Blacklist Solicitor Quizes Labour MP on Complicity

Imran Khan QC, acting on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group, has written a letter (attached) to John Spellar MP, asking the former minister in the Blair government to clarify his involvement in secret meetings that took place between Norman Tebbit and leaders of the Electric, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union (EETPU). Lord Tebbit told a parliamentary Zoom meeting last week that such meetings took place during his time as Secretary of State for Employment in the Thatcher government, claiming that the meetings were held to discuss how to deal with 'left-wing' members of the union. Tebbit later confirmed the meetings took place in a interview for The Times, which states:

“I got briefings from Special Branch on what some of the hard-left, communist-style leaders were up to, yes,” Tebbit, who was employment secretary from 1981 to 1983, said this morning. “But I got far more briefings from my friends who were trade union leaders.” Describing secret audiences with unions including the Electric, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union, he added: “Friends of mine who were trade union leaders would come to see me at the Department of Employment by arrangement. They would drive, be admitted straight into the underground car park and take the lift straight to my office, so that nobody would know that they had seen me.”

Before entering parliament, John Spellar was the EETPU Political Officer (1969-1992) which included the period during the 1980s when the union was expelled from the TUC because of what were referred to as 'sweetheart deals' with employers, including supporting Rupert Murdoch during the year long Wapping dispute. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Spellar

Blacklist Support Group represents construction workers who were blacklisted for their union activities by major building contractors, including many members of the EETPU. Dozens of the unlawful blacklist files include the entry "EETPU says NO". An internal police investigation called Operation Reuben, has admitted that the police infiltrated trade unions to spy on activists, and that Special Branch and the Security Services provided information to the illegal blacklisting organisations; the Consulting Association and the Economic League. Given that Lord Tebbit revealed that while Employment minister he received briefings about union members from Special Branch, the secret meetings between the Conservative Minister and the EETPU may be relevant to the public inquiry into undercover policing being chaired by Sir John Mitting.

To ascertain whether John Spellar MP had any involvement in the meetings, Imran Khan QC has asked the following questions:

In your position as the EETPU political officer:

1. What was your role in setting up the meetings between EETPU and Norman Tebbit?

2. Did you attend these or any other any meetings between the union and Norman Tebbit?

3. Are you aware of any documentation relating to the meetings; such as but not restricted to invitations, emails, minutes, meeting notes, diary entries, reports to the EETPU Executive, or any other records kept by yourself or the union?

4. Did you arrange any similar meetings with Conservative government Ministers, especially during the time when EETPU was expelled from the TUC?

Note:

The EETPU only ever had two General Secretaries, Lord Frank Chapple (1968-1984) and Eric Hammond OBE (1984-1992).

Following various union mergers, EETPU is now part of UNITE the Union, which in 2019 set up an independent investigation into allegations of collusion by union officials in blacklisting of union members.

Twelve Months of Starmer Socialism by Cliff Jones

I AM tempted to follow the example of Len Shackleton who, possibly inspired by Lawrence Stern in Tristram Shandy, wrote a chapter in his book, The Clown Prince of Soccer, entitled, "The Average Director's Knowledge of Football". It consisted of one blank page.

My blank chapter would be titled, "The commitment of Starmer to socialism."

I ask you, I ask myself, for what possible reason might Starmer have joined a political party called Labour? People have told me that we should put to one side the humanity-based values of Corbyn in order to concentrate upon winning power. I don't believe that such values should ever be demoted. But supposing the 'power first, values second' people are right, how close has Starmer brought Labour to power?

Almost 79 I have never experienced a government of this country that was so lethally inept. Johnson is setting a standard below which it is impossible to fall. I wrote once that to watch Cameron, then May, then Johnson at work was to witness a political limbo dancing competition. Each time the bar was set so low that you were convinced the next dancer could not get beneath it, but they did.

Starmer is taking a penalty kick. The goalie is off the field trying to tie up his laces. The ref blows for the penalty to be taken. Right-winger Starmer waits for the goalie to get back between the posts and then passes the ball to him.

If politics is a game of footy why play to lose? To use good old-fashioned terminology, why take the field with no left-back, no left-half and no left-winger?

As a right-winger, Starmer ain't no Stanley Mathews.

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Moral Panics & the Police Service by Les May

APART from the disastrous Operation Midland investigation into the lurid claims of a ’toffs’ paedophile and murder ring which resulted in substantial payment of damages to those accused and whose reputations were ruined, the police service has a pretty good record in dextrously handling the various ‘moral panics’ which beset us from time to time.

It kept out of the witchcraft stories of Geoffrey Dickens MP, he of the famous ‘dossier’ which he handed to then Home Secretary Leon Brittan. Whilst the NSPCC made a fool of itself over ‘Satanic Abuse’ and would now like us all to quietly forget its role, the police service avoided deep involvement. More recently it emerged with a great deal more credibility than Simon Danczuk with its investigation into his claims about the unsavoury goings on at Knowl View school.

A quick arrest after the murder of Sarah Everard has ensured that, whilst politicians from all parties pledge their desire to ‘do something about violence against women’, the police service has been seen to be doing its job.

But what do you do when a lot of schoolgirls anonymously share their claims of ‘sexual harassment’ on a website? Does anyone really want to have to interview all these girls and the lads they are accusing, with the ever present possibility that at the end of the investigation someone will have to declare that some of the claims are really ‘porky pies’ encouraged and made possible by the anonymity of the WWW? So what to do?

I know; lets wheel out a senior office who talks about ‘victims and survivors’, code for ‘we believe you girls, just as we said we believed Carl Beech’s claims that led to Operation Midland’, that should divert any criticism that we don’t take these claims seriously, then let’s get into Pontius Pilate mode and suggest a public inquiry to sort out the mess.

QED

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130 imams and scholars urge PM to condemn Batley school teacher

By

5Pillars (RMS) - 2 months ago

Over 130 imams and Islamic scholars have written to the Prime Minister urging him to condemn the showing of blasphemous cartoons to Muslim children at Batley Grammar School.

In an open letter to Boris Johnson, the imams and scholars say the incident was an attempt to incite hatred and Islamophobia whilst pushing forward extremist white supremacist ideology.

So far three teachers have been suspended over the incident which has led to widespread outrage within the Muslim community. On the other hand, right-wing media, politicians and civil society commentators have supported the actions of the teacher.

The letter was organised by the Muslim Action Forum. Below is the letter and list of signatories in full:

Dear Prime Minister,

We the undersigned British Muslim citizens and scholars are writing to express our unequivocal condemnation of the depiction of the caricature of our Holy Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, by the RE teacher at Batley Grammar School. It is inconceivable that such a depiction in an RE lesson can be based on the notion of discussing “freedom of speech” or even a critique of the personality of the Holy Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. It was prima facie, based on the usual attempt of inciting hatred and Islamophobia whilst pushing forward extremist white supremacist ideology, which inevitably creates chaos and anarchy.

The hallmark of any civilised society cannot be the freedom to abuse and provoke certain members of society. Current legal proscription of xenophobic, anti-Semitic, homophobic, and other language of incitement of violence, ensures that we all remain in the realm of civil society. Why is it then that hatred against Muslims and Islamophobia is so widely defended and accepted? Surely, in sowing such seeds of hatred, we only advance the vested agenda of a tiny minority of extremists on all sides, that seek to gain from any form of chaos and anarchy. Depicting the caricatures of the Holy Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, will inevitably offend and provoke the feelings of 1.6 billion Muslims on this planet, and this cannot be unintentional or an act of a civilised member of society.

There are some who stand in solidarity with the teacher, guided by their blind hatred of the Muslim community in our country. They fail to understand how the love of the Holy Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him means more to every Muslim than everything else that is dear to them. In a world where many are self-centred, egotistical, and selfish members of society, they fail to understand how a man who lived over 1400 years ago can be more meaningful to over 1.6 billion Muslims than their own dear lives.

The global coronavirus pandemic has taught us that there are issues within society in which we are one, we must care for each other otherwise we end up dying together. We need to cling onto those issues that help us to learn to live together and uphold common values to ensure a civilised society. The outcomes of the heinous acts of the teacher inevitably lead to shaking the fabrics of our society, greatly damaging social cohesion and harmony. We invite you as Prime Minister, the political head of our country, and as our fellow British citizen, to stand with British Muslims in the condemnation of such divisive actions. The reprehensible actions of the teacher are a call to action to all civilised members of our society to unequivocally condemn such intentional behaviour.

We welcome the actions of the governors of the Batley Grammar School to suspend not only the teacher in question, but also the other co-conspirators, who designed this attack on our civilised society. The whole of the British Muslim community shall critically observe the next steps that the school takes to ensure that justice is done.

