Forum Topic

Despicable Patel

In a visit to Cumbria Priti Patel was   told that four in 10 children are born into poverty. She said "Well,  its not the government though, is it? It’s all parts of society and the structures, local authorities have a role to play, education, public services which are locally led and locally run."Local councils have faced years of cuts under the government’s austerity measures following the recession.According to the Local Government Association, in the decade to 2020, local authorities will have faced a reduction of funding from the government of nearly £16 billion.Last year, the UN reported that 14 million people in the UK are in poverty as a direct result of government austerity.In particular, the introduction of Universal Credit had caused ‘extreme hardship’ UN Special Rapporteur on poverty and human rights Professor Philip Alston said.https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/21/priti-patel-says-cant-blame-government-poverty-11194208/There are some very unpleasant people in the cabinet, but Patel is surely one of the nastiest.

Richard Carter ● 2547d6 Comments

I agree Richard, she certainly is vile.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2547d

She seems to be vying with Raab for the top position of demonstrating an ability to be the most insensitive and stupid member of the cabinet. It's not long ago that she was suggesting starving the Irish into submission over Brexit, and Raab had a light bulb moment over the importance of the Dover/Calais trading link. It's not so much about their vile thoughts but the way they fail to understand the need to present them in a more palatable way - at least Johnson puts on an imitation of a 1920s vaudeville show so one has to unpack what he says to get to the stupidy and damaging nature of his thoughts. Now Raab seems to be turning the Harry Dunn incident into a painful episode for  his family and a PR disaster for himself. In practice, Mrs Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity, the US vary rarely waive DI and irrespective of what she said to the police I expect the US authorities wanted her out of the country, perhaps to protect her husband from any speculation about his role in the UK? Raab seems to have strung the Dunns along with some rather dubious statements instead of being upfront about the reality of the situation: that Mrs Sacoolas is unlikely to face any court in the UK and that there was no way the UK could inhibit her leaving the UK. In the meantime he's given Trump an opportunity to stage a failed publicity stunt that was in very bad taste. Raab could have added that Trump doesn't really care about the Dunn's - or for that matter, anyone except himself. Now Raab is threatening the Dunns with legal costs if they sue the FCO.  I'm not saying the situation regarding DI, the US attitude and this case is right, just that in international law it's unlikely the UK can do anything about it. 

Michael Ixer ● 2547d

Hello Michael,To say that the politics in the UK today is absolutely dire is an understatement of monumental proportions.Patel and Raab need to be raffled.  How on earth can a Minister say that poverty in this country is not the government's fault?  It is like saying that Cindarella was the princess giving orders.As for Raab, he is despicable beyond words.  Threatening the Dunns with legal costs if they sue the FCO???  Are we in America - even Russia - suddenly?  Where has the principle of looking after your own gone?I have said it before, the conservatives have lost it completely.  This is the "cherry on the cake" moment - never again!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2547d

I thought it had been proved that Mrs Sacoolas did NOT enjoy diplomatic immunity. Her husband is/was a spy not a diplomat.

Hugh Walton ● 2547d

There have been a number of conflicting statements about this. In the US her immunity wouldn't apply, its no longer necessary. Although extradition could be applied for it's very unlikely to succeed. She and her husband may not have had DI as such but as part of the US military they almost certainly do have some sort of immunity which the UK government would honour: the current UK government isn't going to rock the boat with the US at the moment and dressing it up as DI in this instance is convenient. I know this may not be considered the most reliable source, I have heard oif these agreements before and of US forces avoiding prosecution in foreign courts. Given the pardons Trump has just issued to three members of the military he's unlikely to help in this instance. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/secret-agreement-gives-us-diplomats-northamptonshire-spy-base-immunity-prosecution

Michael Ixer ● 2547d

Patel's smug lack of humanity when visiting one of the most challenged towns in the UK was unsurprising - the Conservative 'Nasty Party' sobriquet is a true today as it was in in 2002.  The then Conservative Party Chair, Theresa May, opened her speech to the conference with the following:.... this conference marks a new approach from a party that is changing.Shaping solutions rather than just playing politics.Listening to the people of Britain, who've been so badly let down.Reforming ourselves so that we can reform Britain.Politics is about public service. Everything we do - in parliament, in our constituencies, here in Bournemouth - should be motivated by one goal. Improving the lives of our fellow citizens.At its best, politics is a noble calling.And at their best, politicians - from Churchill to Thatcher - have transformed Britain for the better.But we have to face a deeply uncomfortable truth. One that has been reinforced by what we have been reading in every newspaper over the last two weeks.The public are losing faith in politics.There's a lot we need to do in this party of ours. Our base is too narrow and so, occasionally, are our sympathies. You know what some people call us - the nasty party.

John Cameron ● 2546d