Free speech at risk in Royal Britain

Free speech at risk on Royal Britain The recent public mourning period for the death of Queen Elizabeth II threw into sharp focus the question of freedom of speech in the UK. Some were stirred to ask is there any? The arrest and charging of a woman in Edinburgh for holding up an Abolish the Monarchy poster brought the whole question into sharp focus. Beyond this incident, there was a strange simmering attitude of intolerance to anyone who might choose to disagree, with the establishment narrative about the monarchy. There was at times an overbearing sense of coercive compassion. No dissident views it seemed could be heard. The mourning and celebration of the Queen's reign was understandable. She did give a great life of service to the nation, people wanted to pay their respects. I would have liked to see something far more respectful to her memory and that of her family, giving them some time for their own quiet peaceful personal grief. But those who have other views should also have been allowed to express them. There is a view that the monarchy represents the class riven society that is Britain. The Monarchy sits at the top of a system that ensures everyone has their place in a hierarchy dominated by the wealthy and privileged – all are subjects. The monotonous over the top coverage on BBC, ITV and many other channels offered no other voices. The famous BBC balance should have meant they sort out such voices but not anymore it would seem. There was almost a desperation to get people to conform. There was a more nuanced story to be told. On Ireland, the late Queen did much to promote reconciliation, after the years of war. The historic visit in 2011, with the visit to the National War Memorial Gardens, honouring fallen Irish republicans. Then, the state dinner – with her speech, where there was acknowledgement of the wrongs done by Britain to Ireland in the past. Then, a year later, the famous hand-shake with Sinn Fein deputy first minister, Martin McGuiness. A move difficult for both sides, with the Queen lets not forget losing her uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, to an IRA bomb in 1979. She visited Ireland a number of times to help the peace. But the Queen also stands as the Commander in Chief of the British armed forces, whose true role in Ireland over the years of the Troubles has yet to be acknowledged. The media has been the main leader in promoting this coercive compassion, with its one size fits all coverage of the succession from Elizabeth Il to Charles III. Britain claims to be a mature democracy. Democracy, though, only prospers when important elements like free speech flourish. What this recent episode shows is that free speech is very much under threat. Successive governments have legislated to restrict freedoms of speech and assembly. This has in turn led to groups like environmental protesters, Extinction Rebellion, taking direct action. Removing the valves of democratic accountability, like free speech, does not resolve problems but sees protest move into other forms. Let’s not forget, in the north of Ireland meeting the peaceful protests of the civil rights movement with violence led in the end to 30 years of war. Democracy thrives when there are educated and informed citizens who are treated with respect, heard and taken notice of when they have a point to make. Majority and minority views should be respected. On recent evidence, Britain seems to have drifted a long way from this ideal. In fact, the lack of tolerance of other views, suggests an insular country on the road to an increasingly authoritarian existence, where only the ruling elites version of events can be heard. The desperate need to seemingly make people conform indicates a democracy in trouble, not at ease with itself but feeling under threat and challenged. A dangerous time for all. Northern Ireland secretaries come and go Who is Chris Heaton Harris, the new Northern Ireland Secretary? The question will have crossed many minds in Ireland - the third person to hold the role in the last three months. A former chief whip, Harris, also chaired the Eurosceptic European Research Group of MPs. Who better to deal with the thorny issue of the Norther Ireland Protocol? The Protocol negotiation has seen the role of Northern Ireland Secretary come back to prominence in the political lexicon. Many would have hoped that almost a quarter of a century into the peace process, that the role might have become redundant. The first Northern Ireland Secretary was William Whitelaw. He was put in post when Ted Heath's government established direct role from Westminster in 1972. In those early years there was a pattern that saw Northern Ireland Secretaries move onto the Home Office. Whitelaw later became Margaret Thatcher's Home Secretary. Douglas Hurd followed a similar path. On the Labour side, Merlyn Reece moved from Northern Ireland to the Home Office. Later, in the noughties, John Reid followed the same path. Some believed the route significant, with law and order tactics trialled in the north of Ireland then being brought to the rest of the UK via the Home Office. The period of the hunger strikes saw Humphrey Atkins and Jim Prior in the role. It was seen as a demotion for Prior from Trade and Industry. All major decisions at this time were micro-managed from Downing Street. The most high-profile MP to hold the role was Mo Mowlem, who played a crucial role in helping broker the Good Friday Agreement. In fact, it was felt Mo's star shone too brightly, putting PM Tony Blair in the shade. Peter Mandelson replaced her. As the peace process spluttered along Northern Ireland Secretaries came and went at regular intervals. Theresa Villers held the post from 2012 to 2016, then James Brokenshaw (2016 - 2018), Karen Bradley (2018 - 2019), Julian Smith (2019- 2020) and Brandon Lewis (2020 -2022). Shailesh Vara occupied the post from July to September. The Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) failed to sit for much of this period. If the NIE had sat more consistently then the role of Northern Ireland Secretary might have slipped further into obscurity. Now, with the NIE still suspended, this time due to the Protocol, Heaton Harris will be expected to get things moving. The peace process has always been brittle but survived. However, the thorny issue of the Protocol could have severe consequences for Ireland and peace going forward. Heaton Harris will need all the diplomatic skills of his predecessors and maybe a bit of that Mowlem magic, if he is going to succeed, where others have failed.

