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Tuesday 18 May 2010

Verity Murphy | 11:28 UK time, Tuesday, 18 May 2010

UPDATE: MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

There was much jollity at the House of Commons today as MPs gathered for the first time since the general election, particularly when the newly re-elected Speaker John Bercow called the prime minister to speak and there was a brief pause - before MPs told David Cameron: "That's you!"

But away from the chamber, the government is facing a test after a special immigration court ruled that the alleged leader of an al-Qaeda plot to bomb targets in north west England should not be deported home to Pakistan because he faces torture or death there.

The government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Carlile, said the Human Rights Act prevented Abid Naseer's return and called for ministers to find a new way of dealing with suspects.

Given that when they were in opposition Conservatives opposed the Human Rights Act and the Lib Dems opposed control orders restricting suspects' movements what will that response be? Richard Watson reports.

We will report on a story touched on in Jeremy's interview with David Laws last night - an alleged "spending spree" by Labour ministers in the dying days of their tenure, a story previously dismissed by former ministers as coalition "spin".

The ±«Óătv has learned that a number of Whitehall's most senior civil service chiefs lodged formal protests at decisions being made by ministers, demanding written - and soon to be published - instructions from their political masters.

We will also be looking at whether middle and upper middle income workers are going to suffer most under the new coalition - totting up the cost of a scaling back of child tax credits, of rising tuition fees and no cut in inheritance tax against the backdrop of a rising cost of living.

Plus, 10 years ago, Allan Little reported on the civil war that tore Sierra Leone apart and the British military intervention that stopped it. Now he returns to look at the story behind that military action and its legacy for Sierra Leone and for Britain.

ENTRY FROM 1128BST

MPs will gather in the House of Commons today for the first time since the election. As the government and opposition switch seats we will be asking whether the "new politics" can work in the old place.

We will also be looking at whether middle and upper middle income workers are going to suffer most under the new coalition - totting up the cost of a scaling back of child tax credits, rising tuition fees and no cut in inheritance tax against the backdrop of a rising cost of living.

Also, the alleged leader of an al-Qaeda plot to bomb targets in North West England has won his appeal against deportation. A special immigration court said Abid Naseer was an al-Qaeda operative - but could not be deported because he faced torture or death back home in Pakistan.

How will the new government respond to their first real test on dealing with terror?

Plus, 10 years ago, Allan Little reported on the civil war that tore Sierra Leone apart and the British military intervention that stopped it. Now he returns to look at the story behind that military action and its legacy for Sierra Leone and for Britain.

More details later.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    'Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Foreign Secretary William Hague will have to share an official country residence, Downing Street has said.

    The Lib Dem and the Tory, brought together in the coalition government, will each live part-time at the 3,500-acre Chevening House estate, in Kent.'

    An open note to Clegg - I think this is where Croquet Prescott, the champion of working people and banks, played croquet.

    Do NOT be seduced.

    A Wellwisher.

  • Comment number 2.

    I don't think most middle and upper class people will resent bearing a greater proportionate share than less well off people as there will be no doubt the money is not being frittered away but is paying off Labour credit debts.

    The issue will be that they can see there is a light at the end of the tunnel and this is not a millstone that will be left hanging around there necks for ever.

    Also if you overtax the less well off it will be much harder to get the feel good optimism back that will drive the consumer end of demand.

    The National Interest will unite people provided the coalition does not over egg the recipe.

  • Comment number 3.

    Can the al Qaeda operative not simply be transferred to an Island Nation as with the Uighurs some while back?

    Naturally they would want a fee but it may be far cheaper than having our security guys having to keep an eye on him.

    Perhaps he could be tried if this government takes a different approach to phone tap and wire evidence from the last. I assume there is good evidence against him.

    Also will there be new standards on carrying documents so we don't get a "Quick" mistake again.

  • Comment number 4.

    The crazy far right people who pollute this page from time to time have taken on new guises again.

    So I wonder whether in the shady world of "English Nationalism" how they define their political views as Nationalism is too vague.

    For instance the BNP say they are "not a Nazi Party" but are "modern and progressive".

    Yet when Labour spoke of a "progressive alliance" they were talking about the Lib Dems - with a view probably to swallowing them.

    They would clearly have spat out the BNP as would any democratic party.

    The Tories are describing themselves as progressive.

    Progressive is becoming like the word "good" where it fawns for approval but does not really define what it is. "We will do good things - not bad things!".

    What are the far right these days really?

    Do they know or do they just like posturing and expressing their own internal demons?

    Perhaps they are just good at throwing bottles and expressing vague notions of impending "world government".

    The latter seems to be a downgrade of the "Jewish hegemony" rants and the International Communist Conspiracy.

    But overall its as coherent as hearing a poor man with rabies frothing at the mouth and trying to attack anything that catches his attention.

  • Comment number 5.

    MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

    Of course middle and upper middle income workers will be worst hit. They usually are regardless of the colour or intent of the party in power. They are the biggest group and the least militant.

