Dear friends,
Let’s start with the bad news.
Social gatherings of more than six people will be banned from Monday. Government commands like this raise little more than an eyebrow these days, but they should raise a ruckus.
The need to limit social contacts may be arguable — but if it is a winning argument, why isn’t the case being made democratically? Why isn’t Parliament voting on this major incursion into our lives? Why is there such an absence of democratic debate?
We must never accept being ruled by diktat.
As our director writes in today’s Telegraph,
“An important opportunity for a course correction will arrive in Parliament in coming weeks, when MPs will have the chance to repeal the Coronavirus Act. The Act represents the biggest expansion of executive power in a generation, and contains some of the most extreme powers in modern British history. If Parliament is serious about taking back control of our laws, the time is now.”
The motion to renew the Coronavirus Act hasn’t been tabled yet — as soon as it is, we’ll let you know how to take action.
Now for the good news!
An important exemption is set to be put in the new restrictions on gatherings to protect the right to protest.
For months, we’ve been lobbying Government to end the criminalisation of people exercising their democratic rights to protest, whatever their cause. Now, it looks like we’ve won! Protest organisers will have to comply with public health guidance and conduct risk assessments — we'll analyse these details as soon as the new law is published. This is a huge improvement on the previous outright ban on demonstrations.
The right to protest, particularly in the context of the state’s growing authoritarian powers, is a vital freedom in any democracy — we will always defend it.
Thank you for standing with us at this critical time.
Madeleine Legal & Policy Officer
The tiniest of lights. The fact that the act is even being considered is atrocious. That they will even massively vote in favour of extending it is beyond absurd. That people still believe protesting will change it ... 😔
Protesting can change anything. The problem is that our protesting situation is based on a part-time or casual and nothing more. If we were daily by the thousands outside Downing Street and Parliament, the Government would have to resign. The problem is we are making everything to easy for them. If we don't protest we are accepting the fascist regime.
But we have to take protest seriously as we do at work.
Can anyone tell me of a protest that changed something? People mention poll tax yet we have council tax. Iraq war? 🤔
Just shows we can do it, well done to all concerned, thank you! Just lets have more joining the cause and LEARN TO SAY NO.
Of course protesting works but as Maria says it has to be constant, every day not just once a month or every couple of weeks. Belgrade early July is the perfect example!
The good news? If they let our type of protest go ahead which is against the Coronavirus Act, lockdown, compulsory mask wearing and other draconian measures, I will be very surprised! They will probably only agree to us protesting if we socially distance and wear masks, and I can't see that happening. Hope I'm proved wrong.
The only, in my humble, potentially effective protest would be if millions of people downed tools and said ‘stuff it, no work, no money, nothing until you clear off’ or a proper march on government where we exercise our constitution, forcibly remove this government of occupation and installed a new one. Asides from that; I believe we’re not even delaying the inevitable but, in a way, wasting time. Whilst we try to organise a protest about our rights, they’re undoing brexit (giving control of our armed forces to Brussels, trying to carve us up into regions and city states etc) and moving on the the IoT agenda. So, what are we protesting about? Sorry if this sounds cynical. I truly wish you were all right but it’s my occupation to analyse situations, cause and effect and statistics and all I see is time wasting tactics from BoJo et al keeping us fragmented and distracted whilst the true magic we cannot even comprehend fully yet.
Protests are a waste of time esspecially if you have to ask permission from the slime that you are protesting against, letting them know all about it lol. Its not as if these protests are extreme groups although extremists will always join in or gov will infiltrate. Its as if the organisers purposely set these up to fail or suck up the energy? Yes you may have a great day out but thats not really what you want. If its a national disgrace/piss take such as this then there should be enough people in each area willing to give a few hours to stop it? We could have done this 2 months ago instead of waiting for the next great show! National effort daily if necessary.. So any protest should be a local one on the same day nationally or even a mass leaflet drop informing more nationally. There are many other simple things that would work and get a better result than say a mass gathering in london which costs most participants a fortune as well as costs the cops/taxpayer (You) and gives the lame stream media some more ammo. We don't need to go and listen to a load of speakers - we already know the problem.
