The Elmer Fudd of the Tory Party is back
And so it came to pass that Minister Still Desperately Trying To Look Relevant And Failing Miserably Michael “Oiky” Gove brought forth A New Definition Of Extremism. We only had the last one from 2011, but the new one has been touted as “Narrower and more precise”. Go on then, let’s see the wording.
Extremism is “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to: 1. negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or 2. undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or 3. intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2)”. But then a problem entered.
Its name was Hester. Frank Hester. Who he? As the BBC has told, “Electoral Commission records show Mr Hester has donated more than £10m to the Conservative Party in the past year - including gifting Mr Sunak a £16,000 helicopter journey”. He also “allegedly said veteran MP Diane Abbott made him ‘want to hate all black women’ and should ‘be shot’”. There was more.
“The tech boss apologised for making ‘rude’ comments about the former-Labour MP but said his remarks ‘had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin’”. Not much, they didn’t. And it got worse. “The prime minster called the comments ‘racist’ and ‘wrong’ but argues Mr Hester's apology should be accepted”. Sunak declined to give the dosh back. Then it got worse still.
As if. Hester’s alleged outburst also, arguably, undermines UK democracy, especially if Sunak thinks it’s OK to keep the money. Had he been poor and black, he’d already be in custody and facing a handful down the Scrubs. Worse, Gove then gave a get out of jail free card to Paul Marshall.
Who he? This from Adam Bienkov of Byline Times: “Michael Gove asked if GB News funder and Tory donor Paul Marshall, who liked and shared multiple far-right, Islamophobic, homophobic, conspiracy theory posts, is an extremist. Gove says he ‘deplores’ this ‘attack’ on Marshall, who he describes as a ‘distinguished philanthropist’”. For some value of “distinguished”.
But Gove is going after a raft of organisations advocating for Muslims. This from the Guardian: “A draft version of Gove’s ministerial statement, which has been seen by the Guardian, names several prominent Muslim groups, including MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development), CAGE, Friends of Al Aqsa, 5Pillars and the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) as ‘divisive forces within Muslim communities’”. So says the author of Celsius 7/7.
Meanwhile, Hester is quoted by the Guardian. “Addressing a number of staff members on a crowded balcony for the meeting at the TPP headquarters, overlooking the railway line in Horsforth, Leeds, Hester asked if there was ‘no room for the Indians, then?’ He then said: ‘Climb on the roof, like on the roof of the train there maybe?’”. Laugh? I thought I’d never start.
Extremism: dumping on Scary Muslims™ while accepting millions from nailed-on, er, extremists. The Tories are the pits. But you knew that already.
https://www.patreon.com/Timfenton
'1. negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or 2. undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or 3. intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2)'
ReplyDeleteAre these not the stated aims of Truss's Popular(sic)Conservatives? And also the unstated aims of Rees-Mogg, Badenoch, Patel, Braverman and a huge proportion of the parliamentary Tory party, practically all its membership and most of its rump support among voters?
Has Gove been at the gak again? Has he seen the light? Is he about to get them all interned?
'I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.' (Luke 15.10)
Given how the Tories "undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results" daily, one has to wonder whether it's a very shrewd move from Gove to restrain his party... nah, just a complete and utter lack of self awareness.
ReplyDeleteor 2. undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights;
ReplyDeleteWhat about illegally prorouging ing Parliament? Somehow I don't expect to see Boris in the dock anytime soon.
I predict that T-shaped Shirts with “EXTREMIST” written on them in large friendly letters will be a big hit with this summer’s festival goers.
ReplyDeleteI predict the Starmer/Reeves Quislings with T shirts reading
DeleteCost of living crisis, an underperforming economy, energy bills still far too high, water firms pumping raw sewage into rivers and out into the sea, councils going bust across the country, a health service in constant crisis, life expectancy falling, the well-off becoming more well off while the poor become poorer, all topped with a generous dose of rampant corruption.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the beef? Capitalism in full-on action. It's been that way since 1979, intensifying each day. Obviously people want it.
So Britain best stop snivelling, do it, and bequeath it. That's what they do at the Palace of Westminster, what they're paid for. That, and war.
There's more of it coming too. There always is.
"Extremist centrists".
ReplyDeleteHas a ring to it by rightie Newspeak bullshit "standards".
Seems like a fascist policy.
ReplyDeleteHe's at it again.
ReplyDeleteMaintenance staff should check the HoC loo for traces of haha sherbet. It's the only explanation.