Stand Up and Be Counted

When really bad stuff is going on, it underlines the need for people to know what matters, and stick to their principles. When Trump’s mob were rampaging through the Capitol, some police officers stood back or took selfies, while others accepted risks to their own safety in the cause of protecting Congress members. Meanwhile most prominent Republicans were too scared to admit what was happening, but a brave few - Liz Cheney, for instance - recognised that there were values above party loyalty.

You won’t find many posts on this blog in favour of Conservative Party members, but this is one. Following the recent army barracks scandal, Caroline Nokes has come out forcefully to condemn the conditions in which asylum seekers are currently being housed. And why does that matter? Because Caroline Nokes used to be a minister in the Home Office. She apologised to Paulette Wilson, the first of the Windrush victims, and Nokes knows exactly how the hostile environment policy works, because she’s seen it from the inside. This is a serious politician acting on principle, and it’s great to see.