Thank you for taking the time to listen to me, especially those of you who are not listening, for I realise you all have far better things, more important things, to be doing with your time than listening, or not, to some political animal babble on about all sorts of stuff that you’d rather not listen to, while getting on with other, more important things.

So do I.

Of course, it is natural and only right and proper that we do what is fair and equitable for all, while not forgetting the interests of the weaker, smaller and perhaps less influential majorities as we address the concerns and ambitions of all classes and not just those who benefit, but, indeed, the many of us who stand to make great gains.

In this you have my assurance.

We all know, so there’s little to be accomplished by repeating, the oft quoted phrase that is on everyone’s lips but that we all fear to say, and yet I assure you I will not be silenced. If it was good enough for my father, and your father, although these were probably two different men, but all fathers and even people who are not, and never were fathers as was the case with my own mother, then I think we all know what that means.

And we must never, never forget this.

Yes, I can hear you say, that’s fine and well, as indeed it is, but what about our main challenges, what about the deep and meaningful issues that are issues deeply held and meaningfully felt. Where are they now?

Indeed.

Yet, in closing, let me assure you, even those of you who are not listening, and especially those of you who are not here and perhaps never will be because you think politics is for the few who are here and you are not, as can be demonstrably proven, for we must be cautious against false friends, false freedoms, frail facts and flavoured falafel.

In this you have my assurance.

Friends, voters, ask not what can be done, but think more of what tomorrow means to those who have sacrificed so many sacrificial things. This, this is the cornerstone of what we need grasp, to take hold of, to rub up against as a people, as a person, and on behalf of every he, she, it, them or they, believe me when I say I thank you for listening.

I am humbled to serve.