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Hi John,
At Open Britain, we’re always looking for ways to cut through the noise. To challenge the misinformation running rampant on social media and in Britain’s broken mainstream press. To expose the hypocrisy and failures of our crumbling political system. To fight for a more honest and open democracy.
That’s why I want to remind you about our substack newsletter, Ugly Politix ([link removed]) . In addition to all the work we’ve been doing in Parliament, we’ve set out on another quest to bring important and current stories about politics to our subscribers. We dive deep into the political realities too often glossed over in mainstream debate.
Here are some of my recent contributions. If you like what you’re reading, please do consider subscribing. And if you’ve got a story from your community or a democracy-related issue that you think deserves attention, don’t hesitate to drop me a line in reply to this email (just include the words “Ugly Politix” in your subject line).
** The UK is a World Leader in Stomping Peaceful Protest
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** Jan 31, 2025
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As I approached the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday afternoon, weaving through students, tourists, and onlookers, one thing stood out immediately: the sheer number of high-vis uniforms. Police officers were everywhere.
It seemed like a disproportionate response. The protesters – gathered in solidarity with the 16 Just Stop Oil activists appealing their sentences (which amount to a combined 41 years in jail) inside the court – weren’t being noisy or blocking any roads. They were simply sitting in silence.
These weren’t violent radicals, but ordinary people of all ages: grandparents and small children, doctors, educators, scientists. Where were the "dangerous hate-mongers and extremists" that Suella Braverman, and now Yvette Cooper, had warned us about?
Want to read more? Head over to our Substack and read the full article for free.
READ FULL STORY ([link removed])
** 'American Caesar' – A Systemic Assault on Checks and Balances
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** Jan 29, 2025
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In theory, modern democracies are composed of three coequal branches of government. The legislative (Congress/Parliament), the judicial (courts), and the executive (the President/Prime Minister and cabinet).
The first two exist primarily to keep the third one in check. The will of the people is (theoretically) expressed in Parliament, and the law of the land is (again, theoretically) upheld in the courts, acting as constraints on those in power. That’s how it’s all meant to work.
READ MORE ([link removed])
** Trump is Taking Dark Money to the Next Level
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** Jan 23, 2025
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As in Britain, America’s political system is riddled with loopholes allowing for undisclosed funds to enter politics.
It’s even worse in the States, especially since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010 – it opened the floodgates to a deluge of anonymous donations and put practically the entire political system under the thumb of mega-donors.
But in true Trump fashion, the new President has shown that it can get even worse.
Just days before his inauguration, Trump unveiled the latest addition to his collection of shoddy merchandise: a Trump-brand ‘meme coin’, a blockchain-based digital security that can be purchased with near complete anonymity.
READ THE FULL STORY ([link removed])
** Help grow the movement
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By donating you will help us push back against Elon Musk and Nigel Farage, fight for Proportional Representation, eliminate dark money, and combat the spread of disinformation.
This fight is too big to do alone. We must work together.
Please support us by making a £15 donation today so we can continue to grow and deliver the democratic change our country desperately needs.
DONATE ([link removed])
** How Britain Can Stand Up to Elon Musk
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** Jan 13, 2025
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For most people the holiday season is about self-reflection, spending time with family and friends, and forgetting the chaos of the world for a brief moment of respite. But not for Elon Musk.
The world’s richest man, largely alienated from his family, instead spent the holidays firing off thousands upon thousands of “X” posts.
He endorsed Germany’s far-right AfD party and spread (debunked) conspiracies about a violent incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg.
He expounded strange theories about global demographic shifts that demographers call “misleading”. And he spent a staggering amount of time focused on attacking the British government.
Having learned everything he needed to know about British politics from a handful of far-right social media influencers, Musk kicked off this year by proudly backing the British far-right. “Free Tommy Robinson”, he tweeted to his 200 million followers.
READ MORE ([link removed])
Thanks for being a part of this movement.
All the very best,
Matt Gallagher
Communications Officer
Open Britain Team
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