foreign students to work for 2 yrs after graduation
trafficked migrants: no immediate fear of deportation
corporations not to take over African food market,
smaller prison system, right to vote etc

The Conservatives

Overall the Conservative Manifesto is a mature and strong manifesto that can build on the strength of being in government. It is quite strong on facilitating business, other sections noteworthy are its elaborative points on immigration and migration control and conserving the natural environment. Its £8 bn. commitments on the #NHS and the inheritance allowance for properties worth up to £1M have been mentioned in the news, as much as the commitment to enlarge the Right to Buy. It aims to abolish the European Human Rights Charter with a Bill of Rights, create English votes for English issues as well as Scottish Devolution and renegotiate the relationship with Europe.

The manifesto of the Conservatives strikes almost as a financial academic document. Its language is held somewhat more governmental and business jargon. The first chapters strike in the way it is mindful of anything that enables and could ease business, including expansion of transport infrastructure such as HS2. Interestingly the document fails to mention the real benefit of the rail links which is not the increase in travel time, but the freeing up of the old tracks for commercial transport. The plan looks at all areas of business and how these can be made better, for example increasing cutting of red tape plus many business incentives.

They argue to have found a good formula for benefit recipients with the universal formula and explain that to make work pay they will lower the threshold for benefit entitlement to 23.000 Pounds.

The Conservatives recognise that the reliability on the finance sector has been detrimental for Britain. They aim to invest in more manufacturing and establish a Northern power house. In order to help the poorer they higher the threshold for income tax to £12.500 annual earning.

Their section on immigration is elaborate and detailed. EU Migrants will have to wait up to four years for certain benefits like housing and there are safe guards that are directly linked to successful employment. Failure to work after six months will mean that people will have to leave, a direct infringement on the current treaty rights, which the Conservatives wish to renegotiate. Exit controls are to be implemented and people to be deported are to be satellite tracked.

On education they on the one hand continue to support free schools, but on the other continue increased statistical evaluation with set standards for progress from age 11 that are relatively narrow on basically maths (timetables) and reading (a book) and writing a concise well punctuated report. Social and Creative skills are not mentioned, but they like to increase the amount of teachers that teach Mandarine and increase science teachers. A first is a phD and postgrad loan system, truly missing in the education system.

On the NHS their 7 day NHS have been well advertised, as has their promise of an additional £8bn into the system for the next five years. The conservatives too mention the new cancer taskforce as a priority. Insufficient cancer treatment made the headlines in the weeks prior to the manifesto launches.

The manifesto is mindful of the games in Rio and mentions support to school sport with £150M per year so that all children have two hours of sport each week.

The Big Society also returns with national civic service for 16-17 year olds. The Manifesto also specifically talks of pardoning all wrongly convicted LGBT people in British history along the example of Alan Turing.

A further £25-30bn savings until 2020 on government services that are wasted or inefficient including a reduction of MPs to 600. Further on governance they want to introduce English votes for English laws. They promise to honour the devolution agreement on Scotland and add to it a promise for Wales and continue to work on Northern Ireland.

On housing 200.000 new starter homes for first buyers under 40, a help to buy ISA and the extension of buying your own housing association home.

There is an emphasis on protecting the Green Belt areas and a program on developing small parks, they promise to do more on air pollution but what and how they would do that is not elaborated. However there appears to be an understanding of re-establishing a more valuable natural habit, including flood defences and a Thames Tidal Tunnel and a Blue Belt, a marine protection area.

Its energy policy is supposed to go slowly off carbon, but still has nuclear listed with Hinkley. Due to the lack of public support they will stop subsidies for onshore wind farms.
The sex abuse cases of recent years have found themselves into the manifesto too. Like Labour the Tories promise to make sexual crime and protecting women an issue, and particularly mention the lessons of Rotherham.

The Conservatives want to scrap the #HumanRights Accords (Abu Qatada) and introduce a British Bill of Rights, which will have enshrined issues such as Press Freedom. They mention the right to deport people, and the prisoners voting issue, that has been an issue with the European Court of Human Rights, to be addressed by the new Bill of Rights. A tighter relationship between security and police on data is supposed to be crucial to prevent against terrorism, and the Tories wish to be less tolerant on non violent extremism here.

Properties worth up to £1M will go out of inheritance tax and continued freedom to spend pension on what pensioners like.

