Salisbury Democracy Alliance

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  • Democracy Café

    The next Café is this Saturday, 12 July starting at 10:00 in the Library as usual and finishing at noon.

  • Democracy Café

    May 2025

    It’s the Democracy Café meeting this Saturday, 10 May starting at 10:00 as usual and finishing at noon. It’s in Salisbury Library and we are grateful to the Library for allowing us to use the space for these meetings. If you want to get a flavour of the debates see reports elsewhere on this site. You can come with a topic you would like to hear debated or just see what comes up – your choice.

    The elections last week, and the rise of Reform, is making waves at present. Is this a protest against the two-party system? Do any of the parties have answers to the Nation’s problems? Wiltshire Council is no longer Conservative dominated – surely a seismic change. Lots to debate!

    We hope to see you there.

  • Democracy Café

    Our successful Democracy Café was held again today 8th February starting at 10:00 and finished at noon. A write up will appear shortly.

    If you look at our last post you can see details of the People’s Assemblies we are planning which some of you might be interested in joining.

    Recent posts:

  • Democracy Café

    November 2024

    Meeting took place today and discussions were lively. Well attended. Report published here soon.

    The next meeting of the Café will be in the Library today Saturday 9th as usual starting at 10:00 and finishing at noon. We won’t have tables we have been told so we shall just be in a circle. A lot has happened since we last met and the Conservatives have a new leader. The US election is taking place while I type this and we might know who it will be by Saturday. Or there again we might not. Will John Glen have a role in the shadow cabinet? I’ve just been down the list and his name is not there. So lots to discuss and it needed be about any of these things of course.

    PC

  • Media: freedom of or freedom from?

    August 2024

    Last month, a story appeared in the i that a deal had been struck between the Labour party and the Murdochs to the effect that if they regained power, they would soft pedal on media reform and not launch Leveson II. The Murdochs in return offered to go easy on the Labour party during the election campaign. Of course, the days when newspapers could claim ‘it was the Sun wot won it’ are gone such has been the decline in readership, so although the Murdoch tabloids at least did go easy on Labour, the effect would have been small such was the distaste for the Conservatives.

    Nevertheless, it does reveal how media groups and their owners feel able to call the shots as far as our political process is concerned. Newsgroup denied the story of course but it reappears in the September issue of the Byline Times along with a series of other articles mainly around the media’s role in the recent riots. Another demand by the Murdochs is for the abolition of the much hated BBC. Cameron and Osborne obliged to a degree by making life as difficult as possible for the Corporation: cutting their funding, making them pay for the World Service previously funded by the Foreign Office, putting their people on the board and a host of other actions. The Right Wing press carried on a sustained campaign against the Licence Fee and the BBC generally and even Channel 4 – no stranger to threats to its own existence by the previous government – devoted over half a recent news programme to the contested claims by a Strictly Come Dancing participant. Strangely, Krishnan Guru-Murthy did not find time to mention the alleged bullying and sexual harassment going on along the corridor in his own newsroom.

    The press and the media generally like to claim that we have a free press and that society is the better for it. It is based on the assumption that politicians are venal, dishonest characters, constantly on the look out for their own interests and it is only the stalwart activities of intrepid newshounds and journalists who uncover this venality and incompetence to keep us informed. Were that so. The increasing reality is that it is media owners who are the venal ones and have been carrying on a monstrous programme of illegal activities, not to uncover untoward goings on by our political masters, but to serve up tittle-tattle about the private lives of sports people, actors and others in the public eye.

    What Leveson showed was the sheer scale of this illegality with homes broken into, phones hacked, medical records accessed and bank accounts blagged. The police, and in particular the Metropolitan Police, were willing parties to this illegality accepting bribes from media people to give access to their information. There was even a ‘going rate’ for this and the corruption led all the way up to the senior ranks. Huge sums – reportedly in excess of £1 billion – have been paid to keep this out of the public eye by paying into court sufficient sums to make it too risky for claimants to pursue their cases. They then have to sign non-disclosure agreements. Our judiciary seem only too happy for this perversion of justice to continue.

    It can hardly have escaped anyone’s notice – except for the odd cave dweller that is – that the media have been carrying on a relentless programme of demonising Muslims and in recent years, boat people. There may indeed be arguments here about resources and there are indeed problems with disbursal of immigrants to places which are already struggling but with insufficient funding. But the never-ending attacks and casting people arriving here as criminals and likely terrorists have played a part in shaping the political weather. They have fostered the claims that immigrants are the reason our other services are underfunded. Boat people became one of the main focuses of the election and played a significant part in the election of Reform party MPs including Nigel Farage.

