Northumbrian

Today I was confirmed as the Free England Party candidate for Fawdon Ward, Newcastle upon Tyne. I had stood in two previous elections for the English Democrats, but I have changed Parties for three reasons:

1. Unless a significant number of English people demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the Union by backing independence, then how can we win concessions from the British government? Just wanting an English Parliament isn’t enough.

2. I had been willing to stand as an EDP candidate, but there was no one prepared to help me with leafletting. So if I’m on my own, I might as well campaign for a cause which I believe in more. To me, being part of a team is equally as important as how many votes you get. A vote of 10% or more may be a decent result, but it’s worthless if none of these voters joins the Party.

3. A fateful night in July last year lost my faith in the direction the EDP was heading. I attended a count in the parliamentary by-election in Sedgefield, where the result was so bad that I thought we’d lose to the Monster Raving Loony Party. I arrived home in the early hours in the morning, switched on the TV, only to see the EDP candidate in the Southall by-election lose to this same Party.

It’s probably all a waste of time (and money) anyway. We’re never going to get an English Parliament or English independence or leave the EU or stop immigration – because only those in government can do these things, and only two different Parties can be in government.

I’ll give myself two more years. If no progress is made – then maybe that’ll be the time to call it a day.