For the first time since it started, I am seriously wondering whether I should join the weekly ‘clap for carers’ at 8.00pm on a Thursday night. I’ll admit that I have had minor reservations from the start, not because so many Tory politicians, including the current prime minister, cheered when in 2017 they voted down a pay rise for nurses. I’ve tried to put it to the back of my mind but it won’t stay there.
The sight of Priti Patel yesterday addressing the House of Commons, wearing her best perma-smirk made me feel queasy. She said: “The bill before us today will play a vital role in our recovery plans for the future. It will end free movement and pave the way for our new point-based immigration system.” That’s nothing other than a kick in the teeth for so many people who have come to work in this country and provide care for the sick and the vulnerable. When Boris Johnson was treated for COVID-19, he was treated by ‘foreigners’, too. I don’t think their nationality bothered him too much as he fought for his life. But that was then, this is now.
From 1st January 2021, anyone likely to earn less than £25,600 a year will not be allowed to work in the UK. Can you tell me of any carers who earn anything like that amount? Nor me. But then Patel clearly doesn’t regard care workers as skilled or, on that basis, key workers. There was me thinking, erroneously it seems, that shop workers, refuse collectors, local government workers, benefit paying staff and so on were vital to the running of the country. Not to this government.
Not to all Labour MPs, either, 15 of whom, including – incredibly – Yvette Cooper, abstained, confirming the enormous job Keir Starmer still has in returning the party to anything vaguely resembling an alternative government.
So, I go to my door on Thursday night to applaud to applaud frontline care workers, alongside many people in the list below, including my toe rag of an MP, Giacomo ‘Jack’ Lopresti, who like me clearly doesn’t have a drop of ‘foreign’ blood in his system.
Perhaps, I am getting a little irrational? Perhaps, I should ignore the actions of our so-called leaders and clap our real heroes regardless? Or perhaps, this is the time for a change of emphasis, to move the campaign on to actually taking concrete steps to support and reward our care workers? A round of applause just a few days before the government dumps all over care workers whose only ‘crime’ will be where they are from.
Given that there are likely to be millions of people on the dole in the months and years ahead, it’s entirely conceivable that the government is banking on overseas workers being replaced by those displaced from their jobs as the recession deepens. And given how claiming benefits works, it would be very hard for anyone to turn down whatever work is offered to them, minimum wage or not. Imagine working for a good wage in manufacturing and then being told to work in domiciliary care for the minimum wage because if you refuse to work, your benefits will stop?
When I clap for carers, I clap for all carers, regardless of nationality. In my experience, they are not ‘coming over here and taking our jobs’: they’re coming over here to do the jobs they want to do and the jobs we don’t want to do.
Every time I think the government couldn’t sink any lower, along comes a Priti Patel to help it to sink even lower. And just when the tokenistic Mental Health Awareness Week comes along with it’s ‘Be kind’ message, hate wins again.
To clap or not to clap?
Footnote: here’s the list of MPs who in 2017 voted to block a 1% pay rise for nurses. Never forget.
Andrew Griffiths (Teller – counted the votes though did not formally vote)
Mrs Heather Wheeler (Teller – counted the votes though did not formally vote)
Adams Nigel
Afolami Bim
Afriyie Adam
Aldous Peter
Allan Lucy
Allen Heidi
Andrew Stuart
Argar Edward
Atkins Victoria
Bacon Mr Richard
Badenoch Mrs Kemi
Baker Mr Steve
Baldwin Harriett
Barclay Stephen
Baron Mr John
Bebb Guto
Bellingham Sir Henry
Benyon rh Richard
Beresford Sir Paul
Berry Jake
Blackman Bob
Blunt Crispin
Boles Nick
Bone Mr Peter
Bottomley Sir Peter
Bowie Andrew C.
Bradley Ben
Bradley rh Karen
Brady Mr Graham
Brereton Jack
Bridgen Andrew
Brine Steve
Brokenshire rh James
Bruce Fiona
Buckland Robert
Burghart Alex
Burns Conor
Burt rh Alistair
Cairns rh Alun
Cartlidge James
Cash Sir William
Caulfield Maria
Chalk Alex
Chishti Rehman
Chope Mr Christopher
Churchill Jo
Clark Colin
Clark rh Greg
Clarke Mr Simon
Clarke rh Mr Kenneth
Cleverly James
Clifton-Brown Geoffrey
Coffey Dr Thérèse
Collins Damian
Costa Alberto
Courts Robert
Cox Mr Geoffrey
Crabb rh Stephen
Crouch Tracey
Davies Chris
Davies David T. C.
