If according to chaos theory (and an old Chinese proverb) the flapping of a butterfly's wings in Asia can cause a tsunami in America, it is better not to think about the repercussions that war can have in the Middle East. They are felt in German, French and also UK politics, with strong party divisions over ceasefire demands and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
On the conservative side, the incendiary Minister of the Interior Suella Braverman (far-right and aspiring to lead the party after the next elections) has raised hell with an article yesterday in The Times in which she denounces police "permissiveness" in organized protests on Saturdays in London and other cities across the country by a number of groups under the umbrella of the PSC (Palestine Solidarity Campaign). In her vitriolic plea, she accuses Scotland Yard of being much more tolerant of the far left, transsexuals and movements like
Downing Street has found itself with a fire at its doors caused by the minister in charge of promoting law and order instead of stoking the fire. After his initial silence, the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has distanced himself from Braverman's statements, and – although maintaining confidence in her – has clarified that the head of the Interior did not make the corrections to the article that were requested.
Braverman has been a free verse within the Government for some time now, leaning as far to the right as possible in an already ultra-conservative team, to such an extent that many political analysts consider that she is provoking Sunak to fire her and thus be fired. of the ship before it sinks in the next elections.
A sector of the press has been exerting relentless pressure for days for the police to ban tomorrow's demonstration, which coincides with the Armistice Day events to celebrate the end of World War I and honor the British fallen in that and other wars. conflicts. Their argument is the danger of radical pro-Palestinian elements desecrating the Cenotaph, where it is traditional to lay wreaths, and of violent clashes with members of the British National Party and other fascist groups.
But the head of Scotland Yard, Mark Rowley, has claimed the independence of the force, resisted pressure until now and authorized the march, alleging that it is scheduled two hours after the Cenotaph events and at a considerable distance, on a route that goes from Hyde Park to the United States embassy, and that there are insufficient reasons to believe that a situation of disorder sufficient to limit freedom of expression will occur. Braverman and voices from the extreme right say that the cries of “jihad” raised at the events are tantamount to encouraging terrorism, and that among the organizers there are radical Islamists, some even linked to Hamas. Authority over the police is shared by the Home Office (in this case, Braverman) and the mayor of London (the Muslim Sadiq Khan), and between the two there is a political gulf and notable mistrust.
The shock of the situation in Gaza has also reached Labour, whose leader Keir Starmer does not want to give rise to any accusations of anti-Semitism, goes hand in hand with North American President Joe Biden and does not call for a ceasefire, despite the fact that they cry for him a large sector of the bases, dozens of deputies and hundreds of councilors. For this reason, it is suffering an erosion, if not electoral, then internally, with strong divisions and fifteen “shadow ministers” (its leadership team) willing to resign.
The Welsh Parliament has approved a motion demanding a ceasefire, and the SNP (Scottish National Party) is considering doing the same next week during the parliamentary debate in the Commons on the Government's legislative agenda, thus putting the Labor and forcing them to speak out. The right is rubbing its hands, because its strategy is to fuel cultural wars and present the center-left as unredeemed radicals who condemn British colonialism but sympathize with the Palestinian cause.
