The hypocrisy of the Conservative libertarians and their media minions

The charade is over. The ‘freedom loving’ charlatans throughout the Tory Occasion have proven their true colors. No less than they’ve in terms of the freedoms they don’t need us to have.

Libertarian rhetoric has been forcibly tossed round by Tories and their media cheerleaders lately. Who can overlook the so-called ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19, 2021, that the federal government and media allies salivated over whereas ignoring a number of warnings from the scientific neighborhood in regards to the risks of opening up the nation after Covid too early.

Claiming to strengthen free speech at universities, Johnson’s authorities even created a task known as the ‘Free Speech and Academic Freedom Champion.” On the floor, it sounded nice, having the chance to current contentious concepts that problem conventional pondering ought to absolutely be the essence of universities. However dig a bit of deeper and components of hypocrisy shine by way of. Some college students had, for instance, felt uncomfortable admitting to voting Brexit in school. The proposals prompt that universities ought to take measures when “employees and college students face criticism for expressing lawful views.” Defending in opposition to tutorial criticism type of goes in opposition to the “Free Speech Champion” grain. Although it’s hardly shocking the federal government would need to silence criticism about Brexit – their flagship coverage.  

Then there was Liz Truss, the bastion of freedom and self-determination, the bearer for Brexit, financial freedom, and nationwide sovereignty.  And look what occurred to her. Having trashed the UK economic system in simply 45 days, she’s off to the US, the place, because the Telegraph keenly reports, her ‘tax-slashing beliefs ‘have extra prepared ears’ amongst free market, Reaganite conservatives.’ All of which somewhat underlines the purpose that the suitable are happiest when talking freely to the like-minded with no person to problem them. 

Now there’s Rishi Sunak, who guarantees a authorities that focuses on an “absolute dedication” to make use of “our new Brexit freedoms.”

Regardless of the hype and bombast, we’re witnessing the precise reverse – a scientific dismantling of our freedoms that disenfranchises residents and not using a picture ID, criminalises protests, and takes away our proper to strike.

Assaults on protest

In 2022, laws was handed as a part of the federal government’s bid to offer police extra energy to cease disturbance. The controversial Public Order Invoice is now within the remaining levels of debate in parliament and goals to broaden the authorized definition of “critical disruption.”

A part of Sunak’s public order crackdown provides police in England and Wales new powers to close down protests earlier than disruption begins. The transfer would forestall ways similar to “sluggish marching.”

The announcement sparked outrage from civil liberties campaigners. Patsy Stevenson, who was arrested on the vigil on Clapham Widespread for Sarah Everard who was murdered by a Metropolitan police officer, described the invoice as “outrageous.”

“I feel this invoice goes to trigger a lot injury. This invoice is principally like the federal government saying: ‘We’ll do no matter we wish, no matter how the general public really feel about it,’ as a result of when you ban protesting, that bans free speech fully,” mentioned Stevenson.

The suitable to protest is unquestionably basic to a functioning democracy and it’s not shocking that the protest legal guidelines have been extensively condemned, described as a “depressingly Orwellian future” and probably the most repressive laws of the trendy period.

It feeds into the conservative philosophy: free speech till it’s leftist free speech. In different phrases, free speech is nice, so long as it’s the speech we agree with and has no outcomes we oppose similar to collective motion by staff, or defending our civil liberties, or getting folks to suppose severely about local weather change.  

Oh, the hypocrisy!

Proper to strike additionally below assault

In simply three quick years, the federal government has gone from clapping key staff to threatening them with the sack in the event that they take strike motion for asking for a totally honest and essential pay rise.

The headlines in January have been dominated by Rishi Sunak’s plan to introduce new anti-union legal guidelines, which can imply that when staff democratically vote to strike, they might be pressured to work and fired in the event that they don’t.

The anti-strike invoice has confronted pervasive opposition. The TUC described it as “fallacious, unworkable, and virtually definitely unlawful.”

The suitable-wing media would have us imagine in any other case although. Rishi Sunak ‘absolutely’ should enforce anti-strike legislation – YOU VOTED’ was the headline within the Categorical, in reference to a ballot on its readers’ opinions on the brand new legislation.

It beggars perception actually, when you think about this was the identical newspaper that drooled over our ‘NHS Heroes! Support our amazing carers during the coronavirus crisis…’ lower than three years in the past.

