Thread by @paulmasonnews

The political dynamics of this week’s far-right riots are unique on many levels. 🧵1/ First: it’s organised/incited. Tommy Robinson’s lieutenant “Danny Tommo” issued a call: searchlightmagazine.com/2024/07/tommy-…

2/ The violence is not yet mass or self-replicating. It is symbolic, to be amplified on social media. Participants are a mixture of organised far-right, racist men and locals dragged in by disinformation/criminal loyalty… it's containable by tough public order policing…

2a/ Court cases now coming through reveal a pattern. Charge = violent disorder. Not guilty plea = remanded in custody. Sentencing guidelines: “racial hostility” = aggravating factor, so is taking part in a riot. Max sentence = 5 years
sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magis…

3/ It is a classic “alliance of elite and mob” (Arendt).

4/ By agglomerating refugees, Muslims and Roma people as the primary targets, the police and Keir Starmer as the secondaries, the perpetrators are acting on the Great Replacement theory myth. This is the hallmark of global fascism…

5/ The rioters and their elite supporters are playing a political game: to convert as many Reform and right-wing Tory voters as possible to a “strategy of tension” and active resistance to the government. That is useful to Russia and therefore Russian bots amplify the messaging…

6/ The most dangerous events planned today are the three targeting Mosques or Islamic centres - Liverpool, Manchester and Belfast. There will be a lot of “riot theatre” today, but most voters are disgusted at the violence, and the clear ignorance/coked-up nature of the perpetrators…

7/ In defence of our democratic society we need to respond on three levels: a) tough public order policing, with exclusion zones, arrests and swift sentencing. So long as minority communities see this happening they will remain calm…

8/ … plus b) tough intervention from the media regulator and the prosecution of those inciting the violence and spreading disinfo. And c) ostracism and deplatforming of the elite "understanders", who include individuals from GB News, Talk TV, grifters and of course Farage…

9/ The wider labour and trade union movement is already mobilising in peaceful self-defence of the targeted mosques. But this is only phase one of a strategy to destabilise the government. Reform/Tory apologist for violence, plus meddling by Musk needs a strategic political response…

10/ The strategic response is to a) build an alliance of the centre and the left to keep the right/far right out of power for a generation; b) deliver on economic security and community cohesion; c) become a militant democracy, mobilised in its own self-defence; d) promote a proud anti-fascist ethos.

11/ Yes Britain does have a fascist problem, but not a big one. The big problem is the ideological merger of right-wing populism with fascism…This is their January 6th: they just lost the only sympathetic government they’re likely to see and they're in despair...

12/ I will be monitoring and analysing any violence or disorder that happens today. Follow @hopenothate and @Searchlight_mag