A colonialist mentality

Sir, – The utterly reprehensible comments by Esther McVey about the so-called rape clause and the forced apology by Amber Rudd and Theresa May to the Windrush generation and Ross Thompson belittling the victims of Saddam Hussein all show once again the cruel inhumanity of the Tories.

Recently many UK citizens from the Commonwealth have been contacted by the Home Office and told they are not eligible to stay in the UK.

They have faced harassment and violations of their rights as well as the denial of health care, housing and employment.

The Home Office insisted they prove that they have been in the UK continually since January 1973 by providing four relevant documents for every year of residence.

The treatment of the Windrush generation was the deliberate result of a government policy to victimize and expel migrants.

In 2012, legislation was passed requiring people to possess documentation of their right to be in the country in order to work, rent or access health and welfare benefits.

This disgusting mind-set the Tories have for anyone who is not extremely rich was also manifest by Esther McVey.

In trying to defend the indefensible “rape clause” for Universal Credit she simply showed herself to be a ruthless unfeeling careerist who only cares about herself.

Ross Thompson too mocked and belittled the victims of Saddam Hussein then tried to justify it by claiming he had supported the war to remove him.

What this shows is the centuries’ old colonialist mentality of the British state has not gone away: the mind-set of Empire, conquest and duplicity persists.

It drips and oozes from Tory party members, voters and elected officials. Alan Hinnrichs. 2 Gillespie Terrace, Dundee.