Many years ago a work colleague of mine returned from a 3 year contract in Zambia.  Over the coming months he treated us to stories of life in Zambia under Kenneth Kaunda and a particular story of the hyena.  Kaunda was a dictator who engineered a one party state, neutralised his opponents and ruled with an iron fist and techniques straight out of ‘Geobel for Beginners’.

One of the accounts that I always remembered was the General Election.  Although a one party dictatorship Kaunda had to appease the outside world and present a veneer of democracy.  This he achieved in a remarkable way.

Most people could neither read nor write so their voting card was a simple two picture affair.  You made your mark – whatever that may be- beside your picture of choice.  The first picture was a big powerful lion – the King of the Jungle.  The second was a mangy hyena – one of the most loathed predators and scavengers in Africa.  Not being able to read, guess which animal was chosen.  And now guess which animal represented a vote for Kenneth Kaunda and a which a vote against him?

I never forgot that account as an example of a totally corrupt state.  I’m sure you can see where this is headed.

Basically, Kaunda would broadcast any old lie to further his political aims.  He treated his people as lower than the animals – because he could not control the animals.  The people were there to serve him and obey him.

I cannot see how this is so different from we are experiencing today in the UK.

We had a referendum in 2014 and Westminster simply trotted out lie after lie after lie.  Our people can read and write – but I’m afraid that many are politically illiterate – they see no reason to be otherwise as they go about their daily business.  And that is not a criticism it’s just an observation.

Here is an example: The Gov claim halving the deficit as a success.  The deficit now around £90Bn.  Have they said whether that has a structural component – in other words they will not get that down further without serious structural intervention – not savings, but big cutbacks.  But, but, the reality is, the debt has risen to £1,700,000,000,000.  £90Bn is 1/20 of 1% of the total debt.  I make that pretty much bankrupt.  By the way, the really really big number is around the value of the known oil and gas reserves off Scotland’s shores?  Better Together – they bet we are!!

We are over that now and plunged into a General Election.  Westminster treats us to a selection of their finest lions.  But we also have a raft of hyenas in their view.  I’m sure you can spot who they think they are.

Just as one of the ‘hyenas’ shows us she is actually a lion or should I say a lioness – there is an immediate reaction from Westminster and their dark-room boys and girls immediately get to work.

This lioness, they say, lies down with the hyenas.  Don’t be fooled.  She is a hyena in lion’s clothing.  She has been overheard talking to the keeper saying that the hyenas should be the Kings of the jungle??  she must be stopped!

The keeper tells all the visitors to the wildlife park to watch out for the rogue lioness – she is actually a hyena and she will tear you apart and eat you up.  She may even be capable of burning your house down?

First of all, I put my faith in a discerning public being disgusted that the keeper would point to a proud lioness and claim she is actually a hyena.

In fact, if the public look closely at the lions they may just about see a zip.  Yes, in fact those big lions putting the stories out about the proud lioness are actually hyenas, themselves.  They are hyenas of the worst kind.  They are the sneaky, deceitful breed that we would all despise if it was not for the costumes they have on to fool us.

But, I think the visitors to the wildlife park have been fooled long enough.  It is time for them to rip off the costumes of those so called lions and expose them for what they are – a bunch of horrible, despicable hyenas hell bent on ruling the jungle.

… and the lioness roared!