    So far at least.

    Unfortunately I suspect means testing for all sorts of benefits (including across the board child benefit and winter fuel payments) probably costs more than maintaining a blanket pay out policy.

    One of the problems is that a 2+2 nuclear family earning say ÂŁ45,000 in Leicestershire will be much better off (better standard of living) than their counterparts in London/SE Commuter belt.

    How does any government 'weight' the benefits/cuts to account for that?

  • Comment number 6.

    WITH RESPECT - ACROSS THE BENCHES

    Perhaps NuPol could do us all a favour and introduce measures to increase the respect shown to each other and to the interested/watching public across the benches and despatch boxes.

    And perhaps the ‘Honourable’ members could try and live up to the tag – or drop it.

  • Comment number 7.

    Go1 wrote:
    "Almost everybody accepts that there needed to be better control of immigration and that is happening."

    A bit late in the day would'nt you say.



    A 1 min google search. Suggested reading for GO1

    A govt report-The economic impact of immigration:

    [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

    Govt report-community cohesion:

    [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]




    The Met-Community tension report:

    [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

    I put that one up for the crack, I did'nt know the MET did a monthly report on 'community tension'.
    Anyhow go1, why do you deny there are no differences between the races..why? are you blind? Maybe you'll finally 'get it' when you leave school and join the world of work.

  • Comment number 8.

    Cars, Obama and libs


  • Comment number 9.

    #50

    BYT

    First of all, thank you for responding to my questions about your son's biuld and appetite.

    When Mistress76uk wrote about grilling yesterday, my immediate thought was reminiscent of what you say at #48 - let's give the new administration a chance, and I was quite sure Jeremy wouldn't be on the attack yesterday. It was unusual for him to wear an orange tie but then why not. I'm currently drinking mango juice which is of orange colour for example - qiute delicious it is in fact and much less acidic than orange juice. Sunsets and sunrises can also be orange.

    Now, here's a thought. If not for Nick Clegg himself, I don't think the LibDems would now be part of the coalition but since they are, we ought to wait and see what contribution they make under his leadership. He does seem like a sensible and reasonable man and skillful at keeping his troops on his side.

    mim

  • Comment number 10.

    .but could not be deported because he faced torture or death back home .

    this is the usual white western supremacist racist judgement we expect from the courts. even heavily protected prisoners die or get abused in uk jails yet judges have no problem sending people there. The usa is known for torture and dark prsions yet the judges are happy to send people there?

  • Comment number 11.

    if he has been in SIS hands how do you know he wasn't tortured or threatened with torture many times? so how can the uk be 'safe' for an AQ leader?

  • Comment number 12.

    1 Go1

    'The Lib Dem and the Tory, brought together in the coalition government, will each live part-time at the 3,500-acre Chevening House estate, in Kent.

    An open note to Clegg - I think this is where Croquet Prescott, the champion of working people and banks, played croquet.'

    -------------------------------

    Prescott played croquet on the lawns of Dorney Wood, near Burnham in South Bucks.



    So why one of them can't live there is a mystery as the previous incumbent was Alistair Darling. Unless Darling is squatting there of course.

    There's a nice pub called the Blackword Arms just down the road as well!

  • Comment number 13.

    Congress blocks IMF aid for Greece :-

  • Comment number 14.

    "Also, the alleged leader of an al-Qaeda plot to bomb targets in North West England has won his appeal against deportation. A special immigration court said Abid Naseer was an al-Qaeda operative - but could not be deported because he faced torture or death back home in Pakistan."

    shame that our courts have been politicised (as are the media with respect to promoting the war agenda) . there is no actual evidence but the war imperative is more important. tastes like ricin all over again .

    also quite revealing how little was made of the iranian deal on the broadcast media yesterday (not a mention on sky and barely a line on the bbc during which hints at a nuclear weapons programme was implied) and even less today.

    looks like its going to be war - by any means - by the response from western + israeli govts.

  • Comment number 15.

    David Cameron

    'The Cameron family is a member of the ancient Scottish Clan Cameron seated in the Inverness area of the Scottish Highlands. Cameron has English, Scottish, and, more distantly, German and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.'



    David Cameron ‘could be a direct descendant of Moses’

  • Comment number 16.

    I wonder whether Newsnight will show us a few snippets of the proceedings in the House of Commons today, like for example the re-election of Mr John Bercow as the Speaker and 'Controller' of the so frequently unruly Right Honourable Members representing us in the beaiifully intricate architecturally building which stands opposite the modernised building housing the Supreme Court.

    mim

  • Comment number 17.

    @ Wendy #14 - just watch Al-Jazeera English/Press TV/France 24/Russia Today etc and you'll find a huge amount of coverage on the uranium being shipped from Iran to Turkey and Brazil......
    Anyway, I doubt we'll be dragged into a war with Iran - everyone is too broke.

