should the government be ashamed

Dickens , I’ve just read your post. It made me feel chilled. What’s happening to our country when someone in Braverman’s role sends a Christmas card like that
It’s astounding that anyone could consider voting for this right wing disfunctional Tory party
If I was a conspiracy theorist, I may believe a foreign power had gained influence and was hell bent on destroying our country

J52

volver

Farzanah

Sadly some members of the present government feel no shame at all. Just check out a card which Priti Patel has sent out for Christmas. I didn’t believe it was for real but seems it is.
Sorry can’t link on iPad.

Patel's Christmas card.

static.independent.co.uk/2022/12/20/18/patel-xmas-card.jpg?quality=75&width=1368&auto=webp

I wondered if it was a spoof, but apparently not. Disgusting, uncaring and just shows how blatantly the government show contempt for people.

It also shows how low this government has sunk.

I doubt this kind of card would have been seen as acceptable from a conservative government of yesteryear.

It makes me think of the cartoons that appeared during the 1930s Weimar Republic which targeted the Jewish community.

How have we arrived at this point?

I think Theresa May instigated it with her "Go Home" billboard, her clampdown on the 'undocumented' Windrush generation and their families. Does anyone remember the story of the 83 year old great-grandfather and the 78 year old great-grandmother that she tried to separate from their 4 British children, grandchildren and great grand-children - by forcing them to return to Iran? Fortunately, a backlash and a petition resulted in a climb-down by the home office.

But she legitimised the antagonism - and hatred - towards immigrants already brewing.

... and then along came Boris Johnson. And I won't even dignify his comments by repeating them. Not satisfied wih demonising the 'usual suspects' he incorporated virtually all other Europeans - but especially east Europeans, who the day after Brexit 'victory' day were told by various sections of the public to "go home", "we don't want you here", "you're not allowed to stay here now".

And here we are, with that spiteful and distasteful card. Playing to a now very receptive public gallery.

The season of goodwill to all men, eh?

Wyllow3

*Dibbydod*, this simply isn't true.

"We are all struggling with the high cost of living, the prices have gone sky high in the supermarkets, we are all in the same boat "

All of us on gransnet have very different incomes. Some of us here will be struggling, others absorb the extras on basics like heating and price rises. And we have different needs as well, different care costs also on.

And it depends how far the income has to go. Mine is enough for tiny mortgage not the £1000++ young families are shelling out, mortgage and after all I'm just supporting me in food and clothes etc, not a family, and enough to keep my house warm and food, and run a car.

Some here still expect to go on holidays and travel abroad as they have before, as a norm, others accepted its not do-able any more.

"We are all" very different.

But I do pay tax and I would be prepared to pay more, as others do in some other European countries, for decent public services. You get what you pay for. somehow many British people believe in the total myth that you can have low taxes and decent services, well, you cant.

Quite right, we can’t have European standards in public services with USA levels of taxes.

Exactly . So many blinkered people saying it’s all about money. It’s conditions too. For example how utterly scandalous is it that nurses have to pay to park at the hospital?

This is a money issue too. I agree its scandalous, especially if they are on a shift that means they can't use public transport.
However, I think it's scandalous that patients and visitors have to pay too. It must add to the worry for those who can't afford it, when someone is sick.

I agree Aveline, much as it’s good to have military who can step in to
Many varied roles, it’s disconcerting to see them misused by this government

We had our first Covid vaccinations in a centre staffed by the army. They were excellent. Very well organised. Seemed odd and a bit disconcerting to see soldiers in uniform in charge. Scary somehow.

GrannyGravy13

As a forces parent, my sympathies lie with the army personnel who have had their leave cancelled and are unable to spend Christmas with their families.

I agree, and in many cases being expected to carry out roles which they aren’t experienced in, which must be very difficult for them.

No argument there grannygravy, other than the obvious point that the government is responsible

Aveline, I’m glad you aren’t a politician 🌞

As a forces parent, my sympathies lie with the army personnel who have had their leave cancelled and are unable to spend Christmas with their families.

