Thursday, August 08, 2024

Left Foot Forward

Far-right thugs outnumbered by anti-racism protesters across the UK


Yesterday
Large anti-racism demonstrations also took place in Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and in London.

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Far-right thugs were outnumbered by anti-racism demonstrators in towns and cities across the UK yesterday, in a powerful show of unity against Islamophobia and racism.

The country had braced itself for more violent far-right demonstrations to take place, with around 100 demonstrations planned by the far-right across the country targeting asylum centres, mosques and immigration lawyers’ offices.

However, many of the events linked to the far-right failed to materialise, with counter demonstrators turning out in larger numbers.

In Walthamstow, images of the anti-racism protest went viral with the streets packed with an estimated 10,000 anti-fascist demonstrators. Thousands of counter-protestors chanted, holding signs such as “refugees welcome, stop the far-right” and “EDL off our streets.”

It came after lawyers’ offices shut down, high street shops were boarded up, GP practices closed early and MPs were told to consider working from home as 41 of the 43 local police force areas in England and Wales braced for potential disorder.

Large anti-racism demonstrations also took place in Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and other parts of London.

Aside from some minor disturbances in Aldershot and Brighton, the expected disorder did not appear to take place.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanked those who came out peacefully ‘to show London stands united against racism and Islamophobia last night’. He posted on X: “To those who came out peacefully to show London stands united against racism and Islamophobia last night—thank you.

“To our heroic police force working round the clock to keep Londoners safe—thank you.

“And to those far-right thugs still intent on sowing hatred and division—you will never be welcome here.”

Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forwar

Powerful video explains how mainstream media and politicians have fuelled the far right
Yesterday


'It's our politicians and the mainstream UK media that have put a target on the backs of black and brown communities
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The UK has been hit by a wave of far-right violence and intimidation in recent weeks. While some commentators have sought to present this as a emerging from nowhere, it is clear that increasingly divisive rhetoric and policies pushed by the media and right-wing politicians has contributed to it.

A new video from the anti-poverty NGO War on Want has explained this perfectly. In the video, the organisation’s executive director Asad Rehman sets out the role sections of the mainstream media and politics have played in fuelling the far right.

“It’s not only the far right or fascists such as Tommy Robinson and the English Defence League who are responsible, or even Elon Musk and social media platforms like X who are amplifying hatred”, Rehman says in the video.

He continues by saying: “It’s our politicians and the mainstream UK media that have put a target on the backs of black and brown communities. Former UK prime ministers, countless home secretaries have demonised the Muslim community and pinned the failures of their policies onto migrant minority communities.

“Politicians have fuelled Islamophobia and anti-migrant racism. And rather than challenging divisive, racist figures, the media have platformed and amplified them. They have made racism acceptable again.

“But the truth has always been that when politicians play the race card, it’s minority communities who pay the price. It’s the political decisions of those in power that have created a breeding ground for fascism and racism, decisions which have widened inequality and deepened poverty through precarious and low paid work, a lack of housing and austerity measures that have gutted communities.”

Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward

Poll reveals who the public think is to blame for the far-right riots


Basit Mahmood
7 August, 2024 

Further demonstrations are set to take place today


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A poll has revealed who the public thinks is to blame for the recent far-right violent riots that have taken place in towns and cities across the UK, with further demonstrations expected to take place today.

The polling was carried out by YouGov, which also found that a majority of the British public believe that the disorder and violence which has taken place at far-right demonstrations over recent days is unjustified.

The public were also asked who they thought is responsible for the riots.

An overwhelming majority of those asked said they believed that the rioters themselves were mostly responsible for the violence that has occurred in recent days, with nine in ten Britons (88%) viewing them as at least somewhat responsible for causing the unrest, including seven in ten (71%) viewing them as holding a great deal of responsibility.

Around 86% of those asked also blamed social media for being responsible for the violent riots. Three-quarters of those asked (74%) also blamed far right groups for the violent demonstrations.

A clear majority of the public (57%) also attribute responsibility to notable far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson, with almost half (47%) also viewing Nigel Farage as holding some level of responsibility for the unrest.

You can view the full chart of who the public think is responsible below.