  • Comment number 18.




    Last night, after the end of Nn, on the Beeb’s News 24 channel was the ubiquitous, but sadly time constrained, Newspaper review.

    Anyone that has watched the broadcast on a regular basis will know that the ‘zoom-in’ to highlight the story, opinion, PR release or cartoon under discussion is, it has been stated as such, under the control of the Corp’s hack. ( A joystick or keyboard control arrangement presumeably?)

    As posters on here have mentioned from time to time the Corp’s is sometimes ‘handcuffed’ by - presumably - protocol, indifferent to, or occasionally lax in reporting various stories that - sometimes - other ‘news’ outlets place as being worthy of public attention, sell papers, have a butterfly effect etc etc ....

    Such was the case last night, in a somewhat surrepticious manner, and as such appears to remain the case still but in a much more ‘in yer face’ style!

    Last night the hack appeared to try to pan across from the image that took up half of the editorial space of the displayed Front ‘sheet’ thereby giving the impression that the image was persona non grata.

    Today - as at time of writing - several searches on the Corp’s website (OK, so no search engine is perfect but No.1 ‘find’ was from 2002!) fail to show any apparent sign of the story.

    The question asked is “Why?”

    Is the story not relevant to the UK? (Even if taking into account the ‘special relationship’ we (might still) have with ‘over there’?)

    Is the story substantially incorrect, malicious or likely to incite?

    Does the story promote xenophobia, racism, gender inequality or any other of the myriad of ‘hate’ crimes?

    Does it threaten anyone’s health, welfare or human rights?

    Is the ‘story’ copyright, sub-judice or subject to some exemption from the ‘Freedom of Information Act’?

    Or is it just the PC Brigade up in arms again?

    The story ....?

    The story is that of .... Rima Fakih.

    Miss Fakih is an American woman of Lebanese descent, formerly winner of the Miss Michigan Beauty Contest and now proud holder of the prestigiuos title of “Miss USA”!

    So just exactly what is so wrong - if it is such the case - with this story that the Corp appears to have missed it so completely?

    One would like to think that such a story .... emigration for a better life, successful integration into the new mother country community, aspiring to a once in a lifetime opportunity and ‘reaching the american dream’ .... would have been a plus plus story that would be heralded from on high but ....

    Not so!

    Could it be that .... Nah! Never!

    Surely her religion has’nt nuffin to do with it?



  • Comment number 19.

    #10 jc: ?
    “..but could not be deported because he faced torture or death back home.
    this is the usual white western supremacist racist judgement we expect from the courts.”
    Maybe you’re right, but what we actually get from the courts is a myopic fixation on the wording of a piece of law (which, as drafted, can never be a perfect fit for the variations in all future cases) without any consideration of the effects of a judgement.

    Clearly the case at issue favours the 'individual rights' phrases in the HR Act, but ignores the ‘greater good of the majority’ – GBP's rights to be protected by the deportation of any who seek to murder the innocent.

    I was so angry at the decision that I switched channels – one was just showing the tragedy suffered by the 329 victims and their families of the Air India plane blown up by terrorists. Our learned judges should consider such outcomes when focussing on the exact wording of the HR Act.

    In the BA decision the Unions seem to be alleging that the exact wording of the laws covering strikes has been ‘used’ to reach a decision that favours employers. In this case "the greater good of the majority (the travelling public) may have resulted thus a case concerning strike law is more important than that involving terrorist plots against the GBP?

    #5 byt: MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
    “Unfortunately I suspect means testing for all sorts of benefits (including across the board child benefit and winter fuel payments) probably costs more than maintaining a blanket pay out policy.” As above, I favour the principle of “the greater good for the majority” which ‘means’ not wasting taxpayers money on those who don’t NEED such payments. Putting some self-responsibility back into our society might also result from ‘thinking the unthinkable’.

    “One of the problems is that a 2+2 nuclear family earning say £45,000 in Leicestershire will be much better off (better standard of living) than their counterparts in London/SE Commuter belt.” We either accept our ‘fate’; just moan about it; or move elsewhere, as I and most of my family have been doing through the ages.

  • Comment number 20.

    Jon Snow, Channel 4 News:

    'Mr. Roubini, Sir, do you have anything you'd like to tell us? What have we done wrong, Sir? Can we plug your book for you, Sir?'

    At the risk of sounding like a defender of our Dear Leader departed leader, how accurate have Mr. Roubini's other pronouncements been? Is he really the soothsayer Jon wants him to be?

  • Comment number 21.

    i see water company shares have been recommended by brokers because of the good profit they are making. why are they making such good profit? where is the regulator? asleep like the gas one is? where is wholesale gas prices? still dropping? seems the press and the regulates are letting foreign state backed utilities make a killing out of the uk public?

    the market delivers profit not national strategic services.

  • Comment number 22.

