Boris Johnson defended Dominic Cummings’ recent trip to Durham, claiming he “followed the instincts of every parent” and behaved “lawfully and reasonably”, despite breaking his own lockdown restrictions to visit a beauty spot on the birthday of his wife to “test his eyesight”. This was very irresponsible and put his family and many others at risk.
Despite them following the same “parental instincts” that Boris is so understanding of, refugee parents have been branded as “dangerous and criminal” in recent years, and more so in recent weeks. Meanwhile, a police investigation concluded that Cummings may have committed a “minor breach” of lockdown rules, and has still received a positive response from his colleagues, despite pressure for Cummings’ to be removed from his position.
It would seem that while there is one rule for members of the public and those in need, there is another rule for members of the Conservative Party. This casts a long and unforgettable shadow on the party and their values, showing nothing more than corruption, xenophobia and institutional racism.
Furthermore, parents who do not feel comfortable sending their children back to school during a pandemic will be fined with no right to appeal, or parents could even face prosecution in most situations. This leaves parents from a working class background in a very difficult position in the next few weeks, which raises the question - who does our government stand for? Seemingly for the few, not the many.
Parents going to extremes to protect their children, if that is in a dingy across a channel to safety, or choosing to not send them to school during a global pandemic: this all seems to warrant an outcry from the Conservative Party. But still, they are unable to hold their own to the same standard? These acts are nothing short of classist, xenophobic and hypocritical.
Written by Ty Sparkes
Artwork by Zara Masood
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