Thank you for writing this. It is some comfort that others are angry too and you express it beautifully. I wrote an email to the Home Secretary. Doubt it will be read but putting it here so you lot can read it.
Dear Home Secretary
I am a lifelong Labour voter. I'm feeling incredibly shaken and disturbed by your latest policy announcement and accompanying media statements.
My family were refugees from Hitler. My father's family fled Czechoslovakia in Dec 1939. They paid £1000 (in 1939) per person for their visas from Britain to get into Palestine as they were not given visas to go to Britain. My aunt, aged 17, was not able to go on the family visa and came to London alone to train as a nurse. My great grandfather was, at 74, too old to be on the family visa and took his own life rather than be left in enemy territory. Many other relatives who did not have the funds for visas perished in the Holocaust.
My mother fled Germany, with her mother. My great grandmother was also too old for a visa and died in Theresienstadt aged 77.
I learnt many things from the trauma of my parents and grandparents. Not least that no-one flees unless they feel they have no choice. And that to flee and make it one needs money and resilience. But also the immense gratitude that people feel for the country that has given them safety and refuge.
In the late 50s my father got work in England and we were all able to join my aunt and her family. After 5 years we became citizens. We worked, contributed, paid taxes, became part of our communities.
I'm wondering where you think you might have to deport me, if all this had happened say 20 or slightly fewer years ago. Born in Israel, British, also German. And potentially Austrian and Czech. Are all these places safe now? Do you think it would be reasonable for me to spend twenty years wondering if I will be able to stay? Wondering if it is safe to build a life here? And what of my children, all born here? Would they have to leave too?
I am left asking why you want me and my family to feel so unwelcome?
Yours sincerely
(And I added my bloody Dr title and OBE honour because this is exactly when these titles and letters should be used!)
"But most of all, it is unpardonable that Labour is spending time promoting hateful policies which it knows will not work, instead of doing the actual work of government which the country requires."
You know, the thing that really gets me nowadays with politics is the lies. The endless, self serving lies. Politicians have always lied, and lied over some very big issues, but not on every single damn one of them, and so consistently across the political arena.
We have the govt lying over immigration, refugees and asylum seekers, playing into the Reform and Conservative narrative that Asylum seekers are 'bad news' and need to be cracked down on hard. Yet, no evidence is ever produced to back any of their arguments, and Migrants are falsely accused of all sorts. Then we have Benefits, an area over which so many lies have been told recently its breath taking. The biggest one of all, and backed by all three right wing party's, is that 'the benefits bill spiralling out of control'. Is it? Not according to the ONS or OBR it isn't. Indeed, even at current spending levels as a % of GDP, its due to shrink, not increase increase over the next decade.
Then we have the lies over disability, over mental health, all trotted out without challenge by a supine media and rotten politicians, all of whom have 'expert backing' yet we are never told (beyond Duncan Smiths vile 'Think tank') who these alleged experts, judges, teachers, headteachers, medical experts are. Because they probably don't exist, and even if they do, the vast majority of their fellow professionals profoundly disagree with them. Figures are quoted that are outright lies, assertions are made without challenge, and polls show that this endless stream of nonsense is being accepted as 'truth' by the public. 53% of people polled in a recent survey believe Depression should not qualify for sick leave or benefits. A triumph of endless propaganda and lies.
Then we have the recent attacks by Badenoch and Tice on Autism and SEN, with the usual assertions mixed with outright lies, and here's the thing, not one govt minister challenged with any conviction Badenoch's claims over Autism, and none at all firmly challenged Tices outright rubbish over SEN. Why? Because the govt itself is looking to end EHCP - to save money. I mean sod the kids, they and their parents are clearly all faking it for the money! What money doesn't get discussed...
