AFTER so long in power, it is difficult to imagine that the moral turpitude of the Tory Party could sink lower than it already has. But time and again it manages to plumb new depths.

The comments from its detestable deputy chairman Lee Anderson, that asylum-seekers should “fuck off back to France” is a clear demonstration of the true face of the political party of the ruling class.

The move to house asylum-seekers on prison-style barges has been a calculated political ploy from the beginning.

The Tories have deliberately chosen as controversial and as dehumanising a method to house asylum-seekers because they believe this will play to a wide section of their base as they face faltering poll numbers. 

They can rely on the state and monopoly media to provide the appropriate coverage and stir up the appropriate sentiments. 

It is immaterial to them that they are seeking to vilify and place in hellish conditions some of the most vulnerable people in the world. 

In the absence of any real policies to address the crisis facing working people in Britain or any positive vision for society, all the Tories have to peddle is division and hate.

But it’s not just the Tories that are bereft of ideas.

Capitalism, the system itself, is politically, ideologically and morally bankrupt. 
When confronted with crisis, the ruling class resorts to the oldest trick in its book — divide and rule.

US politics and the extreme politics of the right-wing Republicans in particular are presented as a strange aberration, rather than the logical product of the world’s most advanced capitalist country. 

The culture wars and wedge issues, which have clearly been learned from by the political Establishment and Britain’s ruling class, are a troubling glimpse into our future here in Britain. 

Migrants and asylum-seekers have historically been the most ready targets for when the ruling class needs to shift the blame and distract working people. 

We saw a blatant and cynical use of a similar wedge issue with the Tories’ pivot away from even their meek promises on the environment and to bizarrely brand themselves the party of motorists.

This is another political move conceived by focus group and professional pollsters. 

There is no attempt to address the genuine issues facing the working class and humanity, such as the cost of living or environment crises, just glib and divisive policies with no regard for the consequences. 

As with all things in society, capitalism corrupts and degenerates politics in the same way. The political narrative and political projects are rendered cynical and expedient, but always at the service of those in power.

We can only expect more of the same and for this to intensify as we approach a general election in the year ahead.

Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is more than happy to buy into the formula, because ideologically the leadership doesn’t differ from the Tories in any meaningful way.

The challenge for the left is twofold.

On the one hand, the politics of division has to be confronted and defeated as part of the battle of ideas. 

This can’t be done by simply writing off large sections of the working class as stupid or racist because they have been deluded by ruling-class propaganda.

We have to respond to their concerns and issues rationally and sincerely. 

But we also can’t allow the Tories to decide the battleground. That is a recipe for defeat.

The labour and progressive movement have to point to the real culprits for all of society’s ills, expose their system and make the case for socialism.

If their greatest strength is our division then our greatest strength is our unity.

Theirs can be easily and careless sown, ours must be carefully and diligently built.