MP Mhairi: ‘Words hold no value for this government’
The UK is “sleepwalking closer and closer to the f-word,” SNP MP Mhairi Black has claimed.
Citing the Government’s plans to send migrants to Rwanda and proposals to privatise Channel 4, the Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP argued: “This is just little England elites drunk on the memory of a British Empire that no longer exists.”
Speaking during the Queen’s Speech Commons debate on achieving economic growth, she said: “We have the lowest pensions in Europe, the lowest sick pay, we pretend the minimum wage is a living wage when it’s not.
“We miss our own economic targets time and time again.
“We’re happy to break international law.”
She claimed: “We are turning into a country where words hold no value and over the last 12 years I fear we are sleepwalking closer and closer to the f-word and I know everyone is scared to say it for fear of sounding over the top or being accused of going too far.
“But I say this with all sincerity, when I say the f-word, I’m talking about fascism.
“Fascism wrapped in red, white and blue.”
She added: “It happens when we see Governments making decisions based on self preservation, based on cronyism, based on anything that will keep them in power.”
She went on: “But the things we do in the name of economic growth, the warning signs are there for everyone else to see whether they admit it or not.”
Responding to her claims, Conservative Mark Fletcher said: “You would think in the current circumstances we would be incredibly careful.
“We cherish our democracy in this country, our institutions are strong.
“Democracy, freedom and the rule of law runs through the core of this country and to so flippantly say that democracy is under attack or that we, as another member said earlier, that we are descending close to fascism, only seconds after saying that words matter, is incredibly frustrating.”