Rishi Sunak

‘Profoundly anti-democratic and repressive’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/profoundly-anti-democratic-and-repressive

Government told to reject John Woodcock’s proposals to blacklist Palestine solidarity and climate campaign groups

UNIONS and human rights groups have called on the government to reject “profoundly anti-democratic and repressive” proposals to blacklist Palestine solidarity and climate campaign groups.

John Woodcock, Westminster’s adviser on political violence, urged the government earlier this month to ban politicians from engaging with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), as well as groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil.

Mr Woodcock, who has received money from Israel lobby groups, said that the government should take a “zero-tolerance approach” to pro-Palestine protests, which he claimed were a “menace […] threatening our democracy.”

In a joint statement, civil rights orgnisations Liberty, Friends of the Earth and Amnesty International said the activities of organisations like PSC are “essential elements of our democratic system.”

“Any suggestion that the government or political parties should ban all meetings or engagement with legal civil society organisations or sections of the electorate is profoundly anti-democratic and sets a dangerous precedent,” it warned.

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“Politicians should be listening to the wishes of the public and put pressure on Israel to end its murderous assault, rather than trying to shut down democratic engagement and debate.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/profoundly-anti-democratic-and-repressive

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Tories fear losing half their seats in May local polls as pre-election budget flops

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https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/10/tories-fear-losing-half-seats-may-local-polls-councils-election-budget-rishi-sunak

Victories in councils won during Boris Johnson’s ‘vaccine boost’ of 2021 face wipeout, leaving Rishi Sunak’s regime in peril

Senior Tories are braced for a catastrophic set of local elections that will see a collapse in council seats won at the peak of the “vaccine bounce” enjoyed by Boris Johnson.

Rishi Sunak’s allies regard the results as the most dangerous moment remaining for the prime minister before the general election. While many of Sunak’s Tory critics have little appetite for removing him, some said they were asking themselves: “What is there to lose?” after a pre-election budget that has failed to increase Conservative support.

Sunak, under pressure to explain how he would pay for his pledge to abolish national insurance contributions by the end of the next parliament, has expanded on the measures in the budget by announcing that he is preparing a new benefits squeeze to fund it.

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https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/10/tories-fear-losing-half-seats-may-local-polls-councils-election-budget-rishi-sunak

Continue ReadingTories fear losing half their seats in May local polls as pre-election budget flops

PM warned not to stir up fear of peace demos

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/pm-warned-not-to-stir-up-fear-of-peace-demos

Protesters during a National March for Palestine in central London, January 13, 2024

JEWISH campaigners accused the government of exploiting fear for its own political purposes today.

The backlash came after the government’s counter-extremism commissioner said London has become a “no-go zone for Jews” during weekend pro-Palestinian marches. Around 145,000 Jews live in the city.

Robin Simcox, previously a Margaret Thatcher fellow at the neo-conservative Heritage Foundation, said protests were “becoming ever more vociferous” in an article in the Daily Telegraph.

He said that the government had “more power to tackle extremism than it sometimes thinks” and that it should “move faster, be bolder and be willing to accept higher legal risk if it means implementing policies that keep us safer.”

In response, Downing Street said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was taking the concerns “extremely seriously.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/pm-warned-not-to-stir-up-fear-of-peace-demos

dizzy: Football or rugby matches are also no-go zones on weekends for others. It’s a matter of simply staying out of the way of huge numbers, not applying apartheid by banning sporting events at the behest of a privileged class.

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‘Pre-election gimmicks’: How trade unions reacted to the Budget

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/03/pre-election-gimmicks-how-trade-unions-reacted-to-the-budget/

From missed opportunities to ‘Tory hot air’, trade unions weigh in on the Spring Budget announcements

Responding to Jeremy Hunt’s spring budget statement today, union leaders have shared their thoughts on what it will mean for workers across the UK, with warnings of deepening crises in their respective industries. 

The Chancellor was condemned for failing to announce proper investment in public services, with trade union leaders accusing him of using “deeply cynical” pre-election “gimmicks”.

Union leaders had already warned the Chancellor of the need to provide extra cash for public services, as Jeremy Hunt has been blasted for falling well short of delivering for working people. 

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/03/pre-election-gimmicks-how-trade-unions-reacted-to-the-budget/

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