An Open Letter To The Leaders Of The Three Main Political Parties

Here's the full text of a letter I have sent to a number of UK newspapers, Mr Clegg and Mr Miliband. I couldn't find an e-mail address for Mr Cameron.  I will, of course, post any replies I get right here!

Dear Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Mr Miliband,

I am writing to try to convince you all to put aside your ideological differences and work together to solve the financial crisis that the country finds itself in at the present time.

I am sure that I am not alone in being sick and tired of the constant blame game, buck-passing and excuses that the political parties in this country engage in.  They do nothing but stall any hope of getting any real progress made.  Yes, Labour left a financial mess when they left office but it was not all their fault as the major global banking crisis too its toll as well.  It would be nice if Labour held their hands up and accepted some responsibility but I believe we are passed the point of apportioning blame.

It angers me that the Coalition keeps on blaming Labour for the financial mess they left when the country has been under Coalition control for two years and the country has dropped into the double-dip recession the austerity measures were meant to avoid.  The Coalition cannot blame Labour for their own measures being ineffective; that is the Coalition’s fault and their fault alone.

Is it any wonder that the voters of this country are disaffected with politicians?  All you seem to do is compound each other’s errors and barrack each other like schoolchildren, playing the blame game and making excuses.

Surely, in a time of crisis such as the one the country finds itself in at present, you could forget your petty differences, look at the expertise within all the political parties and offer individuals with specialist knowledge or interests positions within a larger Coalition encompassing all political creeds?

I am not suggesting that members of opposition parties are given ministerial positions; it is only right and proper that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat Coalition takes the lead.  I am suggesting, however, that members of opposition parties may have knowledge and ideas that may be of great value in solving the country’s troubles.  I am suggesting that even the smallest parties should be utilised in the collaborative undertaking; for instance, Green MP Caroline Lucas could be offered an advisory position on energy and environmental issues.

I believe that there is a time for party politics and there is a time to put party politics aside.  The current crisis is a case for the latter.  The electorate is disaffected with politicians and the only way to re-engage voters in the political process is showing them that, when it really counts, you can work collaboratively in the interests of the entire population.  Only then can you start to address the trust issues the electorate have with politicians as a group.  Only then, will the public start to engage with politics again.

I am not a politician.  I am not an expert in politics. I am an ordinary member of the public who is tired of this country as a whole suffering, of the poor and disadvantaged suffering whilst the rich prosper.  I am an individual who finds it distasteful that politicians deal in the politics of fear and scape goating instead of dealing in the politics of aspiration for all.  I am a man who wants to have respect in the people who are supposed to represent me and my views in Government.  I am a person who sees what UK society is and what it could be and weeps to see the enormous gulf in-between caused by the inability of politicians to put aside their ideological differences for the greater good.

Yours sincerely,

Myles Cook (Mr), Grays, Essex