My Dream Manifesto
On last weekend’s Sunday Morning on BBC ONE, a senior member of each of the three main British political parties was interviewed in turn by Sophie Rayworth, and they all avoided mention of what are actually the most important issues of the day. It seems that it is only ordinary people like me who remain free to refer to a whole list of unmentionable Elephants in the Room
So I have compiled the following manifesto for my ‘Dream’ political party:
> Implement Proportional Representation
> Give the Climate Emergency the pre-eminence it demands in every aspect of policy.
> Halt coal, oil and gas extraction (in that order) and stop using public money and tax loopholes to subsidise the fossil fuel industry.
> Penalise (rather than reward) irresponsible extravagances such as frequent flying, private jetting, super-yachting and joy-riding into ‘space’.
> Ban fossil fuel lobbyists from Westminster and future climate conferences.
> Re-join the Single Market (in accordance with repeated promises by Vote Leave prior to the Brexit referendum).
> Acknowledge the democratic invalidity of the Brexit referendum result and work to re-join the EU
> Reaffirm the supremacy of the Law, both national and international.
> Aspire to Honesty and Integrity in public life
> Outlaw ‘Cash for Influence’ and other contemporary corruptions of democracy.
> Investigate and if appropriate punish corrupt procurement during the Covid pandemic and £37 thousand million (twice the cost of Crossrail) wasted on Track & Trace.
> Publish the report on Russian influence in the Brexit referendum
> Reform Taxation so that it no longer favours the rich and the comfortable (from the obscenely rich down to the comfortably-retired like myself.)
> Review and where appropriate remove privileges for second home owners.
> Rebuild public planning authorities to establish key national infrastructure, starting with an efficient, unified vehicle-charging network.
> Return the NHS to public ownership and work towards abolishing the internal market.
> Restore professional autonomy to individual front-line teachers, doctors, probation officers and those in similar roles.
> Roll back Managerialism in public authorities.
> Enshrine the BBC’s editorial freedom from future government interference
> Ensure the future of Channel 4
Who would like to join me? And has anyone got a name for my dream party? How about ‘The Unmentionables’?
Generally Speaking 
I’ll join you. Your manifesto sounds just about perfect. Not sure about the name. How about The People.
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I am thoroughly enjoying dipping in to your site. Love the manifesto though have to say when once a young woman the word ‘unmentionables’ referred to a girl’s necessary underwear, and I wondered if this nuance was intentional or accidental. I think I am a New Luddite or maybe a post-luddite but that would not do for a name as it involves explaining luddite. What about BYOB – bring your own betterment? BYOB is for sharing, not hoarding.
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The double meaning was accidental – I’m a bit naive! Anyway I appreciate your interest very much. I had been mulling some sort of attempt at an introduction to McGilchrist, which happens to fit well with our new project. But life is very full, as I’m sure yours is.
Meanwhile, the post I am most pleased with is ‘The Tale of Truth and Lie’. I worry a lot about the current assault on truth.
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