Davies Glyn
Davies Mims
Davies Philip
Davis rh Mr David
Dinenage Caroline
Djanogly Mr Jonathan
Docherty Leo
Dockerill Julia
Donelan Michelle
Dorries Ms Nadine
Double Steve
Dowden Oliver
Doyle-Price Jackie
Drax Richard
Duddridge James
Duguid David
Duncan Smith rh Mr Iain
Duncan rh Sir Alan
Dunne Mr Philip
Ellis Michael
Ellwood rh Mr Tobias
Elphicke Charlie
Eustice George
Evans Mr Nigel
Evennett rh David
Fabricant Michael
Fallon rh Sir Michael
Fernandes Suella
Field rh Mark
Ford Vicky
Foster Kevin
Fox rh Dr Liam
Francois rh Mr Mark
Frazer Lucy
Freeman George
Freer Mike
Fysh Mr Marcus
Gale Sir Roger
Garnier Mark
Gauke rh Mr David
Ghani Ms Nusrat
Gibb rh Nick
Gillan rh Mrs Cheryl
Glen John
Goldsmith Zac
Goodwill Mr Robert
Gove rh Michael
Graham Luke
Graham Richard
Grant Bill
Grant Mrs Helen
Gray James
Grayling rh Chris
Green Chris
Green rh Damian
Greening rh Justine
Grieve rh Mr Dominic
Gyimah Mr Sam
Hair Kirstene
Halfon rh Robert
Hall Luke
Hammond rh Mr Philip
Hammond Stephen
Hancock rh Matt
Hands rh Greg
Harper rh Mr Mark
Harrington Richard
Harris Rebecca
Harrison Trudy
Hart Simon
Hayes rh Mr John
Heald rh Sir Oliver
Heappey James
Heaton-Harris Chris
Heaton-Jones Peter
Henderson Gordon
Herbert rh Nick
Hinds Damian
Hoare Simon
Hollingbery George
Hollinrake Kevin
Hollobone Mr Philip
Holloway Adam
Howell John
Huddleston Nigel
Hughes Eddie
Hunt rh Mr Jeremy
Hurd Mr Nick
Jack Mr Alister
James Margot
Javid rh Sajid
Jayawardena Mr Ranil
Jenkin Mr Bernard
Jenkyns Andrea
Jenrick Robert
Johnson Dr Caroline
Johnson Gareth
Johnson Joseph
Johnson rh Boris
Jones Andrew
Jones Mr Marcus
Jones rh Mr David
Kawczynski Daniel
Keegan Gillian
Kennedy Seema
Kerr Stephen
Knight Julian
Knight rh Sir Greg
Kwarteng Kwasi
Lamont John
Lancaster Mark
Latham Mrs Pauline
Leadsom rh Andrea
Lee Dr Phillip
Lefroy Jeremy
Leigh Sir Edward
Letwin rh Sir Oliver
Lewer Andrew
Lewis rh Brandon
Lewis rh Dr Julian
Liddell-Grainger Mr Ian
Lidington rh Mr David
Lopresti Jack
Lord Mr Jonathan
Loughton Tim
Mackinlay Craig
Maclean Rachel
Main Mrs Anne
Mak Alan
Malthouse Kit
Mann Scott
Masterton Paul
May rh Mrs Theresa
Maynard Paul
McLoughlin rh Sir Patrick
McPartland Stephen
McVey rh Ms Esther
Menzies Mark
Mercer Johnny
Merriman Huw
Metcalfe Stephen
Miller rh Mrs Maria
Milling Amanda
Mills Nigel
Milton rh Anne
Mitchell rh Mr Andrew
Moore Damien
Mordaunt Penny
Morgan rh Nicky
Morris Anne Marie
Morris David
Morris James
Morton Wendy
Mundell rh David
Murray Mrs Sheryll
Murrison Dr Andrew
Neill Robert
Newton Sarah
Nokes Caroline
Norman Jesse
O’Brien Neil
Offord Dr Matthew
Opperman Guy
Parish Neil
Patel rh Priti
Paterson rh Mr Owen
Pawsey Mark
Penning rh Mike
Penrose John
Percy Andrew
Perry Claire
Philp Chris
Pincher Christopher
Poulter Dr Dan
Pow Rebecca
Prentis Victoria
Prisk Mr Mark
Pritchard Mark
Pursglove Tom
Quin Jeremy
Quince Will
Raab Dominic
Redwood rh John
Rees-Mogg Mr Jacob
Robertson Mr Laurence
Robinson Mary
Rosindell Andrew
Ross Douglas
Rowley Lee
Rudd rh Amber
Rutley David
Sandbach Antoinette
Scully Paul
Seely Mr Bob
Selous Andrew
Shapps rh Grant
Sharma Alok
Shelbrooke Alec
Simpson rh Mr Keith
Skidmore Chris
Smith Chloe
Smith Henry
Smith Julian
Smith Royston
Soames rh Sir Nicholas
Soubry rh Anna
Spelman rh Dame Caroline
Spencer Mark
Stephenson Andrew
Stevenson John
Stewart Bob
Stewart Iain
Stewart Rory
Streeter Mr Gary
Stride rh Mel
Stuart Graham
Sturdy Julian
Sunak Rishi
Swayne rh Sir Desmond
Swire rh Sir Hugo
Syms Mr Robert
Thomas Derek
Thomson Ross
Throup Maggie
Tolhurst Kelly
Tomlinson Justin
Tomlinson Michael
Tracey Craig
Tredinnick David
Trevelyan Mrs Anne-Marie
Truss rh Elizabeth
Tugendhat Tom
Vaizey rh Mr Edward
Vara Mr Shailesh
Vickers Martin
Villiers rh Theresa
Walker Mr Charles
Walker Mr Robin
Wallace rh Mr Ben
Warburton David
Warman Matt
Watling Giles
Whately Helen
Whittaker Craig
Whittingdale rh Mr John
Wiggin Bill
Williamson rh Gavin
Wollaston Dr Sarah
Wood Mike
Wragg Mr William
Wright rh Jeremy
Zahawi Nadhim
DUP
Campbell Mr Gregory
Dodds rh Nigel
Donaldson rh Sir Jeffrey M.
Girvan Paul
Little Pengelly Emma
Paisley Ian
Robinson Gavin
