Politics

We adopted view state can legitimately suppress mass protests

Author saw instances of excessive police force

Conflict was almost inevitable

There is no independent arbiter to decide lawful protest routes

1978 Mardi Gras riot has many similarities to Town Hall riot

Contentious legislative reform can relate closely to political ebb and flow of community

Pernicious injection into public debate occurred after Bondi atrocity attack caused by lawful protest

Author was heartened to see Damien Tudehope reject this link

Keir Starmer cannot afford to catch a cold

Outgoing President Joe Biden warned about an American government closely aligned with money and power in his farewell address

Starmer said ID cards would help protect working people's wages against those who slip into the shadow economy and remain here illegally

It is effectively meaningless if he continues to lead a government which oversees and manages the division he seeks to address

Just 5% of overall migration to the UK is classified as illegal

Starmer has done nothing to counter that imbalance

Starmer's speech has doubled-down on anti-migrant rhetoric

The introduction of digital ID cards is framed as a way of ensuring Britain takes back control of its borders

It is incumbent on a social democrat prime minister to lead this change in narrative

Progressive values are welcome were not premised on dead duck narrative of progressive patriotism

Yvette Cooper said people should put flags up anywhere

Patriotism undermines broader commitments to empathy equality and solidarity