Do parents shape your political belief?

Part of a blog by the Green candidate in Mid and West Wales, Leila Kiersch encouraged me to write this blog. (It may be a bit long, and if you don't want to know anything about me don't read on!)

Leila Kiersch mentions how different people from different backgrounds become interested in politics, and comments on parental influence upon the type of politics pursued in later life. It made me question whether my background had any connection with my political views, and how they were shaped....



I can honestly say that my parents' political persuasions did influence me and my actions to a large extent. I soaked up so much from their political action. I can remember taking part in numerous protests outside Tesco's in the valleys as a child, when we were encouraging people to boycott South African goods as part of the Anti- Apartheid movement. Becuase I was young, it was always easier for me to shove a leaflet in people's faces politely ( believe it or not, my brother, Ciaran, was always the charmer when it came to handing out the leaflets, with his cheeky smile and blond curly hair- how things change!)

I remember Desmond Tutu coming to speak at a Chapel in Dowlais, which was jam packed. I also recall being quite upset at seeing many of the older activists being carted away in a police van when they took part in direct action!

These examples of experiences must have had some baring on my views and political actions- the campaigning, the organising, the drive to try and change the world!
But what made more of an impact on me than the active side of my childhood experiences of campaigning against open cast, to attending peace rallies with my parents etc , was their personal views and backgrounds.

My father, an ' anarcho-syndicalist' has always supported me in what I do, but I could never say that he is a Plaid supporter! He stood in the first National Assembly election against Huw Lewis, ( but what the exact party name was I cannot remember!) and I admire him for that. He has always been involved in left wing politics since I can remember- anti-poll tax campaigns and so on, and is very vocal about those beliefs! Nevertheless, he is now somewhat disillusioned with politics given that small factions of 'the left' seem always to be split. I also think that he was put off organising such a chaotic mixture of minds. Now his politics is his poetry, which has an important part to play in shaping Welsh politics and culture.

My mother is more subtle in her politics than my dad. She is much more ready to embrace Plaid's politics. She moved to Wales from Belfast nearly 30 years ago- learnt Welsh, taught Welsh, and embraced Welsh cultural life. Coming from a place like Belfast, I think that she took joy in the fact that she could enter politics without sectarianism and violence involved. Her background and history has always inspired me to become active, and my fascination with Irish politics has shaped much of my eagerness to get up and be passionate about developing the political process here in Wales.

I have many other political influences which I could write an essay about, but will not do so here! My background from growing up in the valleys, and the people around me, will always shape my way of thinking, and so will my family.

Whether I would have followed this path regardless of my parents is hard to answer. I'm not sure that I would be as passionate about politics had I not had such experiences as a young person.

Obviously you meet people throughout life who inspire you, but many key influences do stem from childhood. I was quite rebellious as a child, and hated conforming to the norm, but oddly I never rebelled against my parents' political beliefs, or feel the need to distance myself from their way of thinking.

Things may change with time of course, but I'd like to think that I would never let them down by becoming a Tory!!