Voter suppression

The suitable to vote is recognised as a basic democratic human proper. So why are Conservatives intent on pushing by way of discriminatory plans that power folks to hold identification to forged a vote? The federal government claims the plans will make elections safer by cracking down on in-person voter fraud. Would believing that the quiet slipping by way of of the laws in November amid the approaching funds ruckus, was a deliberate means to maintain younger folks, who traditionally don’t vote Tory, away from the poll field, be too conspiratorial?  

The  sweeping voter ID adjustments that imply thousands and thousands within the UK face disenfranchisement had been described by Cat Smith, shadow democracy minister as being tantamount to US Republican-style “voter suppression.” However extra on the Republicans shortly.

Human Rights Watch’s warnings

Such is the federal government’s assault on a few of our most basic freedoms, that the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned the UK is prone to being listed as a ‘human rights abuser.’ A recent report by the HRW highlights quite a lot of areas of concern, together with infringements on the suitable to protest, the choice to ship asylum seekers to Rwanda and threatening folks’s entry to meals and housing throughout the price of dwelling disaster.

 “Out of your proper to protest to your potential to carry establishments to account, basic and hard-won rights are being systematically dismantled,” mentioned Yasmine Ahmed, UK director at Human Rights Watch.

It has even been prompt that the federal government is frantically tearing up our freedoms as a result of it is aware of it’s on borrowed time.

“In relationships, controlling and coercive behaviour is now a prison offence. In British politics, is glorified,” writes columnist George Monbiot.

Republican playbook and the worldwide proper

Latest UK Tory governments’ relentless posturing as freedom champions whereas slowly chipping away at civil liberties by way of draconian laws, bears worrying resemblance to the actions of the worldwide proper.

The storming of Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, by supporters of Donald Trump, may need despatched shockwaves world wide, however it arrange a harmful precedent for democracy-subverting and coup-fomenting. As Republicans beaver away at undermining the subsequent US election, warnings have been made that the chance of a coup is bigger now than it was below Trump.

Much like Britain’s Tory-lacky lapdog media, the right-wing media within the US have been working with the Republicans. Hellbent on turning actuality on its head, reviews described the violent Capitol riots as a “principally peaceable” protest and the rioters who beat Capitol police, as “political prisoners”, whereas suggesting the violence stemmed from an unidentified left-wing ‘antifa.’

American extremists are delivery this illiberalism past its personal borders. We solely have to have a look at latest occasions in Brazil.

Within the wake of the Capitol Hill storming, David Nemer, a Brazilian professor and disinformation professional, gave an interview wherein he predicted the identical factor would occur in Brazil two years later. And boy was he proper.  Carrying a hanging similarity to occasions on the Capitol, two years later virtually to the day, supporters of Brazil’s former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro stormed authorities buildings in an effort to overturn his loss within the October election.

Nearer to house, related reactionary backlashes have taken place. Germany was left reeling, when, on December 7, 2022, members of a suspected far-right terrorist group had been arrested for allegedly planning a violent coup to put in a German aristocrat as nationwide chief.

Away from the violent coups, right-wing ideology is seeping into many cultural businesses. So-called ‘libertarian’ think-tanks, are working quietly behind the scenes selling such ideologies. (So-called as a result of libertarian is usually a respectable philosophy however sadly has been commandeered by the suitable lately). Simply have a look at the push to ban books within the US, a part of the suitable’s hysterical ethical panic about ‘vital race concept’. Researchers say that the drive has been largely driven by conservative teams just like the Heritage Basis. Because the American Library Association (ALA) says, conservative organisations have been capitalising on the anti-education furore amongst some dad and mom.

“When you’ve got organisations like Heritage Basis and Household Coverage Alliance publishing supplies that instruct dad and mom on methods to problem books within the faculty library or the general public library, proper right down to a problem type enclosed within the booklet to allow them to simply fill it out, you’re seeing a problem to our democratic values of free speech, freedom of thought, freedom of perception,” ALA director Deborah Caldwell-Stone told The Guardian.

