@GeorgeMonbiot Some local council politicians' free speech credentials are threadbare, regarding press coverage or questioning as temeritous intrusion. The decline of local media generally means there's not much speech of any kind, free or not, anyway, down at this level of local governance.1/7
@GeorgeMonbiot The decline of newsprint local media has seen, in some places, local online journalism take its place. Here in Croydon, @insidecroydon has successfully filled that gap. The Croydon response to those shoots of local free speech re-emerging from the fall of local print ... 2/7
@GeorgeMonbiot @InsideCroydon journalism has shown an intolerance of free speech that, if we were a country, would put us well down the @RSF_inter freedom rankings. What is now by far the main news source in the town is boycotted by the council, it's leader & ruling Labour Group. Motions of condemnation 3/7
@GeorgeMonbiot @InsideCroydon @RSF_inter are passed in private Labour Group meetings in unflattering terms. Labour councillors are banned from speaking to or referring to @InsideCroydon on social media, the Labour party has associated itself with the hacking of @InsideCroydon, the hacking matter being under 4/7
@GeorgeMonbiot @InsideCroydon @RSF_inter investigation by the ICO as a possible crime and I have been recalled as an incumbent councillor & approved and ward selected candidate to face the allegation of talking to @InsideCroydon & the now additional charge of talking about the candidature rescindment with people. 5/7
@GeorgeMonbiot @InsideCroydon @RSF_inter The free speech culture has thin roots out here in some parts of local government. This free speech matter may be an issue in the Croydon Mayoral May election. 6/7
@GeorgeMonbiot @InsideCroydon @RSF_inter That Mayoral election arises from a referendum where a residents' petition & subsequent popular vote changed what some saw as a free speech & scrutiny unfriendly, failed governance that led to Croydon council's financial collapse. A lack of a free speech culture costs money. 7/7
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