1) Attempted to calm myself down. It hasn’t worked. More thought I give this the angrier I am. A few tweets about economic and social inequality and how gov announcement makes clear there is a class divide in who government response protects:

2) it was inevitable after years of poor pay deals that many key workers amongst lowest paid. This meant necessarily that some of the least well off were on the frontline (care staff, bin operatives as well as retail workers outside public sector):wasn’t good, but understandable.

3) Whilst gov were rightly bringing forward plans 2 protect businesses as priority, they were failing 2 protect these low paid key workers due to chronic PPE shortages. This increased risk to the already exposed low paid whilst many in white collar roles could work safely at home

4) Much written about the death toll in our BAME communities, a disproportionate number of whom do great work in these low paid roles. It’s right that’s investigated but it’s increasingly clear to me relative wealth is the issue here and underpins how safe gov policy makes you

5) that’s why tonight’s move has annoyed me so much. When low paid workers had to be at work 2 help with response I could be uncomfortable but understanding. Now manufacturing & construction sent back to work: non-essential work but guess what? Low paid sectors. Notice the trend?

Feels very much 2 me that all gov focus in crisis response tilted to middle class & wealth producers. Safety of working class low paid workers has been sidelined; and exacerbated by gov mistakes. Never let anyone tell you that poverty and inequality don’t dictate how safe you are

End of thread - just my thoughts on social class and COVID and how inequality drives everything even at times of national crisis. @The_TUC @neilsmithgmb @UnitePolitics @GMB_union @NorthWestUNISON and others will do work to fight this, we all must support them for a fairer society