Then we have the latest attempt to save a few quid - trial without jury to become massively expanded. Dressed up as 'will no-one think of the victims', this latest piece of cynicism framed as helping to 'clear the backlog', helps justice not one jot, but will help the chancellor avoid tax rises. And why is there a backlog? Because the Tories mass closed courts and tribunals under Cameron, and the subsequent regimes did not want to spend the money to re-open them. No, far better to slash the opportunity for a fair trial, and leave it up to some of Britain's most famously bigoted individuals to decide a huge number of potentially controversial cases. Yes, barristers (who I pinched that last sentence lock, stock from) are a vested interest, but in this case, they aren't wrong. Again, its a tissue of lies backed up by tame experts.
The latest stats show net Immigration figures are shrinking again, but here's the thing, its partly due to people leaving the country. Frankly, faced with being shamefacedly lied to every single day by rotten to the core politicians, and with the prospect of an even worse govt than this one in a few years time, I wish I was in a position to go too.
An awful Govt that has completely squandered its chance to enact real change. For some bizarre reason has decided to spends its entire time in office in campaign mode trying to court RW populists and get cheers off billionaire owned RW rags.
This is the most utterly bizarre part of it all. A huge majority, and this is what they choose to do with it. And polls showing that they are haemorrhaging support to the Greens and Lib Dems at a much larger rate than to Reform. Such a wasted opportunity, and giving Farage a great chance of occupying number 10 next, something that would have been unthinkable 18 months ago.
Thank you Ian. Your columns are rare bit of sanity amongst the unreal media ecosystem the UK had unfortunately slipped into which is creating levels of intolerance i never thought id see again after being brought up in the 80's and early 90's. We all have to speak up about this in conversations as the media are trying to make unacceptable options mainstream. Thank you
Britain is doomed with politicians seeming to think their job is announcing potential policies on social media, rather than as you say Ian, getting on with the job of making Britain a fairer and more functioning country. What's fair about saying no to kids who are refugees, and yes to rich foreigners who have to wait just three years to get a British passport?
Labour has abandoned everything that it was once stood for - and I suspect the underlying reason is money. No, not the stretched Government finances... The money that now flows into politics and is, in effect, determining Government policy.
Just like the Tories, (and Reform), The Labour Party now gets the majority of its funding from mega-rich individuals and big corporations.
We will never get a government with any real intent to tackle inequality, social injustice, and deliver a fair & just immigration system, until money is taken out of politics. Which is why my vote now goes to The Green Party.
I struggle with this idea that people voted for Starmer in droves. Not really. He got the lowest winning percentage of a Labour leader in history - 33.7%. Ed Milliband got 35.2% in 2005. What is really striking is that he got fewer votes than Corbyn in both 2017 and 2019. What won it was the collapse in the Tory vote - which more than halved! From 13.9 million to 6.8 million - or in percent, from 43.6 to 23.7. It seems quite likely that virtually anybody could have led Labour to victory in 2024. They might not have got the majority he managed, but so what, he hasn't done anything with it anyway, as you point out.
The greatest irony is that if Starmer had kept to his 10 pledges on which he won the leadership, he would probably still have won, and he would have then had a plan and something to deliver. Instead, the strategy of government by tabloid reading focus group has led to this rudderless, clueless, grabbing at any passing headline to try to please the worst among us, and yet failing even at that.
Oh the policy was horrendously depressing. But I am also now firmly of the view, influenced by Sam Freedman's "Failed State" and your own "How Westminster Works...", that the British state is hardwired for incompetence. It doesn't matter who we elect, they will be useless, because the system is structured for failure. Too centralised to cope with the workload, too driven by media management to work on policy, and so they are constantly running around with hair on fire. What a mess.
Ian, it’s very easy to criticise these policies — and much of your critique is valid — but you haven’t offered a single workable solution. If the current approach is immoral and ineffective, what should the government do instead? Without proposing alternatives, you sound like any other sad ranter.
