What we’re seeing isn’t just censorship. It’s narrative control by pathologising dissent. Disagree, and you’re not just wrong — you’re dangerous, unwell, or “phobic.” It’s classic gaslighting: the institutions insist the lights haven’t dimmed, and you’re the problem for noticing.
But it also reveals something else — a rising panic among those in charge. They know they’ve made a colossal mess of things, and shutting people up is the only move they’ve got left.
When I retire, in several years time, I will no longer be putting my public service job on the line by not shutting up. But by then the government will probably have a social credit system in place and be able to dock a sum from my state pension or from my bank account or seize a share of my property every time I engage in wrongspeak.
Only if we let them do away with cash in our society. Digital currency is a real danger to our future way of life. And the people that love Davos more than Westminster are complicit in the deception.
If these Islamophobia and other free speech restrictions are persisted with it really will fuel the rise of the far right . And I am not talking about the mild and sensible Farage and the Reform Party here . Ordinary people’s anger is building towards fury at the unfairness and injustice at what is going on in our country and the governments complete failure to stop the wholesale breaching of our borders by people bent on criminal activity and doing us harm
This remark is only too true. Since most thinking people will be classed as islamophobic however reasonable their views, many will conclude might as well be killed as a sheep as a lamb and go full throttle. If someone wanted to sow discord and endless trouble in society, they couldn't think of a better way to do it than this insanity.
I agree . I think people’s concerns over Islam , and anger with the politicians who got us into this mass immigration, DEI and two tier policing etc, will be such that they will not be cowed . Its provocation in that it is such an attack on freedom of speech and a further attempt to silence and suppress the indigenous population from complaining about self evident wrongs
'Mild and sensible' Farage?? He has just called for all political parties in this country to refuse membership to anyone who has 'supported'-ie believed - Tommy Robinson! In other words, Farage trying to detract from his own disgraceful, false allegations against someone who was constantly persecuted for being the first person exposing the Pakistani rape gangs Announced at a press conference with Zia Yusuf at his side and no sign of the current Reform chairman. Reform is morphing into the 'nasty' party of British politics.
Well that is one point of view certainly. Not mine however . The country is a potential tinder box for far right fuelled civil unrest, which while understandable would be better avoided as we really don’t want to see a return of “race riots “ if we can avoid them whilst not backing down on our own principles. Tommy Robinson has done some very commendable things , he is also a beacon of attraction for people he himself would probably prefer not to associate himself with these days . We have seen other political parties hijacked. In a relatively harmless way The Conservatives by the “wets” is an example. I think that is what Farage is trying to avoid with the extreme far right
I agree. He has to keep his Reform brand squeaky clean or else the mainstream masses won't vote for them. Robinson has done a lot of good but he would be damaging to reform. They cannot risk that now they are riding high. They cannot risk being dismissed as another BNP.
And, it would give the opposing parties an excuse to peripheralise and refuse to work with them , or even try to ban them. Look at what happened to the AFD in Germany, and Le Penne in France
But not by repeating the same false allegations against Robinson as the BBC and uniparties do. Every corrupt politician and political party resorts to that kind of tactic and I don't like to see it in Reform It tells us something about Farage and who, I think, is the instigator of all this kind of strategy Yusuf. Tell lies that can be so easily disproved is very poor PR. You debase your own coinage and credibility.
Reform are not a serious party if they are doing this. Whatever goes through Farage’s head that he sees Tommy as such a threat? He is acting like the uniparty.
No he's not. He trying to protect his brand. Robinson despite doing many great things is too controversial. And connection with Reform will lose them votes. The most important thing is to get Reform into power in 2029 and this will be easier without Robinson.
Whatever makes think Tommy Robinson is even interested in being in parliament and part of reform. Not sure the priorities are correct here. Power fur power’s sake is more of the same.
I'm never said Robinson is interested in parliament, as I have no idea. I'm just saying why I think it's a good thing that Farage doesn't endorse him or praise him in any way or have anything to do with him despite some of their views being the same.
