By Anthony Webber:
Much has been said about the issue of free speech and free debate, especially during the period of the covid-19 crisis.
It has even been admitted that the government used a variety of means at its disposal to ensure that it was just their message which was heard at that time.
However, curtailments of free speech continue to happen in a variety of areas.
We have the “cancel culture” and numerous examples of where groups and individuals are shut down and not permitted to speak.
The latest example of no platforming is the issue of the Ukraine conflict.
There are different points of view on this, but only one view, that of the government’s, is considered acceptable now.
This is a major attack on our free speech values and must be challenged by all who believe in a free and open media.
One example of this not allowing an alternative point of view is the petition which has been launched to request a Referendum on making the UK neutral in the Ukraine conflict:
This petition was launched because of concerns that the UK government had involved the UK in a costly and reckless proxy war with absolutely no mandate from the British public.
Since the petition was launched, the situation has worsened with the UK government prolonging the war, rather than act as a responsible peacemaker.
The government’s Ukraine policies have rebounded on the UK, with massive damage done to the economy and British citizens.
This petition is the most shadow banned of all Parliamentary petitions on social media ever, but the question is why?
It has also never been mentioned in any of the mainstream media, local national, despite them being made aware of it, so why?
It is time that those who are in responsible mainstream and social media positions revaluated their stances because they obviously have brought about widespread censorship on a major political issue.
They need to decide, are they selective in who they support for free media and debate, or do they support a free media and debate as a proper broad concept?
Need for the media not to be selective on free speech issues
An interesting case of how social and mainstream media can influence Parliamentary petitions is the petition calling for an immediate General Election because of the chaos in government in the current economic crisis. This petition does not mention government Ukraine policies as a cause of the economic crisis which is not surprising because the opposition parties support the government’s Ukraine policies, so if there was a change of party in power the economic problems would continue!
This petition was not getting anywhere until it was promoted by the mainstream media and much of social media.
However, it continues to increase in signatures despite the government having given the predicted response that they would not be calling a General Election, and this position will not change when the petition is debated. So, this petition has been a convenient safety valve, an opportunity for the public to vent their frustration about the economic crisis, but which cannot achieve anything. The fact that this petition has been largely opposition party supporters’ signatures is of little relevance to the point being made.
In contrast, the petition calling for a Referendum on the UK becoming neutral does offer the public a real choice on influencing policy, both in having the policy debated and in voting on it.
Referenda are part of our democratic system and fulfil the role of giving the public the decision-making choice on issues which are cross party.
One key referendum issue was that on leaving the EU- the public were given their say because the issue cut across the party boundaries.
We now make an appeal for fair play, openness, transparency, and impartiality on this political issue of policies on Ukraine and Russia.
Please give our petition equal promotion to that given to the other petition.
Our petition:
The other petition has jumped up by amounts of 40,000 a time, on each occasion a mainstream media has promoted it.
With local media it has also been substantial.
It is a simple fact that Parliamentary petitions are hugely influenced in their success by the promotion they receive in mainstream and social media.
We simply ask for equal treatment and can supply additional comments from our large Ukraine Policy Referendum committee team on request.
Anthony Webber
Referendum for the UK to be neutral in Ukraine committee
Independent Pollical Commentator
@tony_webber (Twitter)
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