MeldilornFeb 29, 2024
Patrick Hadfield

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
Feb 29, 2024 at 6:56amWeb
Show threadJoanna CzechowskaFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield Yeah and the mob is the Tory Party.
Show threadPeter LeeFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield has he been watching GBNews? Can’t imagine where else he’s getting this twaddle…
Show threadAral BalkanFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield The only mob rule I see is the mob of toffs currently running things.
Show threadGoose of StrathearnFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield The mob being the Tories.
Show threadPete Alex Harris🦡🕸️🌲/∞🪐∫Feb 29, 2024

@patrickhadfield
But he isn't claiming that public protest has resulted in any policy changes, is he?

So which mob is ruling, exactly?

He can demand the police be more brutal to protesters, but good luck with cracking down on subversion; that's not how it works. If effective public protest becomes illegal, he isn't going to like the alternative, which is people taking direct action for which they're less likely to get caught. It's illegal either way, so what's the incentive to play fair?

Show threadPaul H 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇪🇺Feb 29, 2024

@petealexharris @patrickhadfield

The logical consequence of stopping more regular forms of peaceful protest. You reap what you sow.

Show threadMrs CloudyFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield "subversion"? Aye? 🙄
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 HadfieldFeb 29, 2024
@julian I meant to watch that - thanks for the reminder!
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
Show threadCharles ☭ is now tooting from queer.partyFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield the peasants are becoming unruly and now showing proper deference to their betters, explained the Etonian.
Show threadPaul H 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇪🇺Feb 29, 2024

@patrickhadfield

At the same time as tacitly supporting "mob-rule" by tractor...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-wales-68417615
(Disclaimer - the farmers are right to protest)

Show threadRichard WebbFeb 29, 2024

@patrickhadfield
If only they had clamped down on subversion.

Well the second best time to start is now, and they are being invited to a good place to start.

Show threadBashStKidFeb 29, 2024

@patrickhadfield Yes, that well-defined legal term, mob, not at all subjective.

“Protesting farmers breached college gates as First Minister Mark Drakeford arrived” - not a mob, look, Sunak is literally standing with them.

“You’ve made your point – now stop and go home, Cleverly tells pro-Palestine protesters” - quick, Home Secretary, save us from the mob.

Show threadSkjeggtrollFeb 29, 2024

@patrickhadfield

"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".""

Downing Street _does_ seem to be the best place to start.

Show threadSteven HeywoodFeb 29, 2024

@patrickhadfield
He's seen the photos of police actions during the Miners' Strike and thought: "I want a bit of that."

#ToriesOut
#TheNastyParty

Show threadAFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield if you want to know the calibre of a politician, look at the protection they demand, it is an inverse relationship. If everyone is happy with you, no protection is required.
Show threadUnredacted Epstein files nowFeb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield The leader of the nasty party being nasty. What a surprise.
Show thread⁂ Fish Id WardrobeFeb 29, 2024

@patrickhadfield
"People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people."

It appears that they are.

Show threadJohn Caveney woke is me🛠️Feb 29, 2024
@patrickhadfield That’s how we end up with a dictatorship.