Comments by "Gareth Hart" (@tgheretford) on "Andy The Gabby Cabby" channel.

  1. I'm concerned that current events will be used to bring in much more draconian erosion of our civil liberties, communication and freedom under the guise of "public order and safety".
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  2. Safe for them, not for you.
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  3. It was never about your safety.
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  4. It looks as if George Galloway's victory in Rochdale is going to bring about new laws against protesting and criticism of politicians, countries and religion in order to 'face down the extremists, protect the safety of MPs and the religious and preserve democracy'. Canada did a similar move days ago with their new online harms bill.
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  5. Until the Online Safety Bill becomes law and Rumble is the first website that all ISPs and VPNs will be compelled to block by law. That's probably why this expose and letter was timed accordingly.
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  6. It was only ever going to be a matter of time before they picked on the wrong person who can and would sue them for defamation.
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  7. It's not just Brand the mainstream media is preparing to accuse of impropriety. I've seen other names being mentioned and the one thing that ties Brand and the others in common - they're all outside of the mainstream media and are a thorn to the establishment.
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  8. Turns out the same MP also sent a letter to GB News demanding the channel explain themselves and take action regarding Beverley Turner who has not condemned Brand in a broadcast on the 18th of September.
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  9. The documentaries on the Stasi were a warning and not an inspiration.
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  10. The thing with that is that the justice system requires a high bar of innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The mob justice system requires a low bar of a mere accusation to be proven guilty.
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  11.  @kingkonho  Will employers take on someone with needs and adaptations? You can shout "Equality Act" until you face turns blue but employers will find any way to not employ someone in the same regard pregnant women face to get around the law. The thing is, a job is a privilege, not a right and employers are not compelled to employ anyone.
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  12. This arrest has happened at the same time as Michael Gove is due to add to the definition of extremism whom the Tate brothers will fall under. Also, YouTube's most unliked man from Telford was also arrested recently. The timing of all of this is suspect.
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  13. We now have a dangerous precedent with tonight's arrest of someone who posted the wrong name of the Southport suspect - anything that is not approved by the state and posted by you is now a crime.
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  14. I've not heard a single person who advocated for the return of stop and search ever say they would be more than happy to be stopped and searched repeatedly. It's usually the case that they want implemented for others but not for themselves on the basis of 'I am a law abiding citizen with nothing to hide and nothing to fear'.
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  15. The same tactics used in East Germany against dissidents of the state.
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  16. Maybe they'll do actual 'two minutes hate' where your sentencing for dissent is put live on air to all the broadcast TV and radio channels.
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  17. Worryingly. everything is going self-service because its cheaper for business to have people a) carry the equipment to serve themselves which also holds the payment method - a smartphone and b) the business gets the customer to pay for their own labour.
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  18. Everything is subject to being intercepted, scanned and forwarded to the Police or intelligence agencies. Someone made a good point yesterday, landline phones are being moved to VoIP technology next year and therefore now come under the new law. With mail and written communication moving online, all forms of communication can now be surveyed and intercepted.
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  19. They don't just want to finish Russell Brand. Once the Online Safety Bill becomes law, they will ban Rumble and compel all ISPs and VPNs to ban access. And they won't stop there. They'll come for the other alternative platforms that they believe spread "harm". And social media firms including YouTube will be compelled to block content the Government deems critical of them or "harmful" before it even gets uploaded to subscribers.
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  20. A panelist on the BBC's Any Questions last week noted that at the same time the welfare reforms will kick in, the Assisted Dying Bill is expected to become law. Cue shocked audible gasps from the audience (who didn't like Labour being criticised).
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  21. He starts World War III and men, perceived as the group who got Trump into power, get drafted into fighting in a battlefield in Ukraine.
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  22. Free to air broadcasting is dying. Its replacement will be run by American conglomerates.
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  23. And we certainly do not need to present a passport or driving licence every single time we visit a website that has anything that could be considered not suitable for children. We are all being treated like children and the law is written accordingly.
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  24. There's already calls for social and telecom networks to be shut down, civil liberties to be abolished and digital ID to be introduced. This is the concern, that what's happening now will be used by the Government to bring in further control.
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  25. The people on Octopus Tracker whose prices follow the wholesale price are facing a bigger hike than price cap customers despite wholesale prices being on a decline since the highs of last winter. London customers face a 4p per kWh increase on electric, plus a standing charge increase and the debt tax on top. Getting to the point now where the only people Ofgem look out for is the supplier, not the consumer.
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  26. I have the concern that knowing how succesful they'll be at the next election, they will put rejoining the EU in the referendum, win and claim rejoining was democratically decided by the people.
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  27. Don't be too harsh on the MPs...
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  28. Would you also remove their right to free speech, the ability to enter food shops, pay for bills and other basics? Because what you're advocating for is both authoritarian and very much like the Chinese Social Credit System.
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  29. I would not welcome the abolition of anonymity. That way leads to the end of whistleblowing, the end of telling uncomfortable truths and will herald the introduction of the ID card society.
