Message to Cameron and Miliband - ditch the class system

David Cameron and Ed Miliband (Image: The Guardian)

For those interested in Chinese zodiacs, the next calendar year is the Year of the Sheep (the zodiac sign I happen to fall into). And while I anticipate plenty of unexpected changes, expansion, personal development and fresh starts, I'm sure 2015 will offer that for many people in Britain after the crazy political year we have had. This year in particular has seen mainstream politics shaken up and the rise of the smaller parties. Pressures from right at the top of the political food chain has reached fever pitch and are noticeably desperate to get enough votes in six months' time so they can keep their heads above water.

You can tell they are desperate. Anything the press report has been considered a 'crisis' which provokes the Prime Minister to panic and make radical changes that he seems not to have thought through. This past week or so for example, it has been discovered that net migration increased meaning more people have entered the UK than those who left. Now, us political enthusiasts recall David Cameron when he was opposition leader, promising and assuring the public that this would have never happen should he be Prime Minister. But he has backtracked leaving immigration and Cameron sceptics smug, saying "I told you so".

Cameron got agitated and has imposed measures which are meant to put off anyone abroad emigrating to Britain - but little does he, or anyone else who want to close the borders realise, is that in order to detract future immigrants settling, you would need to impose Pascal Sauvage (Johnny English reference) policies by placing a metal fence across the country so it would be impossible for anyone to enter.

Britain always had, and always will continue to be the immigration capital. Many, particularly non-EU members, have a pure fascination of the British culture (no idea why), and think that learning English and moving there would make their lives much better than when they lived in the areas they left behind. They can't move to the US or Australia as they're too far so UK is the ideal place. We didn't stop the Romans, the Vikings, the Normandy's moving to Britain, so there's nothing wrong with Romanians moving in, is there?

Meanwhile, another politician feeling more uneasy by the day is Ed Miliband. The Labour leader is becoming increasingly unpopular - even more so than Nick Clegg, that's if you believe in the press that have totally turned their backs on "Red Ed". They still can't get their heads around the Mansion Tax, one of Ed's signature policies which taxes homeowners who own properties worth more than £2million.

Myleene Klass (Image: Daily Mail)

The tax (let it be known hasn't yet been introduced) has provoked high-profile personalities to show their displeasure. Former footballer Sol Campbell, actors Sir Michael Caine, Angelina Jolie, conservationist Bill Oddie, and most recently, TV presenter and singer, Myleene Klass. Particularly the latter has been on the receiving end of some stick after her comments came in the presence of Miliband during a recent televised debate with some saying, "She can't complain, she's rich!" after she quipped "£2million won't buy you a decent house in London, it will barely get you a garage" - which to me, is probably why Ed is introducing the Mansion Tax in the first place.

Here is one potential theory as to why the Mansion Tax is justified. House prices at the moment are astronomical. In the capital, the average house price is £550,000 compared to around £200,000 elsewhere. I believe that introducing the Mansion Tax would help reduce the cost of homes in London as it would discourage homeowners and estate agents to value houses over the dreaded £2million mark which many would be affected by this tax if the law was in place today. More people can then afford to move anywhere they desire and it could enable Ed to drop the tax later in his premiership, should he succeed in the forthcoming general election.

However, with both Labour and Conservative leaders under constant pressure, it is difficult to predict what will be spent, or what laws will be enforced by this time next year. This is likely to be determined by how well the smaller parties perform come May 2015.

One party in particular (that shall not be named) has gained two new MPs in the last two months with two consecutive by-election victories. Their leader reckons the "working class" public, which constitutes a considerable chunk of the vote, have decided that the mainstream parties aren't listening to their needs, and are sticking to policies allegedly benefitting the elite.

True (apparently), the gap between the rich and poor in the UK is widening but is it really fair for the politicians to target the "working class" or rely on this political tactic to gain power? One thing I am glad is that the press have emphasised that Labour "no longer target the 'working class'". Their leader may deny it all he likes but this should work in his favour. If you want to be Prime Minister, you need to target all 63 million people (yes, even those who can't vote, yet) in order to get as many votes as possible. You can't say that "Oh, Manchester has plenty of 'working class' people - we'll get seats there easy like we've done before". Politicians from mainstream parties aren't fighting for every seat in equal measure, something which the smaller parties are starting to do.

We have entered a new era of British politics. None of the 650 seats have a guaranteed winner. The polls in the papers are conflicting themselves. All I can say is, don't play with the class system because that is an old trump card that should have been hidden in the attic years ago. Take the polls with a large pinch of salt. The public shouldn't tactical vote. Vote with your heart and don't think "If I vote for this party, this should be enough to ensure the other party won't win". This wouldn't work. It is level pegging here and I believe 2015 will be a very exciting, yet very intense year in British politics.