The Conservative party sowed the seeds of division – and are now warning us against it

It was without a hint of irony that prime minister Rishi Sunak delivered an emergency statement recently. This was not, as many expected, to confirm the date of the next general election, but to face down “extremists” currently trying to undermine the UK’s “multi-faith democracy”.

In response to George Galloway winning the Rochdale by-election, the public were warned about Islamists and the far right, though most of the PM’s fire was focused on “extremists” who have been protesting against Israel’s military intervention in Gaza.

There can be few greater examples of brass neck. The PM and Conservative Party have been sowing the seeds of division for years, stoking up rancour, pandering to the far right and pitting communities against each other for electoral gain.

This was most recently exemplified by Lee Anderson’s claim that Labour’s London mayor Sadiq Khan was under the control of Islamists, joining ranks of his fellow Tory politicians who have pushed the boundaries of acceptability on matters of race and immigration.

The Tories have played a major role in creating a problem, which their leader now warns we must all guard against.

Alex Orr

Edinburgh

Sunak, in an act beyond contempt, stands at his lectern and warns us against “extremists” destroying society and threatening the people. Yet it is his Tory MPs who are actually destroying our society.

They find £31m to protect themselves from people who are legitimately angry, as government choices push quality of life into decline.

And now it is reported that Jeremy Hunt – who in the past has placed restrictions on junior doctors while being one of the richest MPs – is going to impose a 1.2 per cent cut in health spending that will amount to £2bn.

So Sunak, who is it who is really destroying society?

Terry Maunder

Hawksworth

As both Keir Starmer and Joe Biden prepare for another election, they are both facing the same issue. They need to look away from their focus groups and opinion pollsters, and reconnect with actual voters.

That voting public, a shrinking phenomenon outside of referenda, understand what Starmer and Biden do not: that we are sick of warmongers and those who pander to or enable them.

That instinct was clearly on display before, when (despite the withholding of relevant information) the public sensed the wrongness of the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003.

They got it wrong then, and now with Gaza, they are getting it wrong again.

When it comes to Gaza, Biden and Starmer are forgetting one thing that is different to Iraq. Voters don’t have to accept the legacy media slant or the politicians’ spin. It’s being played out in real-time before their eyes on a daily basis.

For both Starmer and Biden, in the coming national elections, when turn-out for both will be pivotal, the ghosts of Gaza will be watching.

Amanda Baker

Edinburgh

Are people being lulled into a false sense of optimism amid the growing calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza? If we listen carefully so far, all these great-sounding words are always conditional.

How realistic is it that any agreement leads to a worthwhile ceasefire? Current conversations have not yet addressed the root cause of this long-standing conflict. The problem will not be resolved. Sadly, until it is discussed openly, I think any talk of a meaningful and lasting ceasefire is unrealistic, unreasonable and insincere.

Vince Ward

Sale

I, like many others, am very interested in the health of the Princess of Wales. However, I am totally in favour of granting her privacy during her convalescence. While we may all hope that she is doing well and in my opinion, it is normal to be concerned for such a popular person, it really is not helpful to engage with all these conspiracy theories about her recovery.

Can we please give this woman some time to recover and stop expecting to be given every detail of how she is faring. I wish her well, and hope that she has no further problems.

Lisbeth Robertson

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