Demonising Peaceful Protest Demonstrates the Level of Political and Moral Bankruptcy in Parliament
The fact that Westminster is content to play cynical games while Palestinians suffer is beneath contempt writes Lindsey German
The shameful scenes in parliament where Labour manoeuvred to stop a principled motion calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza are bad enough. But even worse is the justification of many Labour MPs for the coercion of the Speaker: that they were fearful of intimidation and violence from demonstrators over Gaza.
Firstly, this is a lie: the protests that take place at MPs’ offices are overwhelmingly peaceful and no threat to MPs or their staff. They are a longstanding and valid form of expressing disagreement and concern over issues in a democracy. But such is the state of politics in Britain that they are now equated with intimidation of MPs. Perhaps these MPs – highly salaried and privileged in comparison with most of their constituents – should have reflected when they stood for office that being involved in politics of necessity involves disagreement and controversy at certain times.
There is a huge movement in support of the Palestinians across Britain and real anger that politicians have for the most part stood by as we witness a genocide in Gaza. None of these protests would take place if the MPs concerned had taken the very minimal step of backing an immediate ceasefire.
But there is also a second and more important question: why MPs are so self-centred to highlight the minimal inconvenience to them while people are starving in Gaza, while over 12,000 children have been killed and where the population is being ethnically cleansed? And why did the Labour leadership refuse to accept an amendment which talked about the collective punishment of the people of Gaza? The Labour position on Gaza has been a disgrace from the beginning and this is why they are facing a wave of protest.
The fact that they are trying to demonise protestors and to paint them as violent extremists shows their political and moral bankruptcy. The fact that they are content to play their cynical and pathetic games while the Palestinians suffer is beneath contempt.
22 Feb 2024
Scientists march on Parliament to demand MPs listen to no new oil demand
Over one hundred experts from across the country came together yesterday in the UK’s largest ever climate protest by scientists to demand MPs say no to new oil and gas.
This July the government approved the licensing of 100 new oil and gas fields, as Rishi Sunak pledged he would “max out” the UK’s oil and gas reserves in a move blasted catastrophic by experts.
Now climate change experts have left their labs to take to the streets of Westminster to tell the Prime Minister and MPs that the plans are just not feasible, and that they must listen to the science.
Campaigner and scientist Emma Smart told Left Foot Forward why scientists were taking action, many for the first time.
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“The government isn’t acting on the science- the truth- and the media aren’t reporting it, consequently the public are not aware of the scale or urgency of what we are currently facing”, said Smart.
“But scientists are acutely aware, even if their discipline isn’t directly climate science. That’s why many are moving from publication to public action, for they feel it is now their duty in a climate crisis to not just write science, but to shout it from the streets.
“Historically, non-violent direct action has delivered the necessary pressure on these ‘pillars of power’ and now scientists are leaving their labs and taking to the streets to drive the change we so desperately need.”
She added: “Watch this space – scientists are refusing to be bystanders anymore.”
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