Should politics be more civil? If small groups of extremists are encouraged by the words of our leaders, is that a reason to temper debate or a reason to get tough on protesters?
X
Next
PM's Savile quip linked to hate mob attack
Should politics be more civil? If small groups of extremists are encouraged by the words of our leaders, is that a reason to temper debate or a reason to get tough on protesters?
X
PreviousNext
The scene outside Parliament on Monday was ugly. The protesters had come to demonstrate against Covid-19 restrictions - but then they caught sight of Keir Starmer. "Traitor!" they shouted. "Jimmy Savile!" Fearful for Starmer's safety, the police bundled him into a patrol car.
Boris Johnson had claimed that when Starmer was director of public prosecutions he "spent most of his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile". In fact, Starmer had nothing to do with the Savile case.
Johnson now admits this. But he has so far refused to apologise to Starmer.
Johnson's chief policy adviser Munira Mirza resigned as a result. She called his words "an inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse... you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation."
One minister, Chris Philip, claimed there was no link between Johnson's words and what the protesters shouted. But not many people agreed with him.
Another Tory MP, Tobias Elwood, tweeted: "Let's stop this drift towards a Trumpian style of politics from becoming the norm."
Brendan Cox, whose wife was murdered while an MP, spoke to the BBC. "If you inject poison into politics, that has a whole set of unintended consequences", he said, "It can lead over into violence."
Every politician knows it is vital to choose words carefully. In ancient times, rhetoric was considered a key part of a good education.
Political expert Nathan Kalmoe argues that conflict is natural in politics. Anger is good if it results in work for change - but bad if it encourages violence. Kalmoe believes this reached new heights with Donald Trump.
Hate crimes against US Muslims rose by 32% after Trump made anti-Muslim remarks in 2016.
X
Previous
Should politics be more civil?
Yes: The attack on the US Capitol showed how dangerous things can become when a politician like Trump sets out to whip up people's feelings. That Johnson is following the same path is deeply worrying.
No: Passion is a desirable ingredient in politics, and inevitably brings some rough and tumble with it. It would be terrible if the parliamentary debate were so bland that nobody wanted to be involved.
Or... It is fair enough to denounce an opponent's views in passionate terms if you disagree with them. But to slander them as Johnson slandered Starmer is completely unacceptable.
Keywords
Munira Mirza - She had been head of Johnson's policy unit since July 2019.
Partisan - Biased. In military terms, a partisan is a guerrilla fighter.
Scurrilous - Insulting, scandalous language. According to the 18th-century Dictionary of Samuel Johnson, "using such language as only the licence of a buffoon can warrant".
Tobias Elwood - A former soldier, he is the chair of the House of Commons defence committee.
Murdered - Killed on purpose.
Rhetoric - The art of persuasion.
PM’s Savile quip linked to hate mob attack
Glossary
Munira Mirza - She had been head of Johnson’s policy unit since July 2019.
Partisan - Biased. In military terms, a partisan is a guerrilla fighter.
Scurrilous - Insulting, scandalous language. According to the 18th-century Dictionary of Samuel Johnson, "using such language as only the licence of a buffoon can warrant".
Tobias Elwood - A former soldier, he is the chair of the House of Commons defence committee.
Murdered - Killed on purpose.
Rhetoric - The art of persuasion.