As part of Mr Javid’s interview with the Murdoch establishment mouthpiece (The Times) he identified some of the content of an oath of allegiance to British values that public officials should have to swear to. Most of it was the usual conformity to an elitist system which benefits the rich and powerful, for example “a respect for the law, even if you think the law is an ass.” Given that approximately 70% of laws, in this country, protect property rights and that those with the most gain the most and those with the least… it is obvious that a millionaire (who acts on behalf of billionaires) would not support those who decided to ignore the laws that were blatantly not in their interests.
However, he also includes very explicitly amongst those values, “a belief in equality” and “democracy…”. Not a belief in inequality and centralisation of power as has been the mantra of Tories and other right wingers throughout history but the socialist (so called left wing) values that they have ridiculed and criticised. Having accepted that some laws are an ass (although not identifying which ones) and now having embraced values that will rid us of capitalism I have to wonder if he has run this past the party funders .
And then there is the question of how valid the claim that any of these values are uniquely British. I would want the government to list them all and then we can compare them internationally. Also no one should be forced to swear to anything. How is that democratic? Those who want to blindly can but those who don’t can simply say ‘no thanks’. That is democracy.
Thus in 2017 I look forward to the Tory Party announcing its time frame for dissolution alongside the toxic UKIP and those agent provocateurs masquerading as Labour Party members with them all signing up to an agenda of equality and real democracy (not the elitist sham we currently have). It will more than make up for the omnishambles of recent times.
Douglas James
