I MADE the mistake of watching Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s speech at the Tory Party conference. My decent mood was about to darken by the end of it. It was like being transported back in time to the ravings of Farage and those of his ilk in the run up to the Brexit referendum.
All the usual tropes blaming identity politics, the inability of many immigrants to integrate and embrace proper “British values” and of course those benefit scroungers that refuse to work full time so they don’t lose their benefits. Clearly the Tories have decided that the “divide and rule” tactics that worked for the Brexit referendum and the last UK election will win the day yet again.
I resent this trend for politicians and some commentators to rail against identity politics. There would be no need for any identity politics if those in our society hadn’t been treated in a negative manner just for being who they are.
Take racism. Particularly since the slow torture to death of George Floyd, many high-profile Black people are finally plucking up the courage to tell their own stories of how they have been treated purely due to the colour of their skin. The pictures of the Black athlete Bianca Williams and her partner Ricardo dos Santos being stopped by the Metropolitan Police whilst in their car with their baby in the back were chilling. She was hauled out of their car and they were both handcuffed. We all know it just wouldn’t have happened if the circumstances were identical and the couple were white.
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Take being gay. I watched a programme about music in the 1970s and they showed Tom Robinson singing “Glad to be Gay”. The song would go on to become somewhat of a gay anthem. Tom was openly gay back then which was pretty unusual for those with high profiles. His performance was electrifying. With every word uttered you could feel the pain of his past lived experiences and deep anger at the rampantly homophobic right-wing press at the time.
A few years ago I had my own experience of negative treatment, albeit very mild in the scheme of things, while in a small hotel in Cornwall. I was all “suited and booted”, being there for my work, sitting waiting for the waitress to come round to get my order.
She came into the restaurant smiling amiably at everyone, including myself, and seemed to be a very nice, cheery individual.
When she came round however with my cooked breakfast, she was unsmiling and the plate almost bounced off the table with the forceful way she flung it down. The smile was switched on again for her next customer. It then clicked. I was the only person there with a Scottish accent and her attitude towards me drastically changed after I opened my mouth to request my order.
It’s not a nice feeling to be judged just for being who you are – so for those involved in identity politics, don’t be cowed by the attention-seeking Suella Bravermans of this world!
Ivor Telfer
Dalgety Bay
THE Prime Minister’s speech on Wednesday was full of soundbites but told nothing of what the electorate wanted to hear, which is the much-promised detail of the “GROWTH, GROWTH, GROWTH” project. Everyone accepts that partial mitigation of energy cost inflation was necessary. That is agreed by all parties although some will say that it’s not enough.
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It is rich for Truss to label Labour, the SNP, LibDems, Green Party, Greenpeace, trade unions, Extinction Rebellion etc as an “anti-growth coalition” when her own party has been in government for 12 years and must take responsibility for the current state of affairs. The Prime Minister and others at the Tory far-right refuse to acknowledge that leaving the EU without a good free-trade agreement was always going put pressure on the economy as well as the UK’s position in the world. Having a bonfire of EU rules will only exacerbate the situation.
In parallel with this, one mustn’t forget Suella Braverman’s speech on Tuesday threatening to kill democracy by legislating to muzzle trade unions and anyone who demonstrates against injustices and failure to tackle global warming. Sending immigrants to their place of origin or to Rwanda and withdrawing from the ECHR (an independent organisation which Winston Churchill helped to set up after the Second World War) is only the tip of the iceberg.
Finally, Cabinet Minister Alok Sharma who chaired COP26 should resign if the government restarts fracking and opening new oil and gas wells.
Scotland must vote Yes for independence now.
Mike Underwood
Linlithgow
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