Kind regards,

Shaykh Faiz Siddiqi, Muslim Action Forum

Imam Adil Shahzad, Bradford

Imam Khalid Hussain, Leicester

Shaikh Tauqir Ishaq, Nuneaton

Shaykh Zain Siddiqi, Birmingham

Shaykh Noor Siddiqi, Coventry

Shaykh Waseem Ahmed, Manchester

Mufti Wajid Iqbal, Bradford

Shaykh Mohsin Haveliwala, Bolton

Mufti Nizamuddin Misbahi, Blackburn

Mufti Muhammad Qasim Zia, Sheffield

Shaykh Shabaz Ahmed, Ashton-under-Lyne

Shaykh Zahid Sharif, Ashton-under-Lyne

Imam Muhammad Anis, Birmingham

Imam Husnain Yaqoob, Nottingham

Imam Muhammad Amir, Stoke-on-Trent

Imam Abdul Rasool Alwari, Preston

Maulana Muhammad Kaleem, Bolton

Mufti Muhammad Naseerullah Naqshabandi, Bolton

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Irfany, Bolton

Sayyid Muhammad Hamdani, Bolton

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Samdani, Bolton

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Zarkani, Bolton

Professor Muhammad Masood Hazarvi, Luton

Imam Mohammed Bilal, Peterborough

Imam Sudagar Hussain, Bradford

Imam Adeel Attari, Bradford

Imam Muhammad Adeeb, Stoke-on-Trent

Imam Qari Muhammad Ayub, Stoke-on-Trent

Maulana Atif Jabbar Haidary, Birmingham

Shaykh Muhammad Farooq Nazami, Birmingham

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Bashir, Birmingham

Imam Barkat Ahmed, Birmingham

Imam Hafiz Akhtar Ali, Southampton

Shaykh Sufi Arshad Mahmood, Leeds

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Ali, Southampton

Mufti Muhammad Saqib Qadri, Oldham

Mohammed Shafiq, Ramadhan Foundation, Rochdale

Imam Muhammad Qasim Qadri, Nottingham

Shaykh Naveed Jameel, Nottingham

Imam Muhammad Asrar, Nottingham

Shaykh Muhammad Naveed Ashrafi, Blackburn

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Ali, Warrington

Imam Hafiz Amjad Mahmood, Bury

Shaykh Qari Mohammad Tayyab, Manchester

Mufti Muhammad Qasim, Manchester

Imam Muhammad Ilyas, Manchester

Mufti Muhammad Rubel, Manchester

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Ozair, Manchester

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Omair, Manchester

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Yasin, Manchester

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Fahim, Manchester

Allama Hafiz Muhammad Zia, Birmingham

Maulana Muhammad Umar, Birmingham

Maulana Muhammad Zahoor, Birmingham

Syed Muhammad Riaz Barkati, Accrington

Imam Mobashir Iqbal, Manchester

Shaykh Muhammad Din Sialvi, Nelson

Hafiz Niaz Ahmad Siddiqee, Birmingham

Mufti Wali Raza Rizvi, Worcester

Imam Hassnain Raza Siddiqee, Birmingham

Imam Hafiz Faisal Javed, Birmingham

Imam Abbas Ashra, Newcastle

Shaykh Muhammad Yaseen, Birmingham

Imam Hafiz Zulkarnain, Leicester

Imam Muhammad Maruf, Eccles

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Iftikhar, Manchester

Shaykh Syed Munawar Hussain Shah Bukhari, Blackburn

Shaykh Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah Bukhari, Blackburn

Syed Talha Bukhari, Blackburn

Syed Usama Bukhari, Blackburn

Allama Nawaz Hazarvi, Peterborough

Shaykh Mufti Ansar ul Qadri, Bradford

Syed Muhammad Zafarullah Shah, Birmingham

Mufti Fazl Ahmed Qadri, Derby

Shaykh Pir Mohammad Dilshad Hussain al-Qadri, Leeds

Shaykh Pir Tayyab-Ur-Rehman, Birmingham

Allama Qari Mahmood Ul Hassan Farashwi, Walthamstow

Allama Nabeel Afzal Qadri, Coventry

Allama Mohammed Zahoor, Oldham

Imam Hafiz Ghulam Rasool, Black Country

Shaykha Rukia Bi Mahmood, Stoke-on-Trent

Ustadha Nz Shahid, Sandwell

Ustadha Tahira, Oldbury

Ustadha Shazia, Smethwick

Ustadha Zaib, Oldbury

Ustadha Naila, West Bromwich

Ustadha Ghazala, Tipton

Ustadha Nasrin, Tipton

Imam Muhammad Hafeez, Tyseley

Imam Sajid Mahmood, Walsall

Imam Hashmi, Dudley

Imam Hafiz Akram, Dudley

Imam Hafiz Shafiq, Tividale

Imam Hafiz Yaqub, West Bromwich

Imam Syed Nazir Shah, West Bromwich

Qari Muhammad Yunus, Tipton

Imam Hafiz Siddique, Oldbury

Imam Hafiz Muzammil, Tipton

Imam Hafiz Rayharn, Sandwell

Imam Hafiz Abdul Qadir, Blackheath

Imam Hafiz Abdulla Sultani, Erdington

Imam Hafiz Dilpazir, Erdington

Imam Hafiz Abdul Ghafoor Chisti, Birmingham

Imam Hafiz Allah Baksh, Birmingham

Imam Hafiz Muhammad Miyan, Manchester

Imam Hafiz Shabraz, Wolverhampton

Imam Yusuf Qamar, Lye, West Midlands

Imam Maulana Munawwar, Smethwick

Imam Qadhi Sajid Zaffar, Birmingham

Shaykh Mohammad Arshad Misbahi, Manchester

Imam Abdul Hafeez Aziz, Bradford

Molana Muhammad Islam, Birmingham

Imam Asim Hussain, Bradford

Mufti Qari Saeed, Newcastle

Allama Ayub Chishti, Blackburn

Allama Masood Qadri, Bolton

Allama Muhammad Husein Qadri, Bolton

Imam Subhanoor Chowdhury, Leicester

Allama Zafar Mahmood Farashwi, Manchester

Imam Qari Muhammad Aurangzeb, Manchester

Shaykh Sabir Ali, Bolton

Mufti Tahir Ali, Bolton

Imam Tayyub Ali, Bolton

Imam Azhar Ali, Bolton

Shaykh Syed Ghulam Dastgir Shah, Halifax

Sahibzada Junaid Akhtar, Birmingham

Allama Sajjad Razwi, Halifax

Syed Usman Ali al-Qadri, Bradford

Imam Hafiz Mohammed Razvi al-Qadri, Leicester

Nadir Muhammad, Centre for Muslim Policy Research, London

Imam Hafiz Uthman, Birmingham

Shoaib Malik, Muslim Action Forum – National Co-ordinator, Warrington

Mark Birkett: 'Community of Scholars & Satanic Verses'

Editorial comment: Mark Birkett has responded with the comment below and has tried to spell out the problems with regard to the Batley Grammar School dispute over the teacher who displayed the cartoon of the Muslim Prophet in his class on religous studies. Some of the Muslim parents took exception to this and are calling for the teacher's dismissal by gathering outside the school to protest.

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Mark Birkett's view on the question of 'Blasphemy' & Islam:

'Yes, that's right. I'm curious as to the genuine motives of those parents who have called for the sacking of the teacher. I think that was clear in my comment below. But if not I'm happy to clarify it.

'I've been an anti-racist all my life. But the problem we seem to have, with this sort of reaction by some Muslim parents living in Britain, or indeed the murderous persecution of so-called 'blasphemers' in places like Pakistan or Saudi Arabia - is that challenging the Islamic faith gets conflated with racism. The two are not even remotely one and the same thing. Providing the intellectual space and the intellectual tools for all children to discuss these issues meaningfully is a major challenge for our society. We cannot keep pretending otherwise.

'The reasons for it being a challenge are many. For instance, we all know very well that there are many on the far right who delight in provoking Asians simply because it suits their racist beliefs. And many in such racist groups cynically use wider revulsion at some of the worst aspects of Islam (including its appalling attitude to women, homosexuals and apostates) to further that sort of racist agenda.

'Unfortunately, there are just as many within the Muslim community who completely fail to see how bigoted their religion is. Islam is by no means the only bigoted religion of course (if in doubt, read the Old Testament and / or the more blood-curdling threats in 'Revelations') but it is (in my view) the most murderous of all three Abrahamic faiths. It's certainly the only one that calls for murder in the case of apostasy (thou shalt believe in Allah .. or else).

'The other oft-confused element in this quagmire is the false notion that there is such a thing as a 'Muslim' child. No child is 'born' a Muslim, nor Christian, nor Satanist. nor voodoo-ist ... nor any other religion or cult for that matter. They are just children, each of whom needs to be taught how to think, not what. Every child subjected to any religion presented to them as factually true is by definition being brainwashed. And teachers in our schools have an absolute duty to call a dead halt to that. They need to encourage children to question all such evidence-free thinking. To discenr the welcome aspects of religion (Thou Shalt Not Kill etc) from the wholly unwelcome (women are second to men etc). They need to be taught how to question and value satire too. And they need to be able to do so without fear that some idiot will decide that they need to be sacked for doing so (or far worse).

'Imagine if a teacher was suspended for discussing the impact Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' in a classroom? We'd see it as utterly absurd. Yet far too many seem to think Islam should have a free card here. It absolutely shouldn't. Satire is a vital part of a free democracy. It doesn't mean I think showing the (so-called) 'Prophet' with a bomb under his turban is in good taste. Nor am I blind to the fear that such cartoons might even encourage some children to grow up seeing all Muslims as terrorists. But that's the point. Discussion of these ideas, and the reactions that flow from them, is an essential part of every child's education. Far too many Muslim parents refuse to see that point.

