Tony Blair has said this morning on ‘Daybreak’ that the police have better things to do than provide security for his book signing in London this week. 

Whilst he may undoubtedly have a point, such a response is becoming ever-more commonplace in the face of intimidating protests staged by left-wing groups.

INCIDENTS

Over the past year there have been several such protests. ‘Unite Against Fascism’ (a group who have ironically fooled people into believing the best way to oppose fascism is through intimidation, violence and political blacklisting), besieged the BBC in regards to Nick Griffin’s appearance on Question Time, as well as being involved in a number of violent skirmishes with the far-right English Defence League. 

Ireland’s branch of the ‘Stop the War Coalition’ (oft-described as a group of halfwit ex Sinn-Feiners) welcomed Tony Blair with a barrage of shoes and threats.

The National Union of Students were made to an issue a humiliating backdown after a couple of rogue, Unite Against Fascism affiliated, anti-discrimination officers threatened the Durham Union Society with the prospect of a violent demonstration if they didn’t withdraw an invitation to the BNP to participate in a debate on multi-culturalism (which the DUS were defending).

THREAT TO FREE ENQUIRY

Increasingly, as represented by Blair, events which go against the mantra of these far-left groups are being cancelled as the propensity for violence is too great a risk, as well as making the price of security an inhibiting factor. More worryingly these events are now not even being considered. Prohibiting people who disagree with the BNP, or figures such as Tony Blair, from having the opportunity to present a discourse which disagrees with their line of reasoning in a manner which is compatible with a liberal democracy and without any undertone of organised violence.

CIVILISED INTIMIDATION

On many occasions, once an event has been cancelled or prevented, spokespersons for the protest group come out and declare that said views of the group or individual “have no place in a civilised/multi-cultural/modern (delete as appropriate) society”, and that this is a victory for our “civilised/multi-cultural/modern society”. Frankly, it is not. It is a defeat for any society which would wish to call itself a home to free enquiry or recognise the constitutional rights of all its citizens. It alienates and prevents many individuals from becoming politically active, as activism is seen as in the ownership of those who can shriek the loudest, not with those who can present their arguments with the greatest coherence. 

LEARNING THE LESSONS

There are two lessons to be learned, firstly, left-wing groups should not mirror the tactics of the far-right groups they would have historically opposed - shutting down public meetings through violence and opposing freedom of association. Secondly, proposers of events which are opposed should not backdown, for what better use of the police’s time can there be than upholding the founding principles of democracy?