{"id":3911,"date":"2014-04-13T09:33:08","date_gmt":"2014-04-13T09:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/re-photo.co.uk\/?p=3911"},"modified":"2014-04-10T20:34:37","modified_gmt":"2014-04-10T20:34:37","slug":"british-values","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/re-photo.co.uk\/?p=3911","title":{"rendered":"British Values?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Probably you won’t have read ‘Life in the United Kingdom – A Guide for New Residents<\/em>‘ 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:<\/p>\n

‘There is no place in British society for extremism or intolerance.’<\/em><\/p>\n

‘The fundamental principles of British life include:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 –\u00a0 Democracy<\/em>
\n\u00a0 –\u00a0 The rule of law<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0 – Individual liberty<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0 – Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -Participation in community life<\/em>.’<\/p>\n

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’.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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\nOne 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.<\/small><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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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<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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.’<\/p>\n

More at: English Volunteer Force march in London<\/a>
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