TThis week, the Conservative party has focused on “crime week,” but it seems that their stance on law and order has changed. Rather than upholding it, they now resemble dictators, passing strict laws against the freedom to protest while turning a blind eye to protests aligned with their own political beliefs.
A group of individuals known as “blade runners” have claimed responsibility for destroying 600 out of the 3,000 cameras required to enforce the new Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez) that now covers Greater London. The Mail, Telegraph, and Sun have been sensationalizing the actions of “Captain Gatso” and his masked vandals as they dismantle cameras and cut cables. The Sun, in addition to reporting on the anti-Ulez activities, has launched their “Give Us A Brake” campaign to slow down the government’s push for net-zero emissions. The Telegraph features a vigilante who describes his acts of vandalism as “unpaid voluntary work for the community.”
These acts of property damage are often utilized by protesters when they feel they have no other means of drawing public attention to their cause. However, elected politicians always condemn such actions, from suffragettes bombing letter boxes to Extinction Rebellion spilling paint outside government buildings.
Therefore, it is quite astonishing to witness senior Tory politicians at both the Westminster and local authority levels encouraging criminal damage. Iain Duncan Smith openly supports his constituents who are cementing up cameras and covering them with plastic bags to protest against the imposed Ulez, claiming that they have been deceived and have had enough.
It is rare to find an MP, let alone a former cabinet minister and party leader, advocating or praising criminal damage. Solicitor Raj Chada, who specializes in protest cases, states that he has never heard of a Labour MP endorsing criminal damage. It is unimaginable to think of a Labour MP giving an interview calling for the destruction of public property.
However, Duncan Smith is not alone in his support for these actions. Newly elected MP Steve Tuckwell has been an administrator for Facebook groups that promote the destruction of Ulez cameras. These groups also host racist abuse towards London Mayor Sadiq Khan. After the Evening Standard brought this to Conservative head office’s attention, Tuckwell quickly distanced himself from the group. Many Tory council leaders have also been administrators of similar anti-Ulez platforms.
A line is crossed when democratically elected politicians encourage citizens to disobey laws created through a democratic process. The left has often failed to understand this when criticizing Labour MPs for not participating in protests that may turn illegal. It is, therefore, astonishing to witness Duncan Smith, a self-proclaimed advocate for law and order, endorsing criminal damage while supporting stringent anti-protester legislation. It is worth noting that two Just Stop Oil protesters are currently serving prison sentences of three years and two years seven months for disrupting traffic by climbing onto a bridge. Yet, some Conservative MPs now argue that police resources are being wasted on investigating attacks on Ulez cameras rather than more serious crimes, a sentiment they never expressed towards climate protesters.
Duncan Smith went on to state that Ulez is a fund-raiser that will harm the lives of the poor. Ironically, it is the poor who suffer the most from London’s polluted air. They are least likely to own cars and are disproportionately affected by air pollution-related premature deaths.
The Tories seem to be using Ulez as a testing ground for the upcoming general election, with the narrative of cleaner and greener policies versus the interests of the British motorist. YouGov’s polling shows that nearly a third of Londoners support the Ulez camera vandals. However, when considering London as a whole, the Ulez policy itself has a net support of five percentage points. There is a significant divide between inner and outer London, with 62% supporting Ulez in inner London compared to 51% opposing it in outer London. This suggests that over time, as people witness the positive effects of Ulez, they tend to forget the initial misinformation spread about it. Outer Londoners will benefit from lower nitrogen dioxide levels as a result of Ulez.
Allister Heath, the editor of the Sunday Telegraph, expresses great enthusiasm for this new cause, now that Brexit is losing momentum. However, it seems that his enthusiasm may only appeal to the more extreme and aggressive elements within Torydom. Interestingly, the country as a whole ranks climate change as a top concern, with immigration following closely behind.
If the Tories choose to make green policies the focus of the next election, it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Labour will embrace these policies, as they align with public opinion and the need for net-zero actions. As Napoleon once said, “never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake.”
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