The Conservative Job: This is the Self Preservation Party
‘You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!’ exclaimed Charlie Croker (Michael Cain) in the 1969 Action/Comedy/Crime/Thriller classic, The Italian Job; considered by the Tories as a guide to governing the country. Just like the gang of thieves in the British classic, the Tory government continues to pillage the public purse, spending their way out of each self-inflicted injury, all whilst saying there is no magic money tree and decisions of eye-watering difficulty must be made. Catastrophe after catastrophe, scandal after scandal, the Conservatives continue to dig their own party’s grave deeper and deeper.
As thousands throughout the public and private sectors are set to join those already striking for adequate pay, terms and conditions, the Tories continue to use the age-old algorithmic pattern deployed famously by the Roman Empire, commonly referred to as divide and rule policy. In a recent interview with Sky News on Monday 28th November, former Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps - whose real name is Michael Green - accused the RMT and other unions of ‘grandstanding.’ When pushed to elaborate on his remarks, Shapps continued by saying he did not feel it was his former departments place to get involved with this dispute.
However, the newly appointed secretary, Mark Harper, is due to meet RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch, along with the employers and attempt to settle this matter. Shapps caught off guard by this revelation, quickly uttered that he and his cronies were on the side of hardworking people and not the militant unions and strikers. It is obvious that Shapps is not the sharpest knife in the draw, however, surely, he knows that these so-called militant unions are the very representatives of hardworking people. Here is yet another fickle attempt by this government to further cleave decent working people, from public transport to healthcare staff and beyond.
GMB Union stands in solidarity with our comrades in the RMT, as well as all other unions and workers currently, or due to go on strike. Hardworking people are the bedrock of this nation, historically they have built and rebuilt this country time and time again, they should not be made to feel like they are not entitled to adequate pay, terms and conditions. After twelve years of lies and hardship from this obnoxious government, now they have the audacity to spit in the face of all those they recently called key workers. The Tories should hang their heads in shame.
Elsewhere, another senior Tory minister has been accused of bullying and harassing members of the civil service. Dominic Rabb, the Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, was met with two formal complaints levied against him, with a third causing an extension of the investigation into his conduct. The complaints stretch as far back as 2018, during his time as Brexit Secretary. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has tactfully sat on the fence to avoid losing any more credibility and further jeopardising his parties dire polling figures.
Concerning Rabb, he is a senior minister comprised of contradictions. GMB Union believes is it abhorrent that the Justice Secretary is caught up in a bullying scandal; he should be nowhere near the criminal justice system considering his own actions. Likewise, his desire to tear up the Human Rights Act is yet another glaring contradiction, for a man who has always spoken about his family history, and the persecution they suffered, it is absurd that he seeks to tear up an integral piece of international legislation, that protects and safeguards all basic rights.
Last but certainly not least, other senior Tory ministers are taking inspiration from Rabb’s desire to abolish human rights. Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, continues to display grave levels of ineptitude and malice. Foremost, her dreadful performance before the Select Committee on Wednesday 23rd November, looking like a deer in the headlights, she mumbled and bumbled her way through her explanation – or lack thereof – of the asylum process. If the Home Secretary does not know how the process works, what hope do those who seek to come here have?
In her efforts to appear steadfast against immigration and appease the far-right of her party, she is paving the way for more unsafe means of entering the country and risking more lives in the process. Moreover, the abhorrent state of centres like Manston leaves those who do manage to get here in squalor and inhospitable conditions. GMB Union condemns the Home Secretary for her lack of urgency and commitment to her role; she must sort this mess out immediately, and once and for all.
In conclusion, GMB Union calls out the Tories desire to separate hard working people from the very organisations that represent them and encourages all to be vigilant when reading such inflammatory nonsense about trade unions and asylum seekers in the press. Likewise, Rabb and Braverman are amongst an extensive list – 357 to be exact – of Tory MPs who for the good of this country must step aside. Their gross incompetence and negligence cannot, and must not, continue.
