Patrick HadfieldFeb 29, 2024

This is just utter bollocks.

"Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned police chiefs of a "growing consensus that mob rule is replacing democratic rule".

...He wants more robust police responses that he says are needed to protect politicians and democratic processes.

Now police bosses have been summoned to Downing Street, where the PM urged them to use existing powers to crack down on intimidation, disruption and subversion "urgently"."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68429902

UK descending into mob rule, PM warns police

Officers need to demonstrate to the public they will use their powers, Rishi Sunak says.

BBC News
Show threadJulian ElveFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield strangely enough, this week BBC released documentary looking back at the Miners' Strike of '84 from 40 years - perhaps Rish! is channelling the rabble-rousing rhetoric of the Iron Lady?
Show threadPatrick Hadfield
@julian I meant to watch that - thanks for the reminder!
Feb 29, 2024 at 9:37amWeb
Show threadJulian ElveFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield well worth it as a reminder of what happened - consists mostly of interviews with half a dozen individuals - strikers and non-strikers, plus an ex-policeman who is clear they were used as political pawns. And one of the strikers in the closing comments wryly observes that workers today have even fewer rights
Show threadHelen GrahamFeb 29, 2024
@julian @patrickhadfield Police in a lot of places dont want to use heavy handed policing exactly because of what happened back then ,they know enforcing unjust measures will alienate communities that they have often but a lot of effort into trying to work alongside ,I think its telling that a PM is having to try to bully police into using legislation they clearly are uncomfortable enforcing (aside from his buddies in the Met and possibly one or two other big cities).
Show threadJulian ElveFeb 29, 2024
@Helengraham @patrickhadfield indeed, and to "fix" his pre-election nerves about the threat from Reform and others