Probably you won’t have read ‘Life in the United Kingdom – A Guide for New Residents‘ written by the Home Office and the basis for our Citizenship tests, but it could be a useful study for those who call themselves ‘patriotic’. Here’s a short excerpt from the first chapter:
‘There is no place in British society for extremism or intolerance.’
‘The fundamental principles of British life include:
– Democracy
– The rule of law
– Individual liberty
– Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
-Participation in community life.’
I don’t like the idea of the Citizenship Test, particularly when most of those of us who are already citizens would fail it., but I think that the quote above is a good start to defining British values and one that should be taken to heart by anyone who wants to call themselves ‘patriotic’.
I don’t like photographing events like the march along Whitehall to Parliament by the English Volunteer Force, which seems to be the latest of various post-EDL right-wing groupings, but I think it important to record these various groups as a part of our society. I don’t agree with most of what they say and don’t like much of what they do, but think that they should be reported on as accurately as I can.
One man objects to being photographed. Another man lunged towards me and pushed my camera in my face; later outside Parliament he threatened to break my camera. A police officer held him back but didn’t take any other action despite the threatening behaviour.
Some of them seem to hate photographers and journalists. While most protesters like their act of protest to be reported. Most want exposure, but groups like this fear being exposed.
Antifa who had come to oppose the EVF and had been kettled by police for around an hour when I took this picture were not all keen to be photographed either
There were more anti-fascists than EVF in London, and probably more police than either of them. Antifa claimed a victory, which may be good for morale but seemed not to be born out by the facts. The EVF had marched and held a rally, protected by a large number of police, who had managed to keep the two groups apart.
The EVF had been forced by the police to change their meeting point to a pub near the top of Whitehall, just a few yards from where they had first intended to start the march in Trafalgar Square. Police had easily held them back when they made a surge towards the Antifa – who were mainly beyond several more lines of police. The police arrested a few from both sides, but there was no major outbreak of violence, and as I concluded, ‘it was really the police’s day.’
More at: English Volunteer Force march in London
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My London Diary : Buildings of London : River Lea/Lee Valley : London’s Industrial Heritage
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