https://inews.co.uk/opinion/priti-patel-anti-protest-powers-stuffed-policing-bill-1316830
I’m not sure whether to be angry, terrified, or both. There’s a long history of bikes in protest movements - and imagine trying a mass trespass with these laws in place. I’m not sure that under them I’d even be allowed to write half the grumpy stuff I currently do.
Not really sure where to begin with this, but that prepper thread might come in handy.
Now we know why the repeal of human rights legislation is at the top of the changes necessary to reach the sunlit uplands.
I'm going long on piano wire and guillotine supplies.
You've only to have a conversation with someone in favour of Capital Punishment, bottom line, it'll never happen to me just 'bad people'.
England is a lost cause IMO, for a generation at least, but luckily I live in Scotland and we've an 'opt-out'.
She’s done it very quietly. Away from prying eyes, in the parts of parliament which journalists don’t pay much attention to, Priti Patel has effectively criminalised the act of protest. The Government waited until the final stages of a bill’s legislative process and then suddenly proposed a series of amendments, leaving reporters and human rights groups very little time to raise the alarm.
The really weird thing about the article is that it appears to be in complete denial of the existence of opposition politicians in the UK.
Never mind about the "prying eyes" of journalists, what about the "prying eyes" of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition?
It talks about reporters and human rights groups having very little time to raise the alarm but no mention of the Leader of the Opposition who is actually paid an extra £65k a year on top of his already generous salary precisely because he has the responsibility to provide effective opposition.
The author even thinks that opposition should come from the Tory backbenches ffs :
At the time, the so-called libertarians on the Tory benches voted with the Government. Figures like Philip Davies, David Davis and Steve Baker, who had spent the preceding months warning of the tyranny of anti-Covid measures, were suddenly silent when it came to an assault on protest. Instead, they waved away concerns, saying that the more alarming aspects of the bill could be addressed later in committee stage – the part of a bill’s life when it is supposed to be combed over by parliamentarians.
What an unbelievably depressing situation to be in when the UK is no longer expected to have a vocal political opposition.
I can't imagine that Jeremy Corbyn, for all his failings and there were many, would be silent on the issue were he still leader.
No wonder the right-wing press, and their cronies in the Parliamentary Labour Party, are so satisfied with Starmer, and his "leadership" remains unchallenged.
That does make troubling reading.
Apart from writing to my MP, how do I protest this?
"How do I protest this?"
By spending a year in wormwood scrubs, while the right wing press tells everyone you're scum for daring to disagree with our great leaders.
“How do I protest this?”
Protesting will be banned, so you can't. 😆
So we'll be allowed to protest, but only as long as nobody notices that we're protesting?
I wonder how long before voicing dissent in obscure MTB forums on the web becomes evidence of our transgressions and we are sent for reprogramming.
It needs a Poll Tax scenario to get them to realise we won't stand for it.
we are sent for reprogramming
Given the British government’s record on software upgrades that's terrifying
we are sent for reprogramming
Given the British government’s record on software upgrades that’s terrifying
@Richie_B lols.
@Matt_outandabout I'm not sure! It feels like there are lots of interest groups that are individually angry about different issues but that they're in silos that aren't overlapping to create a critical mass of dissent. Perhaps it needs a wild swimming-surfing-mountain biking-anti-sleaze-eco campaigning-BLM-libertarian-refugee-affordable housing campaigner-influencer to wrap all the strands together. Where's Bob Geldof when you need him?
Just spotted this list of things to mention if you writ to your MP to object: https://twitter.com/quakerdissent/status/1469982015168655366?s=21
Not that it would help with my local MP, but for some others it might 🤷♀️
Remember to send it anonymously 😉 You don't want your name on the list.
I’m not sure whether to be angry, terrified, or both.
Maybe it's just because it's been a long year and it's Monday, but how about depressed?
Look on the bright side. We'll be one step closer to being apply to apply for political asylum in the EU or Scotland.
Still claiming this isn't a particularly right wing government Ernie?
Of course it's all Insulate Britain's fault and was in no way pre-planned and written long before a scapegoat was found. Oh, no.
intheborders
Free MemberEngland is a lost cause IMO, for a generation at least, but luckily I live in Scotland and we’ve an ‘opt-out’.
No chance, Scotland is just another county in England now!
Johnson want to appear like an influential leader from the WWII era and he's managing it.
It's just that he and I are thinking of different leaders.
Johnson want to appear like an influential leader from the WWII era and he’s managing it.
Stimmt. Das vierte Reich.
Still claiming this isn’t a particularly right wing government Ernie?
Well I still agree with political commentators right across the political spectrum, Guardian, Independent, FT, Telegraph, Daily Mail, etc, that the present Tory government has swung to the left on economic matters. I'm assuming that you still don't.
Remember to send it anonymously 😉 You don’t want your name on the list.
Good idea Pike!
Look on the bright side. We’ll be one step closer to being able to apply for political asylum in the EU or Scotland.
That's a genuinely interesting point.
And presumably, laws like this would be a barrier to reentry to the EU?
that the present Tory government has swung to the left on economic matters
And non-economic matters?
the present Tory government has swung to the left on economic matters. I’m assuming that you still don’t.
Against traditionally Tory economic positions, yes, massively so - I've never tried to claim otherwise. But we aren't talking about economics here are we.
These kinds of measures are putting us more on a par with people like Victor Orban than any mainstream European country.
And non-economic matters?
Well I've made my views on that clear too. I have repeatedly said that on human rights and democracy I wouldn't trust Johnson further than I could throw him. So no, on human rights and democracy I wouldn't say that he has taken the party to the left, although partly at least I reckon it is to appease the right-wing Thatcherite wing of the party which is deeply unhappy about economic direction. And partly because he doesn't give a **** about human rights and democracy.
'Wouldn't say he has taken the party to the left' (on human rights/democracy) is the mealy-mouthed understatement/diversion of the century.
You'd rather harp on about illiberal things Blair did 20 years ago than criticise the current government. Bizarre.
Anyway, apologies for the diversion, as you were.
You’d rather harp on about illiberal things Blair did 20 years ago than criticise the current government. Bizarre.
Eh? Wtf are you talking about? I constantly criticise right-wing policies. Including Tory government policies. Does my comment on this thread 2 weeks ago suggest that I'm okay with the Police and Crime Bill? Have you seen my comments about the Nationality and Borders Bill?
Mealy mouthed?? I've never been accused of that before! Have you lost the plot or have you got the hump about something?
And yes I have been very critical of Blair, I make no apologies for that. I don't think I have ever accused him of being "illiberal" as you suggest though. Apart from boasting that under his premiership the UK would still have the most restrictive employment laws in the Western World perhaps. And there was nothing liberal about starting illegal wars based on lies of course.