Life under the lens

When visiting the north of Ireland in the days of the Troubles, one of the most striking things was the surveillance towers in cities like Belfast and Derry. They were part of the surveillance state, constructed at the time, as part of the ongoing war. These installations were often dressed up in Orwellian terms, suggesting that they were there to protect the population from terrorism etc. The people though knew better. They were well aware that these surveillance structures were about watching them. In Derry, people would say how at army checkpoints, soldiers would tell them what they had been doing in their own houses. It was straightforward intimidation. The people responded, running campaigns against the towers and intimidation. I remember thinking at the time, how people would react in England to such blatant surveillance and invasion of privacy. What if some sort of surveillance structure were sold on the basis of cutting crime? Fast forward to today. The UK is one of the most watched populations in the world. The CCTV led surveillance world abounds. Over 6 million cameras - one per 11 people. It is estimated an individual maybe caught 300 times in a day on camera in London. CCTV has become the equivalent of the surveillance tower. CCTV has been sold as a panacea in stopping crime. People clamour for CCTV in their streets, when crime occurs. The evidence of crime prevention is scarce. Areas that have CCTV often have marginally less crime but whether that is due to stopping crime or simply displacing it to other areas, without cameras, seems a mute point. The spread of the surveillance society in this way has resonation more with dictators down the ages, who always offered security in exchange for liberty. The people of the north of Ireland had the right idea. When the peace process came, the towers came down as part of the settlement - stick your security, we'll have back our liberties. How long before people here wake up to what is going on? Irish Post .

Living with the seasons

The arrival of autumn is always a special time of year. That golden sun shining as nature transitions from summer. It is a the time for harvest. The crops that have been nurtured through spring and summer reach fruition. A time to gather in. Birds set out on migration, the swallows lining up on telegraph lines ready for the great exodus ( some stay here, as all round residents). It is a great time to be a birder, as each day can bring something different in terms of bird life...wheatears, spotted and pied flycatchers. The autumn is always special but so too are all the seasons. Spring brings the new life, the freshness. Summer, the hot days and long light evenings. Then winter, shorter days, cold and wet but still life asserting. Travelling through the natural timetable we come to appreciate the uniqueness of each season. Walking in the sunshine of a summer evening, you can remember doing the same walk in the cold of winter, wrapped up to keep warm. There is a great sense of fulfillment and continuity, looking and moving from one season to another. Appreciation of the seasons and nature helps us come to appreciate our own mortality. Everyone moves from Spring to summer, onto autumn then winter. Each time has its unique features. If we are in tune with the seasons and nature, it is much easier to make sense of our own lives and time on this earth. It is when humans set themselves aside from nature, as being in some way different or superior that problems arise. Humans are part of the circle of life, just like any other living creature. We need to live in accordance with and be at one with nature. All are born, live through the seasons and die. Death is as much part of that cycle of nature as birth and life. We need to come to terms with death. It is the one inevitable that we all share. The arrival of winter marks the end for some but also new beginnings. A time that precedes new birth. None of us can turn back the clock but we can all appreciate the steady rhythm, as we pass through the different seasons, enjoying each for what it offers. The sense of fulfillment coming from a truly rich experience.

