Double Standards!

It appears from news reports that the London Metropolitan Police have found the time and resources to investigate an incident from over a year ago where a member of a young Irish hip hop group flew a flag of a group or groups who oppose Israeli aggression and genocide. This has resulted in a charge associated with a “terror offence” to which a young man from Belfast will be required to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court next month.

Here’s a thing, the same Metropolitan Police have, as they acknowledge on their own website, a responsibility if“a UK resident has been responsible for core international crimes anywhere in the world (then) they may be investigated and prosecuted in the UK”. Such “core international crimes” include a litany of serious offences including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

I suggest to the Metropolitan Police Force or for that matter any police jurisdiction within the UK that they need not focus their attention or resources on minor matters such as the waving of flags but rather focus higher up the scale of seriousness of offence such as complicity, aiding and abetting or furnishing the means to commit such serious crimes. I suggest to the Met that they need not have to cast their net across the Irish Sea but rather just stroll a few hundred yards along the Thames. There they will find several senior government figures and officials well worthy of serious “core international crimes” investigation.

James McDaid, Leader, Socialist Labour Party. 24/5/2025