Labour MPs are now wearing blue-and-yellow ribbons, the Tories are suddenly sporting UK/Ukraine enamel badges, and at least two MPs attended the Home Office questions dressed as Ukrainian flags.
It’s only a matter of time before an entrepreneur is outside Westminster, selling hats.
When the Commons is of one mind, and a noble frame of mind it is, then politics becomes a game of one-upmanship, which is almost impossible for any government to win.
“We will do what is right,” said Priti Patel as she detailed her new scheme to help Ukrainian refugees. “Well that’s not enough!” heckled the Opposition, who have spent several days hearing from constituents desperate to bring relatives to the UK.
Visas have been costly, confusing, bureaucratic; many MPs are coming round to the view that it’s morally wrong to demand to see one’s papers at all. The explanation is “security”, said Ms Patel, on the grounds that Russian spies could be hiding amongst the coach loads of women and children making their way to Calais – but in that case, asked Ben Bradshaw, why not submit people to background checks while waiving the visas?
It’s Covid all over again: ribbons and masks on the opposition benches set against Tories who, in the words of the SNP’s Stuart C McDonald, have to be “dragged towards a generous … response”. For moments like these, Priti has a special power: she absorbs other people’s indignation and shoots it back at them, like Superman returning bullets. “I find the honourable gentleman’s comments quite offensive actually,” she said, eyes glaring, “insulting in every way … for the first time, the SNP should stop playing politics.”
But that’s the game we’re here to play! Does anyone seriously doubt that the British Government has led international efforts to help Ukraine? No. On the contrary, Ukraine has changed the Conservative Party’s attitude towards asylum the way Covid turned it into the nanny state’s number one fan. Caroline Nokes told members that it is never “a burden” to take refugees, “it is a privilege” – and Priti Patel, the woman who practically stood atop the White Cliffs of Dover shouting “Go back!” at the dinghies bobbing about in the Channel below, added a superlative to the mix.
“It is an absolute privilege,” she said.
It is a conceit of Left and Right that everyone in the world wants to move to Tunbridge Wells. In fact, observed the Home Secretary, most Ukrainians probably want to stay in the region, certainly to return home as soon as possible.
The SNP’s Gavin Newlands (blue jacket, yellow tie), nevertheless concluded that “Ukrainian men, women and children are … dying for our freedom just as much as for Ukraine’s”, hence all should be welcome. But if the threat is that great, and the war really is ours, why not impose a no-fly zone and take the fight to Putin?
One wonders how long it is before large numbers of MPs are demanding direct military involvement, on the assumption that with sufficient firepower, flags and a ban on Russia’s attendance at Eurovision, “this thing will be over by Christmas.”
