Know Your Enemy

"Maybe Cameron didn't see the irony; perhaps he forgot about the army of waiting staff, cleaners, chefs and porters who were also present at the banquet. Perhaps he thought he was in a room of similarly rich people, who understood the necessity for austerity. Perhaps it didn't occur to him that this message might not be as easily comprehended by those who hadn't just enjoyed a four-course meal. Perhaps he forgot about those of us, disabled or unemployed or on the minimum wage, for whom austerity has had a catastrophic and wounding effect."

Ruth Hardy, who was working as a waitress at a state banquet for the new Lord Mayor, reacts to the speech David Cameron gave at the event, affirming the Tories' commitment to permanent austerity.