Riots: the political elites have their heads in the sand
Earlier this week, I took part in a podcast debate on Spectator TV about the rioting that has hit Britain.
I made the point that our political elites have their heads in the sand. They believe that Tommy Robinson or Elon Musk or Russian propaganda or Nigel Farage are to blame for the tensions. They seem completely ignorant of the fact that a deep and growing resentment on issues such as immigration and integration has been brewing in many of our working-class communities for years. Are they being myopic or dishonest?
Anyway, I’m glad that the podcast, and my contribution to the discussion, has received some really positive feedback. It can be viewed below.
A reminder that you can follow me on X/Twitter: @PaulEmbery
Outstanding television. Excellent presenter and, in Paul and Inaya, 2 highly intelligent, extremely eloquent contributors. Some fascinating points made. Why can’t the BBC be like this?
A few random thoughts on events of the last week…
1. I don’t know anyone who protested or counter protested, but my gut feeling is that the numbers of genuinely far-right activists in the protests was extremely small. I might be wrong, but I don’t think their ideology has that level of traction. I would imagine that the bulk of those who turned peaceful protests, by ordinary members of the public, into actual riots were simply local thuggish types, rather than organised activists. In contrast, I have a feeling that the ANTIFA-type groups, who made up part of the counter protests, are far bigger in number and much better organised.
2. People who are concerned about uncontrolled immigration need to distance themselves from those who are actual racists. If this doesn’t happen, the sensible argument for controlling the nation’s borders will be twisted by the political class, and move from being a mainstream to a fringe position.
3. I’m as pro law and order as the next small-c conservative, so think the courts should lock up the people who tried to torch the hotels and throw away the key. Equally, protestors who assaulted ordinary members of the public, purely because of their skin colour, should have the book thrown at them. But sentencing people, including pensioners, to 2-3 years in prison for simply pointing at the police and shouting nasty things to them makes a mockery of our justice system, particularly when far worse crimes are dealt with more leniently. The courts need to maintain a sense of proportion.
4. Some Government ministers and high-profile left-wing commentators, when interviewed on television, have looked unhinged. While spouting their usual platitudes, they all seem to be sporting the same sinister smile and crazed, fanatical look in their eyes. The last government might have been lying, incompetent and the worst in living memory, but I have a nasty feeling that this one is going to be even worse because so many of their members look completely deranged.
5. Members of ANTIFA are openly wearing t shirts calling for the murder of the ‘far right’ (source Andy Ngo). With many prominent figures on the left, including some journalists, terming some perfectly mainstream positions, on a wide range of issues, ‘far right’, this has the potential to take a really nasty turn.
Here's a very serious warning from the Police, think before you post! https://youtu.be/n4L6BidXors?si=Ad8WzsCNSPFbQx7K