What grabbed my attention this week were comments by those two cuddly, loveable characters from the far right ~ Suella Braverman (saying Britain is now run by Islamists) and Lee Anderson (or LeeAnderthal, as Private Eye have nicknamed him) claiming that through London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Islamists have now got control of the capital.
Now, anyone with more than half a shredded wheat's worth of brain in their heads will know both these comments are absolute nonsense, but there are two other elements to consider: 1. How is it that sitting MPs are allowed to spread such divisive lies without instantly losing their seats and jobs; and 2. Why are they saying it?
The answer to 1. is, obviously, because the Tories can't afford to lose any more MPs ~ even though half the ones they have are all vying to either replace Rishi Sunak, or at least be on the winning side of any future leadership contest (and, let's face it, they are having at least one of those each year now!).
The answer to 2. requires a little more thought. Bear in mind this is an election year. The Tories face being almost totally wiped out at the polls, even with their “fallout” party, Reform UK, there to try and pick up some of the pieces by appealing to red brick voters who turned from Labour to Tory in the last election, but now wish they hadn't. The right wing of this already right wing party (the lunatic fringe perhaps would be a good description of them), including LeeAnderthal, Braverman, and that dozy airhead who only lasted a month and a half as leader with a face that looks like it should be on a cheap inflatable sex toy … Truss, that's it … (had almost forgotten the name already!) among others, have gone back to the traditional fear mongering tactics that have served them so well in the past ~ stir up some racial hatred, get it into the bosses' press and media, then watch as the bigots and fascists crawl once more out from under the woodwork to incite fear among the population.
After all, it's how Suella managed to turn a peaceful demonstration in London on Remembrance Day into a riot ~ not a riot caused by raging Islamists, or loony lefties, but a riot created and carried out by their stormtroopers, the EDL and other moronic fascist groupings.
Expect to see much more of this as the weeks and months go by before the election from the right, while the “normal” Tories (is there any such thing?) plan to rely on using disinformation on social media, probably generated by Artificial Intelligence (they have little enough of their own to rely on!) and backed by the hundreds of millions they are given by corporations and the mega rich to ensure their lifestyle can be maintained … at the expense and to the detriment of all others.
It's gonna be a lively year!!!