My back is killing me but I’ve got to say something. I’m angry. This isn’t a matter of left or right. It isn’t a matter of past bad behaviour by the Tory party. Old things like Official Secrets Act prosecutions for documents leaked in the public interest or industrial action by unions - wrongs do not justify other wrongs. This is about now. If you don’t defend the rights of people you disagree with ultimately you’re weakening your own position, because, chances are, there are, or will be, people who disagree with you. Damian Green has been part of a series of embarrassing leaks on government immigration issues. As an MP it is his job to hold government to account.
In my opinion his leaks have encouraged casual racism, and aided those who have remarketed themselves as an anti-immigration party. But – regardless of whether I agree with him, I think the police actions, presumable MPSB, were extremely heavy handed, and signify the steady aggregation of laws that could be used to stifle democracy and freedom of speech. From the police arresting teenagers for holding signs with the world ‘cult’ on them, to routinely detaining protesters under anti-terror legislation, to local councils spying on residents because of secret allegations, to casual photographers being told they can’t photograph freely, to prohibition of protest within areas that may cause offence to elected officials, to detention without charge, to the constant drip-drip of scare stories telling us how afraid we should be, to identity cards ripe for official abuse and spying, to hassling journalists at protests, to proposed databases of your web browsing and email history.
At what point do people of all political stripes speak up? Is it really OK for those who are left leaning to justify this because it’s a Tory?
Apparently Boris Johnson and Michael Martin knew about this before the Home Secretary.
Amazing…
I’m left leaning/apolitical/probably a wimpy lib-dem voter – but I think I’d like to be someone who speaks out rather than stays quiet. I sodding hate politics; but I keep getting forced into saying something, because, morally speaking, I think it is right to do so. You’re welcome to deal with your own conscience.
