Letter 131: Who let foxy old Farage in the hen house, Dave? Look in the mirror, Dave.

"Dear Dave,
Now voting is over, I hear that you're trying to shift the country's attention to growth. Unsurprising, considering the Coalition has lost 13 councils and 426 seats, whilst Labour's gained 5 councils and 339 seats. Like many, I was revolted by that pernicious UKIP election campaign. It was intentionally divisive and misleading - but it's not just UKIP that's played on people's fears, is it? I'm tempted to ask: do you ever wonder if the drip, drip, drip of ugly dog whistle politics (including that of your "go home vans") has backfired on you? Were I a Westminster politician, I'd be alarmed that turnout is so low. I'd also be shamed that the electorate's trust is diminished to such a degree that UKIP can grab so much media and voter attention despite it's vote falling from 23% to 17%. But who let the fox in the hen house? Dog whistle politics in the Westminster Bubble has helped build a platform for UKIP. Instead of saying that you "share their pain" on immigration, maybe it's time to cut the tough talk. Just admit that both the EU and immigrants contribute more than they could ever detract from the UK and elevate the quality of your political debate.

Yours, etc"

Letter 130: Parents are becoming enemies of promise now, Dave

"Dear Dave,
There seem to be alot of teachers in Brighton this Easter... It must be the annual NUT Conference. They're rather chipper - do you think they've heard that an increasing number of parents are enemies of promise now, having doubts about Michael Gove's education reforms?
What could be the cause of the growing opposition? The rise in the number of unqualified teachers in state-funded schools? Or maybe that families are being asked to provide contributions for basic materials normally covered by school budgets? Imagine - people struggling to put food on the table and now they have to equip the classroom with pens and paper too! Could it be that voters are angry Michael has approved plans to spend £45 million on a school for just 500 children. That's SIX times the average cost! Any you talked about learning to do more with less!
Public distrust points to your Education Minister's politicising of education and a lack of transparency, I think. Ask David Laws if you don't believe me - he's already said how "challenging and at times disruptive" the "permanent revolution" can be. By the way, why are struggling free schools being earmarked for special attention? Not a leak in the flagship, surely? If only there was a secret document that could explain it all...


Yours with best wishes, etc"

Letter 129: The Lord said "Suffer the little children" & lo, CameronJesus took him literally & caused foodbanks 2 proliferate

"Dear Dave

I am totally baffled by your logic (and I'm sure I'm not alone) Could you possibly explain the following? Recently you said,"The Bible tells us to bear one another's burdens" and that "Jesus invented the Big Society 2000 years ago; I just wanted to see more of it."

How can it be then that under your Government, there has been such a massive growth in the need for food parcels? It is beyond shameful Dave, that one million have been handed out in the UK to date. Not quite what Jesus meant by "suffer the little children", you know. Add to this the startling contrast of how you treat your own. Your support of Maria Miller, combined with Iain Duncan Smith's new plans for dealing with ordinary people claiming benefits they are not entitled to, suggests your Government will always have the rich (rather than the poor) with you.

Make no mistake, the huge increase in the need for food parcels and food banks is not a sign of increased civic responsibility, regardless of your insistence. It is a sign of the failure of your economic and social policies. You seem to be paying down the deficit on the backs of the poor - what would Jesus say? I doubt he'd think that passes the "smell test". Reflect on that over Easter as well as finding "time for our whole country to reflect on what Christianity brings to Britain". I'm also praying that you'll see Easter as an opportunity to honestly assess just what your moral mission and welfare reforms bring to the UK's most needy and vulnerable.

Yours, etc"

Letter 128: George's Budget's not great

"Dear Dave, 
Come play with voters, while George's budget is  disassembled and we wait for someone to crowd fund Grant Shapps' #torybingo poster to display outside Gala halls and Poundland shops:
   

2.For the  privileged few	39.Tax havens  are fine	20. We’ve got plenty	24.Older  people  vote more	30. Bullingdon   Bertie
35. Food banks mushroom & thrive	63. Empathy free	64. Cuts for the poor	10. The rich  gain again	75. Bringing Dickens alive
1. NHS     gone	38. Longer hospital wait		48. Dismantle  the  State	78. Disabled     can  wait
34. Living  costs  soar	44. Ignore  young  &       poor	6. More       Tory     tricks	74. Take from poor, give rich more	8. Pensioner’s bait
22. Deficit grew	4. More working poor	68. Your  pension can wait	27. Rich man’s heaven	104. Cuts for the poor

Shall I get the beers in?
Yours with best wishes, etc"


 

Letter 127: International Women's Day, Coalition style

"Dear Dave and Nick,
Thanks for this: 

@David_Cameron "On #IWD we celebrate the achievements of women and must redouble our efforts to end discrimination and persecution around the world." 

And this: 

@nick-clegg "#IWD helps remind us that we should always support greater equality and promote the achievements of women ow.ly/ulHsK"

On International Women's Day, it would be reassuring to know that you've got my back. We're going to need all the help we can get, since your tax and benefits changes seem to impact women four times harder than men. Oh blimes, as members of the Quad, you both signed those changes off, didn't you? And what's this? A new £20 billion black hole in public finances? Which we all know you'll be backing George to pay for with more cuts and tax rises.... Sigh. You do know actions speak louder than words, don't you?

Yours with best wishes, speaking as one of the many UK women on a low income,etc "

Letter 126: The protest against cuts to legal aid is a fight for social justice

Dear Dave,
Have you looked outside your window today? What a marvellous turnout of barristers, solicitors and general public opposed to the cuts to legal aid. I just wanted write and let you know that though I couldn't be in London to march with them, I totally support their actions and am there in spirit. It seems I'm in good company. As John Cooper, QC rightly said: "You don't have to be a lawyer to care what happens to justice." My particular concern is the effects of the cuts on abused women, though there's a much wider impact than just on that vulnerable group. I read in the Guardian that Doreen Lawrence believes that without legal aid, she and her husband might not have been able to continue their campaign for justice. Powerful and timely endorsement. And on the other side of court, shouldn't everyone accused have access to a competent defence lawyer, not just the wealthy?

Yours etc"

Letter 125: It's transparent this government has an immigration problem it wants to hide

"Dear Dave,

I'm going to ask you a question (no, not about domestic help). If you could choose, which would you say is the more embarrassing; that immigration has little effect on unemployment, or that Downing Street has been blocking the civil servant report showing this? 

Tricky choice though it is, I'd say the latter. Now we know immigration has little effect on unemployment, some good can come form the knowledge. You can stand up to your backbenchers and apply for that EU flood relief. That way you can offer the people of Somerset a better deal that the £20 million announced by Owen Paterson today.  Plus it's a blessed relief to see the dogwhistle politics shown for what it really is. The misinformation can stop, if only for a little while.

As a voter, I'd say blocking the report concerns me most. You yourself said that trust in politicians is important and I share your belief. So when searching a little deeper, I was dismayed to find six more reports that the Huffington Post say you've suppressed, here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/03/05/david-cameron-report_n_4902883.html?ref=topbar

Transparently, you have a problem.

Yours, etc"