Thank you for voicing my anger, my despair that white paper is borderline a hate crime especially the removal of jewellery and assets as immigration collateral, just to get a nod from the far right papers and as you rightly say not in the least achievable in terms of a policy it is as pernicious as it is utterly pointless. After a majority election the Labour Party is impoliding so rapidly I have truly given up and I fear we are hurtling towards a choice for voters in England of hate fear and Fascism under Reform or left wing floundering, populism under a leader who wishes to leave NATO in a time of huge economic and global instability and war in Ukraine (ffs) and in Wales Fascism or backwards Nationalism that I encountered in my youth. We need a major U turn in Labour, an injection of vision and empathy or we are all biblically fucked. - I'm going to sedate myself in comics and wine this weekend - I re read Grant Morisson's Supergods and I found a glimpse of hope, I may need to re-read it again. Take care hope you feel better- honey and whiskey helps
Thanks for this. I think we've now entered the 'What you see isn't what you'll get' phase of UK Governance. This will last probably until 2031, unless the 3rd World War intervenes. Each PM Starmer/Streeting/Farage or A Tory will promise ever more fanciful 'tricks' as per a great magician, whilst delivering outcomes more appropriate to Tommy Cooper. Obviously if Polanski gets involved at least those who 'believe' will come away with a decent set of chestal assets. Eventually, one hopes, the public (and the press) will realise that you only get what you pay for and if we continue to expect something for nothing we'll end up with, well, nothing.
What a hideous betrayal of Labour Party values by the Home Secretary. What on earth was she thinking? Following a fascist creed to satisfy voters heading for Reform. Its morally and ethically far better to stand for something than to shift to the far right, simply to stay in power. Shame on them all. Starmer, if he had the Cojony's, would ask for her resignation. As it is now, he limps on in a daze. Where are the shouts of opposition to this policy? If the cabinet accepts it, they are doomed as a political party
They might just as well throw in the towel and let the creepy con men of Reform fuck thing up even more.
Thank you for writing this. It is some comfort that others are angry too and you express it beautifully. I wrote an email to the Home Secretary. Doubt it will be read but putting it here so you lot can read it.
Dear Home Secretary
I am a lifelong Labour voter. I'm feeling incredibly shaken and disturbed by your latest policy announcement and accompanying media statements.
My family were refugees from Hitler. My father's family fled Czechoslovakia in Dec 1939. They paid £1000 (in 1939) per person for their visas from Britain to get into Palestine as they were not given visas to go to Britain. My aunt, aged 17, was not able to go on the family visa and came to London alone to train as a nurse. My great grandfather was, at 74, too old to be on the family visa and took his own life rather than be left in enemy territory. Many other relatives who did not have the funds for visas perished in the Holocaust.
My mother fled Germany, with her mother. My great grandmother was also too old for a visa and died in Theresienstadt aged 77.
I learnt many things from the trauma of my parents and grandparents. Not least that no-one flees unless they feel they have no choice. And that to flee and make it one needs money and resilience. But also the immense gratitude that people feel for the country that has given them safety and refuge.
In the late 50s my father got work in England and we were all able to join my aunt and her family. After 5 years we became citizens. We worked, contributed, paid taxes, became part of our communities.
I'm wondering where you think you might have to deport me, if all this had happened say 20 or slightly fewer years ago. Born in Israel, British, also German. And potentially Austrian and Czech. Are all these places safe now? Do you think it would be reasonable for me to spend twenty years wondering if I will be able to stay? Wondering if it is safe to build a life here? And what of my children, all born here? Would they have to leave too?
I am left asking why you want me and my family to feel so unwelcome?
Yours sincerely
(And I added my bloody Dr title and OBE honour because this is exactly when these titles and letters should be used!)
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Bang on, Ian.
"But most of all, it is unpardonable that Labour is spending time promoting hateful policies which it knows will not work, instead of doing the actual work of government which the country requires."
You know, the thing that really gets me nowadays with politics is the lies. The endless, self serving lies. Politicians have always lied, and lied over some very big issues, but not on every single damn one of them, and so consistently across the political arena.
