Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie: “The Light seems to sow division and create fear”(Classic Inversion?)

 Sun 10:52 am +01:00, 23 Jul 2023  1

posted by danceaway

( The campaigners ask for a free copy, and then immediately tear it up while a friend films this and then posts the incident online.)

“If it does shine a light, it shines one on how few are engaged with it here in Stroud and elsewhere.”  (More than one thousand are given out monthly.)

Danceaway

 

People have contacted me with concerns about a publication that is handed out in Stroud town called The Light.

It is full of things that are described elsewhere as conspiracy theories. 

It seems to sow division and create fear about everyday things. 

In response to previous requests, my team contacted Stroud District Councilto see if it can stop or limit the people distributing it but the council said that is not possible.

We live in a free country and although I have no time whatsoever for this publication, I accept freedom of expression as a vital part of any civilised society.  I also have faith that the good people of Stroud have the sense to treat it with the scepticism it deserves and that the police will respond firmly if there are any laws broken.

A campaign wants me to join in with a publicity stunt to rip up The Light in Stroud town centre. I have decided not to do so. It is not because I disagree with the concerned residents who so kindly contacted me and invited me to take part. Quite the opposite. I fully agree and I thank them for being so concerned they want to do something. But I fear it is naive of any politician to think such an act would do anything other than give the publication even more attention.

Neither do I want those involved in it to have cause to present themselves as free speech martyrs when they are nothing of the sort.

There is a balance to be struck in condemning or avoiding publications like this but also not allowing them the oxygen of publicity they crave because it gives them legitimacy. The Light is not a legitimate publication – unlike the longstanding and respected local paper you are reading right now.

The Light needs to remain in the shadows and I think the original idea by the campaigners of people taking a copy and simply throwing it in the bin with no fuss and no grand gesture is the best weapon against hate and misinformation.