[Op-Ed] If you can't take it, you shouldn't dish it out...

Ahh, virtue, most commonly attributed to flowers, pretty colours and for fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton, young ladies from the Georgian Era… but it’s not often a decisive factor in the political decision-making of leading men and women in Parliament, which is why it’s becoming more and more discerning (and incredulous) that the Libertarian Party seems to be under the illusion that it positively shines out of every crack and crevice of their party. Or at least those crevices that haven’t been deliberately shrouded from the public eye.

Let me elaborate, I have been in Solidarity for two months, and before I was a member of the Labour Party for a year and a half. I have served and argued alongside some of the most prolifically-opposed members to the LPUK’s destructive and austerity based policies. I have watched the LPUK rise and fall and rise again, but one thing has always remained constant… their approach to opposition.

Politics is never an easy or a particularly friendly field of employment. But to take criticism on the chin, stand your ground and argue your corner is the cornerstone of a moral and principled person. Which is why I am so often dismayed by the LPUK’s continuous attempt to brand the parties of the left as either “hateful” or “nasty” and any co-ordinated scrutiny of their mistakes as a “smear campaign”. Please don’t misunderstand me; it’s an efficient political move. The British People don’t tend to vote for those that don’t share their values and being excessively bitter or ruthless is a good indication of a lack of mutual understanding.

But let me put it to the British public. If a black pot told a black kettle that they were black, would you vote for the pot or the kettle? You see, here is where I would like to draw a parallel between the behaviour both towards and from the LPUK and the action that has been perpetuated towards and from another party, the PPUK.

I have not engaged in what has been an admittedly controversial approach to the political decisions of the PPUK and trust me; I'm afraid I have to disagree with most of them. But the PPUK arguably have a case to make that the criticism they’re facing and the methods used to criticise as mentioned earlier, is potentially disproportionate to their mistakes and moreso, their past conduct.

You see, the PPUK has not released op-ed after op-ed criticising and besmirching those that disagree with them. The membership of the PPUK has (for the most part) not directly insulted personal aspects of the membership of their opposing parties. Recent offensive comments on my colleagues’ attributes whilst consuming fabric and aged, exceptionally tasteless remarks on the sexual performance of my former leader come to mind. The party of Wakko Akko has little to stand on.

Granted, the left is far from innocent in any of this and have made their own comments and made their own mistakes regarding the LPUK. In recent times, tasteless jokes were made, and we made the responsible decision to apologize. But to the LPUK, I have a straightforward message… if you can’t take it, don’t dish it out. And don’t run to the moral high ground as a self-perceived paragon of virtue because you’re not and anyone with any vague recollection of the third blurple government will know that.

To those who view Solidarity as “nasty”, I’m sorry, and I hope we can adequately demonstrate our focus for a kinder and fairer politics. To those who solely view the LPUK as “nasty”, you’re reading too much Buzzfeed, go outside…

But to those that view all or none as ill-behaved and petulant children, congratulations, you have arrived at the correct conclusion following this article and have a basic understanding of politics. May you forever be immune from taking lessons on tolerance and respect from Friedmanite or indeed anyone who isn’t your mother.

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- u/BoredNerdyGamer is a former First Minister of Northern Ireland and UK Cabinet Minister. He currently sits amongst the ranks of Solidarity as a backbencher lord.