Authoritarian and incompetent
‘I pass protesters every day at Downing Street, and believe me, you name it, they protest against it. I may not like what they call me but I thank God they can. That's called freedom’
Tony Blair, April 2002
Tony Blair doesn't have to pass protesters outside Parliament now, and probably thanks God for that liberty. So what's that called?
Authoritarian.
New security powers granted the authorities seem to be being used for all manner things their framers did not intend. Now peaceful protests outside Parliament are being prevented by anti-terror laws.
Just last week, the controversial new security powers intended to protect Parliament were used to prosecute a peace campaigner, Maya Anne Evans, who became the first person to be prosecuted under the law, which bans unauthorised demonstrations within half a mile of Parliament.
Her crime? Standing at the Cenotaph and reciting the 97 names of Britain's Iraq war dead.
Meanwhile the protester this law was meant to remove, Brian Haw, who’s been squatting in Parliament Square for years, has been allowed to carry on with his protest by the courts, because it predates the new legislation.
Like a bad marksman, this government keeps missing the target...
Welcome to Blair's Britain: it's authoritarian and incompetent.
Meanwhile the protester this law was meant to remove, Brian Haw, who’s been squatting in Parliament Square for years, has been allowed to carry on with his protest by the courts, because it predates the new legislation.
Like a bad marksman, this government keeps missing the target...
Welcome to Blair's Britain: it's authoritarian and incompetent.
posted by James Hellyer at 7:21 AM
3 Comments:
I'm glad you linked to the Independent's article because I felt it was one of the strongest they've published in years (for those that don't have it, the paper gave weighty space to various peace campaigners, several of whom were former services men in the 40s and 50s, and their treatment by this government).
As you say, this government does keep missing its target. Protest is not a bad thing - if it's bad protest it can be argued against and contained. To have to rely on the courts and police to remove protesting elements only gives the appearance of some validity to their causes.
They really need to start hitting their targets because if they don't there are two parties in the wings that are increasingly capable of stepping up to meet the challenges of government.
Yes, but surely 'authoritarian and incompetent' is much better than 'authoritarian and really, scarily, efficiently competent'?
At least for us poor proles.
Its only a matter of time before authoritarian and incompetent turns into 'authoritarian and really, scarily, efficiently competent' Better to stop before we get there dont you think?
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