'Muslims who think it's OK to threaten teachers who try to encourage pupils to think clearly about religions - including (I'd hope) getting to children to discuss the bigotry inherent in all of them - cannot claim sanctuary behind terms such as 'Islamophobia' - a term without the slightest moral or intellectual currency. All who live in this country - a nominally 'free democracy' - need to accept that satire (esp. in the form of cartoons) does not automatically equate to racism. Nor do they have the right to claim that 'blasphemy' has any place in a modern democracy either.

'It's very difficult to get these things right of course, and I'd never want to give the slightest succour or comfort to racists, but teachers being suspended for openly discussing the satirising of religion need to be protected and defended at all costs. If parents wish to silence such teachings, let alone perhaps pretend that the Charlie Hebdo murders were even remotely justified, then they truly don't belong in our free democracy. Those of us who can see the difference between these two approaches to discussing the role of religions need to be ultra-clear whose side we're on.'

The Community of Scholars & Satanic Verses:

CLASH OF CULTURES UP NORTH AT BATLEY GRAMMAR?

THE Telegraph & Argus on the 27th February 2019 ran a story by its Chief Reporter, Tim Quantrill, claiming that 'Thirty years on from the Satanic Verse book burning in Bradford, a community leader has said he couldn't see a similar protest erupting today.'

In the 1980s, the book burning in Bradford led to protests, which began in the north of England, and soon spread across the UK and to the rest of the Islamic world, culminating in February 1989 with Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issuing a fatwa - a death sentence on the writer Salman Ruskie.

That was more than two years ago and at that time Ishtiaq Ahmed, the then business officer for the Bradford Council of Mosques, said that society had moved on arguing:

"We did what we needed to do to have our concerns registered in the public domain.

"The Muslim community has evolved in terms of political participation and is more integrated in British society which is hopefully more sensitive to Muslims and, particularly in writing about Muslims, more understanding.

"In terms of our struggle for equality and values recognised, it is an iconic milestone. In terms of a wider society, it is an important event in Bradford.

"Bradford is a place we feel positive about. I have five children and eight grandchildren, Bradford is our home and in our blood.

"There is a different mindset to the 1980s when we trying to decide whether we belong here."

Now this optimistic conclusion has been thrown into question as last Thursday and Friday, angry parents descended on Batley Grammar School (just down the road from Bradford) to make their voices heard and insisting that they will not stop gathering until a teacher is sacked for displaying a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed during one of his lectures on religous education.

The passionate allegation of the parents is that the teacher is guilty of blasphemy.

To which the comedian Ricky Gervais, who is an atheist, has jumped in to back the teacher in a tweet which saw him mock the protesters.

He wrote: "Blasphemy? F***ing Blasphemy? It's 2021 for f***'s sake. What next? People being punished for insulting unicorns?."

Mr Gervais, who is an atheist, was also backed by BBC broadcaster Nicky Campbell, who said his tweet was about the 'lunacy of blasphemy'.

He added blasphemy was a "victimless crime " and also hit out at a critic of the comedian.

However, Mr Gervais' tweet enraged some on social media, with one angry social media user labelling his words "an insult to the Islamic community worldwide".

The Salman Rushdie book opened up a clash between what is seen as the enlightenment thinking and divided the islamic world. Wikipedia says:

(It) "Muslims... Westerners along the fault line of culture,"[4][5] and to have pitted a core Western value of freedom of expression—that no one "should be killed, or face a serious threat of being killed, for what they say or write"[6]—against the view of many Muslims that no one should be free to "insult and malign Muslims" by disparaging the "honour of the Prophet".[7] English writer Hanif Kureishi called the fatwa "one of the most significant events in postwar literary history".

Many Muslims accused Rushdie of blasphemy or unbelief and in 1989 the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie. Numerous killings, attempted killings, and bombings resulted in response to the novel.

I was told back in the 1980s by a Islamic critic of Salman Rusdie, that the orginal suggestion to burn Satanic Verses came from an English solicitor in Bradford. And the rest we all know has followed on in its wake, because now we are getting the those on the outlook for blasphemy parading their protests outside Batley Grammar School.

Some hopes for the Community of Scholars if this carries on.

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Petition Backing Batley Teacher Hits 50,000

THE petition in support of a suspended teacher who showed students a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed has passed more than 50,000 signatures.

The Batley Grammar School teacher had apologised after showing the cartoon, widely reported as taken from the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, during a religious studies lesson earlier this week.

He was suspended on Thursday pending an investigation.

The school, in Batley, near Bradford West Yorkshire is facing calls to reinstate the teacher after a petition in support of him reached more than 50,000 signatures in two days, hitting the figure just after 2.00am on Sunday.

Protesters gathered outside the school gates on Thursday and Friday, claiming the school has not taken the issue seriously.

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YORKSHIRE LIVE REPORTS: THOUSANDS SIGN PETITION SUPPORTING TEACHER

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for a Batley school teacher to be reinstated after he allegedly showed derogatory caricatures of the Prophet Muhammed.

The unnamed teacher, who is now under police protection, has been suspended from his role with Batley Grammar School issuing an apology to parents who have been protesting outside the school gates.

Ricky Gervais has waded in on the row by condemning the protesters and there are calls for the teacher to be reinstated after a pupil started a petition.

It has been signed by thousands of people and is gathering momentum despite [other] protesters calling for the teacher to be sacked.

Other reports:

The organisers behind the online petition claim to be students at the West Yorkshire school.

They said the teacher "was trying to educate students about racism and blasphemy" and was "not racist and did not support the Islamophobic cartoons in any manner".

It added: "This has got out of hand and due to this, students have missed out on lessons because of 'peaceful' protestors" .

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For Whom the Algorithm Tolls by Andrew Wastling

Algorithm:

/ˈalɡərɪð(ə)m/ noun plural noun: algorithms

a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer. 'a basic algorithm for division'

The American Civil Liberties Union has expressed repeated and numerous concerns that : Artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in our lives, in private and public spheres, in ways large and small. Machine learning tools help determine the ads you see on Facebook and routes you take to get to work. They might also be making decisions about your health care and immigration status.

Government agencies at the local and federal level are exploring, and in many cases already using, automated tools to allocate resources and monitor people. This raises significant civil rights and civil liberties concerns. (1).

Recent scandals from Cambridge Analytica to the role of Facebook in inciting real-world violence in Myanmar, many experts see the internet as a civic space that requires better public hygiene. Chinese CCP state sanctioned plans to create their own Civic Space in the form of its own clearly delineated and state sanitised internet mean that the next Tiananmen Square Massacre will result not in a continuous debate of the number actually killed but no debate at all since nobody ( outside of the People's Republic of China ) will know it has even happened . The eternal philosophical question over the sound of one hand clapping or if a tree falls in a forest unobserved or witnessed whether it actually falls at all if there is no one present to hear it will reach a whole new dizzying existential and intellectual level

.

The undoubted ability of the internet to assist in the organisation of opposition or act as a conduit for populare dissent will not have been missed by the authorities. Equally the targeting and brutalisation of citizens journalists by riot police at the recent Bristol disorders shows how paranoid our elites actually are about losing control of their stage managed mainstream media coverage of events being challenged by an alternative counter narrative from the perspective of the largely peaceful protestors

If the action of out of control police officers is captured on film ( or in actuality on mobile smart phones ) too often the illusion of policing by consent might be irrevocably shattered resulting in popular and irresistibles calls from terrified citizens to have them returned to barracks and re-trained ? It is no accident after all that after the huge number of injuries, blindings and eye loss , generated by tear-gas canisters fired at the massed ranks of 'Gilets jaunes' protesters by gendarmes were captured on hand held filming devices that the Macron regime sought to make the filming of his trigger-and -truncheon happy riot cops illegal by citizens of the riot ravaged Republic.

Insidious & sinister rise of Digital Surveillance

The recent Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights into the digital welfare state succinctly summarises the serious concerns that algorithmic decision making raises. These include:

difficulties in digital access for vulnerable persons most affected by these regimes, both in terms of access to the necessary technology and digital literacy;

the secrecy often surrounding how decisions are reached;

the tendency of risk-scoring and other algorithmic systems to exacerbate existing inequalities and discrimination;

the inflexible robotic application of rules which preclude consideration of relevant extenuating circumstances and removes human interaction and compassion from the picture.

Closer to home Big Brother Watch have just launched a new investigation called Welfare Data Watch into the one in three councils who use algorithms to make welfare decisions . A process which they claim will impact on : 'anyone who's life is touched by the welfare state , whether that is in social care , benefits or housing, may now be impacted by secretive data profiling , predictive analytics , and algorithm decisions. Algorithms , Artificial intelligence , and vast stores of data are being used to profile and monitor vast swathes of the population, A number that has only increased during the pandemic'.

