The right hon. Gentleman [Mr Cameron] says that we have done nothing about sex offences, but let me just remind him that the Sex Offences Act 2003 created and redefined more than 50 sex offences and set tough new maximum sentences. We set up the sex offenders register. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 allows us, for the first time, to give indeterminate sentences for the most dangerous, violent or sexual
offenders. What did the right hon. Gentleman do when that Act came before
Parliament? He voted against it. [HON. MEMBERS: “Oh!”] It is true. This is the
single most important thing that we can do. For the first time, we can keep those who are a threat to the public behind bars—but when it came to the tough decision, he ducked it.
This is not true, as the Parliamentary record shows. There was no division at the end of the Second Reading debate on the Bill - i.e. it had Conservative support (Hansard, 15 July 2003, Col.248). See HERE. Indeed, during the Second Reading Debate, David Cameron welcomed the Bill. He said:
'Like other hon. Members, I welcome the Bill. It is right to codify and bring
together the law on sexual offences. It is right to update the law, as the Bill
does in a range of ways. It is also right to introduce the new offences that
many hon. Members have spoken about, not least to keep pace with technology'
(Hansard, 15 July 2003, Col. 234).
There was no division at the end of the Third Reading debate - i.e. it had Conservative support (Hansard, 3 November 2003, Col. 637). In his speech during the Third Reading debate, the Conservative spokesman, Dominic Grieve, said:
'I am grateful to the Home Secretary for his words and the spirit in which the
legislation has been introduced. The subject is not easy-I certainly did not
find it so, and I am sure that that is true of all those who served in
Committee. There was a common determination that we should not approach the Bill in a partisan way, and I hope and believe that we have created legislation that
will stand the test of time... The good note that I can end on is that I think
that we have done-I hope that we have done-a good job. I thank all those who
have participated in the Bill for making that possible' (Hansard, 3 November
2003, Col.628-9).
David Cameron was not a member of the Standing Committee that considered the Sexual Offences Bill, so could not have voted against aspects of it at that stage.
Perhaps Mr Blair would like to issue one of his famous apologies.
23 comments:
feral? spin?
anything to hide what he's really up to - frantically trying to secure a nice job as President of the EU. He'll sign the stealth Constitution, and Sarky'll try to lever him in as top dog in Europe.
This one's double play, to try to get the media up in arms about something else - probably.
I expect he believed it when he said it.
Eh? Read the quote again. Blair is clearly talking about the Criminal Justice Bill. You and your ex-boss should do a few comprehension tests before rushing to the press with this sort of rubbish.
Either way, Cameron was wrong to lead on these questions today.
Blair won't apologise for so small a thing. Like Bill Clinton, he only does BIG apologies. Spotlit, choreographed Broadway-style apologies. Slavery, for example. I can't remember what else he has apologised for because as he wasn't involved in any of it, an apology is not his to give,anyway.
He may get the job as unelected president of the EU in return for signing Britain up to their "constitution" with "presentational changes", but I'm not so sure. I don't think they would want to give it to a Brit. And he no longer has any power or patronage and there's already a fin de siecle staleness around Blair. A sense of "yesterday's man".
I hope I'm right.
anon 6.59 is right. read it again and Blair isn't referring to the Sexual Offences Bill. Was Blair right about Cameron's voting record on the criminal justice bill?
Blair talks a lot of drivel at PMQs - I'm used to reading things like this :)
What a disgrace Bliars performance at PMQ's was today. Absolute disregard for parliament.
it shows that Cameron is not as tough on his feet as he needs to be. It would have been a stinging rebuke to Blair to quote himself back, in fact it would have destroyed what was a succesful PMQs for Blair.
Neither Hague nor Howard would have let such a major thing slip.
Blair said
"The right hon. Gentleman [Mr Cameron] says that we have done nothing about sex offences, but let me just remind him that the Sex Offences Act 2003 created and redefined more than 50 sex offences and set tough new maximum sentences."
Yeah and all while Prescott walks free
Criminal Justice Bill - correct anonymous 6:59.
Anyway, Blair will wait for Dale to issue a few apologies before he starts. Then it'll be floodgates.
Meanwhile DC is a hypocrite innit? Pope of hypocrisy in fact.
Blair is a despicable liar - sorry spinmeister.
