Equalities watchdog chief gets it right on Boris Johnson
Well said, Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Boris Johnson’s burka rhetoric:
The effectiveness of our democratic society depends on freedom of expression and the expression of offensive and intolerant opinions is generally not unlawful.
Boris Johnson’s use of language in this instance, which risks dehumanising and vilifying Muslim women, is inflammatory and divisive.
Political figures should lead by example, conducting debates in a responsible manner and language such as this can inhibit legitimate dialogue.
With the Conservative Party looking seriously as disciplinary action against Boris Johnson, it may be that people are looking at the wrong place on the political spectrum for possible significant new political parties:
What odds the next new political party isn't a pro-European centrist one but a Boris Johnson vehicle? https://t.co/XdYgdOqpXI
— Mark Pack (@markpack) August 9, 2018
Mogg is coming out on Johnsons side.
This new fledgling party with its £50 million wants to consider the immigration problem.
Talking about immigrants clothing distracts from the catastrophic of Brexit
A scenario here is that Brexit is a disaster and immigrants get blamed.
Don’t you realise Johnson is bidding for the Moslem female vote..?
Starting off by insulting some female Muslims is a pretty unlikely step if that’s what you are really after.
Seems entirely possible to me.
1) There is already a UKIP that (kind of) fills the niche but is now in dire straits.
2) There is already significant flux between Tories and UKIP.
3) The Tories really are pulling themselves apart over Europe.
However:
1) FPTP
2) FPTP
3) FPTP
Also, (4) Tories hate losing.
If they do, the question then becomes, what happens to the rump-Tories (maybe rCon would be a nicer name) ? Do they stand against Boris-KIP (ENP ?) ?
Do centre-right MPs join the Lib Dems ? Along with Centre-left MPs ? Or a new broad central coalition of Centre-right, centre, centre left, SNP and Green, on a ‘stop-Boris’ and ‘Stop-Corbyn’ and pro-EU ticket ? How would tactics and FPTP be negotiated ?
Actually, I suspect not. Boris fancies being PM. In the context of FPTP, climbing to the top of the Tories is his best bet. So he will take it.
Lib Dems may be heartened that the antics of Boris Johnson and his ilk are turning off sensible tolerant liberal Tory party members and they are joining the Liberal Democrats – see for example – https://medium.com/@sophietyrrill/why-i-left-the-conservative-party-27dc98cd543f
It sounds a bit contradictory. We had this debate with the french bombings following a magazine article or cartoon. Freedom of expression must take into account the likely effect of such utterances. And in the public realm even more notice should be taken. What is acceptable during a night in the pub might not be in a newspaper article. We expect public figures to act responsibly.