{"id":35840,"date":"2015-12-15T16:06:32","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T15:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/?p=35840"},"modified":"2015-12-15T16:06:32","modified_gmt":"2015-12-15T15:06:32","slug":"robin-stott-in-favour-of-constructive-dissent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/2015\/12\/15\/robin-stott-in-favour-of-constructive-dissent\/","title":{"rendered":"Robin Stott: In favour of constructive dissent"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"robin_stott2\"<\/a>Constructive dissent is essential to arriving at the best possible solution to difficult problems. Jeremy Corbyn provided this useful service in the run-up to the debate on extending bombing into Syria. So I was outraged at David Cameron’s suggestion that those of us who support Corbyn’s views were a bunch of terrorist sympathisers. I wrote the letter below to David Cameron, suggesting he should take appropriate measures against a self confessed terrorist sympathiser. The prime minister is yet to sentence me, but his recent antiterrorist legislation suggests that I should be interned. I would hate to spend Christmas alone so write this blog appealing to those, I expect numerous journal readers who are fellow travellers to write to him. I imagine Belmarsh couldn’t cope with the likely numbers so expect we could spend a convivial Christmas in an open prison or under house arrest.<\/p>\n

Neither have I had sentence passed by the various organisations that I mention below. I could be in for a bumpy new year.<\/p>\n

“Dear David Cameron,<\/p>\n

As a citizen who has thought deeply about the need and efficacy of the UK extending our bombing missions into Syria, I have come to the decision that such a campaign is an ineffective way of tackling the hideous ideology promoted by ISIS. We should spend much more time exploring the many other ways in which we can intervene.<\/p>\n

I am a 73 years old retired physician having worked for some 35 years in the NHS. Over this time I have been consultant physician, medical director of both Lewisham and Guys hospital, and Lewisham site dean for Kings College Medical School. I am a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, the Faculty of Public Health, the Royal Society of Arts, and have worked closely with both the editors of The BMJ<\/em> and The Lancet<\/em>.<\/p>\n

So it surprised me to learn from your recent remarks that those who support Jeremy Corbyn’s position are terrorist sympathisers. Presumably you will have to take appropriate measures against a self confessed terrorist sympathiser. I will also send a copy of this letter to the Royal College of Physicians, the Faculty of Public Health, the Royal Society of Arts, The BMJ,<\/em> and The Lancet<\/em> as they will also need to take appropriate action.<\/p>\n

It seems that conservative administrations casually characterise citizens dissenting from their views as terrorists sympathisers, as I was also branded as a terrorist sympathiser by Margaret Thatcher’s government for my support of the African National Congress and Nelson Mandela.”<\/p>\n

Competing interests:<\/strong> Robin Stott is a\u00a0member of the Green Party and has\u00a0joined “Stop the War” marches<\/em><\/p>\n

Robin Stott<\/strong> worked for 27 years as a consultant physician in Lewisham University Hospital. For much of this time he was also site dean and medical director. He has a life long commitment to understanding and seeking to improve the economic, environmental, and social circumstances which are most supportive to good health.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Constructive dissent is essential to arriving at the best possible solution to difficult problems. Jeremy Corbyn provided this useful service in the run-up to the debate on extending bombing into Syria. So I was outraged at David Cameron’s suggestion that those of us who support Corbyn’s views were a bunch of terrorist sympathisers. I wrote […]<\/p>\n

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