Dear Gran and Granddad
I’ve something to tell you. I won’t be voting Labour at the coming election.
I know you will be disappointed. I know socialism was core to both your lives. The work you did organising and running youth groups and later an older people’s centre was just two of the ways you put those values into practice. I’ve always done my best to live by your motto ‘if something needs doing, get on and do it’.
You weren’t as lucky as I have been. You weren’t able to go to university. Gran, you left school at 14 to become a Netbraider – it was that or domestic service and as family legend goes your choice was partly motivated by the chance to meet young men! Granddad, I know you passed up a place for college because you had to help support your family as a Trawlerman, then the war came and you were on a Minesweeper, and after the war there was seasonal work on the docks to pay the bills.
I know you were both thrilled that your children and grandchildren got the chances you didn’t have and you delighted in all our achievements – big and small.
But you never just focused on your own children. You wanted a better life for all the young people you knew. When you retired you realised older people also needed support and so you started working for the seniors in your town. Even now if I visit where you lived there’ll be someone who’ll tell me how you inspired them or has fond memories of ‘Supergran’.
You paid your Labour membership all your working life. You were active in local party politics all year round. You supported politicians and volunteered as canvassers at election time. You encouraged everyone you knew to vote – and to vote Labour. You told me from an early age how voting was important and how lucky I was to be able to do this. Freedom and human rights were very important to you. As was pride in your family, your community and your party.
Gran, after Granddad died and you were housebound I remember you still actively followed political stories in the media. Do you remember how cross you got whenever the Conservatives were mentioned on the news? If I wanted to tease you I could always rely on mentioning Margaret Thatcher to get an explosive response.
During conference season you’d make notes on what the parties were saying so you could discuss it with friends and family. Whenever I phoned or visited there would be a conversation about what I thought about a particular policy or idea. You’d have suggestions on what I ought to be doing to make the world a better place. There were always campaigns to be fought and injustices to be challenged.
You were both inseparable – even if you bickered constantly. Gran, after Granddad died you always carried his photo with you, carefully placing it by the bed to say ‘good night’ to every evening. As you got older you added a photo of Tony Blair alongside Granddad’s picture, and as a family we joked with you about your ‘toy boy’. But you explained Granddad and you had always believed you were Labour until you died and that was that.
Both of you kept that promise.
I’m sorry I am letting you down, but since you’ve been gone Labour have let us down. They didn’t keep their promises, they didn’t listen to the people, and all those things you told me about helping others and ensuring the most vulnerable of society got their say alongside the most powerful – well they didn’t do that either.
You know up until now I have always voted Labour. I’ve tried all I can to ensure I kept your values within my working practice. You didn’t get to meet my boy but your Great Grandson is also being raised to appreciate the things you held dear.
It is because of what you taught me and what I want for my son that I have made this difficult decision.
Don’t worry, I won’t vote Conservative. I will be voting Lib Dem. I’m sure you’d have strong words to say on that, but if you were here and could see what Labour has become it would have broken your hearts.
And that is why I cannot vote for them.
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Sorry but I can’t vote Labour – A letter to my grandparents
Dear Gran and Granddad
I’ve something to tell you. I won’t be voting Labour at the coming election.
I know you will be disappointed. I know socialism was core to both your lives. The work you did organising and running youth groups and later an older people’s centre was just two of the ways you put those values into practice. I’ve always done my best to live by your motto ‘if something needs doing, get on and do it’.
You weren’t as lucky as I have been. You weren’t able to go to university. Gran, you left school at 14 to become a Netbraider – it was that or domestic service and as family legend goes your choice was partly motivated by the chance to meet young men! Granddad, I know you passed up a place for college because you had to help support your family as a Trawlerman, then the war came and you were on a Minesweeper, and after the war there was seasonal work on the docks to pay the bills.
I know you were both thrilled that your children and grandchildren got the chances you didn’t have and you delighted in all our achievements – big and small.
But you never just focused on your own children. You wanted a better life for all the young people you knew. When you retired you realised older people also needed support and so you started working for the seniors in your town. Even now if I visit where you lived there’ll be someone who’ll tell me how you inspired them or has fond memories of ‘Supergran’.
You paid your Labour membership all your working life. You were active in local party politics all year round. You supported politicians and volunteered as canvassers at election time. You encouraged everyone you knew to vote – and to vote Labour. You told me from an early age how voting was important and how lucky I was to be able to do this. Freedom and human rights were very important to you. As was pride in your family, your community and your party.
Gran, after Granddad died and you were housebound I remember you still actively followed political stories in the media. Do you remember how cross you got whenever the Conservatives were mentioned on the news? If I wanted to tease you I could always rely on mentioning Margaret Thatcher to get an explosive response.
During conference season you’d make notes on what the parties were saying so you could discuss it with friends and family. Whenever I phoned or visited there would be a conversation about what I thought about a particular policy or idea. You’d have suggestions on what I ought to be doing to make the world a better place. There were always campaigns to be fought and injustices to be challenged.
You were both inseparable – even if you bickered constantly. Gran, after Granddad died you always carried his photo with you, carefully placing it by the bed to say ‘good night’ to every evening. As you got older you added a photo of Tony Blair alongside Granddad’s picture, and as a family we joked with you about your ‘toy boy’. But you explained Granddad and you had always believed you were Labour until you died and that was that.
Both of you kept that promise.
I’m sorry I am letting you down, but since you’ve been gone Labour have let us down. They didn’t keep their promises, they didn’t listen to the people, and all those things you told me about helping others and ensuring the most vulnerable of society got their say alongside the most powerful – well they didn’t do that either.
You know up until now I have always voted Labour. I’ve tried all I can to ensure I kept your values within my working practice. You didn’t get to meet my boy but your Great Grandson is also being raised to appreciate the things you held dear.
It is because of what you taught me and what I want for my son that I have made this difficult decision.
Don’t worry, I won’t vote Conservative. I will be voting Lib Dem. I’m sure you’d have strong words to say on that, but if you were here and could see what Labour has become it would have broken your hearts.
And that is why I cannot vote for them.
Sorry but I can’t vote Labour – A letter to my grandparentsRelated posts