Boris Johnson has stated he intends to suspend parliament. He says it’s purely in order to start a new session of parliament. But critics, including Jeremy Corbyn, believe it’s an attempt to force through a no-deal Brexit. And the reaction on social media shows that people will not take this subversion of democracy lying down. Within hours of the announcement, #GeneralStrike and #StopThe Coup were trending on Twitter.
Journalist Paul Mason’s response to shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s tweet summed up what people across the country are thinking:
#StopTheCoup – from Orkney & Shetland to St Ives, every constituency in Britain needs to shake with rage. They're shutting down parliament because Boris Johnson can't persuade civil servants to break our laws… #GeneralStrike on the day it happens… https://t.co/phR5NqwduH
— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) August 28, 2019
All out!
As some social media users pointed out, calls for a general strike generally don’t gain traction in the UK:
I never thought I’d see the day where #GeneralStrike was trending on Twitter.
If Johnson wants to shut down Parliament to drive though a policy which has no mandate then the people should stand up and be heard.
It’s an unprecedented measure.. but we live in unprecedented times.
— George Aylett (@GeorgeAylett) August 28, 2019
And the calls for a strike aren’t just coming from Remain voters. Leave voters are also worried about what Johnson is proposing to do to our democracy:
https://twitter.com/LeftistRascal/status/1166646096803913729?s=20
https://twitter.com/youneshh/status/1166651099329302529?s=20
Not just about Brexit
We need to be clear. Calls for a general strike are not just about Brexit. They are about a government that is planning to rip apart the final shreds of democracy we have left.
It doesn’t matter whether you voted for Leave or Remain. It shouldn’t even matter if you support a no-deal Brexit. Those who supported leaving the EU waxed lyrical about “taking back control”. This is not taking back control. This is a coup. And we need to stop it.
Featured image via screengrab – BBC