Well written and well argued as always Matt. What worries me is that those of us who understand the damage of what’s euphemistically called “multiculturalism” and the criminalisation of free speech may only amount to a small echo chamber of like minds on substack, GBNews and X. These messages aren’t reaching the naive Labour voters who need to be disillusioned. The media are too cowardly (and too left wing) to expose the Labour government. Academia and the Civil Service have been captured beyond redemption and the Tories and Reform seem happy to usher in another Labour government via disastrous election failure instead of uniting the right as the only hope of defeating Labour. The weasel that is Ed Davey will be courted by Starmer (if not already) in his desperation to cling on to power and a Labour/Lib Dem pact wound win a majority in 2029. Davey’s unctuous sycophancy towards Starmer in PMQs gives their game away while the Tories and Reform squabble self destructively and neither on their own currently has the capability nor the resources to form a government. Rupert Lowe is the lone voice prepared to carry out the radical surgery which should never have become necessary to address the immigration problem. A mass communication project is needed to expose Labour’s blatant gaslighting in their heartlands far in advance of any general election but who will take responsibility for it?
What? You seriously believe that dumping all the immigrants on a distant island and letting the mosquitos talke care of them is an answer? Lowe has a seriously disturbed view of the world and any aspiring party should give him a very wide berth.
Thanks Matt, it’s impossible to stress highly enough how important this point it and how important free speech is; without it we have nothing. Look back in history to every group of people fighting for basic human rights and equality. None of it could have been achieved without free speech. You’d think that the Labour Party with its history would understand this; how has it gone so wrong, become so authoritarian? Today, transgender ideology has infected every institution, govt, organisation across the West simply because of the ‘no debate’ mantra. Anyone who questioned it was immediately shamed, ostracised, cancelled and often sacked. If we’d had the ability to question it, the problems for women, children and society would have been obvious years ago and before the damage to so many children had been allowed to happen.
Now we can see the damage that extreme Islamism is already doing to our society, we can see what has happened in virtually every country which has been forced to comply with its regressive, medieval ideology. Islamists must be rubbing their hands with glee as they foresee a future takeover of our laws and culture, aided and abetted by some incredibly stupid people. And how can any MP be stupid enough to see that the protection of only one religion is not fair, is not equality under the law? The modern left is utterly devoid of the ability to think critically. Their brains are addled by ideology and I utterly despair while they are in charge.
“The modern left is devoid of the ability to think critically.” You have summed it up perfectly Tenacious. The left is completely unfettered by reality as their recent legislation (abortion up to birth and while we are at it, let’s kill granny) and the whole transgender debacle has illustrated. Since gaining power this government has demonstrated a total inability to think even two moves ahead. You are right, the country is in danger of continued damage and debasement every minute these people remain in government.
Wow TT - what an omelette you have cooked here. Let's try and unscramble it. First, I don't at all agree with this new notion that "free speech" trumps everything. We have never historically had free speech in this country. Until around the 1980s the only free speech that was allowed was at Speaker's Corner and even there it was carefully monitored. The "right to protest" is another nonsense that sneaked in to our laws recently and I totally disagree with it and all the mayhem it causes. We have a democratic process that has worked for decades - if you don't agree with something you vote accordingly at an election - or write to the Times. Concerning the Islamisation of our country I agree with you. It is horrific and too quick. But our governing liberal elite has not only allowed it too happen but encouraged it. Its too late now. And what about the US selecting a Muslim mayor for New Yoerk? Beats me.
I don’t think you can unscramble an omelette Vernon 😁 but I don’t claim to have a brilliant brain and am always happy to learn. I do think free speech is a bedrock of a free society, it’s how we learn from each other and hear different views. Freedom to march and impose on other people with endless demonstrations are a different matter. That is direct action and goes beyond speech because it affects the lives of others. But I agree, some demonstrations have lately gone too far- climate change, Palestine. I’m pretty sure there’s available legislation which could deal with those though if someone had the courage. And thanks for your input.
All true, but even without such a law, most people are deeply reluctant to admit the fact that at root Islam is a fascistic and profoundly sectarian faith - just read the Quran - and is fundamentally at odds with Western society.
Yes, of course many Muslims are moderate, but they tend to be bullied by the more hardline members who can always point to scriptural authority to justify their actions. The moderates can’t. The only way we will ever combat Islam is firstly to see ourselves not as a multicultural society but as a Western Christian one and that beliefs and practices that are too incompatible with that will not be tolerated.
Douglas Carswell’s suggestions on deportation and loss of citizenship rights is well worth reading on this.
