It would appear that the only highlighted issue that this Country faces in the run up to the General Election is Immigration, with some Political parties launching their Immigration Mug.
Issues surrounding The NHS, Youth Unemployment, Poverty, Foodbanks, Welfare Provision, Education, Social care, Health & Well Being, Employment Exploitation, Mental Health to name but a few issues appear to be in the background.
I think a mug describes it well. Many of the out of touch people seeking re-election are seeking to continually marginalise communities that helped to make this Country great again in the post war era, thanks especially to the contributions of the Common Wealth Countries.
My Parents came to this Country as many others did from the West Indies namely Jamaica whilst it was a British Colony, with British Passports and I was born here. Does that not make me English as well as British?
However, over the past few weeks, I have been asking what is meant when some Politicians say British? or indeed what is their definition of British?
In an earlier blog I talked about issues in 1987, when the late Bernie Grant was invited to Birmingham in order to encourage the engagement of the African & Caribbean Community in the electoral process, only to be told by his Labour Colleagues who were sitting MP's in Birmingham that he was not welcomed, as they are commited to equality.
Then we now hear of the reports that Sir Roger Moore famous of course of playing James Bond, is said to have stated that " Idris Elba can't be Bond because he isn't 'English English' " an extract taken from the Daily Mail.
Despite being born and raised in England Idris Elba isn't considered to be English apparently. Hence the argument that are we going back to the days of "No Black, No Irish, No Dogs" as we know that this Country, has placed an emphasis, being the old colonial power on skin colour, hence, not being English enough.
Sean Connery is Scottish, Timothy Dalton is Welsh and Pierce Brosnan is Irish and Sir Roger Moore born in England so what do they have in common, in comparison to Idris Elba who was born in England.
However, the bigger argument is thanks to the efforts of UKIP, all Political Parties are focusing on immigration and hence will be marginalising communities yet again and hence fueling the mass disaffection that already exists in the BME Community.
The whole concept on immigration is primarily based on appearance to be blunt skin colour and we can clearly see in the history of this country, one may ask are we on the verge of seeing a re-run of tactics used during the 1964 General Election.
Therefore, who then is English or even British? I think we should pose this question to all Party Leaders, I'm sure we would get some interesting answers.
I still believe that we still have some people in this Country with the mindset of the days of colonialism, which could be a dangerous road to be embarking upon.
Desmond Jaddoo
29th March 2015
Issues surrounding The NHS, Youth Unemployment, Poverty, Foodbanks, Welfare Provision, Education, Social care, Health & Well Being, Employment Exploitation, Mental Health to name but a few issues appear to be in the background.
I think a mug describes it well. Many of the out of touch people seeking re-election are seeking to continually marginalise communities that helped to make this Country great again in the post war era, thanks especially to the contributions of the Common Wealth Countries.
My Parents came to this Country as many others did from the West Indies namely Jamaica whilst it was a British Colony, with British Passports and I was born here. Does that not make me English as well as British?
However, over the past few weeks, I have been asking what is meant when some Politicians say British? or indeed what is their definition of British?
In an earlier blog I talked about issues in 1987, when the late Bernie Grant was invited to Birmingham in order to encourage the engagement of the African & Caribbean Community in the electoral process, only to be told by his Labour Colleagues who were sitting MP's in Birmingham that he was not welcomed, as they are commited to equality.
Then we now hear of the reports that Sir Roger Moore famous of course of playing James Bond, is said to have stated that " Idris Elba can't be Bond because he isn't 'English English' " an extract taken from the Daily Mail.
Despite being born and raised in England Idris Elba isn't considered to be English apparently. Hence the argument that are we going back to the days of "No Black, No Irish, No Dogs" as we know that this Country, has placed an emphasis, being the old colonial power on skin colour, hence, not being English enough.
Sean Connery is Scottish, Timothy Dalton is Welsh and Pierce Brosnan is Irish and Sir Roger Moore born in England so what do they have in common, in comparison to Idris Elba who was born in England.
However, the bigger argument is thanks to the efforts of UKIP, all Political Parties are focusing on immigration and hence will be marginalising communities yet again and hence fueling the mass disaffection that already exists in the BME Community.
The whole concept on immigration is primarily based on appearance to be blunt skin colour and we can clearly see in the history of this country, one may ask are we on the verge of seeing a re-run of tactics used during the 1964 General Election.
Therefore, who then is English or even British? I think we should pose this question to all Party Leaders, I'm sure we would get some interesting answers.
I still believe that we still have some people in this Country with the mindset of the days of colonialism, which could be a dangerous road to be embarking upon.
Desmond Jaddoo
29th March 2015