    #53

    Brightyangthing

    In your post at #53 you give advice to flicks about foods to avoid in case it might help prevent migraineous headaches. Having heard previously that tomatoes were alkaline in nature, I've checked up on that and you're right that they are in fact acidic /though apprently very good for smokers to eat on a regular basis, just like the proverbial apples/.

    You know that I keep banging on about the importance of balance in life and I understand that it is advisable to keep the right balance between alkaline and acidic foods in one's diet. I won't give any examples here as it is all available on the internet.

    mim

  • Comment number 23.

    BROWN-SKIN WOMAN WITH DARK EYES AND GOOD TEETH, JUDGED ATTRACTIVE (#18)

    You want that to be a 'story' JAP? Mind you don't get a journalism award!

  • Comment number 24.

    meanwhile in the cess pit of carbon trading that the coalition wants to pump even more with taxpayers money through their energy and food bills for having the affront to exist and breathe air

    Offices raided and 21 held as EU probe into carbon trading fraud intensifies



    Suspension from Kyoto carbon trading looms for Bulgaria
    [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

    A new “guide” for would-be carbon crooks and schemers released today by Friends of the Earth serves as a warning about the fraud, corruption and gaming abuses that are inherent to carbon trading systems contaminated with offset credits.


    Cap-and-Trade is not about saving the planet. It’s about money and power. Australia [that avoided the credit crunch through wise thinking] has dumped carbon trading into the long grass. lets learn from models of good government.


  • Comment number 25.

    Are Govt reports not allowed on here?!..very surprised by that.

  • Comment number 26.

    PLEASE READ THIS!

    With a backdrop of bankers looting the EU’s Treasuries (via a bailout that rivals George Bush’s TARP) let us consider one of the most significant Dem-Con appointments (and a non-appointment) to the British cabinet.

    That of someone who until now was invisible: David Laws the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

    His Wikipedia profile (updated on the day of his elevation, and before he had taken up his ministerial responsibilities) depicts him as the man that speaks for his party on matters relating to kiddie-winkies and families and, no doubt, motherhood and apple pie. He is also commended for his conciliatory role in negotiating the Scottish Parliament coalition.

    No mention here of his real background.

    For, according to ePolitix, David Laws was once Vice President of JP Morgan and Co and based in the United States, before becoming Managing Director of Barclays de Zoete Wedd in 1992.

    Now, in my book the most obvious candidate for the job of Chancellor, or Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was surely Vince Cable, a man credited for his prescience in predicting the financial crisis, respected for his ongoing analysis of that crisis and regarded as a “scourge of City ‘fat cats’.”

    Why was he shunted across to the toothless Department of Business, Innovation and Skills? And why was a man who until now has had absolutely no record of speaking out on the financial crisis, elevated to a powerful post at the Treasury?

    Could it be that Vince Cable is unacceptable to the City? That he was likely to threaten the oligarchical role of the British banking community, and their grip on the UK Treasury?

    Evidently so. What else can explain the Financial Times’s headline (under a picture of David Laws and the Old Etonian) “Coalition softens stance on banks” (FT 13 May 2010). And the comment that “proposals for banking reform announced by the new coalition government appear to take a much more measured approach to the task of reshaping Britain’s bloated banking sector”.

    So be afeared.

    While most economists recognise (as does the FT’s Martin Wolf) that “the source of the government debt
. is the past profligacy of large segments of the private sector, and in particular the financial sector.” (FT 12 May 2010) yesterday’s Dem-Con coalition statement argued to the contrary. Government debt, according to our new political masters, is the result of “Labour’s financial crisis’ – with the City of London blanked out.

    This framing of the debate is deliberate, and Labour was profoundly unwise, and irresponsible, for allowing it to pass unchallenged during the election campaign.

    Because this devious framing of the causes of the financial crisis was at the heart of the Conservative election campaign strategy. And even while the Tories hid George Osborne away in a cupboard for the full duration of the election campaign, the framing of the issue remained central to their strategy. The role of the City of London was completely ignored, and the entire financial crisis laid at the door of the government, and the innocents dependent on, and working for, the public sector.

    It was the most dishonourable and deceitful sleight of hand in modern British politics, I would contend. And sadly, both Labour and too many of the British public bought into this framing of the debate.

    So the ground is now laid. Bankers are preparing to move from looting Treasuries in the US and EU – to once again looting the British Treasury. And as Michael Hudson argues, to shift the burden of taxation from property and finance – back on to Labour.

    Less public money spent on welfare and jobs, means more money for bank bailouts.

    Labour’s claims for jobs, for healthcare and pensions will be subordinated to claims by the banks “to get fully paid on hundreds of billions of dollars of recklessly bad loans
 reduced to junk status.”

    With a totally inexperienced and economically inept Old Etonian in charge: with David Laws playing the role of decoy in this proposed Great Bank Robbery, and aided and abetted by subservient economists, the Treasury remains within the firm grip of Britain’s most powerful oligarchy.

