Rishi Sunak – address to the nation

He started well; deliniated the events of the last 2-3 months. Demonstrations that should have been a democratic right getting out of hand. Anti-semitism rampant, the election of a man known to support Hamas, MPs and the Speaker of the House of Commons intimidated.

So far so good. Then the inevitable, Muslim women facing Islamophobia for their hijabs when they know nothing of the agitators on the streets (yeah right – of course they know nothing!) The spectre of the Far Right, ‘spreading poison’. True Islam is a Religion of Peace. Mr Sunak, NOBODY, but NOBODY believes that anymore.

Please when you demonstrate next reject the extremists who are hijacking your democraftic right to protest.

He would like the police to be more robust in their policing of the weekly demonstrations, and he promised them the backing of Government when they do so. Be more assertive man. In 1911 your predecessor Winston Churchill (then Home Secretary)  joined the police on the ground at Sidney Street as they fought the murderous revolutionaries who had already killed 3 policemen during a fund-raising robbery.  I don’t expect you to don a top hat and pick up a webley but…

His finish was a bit better.

We must not tolerate calls for jihad on the streets of London. We must not allow calls for genocide to be beams on the Hoses of Parliament or any other building.

Then he ended in a Kum ba yah sort of plea for peace and harmony and sucessful multiculturalism in our wonderful country. Giving the excellent example of his own experience as a Hindu man successful and practising his faith freely. 20 years ago I might have bought this. But worthy as the sentiments are we are well beyond this stage.

He meant well. I give him credit for addresing the nation directly.  But it had the air of a naive RE teacher addressing an unruly school, out of his depth,  but gamely holding the fort until the new headmaster arrives from Fort Apatche.