#cold war steve

[18thcenturythirsttrap]

UK MPs vote to proscribe Palestine Action as terrorist group

Minister argues move will not impinge on people’s right to protest but critics call it ‘grave abuse of state power’

MPs today overwhelmingly voted to list Palestine Action as a terrorist group. 385 MPs voted for. Only 26 MPs voted against.

To be clear, Palestine Action aren't violent. They disrupt the activities of firms involved with Israel's genocide in Palestine, and they recently sprayed red paint over RAF planes used to fly spy missions in support of Israel's attacks on Gaza. That's it. But now, unless a last-ditch legal challenge on Friday succeeds, they'll be listed alongside groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda as terrorists - and even expressing support for them could land you in prison for up to 14 years.

The motion to proscribe them brought forward today by the Government also included two neo-Nazi groups, Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russian Imperial Movement - many suspect quite deliberately, to ensure that it would pass.

Legal experts, civil rights groups, even the UN have stepped up to express grave concern about the unjustified labelling of a political protest movement as ‘terrorists'. The UN said, “According to international standards, acts of protest that damage property, but are not intended to kill or injure people, should not be treated as terrorism.”

We need to keep everything crossed that Palestine Action's legal challenge is successful - but you can find ways to support them, including donating to their legal fund, here.

As ever, Cold War Steve summed the situation up brilliantly in an Instagram post:

[theiconicmeghanmarkle]

Cold War Steve’s collage-style satire thrives on absurd juxtapositions, and this piece is no exception. By placing Duchess Meghan at the center of a media frenzy while Prince Andrew faded into the background, it demonstrates the selective outrage of the British press and royal sycophants.

The chaotic crowd of journalists and political figures amplifies the hypocrisy where scandal is less about severity and more about who’s convenient to vilify.

The visual punchline? Meghan’s every move was dissected like a national emergency, while Andrew strolled through the wreckage untouched, as if scandal were a matter of PR scheduling.

Although William and Charles are attempting to distance themselves from Andrew, keep in mind that they have repeatedly chosen to show familial togetherness with Andrew while making concerted efforts to ice out Harry and punish him for daring to leave and tell his own story.

Britain’s finest traditions: outrage, hypocrisy, and a good old-fashioned pile-on. While some get dragged through the mud, others get chauffeured to church. Pass the pitchforks; the press has headlines to write.

[generalelectionmusings]

[tweetingukpolitics]

[scavengedluxury]

Cold War Steve.

[now-winter-comes-slowly]

Cold War Steve with another pointed picture of modern Britain, which echoes Henry Cole's original Christmas card - but without the charity or goodwill. Not to get all political, but we are living in times that Dickens would surely recognise, and Scrooges are all around.

[themancorialist]

Lever Street, Manchester.

[tunglo]