On defence £160 billion in new military equipment over the next decade is to be spent, including six new destroyers, seven submarines and the Joint Strike
Fighter, Scout armoured vehicles, and frigates. The word Trident is absent but probably included.

0.7% of national income are to continue go to international development and aid in line with UN targets.

Labour:

Firstly to note t is well written. Much easier on the eye than Conservatives, the Greens and UKIP and less voluminous that the Lib Dems Manifesto. I would call it softer in impact, distanced from the Tories with some social initiatives, though crucially not super radical in areas of housing and families. State child care still ends at age 4, and parity is mainly an issue of paternity leave after birth. This is a far way from the #Nordic progressive economies. On #schools Labour is more obsessed with the state sector’s governance rather than with radical reform in line with progressive research on education, except with reducing class sizes for the 4-7 year olds. They also talk of more freedom for heads and structural control issues. It deals with alternative free schools by simply not wanting any more, though the policy on private schools having to work with the state education sector in order to maintain some benefits like tax cuts is not a bad idea. On #mentalhealth #Labour has made good suggestions, equalizing psychological access to drugs. The overall commitments on the environment, defence and the international overseas aid are in line with what one expects but not excessively radical either. Interesting is that #TTIPS should not affect the #NHS. Labour maintains a rise of 2.5 bn in the NHS budget with 48 h GP guarantees and on the same day if need. The most progressive point here is a special cancer commission that will make the best and most up to date cancer treatments available in the UK, a reaction to UK’s bad record on cancer. Further, Labour’s commitment on the increase in the minimum wage, reductions on business rates for smaller businesses and a 50% rate for people on incomes over £150.000 is part of its idea that bigger companies and earners should pay their share rather than receive preferenced treatment. There is also a reduction in university tuition fees. Labour talks also about continuing devolution including in England and be guided to end top down policy, making extra money for local communities available. Labour stresses its manifesto is fully costed and will reduce the debt, though it does not give a figure by how much. Interestingly it talks about a programme to rehabilitate #radicalised Britons who return from fighting in #Syria. On #socialhousing #affordable homes,using the new buzz word that can get rents up to 80 percent market rate and not proper social housing (council flats). They promise to build more homes (not necessary affordable) and put some checks on estate agents commissions and the rental market.I could not help feeling that its message on the front cover sounded like an old Lutheran church heading, work hard gain God’s grace. As a German I feel there is lack of emphasis on life being more than work, and that means investments in leisure services, free time off work, and good cities to live in after work. END I will try to read the other manifestos as well as they come but can’t promise that always immediately as they come up.

SNP

In Bullet points is my reading of the SNP referendum. It is a progressive manifesto, with a probably workable increase of spending. However the SNP is rather thinly spread on the specific details of education, NHS, policing, and equality. The main principles are there, but compare this with the breath of especially the Lib Dem Manifesto and aspects of the Greens it lacks in thoroughness in my opinion, though it gives clear directions. The Manifesto has a clear intent: Aim of the SNP is to achieve financial independence of Scotland. Hereby lies the interesting question, if one can trust a the progressive honey of a nationalist party, if you do not support complete independence.

0.5% increase above inflation per year yielding at least 140bn investment
0.50 tax for high earners
Mansion Tax
tax on bankers bonuses
bank levy
abolition of non-dom status
reversal of married couple allowance
NHS +9.5bn above inflation and increase of NHS budget 24bn by 2020-21
no further privatisation of NHS
raise pension by 2.5%
keep winter fuel allowance
scrap trident, but yes to maritime defence, purchase some aircrafts to get carrier going, more transperency and full costing at MOD, frigates to be build in Scotland
min. wage up to 8.70 by 2020
no cuts to child welfare / benefit and 30h per week free child care
increase carer’s allowance and no cuts to disability living allowance, pilot carer’s leave
scrab bed room tax
reduction of tuition fees in England
oppose EU withdrawal
introduction of post study work schema for migrants
annual house building of 100.000 units per year
increase employment allowance from 2000-£6000 per year
abolish zero hour contracts
lobby for lower energy bills
moratorium on fracking
50% representation if women on all boards and drive towards equal pay
abolish house of lords in its current form, abolish first past the post
SNP will always support Scottish independence
wants to protect oil and gas sector but work towards carbon reduction, increase offshore wind, and hydro-power as well as community based energy gain.
Devolution to include broadcasting, increase of support of BBC Scotland by 100M
Supports HS2 and wants it connected to Scotland
Protection of Royal Mail universal service and ensuring gov keeps 30% of shares
support LGBTI throughout the world, overseas aid should not undermine public services in developing countries, debt relief
In drive for equality VAT on sanitary products to be removed
invest in mental health 100 M in next three years
25 M extra for people with motor neuron diseases
continue school refurbishment / investment with £1.8 bn
expand educational maintenance allowance
Wants to move towards fully financially independent Scotland

