A bill now in the Lords is intended to protect Israel from any criticism. It goes further than Thatcher ever did when she tried to stop us protesting to free Nelson Mandela, says former government minister Peter Hain
A bill now in the Lords is intended to protect Israel from any criticism. It goes further than Thatcher ever did when she tried to stop us protesting to free Nelson Mandelaistoric change was brought about in my home country thanks in no small part to the anti-apartheid protests and campaigns around the world. Bysuch as wine and oranges, the world put pressure on South Africa that led to the end of the brutal apartheid regime.
The allies we did have were in the public bodies that this bill targets. Student unions, local authorities and others voted with their wallets when their voices were ignored. Reflecting the democratic demands of the people they served or represented, this activity helped to undermine the credibility of the regime that the UK government had sought to protect. By 1985, more thanwere involved, many declaring themselves “apartheid-free zones”, as too did the majority of universities and colleges.
In many ways, the provisions of this government’s bill go far beyond what was attempted by the Thatcher government. It would ban public authority employees from even stating on behalf of their authorities that theyit legal for them to do so, showing a frightening disregard for free speech. It would also give government an almost unlimited ability to demand privileged data and information on decisions made by public authorities.
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