Dear whoever: now do your jobs

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BBQBy A. Supporter

I’ve always said that if I could invite an ex-President to a summer barbecue it would be George W. Bush. As a politician “Dubya” always was (and always will be) a terrible mistake, a Stetson-wearing moron steeped in mediocrity, but as a “barbecue buddy”, I can stomach the idea that the man might be good company, funny even. We could eat hotdogs, glug beer and talk about ‘the game’ (a euphemism for any and every American Football fixture). Similarly, if I want to gorge on porcini mushroom volovants at a polite Notting Hill dinner party and talk about the host’s tenuous family connection to the now defunct monarchy of Prussia, David Cameron would be my man, a “volovant buddy” if you will.

I like David Cameron. He’s attractive, he’s immensely articulate, he’s confident and yes, he destroys Gordon Brown at nearly every PMQs. That is, for the most part, the reason why most people have warmed to “Big Dave” and I am no exception. In fact, if the job of Prime Minister came down to presentation, I would vote for David Cameron. But it doesn’t does it? Political leaders need to be presentable and deft communicators but more important than that, they need to stand for something. If they can’t stand for something, they need to at least believe in something, preferably something worth believing in. This is where my thoughts turn to Gordon Brown and the Labour Party.

I vote Labour because they say they will do something to help me. I’m not rich, I’m not particularly successful, in fact, despite my best efforts, I’m struggling. Put simply, like most who are struggling, I’m in need of some help from above. The problem is, I’m an atheist, so my highest authority is the one that governs from Whitehall. So, I don’t care if Ed Balls becomes Chancellor or if there are too many Lords in the Cabinet or if Caroline Flint is upset about not getting promoted, I care about what the government is going to do to help me and other young people like me.

If I’m ever going to get that well-paid job, or if my future wife and I are ever going to be able to take our kids on a nice holiday, or if I’m ever going to have the opportunity to eek out a meaningful existence on this temperate planet of ours, I need a government that says it can help me to start helping me. Indeed, with so many unemployed, the time for empty promises is gone, the time for political intrigue is gone, the time for party infighting is gone. I will stick by the Labour Party if it sticks by me and creates better opportunities for new graduates like myself. If not, it’s porcini mushroom volovants for dinner (if I can afford it).

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