Deutsche Arbeiten, German Works, Photographs, TAZ (Die Tageszeitung)

Clacton: Simple People rather than Elite | Ganz gewöhnliche Menschen, statt Elite

October 8, 2014October 8, 2014by Daniel Z. Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

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All Images copyright protected. (c) Daniel Zylbersztajn

Clacton, potentieller parlamentarischer Einmarsch der anti-EU Partei Ukip – Will defector Carswell get Ukip their first parliamentary seat in Westminster?

Below is my article about the Tory defector to Ukip Douglas Carswell (published Monday 6/10/14), whom I met personally in Clacton-upon-Sea. My article talks about the city and region and its people, but then focuses on Carswell and his political outlook. Some may prefer many other political solutions to Clacton than Ukip. Strictly speaking, on political thought and his background, I have to say that I’d rather have Carswell than Farage heading a possible Ukip parliamentary group. Carswell is of a much more exposed and more diverse life than Farage, having gone to a school with people of many backgrounds in Uganda, and having been the child of two medical doctors. Carswell insists, he does not support racism against people and you won’t hear the same type of populist comments from him as from Farage or other party members. He insists nobody should blame immigrants and make them into scape-goats, the problem, the way he sees it, is “the system that allows, in his view, little controlled migration to happen.” He advocates a point-system without discrimination to background, but one that applies more directly to the needs of the UK employment market. It is noteworthy that some of his constituents who vote Ukip are not so diplomatic on the topic of immigrants.

Carswell also wishes to see a more fair and open relationship with economic trading partners across the world, and especially, for Britain, with the English speaking world (Commonwealth and USA). He also advocates constitutional reforms that allow a more direct relationship with democracy, to reshift the balance between power and people towards people.

On the other hand one has to wonder what solutions Carswell has for the economically deprived areas in his constituency? Youth unemployment was very noticeable throughout town and it is known that in some areas 1/3 of the young people are without a job, making these areas Britain most deprived sea town. That is the main challenge to anyone winning the elections.

Interesting on the side-line, is the behaviour of the Conservative Party (in Clacton). I have requested on several occasions and in all formats to meet and report on the Clacton candidate Giles Watling (including reminding him in person during a brief encounter, whilst handing him a card of mine), but in spite these requests, no attempt was made to collaborate with a German correspondent.

In their official reaction, the Tories said, they could not respond due to the party political congress, but I had made contact before the congress and a press spokesperson in London had told me that he would remind the Clacton chapter to contact me. One can only second guess what else the reasons could have been, one obvious possibility could be an attempt to severely restrict and control news about Giles Watling, because the stakes are so high and people that things are not that well in the party due to the jump of Carswell.

A final observation from Clacton is the fact, that apart from those animated to vote, there were quite a few of those unwilling to vote for anyone, or as in one case, to vote for the Official Raving Looney Party. No trust in politics remains an issue, something Carswell says he is very keen to address.

Many more details in the full report see link below (German).

Deutsch

Bezgl. meinem taz Bericht erschienen am Mo. 6.10.14

Mit Douglas Carswell erscheint ein Politiker an der Ukip Front, der viel näher an der Politik der AFD ist, als Ukip Parteiführer Farrage. Zwar sind er und Ukip mehr skeptisch gegenüber der EU als Afd, aber er versteht die historisch bedingte deutsche Stellung, wie er mir versicherte. Carswell ist im globalen Weltdenken, seinem Parteiführer Farrage um Weites überlegen, denn Carswell wuchs als Sohn zweier Ärzte in Uganda auf. Seine Schulerziehung bewies ihm, erklärt er, dass trotz Hintergrund (in seiner ehemaligen Schule Afrikanisch, Indisch, Europäisch) Menschen zusammenarbeiten können. Er verwies auch auf einen rumänischen Arzt in Clacton, ohne welchen es nicht ginge und der spitzen Dienste leiste. Da hatte man schon andere Töne von Farrage gehört, der einst angab, “er wollte nicht Mannschaften rumänischer Flüchtlinge in seiner Nachbarschaft beherbergen”, oder fremde Sprachen im Zug in England hören (dabei wurde er zurecht vom Radio Moderator der bei dieser Aussage anwesend war, auf seine deutsche Frau verwiesen). Mit Carswell könnte sich die Ukip Partei in eine solidere und weniger populistische Partei bewegen, sondern eher in eine liberal-konservative.

