Breaking Britain (Completed)

Chapter 17

17
Saturday 5th January 2030
20:20

'Miss Anello, what do you say about Mr Granthom's comment with regards to the immigration issue we so clearly have'

'Well Mark, it's clearly obvious we do have an immigration problem which stems back to the turn of the millennium.....'

'And way before that', Percival interrupted.

'That, I could argue for days against. The problem we have, is of our own creation, Mark', she addressed the host, as a direct confrontation to Percival Granthom, knowing it would infuriate him, 'however, it is not an issue that cannot be rectified by further restrictions.....'

'The only way this can be rectified is by fast, direct and abrupt means'

This time she did address Percival, 'by abrupt means, are you referring to the violence that's spreading through our street. Is that what the New England Group stands for?'

'We take no direct responsibility for the people of England......the English people projecting their disgruntlement at the lack of employment, the cost of living, the reduction of benefits. This country is in peril and things need to change fast'

That statement received a chorus of claps from a crowd hidden in the shadows.

'These so called disgruntled people are committing crimes of a heinous kind under the name of the New England Group. In fact, of the five people arrested, all have been found to be members or associates.'

'But what about all the other crimes of violence. Could it be that the authorities are too busy trying to implicate the New England Group, rather than looking at the true English people who are telling the government that they've had enough'.

Maria was struggling, Percival Granthom seemed to have the audience wrapped around his finger and what was worse, if she hadn't been representing the Multi-cultural British Society, she may have been at home agreeing with everything he said.

Fortunately, Mark saw she was struggling and intervened.

'Mr Granthom, are you saying that you condone the violence that is plaguing our nation?'

'No, far from it. Violence is not the answer. The answer stands at number ten. However, in the past sixty years the government has done nothing to prevent this from happening.'

'How do you think this issue should be resolved?', Mark continued, although he wasn't sure if he was stepping into a mine field, by asking such an open question.

'I foresee that this problem, as you so delicately put it, will resolve itself. Over time, we will see a New England evolve'

'Miss Anello, what do you say to that?'

Maria took a sip of water, from the glass before her. There was very little of it left and her throat still felt dry.

'It is clear, from everything Mr Granthom has said, that he is exploiting the English people's vulnerability at this time. A time where the country is struggling financially and desperately trying to claw it's way out of recession.

'But let's not forget that many of these, so called ethnic minorities, that are being so viciously targeted, have been born in this country, have been brought up in this country, have contributed to the countries economy and are a fundamental part of our history and our presence. These people are also suffering from the economic struggles of this country and do not deserve to be treated this way'

Her speech brought a few claps from the audience and she imagined it was her personal assistant Anna Taylor and Carel James, who had instigated the applause.

'Were you born here, Miss Anello?', Percival asked, once the minimal applause had died down.

'I was', Maria answered honestly and with pride.

'Were your parents born here?'

She paused. Her mum had been born here, even though she was of Italian decent. However, her dad was born in Italy and moved over to marry her mother.

Instead of answering his question, she asked one of her own, attempting to suppress the anger of being backed into a corner and being attacked personally.

'Tell me, Mr Granthom, was your great, great grand father born in this country. In fact how many people living in this country, can guarantee that all their descendants were born in this country'

'And that's a crying shame', Percival responded, with a winning smile.