MaizieD
The tory myth rather breaks down when it comes to individuals who work very hard indeed but still can't earn enough to keep themselves and their families in any comfort. I have always seen the LP as wanting a decent life for everyone, regardless of whether or not they achieve this elusive, poorly defined 'success'. I think it still does, regardless of what those on 'the left' might say.
I was going to say similar. Tories know full well that there are some occupations wherein no matter how hard you work you will not achieve that mythical 'success'. They are often the 'grunt' jobs that hold the community and infrastructure together, and frequently poorly paid.
I remember a media article regarding the annual influx (pre-pandemic) of customised 'super cars' belonging to wealthy Arab 'playboys' and others in central and west London. A reader commented on their wealth - noting that the cost of flying over these cars was in excess of £20,000 - only to be told that his were the "politics of envy" and that he too could achieve success if he were prepared to "work hard". Apart from the obvious fact that "playboys" by definition don't do hard work, no amount of it is going to propel the average worker into the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge. An extreme example - but it demonstrates the facetious drivel that some on the Right will employ.
Whitewavemark2
He reminded the listener of the dismal text written by amongst others Truss and Patel which stated the British worker are the laziest shirkers in the entire world and should not be protected by law.
Once they enter the workplace, the British are among the worst idlers in the world. Are working-class Tory voters even aware of "Britannia Unchained" - have they read it?. The contempt for the class Truss is attempting to woo makes her faux concern even more abhorrent.
Doodledog
Yes, she tried to distance herself from that, but it is a disgraceful attitude to have towards the people she wants to lead.
Boris Johnson also had something to say about the "lazy, feckless, likely to be drunk, 'blue-collar' workers", noting that their white-collar counterparts were "little better"... 'and it never did 'im any 'arm'!
In fact, he's seen by many now as a victim who's been bullied out of office by a cabal of ungrateful MPs. Some feel so strongly about his demise, they now want him to be included on the ballot paper for the forthcoming vote on the future PM. Poor 'Boris', he was "doing his best"! His popular voter-appeal and 80 seat majority recovery programme is aimed at keeping the party afloat. As one admitted, that without Johnson, 'we might end up with Starmer in Number 10'
So in the end, it's not about the country, not about the huge problems in the NHS and social care, inflation, cost of living crises, ridiculously high energy prices... it's about keeping the party in power.
Meanwhile, the two lightweight hopefuls will slug it out. The big question being, tax-cuts now, or tax-cuts later. And the mounting crises will remain.
And for those of us who want a more fair, more equitable society, who don't want the extremes of political ideology, right or left, nor the divisions in society they encourage; nor the continuation of the blustering anti-EU rhetoric which, ultimately, harms us as a nation; nor further alignment with the economic and (dare I say) cultural values, of the USA... well, we might just have to sit back and accept that - in our lifetime - nothing will change.
Personally, I shall seek refuge in continuing to take part in events that bring together our local small town community and outlying villages; supporting local enterprise, donating to charities and movements that are developing recreational activities for the young and restoring some of the facilities for the elderly. I shall shop locally where possible to keep the town alive ("use it or lose it" is the motto of the town's quarterly advertising publication)... because it is a microcosm of what I believe society should / could be.
"When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies?... Too much sanity may be madness, and maddest of all is to see life as it is and not as it should be." (Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616).
- nicely written and compelling ..but is it Liz or Rishi ?
