Britain is currently busy writing the BBC debate headlines that you definitely won’t see in the Tory media on 1 June. And the country is doing so with a knockout blow of irony.
“Sanctioned!”
Director Ken Loach won several awards for his film I, Daniel Blake – which criticised Britain’s benefits system under the Conservatives. And in his BAFTA acceptance speech for Best British Film, he said:
the most vulnerable and the poorest people are treated by this government with a callous brutality that is disgraceful.
Now, following Theresa May’s failure to show up for the BBC leaders’ debate on 31 May, Twitter users have drawn an apt comparison with the treatment of thousands of people at the hands of the Tory benefits system.
@theresa_may sanctioned for not attending job interview. pic.twitter.com/XD0FHCZyPK
— Derek Appleton (@DerekInTorre) May 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheShowOff85/status/870036300472221696
Theresa May has had her benefits sanctioned for not complying with her Job Seeker's Agreement, by failing to attend a work focused interview
— Smokin' (@smokinuk) May 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/hrtbps/status/869891559755481088
The #BBCDebate is kinda like a job interview isn't it? Do you think @theresa_may will be sanctioned by DWP for not attending?
— Ruthutch (@TheDiabetesDiet) May 31, 2017
Will Britain hold May to account?
Unfortunately, Britain today is a place where ordinary citizens are held to account much more than politicians are. So for now, Theresa May will get away with not turning up for her job interview. But on 8 June, we can change all of that.
Get Involved!
– Go out and vote on 8 June. And encourage others to do the same.
– Discuss the key policy issues with family members, colleagues and neighbours. And organise! Join (and participate in the activities of) a union, an activist group, and/or a political party.
– Also read more Canary articles on the 2017 general election. And see more Canary coverage of the BBC debate.
– Support The Canary if you value the work we do.
Featured image via Flickr