On bank holiday Monday, the U.K. death toll confirmed more than 30,000 people have died from Covid-19, and our newspapers covered their front pages with Adele’s weight loss and the loosening of lockdown restrictions. Could their “LOOK OVER THERE!” tactic be any more than transparent than it is now?

On the 24th May, the Daily Express claimed “The data, published and researched by pro-Brexit organisation Facts4EU, show that just 7.7 percent of UK goods exports were with the EU”. However, according Full Fact and the latest data available from 2019, the correct figure is 46% (not 7.7%). Hmm, how about that… Misquoting official recorded data on U.K. exports to the EU (which is easily locatable online), on a pro-Brexit website and newspaper. It’s almost as if Brexit and misinformation go hand in hand. Why would they intentionally use the word “research” knowing their figures are factually incorrect? Are they that lazy to not research a source before they confirm it to millions? If that’s not the case, and they did do their research as stated; Why are they deliberately misleading the public (during a pandemic may I add) into thinking exports to the EU are lower than what is officially recorded?

You just have to look at the stark contrast in how they portray the National Health Service, migrants and foreign workers, before and during the Covid-19 pandemic which absolutely does prove a ‘higher agenda’.

After

For me, I found their U-turn to be hollow and a poor attempt to cheerlead for things they have previously slated. The deliberate warping of the truth, skewed values behind these decisions, along with the underlying theme of vilifying migrants and the working class, with divisive headlines and content; fully enforce the smoke and mirror agenda from the government and the media. Ensuring the most important issues aren’t brought to the light, but instead presented with celebrity culture and distraction tactics. The BBC recently proved this to be the exact case after an apology was issued regarding Emily Maitlis’ comments about Dominic Cummings. They stated “We believe the introduction we broadcast did not meet our standards of due impartiality”.
Before I continue, I’d like to throw you back to 2018 for a moment.

The BBC was accused of editing an image of Jeremy Corbyn to ‘make him look communist and Russian’ whilst reporting on his response to the Salisbury incident. They juxtaposed Jeremy Corbyn next to the Moscow skyline, and doctored his hat to depict as a Russian hat.

I’m all for the truth, sudden realisations and using platforms to speak out, especially in this case; Emily using that short segment to be a reflective voice of the entire country. No matter how ‘late’ it may seem, the truth is the truth. Where was the same energy to confront the Russian Jeremy Corbyn background? Considering she was sitting directly in front of it? The BBC rejected complaints and insisted the picture was “impartial and fare”. How can portraying Jeremy Corbyn as a Russian communist for a smear campaign be “impartial”, yet Emily Maitlis discussing a key political figure defying rules he created, as well as acknowledging public anger isn’t “impartial”. This situation is frustrating for a lot of people, as they neglected to address an issue that was seen by the vast majority of the public to be biased, and part of a smear campaign. It just seems very fitting to acknowledge suppression of the truth and the actual agenda of the government, now it affects them directly. Is that really what we have come to as a human race? Only caring about an issue if it affects you directly and immediately? Are you only now expressing your untrust in the government because they have directly affected your life negatively? What about Grenfell, did that not affect you directly enough? What about the treatment of the Windrush generation? Has none of that affected you negatively? The line was crossed a long time ago. Again, we all welcome sudden realisations and welcome the truth; but at what cost when damage has been done? Why now, when a blind eye has been turned to so much ignorance for such a long time?

With 10 Downing Street banning more and more journalists and reporters from press conferences and briefings, it imposes a disappointing and disheartening cloud over society and our access and right to answers; Why haven’t news outlets united in the name of holding our politicians to account, free speech and democracy, to ensure the government is doing its elected duty? There’s a serious disconnect between the government and the people, there isn’t enough transparency and there’s too many unanswered questions. They have dodged and schemed their way out of any and all accountability, investigations and inquiries.

How tenable are U.K. government officials now, after numerous Conservative MP’s have broken many of their own laws so publicly, both in their personal affairs and political career? What is a person in this country worth, when integrity is so undervalued by the highest office in the country? Are you comfortable living in a country where a Prince doesn’t have to cooperate with the FBI? Where health ministers don’t actually have to have any healthcare experience to claim the chair in government? Where banks were bailed out with nearly £1.2 trillion in response to the 2008 financial crisis created by the banks themselves, in comparison to less than £340 billion being offered to business’ during the 2020 pandemic, through no fault of their own? Are you comfortable with the government awarding titles to men found guilty of sexual harassment? That honoured a man who’s been convicted of domestic violence? Who offer no support for renters during lockdown? No increase in Statutory Sick Pay, despite its legislation being deemed as “manifestly inadequate” and “in breach of international law” by the European Committee of Social Rights more than two years ago?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never felt so underrepresented by a government in my entire life. I’ve never witnessed this much anger from the public towards the government. I’ve never been more furious at their behaviour, disgusted at their ethics, and seriously disturbed by lack of progress. For the sake of the national health and human rights, I pray a change is made soon; or democracy will no longer be welcomed or believed, as so many have been ignored for so long and rejected from the system made for them.