politics | Vertically Challenged

Safe to say I am an animal lover of all sorts, whether it be my two cats, who after any bad day tend to be the only thing to put a smile on my face or holding snakes the size of me (practically) at my cousins house as a child. The sight of any form of animal cruelty or animal in pain brings a tear to my eye faster than I can control, so to hear the news today that the vote on reprieving the Hunting Act has been postponed is simply great news, not the best I might add but it’s a huge success. If you follow me on Twitter you’ll see my many tweets on anything from containment of dolphins to fox hunting and it’s great to know that everyone’s hard work on stopping the lift of the ban has come to fruition.

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, say what you will about her but she has made some considerable waves, both positive and negative (I personally am against an independent Scotland, however this is a whole different conversation). The SNP stated that they wouldn’t vote if it was matters concerning only England Wales, however having now said that they would vote against the ban being lifted, along with some Labour and some Conservative MPs, David Cameron had to take note. The vote will now take place after plans to give English MPs a veto on matters affecting only England.

The petition on Change.org has so far reached 545,113* signatures, however the aim is to get to 1 million. The public outcry on social media along with the avid group of 100’s of protesters outside Parliament has meant a voice has been heard. The fight isn’t over yet as this could still be overturned, so if you’re an animal lover take just one moment, to tweet, write a Facebook status, sign the petition, write to your local MP (it’s easier than you think, I’ve done it and received a response very shortly after) anything. Baring in mind it isn’t just the foxes who suffer, any ‘unsuitable’ hounds will often be bludgeoned to death or shot not to mention the strain on the animal’s welfare both physically and mentally, both parties are victims.

Fox hunting is a barbaric and tired ‘sport’, I shudder actually referring to it as a sport; do we really want our country been seen as hunters who revel in the suffering of innocent creatures, I surely don’t.

*At the time of writing this blog

Brian May addressing protesters outside Parliament (photo courtesy of http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fox-hunting-protest-live-brian-6062539)

Protesters outside Parliament today (photo courtesy of http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fox-hunting-protest-live-brian-6062539)

Today’s the day, you’ve heard it on the news, seen it on the TV, read it in the papers, or more appropriately on your news app on your phone or tablet, it’s vote day.

I’ll be off on my lunch break and I won’t be disclosing who I will be voting for firstly, because I am torn between two and secondly because it should always be your own decision drawn on by facts, not opinions.

The most important thing to remember today is to make your voice heard, especially if you’re part of the younger generation and/or female. The party chosen will be deciding the course of your future, how easy it is to get on the property ladder, how much tax you pay, how much care you would receive in a national hospital, not to mention the future for your children. These elements impact our lives an incredible amount, just think of what the government did after the Second World War, the establishment of the NHS and Welfare State, which are integral parts of our society today. Of course, if you are a woman your vote is vital and should be treasured, if it was prior to 1928 I would not be able to vote today as I’m not a woman over 30, who I might add were only given the vote in 1918 after the Great War and the work of the Suffragettes and Iron Jawed Angels. These women fought not only for the vote but for freedom, dramatic as it sounds, it’s the truth. The people before us have paved the way for our lifestyles today and you can make the most of this with a simple ‘X’ next to the candidate of your choice.

One thing to sum it all up is an interesting report I heard today, whereby voters must be ‘careful’ of taking a seflie in the booth whilst voting as it could be going against privacy laws, talk about a statement for our generation ‘No selfies in the booth’. Whether your taking a selfie, checking in on Facebook at your local polling station, tweeting ‘I’ve voted!’, just make sure you do.