THE concept of “divide and rule” has been a tried and tested conservative technique, stretching back to the days of formal empire when colonial powers would pit indigenous groups against each other as part of their brutal, extractive regimes.

In recent weeks, we have seen our Tory government engage in multiple examples of this brutal tool of governance.

The first is the government’s farcical public-sector pay increase, which claimed to be “in recognition of their help in tackling Covid-19.”

Yet not only is the paltry pay rise insufficient to make up for years of below inflation real-terms pay freezes, but it neglects to include the NHS workers who have put their wellbeing on the line to keep our society going in recent months.

The dedication, selflessness and bravery of health workers have carried us through the coronavirus crisis. Tragically, more than 500 NHS and care workers have died after exposure to Covid-19, amid a shameful failure to provide them with adequate personal protective equipment.

Any reasonable government would ensure that those who have contributed most to our national effort receive fair compensation for their heroic efforts. Yet sadly, we do not have a reasonable government.

Understandably, this has provoked mass outrage. Saturday saw a national day of protest in which health workers came together and called on the government to recognise their immense contribution to our society. All power and solidarity to those fighting for these basic workplace rights.

These divide and rule tactics are straight out of the Conservative playbook, and we must oppose these attempts to pit sections of the working class against each other.

Another example of this destructive strategy is the government’s attempt to distract from their many failures by blaming marginalised groups.

This was demonstrated by a media storm over the weekend, which saw an appalling cycle of demonisation against migrants and asylum-seekers.

What began as a hate-filled tweet from Nigel Farage quickly became a headline media talking point, with government ministers piling in to portray the arrival of a handful of desperate people as the source of our fraying society.

This is depressingly familiar. A large part of the conservatives’ “success” over the last decade in widening inequality and slashing our public safety net has come through scapegoating migrants — from arbitrary net migration targets to the Windrush scandal.

It is ludicrous to suggest that a small number of vulnerable migrants pose a threat to our security, economy or social life — yet this divisive idea is peddled as a convenient distraction by the same people who are responsible for the huge upward transfer of wealth in recent years.

We on the left must be clear — attacks on the working class come from the billionaire class who stash their wealth in tax havens, not those fleeing persecution and poverty. Those making the perilous journey across the channel are often arriving from countries where the UK has contributed to their disruption — either by arming current conflicts or through the enduring legacy of colonialism.

Sadly, the government’s divide and rule tactics extend to their attempt to distract from the appalling handling of the coronavirus crisis.

For instance, it was outrageous and unacceptable for the government to announce such sweeping changes to social distancing measures on social media at such short notice before one of the largest religious celebrations in the Muslim calendar.

It would be unimaginable for the government to make a similar announcement on December 24 to prohibit people at the last possible moment from celebrating Christmas. Yet this was deemed an acceptable way to treat our Muslim community.

I was also shocked and appalled by the despicable, racist comments made by Craig Whittaker MP, who sought to blame Muslims and migrants for the recent extension of lockdown measures.

By failing to condemn Whittaker, the Prime Minister — who has a long history of racist comments — once again demonstrated his personal tolerance for divisiveness. The government should be ashamed at such inflammatory attempts to deflect from its own failures.

When people like Whittaker or members of the right-wing press punch downwards, they let the powerful and those responsible off the hook. At every step in this crisis — from lockdown delay, equipment shortages, care home neglect, testing delays, insufficient data and much more — the government has failed to adequately protect our communities. That’s why we have the most excess deaths of any European country.

We on the left cannot allow this government to pit sections of the working class against each other, or to create scapegoats for their disastrous handling of this pandemic.

It has never been more important for our communities to come together and unite. We must oppose any attempt to divide us up based on nationality, religion or ethnicity. Because by standing together, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish.

Claudia Webbe MP is the Member of Parliament for Leicester East. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/claudiaforLE and @ClaudiaWebbe.