I am Wael Arafat, I want to stand as an MP, read my story.

I am asking for people to crowd fund me, as I want to run for this election as a standing independent MP. I aspire to reach out to as many members of my community as possible, aiming to make a meaningful impact in my campaign. Additionally, I hope to establish a small team and produce leaflets to ensure that people are familiar with my identity and the principles I stand for. I am a Palestinian, and I was brought up by my grandmother after losing both my parents 6 months apart because of the war in Palestine. In the recent onset of war, I have lost several family members in Palestine. I went on a hunger strike which went on for 4 months, I thought I would die because I lost 27kg and I became very weak. Compassionate individuals learned about my protest, conversed with me, and advised me to end my hunger strike, suggesting alternative methods of advocacy. I am indebted to these individuals, as well as to my parents, who faithfully sat by my side each day. I feel strongly against war; I have suffered enough from my own experiences in Palestine before I left as a boy. During the first 10 years of my life, I was disturbed by the fear of bombs and the sounds of low flying aircraft and the soldiers at the check points, these experiences haunt my memory and never leave no matter how I try to block things out. The fear as a child going out to play but fearful that I would not return home. Children are the ones that suffer the most from war and the experiences of war. The effects and experiences of war, remain with you for a lifetime and change your innocent, youthful perception of life. Before the hunger strike, I had disabilities sustained through my travels to get to a safe place in the UK. Because of the hunger strike I am now physically disabled, my body hasn’t fully recovered but this hasn’t put me off to have my voice heard. I want to speak out and say “We want a cease fire” in Palestine. Children shouldn’t fear bombs and fear they will be hurt or lose their parents through war. Children should not be the victims of political decisions that threaten the stability of life.

I eventually came out of my hunger strike, and l have decided to carry on campaigning against the war in Palestine, in another way. I have decided I will run in this election to be able to canvass my community and speak to people at their doors. I want to tell people war isn’t good for anybody and that as human beings we must protect sanctuary of human life. But I also want to hear from my community, what are the things that trouble them on a day-to-day basis and what they feel may improve their lives. Here in the UK, I have had the experience of receiving treatment on the hospital wards. The lack of staff was very evident, call bells not being answered for long periods of time. Elderly people calling for help and getting distressed when there wasn’t enough staff to cover the demand of need. I would like to promote disability rights; vulnerable people are suffering because budgets are being cut. This means many people with disabilities that had been receiving a service have seen their service & funding reduced. For those people who do not have anyone or anything to fill that gap can be left on their own struggling to fend for themselves when they are unable to manage. People are left with a system with no recourse to complain or defend their position because legal aid and budgets has been impacted as well. I want to say the most vulnerable in society is suffering in silence as their voices are not being represented or heard. Lastly, I too was a refugee. We constantly see and hear in the news about the high numbers that have come to the UK shores looking for refuge. Yes, the sad tragedy is that people are running from wars such as I did. Seeking a safe place for them and their family to call home. If people can understand that refugees can and do benefit society as they bring different skills to the UK, if the system was set up for immigration to process cases quicker to give refugee’s the right to work and earn their way. I believe refugees could pay into our system to ensure that our economy is supported for all the extra social support needed. In turn this would then benefit all.