Brexit is the gift that keeps on giving
We already knew Brexit means a hard Brexit without parliamentary scrutiny – at least in the mind of the Prime Minister. But now it seems Brexit means scutiny-free hard Brexit or else, as the forces of right-wing populism target our independent judiciary.
Today’s Telegraph reports Nigel Farage will lead a march of 100,000 people through London for the government’s Supreme Court appeal of the High Court verdict on Article 50.
The march will be organised by Leave.EU, the right-wing anti-EU group led by Arron Banks, and see Leavers march from Trafalgar Square down Whitehall to Parliament Square around December 5.
Brexit betrayal will lead to ‘political anger’ says @Nigel_Farage #marr https://t.co/ytKiDdpaPU
— The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) November 6, 2016
It comes after Farage warned of ‘public anger’ at any ‘betrayal’ of The Will Of The People™. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday, Farage said:
“But believe you me, if people in this country think that they’re going to be cheated, they’re going to be betrayed, then we will see political anger the likes of which none of us in our lifetimes have ever witnessed in this country.”
He tried to soften this slightly, adding: ‘The temperature of this is very, very high. I’m going to say to everybody watching this who was on the Brexit side, let’s try to get even, let’s have peaceful protest and let’s make sure in any form of election that we don’t support people who want to overturn this process.’
Asked whether that could mean ‘disturbances in the street’ he replied: ‘Yeah, I think that’s right.’
But this is the usual tap dance of deniability by Farage, who stirs things up and then warns about regrettable public unrest. In an interview before the June 23 referendum, he famously said ‘violence is the next step’ if people don’t get their way on immigration.
Farage’s march is a clear attempt to intimidate the Supreme Court judges and tip the scales of justice in his favour.
Leavers have the same right to protest as anyone else. But a demo led by Nigel Farage has more in common with one led by Anjem Choudary than, say, Stonewall – it will be a circus of Brexit-fueled rage and demagogy. Either that, or it will be a washout.
Regardless, Farage’s decision to take the idea of betrayal by enemies within – one stoked by him and his friends in the press – out onto the street, is a demonstration all right, but of the alliance between elite charlatans and popular discontent, which is fast becoming a staple of British politics.
Adam Barnett is staff writer for Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBarnett13
See: Brexit: High court rules MPs must vote on Article 50
See: Who’s ‘moaning’ now? Brexiters react to Article 50 ruling
15 Responses to “Nigel Farage plans 100,000 march on Supreme Court for Article 50 decision”
Mr Magore
I WILL be there marching too – long live democracy
Craig Mackay
Fascinating that Nigel Farage wants to generate a march against the Supreme Court making a judgement on the basis of British law! If Boris Johnson had still been Mayor then undoubtedly it would have been banned had it been an even slightly left of centre protest. Presumably now as it is the head-banging pro-Brexit right who want to hold it then may be the current Mayor will have the good sense to ban this as well!
grilho parafuso
Possible placards for a counter demo if Farage makes good on his promise to march 100,000 people to the Supreme Court when they hear the appeal against Parliamentary oversight of triggering article 50.. ?
Just a thought to try and defuse the possible confrontation that he’d prefer. Any offers ?
Humour and deflation is what we need – and ways to celebrate and promote what we share and have in common rather than what some people would have divide us…
Let’s talk.
Fancy a cuppa ?
Fancy a pint ?
Come round for dinner ?
What do we have in common ?
What about the kids ?
Give me a hug I’m feeling confused.
Let’s talk about Jo Cox.
Judges are people too.
What can I do to help ?
Are we the same ?
Everyone is different – that’s why we’re all the same.
We’re all losers.
What do we want to hold on to ?
Why me ?
My mum is your mum
I have grandparents too
We all use the NHS
Break some bread with me
Love they neighbour
grilho parafuso
Paul Mason : If Nigel Farage leads 100,000 people to intimidate the supreme court, I intend to be on the other side of a police crash barrier opposing him. I don’t want to be flanked by only my anti-fascist mates from 30 years ago: I want to see an alliance of the left and the radical centre on the streets. That means bond traders from Canary Wharf, arm in arm with placard-carrying Trots. Masked-up Kurdish radicals alongside Mumsnet posters. Eighty years on from Cable Street, we don’t have many dockers and miners around, to help face down rightwing intimidation. Puny as we are, it’s up to us.
Mick
Ah, tit-for-tat! It’s coming out now, isn’t it Left.
And it’s not on the basis of British law but EU law, thus perfectly valid for protest – a concept perfectly valid for the left when one of theirs descends into affray. (Then they moan when their thugs get ‘kettled’.)
There’d be nothing to consider banning this time.