She couldn't have waited 2 more days?!

On the 18^th April Theresa May decided it would be a good idea to call a General Election in June.
For some reason my BBC news update was slow that day so I found out from a Joanna, who simply sent me a message saying ‘are you back on the 8^th June?’ I replied ‘no, I’m not back till the 10^th, why?’ she informed me a general election was happening!
I immediately headed over to my news app and read all about it. My initial reaction was shock then outrage, I would not only be missing out of voting in person in my first general election but campaigning for it as well.

Had to wait a while for Sophie (a fellow UK citizen who is politically active) to return to the office to commiserate and discuss the implications of this news. Being a member of the Labour party, this news was even worse for her, as we both predict a Conservative landslide.

Without properly processing the news I had to head off to Lindelani to present a workshop on drugs and their effects. Spent the whole journey staring out the window, thinking about what would happen next.

Over the course of the next couple of days chatted to several friends and fellow Lib Dems and expressed my frustration at not being able to knock and doors and deliver leaflets.
AllI can do is pester people online and donate money, both of which I have done and will continue to do.
In reality I would have needed the PM to move the election a week, because the election would still be held on a Thursday. But then I would want to campaign as well, so could she just put it off a month? Please? Why I wasn’t personally consulted on this I have no idea…

In the local elections and EU referendum last year I sent my head of sixth form links to information about the candidates running/ two sides of the debate, how to register to vote and how to find your nearest polling station. Seeing as I am no longer a student at the school, I thought I would dedicate a blog post to doing just that.

There are two elections happening whilst I am away, the first is this Thursday, the Mayoral Election using Supplementary Voting System. As of Friday morning we will have a mayor for the West Midlands.

Register to vote:https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

What will the mayor do:https://westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk/news/west-midlands-mayoral-election-how-to-find-your-polling-station/

Information about candidates-

James Burn Green Party:http://www.jamesburn.org/

Pete Durnnel UKIP:https://petedurnell.com/

Beverly Ann Nielson Liberal Democrats:https://www.facebook.com/beverley.nielsen.39

Sion LLewelyn Labour :http://www.sion-simon.com/

Graham John Steveson Communist Party:http://www.grahamstevenson.me.uk/

Andy Street Conservative Party:https://andy4wm.co.uk/

Information for a proxy vote:https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Information on Supplementary Voting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngaWCWZHFDA&feature=youtu.be

Then on the 8^th June there is the General Election, where you can vote to decide your local MP using First Past the Post, my least favourite voting system.

Information about the Liberal Democrats:http://www.libdems.org.uk/

Information about Labour:http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/home/splash

Information about the Conservatives (are you impressed I included them?!):https://www.conservatives.com/

Information about Greens:https://www.greenparty.org.uk/

Information for postal vote:https://www.gov.uk/voting-in-the-uk/postal-voting

Information on FPTP:http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/first-past-the-post/

Register to vote (so important I put it in twice, just in case you missed it the first time):https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you want to vote tactically then you can look at the voting history in your constituency and see who is more likely to win out of your preferences - unfortunately this is the way it is until our electoral system changes!

In an earlier blog posts I’ve mentioned Christians in Politics, they are a brilliant organisation that encourage Christians to join political parties. Before the EU referendum they created this clip – whether campaigning in politics is your passion or not please watch this as the national campaigning draws nearer…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23MEShLYoJ4

And since I am writing about politics I thought I would mention that in the last week I visited the South African Parliament. It was fab! Love finding out more about how countries are run. Interestingly here they use proportional representation, and have a clearer distinction between the branches of power with the President elected by MPs not being an MP themselves.

We were taken round the National Assembly, the Apartheid Parliament which is now used by select committees and the National Council of Provinces for delegates from each of the 9 provinces to sit. You know when a house is in session because a rod is placed in drum in the room. The drum is the symbol of parliament because it has always been a way of calling African people together – I love this!

Really enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences between their system and ours. The biggest difference for me was the appearance of parliament, I know that the UK parliament is INCREDIBLY elaborate but appreciated this in a new way as I walked round the formal but distinctly un-palace like décor of this parliament. 

Group photo with Mandela statue outside parliament.

We are allowed to SIT in these seats, and take photos because this room is no longer used as a parliament.

Notice the notebook!

Abbie and I with Mandela - I swished around in this skirt all day!

Prayer Requests:

- For the election campaigns to be overflowing with respect, integrity and dignity.

- For candidates to remember their motives for getting involved in politics in the first place and honour that in their conversations both with the electorate and their fellow candidates.

- For high participation, especially in young people! If you didn’t get to vote in the referendum now is your chance to speak up and be heard, for more information on this check out the Undivided campaign -https://www.weareundivided.co.uk/

- For my peace of mind as I watch the events unfold from afar.

- On a different subject I am doing a short talk at a church in Lavender Hill this Sunday about what I am doing here and the steps I am taking to do the job I want to. They have asked lots of people to do this to celebrate workers day and encourage their young people. The message being trust God to provide opportunities, and work hard to cease them. I have never been to this church, I was invited by some people I met this Sunday who I went to a Hillsong service with. I am eager to go and share how God has used my passions and values to spread his love and to go to a township church. Please pray for the right words to come together in my planning and for my safety as I travel there and back.

Thank you for reading my fourteenth blog post! Have a politically active week!