I don't think we should present ourselves as a "Western Christian society" but as "a secular society whose historical faith is Christianity". It is becoming clear that self-styled religious authorities should never be given political power -- they invariably shut down free debate as the Catholic Church did in its heyday, they always promote thinking within a box. If people want to be religious, as I am myself, that is their private concern, all we require of people as a society is that they adhere to the law, or if they don't that they must expect to be punished. Christ had no interest in setting up a social/political movement and stresses 'personal change', in his terms "repentance'. He gave no clear guidelines concerning laws, unlike Mahomet who was invited to control the affairs of Medina. Secular societies can be just as bad but only when they are ideologically driven as in the case of communism. Islam's current record has even put me off Christianity since they have certain points in common being both religions are people of the book. The worst atrocities in history have been carried out either by religious or by 'socialist' fanatics.
With apologies to anyone who has read this before on a different substack:
If I had to choose just one example of the horrors this weak-minded mean-spirited government are inflicting on us it would be the push for a law on so-called Islamophobia. I would like to ask the government two questions. First, why are you singling out Islam for protection against criticism and not extending that protection to other religions, particularly Judaism which clearly receives a thousand times more hostile attention than Islam. Second, what makes you think that this mediaeval religion that, among other things, reduces women to virtual slaves, in some areas refusing them education beyond primary stage, actually needs, let alone deserves, protection? Have they not shown us how wonderfully adept they are at carrying out their own retribution, namely murder, against their critics? So what is the actual purpose of the government in pursuing this appalling objective? Can it be simply to attract Muslim votes? However one looks at it, it is a horror story and yet another betrayal of what used to be British values.
The motive is primarily fear -- Moslems are, today (but not always in history) more likely to cut up rough than Christians. Secondly, there is self-interest -- Moslems are considered to be more likely to vote Labour. Thirdly, lib/lab fanatics hate this country and the West so much that any faith, any other society is considered 'superior'. Not that they'd actually want to live in Iran or Afghanistan of course.
Charles I think you miss the point. The muslim holy book is the only holy text on Earth that promises rewards in heaven to followers who kill non-believers.
Any working group with Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry on it is bound to end badly. As many of us thought, Starmer’s apparent Damascene conversion was just a sham and this law will be used to suppress any criticism of this “special” group.
The Elites are for sure now panicking as described by you Matt, as well as Lesley and other commentators. If this carries on, in the immortal words "you ain't seen nothing yet" is going to come to a street near everyone soon!
It has been said that Pakistan looks both ways - to the West and to Islam, and cannot make up its mind which direction it wishes to follow; well, the Labour Party is in the same boat, but IT looks towards all points of the compass. The Labour Party supports a broad coalition of people and tries to please them all, from its traditional public-worker base, where it has the unenviable task of keeping the wool pulled over the eyes of manual workers, to try to keep the lie in place that it is on their side, while at the same time representing its core voters, the university types who despise manual workers. Leaving aside all the other factions like the Luvvies and the gays and lesbians, the other major Labour group is the Muslim faction, without which Labour would be up the creek, so the party performs its gymnastics and bends over backwards to keep it on-side.
Thus we have allowed the take-over of our society by Islam, slowly, insidiously; it has crept into every institution by using our laws and protections of minorities to scream 'Islamophobia' whenever an obstacle is placed in its path. Our country is run by Muslims, thanks to the seven hundred strong militant Islamic workforce in the Home Office. Remember Sunak and his Muslim war memorial? Why was it recommended that he build a memorial to a religion? Why not a Sikh memorial, or a Jewish memorial? Want to burn a religious text? No problem. Want to burn a copy of the Quoran? That is an offence. So why is Islam protected? Is it fear of reprisals? Because if that is the case, then we have learned nothing from history about appeasing bullies. Or is it the Labour Party buying votes, and throwing the rest of us to the wolves? Make your mind up time.
With every step they take Labour simply make themselves more unelectable at the next General Election. Unless they take the ultimate step and cancel it ... but they wouldn't do that would they?
Why should Islam need a law to protect it? I can say whatever I like about Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Pagans, Druids etc. Why should Muslims be any different? Could it be that our Labour government depends not only on the unions but also the Muslim vote to put it in power and to keep it there. Before it becomes illegal to say this: we are right to regard Islam with fear. I can't think of one previously Christian country which became Islamic without blood being shed. I will be happy to be corrected.
