STOP THE WORLD. I STILL WANT TO GET OFF....

I am not sure where I want to start, but perhaps I should simply say 'The world has gone to hell in a handbasket' (apparently the phrase comes from at least the 17th century but doesn't appear to be attributed to anyone) and just make comments on the world as I see it. There will, no doubt, be people who dislike or oppose my views, but these are simply my views, although I do have a sneaky suspicion that with at least some of the remarks I make, others will agree with me.

Most of this pertains exclusively to the UK, but in some instances I have broadened it to include world affairs. I have made a list of the things that I want to address, and they will not be in any order of importance.

Illegal immigrants and homelessness.

Terrorism, antisemitism and protest marches.

Female safety, rights and transgender issues.

Families and teaching children the correct principles. 

Education and the need for change. 

Gangs and knife crime.

The emergency services and the NHS.

Politics, politicians and bureaucratic excesses.

Illegal Immigrants and Homelessness

The growing number of illegal immigrants entering the UK has intensified concerns about resource allocation, especially when many of our own citizens - veterans, the unintentionally homeless, and those struggling with mental illness - are left without adequate support. Governments, past and present, seem to effortlessly find funds to house and feed those who flout immigration laws, yet struggle to provide the same care for those already living on our streets.

To be clear: those seeking asylum legally, and immigrants who arrive through proper channels, are not the issue. The problem lies with unchecked illegal immigration, which raises serious questions about border security and fairness in resource distribution. Every nation must enforce its borders, but it must also ensure that its own citizens are not forgotten in the process. The fact that a large proportion of homeless individuals are veterans - people who have served and sacrificed - speaks to a deeper failure in government priorities.

Another notable trend is the demographics of illegal arrivals, particularly the high number of young men. Understanding the reasons behind this could shape immigration policies and provide insights into global migration patterns that deserve further scrutiny.

Helping others is a noble and necessary principle, but frustration is growing among hard-working citizens who feel their own needs are being overlooked. Many suspect a correlation between illegal immigration and rising crime in certain areas, while others worry about security risks, including the potential for terrorist activities. Regardless of the debate, one thing is clear: the government must strike a better balance between protecting national interests and providing genuine, sustainable solutions for those already struggling within its borders.

Terrorism, Antisemitism, and Protest Marches

Terrorism - whether homegrown or originating abroad - remains one of the most pressing threats to the UK. Since 1982, at least eleven significant attacks have taken place on British soil, with seven carried out by the IRA, Provisional IRA, or Real IRA. Across the world, we’ve seen a disturbing rise in vehicle-based attacks, where cars and larger vehicles are used as deadly weapons, indiscriminately ploughing into victims. While not all such incidents are linked to Islamic extremism, the alarming trend underscores the evolving nature of modern terrorism.

Equally concerning is the way mass movements form - sometimes with little scrutiny of their deeper implications. The phenomenon of following like sheep has become increasingly evident, as individuals across all demographics rally behind causes that would have been inconceivable fifty years ago. Greta Thunberg, once synonymous with climate activism, now protests in support of Palestinians in Gaza - perhaps, one might argue, to retain relevance now that climate change is temporarily out of the spotlight.

The conflict in Gaza has become a rallying point for many, but among the loudest voices are those calling for intifada - an uprising - accompanied by disturbingly blatant antisemitism. The irony is stark: LGBTQ+ groups advocating for the destruction of Israel fail to acknowledge that many Arab nations they defend would never accept them, given that homosexuality is condemned as a major sin in Islamic teachings. Meanwhile, Israel itself remains one of the few places in the region where people of all ethnicities, religions, and orientations - including Arabs and Druze - coexist with relative freedom.

Since 7th October 2023, Jewish communities worldwide have faced a surge in hatred, despite the innumerable contributions they’ve made to society. Without them, we wouldn’t have lasers, pacemakers, defibrillators, stainless steel, Einstein’s theory of relativity, the polio vaccine, or even Google - all inventions and discoveries shaped by Jewish minds. And yet, they remain marginalised, as both a people and a nation. What fuels this animosity? Their work ethic? Their thirst for knowledge? Their ability to make deserts flourish? Perhaps it is precisely because of their resilience that resentment festers instead of admiration.

Yet antisemitism is not the only form of discrimination running rampant. Another group is increasingly singled out - not for their beliefs, but simply for being female.

