Synopsis 2015 General Election Manifesto by : Mike Buchanan
The human rights of men and boys in the United Kingdom have been increasingly assaulted by the state's actions and inactions for over 30 years, as they have across much of the developed world. Justice for men & boys (and the women who love them) is the only political party in the English-speaking world campaigning for the human rights of men and boys, including the right of all children to enjoy good access to both parents following family breakdowns, and the restoration of fatherhood and strong families. The British state has become ever more hostile towards men and boys, although the state is largely funded by men, through income tax receipts. Men collectively pay 72%, and women 28%, of the income taxes collected by the state. In 2011/12 British men paid £68 billion - £68,000,000,000 - more income tax than women, yet the state disadvantages men and boys in many areas, usually to advantage women and girls. There are no areas in which the state disadvantages women and girls. A state which is hostile towards half its citizens also affects women who are mothers of boys, or who are men's partners, relatives, colleagues, friends or acquaintances. In the case of abortion, foetal alcohol syndrome, and fatherlessness, girls (including those yet unborn) are also assaulted by the actions and inactions of the state. The result is both inevitable and predictable - an ever more dysfunctional society, with increasing alienation of the sexes. In this manifesto we provide details of the state's disadvantaging of men and boys in 20 areas, and we make proposals in each of them. The areas are presented in a broadly chronological order: Abortion Foetal alcohol syndrome Genital mutilation Fatherlessness, restoring strong families Education Employment Access to children after family breakdowns Domestic violence Sexual abuse Armed Forces veterans' mental health issues Homelessness Suicide Criminal justice system Paternity fraud Anonymity for suspected sexual offenders Divorce Health Political representation State interference in company director appointments Expectation of retirement years The social engineering programmes which seek equality of gender outcomes are having an increasingly damaging impact on British society, and the Conservative-led coalition is no less keen on driving those programmes than the preceding Labour administrations. We have a vision of Britain as a nation that doesn't disadvantage half its citizens. A society in which men and women have equal opportunities but are able to make their own choices in life, without state intervention to advantage one sex over the other. It's said that under the 'first past the post' system, votes for parties other than the major parties are wasted, but voting is the only mechanism democracy affords citizens to seriously challenge politicians who embrace the all-pervading anti-male ideology which has dictated the state's policy directions for over 30 years. The major parties are institutionally committed to advantaging women and girls at the expense of men and boys, regardless of the consequences, as we recognized after engaging in parliamentary inquiries which demonstrated that the government simply doesn't respond to rational arguments against anti-male policy directions. The only choice for citizens concerned about the state's assaults on the human rights of men and boys is to vote - and to vote for J4MB. In the short to medium term, our challenge is to improve public understanding about the state's assaults on the human rights of men and boys. We do that in various ways, including the use of social media. Our television and radio appearances may be found on our YouTube channel. Our longer term strategy, however, is to develop our party to the point that we can field many candidates in general elections, in marginal constituencies, where the major parties are vulnerable. They will then have no choice but to take heed of the voices we represent, engage with us, and seek to appease them by modifying their policies, and their direction of travel. At the 2015 general election we'll be fielding three candidates in adjacent constituencies near Nottingham where, in 2010, MPs were elected with very slim majorities: - I'll be standing in Ashfield, where Gloria De Piero retained the seat for Labour with 192 more votes than a Liberal Democrat candidate. She's the Shadow Minister for Women & Equalities. - Ian Young, formerly a victim of domestic violence, will be standing against a Conservative, Mark Spencer, in Sherwood. Ian lives in the constituency, in Hucknall. - Ray Barry, leader of the campaign group Real Fathers for Justice, will be standing against another Conservative, Anna Soubry, in Broxtowe. I should like to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women who have supported J4MB since its launch in February 2013, including those who have contributed to this manifesto. We've gone to considerable lengths to ensure that all the information we present is factually correct. If you should find any mistakes, or you believe any of the content to be misleading, please draw this to our attention. If you feel able to support J4MB in any way, please contact us. I invite you to make a donation, which will support our campaigning. Nobody associated with J4MB has ever drawn any personal income from donations, and we don't expect that to change in the foreseeable future, if ever. Thank you for your support, and for seeking justice for men and boys (and the women who love them).