    What is at stake is not just ‘savage cuts’ inflicted on the innocent and the vulnerable, shocking though such an injustice will be.

    What is at stake is nothing less than Britain’s democracy, and the peoples’ right to control over the nation’s finances.

  • Comment number 27.

    how easy it would be to deport people, even to face torture or worse where they are to be sent, by simply *accusing* them of being an "AQ Operative".

    there are REASONS why in the UK we are "innocent until proven guilty".

    -------

    as for this "spending spree" - did senior civil servants also complain in writing about Quantitative Easing', or the ÂŁ1,500,000,000,000 handed to the Banksters? I don't recall any major "handouts" to the Public recently?

    and if that IS the problem, then can we hear how many top Tories OPPOSED the 'bank bailout' - what was the new Chancellors position on it then, and what would he do if the same circumstances happened again?

    ----------

    i see the 'danger regulations' of flying jet engines through ash have been reduced yet again - nice to see the big Corporate lobbyists (in this case the Airlines) have a friendly ear in Govt. Presumably the same friendly ear that has YET AGAIN prevented strike action over the intended swingeing wages-and-rights cuts about to be enforced upon the pilots and cabin crews.

    -

    #5:

    "
    Unfortunately I suspect means testing for all sorts of benefits (including across the board child benefit and winter fuel payments) probably costs more than maintaining a blanket pay out policy."

    indeed. But it DOES employ more civil service bureaucrats to do the new scrutiny and decision making, and more 'enforcement' to ensure people are not fibbing on their claims, and more court cases for those found to be so doing.

    someone might wonder if the current system is actually a better use of the money, but hey - there are always *some* 'whining minnies' right?

    btw, another effect, mid to long term of means testing on what were universal benefits such as "child benefit", is that the because the chattering classes no longer receive them, they are far less likely to want to support them continuing. And they are also far easier to manipulate about how much is actually paid out to the neediest.

    think how much of a shock it was to many suddenly unemployed middle-managers types recently, how little was ACTUALLY paid in 'job-seekers-allowance', the stupid hoops that have to be gone through to get it, and the almost complete lack of decent retraining schemes available.

    by means testing, there is a greater possible gulf opened up between the middle classes and the poorest. Considering such a move will probably not save any money, it is either because its just a "See - we ARE doing *something*!" media event, or else (or also) an attempt to separate the concerns of different classes.

    would the middle classes be so willing to vote 'Progressive' (whatever that means), when *they* will not benefit from it, and the Press that targets them is constantly spouting about "lazy, work-shy benefit-scrounging layabouts".

    --or is that my cynicism showing itself again? :(

  • Comment number 28.

    HERE COME THE CLEARANCES.

    #19 IDG2

    "...We either accept our ‘fate’; just moan about it; or move elsewhere, as I and most of my family have been doing through the ages."

    I am all for individuals doing what they can to help themselves out of a poor situation, but in this case, what does the south east do for teachers, nurses, fireman, policemen, waiting staff, cleaners...... if they all move to rural Leicestershire or for example, or deepest darkest Sutherland - the Empty Lands!.



    If the link doesn't work or is removed it is from youtube - Capercaillie - Waiting for the Wheel to Turn. Worth a look and listen.

  • Comment number 29.

    Jeremy Paxman must learn to get into the habit of assisting the public in understanding the issue rather then attempting to find fault in the coalition. He is welcome to vent his opinions in a column or on opinion pages, but when asking questions with the intent to drive a wedge into the internal agreements of the current government makes him a useless journalist. We need information and facts and will decide as voters at election time what to do. Unlike Jeremy I am not confused about the definition of "a coalition" and know that it is temporary and not a party merger. The members of the coalition is supposed to have differences.

  • Comment number 30.

    Oh dear, Shami gets wheeled out again.

    Maybe we should just wait until the jihadists gets a result in bombing a shopping mall or packed nightclub eh. Then we can tear up the human rights act, ban Islam and introduce a deportation programme for known religious nut cases.

    Shami deary, you mentioned Churchill..

    A speech from Winston Churchill...on Islam:

    "How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
    Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."

    Does any of this matter anyhow. Israel is primed for the long planned attack on Iran, its just waiting for the nod. The 3rd world war is only around the corner. The weapons are made, bought and payed for and everything is in place. Mistress76, a nation skint can still fire-off its weapons, real weapons of MSD. And remember your history lessons mistress, wars are very profitable, very very profitable indeed.

  • Comment number 31.

    Excellent debate by Jeremy with Shami Chakrabarti & Lord Carlisle on the case of the alleged AQ operative. While it is true that the alleged AQ operative should be subject to a criminal trial in front of a jury, the lack of evidence would mean he would be released, and then placed under surveillance. While the argument would be that he might get tortured or cause "mischief" if deported from the UK, he might just cause "mischief" here............and at the tax payers expense too.


  • Comment number 32.

    @#29 - and which Member of the Coalition are you......... :p

  • Comment number 33.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 34.