Society should be run on the basis of the common good, not bottom line profit

What a different society there would be if things were run on the basis of the common good of all. It would mean people thinking always in terms of their neighbour and the community. Business too could take the lead. Shops are there to serve the local community, not the other way around. The idea of the principle of the common good came to mind when recently queueing up at a local supermarket. There were three tills working, many others vacant. Self service tills were in operation. The queues grew. When it was suggested that they needed a few more staff, the news was that the supermarket wanted to switch over to self service as much as possible, so cutting staff. The supermarkets do not pay people well. On a more positive note, they (largely due to dedicated staff) kept people going throughout the pandemic. Supermarkets also collect for foodbanks - it is a shame though that some staff are so badly paid that they end up using the self same foodbanks. Supermarkets have also put incredible pressure on suppliers to cut costs. This has a knock on effect down the supply chain, putting special pressure on farmers. The supermarkets are responding to the climate crisis, though, incredibly slowly. Far more could be done in terms of renewable energy usage and generation by supermarkets and their property divisions. More could also be done, more quickly to phase out excess plastic and packaging use. The unfortunate thing is that whatever good or bad practices the supermarkets pursue, the overriding priority is bottom line profit. Shareholders dividend pay outs trump all. The supermarkets are not alone. How much better for the community would it be if utilities like water, energy and mail were run for the good of all, rather than shareholders. The recent strikes on the railway were caused by a failure to pay the workforce properly. Modernisation is being demanded, meaning job losses plus worse pay and conditions. Businesses and services based on the common good would value workers and customers equally - all have to survive, have families to feed and support. This is something of a cursory look at how things could be different based on the common good, rather than the present tyranny of bottom line profits rule all. But it is difficult not to think that a society run on common good principles would be a happier more fulfilled place

Houses and Flats need to be seen as homes, not just investment opportunities

Houses and flats need to be seen as homes, not investment opportunities Housing is a major problem of modern society. Demand outruns supply in many parts of the country There are many problems that have developed, courtesy of the perverse system that has grown up over the years On a national level, there are many empty homes. This can be either because there is not the demand in an area or some speculative owners simply sit on property watching the value increase. The property market has been a major way for people to make money over recent years. Some buy a property not as a home but an investment opportunity. This extends further with those who buy to let and invest in Air BNB. The private rented sector has expanded hugely over recent decades, partly due to the retraction of the council (public) housing sector. The right to buy process brought in by the Thatcher government in the 1980s saw council houses sold off at reduced prices. This policy still operates today, meaning that building new council housing means they are still likely to be sold off further down the line. What is actually needed is a large amount of good standard sustainable housing stock, that can be retained and rented out to those who need it. The disparities in the housing market cause other problems across the country, such as where holiday home owners move into coastal areas. The second homers only attend their properties part of the year, leaving them empty the rest of the time. This can turn these areas into desert towns, particularly in winter. The local businesses that need customers to survive go to the wall, whilst those looking to buy their first home are priced out of areas, they often grew up in. The price of housing makes it more and more difficult to get on the housing ladder Across the country young people cannot afford to buy properties in the areas where they grew up. This is likely to become even more difficult now, with spiralling interest rates. Overall, the provision of property in this country has some very dysfunctional outcomes, largely due to a system based on let the market decide. What is required is some proper provision of housing, particularly in the public rented sector. We also need to move away from the idea of property as simply an investment opportunity and look to it more as making a home It is not right that young people grow up in an area and then have to move away because they cannot afford to remain part of that community. Nor is it good for community cohesion. There needs to be a new housing policy, shaped for regional and local needs, as well as the overall goal of everyone having somewhere to live.