I don't know what my opinion is though! I can see too many different angles. Glad I'm not a politician.

Aveline

Also I just heard that with the army and navy on passport control there are no queues. Not doing much for the credibility of the usual staff. Strikers beware of undermining themselves.

I wouldn't be in the least surprised to find that there are more passport control points open when manned (personed?) by the forces then there are when manned by the normal staff.

It's very effective in dividing opinion, isn't it?

Also I just heard that with the army and navy on passport control there are no queues. Not doing much for the credibility of the usual staff. Strikers beware of undermining themselves.

I feel that the rail and the postal workers risk shooting themselves in the foot. There are alternatives to the services they provide and people will just start to use them leading to redundancies in future. Not so easy for the NHS workers to be replaced though. Private health care is very expensive but seems to be booming. Risk here is that the private providers could cream off the best or most ambitious NHS staff this making things even worse. Oh dear. There may be trouble ahead - oops it's already here!

Iam64

nadateturbe, the strike isn’t only about pay though I’d support if it was. Paramedics, nurses and doctors are all saying current practices, staff shortages etc are putting lives as risk. The government refuses to listen. They’ve had 11 years of dismantling public services including the nhs. They’re responsible for lives at risk

Exactly . So many blinkered people saying it’s all about money. It’s conditions too. For example how utterly scandalous is it that nurses have to pay to park at the hospital?

Maywalk, hope you’re soon feeling better

I’d seen the Patel Christmas card and thought it was a spoof. Can she sink any lower

Scotland is run by a bunch of dictators.

Best vote them out at the next election then. But if they are dictators there wouldn't be elections....

Oh, I'm so confused..😢

volver

Calendargirl

Sounds like we had better hunker down in bed all day tomorrow, and not risk doing anything!

Or, move to Scotland. But don't plan on coming by train.

Moving to Scotland would be tge worst thing you could do. We are in the very same striking situation as tge rest of the UK and the Scottish Gov. The SNP are far worse that the the despicable Tories.
Scotland is run by a bunch of dictators.

Wish you a speedy recovery Maywalk. Don’t think many MPs will suffer the pain, stress and indignity of waiting in an ambulance for 11 hours.
Can you imagine Sunak doing so?

I spent 11 hours in various ambulances last Sunday until they finally got me in the hospital. I DO NOT blame the ambulance service or the nursing staff and can very well understand them wanting more pay as they try to do two jobs at once when being overtired, because much more nursing staff are needed.
I am 92 years old and can honestly say that I have never seen this country in such a bxxxs.
It wasn't even as bad when WW2 started and it was bad enough then.

Disgusting Christmas card.

volver

Farzanah

Sadly some members of the present government feel no shame at all. Just check out a card which Priti Patel has sent out for Christmas. I didn’t believe it was for real but seems it is.
Sorry can’t link on iPad.

Patel's Christmas card.

static.independent.co.uk/2022/12/20/18/patel-xmas-card.jpg?quality=75&width=1368&auto=webp

I wondered if it was a spoof, but apparently not. Disgusting, uncaring and just shows how blatantly the government show contempt for people.

Thank you volver.
Completely heartless and lacking any compassion.

I can’t cut and paste in my iPhone but I agree 100% with what Iam64 said at 12.54pm. To answer the OP, yes this government should be ashamed but over so many issues …. They won’t be.

Battersea1971

We read a lot about how poorly paid they are,but never hear how much they actually get. These people are all graded and dont all earn the same amount. The experienced ambulance drivers and paramedics earn more than the others, which is right. Also a number of nurses work in their spare times for agencies which cost the NHS more.

Sounds as though you don’t believe how much take home pay has dropped during the 10 years of austerity.
As for criticising nurses working in agencies ‘in their spare time” so costing the nhs more. Why and how do you think this happens

The government is deliberately wrecking all public services. It’s their ideology, private good, public bad. Simple