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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A short thread on “legitimate concerns”. The phrase is used repeatedly by UK government ministers. The Home Secretary is at it again this week. But only ever - as far as I can tell - in one context: people’s response to the arrival of asylum seekers. Please read whole 🧵before responding - thanks

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

As far as I can discover (please correct me if I’m wrong), no government minister in either this or the previous administration has used the phrase when discussing people’s protests about the genocide in Gaza. Or about climate breakdown. Or about any other protest that challenges established power.

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Marcel Oosting🟥 @marxel.eurosky.social · 18/09/2026

Listening to "people's concerns" is not a platform. "People's legitimate concerns" is a frame introduced by the media. It's a distortion of reality that serves right-wing extremist politicians.

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Matt Doyle @mattdoylemedia.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

To give another example: Unite The Kingdom with 100K+ people - legitimate concerns. Trans+ Pride Protest with 150k people - not a peep.

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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I mean, this takes 2 minutes, George? hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2025-0...

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Berty Trouser @bertytrouser.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I hope it's because these are obvious and transparent concerns . You only need to say ' it's legitimate ' about stuff that has dubious or nebulous rationale. But it's not is it . It's naming xenophobia and racism as reasonable ...

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brunswickroadbill.bsky.social @brunswickroadbill.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Nor for supporters of Scottish Independence.

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

In these cases, they clearly believe our concerns are illegitimate. So illegitimate that they often associate us with – or even proscribe us as – terrorists. Care about Palestinians? Terrorist. Want to burn and kill asylum seekers? We might not like your methods, but you have legitimate concerns.

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