Thread by @BestForBritain

Today is #WorldKindnessDay.

While the world of politics involves a lot of debate and disagreement, this doesn’t mean it ought to turn a blind eye to gratuitous attacks and pile-ons.

But try telling that to this government. 1/
bestforbritain.org/unkind_times

People blame social media for the unkindness that dominates our political discourse. But the tone is set at the very top and in this Government, positive examples of kind and responsible - or even civil - political discourse are rare. 2/

Example: Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has engaged in notorious Twitter mud-slinging, even encouraging a pile-on on @SadiqKhan because he dared to weigh in on hate speech. 3/16
mirror.co.uk/news/politics/…

Outrageously, Dorries’ response to Khan’s description of the Islamophobia he has faced was to accuse him of being lax on grooming gangs (in Rotherham and Telford!) - real dog-whistle politics targeted at London’s first Muslim Mayor. 4/

And, while we’re on the subject of Government unkindnesses, it would be remiss to forget Priti Patel, who still remains in post despite breaking the ministerial code for bullying staff. 5/
scotsman.com/news/opinion/c…

Not all Government unkindness is overt. Their call for the Commons standards commissioner Kathryn Stone to step down after her bombshell ruling on #TorySleaze likely opened her up to death threats...6/
theguardian.com/politics/2021/…

Instead of taking responsibility, the Government resorted to finger-pointing and scapegoating as a distraction to avoid accountability.

And they have form on this. 7/

Last year, the Home Secretary labeled the lawyers assisting asylum seekers as ‘lefty do-gooders’, teeing up them for abuse. 8/

https://twitter.com/barristersecret/status/1335147547954917381?lang=en

And it’s not just lawyers getting it in the neck from our Government. Those they defend, often powerless asylum seekers, are portrayed as ‘illegal’ criminals, making their way to the UK under false pretences. 9/
theguardian.com/politics/2021/…

There is a pattern. Whenever the Government turns harsh words on someone else or stigmatises a group of people, it’s usually trying to distract from its own egregious policies. 10/

When the Supreme Court ruled that Boris Johnson’s 2019 prorogation of parliament was unlawful, Number 10 accused the judiciary of undue political interference...11/
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…

...Which arguably led to this notoriously dangerous front page from the Daily Mail. 12/

To divert from the NHS' looming winter crisis, Sajid Javid demonised GPs for not seeing as many patients face to face...

...Instead of accepting responsibility for his Government’s damaging agenda (and years of chronic underfunding due to austerity). 13/
theguardian.com/society/2021/o…

At Best for Britain, we’ve been organising opposition to the Government’s attempts to avoid accountability.

In particular, we're determined to drag into the spotlight a suite of legislation that will fundamentally undermine our democracy. 14/

The Elections Bill lets them rig elections in their favour

The Policing Bill criminalises peaceful protest

The Judicial Review & Courts Bill stops us challenging them in court

The Nationality & Borders Bill criminalises the act of claiming asylum. 15/
bit.ly/31XVr31

This Government believes that turning public discourse into total war will help them cement power - and there’s no telling how far they will go. 16/

We can’t make this Government kind or responsible.

But we can call them out for their behaviour and show them that we won’t put up with it.

Find out how you can too here👇 /ENDS bestforbritain.org/betterdemocracy