Proponents of the harmful illiberalism of the US are given platforms within the UK’s mainstream media. Creator Douglas Murray, for instance, who moans that decadent Europe has dedicated ‘suicide’ by inviting too many immigrants, has an everyday column within the Mail, the place he spends his time droning on about ‘Left woke warriors.’ He additionally writes a column for the Spectator, enjoys TV time, and has associations with the Henry Jackson Society (HJS).The trans-Atlantic think-tank, which is predicated within the UK, claims, in its own words, to “struggle for the ideas and alliances which maintain societies free.” Murray was associate director on the HJS from 2011 to 2018. 

Steve Bannon and Boris Johnson

When speaking in regards to the exportation of right-wing extremism world wide, one identify can’t be ignored – Steve Bannon. The American political strategist and media government served as chief White Home strategist below Trump and was a mastermind in his profitable bid for the presidency. Bannon was a key determine in spouting conspiracy theories about voter fraud following Trump’s election defeat. Spewing related doubts about Brazil, Trump’s controversial former marketing campaign supervisor claimed the Brazilian election was “stolen in broad daylight” following Lula’s win over Bolsonaro.

The far-right activist has hyperlinks to Boris Johnson. A video obtained by the Observer reveals how the controversial campaigner helped Johnson craft his first speech after his resignation as overseas secretary, wherein he tore into Theresa Could’s Brexit technique. 

When requested about his relationship with Bannon on the time, Johnson mentioned: “As for the so-called affiliation with Steve Bannon, I’m afraid this can be a lefty delusion whose spores proceed to breed within the Twittersphere.”

In August 2020, Trump’s controversial former aide was accused of fraud and arrested. Johnson’s associations with Bannon weren’t extensively reported on within the UK media. Actually, Left Foot Ahead was one of many few publications to element the hyperlink on the time, stating that the arrest should raise questions for Johnson.

However then that’s the crux of the entire drawback. It’s not simply the Tory authorities that loves speaking about freedoms whereas really taking them away from us, it’s their cheerleaders within the right-wing media too. It’s a given due to this fact, that they received’t spend an excessive amount of time worrying in regards to the influence a far-right insurrectionist like Steve Bannon is more likely to have on the UK by doubtlessly nuzzling up with
the PM.

Like I mentioned, the suitable solely love free speech in the event that they agree with it, and the federal government’s intolerant laws could be the very last thing the Conservative ‘libertarians’ would object to.

Proper-wing media watch – Boris-loving Tory press huge up Johnson’s Ukraine journey, as a handy distraction from the loans scandal

If there’s one factor about Boris Johnson, he doesn’t do issues by halves. The identical week the previous PM decides to make a journey to Ukraine to fulfill with President Zelenskyy and movies of the assembly are posted online, he’s embroiled in yet one more scandal, this time involving allegations that he secretly secured an as much as £800,000 mortgage assure whereas prime minister. The scandal additionally calls into query Johnson’s relationship with BBC Chairman Richard Sharp, who’s alleged to have helped safe Johnson the mortgage.

No prizes for guessing which of the 2 tales the Boris-loving Tory tabloids gushed over?

“Good on Boris for persevering with his dedication to Ukraine,” headlined the Express in a remark piece this week.

‘Bojo’s again’, splashed the Solar, in a ‘surprise visit to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky and pledges UK backing for ‘as long as it takes.’

The article speaks of the honorary medal Johnson obtained throughout a world Financial Discussion board assembly in Davos, and the way he goals to stress the West to proceed their army assist to Ukraine. It is just the penultimate paragraph; it lastly refers back to the alleged £800,000 mortgage and the questions the previous PM is going through over his funds.

In an ‘exclusive’ by the Mail, the newspaper talks of an ‘terribly highly effective – and emotional -rallying cry,’ that ‘Kyiv can win the warfare this yr if it will get the suitable gear.’ The writer refers to Johnson’s ‘withering assault on Berlin’s excuses and delays,’ whereas bragging about how ‘below Mr Johnson’ the UK was the ‘first nation to provide army support to Kyiv.’ This text makes no point out of the mortgage scandal. Nor does it point out the truth that Germany is the biggest supplier of support to Ukraine after the US; or that many Germans have responsible reminiscences of the Second World Conflict that make them uneasy about seeing their tanks rolling throughout the Ukrainian steppes; or that they’re geographically loads nearer to Russia than we’re. Excited about it, there may be rather a lot the Mail doesn’t point out.

When the Categorical reported on the mortgage story, it was unsurprisingly supportive of the previous PM.