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  30. I note that if a council ends up in this situation, they can hike bills higher than the 5% cap. Will more councils do this to massively hike bills?
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  31. What happens if someone is a victim of domestic abuse or violence and needs to flee? They won't be able to afford to move to their own home and are more likely stuck with the perpetrator. Labour could end up being labelled the party of the abuser. Toxic idea.
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  32. If the shoplifting trend continues, I expect shops will just close themselves off to the public and you'll have home delivery or click and collect (with secure ordering kiosks in the store) and as much automated as possible to keep the public and goods separate. It's already happened at a Walgreens in Chicago.
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  33. Same with all forms of automation. Ultimately business owners are not compelled to employ anyone and a job is a privilege, not a right.
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  34. Compulsory voting plus voter ID requirement means there is now a price on your citizenship and freedom (the free/low cost ID options will disappear before anyone brings that up in order to "simplify the process and safeguard democracy") that you have to pay or face a fine. Don't pay the fine, you go to prison.
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  35. Everyone here had their water meters replaced (which they can legally do as you don't own the meter, it's their property) which will make it easy in the future to switch everyone over to metered billing if we have a water shortage.
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  36.  @Nickle314  I am charged by volume because it works out cheaper for my circumstances.
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  37. Or bring in new laws to prevent speech and protest that disrespects them or their beliefs.
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  38. Only approved "facts" will be allowed.
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  39.  @kellyeye7224  You seem intent on stripping fundamental rights from people who don't adhere to certain standards. China also does that via social credit.
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  40. Not without verified photo ID you won't because that's another feature of the new law - verification for any website hosting any content not suitable for children. Which will never be kept on a database that will get hacked and be leaked as a "perverts database". Nope, will not ever happen. Ignore the elephant named Ashley Madison in the room. /s
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  41. I'm very concerned with the rhetoric that has been coming from Government ministers and what's gone under the radar. While the media focuses on the PIP, something that went largely unnoticed is the Health Secretary hinting that "minor" mental health conditions such as Autism could be simply dismissed as non-existent allowing the NHS to cut budgets and refuse care, support and welfare to a number of disabled people. They're also preparing to time limit unemployment benefit and the Express is reporting that the Government plans to conscript those who are unemployed into the army to cut the unemployment numbers for Starmer's "peacekeeping mission".
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  42. The timing of this is suspect. The Brand expose comes days before the Online Safety Bill is due to get Royal Assent to become law. They know Rumble is the primary host of Brand's content. They know Rumble will refuse to comply with any request to demonetise and censor. They know that the bill will give them the power to compel ISPs and VPNs to ban Rumble. Also note hours before the Bill passed through Parliament, Elon announces X will go behind a paywall in order to allow everyone to be verified with ID. The bill requires ID verification for any website that hosts any content that is not suitable for children. Elon will have a system for X and other sites ready to go. Coincidence?
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  43. As long as I am not forced to go to the ballot box. Compulsory voting with no "none of the above" option plus valid voter ID (which will be simplified to just full driving licence and passport to "protect democracy") will be authoritarian and effectively be a new "poll tax".
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  44. Eventually the UK will have a national Intranet for the masses replace the Internet - moves in the last day are convincing me more that this looks more like reality. There's no way they can shut down swathes of an international network and control what is published worldwide. As long as people have access to Netflix, live sport and the like, most people will simply shrug their shoulders and declare the end of user generated content as a victory for "safety".
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  45. The comments in that national press article made me sick to my stomach. Everyone excusing this and ignoring the criminals by telling everyone "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" are helping to erode freedom, liberty and privacy for the perception of safety that they won't get and the abolition of due process and the concept of innocent until proven guilty. Those commentators need to be careful what they wish for.
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  46. I think people don't just want the BBC to fall, I see the same complaints with commercial broadcasting and the imposition of advertising revenue on the prices of goods and services as well as the cost of broadcasting. People want the abolition of British broadcasting and are embracing the large American conglomerates and the subscription/licence per content model.
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  47.  @robh7777  I think North Korea UK might be more apt. They seem envious and inspired by the Kwangmyong network that they use to keep their citizens "safe".
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  48. Don't be surprised if the mainstream parties have done deals with the broadcasters to stitch up and smear Reform in return for guarantees for their revenue and status.
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  49. He's also been body shamed, including by one ITV presenter, after his bathing footage aired. If Farage body shamed them, he'd lose his presenting job, be debanked and potentially end up in legal trouble. We all know there is a double standard.
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  50. What happens when the free and low cost forms of voter ID are abolished and simplified to passport/driving licence only in order to "preserve democracy"? At that point, you have put a price on citizenship and freedom.
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  51. The problem is that you don't own your electric and gas meters, they are the property of the local distributor of electric or national distributor of gas. They're no longer manufacturing the mechanical ones, only refurbished ones. So your only options in future will be to accept one (but insist that it doesn't communicate) or go off grid.
