If ever we needed real opposition it's now

THERE is so much to be angry at right now, but unlike many people, Number 10 having a Xmas party is way down on my list.

We know the Tories are hypocrites, we’ve always known it, and we were shown it again with the Cummings Barnard Castle trip. It has always been one rule for them and one rule for us. Always.

But people are getting more het up over this than the bills the government are trying to get through. You do know that the Nationality and Borders Bill could affect six million British citizens, right? Citizens. Those with dual nationality could have their citizenship stripped on “reasonable grounds” and without notice, in the interests of national security. And who decides what’s in the interests of national security? The Government.

Then there’s the Policing Bill where you could be jailed for 51 weeks for protesting. Is this likely to cut down on protests or will it make them more violent? If you are aware you can get a year in jail simply for protesting, why wouldn’t some go the whole hog and go in for a bit of vandalising or violence? I’m not advocating either of those things, just pointing out how much more likely they may be.

This is precisely the time we need a strong opposition, and instead we have the totally inept Starmer. His announcement that he will vote with the government on vaccine passports is just the latest in a long line of betrayals. Although it is predictable, as he has voted with the Government on so many of their worst policies during the pandemic while disregarding the advise of unions.

And even more disappointing, if I could even be disappointed in this amateurish ‘leader’, is that, given many Tory MPs are set to rebel against the proposal to make vaccine passports mandatory for large venues,  it might not have had a chance of passing and Starmer could have traded his Party’s votes for something which might actually help people – raising statutory sick pay for example – but no, while he says he’s not “comfortable” with it he believes it’s necessary so will just back the government. Again.

The Plan B proposal includes the compulsory wearing of masks in most public indoor settings, which should have been the case since March last year, as well as guidance for employees to work from home where they can, which is all well and good, but what about those employees who are being told they have to go into the office and work without masks in crowded settings? Again, Starmer could have asked for some compromise in return for Labour’s votes.

I’m just fed up with it all. Yes, be angry if you were unable to see loved ones last year while Tories partied, but really, can you claim to be surprised? And yes, it might bring down Johnson, but have you noticed Starmer hasn’t called for his resignation? Thought about why? Because when someone more competent takes over Starmer will quickly find himself behind in the polls again. He doesn’t care about us any more than Johnson does. None of the establishment politicians do.

We have a handful of decent MPs, a handful, that’s it. We can’t rely on them to do anything for us, we need to get off our arses now while we still can. Take to the streets. Protest. Because soon you will face up to a year in prison for exercising what is now your right.

I'm bloody angry and you should be too.

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