It’s time to meet your SLP candidates for the 2022 Council Elections
1. Tell us about yourself, what’s your background?
My name is Jonathan Rainey, I’m 28 years old and I’m a volunteer litter picker & food bank helper from Dumbarton.
2. When and why did you become a Libertarian?
My awakening to become a libertarian gradually accelerated in 2014 when I voted Yes in the Independence Referendum, seeing the wars in the Middle East with western governmental interventionism become more intense in 2015 and then especially when I voted Leave in 2016 and then seeing those running the show become more and more clearer about what their plans were for running the world and taking away bit by bit our basic freedoms & liberties. Part of the particular redpilling I got included learning about how Central Banking works which changed everything I knew about economics.
3. Were you politically active before you were a libertarian. What was your journey?
I never really truly was politically active until the mid-2010s as mentioned in the previous answer. I did generally lean Centre-left in my political leanings but overall was not politically involved & just wanted to get on with life in education and career. When I was born in 1994 and ended up getting high-functioning autism, which my parents still to this day suspect was related to the MMR Vaccine I got at 18 months old, I guess they helped drill into me that I shouldn’t try to take freedom for granted and there were times in our lives where we had to fight to maintain it (e.g. better education settings to help accompany me, stopping Renton Primary School being shut by the council twice, opposing certain crazy building projects in 2013, having to make sure my 2 remaining grandparents at the time got the best care in their later lives, etc). When I joined the SLP in April 2019, this was when I arranged a small demonstration in Glasgow against the EU Copyright Directive which didn’t get reported in the local newspapers despite contacting them about it and seeing how a political institution like the EU despises our freedoms made me want to get off the couch and stop being an armchair activist.
4. What do you believe the SLP have to offer the individual, and as a consequence
“society”?
I think the main hope for both individuals & society is that it liberty shouldn’t come just from the SLP but from any pro-Liberty political party or independent pro-liberty candidates. It’s clear that we need less government in our lives and by having less government, we can genuinely prosper as a free society via the means of decentralisation of power.
5. Who in political history do you admire most and why?
It’s a bit difficult to be honest. There’s 2 individual figures that kinda compete for my attention which include Cato the Younger (as highlighted by Pat McGeehan in his book Stoicism & the Statehouse) from the Roman Republic & then Empire and then there’s also Frederic Bastiat (French Economist, writer & politician who really helped to spread the enlightenment in France towards the mid-1800s). If I had to include groups of historical people that would be great influencers for liberty, it would definitely be the founding fathers of the original United States of America in the late 1700s. Sure they weren’t perfect individuals in their own right but at the time, their ideas proved to be very revolutionary for preserving freedom. If one person still alive to this day helped my awakening be accelerated the most, it would be Ron Paul because no one in America would find a better legend than him.
6. What are the main local issues you will concentrate on in these council elections?
The main issues I would like to focus on include opposing pointless Council regulations & licensing laws (especially the upcoming workplace car parking charges), uncovering & opposing cronyism & corruption within the council, ensuring more transparency, protecting free speech as well as upholding school choice within West Dunbartonshire.
1. Tell us about yourself, what’s your background?
I am 22 years old, coming 23. I never thought in a million years I’d be involved in politics to be very honest! I always wanted to go on and become an actor and perform. Now I’ve found a new form of performance, however no acting required. I have a passion for football! Fascinated with psychology and in particular crime documentaries such as That Chapter on Youtube who does incredible work covering missing person cases and murderers. I have a passion for Libertarianism and am disgusted with the way our country is heading under the current big government in charge. I am a passionate free marketeer. I was once a Unionist, staunch with the background I’ve come from. However, as I have learned about economics and the potential Scotland has, I truly believe under Libertarian values and a true free market, our country could become extremely successful independently.
2. When and why did you become a Libertarian?
As previously mentioned, I was heavily influenced politically due to the family and background I’ve come from. I didn’t truly open my eyes and learn for myself until I met Scott McKelvie through his Libertarian Youtube channel. I started to learn, do my own research and was hooked thereafter. Now, I don’t ever see me being anything other than a Libertarian
3. Were you politically active before you were a libertarian. What was your journey?
No, this is my first proper gig in Politics. I’m going into these Council Elections as a complete rookie. But, I have my own ideas and have identified a strategy where I can use my inexperience of campaigning to my advantage – by relating with my local constituents and getting out there, getting involved and helping people with their concerns with a fresh and different Libertarian approach.
4. What do you believe the SLP have to offer the individual, and as a consequence “society”?
The SLP have something very different to offer this country as a whole. Firstly, we’d restore people’s rights immediately in this country, such as freedom of speech, dissolving the Scottish Government’s many powers limiting people and their businesses and finally opening Scotland’s economy up fully. How would we do that? By getting a proper Scottish Independence, implementing proper Libertarian values in this country and allowing businesses to operate under a free market with no government interference or regulation. This is a game changer that’d allow our amazing country to fully achieve it’s unrivalled potential! No other party in Scotland are offering this.
5. Who in political history do you admire most and why?
Scott McKelvie. Speaks sense, is a proper Libertarian and ardent supporter of the free market. One of the big reasons why I’m here in politics today. Check out his channel and judge for yourself – Libertarian Scot. I’m featured in one of his videos also speaking about Libertarianism, double standards in Scotland, Independence for Scotland under Libertarianism and a free market, plus many other things.
6. What are the main local issues you will concentrate on in these council elections?
The main issues I will concentrate on in my local area can be found on my leaflets hitting Kilmarnock South the week starting 25th April 2022. But here they are:
The taxi driver shortage in Kilmarnock,
Public transport, specifically the reintroduction of the number 6 buses and other services restricted at the moment due to “Coronavirus”
Helping local businesses via a contingency plan to get them back on their feet economically. One implementation is by pushing the curfews on nightlife industries from 2.30am to 4.30am. Also, by focussing on other local restrictions that we can either entirely lift or relax – I am willing to compromise to help local businesses in need.
To focus on cleaning up the area. Rubbish, fly tipping, rat infestations etc. Already am in contact with the East Ayrshire Council Cleansing Depo in Onthank to make a start on a contingency. Also to get rid of the brown bin permits people are being charged for (despite taxes going through the roof).
To finally remove the “anti-homeless” publicly funded benches (or whatever they are) and reinstate the seats within the bus station. The council has told you this is happening already – last year. Still, we’re waiting. I’ll ensure that this is delivered to help those who need these benches whilst waiting for their bus home. Not that there will be much of a wait time for a service by the time I’m finished. See above point.
Finally, the last part of my campaign is to ensure that people’s rights are being upheld in the area. I’d love to one day do this on a national scale as well, but will start locally. Anyone being convicted under any type of law which explicitly impedes any of their rights will be stringently defended and will have my full support and backing, regardless of political affiliation.