    Worse, was the climate created added to social media disinformation must have been a key factor in the riots following the Southport murders. But any kind of recognition of this by the media players is for the birds. As Mic Wright puts it in the Byline Times, ‘The Daily Mail’s front page is where irony goes to die’. Suddenly, he goes on ‘years of headlines stoking fear about and hatred towards immigrants the terrifying ‘other’ has been swept from its collective memory’.

    Elon Musk has attracted a high degree of opprobrium but the groundwork, the relentless articles and headlines over many years demonising immigrants by the tabloids is not something which gets much of an airing not least by themselves. No turning the spotlight on their own actions.

    More importantly, politicians do not dare to call them out either. Such is their (the media’s) power to monster anyone who stands up to them or who calls out their activities means, in effect, politicians have to tread very carefully indeed. It is not an exaggeration to say there is a climate of fear.

    In our Democracy Café debates, we often lament the media both the nationals, the Salisbury Journal and TV. The tabloids are frequently mentioned but the Daily Telegraph – a once fine paper – comes in for comment as well. Entire stories – the Paradise Papers for example – are missing from its pages. Highly selective reporting and naked bias where factual reporting is needed has become routine. The result of this activity is a less than well informed populace. This matters in terms of how choices are made and hence voting and the working of our democracy.

    We need to rethink our attitudes to the media and although social media is in the spotlight at the moment, the role of print media and their online versions, in creating a climate distrust and enmity towards foreigners of all kinds is a significant factor in shaping the political climate. Politicians have become their creatures: Tony Blair rushing half way round the world to cosy up to Murdoch, Sir Keir Starmer doing a deal with him to shelve the second stage of Leveson and David Cameron and George Osborne doing their best to make life difficult for the BBC, are all examples of media barons calling the shots.

    Perhaps we need to think more about our freedom from the press not just their refrain of freedom of the press.

    Peter Curbishley

  • SDA in the market

    SDA will be in Salisbury Market this Saturday

    June 2024

    UPDATE: we have just heard that this event will have to be CANCELLED due to insufficient space. We may be there next Saturday, 29th. Please keep an eye on this site for updates.

    Members of the Salisbury Democracy Alliance will be in the Market this Saturday 22nd June to promote our ideas for a better democracy. The election is in full swing and a feature which has become more and more evident is the lack of discussion about the fundamentals of what is wrong with our country and what is needed to fix it. All parties seem to be pivoting on very narrow points seemingly frightened to even mention the big issues which need fixing. Nobody – aside from the LibDems – is discussing Brexit. Nobody is discussing our dismal productivity and low investment. There is only passing reference to tax avoidance and then with no real substance as to how it will be done since it’s been talked about for years.

    What policies do the parties have for enhancing the democratic process? At election time they are all over the place with a variety of meet the people events. Once elected? Many have said writing to their MP is largely a waste of time with a standard response being typical.

    How are the parties showing that they value democracy for its own sake? Recent legislation with curbs on protests shows a worrying lack of commitment to the democratic process by the current government. Will the new government repeal some of this legislation or just quietly carry on with it?

    What policies do the parties have for including citizens more in decision making? There is no mention* of Citizen’s Juries or Assemblies in the Labour Party manifesto. Despite speeches extolling their benefit, it has not made it into the manifesto.

    You may have other questions as well.

    Essentially, it is an opportunity to engage in discussions with people about democracy and the Election. There will be a sign up sheet in case anyone wants to be added to our mailing list.

    PC

    *if you are able to find it, please comment giving the page reference.

  • Democracy Café May

    May 2023

    The Democracy Café met in the Library at 10 am on 13 May to discuss topics of the day

    After a vote the topics chosen were a composited title for the perceived attacks on our freedoms and how to deal with them, and, secondly, is it supportive or foolish to send long-range missiles to Ukraine?

    The first topic generated much lively debate, cantering around the new legislation on the right to protest and its use over the coronation period.  Much puzzlement was expressed at the tendency of the populace to accept ever-increasing restrictions on their rights in this area. France was mentioned as a contrast.  On the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and the Public Order Act, it was pointed out that the legislation was rushed through, and that the senior officer at a site can determine if any protest is disruptive and therefore indictable.  Indeed, protests are chargeable if they “could” become disruptive, which is a very concerning matter.

