Margaret Hodge is accused of playing dog-whistle politics
Which is worse? It’s difficult to choose between them.
Candidate 1. Margaret Hodge MP Once again, the embattled Labour MP for Barking has reached for the pre-election dog-whistle today to dig herself out of a hole with the voters. Her comments appear perfectly reasonable.
“We need to look at drawing up a point system based on length of residence, citizenship or national insurance contributions which ensures economic migrants can only access social housing and key benefits when they have paid into the system … This isn’t about race, it’s about having a system which is fair.”
Only … the minister for culture and tourism has spent so little of her time fighting for her constituency or engaged in issues that matter to her constituents you’ve got to wonder about her motives. One also remembers her equally-clumsy comments about the BNP shortly before the May 2006 local elections (BNP won 11 seats and the GMB called for her resignation). And her 2007 remarks on housing policy which grabbed headlines but failed to deliver any impact.
Candidate 2. Sarah Teather MP The Lib-Dem MP quickly smeared Mrs Hodge for talking up the race issue, instantly playing into the hands of BNP types who claim the mainstream are too scared to talk about these issues.
“You need to take the BNP on and demolish their arguments not copy what they are saying.”
The opinion polls make it crystal clear that there is a list of issues prioritised by millions of voters that the politicians are too frightened to talk about. Immigration, Europe, cultural identity, fear of Islamist violence and who should get the best public services (especially welfare and housing, but also education and health).
Hodge’s panicky comments today lack plausibility.
Teather’s knee-jerk accusations poison the debate.
You choose which is worse.