‘Boris breaks silence on ‘absolute nonsense’ declare Richard Sharp ‘is aware of about his funds,’ learn the headline.

Johnson now not holds any official function within the authorities led by Rishi Sunak. The ex-prime minister’s hogging of the media highlight together with his Ukraine go to, is more likely to irritate the Tory authorities. Even when embroiled in yet one more sleaze story – let’s not overlook it was the seeming fixed stream of scandals that dogged his administration and noticed his collapse of assist within the polls – the Boris-adoring tabloids are nonetheless prattling on about him being the Tories’ ‘solely likelihood’ of winning the next general election. They don’t point out that polls present that amongst those that voted Tory for the primary time in 2019, the return of Boris makes them much less possible to take action once more. Perhaps we should always write in regards to the issues the right-wing press don’t write about!

Naturally, the reviews on Johnson’s newest go to to Ukraine fail to say all the cash the Tories have had – and are nonetheless taking – from associates of Vladimir Putin. As openDemocracy reports, these donations embody £50,000 from Lubov Chernukhin, who’s married to Vladimir Putin’s former deputy finance minister. That donation was made on March 4, 2022, simply eight days after Russian tanks entered Ukraine, and in the future after the then prime minister Boris Johnson promised to step up sanctions to “starve Putin’s warfare machine.”

Certainly, the likes of the Categorical side-step such ‘minor’ element of their glorification of Johnson’s newest and conveniently-timed assembly with Zelenskyy.

Woke bashing of the week – ‘E-book Nazis’ to be deployed in Florida colleges as Republican
governor turns up ‘warfare on woke’

Persevering with the theme of the right-wing’s assault on freedoms within the US, this report in the Guardian took some digesting. It particulars a brand new invoice in Florida, which prohibits materials until it’s deemed acceptable by a librarian or ‘licensed media specialist.’

It seems that each Florida faculty has to nominate, for need of a greater time period, a ‘E-book Nazi’, to vet each ebook that’s used for educating. Academics that use something not authorized will probably be responsible of a felony.

The concept is, presumably, to weed out something right-wingers don’t like about race, intercourse, historical past, and so on.

Because the Guardian notes, scrutiny of educating materials in colleges in Florida has intensified below the management of the right-wing Republican governor, Ron DeSantis.

The ‘defending of parental rights’ DeSantis’ administration is actively working in the direction of, contains the prohibition on childhood schooling on sexual orientation, gender and significant race concept.

The book-vetting invoice is a part of a wider ‘anti-woke’ marketing campaign pushed on the folks of Florida by Ron DeSantis.  The tradition warfare warrior has pledged to crack down on LGBTQ rights and take conservative stances on points like immigration.

Through the pandemic, he turned the bane of public well being officers by overturning masks mandates, and opening colleges and companies, declaring Florida because the ‘citadel of freedom,’ at the same time as Covid circumstances elevated. 

In 2021, he introduced the Cease Woke (Wrongs to Our Youngsters and Workers) Act, in a bid to “give companies, workers, kids and households instruments to struggle again in opposition to woke indoctrination.”

The Florida governor has surfaced as a respectable rival to Donald Trump within the Republican Occasion, which says all of it actually. 

Additional proof of the harmful illiberalism peddled by so-called libertarians in American being pushed out on media platforms in Britain could be seen by way of assist of Ron DeSantis by British commentators. And low and behold, our outdated buddy Douglas Murray is on the helm of such assist. Utilizing the Occasions as his platform, Murray writes on how the ‘efficient Florida governor should prise the Republican Occasion from Trump’s palms whether it is to face an opportunity in 2024.”

“DeSantis has most of the similar insurance policies as Trump however he has proved far more practical at implementing them. Like Trump, he rails in opposition to the extremes of “woke” ideology. In contrast to Trump, as I discussed right here two weeks in the past, he has really been efficient at legislating in opposition to such extremes,” writes Murray.

Florida’s Republican legislative initiative on book-vetting is a trademark of how the suitable is efficiently rebranding bigotry as a resistance motion. Hawked by right-wing commentators like Douglas Murray, related cultural grievances are being invested into the mainstream media in Britain, the place ‘anti-woke’ sentiment is being weaponised.

The results may nicely be chilling.

Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead is writer of Proper-Wing Watch

The publish The hypocrisy of the Conservative libertarians and their media minions appeared first on Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate.