ANSWER ‘PETTY AND DIVISIVE’
POLITICS over the last few years has become increasingly divisive and hostile.
A field supposed to be about a contest of ideas all too often drifts into verbal and physical assaults on people. As a Conservative I myself have been witness to, and subject to, verbal attacks, social media attacks and spitting attacks by Labour supporters.
So when listening to Pienaar’s Politics this Sunday and hearing Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury get asked the question ‘Could you have a Conservative as a friend?’
I thought that this was a fantastic opportunity for an elected representative to help heal some fractures in society. It seemed a perfect time for an answer along the lines of that he could be friends with anyone, that a diverse society inevitably has disagreements, that it is ok for friends to have those disagreements without falling out.
However, Mr Amesbury’s answer was as clear as it was short: “Erm...no.”
The suggestion that no other virtue matters when assessing the suitability of a potential friend is ludicrous.
I am a committed partner; a doting father; a brother; an uncle; a conscientious neighbour; a town councillor; a former police officer and, ● yes, I am a Conservative.
It is, apparently, only this last quality that Mr Amesbury would take into consideration when deciding whether I am worthy of his friendship.
Mr Amesbury’s answer was petty and unnecessary but, alas, it typifies Labour’s increasing intolerance for anyone who disagrees with them.
I don’t expect our elected representatives to be perfect but I do know that we can have better than this.