This certainly isn’t the Britain I recognise - sad and quite frankly, frightening. This government is focused on control of individual actions, speech and thought - and all to keep power, regardless of public opinion- they just don’t care. We were once the country that stood up for freedom and free speech. I hope JD Vance joins Trump in the state visit and continues to speak out for free speech in Britain.
Apologies to Shakespeare but this quote from Hamlet sums up the state of this government re: Labour's ideological contortions "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" - corruption, decay and revenge.
If I can however add one extenuating factor, and I write this as a supporter of Israel whose views on Gaza are nearer to Douglas Murray's than anyone else's I have read.
That is that the established official definition of anti-Semitism has already been allowed to intrude on Free Speech. I have just looked at the definition on GOV.UK and it talks about Holocaust Denial. I don't believe that Holocaust Denial is a stance which is supported by historical reality but I also don't believe it should be an offence against anything more than common sense.
There must be many Muslims and some useful idiots (Grieve, Soubry e.g.) who think that if Free Speech can be suppressed to ease Jewish sensibilities, it should be further suppressed to ease Muslim ones. And of course, it already de facto is, viz. your examples.
The prime minister is trying very hard to pacify the vocal opposition to his very poor policy decisions. We the British public will not be silenced where harm and violence by a section of the population are responsible as a group rather than other singular entities. Sir Kier has misread the feelings and emotions of a very large number of voters of all parties. Matt Goodwin has put his finger on the issue with clarity.
What we’re seeing isn’t just censorship. It’s narrative control by pathologising dissent. Disagree, and you’re not just wrong — you’re dangerous, unwell, or “phobic.” It’s classic gaslighting: the institutions insist the lights haven’t dimmed, and you’re the problem for noticing.
But it also reveals something else — a rising panic among those in charge. They know they’ve made a colossal mess of things, and shutting people up is the only move they’ve got left.
I write more about political gaslighting here if it interests anyone: https://www.veridaze.com/p/gaslighting-the-west
Well said
# This country is no longer civilised.
# I will not shut up.
When I retire, in several years time, I will no longer be putting my public service job on the line by not shutting up. But by then the government will probably have a social credit system in place and be able to dock a sum from my state pension or from my bank account or seize a share of my property every time I engage in wrongspeak.
Only if we let them do away with cash in our society. Digital currency is a real danger to our future way of life. And the people that love Davos more than Westminster are complicit in the deception.
As Steve Sailer remarked, Noticing is our original sin.
David Starkey recently addressed this in interview with Anna Loutfi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE8_oGkIaNA&pp=ygUNZGF2aWQgc3RhcmtleQ%3D%3D confirming it's merely attempts to use words and reinterpret meanings to fit the ideological narrative
If these Islamophobia and other free speech restrictions are persisted with it really will fuel the rise of the far right . And I am not talking about the mild and sensible Farage and the Reform Party here . Ordinary people’s anger is building towards fury at the unfairness and injustice at what is going on in our country and the governments complete failure to stop the wholesale breaching of our borders by people bent on criminal activity and doing us harm
Everything the so called "Far Right" predicted has now come true.
They had a far better analysis of the trajectory of Western Civilisation than Classical Liberals.
They did
This remark is only too true. Since most thinking people will be classed as islamophobic however reasonable their views, many will conclude might as well be killed as a sheep as a lamb and go full throttle. If someone wanted to sow discord and endless trouble in society, they couldn't think of a better way to do it than this insanity.
I agree . I think people’s concerns over Islam , and anger with the politicians who got us into this mass immigration, DEI and two tier policing etc, will be such that they will not be cowed . Its provocation in that it is such an attack on freedom of speech and a further attempt to silence and suppress the indigenous population from complaining about self evident wrongs
'Mild and sensible' Farage?? He has just called for all political parties in this country to refuse membership to anyone who has 'supported'-ie believed - Tommy Robinson! In other words, Farage trying to detract from his own disgraceful, false allegations against someone who was constantly persecuted for being the first person exposing the Pakistani rape gangs Announced at a press conference with Zia Yusuf at his side and no sign of the current Reform chairman. Reform is morphing into the 'nasty' party of British politics.
