Need for truth, fair play and compassion

Even when obviously electioneering, it takes a pretty spectacular Government cock-up, to get Clarkson, Piers Morgan and just about all the liberal establishment, singing off the same hymn sheet!

Fourteen years of incompetence, chumocracy and low level corruption is plain for all to see. With Brexit spent, the economy in shreds, and the Tory party ready to implode, their ‘ace-in-the-hole’ will inevitably be migrants, predictably trotted out and described, as usual, in the most divisive language, clearly designed to feed red wall activists. In order to distract attention, they are forced to summon up vile descriptions, fears of terrorism, of sexual assaults and economic Armageddon as we become “swamped” or “deluged” by “invaders.”

They could not possibly deliver the transformative Brexit promised and as Sunak's meeting with Macron showed so graphically this week, after Brexit there is no opportunity to return individuals to the European mainland. Nevertheless they carry on in this bizarre and asinine way, yes they could send a few hundred to the middle of Africa, but if indeed we have 40,000 a year arriving, where are the other 39,500 likely to end up?

The ‘tough talking’ Tories even sought to paint Starmer as a fifth columnist (as Justin Tomlinson did in his article, here, only last week) yet ironically Starmer is also talking about migrants as “burdens” rather than human beings, arguing there are too many in the NHS and that “the Tories are not deporting enough”.

It is the agenda of every dictatorship and autocracy the world over to seek to neuter the national broadcaster. Apres Johnson, the BBC leadership is a band of Tory agents. The DG, Tim Davie (stood unsuccessfully as a Tory politician) Sharp, in the Chair, was a major Tory donor, John McAndrew, Director of News joining the Beeb after setting up the ultra-right GB News, and the boards Sir Robin Gibb, Communications Director to Theresa May.

Their clumsy attempt, driven by the right wing Tory press and their masters in Whitehall, to shut down free speech, backfired catastrophically.

Lineker correctly described the ludicrous Migration Bill as “beyond awful” adding it was an immensely cruel policy directed against the most vulnerable of people, couched in language not dissimilar to that used in Germany in the 30s. Whether or not you agree with the sentiments, (and sadly many do) it's clear that this is an accurate summation and it doesn't suit Braverman and her ilk to be reminded of this. Their language, “under siege”, “deluged” or “swamped by outsiders," I imagine, seeks to justify the Tories riding valiantly to the rescue.

Few anticipated the backlash, but I'm warmed to see there still remains a sense of truth, fair play and compassion ingrained in our collective psyche. There can be no greater portent to the end of democracy, than when Government, through its national broadcaster, seeks to tells us what we can and cannot say!

John Stooke

Haydon End

Ridiculous goings-on

Regarding the recent ludicrous goings-on between Gary Lineker and the BBC, why should this overpaid presenter continue to headline the daily news bulletins? I enjoy watching Match of the Day but always record it; I then fast forward through the endless twaddle spouted by the – presumably also well paid - experts in the studio.

Maybe now the BBC can get back to its primary objective, I.e. reporting proper news. Now, shall I even consider paying the licence fee....hmm.

Rodney J M Wirdnam

Whilestone Way

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