Just how fascist is this government?

Of course they have to have police there, they’d be failing in their duty not to. I’ve been to a couple of those countries that have lived under Russian dictatorship in the past and there are absolutely no similarities. If in the UK they are grabbing people in the middle of the night without cause or ‘disappearing’ people they are being extremely subtle about it! That’s what happens in a ‘real’ dictatorship.

JenniferEccles

Have you all forgotten what happened in Brighton in October 1984?

The safety of those attending the conference in Manchester is of paramount importance.

There are a lot of nutters about, so keeping protesters away is a sensible precaution.

I did think about that JenniferEccles and the security services will be on high alert for any political party conference, as they are at other events such as this, and at national events.
They probably think that prevention is the best method of keeping people safe.

I don't think people intending to set off bombs turn up in coaches with placards etc do they?
No but prevention is better than taking risks.

Glorianny

JenniferEccles

Have you all forgotten what happened in Brighton in October 1984?

The safety of those attending the conference in Manchester is of paramount importance.

There are a lot of nutters about, so keeping protesters away is a sensible precaution.

I don't think people intending to set off bombs turn up in coaches with placards etc do they?

Ooooooh, you never know, Glorianny. They're cunning b*ggers, those terrorists.

JenniferEccles

Have you all forgotten what happened in Brighton in October 1984?

The safety of those attending the conference in Manchester is of paramount importance.

There are a lot of nutters about, so keeping protesters away is a sensible precaution.

I don't think people intending to set off bombs turn up in coaches with placards etc do they?

Have you all forgotten what happened in Brighton in October 1984?

The safety of those attending the conference in Manchester is of paramount importance.

There are a lot of nutters about, so keeping protesters away is a sensible precaution.

I think the point is that our government, having rehearsed the situation carefully during the miner's strike, realised some time ago that the best course of action is not arresting demonstrators, but preventing the demonstrators from ever reaching their chosen target.
Allowing a demonstration and imprisoning people attracts negative publicity. Stopping the demonstrators does not.

Is this government a fascist government? I would say - no. But I think it is difficult to argue that it is not more authoritarian than any government we have had since WW2. There is a lot if evidence to support this argument as I’ve pasted a small extract from a Byeline article.

“ The Conservative Party has passed legislation that makes it harder to remove them from power through elections, revoked the legitimate rights of already-vulnerable minority groups, and criminalised the act of peaceful protest.

Their legislation aims to increase Government oversight and ability to propagandise in education at the expense of parental rights, and they are going against democratic due process in trying to rush through a ‘Bill of Rights’ which revokes the human rights of those the Conservative Party deems undeserving,

Legislative steps taken by the UK’s current, Conservative Government are decidedly authoritarian in nature. A single, authoritarian bill passing through Parliament doesn’t necessarily mean the entire government or political system is authoritarian. What we are seeing, however, is not just a single, authoritarian bill passed by the Conservative Party, but many and in quick succession”

I think that the run up to the election, will almost certainly see a slowdown in the authoritarian policies, but if they get in again, then I can’t see this drive towards a right wing authoritarian state being stopped.

I believe that Russia calls itself a democracy, Callistemon, but it's undoubtedly a fascist state, is it not?

I think if you lived in Russia and protested on the streets about the government, you may find a difference in the attitude of the authorities there than you would here.

Fascism doesn't burst upon a country fully formed one morning. It's the product of incremental steps over a period of time...

Election next year!!

I believe that Russia calls itself a democracy, Callistemon, but it's undoubtedly a fascist state, is it not?
😁

It can call itself what it wants but yes, we still are a still a Constitutional Monarchy and a democracy.

I believe that Russia calls itself a democracy, Callistemon, but it's undoubtedly a fascist state, is it not?

Anyway:

Clamping down on protest is a sign of incipient fascism. Look at the draconian anti protest laws the tories have enacted in the last couple of years. They may be allowing some protest, but they certainly try to clamp down on the ones they really don't like.

Surveilllance of individuals who criticise the government. Well, today's Observer has a front page story about an education conference that was almost prevented from going ahead because two of its speakers have been critical of education policies on social media. It turns out that the DfE has been compiling files on them, and others critical of current policies.
And don't forget the arms expert who was de-invited from a conference earlier this year because he had been critical of the government...

Describing the judiciary as 'enemies of the people' We didn't notice any action against it from the Justice Minister when this headline was splashed over the media a few years ago.

'Othering' sections of society. What have our past and present Home Secretaries been actively doing in the case of refugees?

Government claiming that their actions are 'The will of the people' Now, when have we heard that trope being used incessantly?

Fascism doesn't burst upon a country fully formed one morning. It's the product of incremental steps over a period of time...

Manchester 👏👏👏👏

TerriBull

When I was in Argentina a few years ago, our guide was telling us how awful it was living under the 1970s military junta, an ACTUAL fascist regime. Arrests in the middle of the night, disappearances, those who were never seen again, torture, helicopters flying victims over the River Plate and then ejecting them to drown. Anyone who has lived through such a regime would be able to identify the difference between fascism and the day to day terror that goes with living under a fascist one party state and living in a democracy, albeit with a useless, ineffectual government.

Well said, Terribull
We've visited countries liberated from Communist regimes too.

This Government may be hapless and in disagreement but we are still lucky enough to live in a democracy.

Although I do agree taking away protesters rights is worrying. Canada's recent stance in locking the protesting truckers out of their own bank accounts had all the hallmarks of a repressive step too far.

When I was in Argentina a few years ago, our guide was telling us how awful it was living under the 1970s military junta, an ACTUAL fascist regime. Arrests in the middle of the night, disappearances, those who were never seen again, torture, helicopters flying victims over the River Plate and then ejecting them to drown. Anyone who has lived through such a regime would be able to identify the difference between fascism and the day to day terror that goes with living under a fascist one party state and living in a democracy, albeit with a useless, ineffectual government.

www.google.com/url?q=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/thousands-march-against-tories-in-manchester&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwiS_a3ZytWBAxU5WUEAHXS1DNQQFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw259gfAmdYR2JdaXs2cDjSG

Thousands protest in Manchester today, allegedly.

Kandinsky

< hides another ridiculous over the top thread>

👏👏

< hides another ridiculous over the top thread>

Primrose53

Mussolini and Hitler were fascists. You have no idea do you?

And how did they begin? Taking away the right of the people to protest. Turning people against each other….so many parallels with pre war Germany.

Mussolini and Hitler were fascists. You have no idea do you?