Articles and Speeches

Politicians Work For You
09-Sep-05, Windsor Express Column.

"What image is conjured when I use the word “politician”?

For many people the image of a bossy and self-righteous know-it-all springs to mind - the kind of person who tells you how you really ought to live your life.

I am not surprised that many hold this perception given some of the behaviour we witness from our politicians.

Some politicians tell us we’re ‘bad’ to drive our cars. They tell us to use public transport even when there is little choice for the elderly and disabled in and around the Windsor constituency.

Some politicians insist that we ‘must’ go to university, even when jobs and careers for many graduates are not available.

Some politicians tell us that alcohol fuels crime, but that 24 hour drinking is a good idea, unless, of course, the pub is close to their own home.

One often feels treated like a servant of the current Government.

We’re told to wait our turn and be thankful for a ‘world-class’ NHS when a million people are waiting for treatment and thousands die from hospital acquired infections. We’re told to be grateful for our tax credits when, in reality, we are getting only part of our own money returned that we’ve paid in taxes. And we’re told we’re somehow evil if we object to our county being flooded with illegal immigrants who have no right to be here.

Well I reject completely the notion that our politicians are our masters. We elect our politicians to protect us from external threat so that we can enjoy our lives in the way “we” choose.

Our politicians - and our Government - are our servants and should, on occasion, show a little more humility."

Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor