Whiff of hypocrisy

It has been enjoyable to watch this government being unable to manage a relatively simple vote on an opposition day motion. And make no mistake, this should never have happened - the reason why it is so humiliating for the government is not becuase it is a major point of principle, but because it suggests that they have lost control in the parliamentary process. Their lot no longer care, ours are brig careful and everyone is waiting and watching for next year. It makes it nigh on impossible for the cadre trying to get things though to do so.

Because the Gurkha issue just isn't major. No-one really cares. Now, I'm not saying they aren't deserving, but there is no real logic to this sudden indignation. The deal was clear when the gurkha's signed up - they weren't paid in citizenship, but cash. And it's been going on - as far as I can tell - for decades with no real fuss. The Tories certainly didn't bother to do anything about it when they in power, and it's not been a consistent item of Liberal policy (though it may have passed through their revolving door at one point in the past). It's not a great injustice though it feels a bit unfair. I doubt we'll remember it in a year.

Yet on this issue, the government however has managed to make itself hated by the right for knocking the military and the left for hating brown people. It's lovely to watch, but let's not pretend that it's really about the issues.