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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that if the Government ignore petitions, they can't ignore mass protests this weekend

96 replies

chomalungma · 29/08/2019 18:40

They ignore petitions.
They lie about the reason for suspending Parliament.

If you want to do something that can't be ignored, please join one of the protests this weekend.

Because it is doing something other than retweeting and posting on forums. It's visible action.

Is anyone joining a protest this weekend?

OP posts:
rosenylund · 29/08/2019 22:59

This should be something we should all be united on - leavers and remainers should both be horrified by the upcoming shut down.

Next time it could be to prevent debate about going to war, launching a nuclear missile, changing retirement age to 80 and so on and so on, until next thing you know perhaps nothing gets debated ever again!

Extreme obviously but democracy is such a special, special thing that we should all be trying to protect it.

PickAChew · 29/08/2019 23:01

Of course they will ignore protests. Unless the protests turn violent, then they'll say there's no excuse for violence. Boris might resurrect his water canons, or something.

PickAChew · 29/08/2019 23:05

From that google list, one in my city, yesterday and 4 near me on Saturday. DS1 hates protests, but I shall use this one as a real teaching opportunity about democracy, I think, as we can't avoid them, wherever he wants to go for the day.

PickAChew · 29/08/2019 23:11

Cannons, not canons. Canons are what Jacob Rees-smug would use against the revolting peasants.

Autumnintheair · 29/08/2019 23:15

But pick without putting the poor boy through a protest which may turn ugly as momentum are wedging in to try and cause anarchy, simply show him ref results from 3 long years ago and say...

Parliament still hasn't implemented it.

Simples?

Autumnintheair · 29/08/2019 23:17

Rose you could say that about parliament ignoring the ref vote.
. What's the point of voting if Parliament won't implement it?

Theworldisfullofgs · 29/08/2019 23:19

My 17 is furious so not uncool. She'll be there, as will I.

TeaForDad · 29/08/2019 23:43

I'd ignore it

Chloemol · 29/08/2019 23:47

They have managed to ignore other mass protests so I really don’t think they would be that bothered

Chloemol · 29/08/2019 23:50

Rose we wouldn’t be in this ridiculous situation if the MPs had done what was requested of them, remainer or leaver the country voted and that should be respected, MPs have not, they have had three opportunties to vote for a deal, the fact it’s now likely to be no deal is down to them

rosenylund · 29/08/2019 23:55

Autumn and Chloemol, agree with you both - basically the whole thing is a mess however you look at it. Three years of madness all round :(
My worry is that it sets a really dangerous precedent.

Tolleshunt · 30/08/2019 00:00

They will ignore peaceful protests, however large. Bozo and the other leave eejits are determined to follow their own course of action, for which they have no mandate, regardless of what the little people like us think or want. Regardless if the economic damage to the country and its most vulnerable. They want it, so they will make it happen.

The only time a protest changed things was the poll tax riots - i.e. a violent protest, but that coincided with a large-scale feeling that the poll tax was unjust, and mass civil disobedience. We would need the same again to get a meaningful change of direction. A polite middle-class-style protest will just be ignored.

Tanith · 30/08/2019 07:21

The world is watching. That’s why it’s important. If you don’t agree with proroguing Parliament, you need to be out there.

What BJ and his Government are doing has serious implications for future Governments.

Leavers: I take it you’re quite happy for a future pro-EU government to suspend Parliament and force us back into the EU? Because they can and will if you sit back and let them do this now.

VikingVolva · 30/08/2019 07:33

The world watched the Not In Our Name demos - not least because they happened in so many countries, and we're so very widespread.

I think these, as one country only, will be somewhat less effective. But that's not a reason not to demonstrate

akerman · 30/08/2019 07:43

They will ignore them but individually MPs may note. You may just embolden another MP to do the right thing. And the rest of the world is watching us rise up against this. We are still cool Britannia. First time I've been proud of the U.K. for years.

T0getherindreams · 30/08/2019 09:03
Hmm

Only in the UK would people feel the need to protest "at the weekend".

I'm picturing a small gathering, something like the PFJ from the Life of Brian . . .

"This is outrageous, we must protest immediately, well, I mean unless people have anything else they would rather be doing . ."

