Tories Self Destructing

As if to show the world that they have vanished down the rabbit hole of far right populism, that they know it, don’t care, and think the electorate supports them, so-called Tory “rebels” are now causing their party to self destruct in pursuit of an ideological purity they cannot achieve. It is the ultimate example of politics as a spectator sport. But, meanwhile, no governing is getting done.

At the heart of this self-harm is, once again, the Rwanda Bill, the policy that was never intended to be anything other than a device to claim that The Blue Team was tougher on immigration, and more obviously cruel to the Forrins, especially those who were vulnerable while being not white, than any other party could ever be. It was, and is, a play for the racist bigot vote.

So racist and bigoted was the All New Rwanda Plan that it was, rightly, called out for another bout of cake-ism: wanting not to disapply international law, well, not too obviously - while perhaps doing so. For the rebels, this would not do: they wanted to very obviously disapply international law, even to the extent of denying those who were Not White and Forrin their human rights.

The Tories face electoral wipeout, Rwanda policy or no. The electorate has had enough, and is beginning to see through this charade. But, as with the Europhobic right tearing the party apart in the mid-90s, the nationalist right of the party refuses to back the Rwanda Bill unless it’s cruel enough for them.

As Russ Jones has reminded us, “the Rwanda policy was announced the day after the Sue Gray report came out. It was only ever intended give the Daily Mail a one-day headline that didn't have to mention Partygate. It wasn't meant to actually HAPPEN. And it will never work. It is mad that the Tories have now adopted this electorally unmandated, vastly expensive, gormless exercise in distraction as an ARTICLE OF FAITH”. More than £200 million. For nothing.

And as Lizzie Dearden has also reminded us, “The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has conducted a legal assessment of the UK government's new Rwanda treaty and bill - and concludes the scheme still violates international law”. The Tory right don’t care. They want more cruelty.

Just to show how much they don’t care, 60 of them voted against their own Government, as in “for some value of Government”, yesterday. The Mail has tried to prod this convocation of stupidity with the “Party Unity” cattle prod, suggesting that carrying on the rebellion will usher Keir Starmer into Downing Street. That falls down with the inference that a little more unity might save the Tories. It won’t. Even Rishi Sunak’s latest sly move has been rumbled.

Aubrey Allegretti reported “I'm told that updating the civil service Code is seen by some as a nuclear option - and another plan is being devised … It would remind civil servants of their duty under the Code to serve the govt of the day with impartiality … In the context of the Rwanda bill, civil servants would be told to adhere to the legislation and therefore follow decisions made by ministers, if they decide to ignore Rule 39 orders”. Dump on the Civil Service.

But the damage is done, with two deputy chairmen resigning to vote against their own Government. Which, in calling Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith “top Tories”, just made The Blue Team look worse still. The Tories were self-destructing; the only problem for hacks was honest reporting.

Or not. Christopher “No” Hope, at Gammon Broadcasting™ News (“Bacon’s News Channel”), claimed “Pressure building. Mark Francois, Chairman of the European Research Group, has asked Tory MPs to a ‘special plenary meeting’ of the ERG tonight at 5pm ‘along with the other Parliamentary groups’. The meeting will discuss the remaining stages of the Rwanda Bill”. Idiot.

It was left to, of all people, the odious flannelled fool Master Harry Cole to admit the game was up. “So many ministers, spads, spinners and general Tories just seem utterly done… So many leaving, standing down, moving on, updating their linkedin... etc. The fight has gone. ‘It is what it is’, says one... in a job others would once have given their right arm to get”.

The Tories are not yet totally finished. But you can see it from there.

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