The Independent reports this morning that:
Campaigners, journalists and academics from around the world are being refused permission to enter the UK to speak at conferences and events, including debates at the House of Commons.
A spate of visa denials in recent months has prevented academics from giving lectures on human rights, while tax justice campaigners have been blocked from speaking at the Houses of Parliament.
As the report continues:
Campaigners, journalists and academics from around the world are being refused permission to enter the UK to speak at conferences and events, including debates at the House of Commons.
The problem was highlighted this month when the tax justice campaigner Reverend Suzanne Matale, a respected activist from Zambia, was forced to cancel her appearance at a meeting organised by Christian Aid in the House of Commons after struggling to secure a visa.
What I would like to know is what is so wrong with asking that corporations pay the right amount of tax in the right place, at the right rate and at the right time that these people cannot be allowed access to the UK?
It's a serious question.
It needs a serious answer.
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It’s the same with wrongdoing by the police; by the time it’s uncovered those responsible are dead or retired. At least we can give those who are retired a very uncomfortable old age by trashing their reputations.
If this is indeed the case, then the polity of this country has sunk to a new low.
What this illustrates, Richard, is the extent to which corporate power and influence is now being given free reign in government.
As we’ve discussed on this blog many times over the years, this has been an ongoing but ever expanding process for decades. But under the previous government we saw almost all balancing mechanisms removed, and under the current government they’ve been stripped away completely. The result is a government that operates entirely in the interests of big business (of all varieties) and the 1%.
Interestingly, it also shows that the government’s infatuation with the Chinese government has a far darker side than trade and economic development. I don’t think anyone should be under any illusion that many in this government and their puppet masters/paymasters in big business and the 1% would much prefer if we lived in a one party state. But for historic reasons they have to continue to go along with the routine of elections and maintaining the myth that we live in a representative democracy.
But beyond that its been apparent to anyone who pays attention that all that can be done to implement a one party state is being done – its just done in a more subtle (hegemonic) way than in China – for now, at least. The exercise of the exclusion of dissenting voices through the visa process is simply a new example (and one that’s actually very close to what goes on in China) but signals the degree to which those of a dictatorial bent hold sway in the corridors of power.
Consequently, nobody should be under any illusion that we are locked into an ongoing process that is leading us to the inevitable end point of a corporately controlled “democratic” dictatorship. And lets make no bones about it, under this government, by 2020, that process will be all but complete.
Agreed
Which is why I don’t think Dave thinks he needs to go on beyond then
It certainly does need a serious answer and any serious answer, whilst being based on rationality, will have to incorporate the irrationality of humans and groups of humans.
Just thinking out loud one is moved to observe that all religious zealots have strictures against blasphemy and it would be unreasonable to presume that the adherents of the fantasy theology of neo liberalism are an exception in this regard. As the late Clive Dunn often observed ” they don’t like it up ’em.
This is yet a further example of the British establishment’s inherent mardyness. They cannot abide being challenged. In the current induced climate this example represents yet one further incremental step of the kind which the late Milton Meyer observed in his home country earlier last century.
There exists a catalogue of abuse of power as Malcolm James alludes to above. From the long history of deaths in custody through to the infiltration of civil groups which challenge the status quo and the subversion of political parties like New Labour and the Orange Book Lib Dems.
At present those who challenge the stifling orthodoxy still retain the label of dissenters. You can not only see and hear this slowly,gradually and incrementally changing you can almost smell it. The juxtaposition of dissent and challenge to the orthodoxy with T words like traitor and terrorist is already present BTL and in social media and can already be witnessed on occassion amongst some of the more outspoken outliers in certain political and business circles.
A few years back now the satirical TV show Have I Got News For You got around the ban on entry into the country of a security service whistleblower they had invited onto the show by placing a TV screen with a live link to the guest next to Paul Merton. If people who challenge the nonsense which is going on cannot get into the country to speak and contribute to events and seminars etc this may be one option worth considering.
Oopps….sorry guys, the links went down.
And anyway, I think you underestimate the extent of the media control already in place. And with more to come.
The 2020 elections are not that far away, and there is doubt that the major labour financers will be allowed to fund the party for much longer.
Just look at the hysterical anti-Corbyn propaganda in practically every newspaper, and broadcaster.
The last attempt to regulate [out of existence] union social media presence has (for the moment) been shelved.
But I doubt it has gone far.
Worldwide, we are seeing the end of what little democracy there was. No doubt we will still be able, or even required, to vote. But for a party, or parties, to which freedom means the right to extract money from the majority to fund the egos of the minority.
It’s inconceivable that overseas academics and campaigners are being denied visas on political grounds.
that sort of thing would make Britain one of *those* countries.
it goes along with the increasing Orwellian responses of Government to any report identifying problems with society or public services. Everything is always rosy no matter the evidence to the contrary. Why the msm do not call them out on this is a very good question With rare exceptions, such as this report in the Independent, nothing is challenged.
its not just these people, visas are being denied for professionals as well – i think i read that even bankers cant get visas albeit the business secretary has told them he will sort it out.
the visa position in the UK is rather a mess at the moment, presumably because of the committment made to the net immigration target
So, the treatment is different then