"Does anyone have anything they would RATHER be doing"

"Well I have to work tomorrow, otherwise I'd be right with you Reg. Solidarity brothers. And sister, . . . Sorry Loretta"

"Actually, I just remembered I have a dentist appointment on Wednesday, and the Boho man is delivering Friday morning, I could do a bit of a protest on Saturday, if it's not raining, I just spent £170 quid on this new ombre, dont want to get my hair wet"

"Fine!"

"Alright"

"Anybody of you lot without a job or a new haircut free tomorrow? This is Brexit afterall, Margaret? you work from home dont you? Come on lovely, we all know what that really means"

"What? Me? Sorry Reg, dog yoga tomorrow and a Spa day on Friday. Don't get me wrong, I know it's Brexit, constitutional crisis and all that, any chance I could do something with Loretta on Sunday?"

"Well that's just great isn't it!"

"That just takes the naice biscit doesn't it"

"The government is falling apart, we're all going to have to do without gooseberry and cinnamon yoghurt for the forseeable future, not to mention the fact that I spent all of yesterday hand painting that pile of protest signs with inspirational quotes I found on Facebook, and none of you lot can be bothered to get your arses out of your John Lewis double quilted mattresses to join the protest"

"Loretta, you're very quiet, stop looking at Margaret, she can't help you now, what's your excuse?"

"Sorry Reg, I just remembered I actually voted leave, I'm such a silly sausage, I could you a few likes on Insta . . . ."

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"Weekend it is then . . . I bloody well spent ages on those signs, went to Hobbycraft for the sandy glitter and everything . . . ."

Grin

"

Figmentofmyimagination · 30/08/2019 09:15

Protests are not ignored. Look at the example of Extinction Rebellion. Nobody likes to admit it but they completely changed the tenor and urgency of the debate. Poll tax riots weren’t ignored either. Neither was the ‘winter of discontent’ or the miners’ strikes. They may not have had the desired outcome, but they certainly were not ignored.

I think it’s time to ‘park our tanks on the lawn’ (metaphorically speaking!)

TabbyMumz · 30/08/2019 12:16

Meadowland

@TabbyMumzBJ headed up the Leave campaign. By voting Leave, you voted that idiot in.

In June 2016, when the referendum took place, Teresa May wasn't even prime minister, let alone Boris. So people voting leave did not vote in Boris

Original poster
chomalungma · 30/08/2019 12:21

They will ignore them but individually MPs may note. You may just embolden another MP to do the right thing. And the rest of the world is watching us rise up against this. We are still cool Britannia. First time I've been proud of the U.K. for years

Better to do something than not do nothing. Even if it gets ignored.
People will take notice.

And for every person who cannot go to a protest, there will be many who want to go or who feel angry and upset by what's happening.

Just like when 1 million people marched in London for the People's vote. How many more did they represent throughout the country who couldn't be there?

OP posts:
ALoadOfTwaddle · 30/08/2019 19:17

Leavers: I take it you’re quite happy for a future pro-EU government to suspend Parliament and force us back into the EU?

In the space of a month? Not feasible. Also, suspending parliament is fairly routine and ought to have happened earlier on, really.

LadyRannaldini · 30/08/2019 19:42

So the victor is the one who can get the loudest bunch together? As I've frequently said no government could have sorted this mess out, once it was voted for by an ill-informed slight majority either the will of the people or the will of parliament would be thwarted.
Can at least one of the armchair critics tell me exactly how any government should have proceeded, given that the other 26 countries have fought tooth and nail against it?

LadyRannaldini · 30/08/2019 19:45

So people voting leave did not vote in Boris

We have never, ever elected a Prime Minister, try and study Government 101, it really is a tedious statement.

Jellykat · 30/08/2019 19:59

LadyR Maybe if TM had actually discussed and negotiated the details of the WA with other members of parliament, in the first place, and BEFORE signing it off with the EU, there would have been a helluva better chance of it getting through this end!!..
But no, she arrogantly went striding ahead, not giving a toss for the opinions of our elected representatives!

Original poster
chomalungma · 30/08/2019 21:38

But no, she arrogantly went striding ahead, not giving a toss for the opinions of our elected representatives

This

Brexit means Brexit. A red, white and blue Brexit. Her red lines.

If she had worked with Parliament at the start, I don't think we would be here now.

Such arrogance.

OP posts: