Tag: politics

Of course my period is a luxury…right?

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Every year since I was about 12 I have been blessed with the greatest luxury according to my government. I’ve gone out and bought a box of tampons or pads, my ‘luxury item’ and paid tax, meanwhile if I’d have bought some jaffa cakes I would have paid no tax, my boyfriend buying his razor isn’t taxed.

When I heard that the tampon tax would be debated I stupidly had some hope, of course anyone who was intelligent would end a tax on tampons and pads it’s something 50% of the population need. I saw the news after and remembered that the stupidly high percentage of tory men obviously aren’t intelligent and I was stupid to believe they were. Now I used to roll my eyes at this I was like but they’re not that much right? Then I sat and thought about it, actually if I add up how much I have spent and will spend it’s an obscene amount of money and simply because I am a woman. I didn’t ask for my period, I really don’t want it and it causes a stupid amount of trouble as well as eating my money.

I then saw something else, women around the world who can’t afford these items. Women in my own country, one of the most forward in the world, are having to ask food banks if they can get hold of tampons and pads because they’re having to use things they have made themselves to stop the flow. I don’t understand how it’s gotten to this. You can walk into a clinic and get free condoms but you can’t get anything free for your period? So those who can’t afford it risk their health because the blood is seen as unsanitary.

On that note I was thinking about the girl whose picture was taken off Instagram because it showed that she had bled through her pajama bottoms.

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Now, hands up ladies who’s had an accident at some point or another? Whether that be at night when mother nature surprises you or just in your pants. If I could see through the screen I would see everyone who had had a period with their hand up. These things happen more often than people would like to admit. Now I admit do I like looking at this picture? No. Is it because it’s her period? Also no. I don’t like blood! I don’t like blood coming from anywhere I’m a squeamish person! But without periods none of us would be here. None at all.

What I’m really begging for here is common sense. Periods (literally) make the world go round, they hurt and they’re irritating without having to pay extra on the items to please other people and you know not ruin our clothes. I have no doubt if it was more acceptable some people would just you know bleed and not give a damn, not me personally but some people would. Our periods are necessary whether some stuck up men who run the country are intelligent enough to know that or not, so don’t tax us on what we need!

UKIP has invaded my home town

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Farage meme

Most of the UK watched the Leaders debate this week and unfortunately UKIP were part of it. The,quite frankly racist, party showed themselves up again in the form of Farage, on basically every issue he blamed immigration or the EU, after a while I tuned out to his answers.

After shoving the nasty little man and his followers in the back of my brain imagine, you can imagine how shocked I was to find that a UKIP office had popped up in my home town. I was shocked, angry and in awe that the people of my town had let this monstrosity come to be. I’m not going to lie, I’m also a little terrified that they must have backing here although I don’t understand how.

I hope more than anything they never get into power in this country, because if they do we can kiss what we know as freedom, community and happiness goodbye.

My Big Mouth: Cameron’s reshuffle: too little, too late?

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David Cameron is today finishing his government reshuffle.

Picture Source: The Guardian 

Earlier this week British Prime Minister David Cameron announced a reshuffle, one which he hoped would show more diversity in the party. The main difference? An influx of women in top positions and as many papers pointed out ‘no sentimentality’ when it came to top officials such a Michael Gove. The question is, why has Cameron suddenly thrown this mix together?

While many celebrated as figures such as Gove were removed or demoted, they are also suspecting there is something deeper than a change of heart. After the backlash from the education sector following Goves actions in the last year, it really is no surprise that Cameron was quick to appear to be doing something in favour of the public. To win them over not only has he removed anyone who could damage the parties reputation (although this begs the question, is the damage already done?), he has also brought in female ministers to combat accusations that the cabinet is not diverse enough to tackle Britain’s needs.

Of course, finding women in the top roles in Britain is a positive step towards equality in politics, however, there is also a great deal of scepticism about the timing. Is it a little too coincidental that it is a year before election time? Or perhaps after the Tories suffered an embarrassing defeat in the last polls, losing to UKIP? It is easy to see this as a tactical move rather than a women being right for the job, as Cameron suggests (which I do not doubt they are), then why are the British public only seeing them now? 

Mumbles of positive discrimination dominate the country, it is also obvious that there is some worry within the party. With much of the general public sick of endless cuts, threats to the NHS and ethnic minorities feeling under-represented it is no wonder there has been a drastic change. Although if the reaction is anything to go by this many be too little, too late.