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I posted an earlier version of this a while back – inspired to do update following THAT discussion about all things ULEZ.
The “manifesto”, in terms of transport, only mentions stopping HS2, but there’s plenty on the usual right-wing obsessions: Brexit, immigration, veterans and climate change. I had another look because I worry about the ongoing decline of the two main political parties.
If the Cons stay wedded to Brexit, then we will go into the next GE with all the widespread impoverishment Brexit has ushered in – not helped by Covid, Putin, etc. People generally vote according to their pockets. I don’t get Labour’s current position on Europe either, but let’s see how that evolves, and even the Cons may also evolve, or even pivot, but time is already running out for them.
Several roads now lead to the horrors of a further lurch to the right in this country. Let’s hope Labour get the GE landslide the polls are predicting – but we’re still at least a year out from the real campaigning beginning.
A cycling angle? With the Reform Party and its ilk, Facebook Steve and Nextdoor Dave attain real political influence. It’s not spelt out in the manifesto, but you can see where this is probably heading and what it is likely to mean for cycling. You can bet that this lot are very much “on the side of hard working drivers” etc.
As you all know, Dave’s going to “sort the traffic” and no doubt show them lazy planners how it’s done: Steve thinks the Council are corrupt, the police blinkered and is, if he can fit it in to his busy schedule he’s going to “teach them Lycra’s a thing or two.” It won’t concern him that his Mondeo is 3 months out of MoT or that Mrs Steve sometimes drives the kids in it uninsured.
As vulnerable road users, vulnerable people, we rely a great deal on the rule of law for protection. The rule of law means that we understand what the laws are, they are in general fair, and how they are applied and to whom is even-handed and consistent.
The fascist position is broadly the opposite – it’s all off-the-cuff to support today’s particular agenda – that’s why the Iain Duncan-Smith “happy to see ULEZ infra vandalised” comment is, as an example, so very worrying. In the Conservatives, here is a party happy to send signals to enable the mob to attack RNLI stations, beat up immigrants, shout at teachers, doctors etc.
This right-wing stuff works by allowing/enabling significant privileged groups to to think of themselves as the downtrodden underdog and here is a way to fight back. The pro Brexit campaign played on people’s ignorance, fears and prejudices exactly as this does.
It’s all about freedom, innit, less regulation, less tax burden, and damn the climate. There’s more polar bears now, so it’s fine. Let’s have open-cast coal mining, lithium mining and fracking. The section on climate change stumbles around like a Friday night drunk, trying to explain he wasn’t being racist to the barman – a denier position emerges, unsurprisingly.
In places, the mask really slips: “We must keep divisive woke ideologies such as Critical Race Theory (CRT) and gender ideology out of the classroom.” – to be honest, I don’t even know what those two are.
The standard enemies are put up – the civil service, the BBC. Amid all the thrust and parry, there’s nothing about making a better, more inclusive and cohesive world to live in; arts, sports and culture don’t feature in this barstool view of the world: a dullard’s grim vision.
Don’t be a member of the wrong sort of minority would be my advice, should any of this come to pass.
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One of the articles said they
One of the articles said they were developing an app so people could summon their, er, help.
Hello and welcome to Safeguard – your call is important to us. So that we may direct your call, please select from the following options:
If you’re concerned that immigrants are taking over – press 1
if you feel you can’t even wish someone Merry Christmas these days press 2
if your grandaughter is hanging around with someone who dyes their hair – press 3
if you’re looking out to sea anywhere in Bournemouth and you see a dinghy [you get the idea] – press 4
if you’ve been thrown out of Wetherspoons – it’s 5
if there are no cyclists, but you know of someone who’s been hit by a cyclist – press 6
If you’ve thrown a cyclist off a sea wall or into a canal – press 7
if you’ve been told to go on an EDI course – press 8
for enquiries about the founder’s social media – see below
Why look a vigilante patrol
Why look a vigilante patrol has started up in Bournemouth this week. A battery of recent headlines imaged below. I thought the. “no unspent convictions” line this week was good, but today’s story about the founder’s social media tops it
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/25393894.concerns-inclusive-patrol-group-anti-migrant-posts/
“Addressing concerns over the gun image, he said: “I categorically state that this was taken out of context.😅
“It was not connected to Safeguard Force and did not promote violence in any way. I understand how it could be misinterpreted, which is why we are careful that official Safeguard Force communications focus solely on community safety and reassurance.”
Mr Bartlett, who runs a small Dorset business, also confirmed that he set up the Facebook group Taking Back Our Country.”
We’re in Piranah Brothers territory here, I think https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZkWL-XvO0U (“there was none of that – that was definitely out”)
Amos says atom bombs saved
Amos says atom bombs saved lives and VJ Day ‘not racist’
A minor character in the Reform movement, he seems to have moved from Labour in Tower Hamlets LBC, to Worcester Conservatives and then to Reform.
As always, he can’t quantify who “they” are that believe VJ Day to be racist.
Anyway, it was the AIrcraft (DYSWIDT?) shown in his flag that ticked me. I’m no expert, but this small boy did enough Airfix kits to know that there’s no Spitfire with a bomb bay – but don’t let facts, accuracy or detail get in the way of your nonsense.
Somewhere downthread is charted the Reform shift from “only the Union Jack ever to be flown at the council” to “oh yeah, and other flags we deem to be patriotic, oh county/regional flags are ok too”
https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/25357996.amos-says-atom-bombs-saved-lives-vj-day-not-racist/
Reform UK leaders launch
Reform UK leaders launch Lincolnshire Opposes Renewable Eyesores campaign against renewable energy projects
Imagine this being your position. Wtjs, I’ll see your woke and raise you an eco-zealot. And now over to Brexit Central for an announcement with no ulterior motives: “Mr Tice said: “Our message to developers is ‘invest in these schemes at your financial peril.’
“We will use lawfare and legal campaigns to push the envelope as far as we can and dissuade investors.”
https://www.lincsonline.co.uk/boston/reform-launches-new-fight-against-renewables-9427733/
pic : Brexit Central – what is it about the east coast of England??
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