Kamaljeet Jandu: A vision for Europe

In the weeks and months ahead OBV will be inviting BME candidates from the main political parties to write about themselves and their ideas. Today, Kamaljeet Jandu who is hoping to be selected as a Labour candidate in London to become an MEP, shares his vision for Europe.
 

It would be easy for me to write down a vision for Europe that chimes with the very vocal minority we see and hear right now.  At times it sounds a little bit like this:

We are being flooded by immigrants who are taking our jobs; we are finding that much in Islam is incompatible with our civilized way of life; we are not seeing a net benefit of our membership of the European Union.  Our culture, our values collide with those of our European partners. It is they who ought to be more like us.”

It is the type of politics I’ve always resisted, in no small measure because it is the politics which pander to prejudice. My vision for our society is bold and brave. Bold in ways that will unlock talent in many areas across London where opportunities to truly excel barely exist. Brave in ways that will confront bigotry and intolerance. Sometimes we must face down those Far Right political parties masquerading as democrats. Most of the time it is having honest, direct conversations with good people who have been fed lies, half truths and misinformation.

This really is a great city, which has demonstrated its spirit after such an awful atrocity that we  sadly witnessed last week: From the heroes on the ground who either tried to comfort a dying man, or  the woman  who confronted a blood soaked murderer to put his weapons down, to the overwhelming response from the public.  

‘We stand together’, our society screamed: young and old, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, African Caribbean. ‘We reject all forms of extremism’, we cried, with notable organisations such as ‘Hope for Heroes’ voicing their rejection of extremism and refused to take money from the English Defence League’.  

This is who we are. This is what makes me proud to be British and to play a full part in the European Parliament.

Above all I want to build upon everything that is positive in our capital city and beyond: Talk up our businesses, encourage our creative potential, promote and share the values which make all our lives better. It’s easy to blame others or put our heads in the sand and hope our problems disappear.

Not me, and defiantly not now.

Now is the time for us to collectively stand up and really show what we’re made of. I personally feel privileged that I may get this opportunity to serve.

One thing is for sure, whether or not I’m fortunate enough to be selected and elected as an MEP, I will continue to try and make our society a much better place.

Kamaljeet Jandu