Kate Taylor

The polls have been open for several hours and will continue to be so until 10pm tonight. I’m sat in my partner’s flat, ‘I’m voting for Greg Marshall – Labour’ covering the entire bay window, and I have hope.

Today, Thursday, June8, 24 short hours where we have the chance to not only change our country, but to save it.

I have asked many people who they’ll be voting for (my mother always considered this to be inappropriate, yet this election I have never seen her so engaged nor enraged with politics. It’s been breath taking and has spurred me on during some very dark days for our nation), most people have told me and listed the policies their chosen party could bring to the UK. Apart from the Conservative voters. All I have heard from every prospective Tory voter is one of three things.

1. ‘I’ve always voted Tory’
2. ‘We need a strong and stable Brexit’
3. ‘Jeremy Corbyn is a weak pacifist and unable to lead’

Firstly, here’s a little secret I don’t tend to share. I used to be a Tory. I’m not talking a fan, I was a paid up member that attended every meeting and event. As a teenager I attended The Shed weekly to catch up with the Conservative Future, and even got promoted to Press Officer for a short time. Then things started to change, ex BNP members were starting to switch over to a more ‘socially acceptable’ party, things were taking a very firm right hand turn. Yet still I voted David Cameron in for the coalition government. I felt proud, an uphill battle for my voice to be heard against so many of my liberal friends; I couldn’t understand how such intelligent people could be so blind as to how insecure the Labour party had made our future.

And then I got ill. Fast forward two years and I lost my job, my home and my life that I had worked so hard to build. Like so many others, it was down to ‘austerity cuts’. The very reason I voted for our government had become the reason me and my children were now penniless and homeless.

Fortunately I had an amazing bunch of friends that went to the ends of the Earth to catch me before I fell too far, but for thousands of British people, they’re not that lucky. Luck should have nothing to do with basic human rights – you know, the ones we’re told we don’t need? Safety, sustenance and sanitation, three things millions, and I mean millions, of people struggle with every day because of the cuts to public services.

On the upside at least we’ve got rid of the national deficit. Oh, no, no that’s not it, the estimated date for that has been pushed back repeatedly, you can check out the real terms on fullfact, an independent, non-political charity that fact checks politics.

We’ve been left with budget cuts that have left police officers at such dangerously low levels the armed forces have to be brought in to protect our streets. The NHS has had to call in the Red Cross and other charities to help run emergency departments because there simply aren’t enough resources – which seems odd given swathes of the sector have been privatised.

Students now pay the same amount to go to uni at Cambridge as they would going to a failing university (to the tune of £9,000 per year). Families are forced to use food banks to feed their children, including those already working. Zero hour contracts are crippling the working classes. Even our street lights are turned off in many areas leaving entire housing estates vulnerable to criminal activity. Our *literal* human rights might be scrapped (invented by the English for Europe, as it happens).

Our ancestors did NOT die for this. This ‘bloody difficult woman’ we call our PM has already destroyed friendships with Europe and riled the key players to the point of no return. We are nearly as much of a laughing stock as America is now.

Jeremy Corbyn’s track record? He has fought for the peace, safety and quality of living for each and every citizen of this land for over twenty years. He has been ignored, slandered, arrested, and lambasted for standing up for the working man. Corbyn was the initial key player in brokering the peace deals with Ireland. The Labour leader warned MPs that if we went to war with Iraq it would start a chain of violence and terrorism beyond our comprehension that would go on for decades.

You want a strong and stable Brexit? Meet the man who has overcome more adversity in his career than most people face in several lifetimes, the man who cares about his country and every person in it. The man that understands the need for diplomacy and patience when dealing with matters that could make or break an economy. A man that is willing to use maximum force to protect our land if necessary, but has the cool head to look through all the options before bashing the big red button.

Today you have the ability to change your mind, to save lives and make a real difference. For all of you that say they’re all the same, or your vote won’t make any difference. Remember you’re not the only person saying it, your vote counts. This is your right, use it.

Last night was Lincoln’s official hustings with six out of the seven local candidates in attendance. The debate, hosted appropriately at the Drill Hall, where our next MP will be chosen in the small hours of Friday morning.

The evening kicked off with a one minute opening speech from each candidate followed by a series of questions from members of the public, including those in the audience. Sat upfront it was interesting to see the reactions of those there, which appeared to match the live stream comments coming in throughout the night.

There were a good few heckles about Karl McCartney, our current Conservative MP and candidate for this election, and his refusal to come citing ‘media bias’. Comments varied from questioning whether he was washing is hair to swathes of online viewers suggesting he was at home writing up his expenses form. At the end of the evening, Karl’s website and social media details were read out so people could find his pledges, which led to further shout-outs suggesting if you want publicity, you should turn up.