    It was suggested that we have given away our rights to protest over recent years, partly due to not knowing our rights.  “You lose your freedoms as your ignorance increases.” Information is key in defending freedom.  It was agreed that there has been an unwillingness to put one’s head above the parapet.

    There was discussion of the extent to which freedoms may be justifiably limited for the common good.  It was accepted that protests could cause collateral damage, that conflict results in casualties and this has to be recognized.

    On effective protest, it was observed that demonstrations rarely result in change and the failure to get anything done can lead to extreme, even violent, action.  Successful activists such as trade unions were contrasted with groups like Extinction Rebellion, whose success rate is lower, the large extent of its concern being felt to be a disadvantage.

    The talk moved on to the problem of people not having the power of decision-making, and thence to the need for such processes as citizens’ assemblies, such as our own Talkshop.

    The second topic concerned the British government’s decision to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles.  Up till now, the weapons we have supplied have been defensive, but this marks a change – should we be worried by this?

    Much of the discussion centered on the history of the conflict and the role of America, particularly in pushing the borders of NATO ever eastward.  There was a general feeling that Russia did have a historic case, causing one member to observe that Putin was getting something of a free pass; views were sanguine about the possible end to the conflict, most agreeing that some form of negotiation will ensue, with parts of Ukraine probably ending up with Russia.

    Other aspects of the question that emerged included the use of war as a means of controlling populations and Russia’s possible larger ambitions.  A final thought was that, years hence when some sort of negotiation has taken place, we may need to be “foolish” i.e. creative.

    Andrew Hemming

    Next meeting on Saturday June 10th at 10.00 in the Library

  • Second Talkshop event held today

    The second of our Talkshops was held today (27 May 2023) in Brown Street and three possible projects may emerge

    About two dozen attended this morning’s session in Brown Street and three projects emerged from the 40 or so ideas which were proposed. The idea is that ideas that have worked elsewhere in the country or the world are posed as possible ones for the authorities of Salisbury to consider. It was encouraging that three councillors from Salisbury City Council attended and joined in.

    We will then take these raw ideas and see if we can turn them into workable projects for the City to consider or even carry out.

    Recent events, particularly in regards to national politics, has left many with a sense of despair. How can the affairs to the country be so badly mismanaged by a group of people who appear so detached from reality and seemingly with little sense of integrity or capability? In a humble and modest way, the Talkshop might offer a means for real and meaningful involvement of the community in the running of our affairs, certainly at the local level.

    As we take the ideas forward we will post further details soon. We are grateful for the involvement and help of the RSA.

    One disappointment was that we had 40 people express interest in coming to the event but a sizeable number were ‘no shows’ on the day. Bright sunshine and a warm day might just have had something to do with it!

    PC

    Pictures show members of the Talkshop discussing the topics and reviewing the ideas on flip charts.

    Photo: Neil Beagrie

  • SDA news

    The organising committee of SDA met this afternoon (1 February 2023) to review progress and to look at future activities. The democracy cafés continue, now in our new home in the Progress Café in Endless Street*. It is good to see new members joining us as well as the regular stalwarts. You can read a note of our debates elsewhere on this site of course. It is free to come (although we do ask for a small contribution if you can) and they start at 10:00, finish at noon, on the second Saturday of every month, the next one being on 11 February.

    This is a brief note of our meeting today:

    – We shall be sharing a stall in the Market Square on Saturday 25th February and we should be there from around 9 am or soon after. It would be a good opportunity to drop by and chat if you want to know more about us. We are sharing with Make Votes Matter.

    – We had a long discussion about possible Talkshop events. The first one was very successful and played a key role is getting the EcoHub project launched. Various possible topics were discussed and New Local Politics looked an attractive option. You can read more about this innovative idea by following this link. This is still in the very early stages of planning so details are not available as yet. If you are interested, keep an eye on this site as planning progresses. It will probably be run in June.

    If you would like to join us either at a Democracy Café, or at the stall, you would be most welcome and if you would like to be more active and contribute to planning events, that would also be welcomed.

    Peter Curbishley

    *for those of you not from Salisbury, Endless Street is off the eastern end of the Market Square and the café is a few yards up on the right.

  • December Cafe

    We regret to announce that the December Cafe, due to be held this Saturday 10th, has had to be cancelled. This mostly due to various members of the team being away or otherwise indisposed.

    We hope to be back 14th January 2023 and we look forward to seeing you then. In recent meetings we have seen a return to the sort of numbers we normally had pre-Lockdown which is encouraging. Note we are exploring a different venue and when and if that is agreed, we will let you know. It will be more central.

    Seasons greetings to you all.