Esther McVey ridiculed as she lands 'common sense’ role: 'Parody government' | indy100

Related video: Esther McVey releases advert for 'staycation' episode of her podcast

Blue Collar Conversations

In a dramatic reshuffle from Rishi Sunak which saw a shock return to frontline politics for David Cameron, GB News host Esther McVey has returned to cabinet in a role dubbed the “minister for common sense”.

Considered an appeal to the right of the Conservative Party after the sacking of Suella Braverman as home secretary, McVey’s brief is understood to relate to tackling “wokery”.

A Whitehall source is quoted by The Sun as saying McVey will be “leading the charge on the government’s anti-woke agenda, streamlining as a minister attending the cabinet”.

‘Woke’ officially means to be ‘alert to injustice in society’, but has been adopted by hard-right to belittle social justice causes - according to Braverman, the “wokerati” enjoy eating tofu.

It’s possible the role will see McVey further fan the flames of a culture war on trans rights, considering what Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester last month.

In remarks which sparked fury online, he told attendees: “We shouldn’t get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be. They can’t.

“A man is a man and a woman is a woman, that’s just common sense.”

As for McVey, past displays of “common sense” from the former work and pensions secretary include not knowing where foreign aid is being spent (“erm… it’s in… one of the continents… abroad”), joining a campaign about “cancelling cancel culture”, breaching Ofcom impartiality rules and incorrectly claiming a painting targeted by Just Stop Oil activists depicted the suffragettes.

We’re in good hands, then…

Users on Twitter/X have been left incredulous, with many ridiculing McVey by resharing her awkward “staycation” advert:

If Esther McVey is the \u201cMinister for Common Sense\u201d, does that mean no other Minister in this Cabinet has any common sense? Sounds about right to me then. Wonder what\u2019s next - Minister for the Bloody Obvious?
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After Esther McVey\u2019s appointment as Minister of Common Sense, I am pleased to announce I have been appointed as Minister of Itchy Things.\nAlthough not a cabinet post, I am honoured!\nI hope to instigate policies on gusset hygiene, fungal toe infections & conker spots very soon.\n\ud83d\udc4d
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Esther McVey on her way to bring common sense back to government
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Oh Sweet Mother. This isn\u2019t a joke. Esther McVey is appointed minister for 'common sense' by Rishi Sunak. Does he have any realisation of the laughing stock he is creating for UK Diplomatic Standing around the world, with this \u201cministerial posting\u201d? The answer is No. He does not.
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Never in my life did I imagine the UK (or any country) would get a Minister for Common Sense and even less that it would be Esther McVey \ud83e\udd23
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Is this a parody government? \n\nInstalling Esther McVey as "Minister of Common Sense". Seriously?
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So Esther McVey is Minister for Common Sense.\n\nCommon sense, like not watching pornography in the commons.\n\nCommon sense like not suggesting blowing a hairdryer up your nose to cure covid.\n\nOr the common sense not to have dozens of parties DURING A PANDEMIC.\n\nThat common sense?
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Surely this is Sunak parody.. \n\nEsther McVey will attend cabinet. She'll represent Sunak to speak about what he sees as "common sense" on all gender, culture & British colonial history issues. \n\n30p Lee & McVey...& GB News\n\nMaybe Ofcom needs a seat at Cabinet too?\n\n#Reshuffle
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Esther McVey as minister for common sense. Has Rishi Sunak ever met her?
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Even fellow GB News contributor Jacob Rees-Mogg wasn’t convinced, telling Channel 4 News the role is “tokenistic”.

“What is a tsar for ‘wokedom’? What does it mean?

“I don’t believe in tokenistic phrases for government posts. I think we should have proper titles like home secretary and foreign secretary and things of that kind,” the former minister for Brexit opportunities said.

Elsewhere in Sunak’s reshuffle, James Cleverly moved from foreign secretary to home secretary, Steve Barclay was demoted from health secretary to environment secretary (replaced by Victoria Atkins) and Richard Holden replaced Greg Hands as party chairman.

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