The key areas Big Brother Watch will be investigating are:

(1). Risk scoring ( known as Rick Based Verification ) of Housing Benefit , Council Tax Support and Universal Credit

(2). Predictive analytics in children's care, adult vulnerability and homelessness

(3). Data analysis in social housing , including tools that claim to predict who will fall short on their rent

(4). Surveillance in adult social care , from fridge door sensors to fridge doors replacing in person care

More information about the new campaign and a link to a template letter for councils can be found at https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/campaigns/welfare-data-watch/

Whilst the text to the campaign letter to submit a Subject Access Request to councils can be read below:

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to submit a Subject Access Request for information held on me by the council.

I am solely requesting data related to my benefit or welfare payments by the council.

Please furnish me with:

- The data, and sources for this, used in assessing my claim for housing benefit and council tax support.

- Details on how this data was processed, including details of any automated or algorithmic process used to aid in decision making.

- The data used in risk assessing my claim [risk based verification], details of how it was processed and any data created in the process

- this should include any data not about me as an individual but still used in the system, such as OAC classifications, postcode level data and similar

- The risk score and category, including any descriptors, assigned to me by any computer system.

Please also explain any other profiling, algorithm or automated aid to decision making applied to me or my data.

Best Wishes

APPENDIX:

(1). WILL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MAKE US LESS FREE? Experts consider how the growing use of AI will impact civil liberties : American Civil Liberties Union

https://www.aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology/will-artificial-intelligence-make-us-less-free

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Appeal Court clears Shrewsbury pickets

The Court of Appeal has overturned the convictions of 14 men sentenced for their involvement in pickets in 1972.

Trade unionists who picketed during the national builders' strike were charged with offences including unlawful assembly and conspiracy to intimidate.

Lawyers for the so-called Shrewsbury 24 had argued the destruction of witness statements made their convictions unsafe.

Lord Justice Fulford said "what occurred was unfair".

The Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson was among those convicted. He was jailed for two years.

Speaking after the verdict, he said: "It is only right that these convictions are overturned."

Six of the 14 who brought the action have since died, including Dennis Warren, who was jailed for three years.

Mr Tomlinson added: "My thoughts today are with my friend and comrade Des Warren.

"I'm just sorry he is not here today so we can celebrate, but I'm sure he's with us in spirit." Some of the appellants at court

Speaking at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Lord Justice Fulford said: "These 14 appeals against conviction are allowed across the three trials and on every extant count which the 14 appellants faced."

But he added: "It would not be in the public interest to order a retrial."

In its written ruling, the Court of Appeal allowed the 14 appellants' appeals on the grounds that original witness statements had been destroyed.

In June 1972, trade unionists called the UK's first-ever national builders' strike in protest against pay, unjust employment practices and dangerous conditions on sites.

Trade unionists travelled to demonstrate from one site to another and in September six coach-loads of strikers demonstrated in Shrewsbury and Telford.

Police arrested none of the demonstrators that day but five months later the picketers were charged and subsequently convicted.

Lord Justice Fulford wrote: "If the destruction of the handwritten statements had been revealed to the appellants at the time of the trial, this issue could have been comprehensively investigated with the witnesses when they gave evidence, and the judge would have been able to give appropriate directions.

"We have no doubt that if that had happened, the trial process would have ensured fairness to the accused. Self-evidently, that is not what occurred.

"By the standards of today, what occurred was unfair to the extent that the verdicts cannot be upheld."

Lawyers had argued the broadcast of a documentary about communism during the trials was "deeply prejudicial", but the Court of Appeal dismissed the claim that the Red under the Bed documentary might have made the verdicts unsafe. 'Serious questions'

Arthur Murray, who was convicted of affray and unlawful assembly and sentenced to six months, said: "We were innocent all along, yet it has taken us nearly 50 years to clear our names.

"Sadly my mother and four of my siblings have passed away without knowing that we were innocent.

"Serious questions need to be asked about the role of the building industry bosses in our convictions and the highest offices of government who all had a hand in our trial and conviction.

"Make no mistake, our convictions were a political witch-hunt."

Mr Tomlinson, from Liverpool, echoed his remarks, saying: "We were brought to trial at the apparent behest of the building industry bosses, the Conservative government and ably supported by the secret state.

"This was a political trial not just of me, and the Shrewsbury pickets - but was a trial of the trade union movement."

Tomlinson and trade unionists in Court of Appeal Ricky Tomlinson's strike conviction to be reviewed Latest news from the West Midlands

Terry Renshaw, a former Flintshire mayor, who was convicted of unlawful assembly, paid tribute to the campaign's researcher, Eileen Turnbull, who worked "tirelessly" to obtain "crucial evidence".

She uncovered a document in the National Archives which were part of the prosecution papers and revealed for the first time police had destroyed some of the original witness statements.

Mr Renshaw added: "It's been 47 years. I'm just so emotional. I didn't think it would hit me like this. I am no longer a criminal."

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Murder In the Guise of Self Defence? by Les May

THE Times recently carried a piece with the headline ‘Let women use weapons against abusers, urges QC’. Dame Vera Baird, the ‘Victims Commissioner’ wants Priti Patel to change the law to allow victims of domestic abuse to use disproportionate force in self defence. At present a domestic abuse victim can lawfully use only strictly proportionate force to protect themselves.

This woman is a QC and one might expect she would have given some thought to the possible consequences of such a change. Aside from the problem of a woman murdering her husband under the guise of self defence, it has the potential to change a violent, but non-lethal, attack upon a woman into a killing, if the perpetrator feels himself threatened with a weapon being wielded by the victim.

Any competent defence lawyer make the most of this.

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LORD TEBBIT'S 'FRIENDS IN THE UNIONS'

QC for blacklisted workers calls on Lord Tebbit to appear before SPYCOPS PUBLIC INQUIRY

Imran Khan QC, acting on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group has written to Sir John Mitting, chair of the public inquiry into undercover policing calling for Lord Norman Tebbit to be called to give oral evidence. The formal request comes after Tebbit revealed that when he was Secretary of State for Employment in the Thatcher government, he received regular briefings about trade unions from Special Branch, which included such detail as where individual union members went on holiday. The frank admission came during a parliamentary meeting hosted by Richard Burgon and the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS).

Tebbit also told MPs and peers attending the Zoom meeting that he often held private meetings with 'friends in the unions' including the General Secretary of the EETPU electricians union to discuss how to deal with leftwing union activists. After the meeting Lord Tebbit told The Times:

“I got briefings from Special Branch on what some of the hard-left, communist-style leaders were up to. But I got far more briefings from my friends who were trade union leaders. Friends of mine who were trade union leaders would come to see me at the Department of Employment by arrangement. They would drive, be admitted straight into the underground car park and take the lift straight to my office, so that nobody would know that they had seen me.”

Dave Smith, secretary of the Blacklist Support Group commented on the letter sent to Sir John Mitting:

"We demand that Tebbit be called to give evidence to the public inquiry about these Special Branch briefings. If any official government or union documentation relating to these meetings at a Ministerial office exist, we demand that they are disclosed to the inquiry. Just as importantly, Tebbit should be forced to name his 'friends in the unions' who grassed up union members to a Conservative government Minister. Any union leaders or officials who colluded with a Tory government against other union members should be publicly exposed. Mitting has repeatedly allowed police officers and their managers to avoid giving evidence to this supposedly public inquiry, but any last minute excuses for Tebbit not to give evidence will be totally unacceptable. If Tebbit is healthy enough to sit in the country's upper legislative chamber, he is fit enough to give evidence at a public inquiry".

Previous press coverage of Tebbit's comments: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/special-branch-spied-on-union-leaders-norman-tebbit-admits-xv20rkmzw https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/tebbit-lifts-lid-government-involvement-spying-trade-unionists https://www.union-news.co.uk/thatcher-minister-tebbit-admits-receiving-special-branch-reports-about-union-activists/ https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5baz3/police-spies-told-a-minister-where-left-wing-trade-unionists-go-on-holiday https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2021/march/norman-tebbit-s-admission-about-government-involvement-in-spying-on-trade-unionists-must-be-fully-investigated/

Blacklist Support Group

Let a Great Assembly Be . . . ! | by Andy Wastling

Verse : 65 :

`Let a great Assembly be Of the fearless and the free On some spot of English ground Where the plains stretch wide around.'

The Masque of Anarchy

Percy Bysshe Shelley ( 1819 ) following the Peterloo Massacre of that year.

In his call for freedom, it is perhaps the first modern statement of the principle of nonviolent resistance.

Let a Great Assembly Be . . . ! | by Andrew Wastling

It's entirely understandable that a widespread national campaign is rapidly developing amongst campaign organisations , activists , academics and individuals. Patel might have inadvertently created a united front against this rogue government as an entirely unintended consequence.

It's heartening to read in yesterday's Independent that : More than 700 of the UK’s leading legal academics have signed a stinging open letter urging Boris Johnson to ditch draconian restrictions on the freedom to demonstrate, in one of the largest protests of its kind in decades. ( https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/police-bill-academics-letter-priti-patel-b1818695.html)

The attack on traditional Gypsy and Romany Travellers is straight out of the Tory Attack Handbook on New Age Travellers in the Public Order Bill of the 1980's which also generated a huge popular backlash. Some of us will also remember attending the huge and lively demonstration against the Criminal Justice Bill in the 1990's . The government is clearly expecting widespread expressions of popular discontent post Covid and are accordingly rigging the courts and legislature well in advance .

