David Cameron calls for 'muscular liberalism'

[afleitch]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/8305346/Muslims-must-embrace-our-British-values-David-Cameron-says.html

"Entering the debate on national identity and religious tolerance, the Prime Minister declared an end to “passive tolerance” of divided communities, and say that members of all faiths must integrate into wider society and accept core values.

To be British is to believe in freedom of speech and religion, democracy and equal rights regardless of race, sex or sexuality, he will say. Proclaiming a doctrine of “muscular liberalism”, he said that everyone, from ministers to ordinary voters, should actively confront those who hold extremist views.

He warned that groups that fail to promote British values will no longer receive public money or be able to engage with the state."

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Link to the complete speech;

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/2011/02/pms-speech-at-munich-security-conference-60293

[GMantis]

One of the rare cases when I agree with him.

[You kip if you want to...]

The PM gives veiled (yes, veiled. hardly calling him a blatent racist or anything before people go mental.) support for the EDL while students get kettled and condemned (no pun intended). Brill' government this is!

[afleitch]

The PM gives veiled support for the EDL while students get kettled and condemned (no pun intended). Brill' government this is!

Oh did he now? Did you even read his speech?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The PM gives veiled (yes, veiled. hardly calling him a blatent racist or anything before people go mental.) support for the EDL

No he didn't. Basically this is the speech that European leaders (particularly, though by no means only, Conservative ones) give when they notice their polling numbers heading in a disturbing and perplexing direction.

There's plenty of ground to legitimately attack him on if you want; without looking too far, there's Lansley's insane NHS 'reforms', the fact that the government has lied to justify said reforms, or more symbolic issues like the selling off of publicly owned forests or the recent proposal to abolish the May Day bank holiday. There's enough wrong with this government and its priorities for their to be no need to do something as extreme as to read-into one of the PM's speeches support for a fascist organisation. So why bother? Doing so just needlessly pollutes discourse and makes it possible to pass off legitimate attacks as shrill partisan hack jobs. Not good.

Edit: just to make this clear; you certainly can use the existence of the EDL (and the fact that they had a march today, etc) as part of a critique of this speech and of speeches like it. But saying that he *supports* the EDL is going off the deep end, just a little. Best avoid doing that.

[Iosif]

Has a politician ever gone wrong bashing immigrants?

[GMantis]

Has a politician ever gone wrong bashing immigrants?

Enoch Powell's career ended because of this, to use an UK example.
Though it can be argued that he did actually bash immigrants, instead of just suggesting that they try to integrate into UK society.

[Franzl]

One of the rare many cases when I agree with him.

[redcommander]

One of the rare many cases when I agree with him.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Enoch Powell's career ended because of this, to use an UK example.

His career as a mainstream politician ended anyway. And would do now if he made a similar speech, of course; not just because of the message, but because it included racial slurs. But then for the next six, seven years or so he was one of the most influential public figures in the country, capable of swinging tens of thousands (at a conservative estimate) of votes whenever he opened his mouth.

[Iosif]

Has a politician ever gone wrong bashing immigrants?

Enoch Powell's career ended because of this, to use an UK example.
Though it can be argued that he did actually bash immigrants, instead of just suggesting that they try to integrate into UK society.

Rivers of blood was more about race than immigration.

Immigration is a sure winner for any politician. Beating on people who aren't part of the electorate and can't really defend themselves. Nobody who can vote is going to disagree with you. It's just cheap. Two dozen Bangladeshi pensioners in Mile End who don't speak a word of English is not the cause of the country's ills. Lets not pretend that it is.

I've not minded Cameron all that much so far but I found this tirade very objectionable. Guess he had to prove to the party he's still a Tory.

[You kip if you want to...]

Has a politician ever gone wrong bashing immigrants?

Enoch Powell's career ended because of this, to use an UK example.
Though it can be argued that he did actually bash immigrants, instead of just suggesting that they try to integrate into UK society.

Rivers of blood was more about race than immigration.

Immigration is a sure winner for any politician. Beating on people who aren't part of the electorate and can't really defend themselves. Nobody who can vote is going to disagree with you. It's just cheap. Two dozen Bangladeshi pensioners in Mile End who don't speak a word of English is not the cause of the country's ills. Lets not pretend that it is.

I've not minded Cameron all that much so far but I found this tirade very objectionable. Guess he had to prove to the party he's still a Tory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg-4ATrE8n0

[Hash]

One of the rare cases when I agree with him.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

One of the rare cases when I agree with him.

[Lief 🗽]

I agree with the explicit message (people should accept that freedom and respect for human rights if they want to live and participate in liberal societies), but the right-wing, nationalist (LOL British values), racist implications (there are plenty of Brits who need to accept this as well, it's not just the browns who can't vote) of it are gross. But then again David Cameron is a pretty gross person/Prime Minister.

[You kip if you want to...]

http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2011/02/le-pen-heaps-praise-on-cameron/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ft%2Fwestminster+%28Westminster+Blog%29&utm_content=Twitter

[afleitch]

http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2011/02/le-pen-heaps-praise-on-cameron/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ft%2Fwestminster+%28Westminster+Blog%29&utm_content=Twitter

Which in no way detracts from the statement itself. Remember the BNP 'warmly welcomed' Gordon Brown's 'British Jobs For British Workers' speech.

[Silent Hunter]

Did anyone see the Daily Star fawning over the EDL?

[afleitch]

Did anyone see the Daily Star fawning over the EDL?

I've seen them fawning over Jordan's tits. Again what's the relevance.

[Silent Hunter]

Did anyone see the Daily Star fawning over the EDL?

Again what's the relevance.

If you're getting praised by a popular red-top, that might do something to your membership.

[afleitch]

Did anyone see the Daily Star fawning over the EDL?

Again what's the relevance.

If you're getting praised by a popular red-top, that might do something to your membership.

I would hardly call the paper either 'popular' or even a 'red top'. It's the equivalent of being endorsed by Nuts magazine.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

No one will start supporting the EDL because a publication that specialises in low-grade soft porn (isn't it amazing that the Star has any 'readers' now that the internet exists?) has decided that it likes them. Still not a good sign though.

[patrick1]

(isn't it amazing that the Star has any 'readers' now that the internet exists?)

Even Star readers know it is unsanitary to bring a computer into the John...