Bez

Bez answers pressing political questions

The former Happy Mondays dancer recently announced his decision to stand for parliament at next year’s general election, but where does he stand on the big political issues of the day? Here Bez responds to our questions on Scotland, flood defences and Nigel Farage.

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/mar/19/bez-answers-pressing-political-questions

Bez, issuing forth some sort of rallying political cry, by the looks of it.

Bez, issuing forth some sort of rallying political cry, by the looks of it. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The European Human Rights Act: necessary protection or needless red tape?

Necessary protection. The UN states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”: without this we would lose the battle for any right. Every man, woman and child in the global community has a right to be treated in a fair and equal manner and this should be both understood and upheld.

How would you better protect Britain against flooding?

It’d help to stop geo-engineering and manipulation of the weather. Certainly, with the state of the Arctic and rising sea-levels, it would be beneficial to move people away from our coastlines and flood-lands before further devastation.

You’re on a day out with Nigel Farage, where would you go?

It’ll never happen. As I see it, you kip, and you miss it [the day out].

Which musicians do you think would make good politicians? Other than yourself, obviously.

As I get it, from the 1930s to the 1970s the agricultural industry dominated the world, from then till now the Banksters have ruled. Both have been more destructive than positive. In my mind, if anyone can save the world from destroying itself, it will be the creative minds: the thinkers, the artists and the avant-garde trailblazers that will ultimately bring down the whole matrix of untruth and set mankind on a lesser destructive and more spiritual path. Like me, most of my fellow artists struggle within the confines of what is ‘politically correct’.

Is the license fee value for tax payer’s money?

The licence fee is an act, not a law; how can that be value for money?

Would you reinstate the 45p top rate of tax and if so why?

They system doesn’t work; there is no system, it’s a farce, a state of perpetuated chaos that doesn’t work for man nor beast. I dream of abolishing the whole system; wiping all slates clean, beginning debt free and starting again. Don’t you?

Do you think Scotland should vote for independence?

I’m not Scottish; that’s for the people of Scotland to debate and decide.

Ending all war seems like quite a big ask. Do you have a plan for that?

A mass conscious shift. As Einstein said, “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.” If the media stopped feeding us with fear, war and money and instead complimented our minds with a little peace and love, we could transcend.

Do you agree with free schools and would you and Shaun start your own school?

Start a school? Shaun and I are more likely to go back to school. Education is our human right and should be considered a lifelong experience. The problem with the present system is it teaches only the curriculum and not the child. It is merely vocational training and social conditioning that enables an individual to get a job, pay tax and pay into a pension fund, and it does nothing towards encompassing a whole person’s being and individual creative talent.

If Russia invaded, would you send troops into Ukraine?

As I said, there will be no war on my watch.

If elected, who would you hang out with in Parliament?

I’ll hang out with the people, lots of them, masses of them, just as I always have. If I get there, it’ll be a team sport.

Some Tories are calling for a redesign of the party’s tree logo, as it doesn’t reflect Conservative values. What would you change the Conservative logo to?

Well the trees are dying, so maybe they should adopt the hangman’s noose. They are killing us all.