When should direct action be limited?

Direct action has been part of protests in the UK for some time. The Suffragettes took part in direct action, some of which was more violent than others. This matter is in the news again because many have been arrested for protesting while supporting Palestine Action. My views on them and how they have “accidentally” supported Russia n the invasion of Ukraine have been posted before. 

This post is about if direct action is okay depending on the group engaging in it.

In August there was a story about how demonstrators had tried to enter a hotel housing asylum seekers to take part in direct action. Other actions have been taken since then, not just in Scotland, not counting the criminal damage that happened during the Farage Riots last year. Charities who have been trying to help refugees have reported abuse and intimidation by those who care about what they stand for. 

Palestine Action have also taken part in criminal damage, breaking windows of offices in Milton Keynes, but also targeting Jewish businesses in Stamford Hill. And of course there are the actions which have accidentally hindered Ukrainian efforts to defend against the invasion Russia. While there will be those who will say I am wrong to compare Kristallnacht to what is happening now, but many of those who are considered to be Jewish were concerned about history repeating itself, that being before the appalling murder of Jews in Manchester. 

I will finish on two points. Loads of organisations are protesting the brutal ethnic cleansing of Gaza and are staying within the law to do so. The other point is if it is acceptable for one group to engage in intimidation and criminal damage to bring about change, is it also acceptable for others to do so? 

A trip to Bristol

My wife, our son and I went to Bristol yesterday to see our daughter. Sadly, she and I are now unwell. While I would love to blame my daughter, I started to feel unwell in the morning before we left.

We are getting used to the drive and our son ensured we were entertained by talking to us and picking music to play on Spotify. As we approached her halls of residence Leia, our dog, realised where we were. The dog and my daughter were overjoyed to see each other. When there, we got to meet the two girls she stays with in her flat and later, one of the boys.

We went out for a meal (which was great and we will return), took down some items that my daughter wanted and after spending some much appreciated time with her drove back.  Unlike last time, the drive back was relatively event free, as usual, there was a lot of traffic on the M25 between the M4 and the M40, due to an accident this time.

It was after I handed over to my wife that our virus hit me. When at home, I went to bed, with a fever though later I did get to watch the Arsenal game, before passing out on the sofa!

Paracetamol and vaccines

The world we live in is becoming a joke.  A sad tragic one for many as they are to die sooner than they should.  People in power should not be claiming that paracetamol (Tylenol/acetaminophen in the USA) causes Autism when the overwhelming evidence states that it is safe.

But this is from an administration that is spreading lies and half-truths about vaccines.  And a president who commented about using bleach in bodies to cure COVID.  

Remember that thanks to misinformation that had been spread about COVID, more Republicans died of COVID than Democrats in the USA.  Also, in the UK, we have our own morons who have an 'interesting' view on science, let alone Farage refusing to accept that paracetamol does not cause autism.

Should Blair be a Middle East peace envoy

There appears to be hope on the horizon for peace in Gaza. I say hope, we had that before until Israel broke the agreement. There is an argument about the suitability of Tony Blair in this, but if he is involved in a just peace, so be it. 

It is a surrender by Hamas if they accept it, considering how the Palestinian Authority wanted to remove them by force in the past, when they had a democratic mandate, it will be an issue for them.  I am this will not stop the horrors in The West Bank. But it is a step to ending the ethnic cleansing in Gaza. 

Stay on target

Labour have the conference this week.  A lot has been in the media about a possible leadership challenge.  Labour are failing in the polls.  Labour have spoken out against the racist policies of Farage and Reform UK but I think that they are still sending the wrong message on immigration and that Labour should capitalise on the actions of Trump to attract highly skilled immigrants to the UK, in addition to others who can help our companies work.  

And Labour communication is terrible.  Labour have gone a lot, but a lot more needs to be done.

But, Labour are only a year into their term.  I would emphasise that and stress that a lot of damage needs to be undone.  Rachel Reeves is right to talk about the cost of borrowing, something that people forget. I do think that an asset tax should be considered, but taxing the income of the wealthy (as many on the left want) can lead to capital flight and a reduction in how much money taxation brings in.  

Things look bleak now, and the message of Labour should reflect that, but also how things are going to get better later.  So just like the rebel pilots at the end of Star Wars, no matter now hopeless things seem, we have to have faith that Labour will be able to deliver more and also that people will appreciate that.

Would JK Rowling join Your Party if Zarah Sultana leaves it?

Since my post yesterday, I have found out about some of the differences between Zarah Sultana and the Independent Alliance MP’s who may become part of Your Party. One of them is about TransRights and I suspect that I am on the side of the Independent Alliance MP, Adnan Hussein, who tweeted his views on the matter. 

For those who do not know, I am a transphobe. I consider a TransWoman to be a TransWoman, not a woman, just as I consider a TransMan to be a TransMan and not a man.

Cisgender individuals do not spend their lives experiencing Gender Dysphoria the way that those who are non-binary do. Men need to be taught not to rape, something that is not as much of an issue for TransMen who are more likely to be raped than rape. A TransWoman has to grow up with a penis, this brings about experiences that a woman will not have. Equating the experiences of someone who is non-binary with a cisgender individual minimises what that person has had to go through. Yes, in addition to this, there are the UK statistics about how prisoners who are TransWomen are much more likely to be sex offenders than cisgender men or women, but this population does not reflect the transgender community at large. 

The transgender community face discrimination and worse, action being needed to address this, but the rights of women should not be eroded by such changes. 

I doubt that JK Rowling, despite her left wing views will support Labour again while Keir Starmer is in charge, due to the way that Rosie Duffield was treated, which means that a gender critical left wing party may be who she ends up supporting. So long as they do not turn out to be a sexist boys club and they respect LGB rights. 

Your Party, the Judean People's Front and The People's Front of Judea

Getting back from work late, I as not aware of the fiasco involving some of the left of British politics. I watched BBC News on BBC One to find out what happened with the second visit of Trump to the UK this year.  And then the story about Your Party was mentioned.

At the time of posting this, I am watching the video below. I suspect that few will ever know the truth of what has happened between Corbyn and Sultana, politicians who I respect and who would be great in leading a utopia, but sadly we do not live in one. In an ideal, I would want the government of the UK to be more left wing, to make more radical changes, but we do not live in an ideal world. Labour under Starmer have had to make a series of bad decisions, trying to pick which one is the least worst option. They have had to sacrifice what they would ideally like to do, due to the economic constraints that the Conservatives left for the national. The difference between Labour now and the Tories of 2010 is that the Conservatives used the world wide economic crash to justify austerity, that and be effective in blaming the predecessor for the economy. 

Jeremy Corbyn, despite being a decent and honourable man, presided over a Labour Party riven by infighting and which created a toxic environment which drove many away.  It appears the same has happened with Your Party.  Personally, I do not see the need for Your Party. I think that the left would be better suited by backing The Green Party instead of fragmenting into different parties. Corbyn and Sultana as part of the Green Party would make it an even more powerful electoral force.  

While I do find this hilarious, it is sadly predictable as noted by Monty Python in The Life Of Brian. Many groups on the left split as they seek their own vision of Socialism rather than working together for the betterment of the people.  

I just hope the same will happen (again) to Reform UK.