Climate crisis, what crisis - as plane and car traffic increase

Sitting, sweltering during the recent heat wave, it was somewhat bizarre to be viewing the seemingly constant succession of aircraft flying overhead. The extreme temperatures are being caused by climate change, yet very little is really being done to address the crisis - it is business as usual, especially for the airline industry. Having lost trade over the period of the pandemic, it seems determined to make up for lost time and profits. This determination though can only be driven by demand. Why given the climate crisis that now faces the world are so many people still climbing on planes regardless? The climate crisis has reached such a point that radical change is needed in everybody's lives - doing a bit of recycling is not enough. It is better than nothing but not enough, given the breadth of the crisis. The number of people flying and driving really proves that the penny has not dropped, regarding the seriousness of climate change. It's carry on, as usual, the scientists will find a magic bullet solution one day. But what if they don't? How about the fires that stretched the fire service to breaking point during the 40 degree heatwave in July? The flooding that will no doubt come when the heavy rain falls? Yet, rather than address the crisis, an attitude of complete denial seems to be spreading. Take London City Airport, who have put their expansion plans back on the table, after withdrawal a few years ago. The proposals will see annual passenger numbers increase from 6.5 million to 9 million. The current curfew on flights between 12.30pm on Saturday to 12.30pm on Sunday is to be terminated, allowing flying on Saturday afternoon and evening. There is to be an increase in flights permitted from 6.30 to 6.59 from 6 to 12. Local Labour MP John Cryer is absolutely right to be opposing these plans to extend flying hours and increase flights. He highlights the climate crisis, as part of the reasoning for opposing the expansion. We need a step change that takes the world away from behaving in ways that cause climate change. It is a constant mystery as to how so many people with children can close their eyes to this crisis. It is future for these children and coming generations that is being destroyed. Everyone has to take responsibility for the way they live, drive and fly less, insulate housing, use sustainable energy - where possible and switch to more vegetable based diets. Only if we all start to really act now can the world be pulled back from the precipice of destruction. What we are beginning to see with heatwaves and floods is only the start. * London City Airport consultation can be found at https://consultation.londoncityairport.com/ - consultation ends on 9 September 2022

West Ham unlucky not to take all three points against Spurs

West Ham 1-1 Spurs A hard fought contest between West Ham and Tottenham ended with honours even at the London Stadium West Ham were on the front foot from the kick off, playing a high line that stopped Tottenham playing their usual free flowing football. It looked as though Tottenham were set to take the lead when after 10 minutes, referee Peter Bankes ruled that Aaron Cresswell had deliberately handled a header from Harry Kane. But after a VAR check the penalty decision was overuled. West Ham then nearly took the lead, when Declan Rice thundered in a shot but Hugo Lloris pushed the effort away. Another West Ham move saw Said Benrahma put Michail Antonio away but the big striker saw his effort rocket back off the post. On the half hour, Tottenham's renowned counter attacking ability saw Dejan Kulusevski break away, with Harry Kane on the overlap. The England striker slid the ball across the area, where Thilo Kehrer, trying to clear, put the ball into his own net. The home team were quickly back on level terms at the start of the second half, when Antonio flicked on a throw from Vladimir Coufal, for the incoming Tomas Soucek to crash home. The end to end encounter saw Jarrod Bowen fire wide, whilst a Davinson Sanchez overhead, similarly went wide of the post. Pablo Formals should have done better getting on the end of a nicely worked move, involving Rice and Bowen. But the Spaniard skied his effort. Another chance saw a complete misunderstanding between new signings Luis Paqueta and Emerson resulting in neither taking the chance in front of goal from a Bowen cross The final chance came in a scramble on the goal line, which saw Bowen's effort go agonisingly along the line. Both managers agreed the penalty decision was the turning point. West Ham's David Moyes felt the decision gave his side a foothold and they much better from then on in. The manager was pleased with what he saw against Spurs and with the win against Villa on Sunday. "We are trying to build a new side, a new team," said Moyes . Antonio Conti thought the referee got the penalty decision right and VAR embarssed him by making him by overuling. The Tottenham boss went onto criticise the inconsistency of VAR. "I'm really disappointed, the people behind the monitor need to pay more attention," said Conti.