Overwhelming majority of public oppose unrest seen at recent protests, YouGov poll shows

Basit Mahmood 7 August, 2024 (2 days ago)


'Regardless of what the rioters believe they are representing, their actions are not supported by the British public, with 85% of Britons opposing the unrest at recent protests'
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An overwhelming majority of the British public believe that the disorder and violence which has taken place at far-right demonstrations over recent days is unjustified, with the vast majority of people opposed to the unrest.

The findings come after YouGov carried out a poll to understand what the public make of the riots and those taking part in them.

Over recent days, violent far-right demonstrations have taken place in towns and cities across the country, with mosques targeted, police officers attacked, and hotels housing asylum seekers stormed and set fire to.

The riots occurred after misinformation on social media accusing the perpetrator of last week’s mass stabbing in Southport of having been a Muslim asylum seeker. Three young girls were killed in the attack which took place during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Eight other children suffered stab wounds and at least two were in a critical condition, alongside two adults.

In the wake of the attack, rioting broke out in Southport, with a mosque attacked, resulting in 27 police officers being taken to hospital. Police have said they believe the men involved are part of the far-right English Defence League.

Within hours of the horrific attack, the far-right were spreading misinformation about the identity of the attacker, claiming that he had arrived in the UK via a small boat with a number of far-right social media accounts claiming that the attacker was Muslim, a migrant, refugee or foreigner.

The attacker has been named as Cardiff born Axel Rudakubana, 17. He has now been charged with murdering Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, along with 10 counts of attempted murder.

Further far-right demonstrations are expected to take place today but they do not have the support of the majority of the public.

YouGov finds: “Regardless of what the rioters believe they are representing, their actions are not supported by the British public, with 85% of Britons opposing the unrest at recent protests and just 7% saying they support the violence. Even the broader protests only hold the support of one in three Britons (34%), with more than half (54%) opposed.

“Opposition to the riots is near-universal across every part of the public, with Reform UK voters being the only group showing any substantive levels of support, at 21%. Even this is a clear minority, with three-quarters of Reform voters (76%) opposed to the riots. Support among other voters is far lower – only 9% of Conservatives, 3% of Labour voters and 1% of Lib Dems favour the outbreak in violent disorder.”

Furthermore, just 12% of Britons think that the recent disorder at the demonstrations is justified, compared to 82% who think it is unjustified.

Only one in eight Britons (12%) feel the rioters are representative of the views of most Britons, with three-quarters (76%) saying they do not represent the majority of the public.

When it comes to how the public feel about those taking part in the riots, ‘thugs’ is the most popular description for those causing the unrest, with two-thirds (67%) feeling it is appropriate based on their actions.

Around 65% of Britons would describe them as ‘rioters’, with six in ten (58%) believing the rioters are ‘racist’ and a small majority (52%) agreeing with the prime minister’s label of ‘far-right’, according to YouGov.

Nigel Farage admits to spreading misinformation from Andrew Tate about Southport killings



7 August, 2024

Farage posted a video online speculating on the background of the alleged killer shortly after the knife attack took place last week.



Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has admitted to spreading misinformation from the likes of Andrew Tate following the killing of three young girls in Southport.

Three young girls were killed in an attack which took place during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Eight other children suffered stab wounds and at least two were in a critical condition, alongside two adults.

Within hours of the horrific attack, the far-right were spreading misinformation about the identity of the attacker, claiming that he had arrived in the UK via a small boat with a number of far-right social media accounts claiming that the attacker was Muslim, a migrant, refugee or foreigner.

The attacker has been named as Cardiff born Axel Rudakubana, 17. He has now been charged with murdering Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, along with 10 counts of attempted murder.

Following the attack, rioting broke out in Southport, with a mosque attacked, resulting in 27 police officers being taken to hospital. Police have said they believe the men involved are part of the far-right English Defence League.

Rioting from far-right thugs has since spread to towns and cities across the country, with mosques targeted, police officers attacked and hotels housing asylum seekers stormed and set fire to.

Following the horrific attack in Southport, Farage posted a video online speculating on the background of the alleged killer shortly after the knife attack took place last week.

He falsely claimed that “some reports suggest he was known to the security services”.

Farage was asked about his actions on LBC, where he insisted he was only trying to find out “the truth”.

