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Single mothers are the real casualties in Cameron’s class war Single mothers are the real casualties in Cameron’s class war
(about 17 hours later)
It is always gobsmacking to hear a Tory use the phrase “class war” as if it were a bad thing – a nasty, old-fangled activity that has nothing to do with them, m’lud. They use “social engineering” in the same pejorative way, while deliberately maintaining their elites via private education and congratulating themselves as the creme de la creme of a functioning meritocracy. It is always gobsmacking to hear a Tory use the phrase “class war” as if it were a bad thing – a nasty, old-fangled activity that has nothing to do with them, m’lud. They use “social engineering” in the same pejorative way, while deliberately maintaining their elites via private education and congratulating themselves as the creme de la creme of a functioning meritocracy.
This is why Cameron is confident enough to use the term in his Conservative party conference speech: confident that he is on the right side of this war; confident enough to indulge in some political cross-dressing by referring to his party as a kind of trade union. The speech was one of those “for those who like that kind of thing, that is the sort of thing they like”-type efforts. This is why Cameron is confident enough to use the term in his Conservative party conference speech: confident that he is on the right side of this war; confident enough to indulge in some political cross-dressing by referring to his party as a kind of trade union. The speech was one of those “for those who like that kind of thing, that is the sort of thing they like”-type efforts.
But if you want to see how much has really changed then I suggest you read Margaret Thatcher’s 1983 conference speech and see that Cameron is just finishing off what she started. So this is not just politics as usual but the politics of yesteryear tarted up and paraded as the only game in town. Austerity and the acceptance of it as the only meaningful narrative has left Labour simply contesting the same macho territory. Hence Ed Balls having to look hard by promising to freeze child benefit. But if you want to see how much has really changed then I suggest you read Margaret Thatcher’s 1983 conference speech and see that Cameron is just finishing off what she started. So this is not just politics as usual but the politics of yesteryear tarted up and paraded as the only game in town. Austerity and the acceptance of it as the only meaningful narrative has left Labour simply contesting the same macho territory. Hence Ed Balls having to look hard by promising to freeze child benefit.
How many pricks does it take to burst this bubble? I would have thought that after the Scots referendum, in which nearly half of those who voted wanted to detach themselves from politics as usual, something might have shifted. But I thought wrong. Conference season bores on as if Scotand never happened, as though food banks and Rotherham never happened. How many pricks does it take to burst this bubble? I would have thought that after the Scots referendum, in which nearly half of those who voted wanted to detach themselves from politics as usual, something might have shifted. But I thought wrong. Conference season bores on as if Scotand never happened, as though food banks and Rotherham never happened.
Above all, strength must be shown and weakness vilified. So we get Grant Shapps in front of rows of uncomfortable-looking young people in nasty blue sweatshirts like something out of The Hunger Games. Then the grimness of George Osborne – trickle-down pain, which cannot even be relieved by Boris’s babbling about bricks. Here stands a man with a severe case of premature popularity. Above all, strength must be shown and weakness vilified. So we get Grant Shapps in front of rows of uncomfortable-looking young people in nasty blue sweatshirts like something out of The Hunger Games. Then the grimness of George Osborne – trickle-down pain, which cannot even be relieved by Boris’s babbling about bricks. Here stands a man with a severe case of premature popularity.
But let’s take this class-war jibe. Sure, it’s uncomfortable, angry and not exactly the Dalek managerial speak of contemporary politics. Nonetheless is there a better way to describe making the very poorest pay for tax cuts? The reality is that a benefit freeze saving £3bn will pay for tax cuts for our top 15%. But let’s take this class-war jibe. Sure, it’s uncomfortable, angry and not exactly the Dalek managerial speak of contemporary politics. Nonetheless is there a better way to describe making the very poorest pay for tax cuts? The reality is that a benefit freeze saving £3bn will pay for tax cuts for our top 15%.
This is a redistribution of wealth, a land grab on those who are already at the bottom. Why not name who it will hit hardest? You cannot freeze benefits to women without impoverishing their children. Food banks and the proposed introduction of a prepaid benefits card (the deal already done with the big supermarkets) are punitive measures aimed at single mothers. War is always gendered. This is a redistribution of wealth, a land grab on those who are already at the bottom. Why not name who it will hit hardest? You cannot freeze benefits to women without impoverishing their children. Food banks and the proposed introduction of a prepaid benefits card (the deal already done with the big supermarkets) are punitive measures aimed at single mothers. War is always gendered.
