Woodpiles, woodpiles everywhere, but not a place to hide, is how we expect Newton Abbot’s disgraced, racist and suspended Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris is riffing on Coleridge as she surveys the detritus of her career and reponsibility to her constituents.

In an article to prove that she’s standing tall in the face of her disgraceful language, she bemoans the increase in fly-tipping in Devon.

The cut ‘n’ paste article is high on info but low on context. We suspect Anne Marie has long had a problem with cause and effect.

“As the cost of disposing of household rubbish and waste increases, so does the number of individuals and businesses that fly-tip,” says Wikipedia.

The increase in fly-tipping in Devon was predicted a long time ago when the Conservative Party cut money to local authorities, council-run recycling centres started to charge, and household garden waste carried an annual fee.

All these are conspicuous by their absence from Anne Marie’s assessment. Yet another issue that she hasn’t fully grasped! Or is it another case of Anne Marie Morris’ mendacious attitude to the public – if you don’t admit it, it didn’t happen.

(But then when the electors of Newton Abbot return her to office, it’s clear that more than a few people haven’t been paying attention.)

So, Conservative policies have increased the issue of fly-tipping. In the same way, Conservatives are aware that their policies lead to increased homelessness.

They moan about the result of their actions, but refuse to see the behaviour that led to it. A bit like the support Anne Marie gets for her use of racist language.

We all make mistakes, people. The problems is when we refuse to address them when they’re pointed out.

Anne Marie Morris is quick to complain about fly-tipping, but doesn’t see the route this issue has taken. Her ‘supporters’ are quick to back her use of language, but have refused to see issues around the use of that sort of language.

So what starts off as a mistake is now compounded and from the slip of an ignorant tongue, we now have a group of people who look to be unrepentant racists.

Fly-tipping sounds uncontentious – nobody wants rubbish where there shouldn’t be any. But by demonstrating her lack of knowledge, thought and complicity, Anne Marie Morris hasn’t found an issue in which to hide.

PS If anyone wants to see how arrogant thoughtlessness can quickly grow to highlight the potential of inherent racism, then take a look at Season 2 of Degrassi: The Next Class (available on NetFlix), keeping an eye on Frankie’s travails.

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