Regular readers may remember how this website was suddenly defunded by payment processor PayPal in 2022. This was far from an isolated incident. From the “debanking” of the truckers protesting against the Canadian Government, to individuals like Nigel Farage and the Daily Sceptic’s own Toby Young, who also found his personal PayPal account shut down, to campaign groups like UsForThem and the Free Speech Union, to name only a few examples, financial control or exclusion for political reasons is an increasingly worrying issue to many. The Conservatives promised but (we recently discovered) neglected actually to change the law to prevent debanking for political reasons.
On the other hand, we may have had a lucky escape with the Data Bill also failing to make it through Parliament before the election. This would have enabled the state, without any suspicion required, to spy on the bank accounts of many millions of people via the banks. The bogeyman this time was benefit fraud, but you can expect it would soon creep into other areas.
In an increasingly cashless society and with the Government pushing ahead with a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), offering the state total surveillance possibilities combined with the potential for “programming” money to be used only in certain ways, the issue of financial surveillance and control is only going to become more urgent. And all this even without Tony Blair again popping up to float mandatory Digital ID cards as the cure-all, this time for immigration. You don’t have to think very hard to see the potential of a mandatory, centralised digital ID system run by the state to be the precursor to a Chinese-style “social credit” system. Indeed, we had a primitive version of such a system during Covid in the shape of vaccine passports, which controlled our access to parts of society based on our willingness – or not – to follow the state’s “recommendations”. You can throw in pay-per-mile road user charging (which can only mean information gathered about your every movement), a dollop of psychological “nudge” theory and technocratic management by algorithm while you’re at it. It doesn’t take a genius to see the dangers of this emerging panopticon combined with Blair’s “one Government ID to rule them all”.
These topics are going to be discussed at an upcoming event in Leeds organised by the Together Association, the campaign group initially formed in opposition to vaccine passports in 2021 which has since campaigned on numerous issues around free expression and against mobility restrictions. Speakers will be asking how we can ensure a future free from financial control. They include:
- Dr. David McGrogan – well known to Daily Sceptic readers and Associate Professor of Law at Northumbria Law School, David writes on topics including human rights law, the cashless society, debanking and more.
- Timandra Harkness, radio presenter, lapsed comedian, author of Big Data: Does Size Matter? and her latest book Technology Is Not The Problem.
- Reverend Richard Fothergill – “debanked” last year by Yorkshire Building Society after 17 years, after replying to a request for feedback with a polite email objecting to the building society’s promotion of transgender ideology. He received a reply telling him that his views were “not tolerable” and that his account would be closed.
- Austin Williams – Director, Future Cities Project, honorary research fellow, XJTLU, Suzhou, China and author of China’s Urban Revolution. Austin will be sharing insights about China’s social credit system on myth vs. reality.
Chaired by Together co-founder Alan Miller, questions are likely to include:
- Is it any business of a bank what our views are? Conversely, if a business wishes only to support customers with certain views, should it be free to do so?
- Can any financial institution truly be said to be “private” or “independent” from the state, given the powerful regulatory regimes that are part and parcel of how they operate?
- Some would argue we can see ahead to our own future dystopia in the shape of China’s “social credit” system,” but how much does the reality of this match Western perception?
- Is the optimistic view of Bitcoin or cryptocurrency enthusiasts that we can choose a future of money that is completely separated from the state and censor-proof a realistic alternative?
- What can we do practically to ensure our future is free from financial control?
The event takes place at 7pm on Tuesday July 16th in Leeds and Daily Sceptic readers can get 25% off tickets by using coupon code SCEPTIC at checkout – the link to get tickets is here.
Rob Tyson is involved with the Together Association.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.
Plod are basically out of control and are effectively making up the law as they see fit. This cannot continue. Yesterday also saw the arrest of Tommy Robinson for having the nerve to be out celebrating his twelve year old daughter’s birthday – vid posted earlier by Mogwai.
Once again if No10 wanted to stop this it could but clearly the Hindu poodle is under orders to allow these actions. Fishy is very much a guilty party in all this.
A single man peacefully displaying a poster which simply confirms government protocols on Hamas is breaking the law how exactly? And the terrorist sympathisers who attack this brave young man and attempt to do him injury are not even cautioned let alone arrested. Britain’s finest eh?
But if the intention is to stimulate unrest and mistrust in institutions, all going as planned it seems.
Absolutely.
“Hindu poodle”!! PMSL…..
Actually, due to the amount of footage of this incident posted online it was easy enough for people to identify the nutter that instigated the assault on Niyak. Bet he wishes he’d worn his tea towel now. His mate seems to have also been identified in the comments section;
”Abdul Madi an employee of Pinnacle Wealth is allegedly the person seen assaulting @GhorbaniiNiyak
in London yesterday.
His profile has been taken down from his company’s site.”
https://twitter.com/DaveAtherton20/status/1766890580452249864
In past times when decency and standards of behaviour mattered this Madi thug would be in receipt of the wagging finger on his next day at work. In today’s climate of course it is a raging certainty that he will have his race card polished and ready to go as soon as he hears his boss announce…
“Madi, I’d like a word. In my office.”
