What does Chris ‘people aren’t lying dead in the streets’ Skidmore have to say now?

Chris Skidmore: He once said austerity wasn’t so bad because people weren’t dying in the streets. Now they are, and he is conspicuous by his silence.

The Conservative Party’s vice-chairman responsible for policy once said his party’s austerity cuts were not as bad as had been claimed because people were not “lying dead in the streets”. Now that people his party forced onto the streets have started to die, what does Chris Skidmore have to say?

Mr Skidmore, co-author of the Tory screed Britannia Unchained, which infamously claimed that British people were among the “worst idlers in the world”, has been challenged over his claim after the death of homeless Gyula Remes, who had been sleeping rough on the street just metres outside the Houses of Parliament. Mr Remes was a kitchen assistant at Charing Cross Station but was still forced to sleep rough.

He is the MP for Kingswood, which borders Bristol where a survey to count the number of dead homeless people is currently being carried out.

It is a good question, and one that should be put to Mr Skidmore at once. We need to hear his answer – especially as he is now responsible for Conservative Party policy. As Tory policies on homelessness have failed, how does he propose to prevent any more deaths?

That question was put to Housing Secretary James Brokenshire by Shadow Housing Minister Melanie Onn before Parliament went into recess for the Christmas period:

https://twitter.com/OnnMel/status/1075808016769929216

Mr Brokenshire passed the buck, saying it was the responsibility of Westminster City Council to see that “lessons are learned and applied”. We’ve all heard that line about lessons being learned before, of course.

He did say that Office of National Statistics figures show 597 homeless people died in 2017 – an increase on the previous figure of 449. While Mr Brokenshire said his government was “focused and resolute in our commitment to make rough sleeping a thing of the past”, the facts show that it isn’t doing enough.

Meanwhile, Sky News editor-at-large Adam Boulton seems to think he has the answer to the problem of people dying outside Parliament: Move them on.

https://twitter.com/RickBlaine123/status/1076065207468855297

Out of sight, out of mind, is it? Charming.

Oh, and while people are dying on the streets in the fifth-richest country on the planet, its prime minister has been visiting an exclusive shop where a handbag could cost more than many houses.

So much for “compassionate Conservatism” on her watch!

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6 Comments

  1. Mik Johnstone December 22, 2018 at 3:06 am - Reply

    I like your optimism, but seriously, do you think a tory will ever give you a straight answer even if all the evidence is saying the tories are at fault? this is ALL on them…

  2. groovmistress December 22, 2018 at 3:09 am - Reply

    No doubt “Treeza” was hoping for a freebie. Isn’t that the norm amongst her lot? Only the peasants have to actually pay.

  3. jeffrey davies December 22, 2018 at 10:02 am - Reply

    aktion t4 at its best rolling along without much of a ado

  4. nmac064 December 22, 2018 at 12:16 pm - Reply

    “Skidmark,” like all nasty, vindictive Tories, couldn’t care less about ordinary people dying of hunger and cold. All these loathsome people think about is how they can contribute as little as possible to society as a whole. They are odious.

  5. Tony December 22, 2018 at 12:32 pm - Reply

    Swing needed to defeat Skidmore—7.7% in a seat that was Labour until 2010.

    This is clearly achievable if enough resources are put into it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingswood_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

  6. Pat Sheehan December 23, 2018 at 1:45 am - Reply

    So have I got this right then? That’s 600 homeless dead on the streets of Britain in 2017 and heading for another, likely, nice, round figure of 600 (counting still in progress) homeless dead on streets in 2018 on top of thousands of additional deaths from Atos and DWP’s draconian ‘welfare withdrawal’ project over the last ten years or so as deadly extermination policy takes effect without a shot being fired and UK Government dismisses repeated UN concerns regarding the lethal efficiency and fallacy of said government policy as ‘nosy parkers who ought to mind their own business’ and leave this sort of thing to people who do know what they are about’ as ministers step up reign of terror claiming austerity and zero hour contracts are actually good for people and current statistics prove that government policy is working with many more in jobs and wages rising with massive increase in food bank use simply a shift in lifestyle choice.
    Vulnerable minority groups are naturally concerned about ‘who’s next’ as ‘government spokesperson warns people of Ireland they could be next target in new phase of strategic, starvation coercion pogram, sorry, programme to bolster and force through collapsing failed Brexit strategy in desperate attempt at minister’s self preservation and consolidation of preserved pension benefits.
    Cunning diversionary tactics to distract the disillusioned and dismayed include the MSM in lengthy, puerile waste-of-time debates regarding Jeremy Corbin’s lip movements and the concept of mince pies opposed to pigs in blankets whilst confused and nervous voters discuss voting in new vote about old vote in New Year potentially undermining the bedrock of democracy. Christmas UK 2018: this should be one to remember! Lest we forget!

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