Female Safety, Rights, and Transgender Issues

Women have fought long and hard for rights that men have historically taken for granted. Landmark victories include the right to vote for all adult women in 1928 (after a decade of restricted voting for those over 30), the Equal Pay Act (1970), the Sex Discrimination Act (1975), Margaret Thatcher becoming the first female Prime Minister (1979), marital rape being recognised as a crime (1991), and the Domestic Abuse Bill (2015).

While these achievements are significant, coercion and abuse against women remain prevalent. Warning signs of abusive behaviour include jealousy, possessiveness, verbal and emotional manipulation, physical violence, financial control, sexual coercion, blaming others, explosive anger, and minimising abuse. Not every man is an abuser, and not every abuser is a man - but statistics show that the majority of domestic abuse is committed by men against women. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, nearly one in ten sexual assaults occurring in public spaces involve perpetrators with no prior connection to their victims.

This raises an important question: why do some men feel the need to assert dominance over women through abuse? Traditionally seen as providers, some men may struggle with shifting societal dynamics as women gain confidence and financial independence. However, that discomfort does not grant the right to exert control or aggression.

Throughout history, many have accepted the fundamental biological distinctions between men and women, as illustrated by the story of Adam and Eve, where both were created to fulfil the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth. However, alongside this traditional understanding of gender, society now includes friends, neighbours, and colleagues who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender individuals - those whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth.

The conversation around gender identity has intensified in recent years. While the term "transgender" has existed since the 1960s, its prominence surged around 2017. With this rise, concerns have been raised over how women’s rights and spaces are affected, particularly in sports, privacy, and leadership roles in essential services.

A landmark Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 clarified biological sex in relation to the Equality Act of 2010, affirming women’s right to maintain single-sex spaces. The ruling sparked intense debate. A potential path forward could be the recognition of three distinct categories - male, female, and transgender - across various sectors of society. Much like the introduction of baby changing stations to accommodate a need, separate facilities for transgender individuals in toilets and changing rooms could be considered. Similarly, sports competitions could explore separate categories to balance inclusion with fairness.

This remains a sensitive, evolving issue - one that demands a balance of rights, respect, and empathy. Women’s concerns over personal safety and fairness must be heard, while transgender individuals also deserve dignity and inclusion. Finding solutions that promote respect for all is crucial. Progress begins with understanding - and with a genuine commitment to fairness, not division.

While the debate will undoubtedly continue for years, family support and compassion from all sides remain essential in ensuring that everyone feels valued and safe.

Gangs and Knife Crime

Although gangs are predominantly made up of boys, girls are not immune to gang culture. Some exhibit intimidating or even violent behaviour, while others find themselves on the periphery of male-dominated gangs, gaining a sense of status by association. However, for this discussion, the focus is on boys.

Peer pressure is pervasive, but few environments foster it more aggressively than youth culture itself. Bullying, a challenge that has existed for centuries - as evidenced in Tom Brown’s Schooldays (published in 1857) - is often just the tip of the iceberg in the path toward gang involvement.

Some boys gravitate toward gangs as a means of protection, belonging, or survival, while others are drawn in through loyalty, fear, or the belief that it is their only option. Regardless of the motivation, the stark reality remains: the idea that children feel forced to choose gang life simply to survive is deeply disturbing.

Peer dynamics play a defining role in decision-making, risk-taking, and identity formation—it is precisely this pressure that compels teenagers to carry knives, to believe that gang membership grants them status, and to participate in initiation rituals, all while knowing that taking a life may one day be expected. While gang activity is most prevalent in major towns, cities, and larger housing estates, smaller school-based gangs can be equally effective in intimidation, rivalry, and weapon-carrying, reinforcing the same dangerous patterns.

The long-term consequences of gang involvement are severe. Legal repercussions often lead to young offender institutions or prison sentences, trapping boys in a cycle of crime. Addiction frequently compounds these struggles, making adulthood even more challenging. PTSD does not discriminate by age - gang members, whether perpetrators or victims, may carry trauma for the rest of their lives, impacting their home, family, and work relationships.

The tragic reality is that gang involvement often leads not only to violence but to broken futures. With limited guidance and few alternatives, many boys see no other path forward. But intervention is possible.

