Upcoming censorship law changes in the UK
Upcoming censorship law changes in the UK
And the blatant bias of Ministers making the changes
Synopsis
Truly sinister what is happening in the UK to smother free speech - despite the pro-Israeli lobby being transparent and the conflict of interest by responsible ministers being laid bare.
The Emperor has no clothes and nobody seems to give a shit (according to the majority of UK Media) …. see below some of the stuff going on/personalities behind it.
Updated: 5th April - 2 weeks after writing
Contents
Proposed Changes
The UK Government is proposing to change the definition of extremism… actually a broader set of changes with significant impact.
People aren’t stupid - it is 100% to shut down protests for humanity - pro-Palestinian.
I predict you would see a few specific attacks on democracy with these changes.
Banning “undesirable” groups and getting around the legals
New category of action where the groups activities aren’t illegal - the government just doesn’t like them. Rather than legal action - the Government will remove any funding or grants (and prob any NFP status) and refuse any contact with Government Ministers. That’s as good as banning, weaseling around legal accountability.
🪧📢🇵🇸 Shutting down pro-Palestinian rallies
Listening for particular chants at rallies and then shutting them down (forcibly at first until people get the message).
What is of course likely to be banned:
“from the river to the sea Palestine will be free” (calling from same freedoms for Jewish people and Arabs in the geographic area - eg end to apartheid resulting in the mistreatment)
“resistance is justified when Palestine is occcupied” (resistance is protected under international law with Israel’s blockade of Gaza whether or not physically on the land still occupation again under international law definition)
We simply cannot let this happen and with the Government and the opposition colluding to push through vested interests. As one example we saw recently with the speaker’s appalling interference in the ceasefire vote, breaking all Westminster precedent so Labour wouldn’t have to vote. Never mind the heavy funding by pro-Israeli lobbies - quid pro quo.
British MPs - conflicts of Interest
Just picking a few:
The Speaker
Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle who interfered directly in the ceasefire vote as an unprecedented act breaking Parliamentary tradition. His father MP Doug Hoyle founded Labour Friends of Israel - clearly antisemitism for him is “criticism of Israel”. 3
The Minister of State for Security
Minister of State for Security, MP Tom Tugendhat currently reviewing counter-terrorism laws is a strong Israel supporter. A conflict of interest to say the least. 4 Jan 2017 writing in the Spectator against UN Security Council resolution 2334 outlawing Israel’s settlement building on the West Bank.4
Tom Tugendhat UK Minister of State for Security writing in the Spectator Jan 2017 - “the UN resolution was a mistake … Britain was wrong to back the UN’s anti-Israel resolution”
Keir Starmer Leader of the Labour Party
What can you say? Thoroughly hedged bet.5
Voices of Protest
There have been multiple high profile voices speaking out against the proposed reforms - understanding full well what it might mean, not just silencing Palestinian voices but others in future.
The Clergy - the most senior religious leaders in the country
As a Christian country - the leaders of the Anglican Church have come out and strongly criticised the legislation - which really says something never mind the humanitarian groups protesting the ridiculous Draconian measures.6
Politicians and eminent figures
In an open letter to the Guardian multiple high profile public figures have spoken to against the reforms7 including:
Former Ministers - 3 conservative home secretaries (Priti Patel, Sajid Javid and Amber Rudd)
Former Head of Counter-terrorism policing Neal Head
Founder of Survivors against Terror - an organisation campaigning AGAINST extremist groups - founded by Brendan Cox widower of Jo Cox MP
Former Chief of General Staff Richard Dannatt
Social Justice NGOs
Nearly 46 Social Justice NGOs have also signed an open letter against the reforms8 - including:
Amnesty International
Oxfam
Greenpeace UK
Liberty
Conclusion
With the high profile voices of dissent speaking out and the blatant bias in proposing reforms to shut down inconvenient protests - we cannot let this happen.
Epilogue: A Whistleblower
I had written this article mid-March whilst visiting the UK from Australia, noticing the atmosphere of nervousness with the impending changes at a few Palestinian rallies I attended.
The bias I’d outlined above was then so blatantly obvious but nobody calls out the Elephant in the Room.
Until now.
The trigger was the deaths of the World Central Kitchen NGO aid workers9.
The deaths of some actual white people, enough to trigger the world into sitting up, to trigger the UAE to finally place restrictions despite the deaths to date of fellow Arabs - only when a western non-combatant harmed is that enough to step in.
Which ironically is the whole charge of Israel - valuing Israeli lives moreso than Palestinians.
A former Foreign Secretary Sir Alan Duncan finally spoke out10:
Calling out Tom Tugendhat’s blatant pro-Israeli views as demonstrated by his Spectator article of 2017
Claiming colleagues are influenced by Conservative Friends of Israel and are acting on behalf of a foreign country
Finally.
BUT where did that get him?
He is actually himself now under investigation and will most probably be thrown out the party at best.
Oh yes - and accused of what can you guess?
The Emperor has no clothes.
Related Articles
The biased pro-Israel Speaker of the UK House of Commons on 21 Feb scuppers a ceasefire vote in a shocking breach of procedure. Click substack below to read:
UK Government: redefining extremism 14 Mar 2024 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-definition-of-extremism-2024/new-definition-of-extremism-2024
UK Government counter terrorism strategy published 18 July 2023 - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/650b1b8d52e73c000d54dc82/CONTEST_2023_English_updated.pdf
Interview Jewish News 27 Jan 2023 - https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/commons-speaker-says-family-history-makes-him-determined-to-fight-antisemitism/
The Spectator 4 Jan 2017 - Britain was wrong to back the antisemitic anti Israel resolution https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/britain-was-wrong-to-back-the-u-n-s-anti-israel-resolution/
Declassified UK 2 Nov 2023 “TWO-FIFTHS OF KEIR STARMER’S CABINET HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY PRO-ISRAEL LOBBYISTS“ - https://www.declassifieduk.org/two-fifths-of-keir-starmers-cabinet-have-been-funded-by-pro-israel-lobbyists/
BBC News - Archbishops of Canterbury and York urge caution on extremism redefinition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68550673
The Guardian 10 Mar - “Three Tory ex-home secretaries warn against politicising anti-extremism“ - https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/10/three-ex-tory-home-secretaries-warn-against-politicising-anti-extremism
Amnesty International - Open Letter: UK Government must stop crackdown on freedom of expression 8 Mar 2024- https://www.amnesty.org.uk/resources/open-letter-uk-government-must-stop-crackdown-freedom-expression
Reuters Apr 4 2024 “Chef Jose Andres says Israel targeted his aid workers 'systematically, car by car'“ - https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/chef-jose-andres-says-israel-targeted-his-aid-workers-systematically-car-by-car-2024-04-03/
The Independent 5 Apr 2024 “Alan Duncan faces expulsion from Tory party for attacking ‘pro Israel extremist’ Conservatives“ - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-peer-israel-gaza-investigation-duncan-b2523466.html