This tweet, from a member of SAGE, which advises the government on Covid, seems entirely appropriate:
Tories are apt to talk about the left ‘no platforming' the racists, bigots and fascists who now seek to promulgate their views when that is done (if at all) to prevent the deliberate destruction of society that would result in harm to many. Yet here they are, officially endorsing ‘no platforming' who might have the temerity to suggest that the government is wrong.
The arrival of the single party state draws ever closer.
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This is very bad, but also tells you that they know what they are doing OK? They know that they are hurting people, they know that they are being beastly radical themselves and they know that they are just a front for the rentier power base that wants to get its hands on state assets to create rents.
But we know – or we should – that they are stepping further into very dark place where to call this party and its MPs ‘human beings’ will be harder to justify. They are literally putting a noose around their own necks – the same process that happens whether you are a person of faith who likes to blow themselves up with others or who wants to go around murdering industrialists and bankers in the name of socialism. For these people the answer is at the end of a gun. I think that Tories are going the same way. There are extremists and hopefully they will meet the end of all extremists in the 20th century and this one.
So England will be joining the likes of Russia, China, and Scotland then?
Willie John
If you’re talking to me, then all I’m saying is that ALL extremists come to an end in some way – whether right wing or left wing.
Why? Because they go too far.
You’ve heard of the phrase ‘The pitchforks are coming’ have you not? There are a lot of people falling for this Government’s bullshit.
But there is in my experience a growing voice of dissatisfaction with them too. It’s only a matter of time.
We’ve seen how the Tories gridlocked parliament with the FTPA under May; we’ve seen Johnson shut down Parliament. That did not happen in China, Russia or anywhere else (except on Capitol Hill in the U.S earlier this year). It happened in England and at the mother of all Parliaments.
Whether by the gun or the vote, the Tories are making an enemy of their future. When they next fall, I just hope that we have statesman or woman who has the minerals to make them pay for the misery, profiteering, criminality and inhumanity they have inflicted upon on us this last nearly 12 years.
I’ve never seen anything like what we have had to endure except in history books!
Willy John, are you seriously asserting that Scotland is a One Party State comparable with Russia and China? If so, why haven’t significant numbers of people been “disappeared” in Scotland? It’s a routine give-away of a totalitarian state but, oddly, I don’t recall hearing of any cases of people disappearing in Scotland other than isolated cases of individuals simply going missing. Given the massive anti-Independence bias of almost all of the Scottish media, ever-keen to undermine the Scottish Government, they’d be all over a story like this if it were even vaguely rumoured.
Aside from that, how can you justify your assertion when Scotland has a PR electoral system, not just any old PR system, but one which is specifically designed to prevent any party gaining a majority, never mind a substantial majority, in Holyrood elections. The reason why the SNP has been in government in Scotland for the last 14 years is that it has been the party with the most votes in successive elections. The redistribution process inherent in the d’Hondt system inevitably results in coalitions, formal or informal, since any majority result is rare; so clearly not a one party state.
The world and its grannie knows that Scotland operates as a devolved nation within the UK, with the overwhelming majority of government powers reserved to Westminster, so are you seriously asserting that Scotland is a one party state without the powers to fully govern itself? If so, then surely that party could only be the English Conservative Party?
I’ve had the experience of living in a genuine one party state governed by a military junta and I can see no similarities with Scotland other than the fact that in Westminster FPTP elections, the Scottish electorate’s votes rarely ever count and, in many important matters, policies at odds with the Scottish majority’s views are forced on Scotland. Just think of Brexit, the Iraq War, the UK Internal Market Act etc. With the Conservatives having a massive majority, thanks to FPTP, they are in a position to railroad all or any of their idealogically-driven proposals. It’s not yet a one party state, but, as Richard states, it’s a step on the way.
You may not like the SNP, but it is currently the only party with the parliamentary authority to conduct the political negotiations that will be necessary before Scotland can extricate itself from the UK. Once independent and with a written Constitution in place, open PR elections will reflect the voting opinions of the electorate. In other words, not a one party state now or post-Indy.
One last point arising from my experiences in a genuine totalitarian state: unthinking use of the expression ‘One Party State’ does a great disservice to the unfortunate people who have no option but to live under a repressive totalitarian regime.
That is very, very worrying. Basically, unless you have certain views that agree with those in charge, you are the ‘enemy’ and will be silenced.
Holding those in charge to account is right and proper and has to be done for a country to remain a democracy. Silencing those who do it just shows how low this country is going.
Craig
Its funny isn’t it how sensitive to criticism so many on the right are? It’s also probably Johnson’s ego and the general peevishness and self pity that so many members of his pathetic cabinet exhibit.
So as well as being a pack of corrupt incompetent liars, they are also first class hypocrites.
It came even closer with the ousting of Corbyn and arrival of Starmer who is determined to out tory the tories. There wont be any media or establishment campaign to eject him.
“Out Tory the Tories”? Let’s keep a sense of proportion here. The only route to getting rid of the Tories is to get enough non-Tory MPs elected next time, and that means winning the votes of millions whose politico-economic notions are a long way from most of us who engage on this forum. We had our fantasy ride and hoped for a dream (me included) but it led up a blind alley. It’s time to move on and keep a clear line of sight on the real villains here; the worst government since the 1930s who have to be dislodged, whatever it takes.