Tony Benn once said that the way the government treats refugees is very instructive because it shows you how they would treat the rest of us if they thought they could get away with it.
That remarkably pertinent quote needs a wee addendum.
The way the Conservative Party conducts a leadership election is very instructive, because it lets you see what they really think of the rest of us and what they would do if they could get away with it.
Make no mistake – the tiresome tussle between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak is the Tory Party talking to itself about where its true values and beliefs sit. And it’s not pretty.
Unfettered by the need to play to the gallery of a fickle general electorate, this is blue-on-blue campaigning, spelling out the mindset and direction of the party which currently holds power at Westminster. If you’re not scared about what’s slouching towards us, then you’re not paying attention.
Liz Truss thinks it is a good idea to slash the wages of public sector workers across the country, except in the south-east of England. That’ll be London then.
The wave of anger that greeted that nonsense had poor Liz U-turning so fast, it made her head spin to the point of leaving her befuddled. She couldn’t have been thinking clearly when she said: “I didn’t say that” when she was on telly saying it.
Levelling up, eh?
Then we have Rich Rishi and his proud boast of changing government rules so money could be taken out of deprived urban areas and put into the pockets of the nouveau riche in wealthy, rural parts like Tunbridge Wells. Levelling up, eh?
The only measure the would-be prime minister of the UK recognises is money
More anger, more “didn’t mean that at all” – despite the video footage of him saying it. Now, where did they both learn that trick? And has anyone seen Boris Johnson lately?
Then, the multi-millionaire ex-chancellor doubled down by saying he would outlaw university degrees that don’t increase student “earning potential”. Now, there’s an illuminating insight.
The only measure the would-be prime minister of the UK recognises is money. So, an education that teaches the values of arts, culture, caring, compassion, or creativity – all the things that make life worthwhile – is utterly pointless in his eyes, if there’s no big wage at the end of it.
You are only worth what you earn. Gosh, that’s a bleak world to be in, isn’t it?
A glimpse into the world according to Tories
Now, back to Ms Truss for a final peek into how the Tories see things – and it’s a doozy. Nicola Sturgeon is an attention-seeker that is best just ignored, she says.
That would be the elected first minister of Scotland who has been comprehensively returned to power by the people of Scotland at every election she has stood in. Not a claim the Tories in Scotland can make.
So, when Ms Truss says she will ignore the first minister, she means she will ignore the democratic will of the Scottish people. And this little piece of tyranny was actually cheered by Conservative members she was courting for votes.
This glimpse into the world according to Tories – best summed up as: “We’ll look after our own and the rest can raffle themselves” – is depressing mainly because one of these two will end up running the UK.
If you thought Boris Johnson was bad – and he was very bad indeed – you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Scott Begbie is entertainment editor for The Press & Journal and Evening Express
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