Letter: Age Of Big Government And Self Interest Over Community Spirit And Sharing Is Truly Upon Us

Published on: 13 Jun, 2018
Updated on: 13 Jun, 2018

From Neville Bryan in responce to Clare Dee’s latest business column

I used to be very proud of my home, my town, this country and all the freedoms I thought we stood for.

We are very lucky in so many ways. The UK, England, Guildford is a beautiful place to live, and as a country we are very well off financially, we are free to say and act how we like within reason, and it is very safe. I have spent a good deal of my life travelling, so can say we are spoiled with confidence.

But of course it’s complicated, and my increased local interest in recent years has led that outlook to change. That confident pride has take a severe dent for three main reasons which I can identify.

1. Our political class are completely out of touch with the people they represent, and acting more in self interest than as representatives of us the people. Colour not important.

David Cameron’s “localism” drive should have been the warning. When something is working, you do not need to promote it as an initiative.

I am not against building and regeneration, but I got involved with protecting our green belt local area from developers and our own council nearly five years ago, and since then witnessed high level of public support ignored by the local political establishment they voted for.

To continually and incorrectly be called a NIMBY, by greedy devopers and their supporters irks.

With so much money at stake, and political funding more influenced by the development community than I am comfortable with, it’s getting very difficult to fight on an even platform.

Locally, national directives have taken over, particularly in development and house building. Just look at the national trend to building on green fields rather than the more expenive redevelopment of brownfield.

It’s leading to some extreme actions. I have witnessed everything from cutting down inconvenient trees overnight, to personal law suits, to scaring of birds before they nest etc, not something to be proud of.

Our government has opened the door for developmental greed of a scale I cannot ever remember, and then incentivised local councils, and planning inspectors to support it, while claiming at the same time “not us guv”.

On the other hand, you have thousands of local people unfinanced in their spare time, fighting fights against those who should be representing them, fighting those fights.

2. The Brexit vote.

Result not important in this argument. My subject of national embarrassment is that this was the nastiest campaign I can ever remember. Never again should we go through this. Project Fear vs Project Racism.

It’s going to take many years, maybe never to close the Pandora’s Box of hateful emotions released through this vindictive and shameful campaign.

Personally I see the merits and dangers of both arguement sides, many do like me too. I enjoy the diversity of our society, while recognising the dangers inherent in un-controlled mass migration. That did not stop the more extreme elements of our society turning it into out and out racism, and financial bullying. Both sides were a national embarrassment and disgrace.

Explaining that to international friends is not one topic I enjoy.

3. Lack of investment in our country, and to those who cannot afford it.

This includes looking after our elderly, failing to deal with nuisance and petty crime, etc.

Something perhaps I notice more, as friends, neighbours, and family are affected. You need medical support, you need good infrastructure, you need supportive services. Yes they are expensive and it’s said as a country we cannot afford them. I disagree. Our funduding and approach needs to change, and sorry that might mean tax system too.

The age of big government and self interest over community spirit and sharing is truly upon us.

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