We have the govt lying over immigration, refugees and asylum seekers, playing into the Reform and Conservative narrative that Asylum seekers are 'bad news' and need to be cracked down on hard. Yet, no evidence is ever produced to back any of their arguments, and Migrants are falsely accused of all sorts. Then we have Benefits, an area over which so many lies have been told recently its breath taking. The biggest one of all, and backed by all three right wing party's, is that 'the benefits bill spiralling out of control'. Is it? Not according to the ONS or OBR it isn't. Indeed, even at current spending levels as a % of GDP, its due to shrink, not increase increase over the next decade.
Then we have the lies over disability, over mental health, all trotted out without challenge by a supine media and rotten politicians, all of whom have 'expert backing' yet we are never told (beyond Duncan Smiths vile 'Think tank') who these alleged experts, judges, teachers, headteachers, medical experts are. Because they probably don't exist, and even if they do, the vast majority of their fellow professionals profoundly disagree with them. Figures are quoted that are outright lies, assertions are made without challenge, and polls show that this endless stream of nonsense is being accepted as 'truth' by the public. 53% of people polled in a recent survey believe Depression should not qualify for sick leave or benefits. A triumph of endless propaganda and lies.
Then we have the recent attacks by Badenoch and Tice on Autism and SEN, with the usual assertions mixed with outright lies, and here's the thing, not one govt minister challenged with any conviction Badenoch's claims over Autism, and none at all firmly challenged Tices outright rubbish over SEN. Why? Because the govt itself is looking to end EHCP - to save money. I mean sod the kids, they and their parents are clearly all faking it for the money! What money doesn't get discussed...
Then we have the latest attempt to save a few quid - trial without jury to become massively expanded. Dressed up as 'will no-one think of the victims', this latest piece of cynicism framed as helping to 'clear the backlog', helps justice not one jot, but will help the chancellor avoid tax rises. And why is there a backlog? Because the Tories mass closed courts and tribunals under Cameron, and the subsequent regimes did not want to spend the money to re-open them. No, far better to slash the opportunity for a fair trial, and leave it up to some of Britain's most famously bigoted individuals to decide a huge number of potentially controversial cases. Yes, barristers (who I pinched that last sentence lock, stock from) are a vested interest, but in this case, they aren't wrong. Again, its a tissue of lies backed up by tame experts.
The latest stats show net Immigration figures are shrinking again, but here's the thing, its partly due to people leaving the country. Frankly, faced with being shamefacedly lied to every single day by rotten to the core politicians, and with the prospect of an even worse govt than this one in a few years time, I wish I was in a position to go too.
I’m 100% with you on the subject of lying politicians. They’re no better than craven advertising ‘experts’.
When a supposed socialist government "wins supportive front pages in the Daily Mail and the Telegraph", you know that everything is now upside down.
An awful Govt that has completely squandered its chance to enact real change. For some bizarre reason has decided to spends its entire time in office in campaign mode trying to court RW populists and get cheers off billionaire owned RW rags.
This is the most utterly bizarre part of it all. A huge majority, and this is what they choose to do with it. And polls showing that they are haemorrhaging support to the Greens and Lib Dems at a much larger rate than to Reform. Such a wasted opportunity, and giving Farage a great chance of occupying number 10 next, something that would have been unthinkable 18 months ago.
Thank you Ian. Your columns are rare bit of sanity amongst the unreal media ecosystem the UK had unfortunately slipped into which is creating levels of intolerance i never thought id see again after being brought up in the 80's and early 90's. We all have to speak up about this in conversations as the media are trying to make unacceptable options mainstream. Thank you
Britain is doomed with politicians seeming to think their job is announcing potential policies on social media, rather than as you say Ian, getting on with the job of making Britain a fairer and more functioning country. What's fair about saying no to kids who are refugees, and yes to rich foreigners who have to wait just three years to get a British passport?
Sadly, Ian, you are yet again, bang on.
Labour has abandoned everything that it was once stood for - and I suspect the underlying reason is money. No, not the stretched Government finances... The money that now flows into politics and is, in effect, determining Government policy.
Just like the Tories, (and Reform), The Labour Party now gets the majority of its funding from mega-rich individuals and big corporations.
