Phil Syrpis Profile picture
15 Mar, 9 tweets, 2 min read
In the Sarah Everard case, there is an emerging trope - criticising those who have 'politicised' her death, and intimating that the protests would not be welcomed by her family and friends.

There are a few things here worth unpicking. Thread. 1/9
First, I am not sure on what basis people are presuming to know what Sarah's family and friends are going through, and how they are reacting to the way things are unfolding. My guess is that they have a wide range of views and thoughts. 2/9
Second, it is worth distinguishing between the publicity which Sarah's death and the investigation into it is attracting; and the broader debate about womens' safety, the role of the police and the right to protest. 3/9
In relation to each of these, the family and friends may, again, have very different views.

The public nature of the case creates both challenges and opportunities. It is - unavoidably - now something that they will have to cope with. 4/9
The broader debate (whether it takes the form of vigils or protests; or calls for change in the law or in policing practice) may or may not, should or should not, be linked to Sarah's death. Again, it is easy to see both sides. 5/9
I am lucky enough not to have been in the situation now facing Sarah's friends and family. But I have been thinking about how I would be likely to react. 6/9
My sense is that I would hate the publicity, and would value the opportunity to grieve/process what has happened in private. I'd feel uneasy about a lot of the media coverage (and, as a lawyer, would also be worrying about the impact of that coverage on the criminal process). 7/9
But, I would find it difficult not to be moved by the vigils, and would be unlikely to condemn those seeking to mark Sarah's death. I would be struggling to understand the police's reaction on Saturday. I would be angry and dismayed. 8/9
Sarah's family and friends may well see things very differently. I don't know.

But I do find it curious how their supposed views are - very frequently - invoked by those seeking to condemn those who have been moved by Sarah's death to take action. 9/9

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More from @syrpis

13 Mar
This is appalling. And the Govt is introducing legislation to increase police powers to restrict public protest. 1/2
Literally on Monday, this legislation will get its second reading. 2/2
And I’m reading that Labour is going to abstain. Is that right? Surely it can’t be right? @Keir_Starmer @ThangamMP
Read 4 tweets
11 Mar
Sometimes the news cycle works in ways which are incredibly jarring.

Here are three instances, from the last week, of what may be called 'cancel culture'. 1/5
First, the latest manifestation of the 'war on woke', featuring Piers Morgan and Ian Murray. We are supposed to be outraged by the 'silencing' of these people. 2/5
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9…
Second, the Government's latest attempt to silence protestors (the Bill is due to receive its second reading on Monday). I don't think that we are supposed to notice the silencing of these people. 3/5
politics.co.uk/comment/2021/0…
Read 6 tweets
6 Mar
A 1% pay increase for nurses would equate to 'more than £500 million a year'. 1/5

bbc.co.uk/news/56294009
For context, the cost of test and trace (over 2 years) is £37 million. 2/5

thelondoneconomic.com/politics/test-…
For added context, in November, the Govt boosted defence spending (over 4 years) by £16.5 billion. 3/5

gov.uk/government/new…
Read 5 tweets
5 Mar
These (by @hayward_katy and @NashSGC) have set me thinking about Brexit and the NI Protocol in a new way.

The EU has had to be, and will continue to be, *reactive* in the Brexit process. And it is difficult to assess how to react when faced with the UK Govt. THREAD 1/11
The EU's first choice would (I think) have been that the UK did not choose to leave the EU, but rather worked within EU structures. But, it was the UK's sovereign choice to leave, and choose to leave it did. 2/
The question was then how to manage the process of Brexit. The integrity of the single market, and the protection of the GFA, quickly emerged as the EU's primary aims. 3/
Read 11 tweets
1 Mar
A quick thread on football and the law; VAR and judicial review; or, if you will, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Shamima Begum.

There are, first, a lot of (superficial) similarities, and, then a lot of important differences (as you might well imagine). 1/11
Both VAR and judicial review involve some sort of external oversight (via the courts and Stockley Park) over decision-makers (referees and the Govt). 2/11
In both, there are questions about the deference which should be accorded to the decision-maker - or the intensity of review. Are we only interested in 'clear and obvious' errors? 3/11
Read 11 tweets
26 Feb
A lot of commentary on international relations, trade and Brexit makes a category error.

The discussion is often all about the ‘rival’ positions of the two sides, on winners and losers, etc.

But... it is not a zero-sum game. 1/4
Part of any international negotiation will be confrontational. But another part is collaborative, seeking mutual advantage.

There’s a focus on who gets the biggest slices; but also on the size of the cake. 2/4
The retreat from single market membership to the Brexit TCA relationship creates barriers and increases costs. It shrinks the cake. 3/4
Read 4 tweets

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