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The slippery slope - dictatorship anyone?

(415 Posts)
Amagran Thu 26-Sept-19 01:35:09

We have a Prime Minister who suspends Parliament for 5 weeks at a time of national crisis in order to allow him to pursue a minority policy, and who then forcefully declares that the 11 Justices of the Supreme Court, the highest legal authority in the country, are wrong.

My Concise Oxford Dictionary defines a dictator as a ruler with (often usurped) unrestricted authority. It defines usurp as seize or assume (a throne or power etc.) wrongfully.

I feel that we have crossed a line on to a very slippery slope.
Do supporters of Johnson not feel just a teeny bit worried?

Peardrop50 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:54:18

When people in the street use words such as traitor, treason, surrender deal, it is not because they've heard those words used in Parliament, it is because that is the way they perceive the behaviour of those using every trick in the book to stop Brexit happening. I do not in any way condone abusive behaviour but the MPs who are receiving abuse must look to their own behaviour in frustrating the Brexit process too.

jura2 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:53:21

Can't believe that some are here trying to excuse his language- inflammatory doesn't even begin to describe it. But the mention of Joe Cox, and humbug- and today again ... with the extra 'if you want to be safe, vote with me' - are just sick and deranged and hugely worrying. We also went to bed after Newsnight, feeling scared for our children and grandchildren- and truly upset re what is happening to a country we served and loved.

And no, Jane, I am sorry, but your comment is totally irrelevant in the face of such language and behaviour. Are you confirming then, that we should vote one way and no other, to avoid violence, as Johnson says. Me or ... violence ?

(All Parliament had to do was agree to Theresa May's hard won deal then none of this would have happened and we'd be getting on with dealing with issues arising.
ALL parties have been so taken up with their own agendas and squabbling between themselves that I could shake the lot of them. It's more like a nursery than nazi Germany. ) - the language used has nothing to do with a nursery- but very much related to 1933, for sure.

Sussexborn Thu 26-Sept-19 10:50:01

The choice is JC and his cohorts who think that Venezuela didn’t kidnap and murder enough of those opposing them. Great!

MaizieD Thu 26-Sept-19 10:49:32

And none of the 'venomous language' was actionable, Chestnut because it was all merely stating the truth.

But I trust that MPs, having relieved their feelings last night, now proceed to ignore JOhnson's incitement to act foolishly. (He wants that VONC and GE so much*). He'd find that much more difficult to cope with.

Chestnut Thu 26-Sept-19 10:42:16

westendgirl I suggest you watch last night's circus to see the venomous language used by several people attacking Boris.

MaizieD Thu 26-Sept-19 10:41:31

Corbyn is clearly not quite as stupid as people think he is. The last thing you do when someone is inciting you to lose your rag is to give them the satisfaction they want...

Funnily enough, isn't that how the supine tory Member for the 18th Century garners his admiring fans? By refusing to lose his cool?

westendgirl Thu 26-Sept-19 10:39:22

May I ask Chestnut what words in particular spoken by the far left does she mean ?

chattykathy Thu 26-Sept-19 10:35:43

As someone said earlier the one person who stood out among the politicians yesterday was Jeremy Corbyn. He was his usual calm and respectful self. I know which kind of PM I prefer.

Chestnut Thu 26-Sept-19 10:33:42

I think the behaviour and language of the far left last night was truly shocking, and much worse than anything Boris said. I was left speechless when they later complained about his choice of words - the words pot, kettle and black comes to mind.

Boris was being attacked from all sides last night, so what do you expect him to do, curl up in a corner and cry? I was impressed that he stood his ground.

Elegran Thu 26-Sept-19 10:25:44

It didn't begin with atrocities. It began with the Nuremberg rallies and Hitler ranting about those who opposed him and whipping up country-wide hysteria over the foreigners living and working in Germany, and the disabled and gay minorities.
Open your eyes!

AdeleJay Thu 26-Sept-19 10:24:53

It is serious though. I’m not surprised that other Gransnetters were shocked rigid by the behaviour in Parliament.

And inflammatory speech does affect people who are more extreme; it seems to give them ‘permission’ to behave in dangerous ways.

