We face austerity, privatisation, and toxic influence. But we are growing, and cannot be beaten
The Tory right's shift to rude
STEPHEN ARNELL argues one side of the political spectrum is pushing British discourse towards the gutter
The gutter
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OVER the last 13 years or so in Britain, there has been a perceptible decline in public — and probably private — manners. Whence it came? I posit the Tories and their allies (and competitors) on the right.
See first: the glorification of rudeness and its degrading effect — Donald Trump, Lee Anderson, Nadine Dorries, Boris Johnson (face-pulling and all) and many more. The bullying and sexual harassment conducted by Chris Pincher, Peter Bone and others. Therese Coffey’s legendary combination of stupidity, arrogance and bad manners. Ditto her bessie mate Liz Truss.
Second: the wider behaviour of politicians who feel no shame in behaving brattishly on camera — see Oliver Dowden, Grant Shapps, and Kwasi Kwarteng.
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