Murdoch of course has never forgiven Extinction Rebellion from preventing his newspapers being delivered and will no doubt have demanded an appropriate government response to ensure it won't happen again. Patel will as they say : Just be following ( Murdochs ) orders !

Unsurprisingly there are a large number of public petitions circulating on this huge attempt to marginalize and reduce the right to protest as follows:

House of Commons : Do Not Restrict our Rights to Peaceful Protest

https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/108799139/signed

Friends , Families & Travellers : Stand Against Harsh New Laws for Roadside Camps

https://action.gypsy-traveller.org/page/78097/donate/1?locale=en-GB&en_chan=tw&ea.tracking.id=Twitter_crim_tres&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=Email%20To%20Target%20_%20Crim%20Trespass&en_ref=207204871

Netpol : Netpol's Charter For Freedom of Assembly Rights

https://netpol.org/charter/

38 Degrees : Protect the Freedom to protest

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/protect-the-freedom-to-protest

Liberty : Stop The Policing Bill

https://action.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/page/78339/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=twitter

Protect Everyone Bill : ( email your MP )

https://action.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/page/77270/action/1?ea.tracking.id=twitter

Global Justice Now : Defend the right to Protest

Defend the right to protest | Global Justice Now

Friends of the Earth : Defend Your Right to Protest

Add your name to defend the right to protest | Friends of the Earth

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Andy Wastling's Response to Chris Draper's Post

Response to Chris Drapers recent and extremely timely article on Northern Voices , Guess Who Is Reading Your Census ? by Andrew Wastling

IN response to Chris Drapers recent and extremely timely article on Northern Voices 'Guess Who Is Reading Your Census?'

:

Readers might also like to have a read of 'Demilitarise the 2021 census' in Peace News: Demilitarise the 2021 census Peace News

There is also an extremely helpful template PRESS RELEASE for campaigners to send to their local media to explain why they are taking such action - though as we know unfortunately the likelihood of such a letter being published locally is indeed slim!

Milan Rai, editor of Peace News, which is circulating a guide to creative resistance to the census, commented: ‘Lots of British people are likely to feel uncomfortable adding to the profits of a giant US arms company developing weapons of death and providing IT services to those who’ve been waging war in Afghanistan and around the world for decades.’

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GUESS WHO IS READING YOUR CENSUS? by Christopher Draper

YOU are legally compelled to complete a census form this Sunday 21 March 2021. According to the form and advice booklet this information gathering is conducted by the “Office for National Statistics” but it’s been privatised with the 2021 contract run by “LEIDOS” (HQ Reston, Virginia, USA). LEIDOS is listed by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute as the 19th biggest arms and military services company in the world.

LEIDOS Who?

In 2019 the military IT and support service contracts operated by LEIDOS were worth $5.3bn. Last year LEIDOS spent $1.65bn of their profits acquiring Dynetics - a military hardware company. Dynetics is a developer of “future defence technologies” for the US military, including long-range hypersonic missiles, ground-based laser weapons and the Gunsmoke battlefield intelligence microsatellite.

Assisting Warmongers

If you don’t accurately complete your census form you can be fined £1,000 and given a criminal record but some peace-loving hippy types aren’t keen to assist LEIDOS in maximising their profits and have devised an imaginative response.

Completing the census online saves LEIDOS the time and trouble of processing the paper alternative. The more LEIDOS is able to use machines to open, scan, read and record information from paper census forms the more profit it makes on the contract. The more you frustrate this process, the more LEIDOS have to employ and pay people to manually record information, cutting into its profits and minimising its ability to develop ever more deadly weapons of war.

Unfortunate Errors

Courageous individuals might simply refuse to complete any census form and suffer the legal consequences but many more might wish to minimise LEIDOS profits whilst complying with the law. Of course, even those of us anxious to complete the form with the utmost accuracy might inadvertently make mistakes and regrettably such errors might cost LEIDOS time and money to rectify, for example you might;

a) Phone 0800-328-2021 and demand a paper form “as I can’t cope with this modern technology”.

b) Perhaps you might inadvertently enter some answers upside down making the information unreadable by machine.

c) Or fail to properly locate answers in the boxes provided.

d) You might even correct a serious error by stapling an amended version onto the form.

e) Perhaps a page might accidentally get torn and you clumsily mismatch the writing as you sellotape it together again

.

f) If like me, you’re addicted to doodling you might casually fill in some of the white gaps in the bar-codes that make each page uniquely identifiable to electronic scanners.

g) Finally, when you put your completed form into the census envelope be careful that you don’t get it back-to-front because if the return address isn’t clearly visible in the little window you might cause unnecessary delay and expense.

h) NB Under no circumstances should you indicate on the outside of the envelope that;

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS PAYING LEIDOS – AN AMERICAN MILITARY CONTRACTOR £65.1m TO PROCESS THESE CENSUS FORMS!

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Rotary and Sukuta by John Walker

There are almost daily reports in the UK press about how charities have suffered financially during the COVID pandemic, as funds have dried up and donors cut back. SSS, in its own small way, has been no different. School lockdowns have meant we have lost our largest single source of income this year, the fund-raising efforts of the ever-generous Beech Hill school in Luton. Some of our biggest backers have either cut back or diverted their funds to perhaps more pressing problems during the year.

But, to the rescue has come Rotary International!

The Rotary Club of Redbridge has been a regular supporter of SSS over the last four or five years, and clearly liked what they have seen in terms of feedback and the evidence of generous donations being put to good and effective use.

John of SSS became a member about eighteen months ago and the club has encouraged us to spread our wings within the Rotary family in seeking support for our efforts with Gambian education.

As mentioned in the previous two posts, we have addressed most of the major infrastructure challenges that required fixing at the Sohm primary school (electrifying the school, upgrading the staff quarters, renovating the toilets, regenerating the school’s library, increasing the water supply and access, revamping a sick room, refurbishing a six-classroom block and finally building a brand new multi-purpose hall).

Our key contact at Sohm, deputy head, Lamin Saidy had been transferred to a similar post in the country’s largest primary school, in Sukuta – essentially a suburb of the country’s biggest urban sprawl, Serekunda – where he found similar problems of infrastructure neglect.

Together, and with the encouragement of the school’s leadership, staff, PTA governors and local education director, we put together an ambitious nine-point plan, spelled out in the previous post:

·

Double water tank capacity

·

Greatly increase the number of water supply standpipes

·

Renovate unhealthy toilets

·

Build the school’s first sick room

·

Bring the dilapidated library back into use

·

Build a covered area for food suppliers

·

Increase the size of the school’s computer room

·

Restore the out-of-bounds school hall, and

·

Create the school’s first staff room

Rotary International is a huge organisation, dedicated to charity, with clubs in almost all countries world-wide. Each club is semi-autonomous in terms of fund-raising activity and charity giving; but the collective efforts of Rotary have been amazing.

We have constructed a complex structure of mainly Rotary-based funding arrangements that will finance most of the £60,000 required to pay for the Sukuta project, transforming The Gambia’s largest primary school into one that is fit-for-purpose in facing the challenges of the 2020s.

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Myanmar protests: BBC journalist Aung Thura held

BBC: Fri, March 19, 2021, 4:49 PM

A reporter with the BBC Burmese service has been detained in Myanmar as clashes continue between security forces and protesters.

Aung Thura was taken away by men in plain clothes while reporting outside a court in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.

The BBC said in a statement that it was extremely concerned and called on the authorities to help locate him.

At least eight people are reported to have died in the most recent protests, which took place in several cities.

Aung Thura was taken away with another reporter, Than Htike Aung, who works for the local news organisation Mizzima. Mizzima's operating licence was revoked by the military government earlier this month.

The men who detained the journalists arrived in an unmarked van at around midday local time (05:30 GMT) on Friday and demanded to see them. The BBC has been unable to contact Aung Thura since.

"The BBC takes the safety of all its staff in Myanmar very seriously and we are doing everything we can to find Aung Thura," the corporation said in a statement

.

"We call on the authorities to help locate him and confirm that he is safe. Aung Thura is an accredited BBC journalist with many years of reporting experience covering events in Nay Pyi Taw."

Forty journalists have been arrested since a military coup on 1 February, which saw the detention of elected civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi. Sixteen are still in custody, and the military has revoked the licences of five media companies.

The eight people killed on Friday were shot dead by security forces in the central town of Aungban, according to a funeral director and local media.

"Security forces came to remove barriers but the people resisted and they fired shots," a witness told Reuters news agency.

Reports from Yangon say the streets have been congested as many people try to flee violence in the country's main city. Police there are also said to be forcing people to remove barricades put up by protesters.

Post-coup violence has claimed the lives of at least 232 Burmese, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group says. One of the bloodiest days was 14 March when 38 were killed.

A joint statement by European Union embassies and those of the US and the UK condemned "the brutal violence against unarmed civilians by security forces".

The statement called on the military to lift martial law, release detainees, end the state of emergency and restore democracy.

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has meanwhile criticised the use of lethal force by the military and called for "a path towards peaceful solutions".

He echoed a call by the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to hold a summit on the situation in Myanmar.