Well that is one point of view certainly. Not mine however . The country is a potential tinder box for far right fuelled civil unrest, which while understandable would be better avoided as we really don’t want to see a return of “race riots “ if we can avoid them whilst not backing down on our own principles. Tommy Robinson has done some very commendable things , he is also a beacon of attraction for people he himself would probably prefer not to associate himself with these days . We have seen other political parties hijacked. In a relatively harmless way The Conservatives by the “wets” is an example. I think that is what Farage is trying to avoid with the extreme far right
I agree. He has to keep his Reform brand squeaky clean or else the mainstream masses won't vote for them. Robinson has done a lot of good but he would be damaging to reform. They cannot risk that now they are riding high. They cannot risk being dismissed as another BNP.
And, it would give the opposing parties an excuse to peripheralise and refuse to work with them , or even try to ban them. Look at what happened to the AFD in Germany, and Le Penne in France
But not by repeating the same false allegations against Robinson as the BBC and uniparties do. Every corrupt politician and political party resorts to that kind of tactic and I don't like to see it in Reform It tells us something about Farage and who, I think, is the instigator of all this kind of strategy Yusuf. Tell lies that can be so easily disproved is very poor PR. You debase your own coinage and credibility.
Reform are not a serious party if they are doing this. Whatever goes through Farage’s head that he sees Tommy as such a threat? He is acting like the uniparty.
No he's not. He trying to protect his brand. Robinson despite doing many great things is too controversial. And connection with Reform will lose them votes. The most important thing is to get Reform into power in 2029 and this will be easier without Robinson.
It will
Whatever makes think Tommy Robinson is even interested in being in parliament and part of reform. Not sure the priorities are correct here. Power fur power’s sake is more of the same.
I'm never said Robinson is interested in parliament, as I have no idea. I'm just saying why I think it's a good thing that Farage doesn't endorse him or praise him in any way or have anything to do with him despite some of their views being the same.
That’s insane
Well written and well argued as always Matt. What worries me is that those of us who understand the damage of what’s euphemistically called “multiculturalism” and the criminalisation of free speech may only amount to a small echo chamber of like minds on substack, GBNews and X. These messages aren’t reaching the naive Labour voters who need to be disillusioned. The media are too cowardly (and too left wing) to expose the Labour government. Academia and the Civil Service have been captured beyond redemption and the Tories and Reform seem happy to usher in another Labour government via disastrous election failure instead of uniting the right as the only hope of defeating Labour. The weasel that is Ed Davey will be courted by Starmer (if not already) in his desperation to cling on to power and a Labour/Lib Dem pact wound win a majority in 2029. Davey’s unctuous sycophancy towards Starmer in PMQs gives their game away while the Tories and Reform squabble self destructively and neither on their own currently has the capability nor the resources to form a government. Rupert Lowe is the lone voice prepared to carry out the radical surgery which should never have become necessary to address the immigration problem. A mass communication project is needed to expose Labour’s blatant gaslighting in their heartlands far in advance of any general election but who will take responsibility for it?
What? You seriously believe that dumping all the immigrants on a distant island and letting the mosquitos talke care of them is an answer? Lowe has a seriously disturbed view of the world and any aspiring party should give him a very wide berth.
Thanks Matt, it’s impossible to stress highly enough how important this point it and how important free speech is; without it we have nothing. Look back in history to every group of people fighting for basic human rights and equality. None of it could have been achieved without free speech. You’d think that the Labour Party with its history would understand this; how has it gone so wrong, become so authoritarian? Today, transgender ideology has infected every institution, govt, organisation across the West simply because of the ‘no debate’ mantra. Anyone who questioned it was immediately shamed, ostracised, cancelled and often sacked. If we’d had the ability to question it, the problems for women, children and society would have been obvious years ago and before the damage to so many children had been allowed to happen.
Now we can see the damage that extreme Islamism is already doing to our society, we can see what has happened in virtually every country which has been forced to comply with its regressive, medieval ideology. Islamists must be rubbing their hands with glee as they foresee a future takeover of our laws and culture, aided and abetted by some incredibly stupid people. And how can any MP be stupid enough to see that the protection of only one religion is not fair, is not equality under the law? The modern left is utterly devoid of the ability to think critically. Their brains are addled by ideology and I utterly despair while they are in charge.
“The modern left is devoid of the ability to think critically.” You have summed it up perfectly Tenacious. The left is completely unfettered by reality as their recent legislation (abortion up to birth and while we are at it, let’s kill granny) and the whole transgender debacle has illustrated. Since gaining power this government has demonstrated a total inability to think even two moves ahead. You are right, the country is in danger of continued damage and debasement every minute these people remain in government.