You cannot polish a turd. Madi in a suit is still a third world islamist conducting himself as a, well, as a third world islamist in Londonistan.
Ticket back.
“it was easy enough for people to identify the nutter that instigated the assault on Niyak.”
I look forward to the Met announcing that a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
This is what we need more of for these entitled scummy crims who think they’re above the law. Justice served Indian style. Pretty sure there’d be a lot less shoplifting if staff fought back and had zero tolerance, like this guy;
https://twitter.com/PicturesFoIder/status/1766864137345212455
Terrific post Mogs. That will be one “converted” shoplifter.
Wonderful! All piss and vinegar until the whupping starts, then he suddenly cares. I’m glad he capitulates and then got several more licks just to drive home the point. Nobody else is likely to try that place.
I think it was a proportionate (and funny) response, but concerned if Plod try to prosecute the shopkeepers, which would be a travesty. A fine line between chastisement and ABH.
Yep, don’t mess with Mr Singh!
I like how the guy behind the counter was warning them against it then did a full 180. 
Well what do these scumbags expect will happen? Shopkeepers going to just sit back and watch their goods be leisurely stolen in the time it takes for the police to show up? I’m all for being proactive and sending a message that’s more effective than a few hours spent in a cell.
Deleted.
‘facing accusations of double standards’ ?
Eh?
We’re long past that.
An Islamist mayor who heads a wokist police stasi.
Allo allo allo.
What’s appenin ere.
We ave to be politicly crrect young fella mi lad.
That means allowin the baddies to ave their say.
An we can’t be seen to be opposin em!
So please allow us to put these cuffs on.
And ere’s the back of our nice van.
…
Oh what he’s a foreign who recognises police brutality? Oops, come on lads we’ve messed this one up
Nuffin to see ere, move along, move along!
Appalling double standards by the utterly woke and useless Plod.
Recall their response to anti-lockdown protests and the vigil, for Sarah Everard – wading in, batons flailing.
Say something nasty on social media, or make some stickers the elite don’t like and they’ll be down on you like a ton of bricks.
Anti-Semitic marches? OK
Been burgled? Tough luck.
Muslim grooming gangs? Nothing to see here.
I despair.
Spot on. Criticise a mentally ill retard tranny and off to Belmarsh. Rape a dozen white girls…nothing. Support Muslim terrorists publicly, or wave your bait and tackle at the no pride low IQ parade…nothing. Protest against Muzz terror or the Rona fascism, off to prison esp if you are white.
No wonder, really…..
The Mayor of London was given a direct mandate for policing in London in 2011, as part of the Police and Social Responsibility Act. As such, the Mayor is responsible for setting the strategic direction of policing in London through the Police and Crime Plan.
A number of powers are devolved to MOPAC, which is led by the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden. This includes the delivery of efficient and effective Met policing, management of resources and expenditure (MOPAC is the functional body of the Greater London Assembly that sets the policing budget, holds the Commissioner to account and in partnership discusses progress against the Police & Crime Plan, assesses the strategic budget position and key risks to delivery).
The new London Policing Board, is a new element to the Met’s governance structures.
The London Assembly also has a role in providing the formal check and balance on policing in London. The assembly’s Police and Crime Committee is charged with examining the work of MOPAC and matters of policing interest in London, and in doing so publicly scrutinises the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on a regular basis, alongside the Commissioner.
Post consultation with the Commissioner, the Deputy Mayor recommends to the Mayor an annual policing budget for the Met.
Linden’s entire career has been spent in politics. From 1992 to 1997, she was a researcher for David Blunkett MP. Following the Labour victory at the 1997 general election, she became a Special Adviser to Blunkett when he was Secretary of State for Education and Employment. She was in the role from 1997 to 2001, following Blunkett as Special Adviser when he was appointed Home Secretary.
Linden moved to become a Labour councillor within the London Borough of Hackney, for the Dalston Ward, from 4 May 2006 to 10 June 2016. During this period, she worked for Bell Pottinger political communications, and unsuccessfully sought selection as Labour’s Prospective parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn prior to the 2015 general election.
In 2016, she was appointed by the new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to be the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.
‘When William was our king declared
To ease the nation’s grievance,
With this new wind about I steered,
And swore to him allegiance;
Old principles I did revoke,
Set conscience at a distance;
Passive obedience was a joke,
A jest was non-resistance.
And this is law, I will maintain,
Until my dying day, Sir,
That whatsoever king shall reign,
I’ll be the Vicar of Bray, Sir.’
Good work. Thanks.
Gotta love the wording of this: A man was arrested and, after CCTV footage had been reviewed, de-arrested as if this would somehow neutralize the original event.
Our polices are cowards and a disgrace.
These latest shenanigans are adding to the feeling of a steady growing seething anger in the ,as yet, silent majority of the British public that’s only just under the surface! This feeling applies to most of the downtrodden western populations who are quite rightly feeling ignored.
History shows us these bottled up emotions lead to public unrest, Tptb will reap what they have sowed!
O/T How has Khan avoided criticism for the Forest Gate police station fire?
It was a new building, under 20 years old I would guess. Did it not have fire detection or sprinklers?
Khan is not only responsible for the police but also the fire brigade.