Myanmar profile Myanmar became independent from Britain in 1948. For much of its modern history, it has been under military rule Restrictions began loosening from 2010 onwards, leading to free elections in 2015 and the installation of a government led by veteran opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi the following year In 2017, Myanmar's army responded to attacks on police by Rohingya militants with a deadly crackdown, driving more than half a million Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in what the UN later called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing"

Come Back Dominic All Is Forgiven by Les May

WHILST the strategy of attempting to argue that Mr. Cummings' conduct was within government guidelines is insulting and distressing to those who have made terrible sacrifices by staying indoors away from family, it also clears the "we're all in this together" smokescreen to reveal a political plane where different rules apply.

These are the words of Kirsty Brimelow QC in late May 2020. Whilst apologists like Boris Johnson, Grant Shaps and Matt Hancock took a different line these words are probably a good reflection of the feelings of a majority of people in this country.

On 6 January this year protesters at an anti-lockdown demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament were arrested. The day after, page 10 of the Daily Telegraph carried a large picture, 30x20cm, of an Asian lady being handcuffed behind her back by two police officers wearing surgical type masks. The male officer was wearing a body camera.

Above it was a six column wide article headed ‘Breach the rules and face fine, police warn’. Below it was another article also over six columns by Martin Hewitt who chairs the National Police Chief’s Council which included the words ‘… everyone should understand the rules in their area. We know, for example, that large gatherings should not be happening. Forces will continue to bear down on that very small minority who flagrantly and selfishly breach the regulations.’

Even the editorial in the Telegraph, which largely speaking opposes the lockdown, could not manage to produce an argument against this which went much further than complaining that it might penalise old people who might find the need to sit down on a convenient bench whilst taking their exercise.

On Saturday a bunch of women congregated on Clapham Common and four people were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches. They had gathered after an event organised by Reclaim These Streets was cancelled following talks with the Metropolitan Police, which said it would be in breach of coronavirus rules. In other words they knew exactly what they were doing and now are complaining they were badly treated, though it is difficult to see that they were being treated any differently to the lady at the demo on 6 January. As the character Fletcher said in the BBC TV series Porridge, ‘if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime’.

Let’s not confuse what happened at Clapham Common with the very real threat to our right to use our streets and open spaces to protest. Since the murder of Sarah Everard ego-centric women have exploited what, by its very rarity, the random killing of a young woman walking home after dark, is a devastating and momentous crime, in order to pursue their own agenda against men and trying to spread a of fear of us amongst women. Would it have been even a nine day wonder if it had been a young man killed in a similar circumstances?

If those who support the idea of making misogyny a ‘hate crime’ get their way the same force that is now watching calls for its Commissioner to resign for the way that the Clapham Common incident was was dealt with, will be handed the job of policing the interaction of men and women in London’s streets. Will there be similar outrage if men find themselves faced with on the spot fines, and being handcuffed if they get stroppy, for an overheard comment that a touchy woman takes exception to?

If we are going to swallow the story that the police were wrong to intervene at a gathering when the people there knew it was in contravention of coronavirus rules, then we should be prepared to say we are sorry for all the nasty things we said about Dominic Cummings. The same rules that apply to me apply to women!

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Reflections on Chomsky & the Responsibility of Intellectuals in public spaces by Brian Bamford

ON Saturday, 13 March 2021 Andy Wastling wrote in a post entitled 'We ain't got no swing; Except for the ring of the truncheon thing':

'Local Public Space in Rochdale & the homeless: At the local level readers might want to ask their prospective ward councillors standing for public office in May what their personal views are on the anti-democratic measures lurking in the small print of Rochdale Councils Public Space Protection Order? ...' and he concluded 'It would be interesting to see how many councillors have actually even read the locally drafted legislation they voted for which can also be readily deployed against union members on a legitimate picket line or require campaigners to ask permission before handing out leaflets on a street stall or holding a demonstration in the town centre?'

This post allows us to recall what Neil Smith and Amahl Smith observed intheir easay entitled 'Reflections on Chomsky's "The Responsibility of Intellectuals".': 'In "The Responsibility of Intellectuals" Chomsky focused on the responsibility of individual intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies. But if they they are to be able to do that in a way that has impact, there are perhaps prior responsibilities that need exploring.' In particular they refer to ' "CIVIL SPACE" and the infringement of liberties".' and they point out that 'Above we touched on changes to the academic environment that may discourage at least one set of intellectuals from speaking out', but they conclude that '"Civic space" is the set of conditions that enable citizens to organise, participate and communicate without hinderance' and that 'Civic space is only secure when a state protects its citizens and "respects and facilitates their fundemental rights to associate, assemble peacefully and freely express views and opitions".'

At the time of publication of the essay in 2019 by University College London the authors remind us: 'As the organisation Civicus demonstrates, there is ample evidence that civic space is under attack around the world, and that vulnerable groups are discouraged from speaking out, often under the pretect that this is a necessary part of the counter-terrorism agenda.'

'To take a simple example' the authors say: 'as part of its attempt to stop "radicalisation", the UK government instituted the "Prevebt" strategy. Among provision requires that social services, faith leaders, teachers, doctors and others refer those at risk of radicalisation to a local Prevent body, which then decides what to do.. Among the signs that someone may warrant referral is "having a sense of grievance that is triggered by personal experience or discrimination or aspects of government policy".'

To conclude the authors write: 'The changes in the powers of the UK government [already] touched on above reflect ideologically motivated infringement of liberties more generally. This can be illustrated with a motion brought at the 2017 annual general meeting of the civil liberties and human rights charity Liberty, attcking aspects of the UK government's regressive legislation.'

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Boris Johnson started International Women's Week by claiming he's a feminist !

by Andy Wastling

(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang [1] by Andrew Wastling

THREE days after International Women's Day and the night before Mothers Day his police are directed to brutally attack peaceful female protestors. Johnson's actions seem to be totally out of step with his alleged aspirations or intentions?

This week parliament will vote on Priti Patel's new policing law, effectively destroying the right to protest.Our democracy ( such that it is !) is being gradually eroded as this rogue and toxic Westminster cabal drives towards an increasingly neo-fascist and authoritarian state. This is an existential struggle between the forces of progress and the sinister forces of reaction. One the British working class seem destined to lose if we do not rise from our political torpor and apathy. In Greece , Spain , Italy , Germany and France the workers have been on the streets in force for many months. Governments should be afraid of their people not the other way round.

A peaceful vigil in Manchester by the Emmeline Pankhurst statue passed entirely without incident (despite the background presence of two police vans full of overtime eager GMP officers). The women behind Right To Walk MCR had originally also hoped to hold a covid safe vigil but following conversations with Manchester City Council and GMP were told that they would also receive fines if it went ahead. Despite GMP's dicktact telling protestors that they were unable to proceed with a vigil for Sarah Everard and #ReclaimTheseStreets as well as a virtual online event .The restricted and entirely peaceful , disciplined and socially distanced vigil took place as indeed also happened in Nottingham, and Birmingham, as they did elsewhere outside of the capital with no police harassment or intimidation whatsoever.Right to Walk Manchester have published an Open Letter online demanding an : Everard's Law. From stricter punishments for harassment and catcalling, to better lighting and increased security cameras, our ambition is to create safer communities so that women are more protected. Can be signed at : Petition · An Open Letter for Everard's Law · Change.org

A demonstration has been called at 5pm, tomorrow ( 15 March ), Parliament Square , London And no doubt further national and local vigils and protests are being organised this weekend Cressida Dick, speaking about Sarah’s murder days ago, expressed her shock and said our job is to patrol the streets and to protect people. But at this vigil, her officers did the exact opposite. A petition calling for her to go can be signed below.

https://r.ippl.es/cressida-dick-resign/

APPENDIX:

(1). (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang was written by Heaven 17 members Martyn Ware, Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory and included on their 1981 debut album Penthouse and Pavement. It was the first single released by the band. In the lyrics fascism and racism are described in an ironic fashion, using the lexicon of funk music.

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The Acceptable Face Of Prejudice by Les May

WHEN Davina McCall tweeted: 'Female abduction / murder is extremely rare. Yes we should all be vigilant when out alone. But this level of fear-mongering isn’t healthy. And men’s mental health is an issue as well. Calling all men out as dangerous is bad for our sons, brothers, partners.' she found herself being attacked by people eager to prove the equivalent of ‘black is white’.

As I pointed out a few days ago in the past eleven years an average 28% of killings of women were by someone not known to them compared with 51% of killings of men. In the same period on average more than twice as many men were murdered each year than women, 408 men and 189 women.

When I read that some of the responses referred to ‘an epidemic of violence against women’ I thought that either the definition of violence had been subtly changed whilst I wasn’t looking or the people who were making them were talking about something other than the seemingly random killing of a young woman which had prompted McCall’s original tweet.

What is not in question is that over the same 11 year period where the killer was known to a male victim in 6% of cases the killer was a partner or ex-partner, but where the victim was a woman the killer was a partner or ex-partner in 60% of cases. In spite of their marked asymmetry what these figures demonstrate is that violence leading to death is not exclusively the preserve of men. Some women are violent too and no amount of excuses designed to exonerate them will change that.

