There tends to be an over use of hyperbole and comparison when it comes to the media commenting on politics these days. The “greatest crisis since,” the “threat to democracy is unprecedented,” or as Jon Snow tweeted yesterday “in all my 45 years of reporting, I cannot remember a more chaotic, divided, and disturbing period in British politics.” Jon should perhaps reflect on the fact that a significant amount of this “disturbing chaos” is itself a product of the press and media with their vivid imaginations and love of the high drama.
It is true that the display of anger and downright spite and bile in the House of Commons yesterday was an extraordinary disgrace on both sides of the House. I appreciate that MPs have every right to be angry at Boris Johnson’s illegal and cynical proroguing of Parliament, but that anger should perhaps be directed into sober politicking rather than howls of abuse. As for Mr Johnson’s thoughtless and hurtful invoking of a murdered MP’s name in his cause, well, no hyperbole is necessary to describe that.
The veteran reporter Jon Snow is of course correct in his observation, even if he is selective about the causes of our current political crisis. The behaviour in the commons was hideous and adds to the ever decreasing stock of UK democracy being played out to the world. This has got to stop or any grand aspirations of Britain’s post Brexit influence in the international arena will be risible.
Democracy is under threat, there is no doubt about that, in many of the world’s current parliamentary democracies. For many years now the political parties and other vested interests have insidiously eroded the institutions that uphold the democratic traditions of these countries. It is of great irony that one of the architects of this disregard for democracy is still constantly on our TV screens invoking the institution that he and his kitchen cabinet showed utter contempt for when he was in Number 10.
The proroguing of Parliament was undoubtedly another attack on our carefully balanced democratic traditions, based on the separation of powers and the rule of law. But it should perhaps be considered that this current “chaotic, divided and disturbing period” to quote Mr Snow, did not spring fully formed from the unlawful and undemocratic prorogation initiated by our current chaotic PM and his casually dressed Rasputin-like advisor Dominic Cummings.
Remember the referendum? Remember that it ‘was in or out’ and that David Cameron assured us that the will of the British people would be acted upon? Well, it wasn’t. The first trick pulled when Mr Cameron’s gamble backfired was a betrayal of democracy too. Far from implementing the wishes of the British people, Cameron ran for the hills to be replaced by an inept PM who had already left a legacy of failure from her previous role as home secretary. Scheme after scheme was rolled out to frustrate that democratic will, from delay after delay, to downright insulting of the electorate in calling it too stupid to understand what the referendum was about.
That too was an attack on democracy on a massive scale and one that now seems to be be forgotten and subsumed by the shenanigans of Boris Johnson and his cabinet. Whether or not you voted to leave or remain in that referendum, your democratic rights were subverted by the machinations of those who promised us the choice. No one who voted in that referendum ever expected that three and a half years after the vote that we would still be left to implementing its outcome.
Most of us knew that after more than four decades of membership of the European Project that it was going to be difficult to extract us from its institutions. Most people understood that leaving was a major constitutional and economic leap, maybe not completely into the dark, but certainly into the opaque. However, most of us expected the wishes of the people expressed in a free vote would be respected even if we did not like them.
Our democracy is not yet gone, that is a gross exaggeration favoured by those in some of our more ‘imaginative’ press, but is has been challenged. It is facing more challenges by the day and we should be eternally grateful that our democratic checks and balances are still there to push back against the radical and reckless behaviour of some of those elected to serve us and, hopefully those unelected ‘advisors’ they gather around themselves. The Supreme Court has served us well, far better than our opposition parties have. The Speaker of the House has in large part served us well, although his failure to censure the disgraceful behaviour of some MPs and ministers yesterday was disappointing.
The press and particularly the broadcast media however are failing us. There is a lack of reasoned debate in our media because they prefer the hyperbole, the rough and tumble and the chaos. In a free pluralistic democracy under the rule of law the press is supposed to be one of the guardians of our democracy. Not a bunch of touchline referees and irresponsible rabble rousers stirring up trouble for a ratings advantage.
British democracy is indeed in crisis and it will not be resolved by revelling in it or hysterical handwringing about it. It will not be resolved by character assassinations or scandal mongering, but by proper journalistic scrutiny and reasoned debate about all the issues, not just those that favour partisan positions.
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Barry Turner is Senior Lecturer in Media Law and Public Administration at the University of Lincoln.
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Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”