    Response to ....

    At 9:09pm on 18 May 2010, barriesingleton


    Sometimes the real villain of the piece ‘aint revealed until the last line of the script and sometimes the perpetrator is exposed mid-story.

    Sometimes you are told right at the beginning.

    Which-ever-way .... the denouément always serves a purpose.

    But then quite often the real criminal(s) just gets away with it!


    As for the hack award ....

    ?



    A thought evolved from tonight’s Nn ....

    Perhaps Ms Chakrabarti could escort the two supposed miscreant students back to their own homeland and negotiate their continued well being?

    After all ....

    She seems to have all the answers!

  • Comment number 35.

    I loved what Jeremy called 'a rude interruption' at the end of the programme which 'happened to be' exactly in the same position as the moustachio man just a few seconds before, though as I have previously stated on numerous occasions he is a shifty you know what.

    mim

  • Comment number 36.

    ELEVATION OF THE IMMATURE

    Shami Chakrabarti has all the body language of an excited child. We are an odd lot - 'qualifications' are not a measure of maturity. Why do we turn a blind eye?

  • Comment number 37.

    This should make the next few days rather interesting!

    ‘Market chaos warning after German ban on shorting’

  • Comment number 38.

    Brightyangthing

    We have both spoken about the Rt Hons wasting time and indulging in silly boys' banters, etc. However, there is a part of it that I quite enjoy. Again, it is a question of balance and it seems to me that with the new blood, so to speak, government in place united against the discredited Labour, and the modernising John Bercow as the Speaker of the House of Commons, my hope is that the House will move towards the 21st century where it belongs.

    As for the elders, i.e. in their fifties or beyond, it's up to each individual whether they are prepared to listen to and progress with the younger generation rather than keep harking back to the past that never was and never will be, for example.

    Personally, I get a real 'kick'/'thrill' or simple pleasure out of being surrounded by, listening/ talking to and watching young people on ice as long as they are not violent or obnoxious in their behaviour. It can be a fine line but I am referring to absolute extremes here.

    mim

  • Comment number 39.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 40.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 41.

    #37
    Was about to post that link - yes its significant and will be for more than a few days. Its events like this that can trigger major problems.

  • Comment number 42.

    32. At 11:30pm on 18 May 2010, Mistress76uk wrote:
    @#29 - and which Member of the Coalition are you......... :p

    --- NONE

    Is Journalism a craft or a profession? You can only hope that newsnight does not fall to the levels of Glenn Beck who of-course loves his country very much and get paid well for what he does. It has been known that over-time some journalist have lost their skill but carry on simply because of the 'brand' they have created - The war that they know everything about has ended or the politics they report on is something that they do not understand.

    It is tough to change as a journalist if your landscape changes. Imagine the current economic crisis to be war and a coalition has been formed to win that war - what is the point of a journalist in that country to drive a wedge into that coalition while everybody knows that the war will certainly be lost.

    In my view point the coalition will have a change to look at the books and need to decide winning policies to stem the tide to avoid economic collapse - a sane and reasonable goal - after that election time.

  • Comment number 43.

    Re: #42

    It smacks of jj though he must be not quite with it as there are quite a few mistakes in his text. Methinks he might be experiencing a sense of hysteria on his 'war path'.

    M

  • Comment number 44.

    #43 addendum

    It doesn't seem to me that Jeremy is trying to drive a wedge into the coalition but rather attempting to understand the motives behind it.

    I've been watching the whole thing very closely and would have quite a few things to say about it. However, I can't talk about everything as my participation has become part of the country's Intelligent Services, as well as that of the CIA and those of Poland, quite independent of jj who, if people remember correctly, likes to 'install idiots' in positions of power. Doesn't it, 'sausage'?

    M

    M

  • Comment number 45.

    #42

    You say Jeremy's past it. How old are you? Older!!

  • Comment number 46.

    The way to beat the terrorists in the UK is to deport not only them as the direct suspect but their entire family and social network.
    Nothing else will succeed - its called 'peer pressure'.
    Does it and will it seriously affect their human rights - YES
    Will eradicate terrorism in the UK - Probably

  • Comment number 47.

    How about with the new government in place a change in tactics, dog warriors? It's really becoming awfully boring - number plates, animals, nostrils, ears and so on.

    You shouldn't be fighting it anyway.

    I think my position couldn't be clearer by now so why waste your time.

  • Comment number 48.

    The ±«Óătv has learned that a number of Whitehall's most senior civil service chiefs lodged formal protests at decisions being made by ministers, demanding written - and soon to be published - instructions from their political masters.

    I am intrigued by what 'the ±«Óătv has learned' means.

    Did 'the ±«Óătv' go looking? Or was it handed a press release as news? If so, by whom? What was the process of acquiring this information?

    That may better help inform its content which, if as billed, seems rather serious. And if true, somewhat of a pity it was not investigated, or discovered, during the tenure of the previous administration.