Auf der anderen Seite stehen Lösungen für die vielen Arbeitslosen jungen Leute Clactons aus. Enttäuschend ist übrigens, dass es, trotz wiederholten und mehrfachen Anfragen, die konservative Partei nicht als notwendig hielt, sich einem deutschen Korrespondenten gegenüber bezüglich Clacton zu äußern. Es mag viel auf dem Spiel stehen, offiziell hieß es, sei dies wegen dem Parteikongresses der Konservativen gewesen, allerdings sagte mir ein zentraler Pressesprecher der Konservativen in London, dass er Clacton Tories nochmal dazu ermahne würde, sich zu melden. Sie taten das nicht.

Weitere Details finden sich im Bericht selber.

Deutsche Arbeiten, German Works, Newspapers and Magazines, Politics, TAZ (Die Tageszeitung)

Ukip on the Block (Taz. Die Tageszeitung)

May 14, 2013May 28, 2013by Daniel Z. Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski2 Comments

A short intro paragrah in English can be found at the end!

Mein Bericht über das Städtchen Benfleet in Essex, dass die Populistenpartei Ukip als Lösung ihrer lokalen (!) Probleme auserkorren hat:

Link: http://www.taz.de/Wahlerfolge-britischer-Rechtspopulisten/!116246/

Was nicht in die Zeitung kam und weitere Beobachtungen:

Im 5. Jahrhundert von Sachsen gegründet, wurde Benfleet im Jahr 893 zu einer Festung dänischer Wikinger, doch bereits im darauf-folgenden Jahr wurden diese von den Sachsen angegriffen, besiegt und letztendlich vertrieben. Mehr als 1.000 Jahre später ist nun eine Partei an der Macht, die sich, gemäß der frühen Geschichte der Stadt, stark gegen die Einwanderung Fremder einsetzt.
Auch politische Apathie muss bezüglich dieser Wahlen erwähnt werden. In einem Wahlsystem, dass keine Mindestwahlbeteiligung kennt, bemühten sich im gesamten Shire Essex nur 27.6 % der über eine Millionen registrierten Wähler ihr Zettelchen abzugeben. In Benfleet selber waren es 31.4 % der insgesamt 13.159 Wahlberechtigten. Ian Brown, 48 ist einer der Leute die nicht wählten. “Sie sind alle gleich, machen Versprechungen, die dann nicht gehalten werden“, urteilt der 48-Jährige, der auf der Hauptstrasse Benfleets einen Laden mit traditionellen Süßwaren führt. Auch seine Frau Ann wählte nicht, aber nur weil es diesmal zeitlich nicht geklappt hat. Normalerweise, versichert sie, wähle sie kritisch, „jedes mal je nach politischer Lage und dem was die Politiker sagen“. Das andere MitbürgerInnen jetzt Ukip wählten, bedauert die Geschäftsberaterin. Sie verstehe aber, dass manche zu kurzschlüssigen politischen Haltungen kommen. Sie erzählt, wie Ihr Mann Ian wegen der Rezession und der gleichzeitigen Konkurrenz billigerer europäischer Arbeitskräfte nicht mehr als Gipser, sein eigentlicher Beruf, überleben konnte. So kam es vor zwei Jahren zu dem Süßwarenladen.
Die Stadtflucht weißer Engländer, meist aus den ärmeren Vierteln Londons, ist nahezu legendär und führte zur Metamopphorse des ehemaligen gehänselten typischen Cockney Londoner, zu „typischen Essex Männern“ und „Essex Blondinen.“ Diese sind nach dem vorurteilshaften Stereotyp, neureiche Londoner aus der Arbeiterklasse die nach Essex zogen. Ihnen wird eine angebliche einfache politischen Meinung, die von oberflächlichen und angeberischen Konsum getrieben wird, angerechnet.
„Richte dem Mann aus, dass Mr Campbell ihm sage, er spiele mit dem, was hinter Nellys Schwanz ist.“ (‘Nelly der Elefant’, engl. Kinderlied). Der 77 jährige gebürtige Jamaikaner, der dies verkündet, kam 1955 nach England. Er erinnert sich noch an die Schilder vor Mietwohnungen in London. „Keine Schwarzen, keine Iren, keine Kinder!“. Vor 30 Jahren zog er nach Benfleet, da er in einer nahegelgenen Ölraffinerie arbeitete. Die Antieinwanderungspolitik Ukips macht ihn wütend: „Einst sprach mich jemand auf der Straße an und beschuldigte mich, dass ich ihm seine Arbeit genommen hätte. Da fragte ich ihn: ‘Welchen Job habe ich Dir genommen, den Du je gewollt hättest?’“
Essex bleibt aber nachwievor von den Konservativen,mit 42 Sitzen dominiert. Labour ergatterten neun Sitze, und die Grünen konnten ihre ersten zwei Sitze in Essex feiern (auch hier hatte es etwas mit geplanten Bau in geschützten Grünzonen zu tun).
Mit den nationalen und persönlichen Erfolg Ukips im Rücken, erkundigt sich Alan Bayley, neugierig wie es mit den Chancen für Alternative für Deutschland steht.
Dem Benfleeter Bewohner David Bowden bereitet das alles Sorgen. Der Medizinfotograf im nationalen Gesundheitssystem versteht sich als Sozialist. „Was mich am meisten stört ist, dass einige meiner Nachbarn, die enthusiastisch von Ukip reden, Veteranen sind, die einst durch ihren Einsatz die Welt vor dem Nationalsozialismus retteten. Ich glaube sie haben vergessen, worum es damals ging. Zu jedem der Ukip wählte sage ich: „Seid vorsichtig was ihr Euch da wünscht!“
The owner of a tatoo and barber shop on the high street, where a man greeted me who had the three swards of Essex tattooed on his cheek, told me after explaining myself, that “I was in the wrong shop.” After I said that I was interested in their opinion, they said, we are trying to politely tell you you to go,!” which I did.
Im “Conservative Club” Benfleet, der der konservativen Partei gehört ist eine populäre Bar. Mehrere Konservative gestanden dort Ukip hat recht, und manche sogar dass sie für Ukip gewählt haben. Insofern spielt sich die Rebellion unter den Konservativen im Unterhaus auch in den lokalen Parteivereinen ab.