Not every teenager is lost to gang culture - with the right opportunities, those drawn into this lifestyle can be shown a different path. The decreasing number of youth clubs has left many teenagers without structured activities or positive role models, but armed forces cadet groups provide a compelling alternative.

Across the country, these organisations offer adventure, discipline, and skill-building, focusing on confidence, teamwork, leadership, and resilience - even providing qualifications such as BTEC Diplomas or Duke of Edinburgh Awards. If initiatives like these were expanded and prioritised within schools and communities, they could offer the structured purpose that gangs falsely promise. Perhaps a greater push is needed to ensure these opportunities reach the young people who need them most.

As gang-related crime and violence surge across many parts of the country, the strain on emergency services and the NHS intensifies - with diminishing resources, growing demand, reduced funding, and declining staff numbers.

The Emergency Services and The NHS

Before addressing funding and political issues, we must first offer a huge THANK YOU to the individuals who keep these services running, often at great personal cost to their own wellbeing. The NHS performed phenomenally during the Covid pandemic and lockdown, while the police, fire, and ambulance services worked tirelessly amid accidents, fires, and medical emergencies - often arriving at the worst moments of people's lives. And, crucially, they still do.

The police force is among the most criticised emergency services - damned if they act, damned if they hold back. Armchair critics, the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct), and even the government frequently condemn their approach: too lenient, too oppressive, too heavy-handed, or simply absent when needed most. What often goes unrecognised is the immense burden placed upon them - not only patrolling streets but drowning in paperwork after every case.

It seems absurd that officers, many retiring at 50 or after thirty years of service, leave with a wealth of experience that could be invaluable. Rather than losing them entirely, why not transition them into back-office roles? Their expertise could ease the administrative load, freeing up active officers to focus on protecting communities and catching criminals. These retired officers could also serve as mentors, offering timeless wisdom, practical solutions, and a compassionate ear to both new and veteran frontline officers.

The ambulance service, too, faces an uphill battle - committed to helping others but continually strangled by funding restraints. Patients endure painfully long waits, as control personnel must make rapid, life-or-death decisions about who is most at risk. With limited resources, ambulances are often diverted from less urgent cases, leaving many in distress for hours before help arrives.

The fire service has faced similar cuts and resource shortages, leading union officials to warn that further reductions could directly impact public safety. With budgets shrinking, firefighters are expected to do more with less, much like their counterparts in the police and ambulance services.

And then, of course, there is the NHS - arguably the best healthcare system in the world yet increasingly pushed to breaking point. Doctors and nurses, overwhelmed by crippling workloads, are fleeing to the private sector, seeking relief from the unrelenting pressures of the system.

Despite these urgent financial strains, funding continues to flow into EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) roles, with salaries exceeding £100,000 per year. While EDI measures serve a purpose, many argue that such high salaries are excessive, especially when essential services are underfunded. This debate often revolves around whether these roles drive meaningful progress or contribute to bureaucratic excess.

There is little doubt that extra funding is needed for the emergency services and the NHS - yet the conversation is continually hindered by political posturing, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and inflated MP salaries.

Politics, Politicians, and Bureaucratic Excesses

MPs’ expenses and salaries have long been a point of contention, particularly when compared to the funding struggles faced by essential services. For context, as of April 2024, the annual salary of an MP rose by 5.5% to £91,346, with a further 2.8% increase planned for 2025, bringing it to £93,904.

Beyond their salaries, MPs can claim expenses for staffing, travel, accommodation, and office costs—amounting to £127.6 million in 2020. In contrast, frontline workers faced a hard-fought battle for pay increases:

• Police officers and firefighters received a 7% increase in 2023, though firefighters’ raise dropped to 5% in 2024 (no confirmed data for police salaries in 2024).
• NHS and ambulance workers secured a 5.5% pay award in 2024, only after significant pushback from the government’s initial stance of “We can’t afford to give you more” before eventually conceding.

When placed in context, these numbers highlight an uncomfortable disparity: while politicians secure steady pay rises without resistance, those who risk their lives, protect communities, and save lives must fight for every percentage point.

I hope you’ve found my sojourn into these issues insightful—an exploration of the realities we all face, shaped by interactions with friends, neighbours, colleagues, and even strangers. We feel pain, sorrow, and grief at the pointless waste of lives, broken and scarred by forces beyond individual control.

As I close this piece, I realise my stance has not shifted from its original premise:

Stop the world, I still want to get off!