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  52. If every store did that, that's the end of shopping for the elderly, the disabled and those who can't drive. I suspect there would be lawsuits on the grounds of discrimination to challenge any shop that attempts to implement that rule in a high street or supermarket setting.
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  53. And the troops. Something that has gone under the radar with the news reporting is the plan to time-limit unemployment welfare and to conscript unemployed people into the army to cut the unemployment numbers for Starmer's "peacekeeping mission".
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  54. The mainstream media seems quite intent as of late to get as many candidates up for election to claim Reform is the new BNP, that its full of people described with every -ist and -phobic you can think of and attempting to get the party shut down.
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  55. They're destroying the unique selling point of the channel in a fit of panic to save their broadcast licence. If they fall, Talk TV will be next to be targeted. And online will not be a refuge either with the Online Safety Act. Advertisers are being pressured and pressuring broadcasters to tow the line. However, paywalling content is not a solution either as you're one payment processor away from being cancelled who also face the same pressure and doing the same pressuring as the advertisers.
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  56. Wait until YouTube has to comply with the Online Safety Act. Help us all.
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  57. The problem is going to come if they're part of a Shopwatch scheme and bar you from every retailer in the area. That would become a problem in the same vein and seriousness as debanking someone.
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  58. Won't be long before Ofcom flexes their arm and asserts that everything online accessible in the UK will be under the purvue of Ofcom due to the Online Safety Act.
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  59. I suspect we're heading toward new Lèse Majesté, blasphemy and insult laws. Where instead of listening to the public, criticism and disrespect of the Royals, politicians, military, foreign heads of state, countries and religion will be outlawed. Whether by speech or protest. There are politicians who would love to see Lee Anderson behind bars for what he said regarding his critique of the Mayor of London yesterday. Some European democratic countries have such laws on the books today.
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  60. It's going to get worse for singles. Not only could they lose the Single Occupancy Discount but the reforms could also change the way its levied. From a household based on two people to a married/common law married (cohabiting) couple and additional levies on single people like holiday firms do to squeeze more cash out of them and subsidise families. Single households could face extra thousands a year in payments! Likley this is also being done to nudge people into relationships and to have children as birth rates are going down.
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  61. The Government proclaimed leader of the manosphere and therefore one of the key targets for the new statutory definition of extremism Michael Gove introduced this week.
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  62. The EU will state that its merely new "money-laundering" laws. I know you can't spend more than £50 with gift cards that work as debit cards because they're anonymous. In reality, it's to ensure cash payments are as traceable as card payments "for your own safety".
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  63. From what I heard on the radio, they've only guaranteed safeguarding the rate of Income Tax. Don't be surprised if tax thresholds are reduced and tax relief for pensions end. I would also not be surprised if an emergency levy is placed on next years council tax bill for each household to generate the tens of billions they want.
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  64. The reason why you're seeing the Tories and Labour act as one and the same uniparty is because of a new statutory definition of extremism that will outlaw political opposition, potentially including the Scottish National Party if he does go all the way with making it law. That's why they're all in unison and talking of unity and kindness (a.k.a. agreement) because the alternative is deplatforming, defunding, debanking and potential criminal consequences. Even Reform UK is towing the line.
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  65. Which is why when they bring in self-service and get you to pay to do the job, they're also refitting all the stores to be as secure as Fort Knox.
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  66. People dont just want the licence fee abolished, they want ALL BROADCASTING abolished - ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, radio et al. And replaced with expensive subscription services run by American congomerlates.
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  67. @waltersobchak1719 Critics of the licence fee when they give their rationales always speak of other broadcasters on TV and radio while staring that the future is subscription streaming by American firms such as Google, Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Comcast, Viacom et al.
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  68. @waltersobchak1719 Unfortunately the broadcasting network and the platforms are funded primarily by the BBC and in turn by licence fee payers. That's why people oppose broadcasting. A network wholly funded by advertising won't work in the UK which is why everyone, including the BBC, is looking toward streaming only futures.
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  69. £900 a year is roughly what I'll be paying on Octopus Tracker for both Gas and Electric all being well and no sudden spikes in unit prices and with a healthy credit balance to edge my bets. Bearing in mind that I live alone.
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  70. If your current meters are now out of specification as they all will do eventually as all meters have a lifespan, the energy companies are legally bound to replace them with smart meters and you can't refuse. Unless you ask for them to be put into "dumb mode" or go off-grid if you really don't want one.
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  71.  @maryl2529  Until your old meter goes out of specification. Then you will have to. Namely because they don't manufacture mechanical meters any more.
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  72. They're attempting to give Reform the "Russell Brand treatment" in the next couple of days to keep this going to election day. I have to wonder if deals have been done behind the scenes to safeguard the funding and status of the main broadcasters in return for painting Reform as toxic?
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  73. The commentators in a certain tabloid newspaper were disappointed that it was a set-up and it stopped at the door. Which in one way is terrifying - who would actively want to threaten someone in that way, even if they haven't been paying the rent, and risk losing your liberty?
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