He said: “There were stories online from some very prominent folks with big followings – Andrew Tate etc – suggesting the man had crossed the English Channel in a boat in October 2023. Other suggestions that he was an active Muslim, and much of this led to the riots that we saw.

“I asked a very simple question – was this person known or not.”

Presenter Tom Swarbrick hit back: “Nigel Farage, you didn’t just do that, did you? You said some reports suggest he was known to the security services. Those reports were from a fake news website amplified by Russian state TV and, as you mentioned, Andrew Tate Which ones were you looking at?”

Farage said: “Which adds to what I was asking for – give us some clarity.”


Tory shadow minister slammed for suggesting far-right violence was ‘politically justified’


Basit Mahmood 
5 August, 2024 

'Your resignation is necessary and urgent.”



A Tory shadow minister has been slammed for suggesting that the recent far-right violence on the streets of Britain, which has seen mosques targeted, police officers attacked and racist chants being made, was politically justified.

Lord (Byron) Davies made disgraceful comments while exchanging comments with a Mail on Sunday columnist on X.

Dan Hodges, had posted: “There’s no political justification for the disorder we have seen. But if people want to get into the blame game these are the facts. The Tories were in power for 14 years. Labour have been in power for four weeks. Blaming Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper for this is just ridiculous.”

Davies, the former MP for Gower, responded: “But Labour blocked the Rwanda Bill 130+ times of course it’s politically justified!”

Jo Stevens, Labour’s Welsh secretary, was among those who condemned Davies’ remarks.

She said: “The shadow Welsh secretary’s comments are disgusting, misguided and dangerous. Racist violence is never justified.

“Politicians, including unelected ones, have an important responsibility to de-escalate tensions. Those inflaming them should seriously consider their position.”

CCHQ said that Lord Davies’ comment was ‘unacceptable’ and that he had been warned of ‘consequences of the misuse of language at such a sensitive time and the standards expected’.

Reacting to Lord Davies’ comment, one social media user wrote on X: “This man is Lord Davies of Gower (Byron Davies), a former Tory MP for Gower and a member of the Welsh parliament and the House of Lords.

“Despite the current climate of far-right violence and racism, he believes that the riots are a justified political tactic. @byron_davies, your resignation is necessary and urgent.”


Outrage over Daily Telegraph’s ‘disgraceful’ headline on far-right riots

5 August, 2024 

'One of the most repulsive, inaccurate and frankly embarrassing headlines in the history of the Daily Telegraph'


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This morning’s Daily Telegraph headline has been described as one of its ‘most repulsive and inaccurate’ yet as the right-wing paper got blasted for its latest coverage of the far-right rioting.

On today’s (Monday 5 August) frontpage of the broadsheet newspaper, the headline read ‘Far-right clash with Muslims in rioting’, which has led to disgusted reactions online that have highlighted the paper’s divisive and misleading framing of the far-right riots and those coming out against them.

There have been widespread reports of Muslims and ethnic minorities feeling worried for their safety, amid violent rallies from the far-right that have seen mosques targeted, racist attacks and Islamophobic chanting in the past week. Counter movements by anti-fascists and community members have come out to defend their communities against the violent mobs.

Despite Muslims in the UK facing a surge in hate crime and being the subject of dangerous disinformation online following the Southport knife attacks, the Daily Telegraph chose to stoke division with its latest headline.

The headline has received a widespread backlash online.

Presenter and former journalist David Yelland said the Daily Telegraph’s choice of phrase was “one of the most repulsive” headlines ever from the paper.

The former Sun editor said: “One of the most repulsive, inaccurate and frankly embarrassing headlines in the history of the Daily Telegraph. It has appalled many of its own journalists. It is beneath contempt.”

Taj Ali, co-editor of the Tribune, said the headline reflected the privilege of media editors that “don’t have to live with the violent consequences” of their rhetoric, which seeks to demonise and divide communities.

Taj said on X: “This is an absolutely disgraceful headline. Muslims were forced to defend their mosques, businesses and homes because our communities have been terrorised by racist thugs. Those thugs have been emboldened by racist journalists who absolutely despise British Muslims.”

Guardian journalist Helena Horton said: “Every other paper incl the times and mail has singled out the true culprits. The telegraph may regret equivocating.”

One X user described the headline: “What an awful, twisted, inaccurate, shameful, repulsive take.”



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