Interesting that ‘media bias’ was the argument for not attending and yet all the organisers and indeed fellow candidates were very gracious about the situation; his constituents on the other hand seemed by and large very disappointed and indeed angered at his refusal to take part. In the MP’s defence, given the reservations he has about his party’s ability to protect members adequately from ‘media sh** storms’ perhaps we should cut McCartney some slack.

Those who were there included two independents – Phil Gray and Iain Scott-Burdon, Labour candidate Karen Lee, Lib Dem Caroline Kenyon, Nick Smith for UKIP and Ben Loryman representing the Green Party. The night went very smoothly and there was a surprising amount of agreement and support between the six when they shared ideologies.

That’s not to say it didn’t get heated in parts, mainly when defending their own record, but it was enlightening and indeed encouraging to see that in our local politicians had the ability to put policies before party. Incidently when asked if they would vote against their own party, all six said if it was for the good of Lincoln then yes, they would. Caroline Kenyon aptly said, “Of course. I’m a Lib Dem. If we’re not rebelling what’s the point? I do what’s best for the constituency first and foremost.”

Going in I wasn’t sure what to expect as Nick Smith is the only one I’ve ever really seen/known from previous years, but there were some great points made, particularly in relation to the NHS and the need for Lincoln to have its own specific school of medicine and nursing.

Labour representative Karen Lee, whom many believe is the only realistic candidate against the Tories (not necessarily true, if the Liberal Democrats can be forgiven for their coalition transgressions I believe they could do very well) is a nurse at Lincoln County and has been for many years, giving her direct insight into the impact cuts and increasing privatisation has had every, single, day.

Dr Ben Loryman also spoke about the desperate need for more staff, and how important it is European medical staff are allowed to stay without worrying whether they will be sent away. On said topic, Kenyon pointed out for many EU citizens, it’s not just the worry about whether they can stay, but about whether they want to as they ‘don’t feel welcome’. Independent Iain Scott-Burdon suggested we needed a points scheme akin to Australia, taking on those that who’s trade we are in need of at present.

Phil Gray, quickly nicknamed the ‘music man’ online was, in my humble opinion, fantastic. A couple of online viewers felt that it was making light of a serious subject; but surely if you can vote for a man in a pink fluffy hat, a guitar and a harmonica – democracy is doing okay? In addition, Phil’s ideas for tackling funding issues, helping the homeless and how to deal with foreign policy were pretty spot on if audience reaction is anything to go by.

Scott-Burdon discussed his belief in British values, investment in public services and a need for greater community cohesion within Lincoln and beyond.

Incidently this is where Caroline shone. Her eloquence when discussing how important community spirit is along with the need to stop arming various countries regardless of the economic gain (something Phil very passionately discussed – asking how women and children were any less deserving of peace in Syria, Iraq, Iran or anywhere else) is something that resonated very well with the audience.

Nick Smith talked about how we are at war with Islam, and that we may not think it but they certainly do. This is unfortunately the mistake Theresa May made in her speech after the atrocious scenes in London at the weekend, most Muslims were busy fasting, praying and supporting charity of all kinds to be hating the West.

It is not religion we should be concentrating on, it should be on those who seek to abuse and falsify something peaceful for their own twisted glory. However he did speak about the need to keep EU workers within the NHS safe and supported and help those regardless of race or religion, along with backing up other candidates when he agreed with them.

Lee spoke about the PM’s despicable police cuts which have led far beyond breaking point now, and how a vote for Labour is essential to ensuring the stability of people’s lives within the UK.

Online some people found the Labour candidate’s jibes at the government a little unnecessary and wished she’d concentrated on her own party’s manifesto instead. As I said when interviewed last night, although I do agree to a certain extent, if I’d had to deal with a year long media black out against our entire party, I’d want to get my point across at how much the opposition had screwed up (and let’s face it, they have, royally) where possible.

There was then talk about incomes, the national living wages and being able to rent. People who are currently trying to make ends meet are still going to food banks, which Karen has visited and volunteered in and was shocked to see such a wide range of people using their services.

Loryman discussed how if he got into parliament he would be making himself well heard on the topic of NHS and environmental funding, stating that global warming IS happening, we have about 20 years to sort things out before it’s too late and begged people to believe scientists, not sceptics.

Wrapping up on the NHS, a local dentist asked how they could improve dental services, to which everyone agreed greater funding and encouragement for people to train was needed. Mental health was also cited as being a huge issue with guidelines that desperately need reviewing.

At the end of the night we were lucky enough to get a little song from Phil during closing statements (what better way to end a debate?) and the quote of the night from the public on Facebook’s stream chat, ‘the only numbers in the Tory manifesto are the page numbers’.