Tuesday 28 November 2017

Tories have the nerve to protest about defence cuts!

Tories will happily moan about defence cuts – but stay quiet on the ones that really matter

With more defence cuts on the horizon, Tories predictably churn out the adage about it being the “first duty of Government above all others”, and “open rebellion” apparently on the cards (Theresa May’s proposed army number cuts face “very substantial rebellion” from Tory backbenchers). What a shame the same Tories didn’t say they were “prepared to hold the Government’s feet to the fire”, when its cuts to local authorities mean the defence against food contamination and the security of the nation’s health is weakened because of the reduced number of food inspectors.
Why are there no protests when the continued lack of regulation in the City brings another financial crash ever nearer? Shouldn’t the security of taxpayers’ money be a priority? Defending children from the ravages of poverty has to be a top priority for any government seriously concerned about its duties, but the number of children living in poverty has increased hugely.
Safeguarding the right of every child to a decent education should also be one of the Government’s first responsibilities, but that doesn’t prevent schools being underfunded, and the teacher recruitment problem reaching epidemic proportions. Defending the population against criminals should be another priority, but cuts in police numbers continue without a murmur of protest. What about the Government’s responsibilities to protect people against Rachman-like landlords, greedy banks, cowboy builders and such like? How many more disasters have to take place before politicians realise priorities have to change?
Yet, defence against an enemy which apparently can only be stopped with nuclear weapons launched from new submarines costing around £50bn, is a real priority. The Tories are right: defence of the people is the Government’s duty “above all others”, but not always simply against exaggerated threats from foreign powers. For centuries British governments have wasted billions on military spending to justify the country’s position as a so-called great power, all the while denying the necessary resources to close the poverty gap and reduce inequality. Nothing has changed! 

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