The Wilted Rose

This blog highlights the political, economic, social, environmental and moral bankruptcy of the Labour Government. Its major focus in 2008-09 has inevitably been on Brownian (dis)economics, which are leading our once great economy even deeper into Recession – and, significantly, has caused devastating social upheaval, as many people have been forced from their jobs and families forced from their homes. Please feel free to comment on this site.

Labour was once a rose, but it has now irrevocably wilted. It has betrayed its people too many times — on grammar schools and education more generally, taxation, law and order, civil liberties, the economy, healthcare, and on many other important aspects. Labour politicians are traitors whose Party and whose Government are on the road to nowhere. They deserve to be exposed.

About the blogger

“Armchair Sceptic” is an ordinary citizen who is mightily disgruntled by the Labour Government and what it stands for, and yet I see a positive and progressive way forward following the next election.  Politically, I am a Darlington-based unionist who is a social conservative, an evangelical Christian vegan Ulsterman, and who supports lower taxation, economic freedom, and business ethics. I am a member of the Conservative Party, and I continue to be politically active. I am an academic researcher and teacher in the field of strategy, entrepreneurial strategy, innovation, finance, and diversity. I am particularly interested in campaigning on issues of the economy/jobs, social services (protection of both vulnerable adults, especially older people, and children), education, and on the reduction of crime.

As an evangelical Christian, I hold to the biblical reformed Protestant faith. Hence, my actions and opinions will always be first informed by my faith and, secondly, by my political persuasion. On matters of conscience, I will always put my biblical beliefs before any secular ideology – so, for example, I have been involved in campaigns with the Christian Institute, of which I am a supporter. However, I will always strive to treat people with respect, and to “love my neighbour”, but I would equally expect my views and faith to be respected, even if people do not agree. A statement of my Christian beliefs can be found on the relevant tab on this blog. As a campaigner and, if I am elected as a Councillor, you therefore know where I stand.

I am an advocate of radically innovative “progressive” centre-right policies that can deliver social and economic progress. Conservatives can help the improve the quality of the life of the poor and to support families to achieve their potential – and critically to ensure that their children have a bright future. I have been highly influenced by the radical conservative school-of-thought that Phillip Blond has been expounding, and particularly so during the summer of 2009 when I have been trying to reconcile the ‘UK’, ‘US’, ‘Chinese’, ‘Central & Eastern European’ and ‘Nordic’ models of socio-economic policy (all but one of which, the US, I have studied in detail). I believe that radical conservatism is the way forward for social and economic progress in the UK.