A common assumption is that domestic abuse is also something which is exclusively carried out be men. But the term itself embraces all forms of abuse within a domestic situation irrespective of the relationship between perpetrator and victim. A more useful approach is to examine ‘partner abuse’ which occurs within/between married or cohabiting couples.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that for the 12 months ending March this year 4% of people aged 16 to 74 were victims of partner abuse, e.g. non-physical, threats, force, sexual and stalking, on one or more occasions. A frequent complaint by women eager to over egg the pudding is that there is under reporting to the police of such incidents.

Not subject to this complaint as they were collected from a random sample of adults by means of a questionnaire, are data taken from the Home Office Statistical Bulletin published in 2012. This does not report sexual abuse and stalking by partners separately from the domestic context, however it does report non-physical abuse, threats and force by partners and it shows that 5% of women and 3% of men reported one or more such incidents in the previous year. It also reported that 24% of women and 12% of men claimed to have experienced at least one incident of non-physical abuse, threats and force by partners at some time in their lives between the ages of 16 and 59. What is clear is that women as well as men abuse their partners; only the extent of abuse differs. Vague talk about ‘changing the culture’ or demanding that misogyny be made a hate crime whilst always insisting that men are the problem and women are the victims, will not change things. It is no more than the socially acceptable face of prejudice. Similar levels of prejudice on the basis of skin colour would result in howls of protest. If we are shocked that 1 in 20 women experience abuse by a partner in any one year, we ought to be equally shocked that 1 in 33 men experience the same. If we are shocked that an average of 52 women a year die in random attacks we should be equally shocked to discover that for men the figure is four time higher at 209.

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We ain't got no swing; Except for the ring of the truncheon thing [1] | by Andrew Wastling

SUCCESSIVE generations of Britain's working class it would seem are destined to endure a double hammering on the anvil of Tory economic policy and the cosh of the police truncheon. This multi-generationalional masochism is in some cases entirely self inflicted by the apparent inability of elements of the working class to agitate, educate and organise at grassroots level to vote for candidates who represent their class interests (The infamous Working Class Tory voter) or to establish working models of self-government outside of, and independent to the terminally corrupt Parliamentary system ,

( The Non-Parliamentary Road to Socialism ).

This pantomime more akin to a Dario Fo farce than a mature fully functioning democracy is abley co-facilitated and enabled by a neutered Blue Labour bureaucratic class hunkered down in their Town Halls bunkers and a sycophantic & quisling mainstream media promoting a 24/7 pro-government propaganda news agenda narrative.

No one should be surprised that former Goldman Sachs banker Richard Sharp is set to be appointed the Chairman of the BBC's board of directors after donating more than £400,000 to the Conservative Party since 2001 .It should come as no shock to any of us either that a rogue Johson administration will be expecting an imminent popular backlash and is pre-rigging the courts and legislature accordingly. Johnson after all bought the three water cannon he expected to have to deploy on the streets of London when he was Mayor way back in 2014 (although they were subsequently scrapped Johnson said later: We can’t use them at the moment. That is correct. We haven’t been given a general licence for their use. We will keep these devices in reserve and should there be another occasion when they might be a useful tool of crowd control, the Metropolitan police commissioner can make another application.)

More recently the arrest and ten thousand pound fine of a pensioner for organising a socially distanced protest in support of an increase on the paltry one per cent pay rise for NHS workers in Manchester, (Has GMP been consistent in handling protests during Covid? What police, protesters and Andy Burnham have to say... - Manchester Evening News) , and this weekend's effective banning of the vigil for Sarah Everard in Clapham by Metropolitan Police shows clearly which way the wind is blowing and the chilling effect it is set to have on future protests. The 1986 Public Order Act and the 1994 Criminal Justice Bill & Public Order Bill serve as just two reminders of how a reactionary state apparatus legislates to suppress not only political dissent but lifestyle choices such as New Age Travellers (The Battle of the Beanfield) and Britain's 1990's Warehouse & Acid House Counter-culture - both seen as a serious challenge to a moribund establishment by disaffected and creative youth.

This is merely history repeating itself as the state seeks once more to silence voices of dissent and prevent the free association of people as it has done for centuries from The Diggers of St.George's Hill in 1649, through to Peterloo, Red Clydeside, the 1984 Miners strike and the Poll Tax Riots of the 1990's and beyond.

The famous quote attributed to Emma Goldman: If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution seems likely to resonate loudly in Covid ravaged Britain as a government claiming to be Levelling Up might suddenly find the Levelling process goes in entirely an unexpected redistributionary direction. Britain's youth may be willing to accept curtailments to their individual freedoms & liberties this summer as a necessary precautionary measure to combat the transmission of Covid through our communities it is difficult to see how such draconian restrictions will be imposed or widely followed next summer (or the summer after that) without some kind of culture clash ensuing later if not sooner.

Local Public Space in Rochdale & the homeless

At the local level readers might want to ask their prospective ward councillors standing for public office in May what their personal views are on the anti-democratic measures lurking in the small print of Rochdale Councils Public Space Protection Order?

Local campaigners rejected the deeply flawed legislation on the grounds that:

The Council should not fine people who are homeless if they beg for money. We also believe banning people from giving out leaflets is a serious attack on our civil liberties. The other parts of the order are unworkable and will lead people, particularly young people, to be brought unnecessarily into the criminal justice system.

http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/pdf/2018-08-22-made-rochdale-town-centre-pspo-v2.pdf

It would be interesting to see how many councillors have actually even read the locally drafted legislation they voted for which can also be readily deployed against union members on a legitimate picket line or require campaigners to ask permission before handing out leaflets on a street stall or holding a demonstration in the town centre?

If they want our votes sometime before May 6 is probably a good time to put them on the spot The price of freedom truly is eternal vigilance!

In the meantime here's a summary of organisations calling for protection of the right to associate and protest:

Netpol:

Netpol have launched an urgent petition calling on the National Police Chiefs Council to adopt new guidelines to protect the right to protest – or explain why they refuse to do so. Add your name today. A Charter for Freedom of Assembly Rights | Netpol

Liberty:

In the coming weeks, MPs will vote again on the harmful Coronavirus Act – the biggest threat to civil liberties in a generation. Email your MP today and tell them to change course, scrap the Coronavirus Act, and replace it with a rights-focused approach, such as the Protect Everyone Bill. Liberty Human Rights

Amnesty International:

Amnesty International has condemed the conviction of Spanish rapper Pablo Hasél for “glorifying terrorism” and is calling on the Ministry of Justice in Spain to change the criminal code and defend freedom of expression.

Hasel has been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment and six years’ disqualification from employment in the public sector. He has also been convicted of insulting the Crown and state institutions. In total, he will face a fine of almost 30,000 euros.

Esteban Beltrán, Director of Amnesty International Spain, said: “No one should face criminal prosecution for expressing themselves on social media or for singing something that may be distasteful or shocking. Expressions that do not clearly and directly incite violence should not be criminalised."

“Pablo Hasél’s imprisonment is an excessive and disproportionate restriction on his freedom of expression, but he is not alone in suffering the consequences of unjust laws: many other artists, journalists or activists have received heavy fines or long periods of exclusion from the public sector. It’s a sad consequence for our society: self-censorship for fear of repression.

If the articles of th“e Criminal Code are not amended, freedom of expression will continue to be silenced and artistic expression will continue to be restricted.”

* Source: Spain: Jailing of rapper is 'unjust and disproportionate' | Amnesty International UK

Green and Black Cross :

Provide volunteers able to help with legal matters arising from protest and actions only. An independent grassroots project set up in the spirit of mutual aid to support social and environmental struggles within the UK.

Excellent demonstration Bust cards can be downloaded from : Bustcard | Green and Black Cross

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APPENDIX :

[1].London Calling : The Clash ( Joe Strummer & Mick Jones ) 1979

EDITOR'S POSTSCRIPT:

BASED ON LIBCOM ACCOUNT.

Who is Pablo Hasél? And what is happening in Spain in regards to his case and the riots that followed?

Pablo Hasél is a 32 year old Catalan1 rapper and anti-fascist. As a rapper his songs generally focus on left-wing causes, armed struggle, and are frequently critical of the Spanish monarchy.2 The Spanish state has extremely retrograde laws regarding what may be thought of as ‘freedom of speech’. These include article 491 of the Spanish Penal code which calls for fines and prison sentences of up to two years for ‘Insults to the Crown’, and Article 578 which calls for similar punishment for ‘glorifying terrorism’. These laws are used disproportionately against people on the left and anarchists, while far-right individuals and neo-nazis are rarely if ever charged or sentenced to jail time.

Pablo Hasél has repeatedly run afoul of these laws. He has refused to censor his message and because of this he has been prosecuted for the content of his lyrics, especially his references to historical armed groups such as GRAPO3, and criticism of the king and the Royal family. In 2018 he was found guilty violating Article 578 and 492 and was ordered to enter into prison two years later in February of 2021. Hasél refused to voluntarily turn himself in, instead issuing a public statement and barricading himself among supporters inside Leida University. Riot police fought their way into the university and took him into custody on February 16th. His arrest and the underlying anger felt among a large segment of mostly young people in Catalunya and throughout the Spanish state led to almost a week of rioting especially in Barcelona, but also in Madrid, Valencia, the Basque Country and smaller cities like Vic, Iruñea (Pamplona), Lleida and Granada.