Totally agree. We need a way to shut this place down. Turn off their money tap and make them listen. We’re the majority and we need to make ourselves heard on our terms and not theirs. I don’t care about extreme measures or what, the way Piers or others are being treated at present is disgusting. Gloves are off? 🤔
@C.R.M Shuting the place down not good and affects us and others - We are in a strange situation were we need to Open it Up lol. We need to keep our things going while educating more - however shuting down media/council/government/ and maybe one corporate for a day we could all live with!!
We put it out there lol eCONomy Boom. Instead of listening to some silly speakers all go shopping lol best ever trading day area had lol and an education...
I took Belgrade as an example as the govt tried to introduce another lockdown and the people said no, turned out in numbers for days until the govt withdrew. Just an example really of what can be achieved but you need the numbers.
I think we all know on here there are some sinister things going on at the moment. CRM I see you watch UKC every day 👍
Mark I totally agree about asking for permission to protest, completely goes against what protesting is all about, I've never really understood that concept tbh.
BTW councillor Paddy S Hogg was arrested in Edinburgh today for organising Saturdays demo and for protesting at Holyrood today. Still in custody now as far as I know. There is a small write up by Edinburgh evening news and a yt vid of the police threatening people protesting his release outside the police station.
This is the fear they are installing all across the UK, moving in to dangerous times I'm afraid folks so time to stand up and be counted.
Alex - I dont trust many or if any of these protest organisers - just go shopping lol on mass... They are Teaching you that if you organise one you will be arrested or big fine.. same game!
Mark - therein lies the problem, there is no organisation as the organisers all get arrested. Well known tactic by now. As for shopping, all good if you can afford it.
Window shopping - some still can but not many now after 4 months of this BS
Listen to this interview with Lord Sumption - highly critical of Johnson, and concludes that his use of the 1984 Act as opposed to the civil contingencies Act is to avoid parliamentary scrutiny:
https://pca.st/episode/4b2e1576-3fbc-4868-9ab1-dec94c18e38f
Useful information, I am filling in the GOV consultation survey re mass vaccines, so this will be added. Thanks Jupiter
Useful information, I am filling in the GOV consultation survey re mass vaccines, so this will be added. Thanks Jupiter
Listen to this interview with Lord Sumption - highly critical of Johnson, and concludes that his use of the 1984 Act as opposed to the civil contingencies Act is to avoid parliamentary scrutiny:
https://pca.st/episode/4b2e1576-3fbc-4868-9ab1-dec94c18e38f
I think we are having to deal with so many things at once our efforts can be easily diluted.
I talk to people everywhere I go about the infringement of our liberties. For example, I spoke to Starbucks cashier about cashless drive, now I can pay with cash there. I speak to them about masks. Today, I refuse to go there when the staff are wearing masks, I go to Greggs instead, and I tell them why. Drip, drip.
It is amazing how little people know if they only catch bits of the news (MSM). They hunker into their own little bubbles and just get along. Including people that I thought were human right fighters until this is happening.
The Coronavirus Act 2020, can be stopped if we get enough MPs to see how dangerous it is as a piece of legislation. Ignore the virus itself, that is a distraction. We need to focus on the legislation.
Most people know about Shipman, so tell them about s18 Reporting of death, s19 no second medical exam before cremation, s 30 no jury at inquests.
Schedule 21 - Health Officers - if you get taken to an assessment centre, you could be held for 48 hours. I don’t see any provision for making calls to family and friends to tell them where you are. How would yor family be if they expected you home and then you don’t arrive?
Combining these two bits for me is a potential set up for population reduction.
Of great importance too, is our language use.
Cases are symptomatic people - you wouldn’t need a PCR testing to know these.
Infections include very mildly symptomatic to barely noticeable.
PCR positives, are just that. Without knowing the number of cycles you don’t know the relevance of the particles found to whether the person is contaminated, infected or infectious
Good work Siobhan😎
Absolutely 100% agree with you there. Ignore the virus, if there ever was/is one is irrelevant. I’ve been living that way and I must admit to having taken my eye off the ball in this regard, so thank you for that. We must remain dignified with all humanity whilst we dismantle this insanity. Nice one Siobhan 😊
People protest in different ways. Tens of thousands will attend freedom rallies which sends out a huge visual message of rebellion to the government. The majority will protest in their tens of millions by exercising their right to civil disobedience and refusing to obey the governments recent unenforceable 'rule of six' order... Either way, the government is going to be sent a message that 'we are as mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore'...