    'Has learned' could almost end up meaning 'failed to find out until now', or... 'can't ignore any more'.

  • Comment number 49.

    24. At 9:09pm on 18 May 2010, jauntycyclist wrote:

    Re: Carbon trading

    There seems to be a problem with income. There was already the small issue of fewer and fewer generating the things that generate it being called up to fund, or bail out ever more folk who administer, assess,check, count and tax it, but then that well got pretty well tapped... and then poisoned.

    So, what to do?

    Create a new well, obviously, if unfortunately trying to use the same resource as the previous one.

    And beyond the financial consequences of that, simply shunting money around in the name of 'carbon', with various sharp types in suits (from business and government and quango, and...) taking their self-serving cut seems an odd way to reduce GHGs, if that was/is/will be the intent.

    But one can be assured that there will be many conferences, gushingly 'reported' upon by many 'analysts', who will see merit in such career-enhancing processes continuing on their lucrative paths, untroubled by the consequences of actual results beyond boxes ticked and the meeting of bonus-accruing artifical targets.

  • Comment number 50.

    @ GetMediaRight #42 - According to Sam Smith "Journalism has always been a craft - in rare moments- an art - but never a profession. It depends too much on the perception, skill, empathy and honesty of the practitioner rather than on the acquisition of technical knowledge and skills."(Source: . So we have established that journalism is a craft - fair enough. Jeremy is very talented in his craft.

    Moving onto your point about "giving the coalition a chance," the NUJ has a code of conduct for all journalists to adhere to, which has been defined by the Ethics Council. One of the objectives is a Public Interest Clause, which includes "Revealing potential conflicts of interest by those in positions of power and influence." Since there is a coalition government in force at the moment, Jeremy, (and many other journalists) has merely been revealing potential conflicts of interest in the Con-Lib coalition, after all concessions have already been made by both sides. Perhaps it can work, perhaps it may not work, who knows...only time can tell.




  • Comment number 51.

    "Anyway, I doubt we'll be dragged into a war with Iran - everyone is too broke."

    maybe that is why the usa et al are now looking for more sanctions, looks as if the reality is that no one was expecting the iran swap deal to be agreed and signed and now that it is they want to push forward any plans for war before too many people start thinking that iran is doing exactly what we ask of it. maybe that is why so little coverage has been given to the actual deal but more to the lies regarding its military nuke use.

    the issue is why should independent media in a free country choose not to lead with the story but wait almost 24 hours after the deal had been agreed and then with a sentence that was more accusatory than anything else.

    the problem is that our media has no independent voice that would prefer truth and facts over deceits and lies.

  • Comment number 52.

    #50

    M76uk

    Sometimes I feel that Jeremy is too talented for his own good. I know the feeling.

    mim

  • Comment number 53.

    excellent piece by craig murray on his blog regarding the actions of the state against the innocent muslim students in this country.

    "You may recall that in the current case, Gordon Brown had stated this was "a very big terror plot". But the students arrested had no bombs, no weapons and possessed nothing at all connecting them to terrorism. The police announced they had found "a potential component of a bomb". It turned out that this was less than a quarter of a kilo of sugar in the kitchen."

    and

    "As Sky News has been explaining all evening, the security services believe "wedding" is a code for a bombing."

    and more importantly :

    "The security services presented evidence against Abid Nasser in secret. Meither Nasser nor his lawyer was allowed to see the evidence against him. It is on the basis of this secret evidence - to which Nasser had no opportunity to make a reply - that Mr Justice Mitting stated that he was satisfied Nasser was an al-Qaida operative."


    from : First Islamophobic Terror Scare under the Coalition

  • Comment number 54.

    IIDOLS ARE BEST WHEN THEY'RE MADE OF STONE....... STARS OFTEN FALL!

    M76UK #50

    All very noble, and it is more than obvious that Jeremy is immortal, a Prince among men in your eyes. Most people know that pedestals are very dangerous places to hang out and that everyone is fallible. As is the system as defined, especially by those (NUJ) with a vested interested in protecting the livelihoods of their own - bit like politics there then?????)

    So now we are clear that like the rest of us, he is a mere mortal, and capable of all sorts of errors major and minor in various areas of life, I think those, of whom I count myself one, actually find the media's over emphasis on tearing into 'potential' areas of conflict, or problems, or policies that will hurt a specific sector........... the biggest issue.

    What about ACTUAL.

    If anyone believes that any rottweiler (sorry, journalist) will make one iota of difference to potential outcomes or possible policy plans then they are delusional.

    There are many areas of politics and policies that I want more information about - some clear, concise and comparative facts and figures that are not slanted by either the journalists creed or the politicians party line.

    A New Journalism may need to be born alongside the New Politics.