ENGLISH:

Benfleet in Essex is a typical town in Essex. It is one of nine areas in Essex were Ukip was voted in during the May 2013 local elections.

My article introduces the political outlook here, which is pretty much the same across the country where UKIP managed to get 25%

of all votes. In my opinion UKIP knows pretty much what to say and what not to say, even on local level, although one of the local Essex candidates has been reported in the gay press as having made remarks concerning gay marriage.

Ukip seems to attract two kind of voters. One group are disgrunteled voters of the main parties, the others hopeful voters of the right, including the far right. Ukip says they would not let any BNP member become a Ukip member and in that they would be the only party to do so in the country.

Benfleet is a place with relatively few immigrants. It has however a population that is part of the “Essex man syndrome”, that is former Londoners who openly state that they did not want to remain in diverse London, and rather take their kids in schools “where English was not the minority.” I felt that most who were vocal about immigrants had a rather negative view of these, not appreciating advantages and contributions made.

At the same time, as anywehere else in Europe the EU debate is alive here. However rather than just focusing on currency and the problems of the market , it focuses much on Eastern Europeans.

In the German bit above, you can also read what did not make it into the paper and extra observations.

Link: http://www.taz.de/Wahlerfolge-britischer-Rechtspopulisten/!116246/ use googletranslate to enter this link and get a reasonable translation.

UKIP win their first county council seat in Essex (itv.com)
Bericht von Thatchers Bestattung: Im Feuer der politischen Kontroverse | Reporting from Thatchers Funeral: In the heat of political controversy (Taz, Die Tageszeitung) (dzx2.net)
Tory majority in Essex slashed by UKIP breakthrough (itv.com)
Ten Tory MPs have held talks with us about a possible defection, UKIP says (thetimes.co.uk)
UKIP’s Highest Poll Rating Ever (order-order.com)
UKIP ‘Nazi salute’ man suspended (bbc.co.uk)
UKIP councillor who said ‘Islam is a cancer which needs to be cured with radiation’ on racist Facebook page steps down from the party after just 12 days (thisismoney.co.uk)

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