People ‘enter politics’ through many doors. Always interested by this, Christopher says he was galvanised by the campaign to prevent the imposition of a directly-elected Mayor on Hove and Brighton – and by running a nationally resonant campaign to prevent Hove Library being closed down.
He says: “As somebody who built up a business by dint of using words, I regard this political quest as one of fostering that vital and sometimes scarce human quality of confidence in one’s talent and abilities – upon an Earth where the need to prevent climate change means that we have to encourage diverse talents.
“I hope I am the opposite of Evelyn Waugh’s remark: “politicians are not people who seek power in order to implement policies they think necessary. They are people who seek policies in order to attain power.”
Christopher’s position on the Stonewall Equality Manifesto: To download Manifesto, click here:
Statutory PSHE and Sex and Relationships Education for primary and secondary schools in England: It is so often heartening that young people are unfazed by LGBT issues, accepting of this as a way of life. Of course, in Hove and Brighton there is likely to be greater tolerance than elsewhere, but one should not be complacent – adolescence, and earlier, is so turbulent a time that understanding and support is as vital as ever.
Combatting homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime: The reporting of Crime, in all its forms, is essential – and it has to be taken seriously. In his 1924 diary Evelyn Waugh described being told “Mr Justice Phillimore was trying a sodomy case and brooded greatly whether his judgement had been right. He went to consult Birkenhead. “Excuse me, my lord, but could you tell me – What do you think one ought to give to a man who allows himself to be buggered?” “Oh, 30s or £2 – anything you happen to have on you.” Very funny, it also illustrates that one understanding prevailed in some levels of society while others were punished. Even the post-war Attlee government did not address homosexual issues. This took decades of brave campaigning, a social rather than political force.
International Aid: Great progress has been made here but the situation in Russia, India and much of Africa is horrifying: imprisonment, the death sentence. Without support for LGBT issues internationally the progress here will not achieve its full effect.
Reviewing the laws affecting trans people: I am very pleased that Hove and Brighton Council produced recently a Report on this very issue – and, as it happens, I spoke about this at four Committees in one week. An excellent work, it received widespread support: I should like to see it repeated across the country.
Christopher’s position on the future Commissioning of Health Services and how that affects the Sussex Beacon:
“The NHS needs to be brought back to its founding principles. Crucial is the addressing of the £80 billion PFI debt racked up by the Labour government. To subsume that as .045% of the national debt would reduce repayments and prevent the bankruptcy of some 30 hospitals. We also need to halt TTIP tout court. Otherwise all public services, including the NHS , will be diminished – and support of the Sussex Beacon placed in peril.”
For a full list of candidates standing in Hove and Portslade, click here:
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