It looks like even nine-year-olds can see through Theresa May. On ITV News, Hasnain Nawaz questioned the sitting Prime Minister’s ‘strong and stable’ sloganeering and called on her to “actually do something”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQp10SaGpzk
Weak and wobbly?
Nawaz specified that he is not “following” May. In a display of raw, childhood common sense, he pointed out that May’s rhetoric does not match her actions:
She’s not really doing anything to be honest, all she’s saying is ‘oh, this, oh, that, I’m strong,’ and all of this.
Well she’s not really doing anything by saying all of that is she?
ITV invited Nawaz on the show after he asked Jeremy Corbyn a question about “strong and stable leadership” in Peterborough. He also explained why he felt “inspired” by Corbyn:
He helps the homeless. Everyone talks about needing to help the homeless, well Jeremy Corbyn does it. School education… he does it all for me
By contrast, May wants to take away free school meals for primary school pupils like Nawaz. She will replace them with breakfast, which amounts to another cut of £650m per year. Meanwhile, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) confirmed reports from teachers and parents that the Conservatives are bringing the ‘deepest cuts’ to education for 30 years.
Joining Nawaz, a BBC Question Time audience member also hit out at the lack of substance in the Conservative campaign. The audience member said he’d bet his wife £10 that Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green would say “coalition of chaos” and “strong and stable government” during his first contribution. It might be the easiest £10 he’s ever earned.
Robot rhetoric
The Conservative campaign indicates that his wife was up against terrible odds. During an interview with Radio Derby, Theresa May epitomised this. Host Chris Doidge asked the Prime Minister if she knew what a ‘mugwump’ was. Boris Johnson had used the word to personally attack Jeremy Corbyn earlier that day. Then, like a robot, May responded:
What I recognise is that what we need in this country is strong and stable leadership.
The collective face-palm was tangible. Journalists from The Sun and The Guardian alike expressed utter disbelief. The mindless catchphrase only highlights the Prime Minister’s inability to defend her party’s record:
https://twitter.com/davidschneider/status/857345301220397056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdev.thecanary.co%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D68489%26action%3Dedit
https://twitter.com/davidschneider/status/857345301220397056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdev.thecanary.co%2F2017%2F04%2F28%2Fbbc-audience-member-unravels-entire-conservative-election-campaign-10-seconds-video%2F
Even nine-year-olds can see through May’s electioneering. From pretending opposition parties are blocking Brexit, to scapegoating EU interference in the election, almost all of the Conservatives’ movements amount to naked electioneering. Brexit is happening. It’s about what type of country we want to build outside the EU. A civil meritocracy where everyone has the opportunity to succeed through universal education, healthcare and housing. Or a rigged economy where we rent our essential services from the already rich. Nawaz hasn’t reached double figures yet, but he gets it.
Get Involved!
– Register to vote in the 8 June general election.
– 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.
Featured image via Youtube