The widespread nature and strength of the rioting surprised many among the Spanish status quo, however it is clear that a tension has been building for quite some time as the Spanish state continues to expose and even flaunt its authoritarian nature.

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West Cumberland Mining by David J. Douglass

Will This Be The Last Great Fight Of The BRITISH MINERS?

IT SEEMS utterly ridiculous that the plan to open ONE very small coal mine in Whitehaven which will provide essential steel coal for the steel industry, and supply the work starved area with a total of 2500 jobs should have become such a global battleground. Given the ongoing destruction of the rain forests and jungles, the never-ending consumption of trees one would have thought the ecological warriors would have other things to focus on. Yet here we have the Labour Party as a National Institution ensuring that their Shadow cabinet, and Shadow spokespeople on all subjects took every opportunity to use the TV platforms they had been called to discuss China, or the Far East, the NHS or whatever, to dive straight in an stamp and scream about this coal mine.

Labour has made stopping this mine front and centre of its politics, it tells you that its former alleged commitment to the miners and our communities was skin deep at best and sheer hypocrisy in all probability. Now John Kerry, the architect of the global green capitalist revolution and US ambassador for the Environment and Global Warming has an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister and what is top his agenda? US coal mining, strip mining, world drought, starvation, destruction of forests and natural environments???

NO, our wee coal mine. Remember that at present the coal for British steel, comes from coal shipped from the USA, is he telling us this will now stop? Will US coal be prevented from coming here or being shipped to China or anywhere? No its our mine he wants to stop not theirs. Is American steel now going to stop production, and stop using steel coal? No of course not. So now Boris tells Jenrick to overturn his previous decision to leave the question to the Cumberland County Council who have approved it four times. The Government will now set up 'an enquiry' of course Jenrick has already studied in detail the massive reams of evidence considered at Council public enquiries which had dozens of expert witnesses. He already defacto agreed the case for the mine by not pulling the plug before.

So, its hard to know just what 'new evidence' other than Kerry and the Green hysterics, and Labour and Lib Dem's and the Climate Committee all talking out of their backsides; can look at. If he is genuinely looking at this, I hope I get the chance to speak. The 2500 people of Whitehaven who seen the chance for a new tomorrow and desperately needed jobs and new lives will have their lives left dangling over the crevasse of enduring social deprivation and poverty in one of the most socially neglected areas of Britain meantime, while the well-heeled middle class green liberals are doubtless dancing a jig.

If the mine is stopped, will steel imports and production be stopped, will all steel manufacture be stopped? No, it will not, so will any 'emissions' from coke and steel manufacture be saved? Not at all, not one once of c02 or methane will be 'saved' in fact it will increase because of the extra emissions caused by shipping the steel or coal across the Atlantic or from the Baltic or Australia. This is an exercise in self-serving virtue signalling hypocrisy with more than a touch of class hatred.

This may turn out to be the last great fight of the British miners, we ought never to forget whose side our self declared friends fought on.

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Making The Streets Safe For Men by Les May

DONALD Trump introduced us to the world of ‘alternative facts’ or to give them their proper name ‘deliberate lies’. It worked and now a significant proportion of US voters continue to believe he is the legitimate president. But as we are seeing at the moment with the insistence of some Tory apologists that the ‘Test, Track, Trace’ scheme was wondrously good value for money, some people are willing to repeat the same thing over and over again on the assumption that people will start to believe that it is true.

Sometimes it’s not the result of politicians trying to persuade us that results in a public perception that something is true when it isn’t. What we read in the print media or see on TV is the result of selection by journalists of what they think is important enough to make a good story. A murder which figures prominently on our front pages or news headline, especially the murder of an attractive young woman, can by constant repetition, be made to give a distorted picture of reality unless one is careful to look at the data.

According to the Office of National Statistics:

In the 1960s, the proportion of homicide victims was fairly evenly split between males and females. Since then trends in homicide have generally been driven by changes in the number of male rather than female victims. Over the longer term, the number of female victims has tended to fluctuate between 200 and

250 a year from the 1960s. In contrast, the number of male victims increased…

In recent years the number of male victims has fluctuated from an average of 550 between 2001 and 2005, to 323 in 2015, the lowest number for a quarter of a century. Even in that year male victims still made up about two thirds of the total number.

Since 2000 some 40% of all murder victims have been in the age range 16 to 34. Young men made up 80% of victims between the ages of 16 and 24, and 72% between 25 and 34.

In the year ending March 2019, 14% of victims were Black and almost half of these were in the age range 16 to 24. White murder victims made up 71% of the total, 6% were Asian (Indian subcontinent), 4% ‘other’.

The claim sometimes made that our streets are particularly unsafe for women is not supported by the available data. Over the most recent eleven year period 51% of killings of men were by someone not previously known to them compared with 28% of women victims.

Contemplating figures like this is not a pleasant occupation, but it should warn us about the futility of a‘ knee jerk’ reaction to a single well publicised death. A more mature response might be to recognise that directing our efforts towards young men, perhaps especially young Black men, between the ages of 16 and 34 might pay the greatest dividend.

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Government new restrictions to the right to protest!

from Andrew Wasting

THE coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on our ability to take to the streets. Now the Home Office is busy preparing, in readiness for when public health restrictions start to ease, to make sweeping changes to public order legislation that will give the police extra powers to restrict future protests.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill announced today includes plans to “strengthen police powers to tackle non-violent protests that have a significant disruptive effect on the public or on access to Parliament”.

Home Secretary Priti Patel’s anger is aimed in particular at Extinction Rebellion and the rejuvenated Black Lives Matter movement. Last year she attacked Extinction Rebellion as “so-called eco-crusaders turned criminals” and denounced their direct action and civil disobedience tactics as “a shameful attack on our way of life, our economy and the livelihoods of the hard-working majority”.

Patel has also condemned Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020 – some of the biggest seen in recent years. Although protesters took to streets that were largely empty because of the pandemic to demand racial justice and most protests passed without incident, Patel characterised them as “dreadful” and demonised those who took part in them “hooligans and thugs”. The new Bill will increase the maximum penalty for criminal damage of a memorial – like the statue to Bristol slave trader Edward Colston toppled in June last year – from 3 months to 10 years.

Netpol’s report last year highlighted, however, how it was Black-led demonstrations that were more likely to experience aggressive, more confrontational policing.

In the aftermath of a summer of demonstrations in 2020, Patel requested a review by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue (HMICFR) to look at the way protests are policed and whether police forces should have new public order laws to protect “the rights of others to go about their daily business”

.

In the course of its consultation for the review, HMICFR indicated to Netpol that the government wants to challenge the perceived legitimacy of certain protest tactics by groups like Extinction Rebellion, as well as to give the police the power to more widely interpret whether protests like Black Lives Matter constitute “significant disruption” and are therefore likely to justify arrests.

Even before protests by Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter, the police seemed to believe that rights to freedom of assembly are “abused” by even minor breaches of the law, such as blocking roads. A much-delayed draft ‘Protest Operational Advice’ for local forces, produced by the National Police Chiefs Council in 2018 and based largely on the policing of five years of opposition to fracking, relied heavily on the notion that human rights protections for protests should not extend to activities that negate the rights of others, including companies.

As Netpol’s Lawyers Group said in a submission at the time, there is absolutely no legal basis for such a claim, which would “constitute a doctrinal leap of massive proportions on current case-law principles”. Nevertheless, there is ample evidence that the police have continued to lobby hard for tougher new laws.

The Home Secretary’s plans look, on the face of it, like a combination of defending business interests and petty vengeance against political and social movements she dislikes. However, they are unlikely to frighten off many campaign groups from returning to the streets once the current restrictions end. With institutional racism and climate change still acutely critical issues, more arrests and more criminalisation therefore seems inevitable.

Resisting attacks on the freedom to protest

We are opposing planned changes to the law that threaten our right to protest and are calling on other organisations and individuals to join us.

However, in responding to these latest challenges, Netpol argues that unless we advocate for positive demands, the government will simply keep chipping away at our rights.

This is why we are also launching a new “Charter for Freedom of Assembly Rights”, which calls on the government and the police to accept greater transparency and accountability for the way protests are policed. We are demanding police respect existing international human rights standards – or explain why they refuse to do so.

Amongst its eleven points, the Charter calls for:

Proper protections – not more restrictions – for the right to protest. This includes an end to treating direct action and civil disobedience as an excuse to shut down protests completely.

An end to routine surveillance of protesters. This includes strict limitations on the use of police video recording, use of facial recognition, and surveillance of social media sites used by campaigners.

An end to discriminatory policing of Black-led protests, which in particular disproportionately face excessive and violent interventions.

An end to targeting the most vulnerable. The police have a particular duty to protect the rights of young people, vulnerable and disabled people wishing to exercise their rights to freedom of assembly.

Next week, we are formally launching the Charter for Freedom of Assembly Rights. Please ask your organisation to add its name in support of the Charter.

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