To feel so upset about the government censorship?

[Utterlydisillusioned]

This has just appeared in my news feed and I feel so upset and disillusioned. I was a labour voter, thinking we voted the bad guys out but I'm now really scared about what we've let in...what on earth have we done...? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/17/education-secretary-bridget-phillipson-private-school-tax-r/

Oh wow. I too am worried about censorship

I totally agree with your original post OP.
I'm currently hyperventilating my way through 1984. I'm a quarter of the way through & I hate reading it as it's hitting home a bit too much.
The Conservatives were absolutely dreadful, but this last 6 weeks have felt like a different universe.
Starmer seems very emboldened. I find it all quite frightening.

Well realistically it is, it’s something that’s been going on for years. Whether you agree with it is a different issue but it can’t be argued that it’s a new thing related to the new govt.

Is schadenfreude always wrong?

@Eastcoastie I agree those posts aren't offensive. They are however utterly self centred and tone deaf. The one about 'creating a two tier education system' for example - what does that poster think we have right now?

If those parents want to object, they should do so through the usual Parliamentary channels, by writing to their MP. That really isn't rocket science.

Our local councillor is still a Tory. And he does this All. The. Time. Anything critical of him - poof! It's normal.

the issue is society in general seems to trust those that spin a good story etc

Of course government ministers manage their SM accounts in their own interests - why wouldn't they?

The denial that this is the case is fascinating

"Oh yes. We wouldn’t want too much public debate in a democracy. How unseemly!"

I don't think Facebook is the place for it, no.

Not censorship to delete unwanted comments on own sm. Plenty of other avenues. People just can't cope with being denied anything.

I’ve heard of a few Tory MPs who did that, then blocked their own constituents. Now that’s worth getting irate about.

Oh don’t be so silly!

.

You’d address the queries elsewhere, though, right? If you were sincerely engaging with constituents and the elctorate, rather than just trying to spin and stifle factual reporting or dissenting opinions.

Can you point me to where Phillipson has done this in whichever form or forum she deems appropriate?

Starmer seems very emboldened. I find it all quite frightening.

Imagine being frightened of Keir Starmer!
😄😄😄

There is no freedom of speech issue here. There is no issue of censorship here. None.

The most one could say is that it’s poor form for a government minister who runs a Facebook account - presumably with a view to promoting herself and her policies - to manage the account so that opposing views are removed.

I’ve no doubt that if, say, a Tory minister arguing for Brexit or for benefit cuts or for stronger union legislation on his/her Facebook account had done this, a lot of Labour and Lib supporters would have been on here taking issue with it.

But they’d have been wrong and the private school enthusiasts are wrong now. And it’s making the parents look pathetic.

God knows why Phillipson or any other minister would have a Facebook account anyway. It looks so desperate.

Irrelevant side-comment. You don’t see a lot of Bridgets around these days, do you?

Before the election, Starmer was seen as weak, no plan, sitting on the fence by MNetters, 6 weeks later he has been turned into a dictator

You clearly haven't been paying attention to politician's SM sites. It is really is the norm and has been for some time.

I follow quite a lot of politicians, the only ones who don't delete posts on SM, just dont go on their socials that often.🤷‍♀️

😂😂😂

True @Rummly good Catholic family according to Wikipedia

Another irrelevant fact she was an extra in 'Byker Grove'

SelMarin at 20:37 makes this point

Every single post her account makes is flooded by the same stock complaints from private school parents about the VAT issue.

re Bridget - maybe she has a feisty Irish Granny and was named after her.

YABU for reading th Torygraph and expecting a balanced honest news report about the Labour Party.

Ah, now that is interesting about Byker Grove.

Re Bridgets, you’d have thought there might be more after the success of Bridget Jones. But I suppose she was a bit of an endearing anti-hero.

Well this is certainly a new way to drag up another whingefest about private school VAT

Well it's a big issue. What with those millions of children who are all going to leave private school and look for places in the state sector.

Or, what will probably happen is that a few parents will have to move their children and the rest will be absolutely fine with the increase. One court argue that if a family are so financially vulnerable that an increase in fees (which could happen anyway) leads to them having to move their child(ren) then maybe they shouldn't have gone down that route anyway 🤷‍♀️

But of course this is not a thread about vat on school fees at all 🙄

I agree, the last 6 weeks have been very different to what people were used to under the Tories.

It's called competence. I get that it will take some people some time to get used to it after 14 years of incompetence and drama from the last shambolic lot, but it is a good thing.

They are writing to their MP's but many are not getting replies. But thats besides the point, however ridiculous you think the posts are, they are non offensive and there is no reason to shut down free speach and delete them - well thats my opinion anyway!