UKRAINE AND THE TORIES

-A NOTE ABOUT THE NADIR OF POLITICS

BEZHIN MEADOW

In Bezhin Meadow, an unfinished film by the great Russian filmmaker, Sergei Eisenstein, a child says to his elderly grandpa who is churning butter, “look grandpa, the cream is rising to the top”. The grandpa turns to the child and says, “no, son, it’s the scum that rises to the top”. Whenever I think of this Tory government, I’m reminded of that story.

CONTRADICTIONS

This morning we hear British ex-soldiers are joining the International Brigade in Ukraine to help in the struggle. They are now compromised in that the Foreign Secretary had encouraged them; then the head of the UK Chief of Defence said its illegal.

By yesterday, over 600 Ukrainian people had made it to Calais for passage to the UK. They were told that although they had just travelled halfway across the continent, were low on money, traumatised and without resources, they could only be ‘processed’ (turned into fodder) in Paris or Brussels. To save being exposed as liars, the media were told the refugees could be helped in Calais, but when journalists finally found the remote, mostly unoccupied building, three untrained UK Home Office staff, could only provide Kit-Kats but no help.

Apparently 14,000 people have applied for entry to the UK but only 50 people have been given leave to enter…and this after the PM and the his cronies have said they are doing everything in their power to expediate quick access.

DECEIT

For me this is tragically typical of the loudmouth braggart and his cronies in office always announcing new plans, strategies and aid in big headlines, to be followed by inaction, deceit and what is at the bottom of all of this, a total lack of responsibility, care or compassion.

Much of this arises from their apparent sociopathic tendencies, but also from their adherence to the socially sick neoliberal ideology they adhere to.

HOW TO HELP

If you want to help, write to your MP. It won’t change policy but it will harass and let them know we are watching…