I think the worst thing the PM could have done is to say ‘humbug’ when asked to be more temperate in his language. I do not believe the current Government sets a good example in terms of tolerance. And truly, we are in danger of having a Trump clone as PM for many years if the polls are to be believed. Good grief whatever happened to considerate behaviour & good manners?

Anniebach Thu 26-Sept-19 10:23:13

Seems it doesn’t matter what MP’s say publicly just not in Parliament?

As for dictatorship, why only Germany?

LondonGranny Thu 26-Sept-19 10:23:05

We don't have death camps or anything but some of the language used about, for example, the Judiciary is identical. I was really chilled by that headline "Enemies of The People" which is what Hitler said before removing Judges and replacing them with Nazis.
We don't live in a Fascist state but we must guard against what's happening in this country. The polarisation chills me to the bone.
Trump certainly uses identical language to Mussolini. Johnson stops short of that and I don't think he's a fascist but he's perfectly happy keeping the far-Right onside.

Chestnut Thu 26-Sept-19 10:13:22

I believe that reasoning was used when the National Socialist Brownshirts began attacking and killing political opponents in 1930s Germany.

Grandad1943 - likening this to atrocities of WW2 Germany is utterly repellent. You should be ashamed to use such comparisons.

Elegran Thu 26-Sept-19 10:10:04

Nuremberg.

westendgirl Thu 26-Sept-19 10:09:26

I was appalled and saddened by what I saw and heard last night. The attitude of the Prime Minister did our country no good whatsoever. I have just returned from holiday where I met some Danish people who told me that in general people there thought Boris Johnson was a joke and they were appalled at the behaviour in Parliament.I really do think that they overstepped the mark yesterday. Johnson's dismissive shout of Humbug still rings in my ears. He should be ashamed of himself but I doubt he will be, trying to goad and taunt . I do agree with the poster who said that Corbyn's calmness was such a contrast.I do not want to be represented abroad by a dictatorial Prime Minister who relishes bullying tactics and lacks any sort of empathy. Is he the will of the people?. He most definitely is not mine.

Reddevil3 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:08:39

I am so ashamed of being British after the last few days activity in London. Living in France, I have many French friends who are aware of what has been happening.
They cannot understand how the PM has been allowed to declare that the Supreme Court decision was wrong.
They say “what’s wrong with a country that allows this sort of behaviour?”

janipat Thu 26-Sept-19 10:08:27

The reason we can't possibly have an election right now is because nobody can trust Johnson to keep his word on timing if one was called. He has lied and used underhand means to get his preferred no deal Brexit up until now, and would no doubt delay until after 31st October. The man displays a complete lack of any moral compass in every area of his life.

SirChenjin Thu 26-Sept-19 10:04:36

But not in the same league as the Tories over the past few weeks, obviously - that takes shameful and disrespectful to a new low.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:03:00

I am off out now, I suggest you look at the video clip of the Lib Dems conference where they sing "F**k off Tony Blair and die".

Inflammatory and disrespectful!

GracesGranMK3 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:02:28

On my funny little forum where that I watch the latest thread is headed "Herr Bercow re-opens Parliament". I am afraid people are so entrenched this will take a long time to play out. The thread was under "chat" by the way. A normal bit of conversation to the Brexiteers apparently.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:00:42

janipat, thank you, you are right I am wrong.

(Posting whilst rushing to go to AS and DIL who have just returned home with new GS didn't check)

janipat Thu 26-Sept-19 09:56:19

GranyGravy13 I think you'll find you mean John McDonnell, I don't believe there is an MP called John McDonald.

SirChenjin Thu 26-Sept-19 09:56:03

You honestly think that what we have witnessed from the Tories over the last few weeks equates to the word Bollocks on a t-shirt and a single rapper holding a model of a severed head on a music award stage (an award ceremony that how many of us watched?)?? Honestly?

I bet that you absolutely know there's a massive difference but have nothing to offer except whataboutery.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 26-Sept-19 09:52:22

John McDonalds an MP

Lib Dem MPs wore the T shirts and Lib Dem MEPs wore them in the European Parliament with Bollocks to Brexit emblazoned on them!

Do you think it is acceptable for a model of our Prime Ministers severed head to be held aloft on stage at a music award which is shown around the world, without any condemnation?

The behaviour from both sides yesterday was not acceptable.