The Olympics: A Time When We Should Be Backing Our Country, Not Embarrassing It.

July 26, 2012
By: Faye Grima

 

 

Despite the Olympics promising exciting scenes throughout our home country, the Government are increasingly under pressure, and if ever David Cameron needed a KitKat, this is definitely a time to take a break.

It’s not been the perfect b-romance Clegg and Cameron may have hoped for, as the relationship has faced mounting pressure from party members, backbenches and the often gruelling media.

Rows over the Budget cut have continued throughout the course of 2012, with not only Gregg’s pasties feeling cold towards the coalition. Queues throughout petrol stations in the UK have caused fiery outbursts from ministers whilst Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has continued to narrow the boundaries of mistrust between journalists, politicians and the public.

Not to mention the House of Lords reform taking a setback and a hesitation over our membership with the European Union potentially resulting in another referendum used as a backlash against Nick Clegg’s ever-demising party.

But with the Olympics fast-approaching, should we be putting this to one side?

With all the Parliamentary U-turns over the past 12months, the Olympics could have been the perfect chance for the Government to prove its strong security development plans and show unity at a time of extreme difficulty throughout the most anticipated sporting event of the year.

Once again, however, the Olympics has churned the stomachs of left-wing reformists and exemplified the ongoing battle within Parliament. And frankly, I think it’s showing Britain up.

It’s embarrassing: millions of people are gathering together to show support for their country and all we can do is fight against ours. Britain should be backing our athletes and refrain from ripping our Government to shreds.

You only have to look around the world to see Britain is not looking good. The 2011 riots were broadcasted all over the world and the forthcoming security-strike warns are not putting ourselves on the map over something we should be proud of.

The Olympic period is expected to be one of the busiest ever for London airports, and with previous complaints over ridiculous queues at Heathrow placing blame on government spending cuts, the aftermath of such strikes would be a bleak international image for Britain.

Home Secretary Theresa May, who is currently facing the backlash of such threats, describes the strikes as shameful, and claims to ensure that people will come through “the border as smoothly as possible.”

The decision follows an ongoing dispute between the PCS and the Home Office, over plans to cut 8,500 jobs, disagreements over job pay and alleged discrimination against union reps.

East Midlands Trains staffs have also voted to strike action during the Olympics, causing disruption to travel arrangements of the many competing athletes.

There may be no stark conclusion to such strikes for Great Britain, and whether such mishaps are a result of controversial government decisions, but I vote we get behind our country instead of on its back. I want our champions on the front pages, not the Coalition’s funeral.