Wow TT - what an omelette you have cooked here. Let's try and unscramble it. First, I don't at all agree with this new notion that "free speech" trumps everything. We have never historically had free speech in this country. Until around the 1980s the only free speech that was allowed was at Speaker's Corner and even there it was carefully monitored. The "right to protest" is another nonsense that sneaked in to our laws recently and I totally disagree with it and all the mayhem it causes. We have a democratic process that has worked for decades - if you don't agree with something you vote accordingly at an election - or write to the Times. Concerning the Islamisation of our country I agree with you. It is horrific and too quick. But our governing liberal elite has not only allowed it too happen but encouraged it. Its too late now. And what about the US selecting a Muslim mayor for New Yoerk? Beats me.
I don’t think you can unscramble an omelette Vernon 😁 but I don’t claim to have a brilliant brain and am always happy to learn. I do think free speech is a bedrock of a free society, it’s how we learn from each other and hear different views. Freedom to march and impose on other people with endless demonstrations are a different matter. That is direct action and goes beyond speech because it affects the lives of others. But I agree, some demonstrations have lately gone too far- climate change, Palestine. I’m pretty sure there’s available legislation which could deal with those though if someone had the courage. And thanks for your input.
All true, but even without such a law, most people are deeply reluctant to admit the fact that at root Islam is a fascistic and profoundly sectarian faith - just read the Quran - and is fundamentally at odds with Western society.
Yes, of course many Muslims are moderate, but they tend to be bullied by the more hardline members who can always point to scriptural authority to justify their actions. The moderates can’t. The only way we will ever combat Islam is firstly to see ourselves not as a multicultural society but as a Western Christian one and that beliefs and practices that are too incompatible with that will not be tolerated.
Douglas Carswell’s suggestions on deportation and loss of citizenship rights is well worth reading on this.
Carswell’s nine point plan to rescue the UK is the best blueprint I’ve read in decades.
Where do we find it?
Go to YouTube and type “Douglas Carswell New Culture Forum” for his interview with Peter Whittle. It’s about 40 minutes but well worth the time.
I totally agree with you and with Douglas Carswell’s piece on deportations and free speech.
I don't think we should present ourselves as a "Western Christian society" but as "a secular society whose historical faith is Christianity". It is becoming clear that self-styled religious authorities should never be given political power -- they invariably shut down free debate as the Catholic Church did in its heyday, they always promote thinking within a box. If people want to be religious, as I am myself, that is their private concern, all we require of people as a society is that they adhere to the law, or if they don't that they must expect to be punished. Christ had no interest in setting up a social/political movement and stresses 'personal change', in his terms "repentance'. He gave no clear guidelines concerning laws, unlike Mahomet who was invited to control the affairs of Medina. Secular societies can be just as bad but only when they are ideologically driven as in the case of communism. Islam's current record has even put me off Christianity since they have certain points in common being both religions are people of the book. The worst atrocities in history have been carried out either by religious or by 'socialist' fanatics.
How do you know many Muslims are moderate?
Met a fair few perfectly decent ones. Unfortunately I’ve had some very nasty experiences as well.
With apologies to anyone who has read this before on a different substack:
If I had to choose just one example of the horrors this weak-minded mean-spirited government are inflicting on us it would be the push for a law on so-called Islamophobia. I would like to ask the government two questions. First, why are you singling out Islam for protection against criticism and not extending that protection to other religions, particularly Judaism which clearly receives a thousand times more hostile attention than Islam. Second, what makes you think that this mediaeval religion that, among other things, reduces women to virtual slaves, in some areas refusing them education beyond primary stage, actually needs, let alone deserves, protection? Have they not shown us how wonderfully adept they are at carrying out their own retribution, namely murder, against their critics? So what is the actual purpose of the government in pursuing this appalling objective? Can it be simply to attract Muslim votes? However one looks at it, it is a horror story and yet another betrayal of what used to be British values.
Well said.
Don't apologise. Thank you for making this point again - I wished that I'd noted it down when I saw it before. It's a great one.
The motive is primarily fear -- Moslems are, today (but not always in history) more likely to cut up rough than Christians. Secondly, there is self-interest -- Moslems are considered to be more likely to vote Labour. Thirdly, lib/lab fanatics hate this country and the West so much that any faith, any other society is considered 'superior'. Not that they'd actually want to live in Iran or Afghanistan of course.
