Any pretence of ‘compassionate conservatism’ is just that – pretence.
What does cabinet member Theresa May hope to achieve from her announcement that the UK is considering a strategy to curb entrance into the UK from EU states?
A fundamental principle of EU membership is the freedom of movement between states. I have no idea how many British citizens currently reside in Spain, France and Germany for example but all are entitled to do so and benefit from the provision of publicly provided services.
To suggest Britain pulls up the drawbridge so as to deter EU citizens looking for work is pure unadulterated xenophobia.
I tweeted “I have banned Theresa (keep the Greeks out) May from entering Lambeth on the grounds she is monstrous”. This was re-tweeted with lots of people entering into the spirit and the ban has spread to Devon, East and West Cheshire to name but a few.
One response was to ask “why should we let the Greek unemployed in when we have millions unemployed already?” Bulls eye Theresa May.
The minister's comment has linked the UK recession and joblessness with the Euro crisis in Greece, implied is an influx of Greek citizens threatening workers in Britain.
We don’t know if Greece will remain in the eurozone. By a democratic process Greek voters rejected austerity measures as medicine that is killing the patient. The country will go to the polls again in a few weeks and the hyperbole from the neo-liberals is bound to reach a deafening crescendo.
Those of us not fooled into believing ordinary citizens of any nation are to blame for the economic fallout caused by greedy capitalists can work together.
In the UK a date has been set by the TUC for a major anti-austerity demonstration – 20 October. I hope this will be an occasion when we welcome sister organisations from across the EU to show we stand shoulder to shoulder.
In the meantime Ms May, you might note that there are marbles in the basement of the British Museum that are the rightful property of Greece. Their return to Athens is long overdue.
Culture minister Jeremy Hunt could do with a distraction from the Leveson Inquiry, or is the intention that traffic between the UK and Greece is only one way?
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