Bring the Egyptian Revolution to our shores

We need our own Egyptian Revolution.

It is fantastic to see ordinary people in Egypt topple their tyrannical rulers. It is just a shame it did not happen sooner-the West provided vast amounts of aid to keep Mubarak in power. We can only hope, and give as much support as we can to the Egyptian people so they may develop a democratic constitution, and have regular free and fair elections.

We now need to turn our attention to our own shores.

Our government has introduced a massive cuts programme which will disproportionately impact the poor. This is a political choice. Tax rises for the wealthy, and closing tax loopholes, and the many ways the wealthy evade tax could have ensured the deficit was reduced.

The government’s White Paper on the NHS will lead to the privatisation of services, putting profit before the needs of the sick and vulnerable. This was never in the coalition agreement, and as many professional groups have stated will cause chaos and the destruction of the NHS.

The vast majority of the cabinet are privately educated, Oxbridge millionaires who have no concept how ordinary people live. The cuts we are about to suffer will disadvantage the many, for the benefit of the few bankers who nearly destroyed our economy, yet still enjoy vast and increasing wealth.

Neither is there much chance of change.

Labour would basically have undertaken a similar cuts programme, although perhaps at a slower pace. Historically they have only ever achieved power by compromising with the wishes of the media, powerful and wealthy. Our media is increasingly controlled by a small group of wealthy individuals, of which whoever gets into No.10 has to court. The major political parties rely on media and business interests if they are to get elected.

Our voting system only benefits the major parties, and they remain united in defending it. The proposed ‘Alternative Vote’ system only offers a token of the reform required, and will not really change the balance of power.

We need our own revolution to rid ourselves of our own self serving elite.It is the only way of getting rid of them. We need to establish a written democratic constitution where the vested interests of the wealthy and powerful are kept in check. This is the only way that ordinary people, and the democratic wishes of the majority can be properly represented.