General elections are a trying time. I thought that the hostility that arose in the country during the Brexit campaign couldn't be matched - but I fear that the political climate in the UK has forever changed, and the divide between right and left, leave and remain has widened.
People say that you shouldn't lose friends over politics, but with the differences between left and right so vast, it’s now harder than ever to bridge the political divide.
I've always been very passionate about politics, and despite growing up around people who would label politicians "all the same", I recognised early on what an impact these politicians had on my life.
Schools, hospitals, libraries, social housing, trains, policing - politicians in charge controlled them all by the funding they gave those services - and as someone raised on a council estate, these services were all vital to me.
Over the past decade, I've seen the anxiety caused by the introduction of work capability assessments, I've seen teachers use their own money to stock up their classroom supplies, I've seen the stresses, shortages and delays in the NHS - both as a patient and a member of staff.
We have survived this, but many have not - with the austerity implemented by the current government being linked to the preventable deaths of 130,000 people.
Over 320,000 people are now estimated to be homeless.
43.8% of children in my constituency in London are living in poverty.
Food bank usage has increased by 73% over the last 5 years, with the main reason for people resorting to food banks being listed as "income not covering essential costs".
You may say "people have it a lot worse", and you're not wrong - but that doesn't make what's happening in this country right. We are the first generation to see a decline in living standards - and with crime up, police and firefighters down, and the NHS struggling with an estimated 100,000 vacancies, I will always support a political party who aim to help not only myself, but aim to help society as a whole.
So should we lose friends (or family) over politics? I live in the fifth richest country in the world, and I recently had an uncle describe austerity as a "necessary evil". I tried to reason that preventable deaths were not necessary, that children living in poverty is not necessary - but his opinion remains unchanged. Similarly I have family friends who continue to share pro-Conservative/anti-Jeremy Corbyn propaganda despite knowing the personal heartache the current government have caused my family.
We can disagree over a favourite song, colour, actor, quality street sweet - but if your politics are instrinsicly linked to mine and my families suffering, as well as the suffering of millions more - can we be friends?
Our current Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the working class as "drunk, criminal and feckless". Despite leaving (allegedly several?) women to raise children alone, he called the children of single mothers "ignorant and illegitimate". When asked about cuts he made to London's fire service he said "get stuffed". He called teaching about homosexuality in schools an "appalling agenda". He called black people "piccaninnies" with "watermelon smiles". He called Muslim women "bank robbers" and "letter boxes". He has never apologised for his comments.
Hate crimes have doubled in the UK over the past 5 years - and with the Prime Minister openly using racist, sexist and homophobic language and not only refusing to apologise for it, but facing no repercussions - is it any wonder the general public feel legitimised in having and sharing the same views?
Can we be friends if you continue to support someone who has those views?
People will say they don't support those views, that they simply need to "get Brexit done!", and that Boris and the Conservative party will do that. But when you vote for someone, you vote for all of them.
Friendships end over politics because you cannot simply ignore or excuse racism, sexism and homophobia. You cannot dismiss poverty as "necessary". If you can, then we do not share the same priorities, morals or values. It pains me in discovering that there are so many who don't share the same morals and values as me, and discovering that those closest to you don't share them either can leave you feeling extremely isolated - but as hard as it is to end a friendship, staying friends with a person who doesn't respect or value you can be a detriment to your mental health.
Elections cause me a massive amount of stress and anxiety. The Brexit result left me with a feeling of dread and hopelessness, so I'm trying to best prepare myself for the week ahead by limiting my internet usage, and avoiding the news as much as possible.
While I cannot urge you to vote the same as me, I can ask that you look over the past decade, at the record of Boris Johnson, and to please vote anti-Tory on December 12th.
I'll end with the wise words or Irivne Welsh "When you're not doing so well, vote for a better life for yourself. If you are doing quite nicely, vote for a better life for others".
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