The Government Has Betrayed Crowborough

After a week of turmoil with opportunistic Right-wing politicians jumping around in pursuit of a political billet which suits their ambitions better, perhaps the media can refocus on the right target i.e., the incumbent Government. While the media dredges up past communications which prove how duplicitous politicians can be, the spotlight is diverted from Starmer: he who lies and dissembles constantly and treats the public and its wishes with casual disregard.

The phrase ‘truth is a distant land seldom visited’ becomes ever more pertinent as Ministers lie through their teeth. Our lived experiences are so at odds with the Government’s claims that scepticism grows exponentially. Being told by ‘stalking horse’ Streeting that NHS waiting lists have fallen by X amount feels at complete variance with the fact that obtaining a face to face appointment with a GP – the precursor to getting on a hospital waiting list – requires considerable resilience and persistence.

Starmer is now ridiculed for his daft slogans such as ‘smash the gangs’ and ‘fix the foundations’ and the gulf between expectation and reality widens increasingly. The more the governing elite lies and fails to deliver the more the public mood sours into cynicism. The fact that the right to vote has been removed from the public in more than 25 council elections – 21 being Labour councils – only adds to the sense of literally being disenfranchised.

Indeed we can only dream of having a ruling elite which, in addition to running the economy and associated services efficiently, protects our safety and security. Unfortunately this Government is failing singularly on all counts.

One of the key elements of ensuring the safety and security of the country is obviously by securing its borders: something which is self-evidently not happening at present as quantities of people – mostly men – are arriving on our shores without invitation or formal documentation.

As it happens the last military invasion was by Revolutionary France on February 22nd 1797 and lasted for two days. There are reasons why further invasion of our island has not taken place but such reasons seem to escape those who are supposed to defend our country.

Here in Crowborough we feel that we are at the sharp end of all the above. In the autumn of last year we first learned that the Home Office planned to take over an army training camp adjoining the town and fill it with minimum 540 men who had arrived here illegally. Cadets from all three forces and from all over the area had been using the camp for years for training sessions: they were ejected.

Since the news broke objectors have been engaged in a frustrating fight with the Government. With remarkable reactive energy, a local protest group – Crowborough Shield – was created, a substantial amount of money raised and legal action initiated. The local Wealden Council also claimed to oppose the idea although it was presumably involved with its inception. After an initial flurry of activity – also involving local MPs – the fight became more of a stand off.

Every Sunday a peaceful protest march has taken place in Crowborough: yesterday was the 11th such march. Starting from the camp entrance it wends its way through the town and residents have participated in all weathers with numbers reaching 4,000 on occasion.

Up to and including yesterday the official stance of the Home Office was that no final decision had been reached regarding the use of the camp. Throughout this period all the parties concerned with protesting the plan have fought to have open channels of communication with the Minister of State for border security and asylum Alex Norris who five days ago asserted:

Under Labour, immigration enforcement is at the highest levels.

Another assertion which feels like gaslighting. That aside, ongoing requests for regular updates, transparency and communication have broadly been met with the response ‘no decision made’ .

People in Crowborough are acutely aware that is not true. For weeks now workmen have been observed entering the site: high fencing has been erected around the perimeter and ongoing refurbishment of the living accommodation is taking place. Many weeks ago it was noted that a recruitment agency was advertising various posts on the site. In the last week food has been delivered to the site. Now signage denoting the various facilities – including medical centre and gym – has been placed on the buildings.

When a Government not only obfuscates but blatantly lies in this way it begs so many questions.

The Home Office is fully aware of all the reasons why this camp should not be used to house a large number of unemployed men of unknown backgrounds on the edge of a small town. It knows perfectly well that there is a high degree of opposition on numerous grounds of safety and appropriacy. It knows that the residents are bitterly opposed to the plan and have made their views clear via legal and other legitimate means.

This is the same Home Office – run by Shabana Mahmood – which was recently boasting of its commitment to enhancing the safety of women and girls. Really?

The decision belies all logic and common sense. The fact that representatives of the Home Office have lied throughout the last months only adds to the sense that we have a Government which has zero regard for the wishes of its citizens. It has certainly run roughshod over the concerns of the residents of Crowborough and has displayed a complete lack of care or responsibility for the safety and security of the residents of this town – or indeed any other where they have similar plans.

The Home Office’s conduct so far has been negligent and deceitful. It remains to be seen how it will react or what responsibility it will take should issues arise as a result of this action. On current assessment they will turn their backs, refer to the highly rewarded company which will run the camp and shrug their shoulders.

So no, we don’t trust this government and its Home Office.

In fact, as amply demonstrated in other scenarios, they have zero qualms about telling outright lies.

Madeleine Gillies is a Crowborough resident with a career in language teaching in the UK and abroad.