When interviewed by the Birmingham Mail, Northfield’s Dick Rodgers (left) said:
“For me, participating in the political process isn’t about winning, it’s about getting my ideas across to the public . . . I’m trying to do something different, I’m trying to find an outlet for my ideas. What is needed in this country is a challenge. A way is needed of seeing Britain as having a collective role in the modern world so that each person could see themselves as part of a team that is achieving something. If we all play a part in that project then the country would be much easier to govern.
“If you look at Britain during the last war, there was a widespread perception that everybody was playing a specific role in a common mission and people were willing to accept that role – even if their own role wasn’t particularly glamorous or substantial. And I think that’s the sort of ethos we should be looking for today. I don’t think that electoral success in itself is essential for what I’m trying to do.”
The nine policies – and note this week’s news that the fourth is being implemented in Wales
- Turn back the tide of privatisation to have a nation of people keen to work, inspired by the honour of public service and because they want our whole national project” to succeed. With a shared enlivening spirit, things will start to work.
- Make the nation’s money the property of the nation not of the banks. Today’s system hurts people, makes houses unaffordable and starves industry of investment.
- Establish the NHS on a public service model not a commercial one. Crucially, true to Bevan’s original vision, include elderly care within the NHS.
- Nationalise the railway, modernise it, cut the fares.
- Abolish student fees.
- Set up elected regional government for the regions of England – ie the EU constituencies.
- Take infrastructure into public ownership, especially tidal power generation.
- Have a lively industrial policy eliminating the last 30 years’ negative balance of trade.
- Use our influence to nurture a fairer world system.
Trending: post-Covid-19, the desire for unity and beneficial change.
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