A CRUEL, CRUEL SUMMER
4th August 2023
The Tories – indeed all Parliamentarians – are today scuttling off for their two months of summer holiday, not returning to the House of Commons until October. Two months paid holiday, basking in the ever increasing global temperatures or other freak weather anomalies whilst things at home – well at home in the UK go from bad to worse.
Let’s start with global climate change and Sunak’s absolutely barking mad decision to empty the North Sea of whatever else is left under their. The problem isn’t with oil or the liquid fuels it provides, the problem facing the UK (especially) is the reliance on gas, previously provided by Russia and now being sourced from all over the globe to supplement the gas we get from Norway. The problem is that there is virtually no gas left in the North Sea. Sunak’s political posturing is purely and simply aimed at maximising the petro-chemical giants’ already burgeoning profits.
His grandiose promises to hit his net-zero targets will not survive this new policy, vehemently attacked by the head of the United Nations, and seriously further impact on the UK’s reputation abroad, as if Brexit didn’t kick the shit out of that anyway!
Following the by-election results his decision to weaponise the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion in London further shows his absolute disregard for the health of the population in London. Those of you reading this who only ever travel to London will be aware of the stink of exhaust fumes, those of us who live (or, like me, have lived) in London will be equally as aware of the lingering smog that hangs over the city. I lived in Walthamstow for a long time and on a summer’s day looking out of the attic bedroom window the grey, green pall of pollution was plain to see. A pleasant day out on Hampstead Heath further reinforced my belief that the ULEZ was a good idea – even if it did come originally from the then Mayor Of London – you know who I mean! Poor air quality is a direct cause of tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths in London. Trying to turn it against the current Mayor and restrict any further expansion is unforgivable, no more than a cruel, cruel policy that impacts on those least well off solely to pander to the wishes of Tory voters. That similar schemes need introducing to all cities is a no-brainer but even Andy Burnham seems to be dithering now but hopefully he’ll think again. We need the opposition parties to be braver, no one will thank them for the missed opportunity in ten years’ time when people will be literally gasping for breath because one bunch of twats put a few votes cast to save their miserable political lives over the lives of the people they are duty-bound to serve!
Sunak really does need to look at the next generation of voters who will be casting their first General Election ballots in the not so distant future. These are young men and women who struggled through the pandemic, locked in whilst Johnson and his minions partied all night long, who will struggle to pay back student loans whilst not getting the educational experience they thought they were signing on for and, following the lunacy of Truss and Kwarteng, will probably never be able to afford their own property.
Mind you, Starmer needs to wake up to the future as well though. His bike must have a fixed wheel, the speed at which he back-pedals is a monumental lack of political savvy. His refusal to scrap George Osborne’s two child limit for Child Benefits is a disgrace! The original policy was nothing short of ideological cruelty, Starmer’s inaction makes the Tories cruelty even crueller. What is the Labour Party for if not the protection of those least able to protect themselves?
As the schools look forward to another 5 weeks holiday families across the UK face the prospect of a cost of living crisis that falls fairly and squarely at the feet of Truss and Kwarteng. Affordable rental properties are few and far between, couples in work struggle to keep a roof over their heads and food in their kids’ bellies. Schools can’t cover day time activities and free lunches to bolster a collapsing child-care sector. Mortgages are now increasingly unaffordable, for home-owners and also those who have bought to let – further reducing the available housing stock.
I read recently that there were 271,000 people homeless IN ENGLAND, which included 123,000 children – I’ll repeat – IN ENGLAND in 2023!!! According to the BBC there are over 1,000 people sleeping rough in London! What!? Here we are in 2023, a G7 country – one of the richest 7 countries in the WORLD that can’t provide food and shelter for its people! In fact, make that won’t, not can’t, because the number of homeless people is a direct consequence of deliberate ideologically driven Tory choices! My contempt for them knows no limits – Nye Bevan was right referring to them as vermin just prior to the 1950 General Election and who amongst the sane would refute that statement now in 2023?
Something has gone drastically wrong under Cameron, Osborne, May, Johnson, Truss and now Sunak. Cruel, callous Conservative see you next Tuesdays – now to be referred to as the CCCC’s
Look at Braverman’s attack on refugees and her prison barges more reminiscent of Dickens’ time and his Great Expectations. Look at the delays in compensating the victims of the contaminated blood scandal (and those of you who think Ken Clarke is a good old chap just check who was Health Secretary at the time). Norman Fowler – the one before him made some scary comments – namely the then CCCC government was scared ‘of setting a (compensation) precedents! Then look at the delays dealing with the WIndrush scandal, the Covid-19 investigation and the Grenfell Tower disaster. All of these are getting dragged on and dragged out – and why? Because the Tories know they’ll be in opposition when the time comes to settle the bills and they’ll deny all responsibility for the impact on the economy.
All these things are direct consequence of deliberate ideological dogma and Tory policies. We should never let them forget what they have done and never forgive their cruelty, ever!
I’ll change tack now, I think you’ll have caught the gist of my ravings by now, so for news from a better place – my long awaited new wheelchair is ordered and due mid-September. It’s the same make and model as the one that’s been getting me about for the last 8 years but I’ve added some blue highlights, purely to recognise the stellar achievements of the only team in Manchester.
Well that’s all for now folks – be good and stay safe.
TTFN
Jem