We will never get a government with any real intent to tackle inequality, social injustice, and deliver a fair & just immigration system, until money is taken out of politics. Which is why my vote now goes to The Green Party.
I struggle with this idea that people voted for Starmer in droves. Not really. He got the lowest winning percentage of a Labour leader in history - 33.7%. Ed Milliband got 35.2% in 2005. What is really striking is that he got fewer votes than Corbyn in both 2017 and 2019. What won it was the collapse in the Tory vote - which more than halved! From 13.9 million to 6.8 million - or in percent, from 43.6 to 23.7. It seems quite likely that virtually anybody could have led Labour to victory in 2024. They might not have got the majority he managed, but so what, he hasn't done anything with it anyway, as you point out.
The greatest irony is that if Starmer had kept to his 10 pledges on which he won the leadership, he would probably still have won, and he would have then had a plan and something to deliver. Instead, the strategy of government by tabloid reading focus group has led to this rudderless, clueless, grabbing at any passing headline to try to please the worst among us, and yet failing even at that.
Oh the policy was horrendously depressing. But I am also now firmly of the view, influenced by Sam Freedman's "Failed State" and your own "How Westminster Works...", that the British state is hardwired for incompetence. It doesn't matter who we elect, they will be useless, because the system is structured for failure. Too centralised to cope with the workload, too driven by media management to work on policy, and so they are constantly running around with hair on fire. What a mess.
Why do all incoming Health ministers think that changes to management structures are improvement?
It's not! Ita sign of bad management experience.
Please find someone who knows what they are doing, and for goodness sake don't centralise.
Brilliant writing. “a fascist shimmer.” I am going to steal that.
Ian, it’s very easy to criticise these policies — and much of your critique is valid — but you haven’t offered a single workable solution. If the current approach is immoral and ineffective, what should the government do instead? Without proposing alternatives, you sound like any other sad ranter.
Thank you for voicing my anger, my despair that white paper is borderline a hate crime especially the removal of jewellery and assets as immigration collateral, just to get a nod from the far right papers and as you rightly say not in the least achievable in terms of a policy it is as pernicious as it is utterly pointless. After a majority election the Labour Party is impoliding so rapidly I have truly given up and I fear we are hurtling towards a choice for voters in England of hate fear and Fascism under Reform or left wing floundering, populism under a leader who wishes to leave NATO in a time of huge economic and global instability and war in Ukraine (ffs) and in Wales Fascism or backwards Nationalism that I encountered in my youth. We need a major U turn in Labour, an injection of vision and empathy or we are all biblically fucked. - I'm going to sedate myself in comics and wine this weekend - I re read Grant Morisson's Supergods and I found a glimpse of hope, I may need to re-read it again. Take care hope you feel better- honey and whiskey helps
I hope the 🍷worked it's magic for you
Thanks for this. I think we've now entered the 'What you see isn't what you'll get' phase of UK Governance. This will last probably until 2031, unless the 3rd World War intervenes. Each PM Starmer/Streeting/Farage or A Tory will promise ever more fanciful 'tricks' as per a great magician, whilst delivering outcomes more appropriate to Tommy Cooper. Obviously if Polanski gets involved at least those who 'believe' will come away with a decent set of chestal assets. Eventually, one hopes, the public (and the press) will realise that you only get what you pay for and if we continue to expect something for nothing we'll end up with, well, nothing.
“Chestal assets”😂
What a hideous betrayal of Labour Party values by the Home Secretary. What on earth was she thinking? Following a fascist creed to satisfy voters heading for Reform. Its morally and ethically far better to stand for something than to shift to the far right, simply to stay in power. Shame on them all. Starmer, if he had the Cojony's, would ask for her resignation. As it is now, he limps on in a daze. Where are the shouts of opposition to this policy? If the cabinet accepts it, they are doomed as a political party
They might just as well throw in the towel and let the creepy con men of Reform fuck thing up even more.
Thank goodness I emigrated.