Personal Statement
I am standing as an Independent candidate for the East Surrey constituency. Why?
Because, like many other voters I suspect, I am disenchanted with the traditional parties. A Mr Alexander Hopkinson-Woolley recently sent a letter to a National newspaper:
"SIR - Parties choose their leaders. I hate the opportunism of David Cameron; I despise the stance of Nick Clegg; I detest the policies espoused by Ed Miliband; I dismiss Nigel Farage; I see little future for the Greens.
Are any proper independents standing? I should like to vote for someone."
I wonder how many others share those sentiments ?
Voters frequently vote for the party they have always voted for, and the choice has been limited to the Conservatives, Labour or the Lib Dems. But the dynamics of modern politics has changed. UKIP, many of whose policies I strongly disagree with, has attracted voters who despair of the traditional parties. However, suggestions that UKIP is racist, erratic and with some worrying undertones are not entirely unfounded.
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift
You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class and race hatred
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn
You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could, and should, do for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln 1863
As true today as it was then.
I would like to ask voters to consider voting for me and the principles I stand for. I would like to think, in the words of Mr. Hopkinson-Woolley, that I am a proper Independent.
Thank you.