“Suella Braverman’s Wrong“ - Marsh Family adaptation of The Wellerman & Drunken Sailor sea shanties

Here, at last, more than a year on, is the final song in the Braverman sea-shanty trilogy. We’ve finally been moved to create it this week, in response to an appalling speech that the Home Secretary travelled to the US to deliver on Wednesday, in which she attacked the longstanding UN’s Refugee Convention (one of the great waypoints in the international protection of human rights) and declared – among a raft of dubious stats and deflective statements – that “multiculturalism has failed” and that “simply being gay, or a woman” should not be enough to gain protection under international refugee laws (which, for UK asylum, it isn’t anyway). As with so many of her statements, the language was deliberately inflammatory, and the real intent was to achieve headlines and bolster her popularity with a vocal and influential minority of her party and the country – warning of “an existential challenge…for the West” and foreigners “undermining the stability and threatening the security of society.” Lots more to say, but we’ve crammed as much as we can into two minutes, and you can find more about the speech and its reception here: _______________________ Huge thanks for the support of our amazing Patreons Do join us on Patreon if you fancy it, if you enjoy what we do and want to see behind the scenes and help us to keep things ticking along: - You can also leave a tip at our virtual tip jar at: - __________ LYRICS: There once was a weak Home Secretary Who failed to deliver on policy The courts fouled up, our police ground down Migration out of control She agreed to leave these shores But (sadly) just for a speech abroad She captivated the media horde She’d blow dog-whistles blow Suella Braverman’s wrong. She brings us policies cruel and dumb Each day spending government funds, She’s sinking to new lows Before a single word was uttered To a handful of right-wing think tank nutters Her speech was shared – ran through the gutters Like sewage it would flow With bogus stats, she’d have us heed A whole new Enoch Powell screed The UN framework once agreed For refugees must go! Suella’s now become An international embarrassment Fast driving, hit-and-run She plays on fears for votes What should we do with the claims, Suella? Who do you think we should blame, Suella? What should we do with the gays, Suella? Listen to the warnings Put them on a plane out to Rwanda Put them in the news for propaganda Put them on a barge with Legionella While the backlog’s soaring Hate-making: up she rises! Race-baiting: up she rises! Law-breaking: up she rises! Always she’s performing! You’ll see today, off Portland’s shore A prison hulk like days of yore And all because she needs this war To help her profile grow We thought you said you’d “Stop the Boats” Not launch a fleet of flats-on-floats And spew out crass divisive quotes Just pack up now and go Suella Braverman’s come To fan a fire of racism One day, when this government’s done She’ll take her leave and go __________ SPECIAL THANKS to our SUPER-SUPPORTIVE HOWLERS on Patreon: Andy Riches Carol Leff Cliff Hope Dave Lee David Patrao David Ryan Derrick Brown Douglas Lind Geeta & Karen Jim the Magician Grandad Lew Meredith Dicks Michael & Emily Guadagno Mike Smith Simon Haslam Todd _________________