Security Minister Tom Tugendhat was heckled about arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia when he visited the famously anti-Tory city of Coventry yesterday.
Local mother and Christian campaigner Angela Ditchfield was forcibly removed from the building after accusing the UK government of “starving children in the UK and in Palestine”.
Tugendhat responded to the woman in front of him by telling her that she should not be protesting on International Women’s Day. He then spoke about Hamas’ rape and murder of Israeli women, implying that Angela Ditchfield supports Hamas. She does not.
She wished him, “Happy International Women’s Day” before challenging him about women burying their own children in Gaza. He did not respond.
Tugendhat was there to speak about community cohesion – a bizarre subject from a government that is continuously stirring up division. Tugendhat’s Tories have worked relentlessly over their 14 years in government to dismantle the public services and welfare state that are so vital for keeping society together.
As Security Minister, Tugendhat shares responsibility for the UK government’s militaristic policies as well as their repeated attempts to use issues of security to suppress rights to peaceful protest.
Last November, Tugendhat claimed untruthfully that anti-war campaigners were planning to protest near the Cenotaph on Armistice Day. Along with similar comments from other ministers, he stirred up an atmosphere that saw far-right activists turn up to “protect the Cenotaph” and fight with police. In reality, the anti-war march started in a different part of central London several hours later. So much for community cohesion.
Shortly before she stood up to challenge the minister, Angela sent me a message about her reasons for doing so. Her own words express her pain and sadness over the impact of the government’s policies.
This is what Angela said:
This week, we have gathered to hear the minister talk about how to build community cohesion and resilience – a very important topic.
We’ve seen senior Conservative and Labour politicians agree about many policies recently. Can we celebrate that unity?
Ministers have agreed to keep selling weapons to a regime ripping apart every aspect of social fabric in Palestine.
The UK continues to sell weapons to Israel as it bombs churches, mosques, hospitals, schools, universities and whole neighbourhoods full of homes. And now starving people going to an aid truck.
Both parties have agreed to leave poor children hungry in the UK, and cut funding to those feeding starving children in Gaza.
If we want cohesion and security, we must reinstate funding to the UN in Palestine, and also feed children here.
Tom’s statement celebrates food banks and warm spaces run by churches – as though it’s ok that old people cannot afford to heat their homes and eat, due to government refusal to invest in house insulation and renewable energy.
Still, at least our elderly are not being bombed or seeing their grandchildren massacred.
The government must stop selling weapons to Israel and push for an immediate ceasefire.
And not just a ceasefire.
If we want security and community, we must call for an end to apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
We must call for a release of the hostages and political prisoners on both sides.
There is a stitch-up of UK democracy between the two main parties. Most of us live in places where our vote doesn’t count, and the MPs supposed to represent us have been told to ignore us if we don’t like genocide or extinction.
Community cohesion has to include talking about refugees and other migrants as human beings, with respect and compassion.
It has to include not demonising anyone who cares about a genocide in Palestine, or about the potential extinction of the human race.
It has to include not stirring up hate against Muslims.
And if we want security for the UK, we need to stop trying to bomb the rest of the world into submission – we must stop bombing Yemen.
We must stop supporting the apartheid regime that is Israel, and call for peace and justice for all in the Holy Land.
Symon Hill 
Ironic that Tugendhat told Angela that she shouldn’t be protesting on International Women’s Day when women’s rights have been achieved by struggle and protest. Well done Angela for using her democratic right to protest to raise the issue of arms sales to Israel and the starvation of children in the U.K. and Palestine.