Brussels police ordered to attend a right wing conference attended by Braverman and Farage

If last year’s Nationwide Conservative conference is anything to go by, there was plenty in there which could be considered hate speech.

Hate speech is happening on our streets most weekends, filmed by the British media, and watched and listened to by the British police.

I support free speech.
I don’t support hate speech.

What exactly is far right?
It is claimed by some Gransnetters that Orban is far right. I asked what makes him far right as I don’t know much about him, apart from his refusal to take immigrants (how does he get away with that in the EU?) I’ve been told to read the foreign media to enlighten myself. Not much of an answer really. Or get Hungarian neighbours! Not sure how I can arrange that!

JudyBloom I absolutely agree with you. He wants what is best for this country.

JudyBloom

This is a disgrace, Nigel Farage is NOT far right, they just want people to believe he is - as usual, if views don't fit the narrative you get banned - this is against Democracy and another attack on free speech. There is nothing to fear from Nigel, he believes in free speech and our country having it's own rules.

🤣🤣🤣

I see your point MayBee70 although I do not know the circumstances. I live in a fishing town and there were big notices all round the harbour following the vote to leave the EU saying thank you. It was so moving.

BevSec

We should not need our fishermen being stood up for Maybee70 if the EU was that wonderful! It really isnt and wasnt!

But it was his responsibility and he shirked it! He was paid to do it and he didn’t bother. Which is nothing to do with how good or bad the EU is. Imo

We should not need our fishermen being stood up for Maybee70 if the EU was that wonderful! It really isnt and wasnt!

I agree with Galaxy I think we are facing some very illiberal stances on many issues from governments and corporations who would deem themselves left of centre.

Turning to the likes of Victor Orban how does he get away with flouting EU policy as to blocking any asylum seekers from Hungary?

Galaxy 👏👏👏 dittto

Well who decides what is hate speech is deeply problematic obviously as has been recently shown. I am much more terrified about those who are authoritarian in regards to speech than those who say things I dont like.

Anniebach

maddyone Thu 18-Apr-24 00:38:20
Re the comment about free speech and the pro Palestine marches. Well clearly the protesters have had many months of free speech, which is fine except that some of the protesters have shouted antisemitic slogans, from the river to the sea and so on, and some have carried antisemitic placards featuring swastikas and Hitler and so on. These incidents are not breaches of the peace, though they very well could be, but they are hate speech which is an offence. Free speech is fine, hate speech is against the law and therefore not fine.

And this hate speech was permitted by the police

Very well said. Totally agree.

maddyone Thu 18-Apr-24 00:38:20
Re the comment about free speech and the pro Palestine marches. Well clearly the protesters have had many months of free speech, which is fine except that some of the protesters have shouted antisemitic slogans, from the river to the sea and so on, and some have carried antisemitic placards featuring swastikas and Hitler and so on. These incidents are not breaches of the peace, though they very well could be, but they are hate speech which is an offence. Free speech is fine, hate speech is against the law and therefore not fine.

And this hate speech was permitted by the police

maddyone

Re the comment about free speech and the pro Palestine marches. Well clearly the protesters have had many months of free speech, which is fine except that some of the protesters have shouted antisemitic slogans, from the river to the sea and so on, and some have carried antisemitic placards featuring swastikas and Hitler and so on. These incidents are not breaches of the peace, though they very well could be, but they are hate speech which is an offence. Free speech is fine, hate speech is against the law and therefore not fine.

If last year's National Conservative conference is anything to go by, there was plenty in there which could be considered hate speech.

maddyone

I don’t really know what Mr Orban’s views are, except that I do know that he doesn’t want to have much/any (not quite sure which) immigration into Hungary. Otherwise I’m unsure that his views have been given much prominence in the British media so I’m unsure what they are. How do we know he’s far right? How do we assess this? Maybe others know a bit more about his policies than I do. He could very well be far right for all I know, but I’m wondering how we decide this. On what criteria?

Try reading foreign media, which is available in English, or having Hungarian next-door neighbours, like I do.

Re the comment about free speech and the pro Palestine marches. Well clearly the protesters have had many months of free speech, which is fine except that some of the protesters have shouted antisemitic slogans, from the river to the sea and so on, and some have carried antisemitic placards featuring swastikas and Hitler and so on. These incidents are not breaches of the peace, though they very well could be, but they are hate speech which is an offence. Free speech is fine, hate speech is against the law and therefore not fine.

I don’t really know what Mr Orban’s views are, except that I do know that he doesn’t want to have much/any (not quite sure which) immigration into Hungary. Otherwise I’m unsure that his views have been given much prominence in the British media so I’m unsure what they are. How do we know he’s far right? How do we assess this? Maybe others know a bit more about his policies than I do. He could very well be far right for all I know, but I’m wondering how we decide this. On what criteria?

Urmstongran

It really disturbs me that views expressed at this conference are described as “extreme right”, as some of these views I would agree with. I see myself as politically conservative but there is no UK political party that I 100% agree with. My views are definitely not extreme right.

But they are views which most people would categorise as extreme right - certainly those of Orban.

And I'd started to mellow towards Streeting (NHS reforms) but when I saw his delight at this outrageous attack on free speech it was clear he was letting his true character show.

As for Ashworth, well, he's not really a deep thinker is he?

Ditto Urmstongran

It really disturbs me that views expressed at this conference are described as “extreme right”, as some of these views I would agree with. I see myself as politically conservative but there is no UK political party that I 100% agree with. My views are definitely not extreme right.

Namsnanny

Yes your right Casdon
I'm just fascinated why the topic of free speech isn't as bewitching as NF

There are quite a few ‘trigger people’ on Gransnet - mention their name and the hares start running, I’m not sure he’s top of the list even. Meghan probably beats him! As does Boris Johnson, and coming up close on the rails it would seem, Angela Rayner.

Whitewavemark2

The Nat Cons have been entirely irrelevant since they formed themselves - and last year their conference took place with barely a glance, so they must be thrilled to have such publicity. Farage was practically jumping up and down in excitement.

I agree. Farage revels in playing the victim.

I don't think the conference should have been closed down.

The reason the Mayor gave in his letter to the organisers was that the venue had been changed at the last minute, after two venues stated they wouldn't host the conference. The organisers hadn't informed the municipality, although the venue had. The Mayor's argument was that he didn't have time to organise security (police). The area is the most deprived in Brussels and has people from a multitude of ethnic backgrounds. The Mayor implied that there might be trouble, given the agenda of the National Conservatives.

Somebody posted a link to the meeting the Mayor had in 2018 with Turkish far-right leaders, for which he was criticised by his party. Maybe he didn't want to be seen hosting a conference with some very vocal far-right leaders.

Although I don't think he should have taken the action he did, I can also see it from his point of view.

PS. How does this compare with the marches in London people have wanted to ban? Shouldn't they be allowed free speech too (even if you don't agree with their causes)?

Namsnanny

X posts Cossy

Namsnanny

He does seem to be able to attract attention doesn't he Cossy?

As I mentioned above, yes I saw on tv he was at this conference, but what shocked me and took my attention was, that a bureaucrat could shut down an event which was well published before hand, and use the police to back him up.

Our free speech is already being eroded in many ways. The internet reduces that even further.
I don't want to live in a country that continues down that path.

Neither do I!