    (not going to get that from a politician, even a new one – taught from day one of candidacy to offer only waffle, platitudes and defensive responses)

  • Comment number 55.

    human rights

    court logic based on an absurdity is still an absurbity.

    sierra leone

    pandered to the imperialist fantasises of the uk political class who went to school went the map was still red. the FO should move out of the home world of imperialism, Carlton House.

    Max The Tax?

    the time to make big changes is in the first year of govt so people have forgotten it 4 years later. the big mistake of labour in 97 was not to make massive changes in the first year when they could have done anything. the longer you wait the less likely big change can happen.

  • Comment number 56.

    #7 kevseywevsey

    "Anyhow go1, why do you deny there are no differences between the races..why? are you blind?"

    The URL's are broken and so are your arguments. So far as I recall government reports have nearly all endorsed immigration but the big criticism has been they have not taken account of planning for services and so on.

    Science shows that there are no significant differences between the races barring largely cosmetic adaptations to climate and UV and so on.

    That's the science that lay behind the "Incredible Human Journey" showing that we are in fact very closely related. We all originated from a very few individuals who walked out of Africa and even those that did not walk out are very closely similar.

    So notions of intelligence difference and character traits don't relate to the genes but to environment. Take the excellent Channel 4 piece on Race and Intelligence some time back.

    The fact that the odious BNP could not provide any scientific evidence to justify their racial membership policies after the EHRC required them to comply with the law tells you all you need to know.


    To save time readers who may take you seriously should note:

    An "English nationalist" ... from Belfast ... who used to throw bottles at the "British Army" .... talking about WWIII and the differences between races and the threat of Islam and also "world government".

    Did you bang your head a lot as a child?

  • Comment number 57.

    #54

    On the contrary, BYT, I don't at all see Jeremy as an idol. Being exceptionally talented in this or that area does not make one infalliible as a person nor does it absolve one of responsibity towards others, especially those in much more vulnerable circumstances than oneself.

    As I said previously, i've been prepared to give Jeremy a large margin of error but he may have misunderstood what I meant.
    However, he's definitely not on my condemnation list and hopefully will never 'join' it.

    There's a lot of deception going on all over the place and I've been taking it into account.

    I better push off now from the elegant cafe in Kensington Gardens where I've just had a macchiato and spoken to a very pleasant White American lady who's a real fan of Barack Obama's.

    mim

  • Comment number 58.

    RIGHT ON THE NAIL (#54)

    If only media idols composed and presented to your standard BYT.

    Bravo!

    New Media eh? There goes my heriaa again.

  • Comment number 59.

    tonights comments: on the LibDems attempting to maintain Tax-payer funding that is only offered to Opposition Parties, NOT Parties in a Coalition with MPs in most departments!:

    nick clegg; what a shame that the people who voted for LibDem as the progressive alternative to the Cons, will not NOW be joining and paying subscription fees. It is ironic that no doubt Clegg and the other Big 3ÂŁ will soon be arguing for tax-payer money "to survive", when they pay so little attention to the Public and what THEY want, which would increase their membership, AND the donations!

    improve Democracy? Giving Parties that have NO public credibility, and thus no Public support, Public funds is demonstrably completely wrong - in a properly functional Liberal democracy, the Parties have to appeal enough to the People to get large scale membership, to fund themselves as Parties. It is NO improvement to pay old political parties to exist, it is certainly NO improvement to Democracy!

    if Clegg had lived up to his promises of actually BEING progressive, the upsurge in membership and thus donation would have prevented this problem from arising! ...instead, the Liberal member of the CompCon has decided its better to *ignore* the hopes of the People, yet also take ÂŁMillions to pay its bills. Or will we, as Crick asked, see "swinging cuts" at the actual Party headquarters themselves? Will our political masters demonstrate how honest they are about "sharing the pain around", please?

    ...if you're holding your breath, quickly look up on wiki what to do when you turn blue in the face... :/

  • Comment number 60.

    #24: Jaunty:

    please look up to the two links given in my comment on this page, along with the comment itself (more relevant to you than the whole page):

    gnuneo
    29 November 2008 at 01:23



    -- ask yourself if this fraud was not designed into the system when carbon trading was 'born'. This is not the fault of the Green Lobby, this was because the Corps designed the actual legislation, using Green sound-bites to justify it to the Public.

    many Greens were opposed, and remain opposed, to Carbon Credits as they are currently structured.

    -

    #21: Hydraulic Despotism.




    #26: David Laws!!


    #55: it is not "absurdity" to follow our own Laws and Legal system that has largely *WORKED* for hundreds of years. Deportation should not be an easy way for a ±«Óătv Secretary to create a "terrorism scare".

    imagine the US wanted to deport *you* for a crime that the ONLY accusation was private 'evidence' from an American 'spook'. And *your* lawyers weren't allowed to even hear it!

    any "absurdity" conmes from allowing the neo-con inspired WoT to reduce or remove ancient Freedoms and Rights our forebears fought *for*.


  • Comment number 61.

    #59 belonged on tomo's page. Ooops.

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