Kyle should be unseated at the first opportunity. It is this kind of arrogance that has kindled fury with the current government's deafness and encouraged (misguided) support for Reform/Restore
This is a very chilling story. I have often written to my MSPs, MPs or even councillors. That this was met with a heavy police response and arrest is unconscionable. Right now in Dundee the University decided to close the Botanic Garden, this during climate & ecological crises. It happens that big institutions are scandal prone, but would you shut down a facility that links the most with the general public, who could eventually help you to get back on the right track?
It is utterly worrisome if engagement of citizens is met with a heavy police response.
I clicked through to the Chambers' summary of the case, which tells me that, in the end, having tried, unsuccessfully, to add further emails to the charge, on the day of the trial, the prosecution offered no evidence! This saga is a quite disgraceful indictment of not only Peter Kyle, but also the CPS. America is sliding loudly into fascism. Our slide is much quieter and more insidious, but nonetheless just as real, in my opinion.
This sort of behaviour is unacceptable by any MP and their staff, and also by the police. I would hope there has been a complaint made.
It really does fit in with the attempts by the Starmerite of the Labour Party to criminalise any criticism or questioning of the actions of a faction of the Israeli government in Gaza and now in Lebanon.
So sad to read this – this needs to be made far more public to expose the undemocratic behaviour, injustices and utter arrogance by our politicians.
PLEASE EXPOSE this case to the greater public. Politicians need to learn and remember that they are elected and paid for by the electorate, whom they serve. Crucially, they need to learn to use their reason. If they cannot learn, then their lack of intelligence proves that they are not fit to be MPs.
Shocked that this could happen. I do email my MP from time to time & she replies most civilly. Isn’t it his job to be available to field queries? And isn’t this what happens when elected representatives have no ‘job description’ as such?
I am shocked by this story. I always liked and trusted Peter Kyle. Having a ministerial position has clearly eroded his erstwhile sense of fair play. Shame on him.
Kyle should be arrested for anti-semitism. There is nothing more calculated to stir up hatred of jews than to associate jews in general with the atrocities committed in Gaza. Which is what Kyle is trying to achieve by calling criticism of Israel anti-semitism.
BTW it would be equally wrong to blame all muslims for the atrocities committed by Hamas.
This kind of response from MP's shows just how out of touch they are with the general public. If a governments first reaction to criticism is to try to silence the critic, then democracy is dying in that country. Any British politician that takes this tack should be immediately sacked.
This disgusting episode has all the hallmarks of trumpism with shades of farrago the fascist thrown in. It is time for starmer and his NAZI supporting cabinet cronies to be EXPELLED from the Labour party.
Criticism of Israel is not the same as antisemitism. Antisemitism and islamophobia are rightly condemned. Genocide should also be condemned, and the states that perpetrate it.
Total over reactive pound shop stasi response to a constituents genuine concern of the genocidal actions of a terrorist state against innocent people and support for groups who are trying to help alleviate their suffering.
How this upturned logic has gained traction in government thinking is as much disturbing as it is wrong.
This is utterly appalling. I write to my MP frequently, often about Gaza, urging her to push the government towards far greater sanctions on Israel. I receive supportive replies. It has never crossed my mind that writing to an MP about political issues could land me in prison. This is Orwellian dystopia becoming reality. Peter Kyle's behaviour should be made extremely public, and he should (at a minimum) lose his seat as soon as possible. He is not fit to be an MP, let alone a government minister.
I thought Kyle was relatively ok, but this is really appalling. I wrote to my MP a little while ago (a Tory, as it happens) to complain about Gaza and the government’s response to it. He gave me the brush off, but didn’t have me run in. Looks like I got off lightly.
Kyle should be unseated at the first opportunity. It is this kind of arrogance that has kindled fury with the current government's deafness and encouraged (misguided) support for Reform/Restore
This is a very chilling story. I have often written to my MSPs, MPs or even councillors. That this was met with a heavy police response and arrest is unconscionable. Right now in Dundee the University decided to close the Botanic Garden, this during climate & ecological crises. It happens that big institutions are scandal prone, but would you shut down a facility that links the most with the general public, who could eventually help you to get back on the right track?
It is utterly worrisome if engagement of citizens is met with a heavy police response.
I clicked through to the Chambers' summary of the case, which tells me that, in the end, having tried, unsuccessfully, to add further emails to the charge, on the day of the trial, the prosecution offered no evidence! This saga is a quite disgraceful indictment of not only Peter Kyle, but also the CPS. America is sliding loudly into fascism. Our slide is much quieter and more insidious, but nonetheless just as real, in my opinion.
This sort of behaviour is unacceptable by any MP and their staff, and also by the police. I would hope there has been a complaint made.
It really does fit in with the attempts by the Starmerite of the Labour Party to criminalise any criticism or questioning of the actions of a faction of the Israeli government in Gaza and now in Lebanon.
So sad to read this – this needs to be made far more public to expose the undemocratic behaviour, injustices and utter arrogance by our politicians.
PLEASE EXPOSE this case to the greater public. Politicians need to learn and remember that they are elected and paid for by the electorate, whom they serve. Crucially, they need to learn to use their reason. If they cannot learn, then their lack of intelligence proves that they are not fit to be MPs.
Shocked that this could happen. I do email my MP from time to time & she replies most civilly. Isn’t it his job to be available to field queries? And isn’t this what happens when elected representatives have no ‘job description’ as such?
I am shocked by this story. I always liked and trusted Peter Kyle. Having a ministerial position has clearly eroded his erstwhile sense of fair play. Shame on him.
Kyle should be arrested for anti-semitism. There is nothing more calculated to stir up hatred of jews than to associate jews in general with the atrocities committed in Gaza. Which is what Kyle is trying to achieve by calling criticism of Israel anti-semitism.
BTW it would be equally wrong to blame all muslims for the atrocities committed by Hamas.
Thank you for your splendid comment - as a discriminated against "terrorist" I
would enjoy the opportunity to meet Mr Kyle - he would have nothing to fear
except the shadow of his own conscience.
This kind of response from MP's shows just how out of touch they are with the general public. If a governments first reaction to criticism is to try to silence the critic, then democracy is dying in that country. Any British politician that takes this tack should be immediately sacked.
This disgusting episode has all the hallmarks of trumpism with shades of farrago the fascist thrown in. It is time for starmer and his NAZI supporting cabinet cronies to be EXPELLED from the Labour party.
Well written and balanced piece. Honest points well made. Keep it up.
Criticism of Israel is not the same as antisemitism. Antisemitism and islamophobia are rightly condemned. Genocide should also be condemned, and the states that perpetrate it.
Total over reactive pound shop stasi response to a constituents genuine concern of the genocidal actions of a terrorist state against innocent people and support for groups who are trying to help alleviate their suffering.
How this upturned logic has gained traction in government thinking is as much disturbing as it is wrong.
This is utterly appalling. I write to my MP frequently, often about Gaza, urging her to push the government towards far greater sanctions on Israel. I receive supportive replies. It has never crossed my mind that writing to an MP about political issues could land me in prison. This is Orwellian dystopia becoming reality. Peter Kyle's behaviour should be made extremely public, and he should (at a minimum) lose his seat as soon as possible. He is not fit to be an MP, let alone a government minister.
I thought Kyle was relatively ok, but this is really appalling. I wrote to my MP a little while ago (a Tory, as it happens) to complain about Gaza and the government’s response to it. He gave me the brush off, but didn’t have me run in. Looks like I got off lightly.