Charles I think you miss the point. The muslim holy book is the only holy text on Earth that promises rewards in heaven to followers who kill non-believers.
Indeed. But how I have missed the point?
Any working group with Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry on it is bound to end badly. As many of us thought, Starmer’s apparent Damascene conversion was just a sham and this law will be used to suppress any criticism of this “special” group.
We live under a anti White regime now.
Yes,this the real 'racism' in our society.
The Elites are for sure now panicking as described by you Matt, as well as Lesley and other commentators. If this carries on, in the immortal words "you ain't seen nothing yet" is going to come to a street near everyone soon!
It has been said that Pakistan looks both ways - to the West and to Islam, and cannot make up its mind which direction it wishes to follow; well, the Labour Party is in the same boat, but IT looks towards all points of the compass. The Labour Party supports a broad coalition of people and tries to please them all, from its traditional public-worker base, where it has the unenviable task of keeping the wool pulled over the eyes of manual workers, to try to keep the lie in place that it is on their side, while at the same time representing its core voters, the university types who despise manual workers. Leaving aside all the other factions like the Luvvies and the gays and lesbians, the other major Labour group is the Muslim faction, without which Labour would be up the creek, so the party performs its gymnastics and bends over backwards to keep it on-side.
Thus we have allowed the take-over of our society by Islam, slowly, insidiously; it has crept into every institution by using our laws and protections of minorities to scream 'Islamophobia' whenever an obstacle is placed in its path. Our country is run by Muslims, thanks to the seven hundred strong militant Islamic workforce in the Home Office. Remember Sunak and his Muslim war memorial? Why was it recommended that he build a memorial to a religion? Why not a Sikh memorial, or a Jewish memorial? Want to burn a religious text? No problem. Want to burn a copy of the Quoran? That is an offence. So why is Islam protected? Is it fear of reprisals? Because if that is the case, then we have learned nothing from history about appeasing bullies. Or is it the Labour Party buying votes, and throwing the rest of us to the wolves? Make your mind up time.
Yes but it is necessary to make the poiint that defending anyone who deliberately provokes offence by publicly burning a Koran isn't helping at all.
With every step they take Labour simply make themselves more unelectable at the next General Election. Unless they take the ultimate step and cancel it ... but they wouldn't do that would they?
Why should Islam need a law to protect it? I can say whatever I like about Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Pagans, Druids etc. Why should Muslims be any different? Could it be that our Labour government depends not only on the unions but also the Muslim vote to put it in power and to keep it there. Before it becomes illegal to say this: we are right to regard Islam with fear. I can't think of one previously Christian country which became Islamic without blood being shed. I will be happy to be corrected.
Great article, as always Matt! 🔥💙
This is pre-war Nazi-level silencing and propaganda.
Let's hope what follows doesn't also mirror history🤞
This certainly isn’t the Britain I recognise - sad and quite frankly, frightening. This government is focused on control of individual actions, speech and thought - and all to keep power, regardless of public opinion- they just don’t care. We were once the country that stood up for freedom and free speech. I hope JD Vance joins Trump in the state visit and continues to speak out for free speech in Britain.
Apologies to Shakespeare but this quote from Hamlet sums up the state of this government re: Labour's ideological contortions "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" - corruption, decay and revenge.
As usual, Matt, I fully agree.
If I can however add one extenuating factor, and I write this as a supporter of Israel whose views on Gaza are nearer to Douglas Murray's than anyone else's I have read.
That is that the established official definition of anti-Semitism has already been allowed to intrude on Free Speech. I have just looked at the definition on GOV.UK and it talks about Holocaust Denial. I don't believe that Holocaust Denial is a stance which is supported by historical reality but I also don't believe it should be an offence against anything more than common sense.
There must be many Muslims and some useful idiots (Grieve, Soubry e.g.) who think that if Free Speech can be suppressed to ease Jewish sensibilities, it should be further suppressed to ease Muslim ones. And of course, it already de facto is, viz. your examples.
The prime minister is trying very hard to pacify the vocal opposition to his very poor policy decisions. We the British public will not be silenced where harm and violence by a section of the population are responsible as a group rather than other singular entities. Sir Kier has misread the feelings and emotions of a very large number of voters of all parties. Matt Goodwin has put his finger on the issue with clarity.