I don’t like making old people sad. But the sentence: “Mr. L, I’ve cancelled my party membership,” did make someone sad. For a long time Mr. L had seen me as promising rising star, with the potential to bring a younger sort of MP onto the benches. And it was Christmas.
Let’s rewind.
The 2010 election was the first election I had ever really voted in, and I was mesmerised. David Cameron had, through some sorcery, captured my heart. The Tories’ promises to fix the decaying economy (which had nearly cost me my job and my parents their house), to take me out of the tax bracket, and to fix the NHS all had me hooked. I was young and impressionable and longing for change–so I ticked the box for the Blue Team and crossed my fingers.
“Plus, we’re smarter than that - leaving the EU, right?”
Election night came, and by gum we won. Well, won-ish. Coalitions were announced, polices smashed together-we all know the story by now. All I knew was I was paying less tax and things looked like they were picking up.
Fast forward to 2015, and I was still rolling along with the Blue Team, making excuses for the cuts, really believing the rhetoric, planning when I’d like to stand and what my platform would be. Then, boom - election time. I was flicking through the manifesto when it hit me.
“We will give you a choice on our membership of the EU.”
I was stunned. Wasn’t that UKIP policy? And what was this free vote on fox hunting all about? But OK, I’ll pay less tax, and so will my family? Yeah cool, they won’t get fox hunting through anyway. Plus, we’re smarter than that leaving the EU, right?
“Whichever side you were on, we all lost. Never have I seen this country so divided.”
Election night again; and wowsers that’s a good majority. I joined the Tory online Facebook page. I wanted more info on my party, but good God there was a lot of racism flying about…
The build up to the EU referendum concerned me. The rhetoric was more and more intense and the wonderful DC was rather uncommitted to his role in keeping us in the EU. Too lacklustre; too smug. Then we lost. And let’s be honest, we all lost June 24th 2016. Whichever side you were on, we all lost. Never have I seen this country so divided.
Cameron stepped down, even though he said he wouldn’t. The prat. Then came the completely unnecessary leadership campaign, and we ended up with Mrs May. I was disappointed.
In all honesty, this was the turning point for me. My rock bottom, if you will. I had already been concerned about the rise of right wing politics, what with the rising prominence of the likes of UKIP and Trump, but I had firmly believed that the coalition and Cameron’s Conservatives had been making nice steps towards the centre. Towards a party that would benefit everyone.
I was wrong.
There had been a large step right in policy, culminating in the election of an incompetent leader. I began to panic. How could I support a woman who had voted against the rights of my LGBT+ friends? How could I support a party that was so determined to drag us out of Europe without so much as a glance back?
“I once valued my tax interests above all else. But I’m better now. I’m trying to do better.”
This, combined with the flurry of online abuse I was getting from my fellow party members about my views and values, led me to cancel my party membership. I cut all Tory ties and let myself loose into the great political sphere, eager for a party to scoop me up and embrace my liberal views.
So yes, I was a Tory. I once valued my tax interests above all else. But I’m better now. I’m trying to do better.
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