The ability of extremists to provoke violent thuggery and vandalism by inflaming the gullible and easily-led with misinformation creates another headache for legislators.
How should we balance the freedom of speech with incitement to violence. As with all politics and legislation, wherever you draw a line, you create a new perceived unfairness.
One person who has taken a strong view on the violent atrocities, is a Conservative Party Police and Crime Commissioner (i.e. in a position of significant responsibility). They have used social media to speak on behalf of those perpetrating the violence and looting etc. Claiming they have “spoken to both sides”. They assert the perpetrators should be understood, as they have “a desire to protect Britain’s sovereignty; and the need to uphold British values”.
Burning libraries, looting shops, attacking the police, terrorising hotel staff and residents, attacking people because they “look foreign”. Those who fan the flames of this behaviour know full well that their lies and bigotry enable this to happen. They’re as guilty as the perpetrators.
I’m delighted to have secured a debate with the housing minister in the Commons next month. It will be on housing and housing deed in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This follows the deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner’s announcement last week that the government would ”take the brakes off the planning system” and promote higher housing targets.
I pointed out to the deputy Prime Minister that Cornwall is one of the best territories to look at when assessing the effectiveness of high housing targets. After all, Cornwall has been one of the fastest growing places in the United Kingdom since the 1960s – nearly trebled its housing stock. Cornwall is not the hot bed of Nimbyism the deputy Prime Minister is so scornful of. Yet the housing problems of locals have got significantly worse.
Our problem is that the planning system is fuel by greed rather than need. It is that which needs to be addressed rather than simply handing the whole agenda over to high-volume developers and land value speculators. We’ve tried that for decades and it failed. I’ll make a strong case for Cornwall to be treated differently and with consideration for what will help those in need.
Thank you to the many people who have contacted me since the election. Most appreciate that I am overwhelmed with the challenges of having to adjust, and understand I can’t fully ‘hit the ground running’, as I would like. I have no desk, no office, nor support staff present, (though I am being helped by some kind volunteers until these facilities are in place). I’m still winding down my day job and have other personal matters to attend to. Therefore, I am grateful to those who appreciate it may take time. I’ll deal with urgent casework as soon as I can, but please bear with me a little longer!