Well here we are, one week on from election day. This time last week millions of people across the United Kingdom were merrily skipping off to their local polling stations, to do their bit for democracy. We tweeted #IVoted and we clicked that little button on Facebook so everyone could see what good active citizens we were. We took Snapchats outside the polling station just so we could use those snazzy filters and show all our friends how political and involved we are. Suddenly it seemed that everyone was an expert in politics. And it all felt so good.
Of course there were plenty of people who mocked the Facebook check-in and moaned about how they couldn't wait for the election to be over so we could all go back to talking about "normal" things with our work colleagues like what we had for breakfast or the weather. But since when did being involved in your society become such a bad thing? If even one person saw one of those Facebook posts and then decided to go out and vote when they previously hadn't planned to, then surely that's a good thing. That's what democracy is right? Getting involved, having your say, making your voice heard.
But all that optimism took a drastic hit when the exit polls came in and when we woke up to on Friday morning things didn't seem to be quite how people had expected. As a country we have voted for a Conservative majority for the next 5 years and therefore that is what we have received. But as people are becoming more and more aware, our voting system has many flaws and in fact only 37% of voters wanted this government. While this is the government we now have, it does not mean you have to be happy about it. If this isn't what you voted for, you have every right to be disappointed and angry.
But you must do something about. It has only been a week yet already people are losing interest in politics again. I do understand why: this week has felt tiring and depressing and quite frankly at points almost hopeless. But you must not forget that feeling from last Friday morning. Don't let yourself forget that frustration.
Do something about it.
Join a party. Write a blogpost. Keep talking to your friends and family about how you feel. Watch the news. Write to your MP about issues that are important to you. Keep tweeting about what's happening. Volunteer some of your time to local charities. Buy the paper. Donate to foodbanks (they're really going to need it).
Keep the momentum going.
It may seem to many of us that did not vote Tory, that democracy has failed us. This may be what some of the country asked for but it doesn't mean you have to sit back and take it. We cannot not turn out backs on one another. Now more than ever is when we must come together to bring about real change.