Certain Tories – such as David Willetts, now sidelined – said they would end the attack on lone parents, but no one told Iain Duncan Smith. This is a man who dissembles and has frittered away huge amounts of money on undeliverable schemes. There is no evidence that prepaid cards help stem addiction, which is the premise. This complete fallacy is merely part of the febrile imagination of the right, for whom single mothers are slags, parasites or addicts. Certain Tories – such as David Willetts, now sidelined – said they would end the attack on lone parents, but no one told Iain Duncan Smith. This is a man who dissembles and has frittered away huge amounts of money on undeliverable schemes. There is no evidence that prepaid cards help stem addiction, which is the premise. This complete fallacy is merely part of the febrile imagination of the right, for whom single mothers are slags, parasites or addicts.
The reality of lone parenthood is often that of the mythical hardworking family. Look at the young women of the Focus E15 campaign, who are refusing to be “socially cleansed” out of Newham. Many of them are on courses, trying to get the skills they need. One would have thought local Labour politicians would be right behind their occupation of a ghost estate. But that would require class solidarity. The reality of lone parenthood is often that of the mythical hardworking family. Look at the young women of the Focus E15 campaign, who are refusing to be “socially cleansed” out of Newham. Many of them are on courses, trying to get the skills they need. One would have thought local Labour politicians would be right behind their occupation of a ghost estate. But that would require class solidarity.
And after “immigrants”, single mothers – women who breed to get housing – are the most vilified by all. No one officially likes child poverty, but we have a political class prepared to make sure that many mothers have toast for dinner. Prepaid cards are designed soley to reduce the tiny margin of choice that the poorest have. And after “immigrants”, single mothers – women who breed to get housing – are the most vilified by all. No one officially likes child poverty, but we have a political class prepared to make sure that many mothers have toast for dinner. Prepaid cards are designed solely to reduce the tiny margin of choice that the poorest have.
If this isn’t class war, what is it? The scrabbling towards the aspirational vote, the sweaty mopping of ex-Lib Dems, a dangerous swerve to hook in the Ukippers – all of this leaves a moral void. Ukip need neither rhyme nor reason, functioning as the “I don’t know anything about politics but I know what I don’t like” party.If this isn’t class war, what is it? The scrabbling towards the aspirational vote, the sweaty mopping of ex-Lib Dems, a dangerous swerve to hook in the Ukippers – all of this leaves a moral void. Ukip need neither rhyme nor reason, functioning as the “I don’t know anything about politics but I know what I don’t like” party.
The vision is thus reduced to a US model of tax bribes and welfare cuts. Though closer to home, we could watch Germany, which has just got rid of tuition fees and works to keeps house prices low. The vision is thus reduced to a US model of tax bribes and welfare cuts. Though closer to home, we could watch Germany, which has just got rid of tuition fees and works to keeps house prices low.
At least we could be honest about who is waging war on who. Few in public life ever are, though philanthropist Warren Buffet said in 2005: “There’s class warfare all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” By 2011 he had given away half his fortune and asked for legislation to “stop coddling the super-rich”.At least we could be honest about who is waging war on who. Few in public life ever are, though philanthropist Warren Buffet said in 2005: “There’s class warfare all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” By 2011 he had given away half his fortune and asked for legislation to “stop coddling the super-rich”.
As the Tories’ tax cuts are costed, it should be easy to see which class is winning and which is losing. Cutting national insurance is a much fairer way in our low-pay economy. But no. All parties seem to agree that the further impoverishment of women is the best way forward. Their children are merely collateral damage in the war we are told is not really happening.As the Tories’ tax cuts are costed, it should be easy to see which class is winning and which is losing. Cutting national insurance is a much fairer way in our low-pay economy. But no. All parties seem to agree that the further impoverishment of women is the best way forward. Their children are merely collateral damage in the war we are told is not really happening.
Choose key marginals, choose men, choose wealth.Choose key marginals, choose men, choose wealth.