Anonymous said (6,59)said..
"Eh? Read the quote again. Blair is clearly talking about the Criminal Justice Bill."
No he wasn't! This is so typical of you NuLab control freaks. You can't remember what it is to tell the truth. Good job your days are numbered.
Iain:
Jeebus, even when you have a point you still manage to almost cock it up.
Blair is clearly referring to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 in his remarks and not the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and Cameron did vote against a number elements of this bill.
However... and do try and pay attention Diabolo - on the crucial vote on 18 Nov 2003 on a House of Lords Amendment relating to clause 216 (Life Sentence or Imprisonment for Public Protection for Serious Offences) the Conservative Party absented itself en bloc.
Blair is technically correct in stating that Cameron voted against the Criminal Justice Act - he did so on a number of clauses and both programme motions, but incorrect in specifically referencing the matter of indeterminate sentencing, on which no Tory MP voted.
A moral success? Yes, although more by luck than judgement in this case having gone for the wrong Act, but given Blair's general propensity for hair-splitting. I'm afraid you'll have to whistle for an apology, not that I suspect you ever expected one.
Now, Diabolo, having cleared that up, are you satisfied?
Unity
Are you aware of the term "confabulation"?
The PM (he still is, isn't he?) He deliberately mixed two different issues together.
"A moral success? Yes, although more by luck than judgement in this case having gone for the wrong Act, but given Blair's general propensity for hair-splitting. I'm afraid you'll have to whistle for an apology, not that I suspect you ever expected one.
Now, Diabolo, having cleared that up, are you satisfied?"
Well, actually no. It just reinforces my point that you NuLab folks have a problem with dealing with facts and can't resist spinning them whenever you can.
PMQs are a pathetic way to hold an Executive to account. For a start the governing party should not be permitted to pose questions.
The Speaker is a dolt and lets this circus continue. Cameron is simply too frontal and lacks style or finesse. Thatcher and Wilson were more interesting...but she just turned into a speak your weight machine in government spouting mindless statistics.
It is all very Junior Debating Society with acned youth pontificating and squealing.
If Cameron's labelled with the Andrew Lloyd Webber phrase - 'Any Dream Will Do', BLair's epithet must be 'Any Lie Will Do.'
Don't worry, he'll be soon be gone.....to become President of All Europa - where they like lies.
Their currency has an inflation rate of 15% - on average since launch. It's never reported much above 2.5%.
That's piss-taking on the continental scale. Blair will feel at home.
Is this politics, commentary, humour, gossip or a Conservative Central Office press release? The thought of Hansard just flopping open at the right pages for you to write this piece yourself is highly laughable. Why not own up to the fact that you're part of a Tory funded spin machine before you make yourself look any sillier than you do.
Blair lieing about voting records eh? Shock..
This is what they have done about the Lib Dems and ASBOs continually.
Spin spin spin
Blair tells a lie?.I s this news?.
You forget Blair lives in a parallel universe where he is world statesman who singlehandely has saved the world from global warming,poverty and war.
For such a figure PMQs are just a tiresome chore and checking the facts has NEVER bothered him or his government.
Mr Dale, I don't think I'm wrong in saying that Mr Blair's comment about the Conservative leadership campaign was also incorrect (I didn't pick up on your observation about the voting, but thanks for posting about it). Was it not David Davis who made grammar schools a significant part of his campaign? I remember him promising a figure, but can't remember it exactly. All I remember policy-wise from Cameron's campaign was a declarance that he was not prepared to make promises 'that he might not be able to keep' and that he would undertake a full policy review if he were to be elected (incidentally it is because of this that I am always so irritated by people who go on about Cameron lacking in policy - so far as it goes, he was elected on the basis that he would do this, nothing has changed!).
To return to my point, wasn't this another falsity from Blair?
"but if we are talking about leadership campaigns, I might remind the right hon. Gentleman of what he said when he ran for the leadership of his party. He said:
“consistency in politics is vital”,
and then proclaimed his support for grammar schools and selection. I think that rather than worrying about our deputy leadership campaign, he should worry about his own leadership."
Tha basic problem here is that you're saying that Cameron didn't vote against a different bill to the one that Blair stated - and pretty clearly as seen in your own quote. I'm sure Unity is correct on the detail and it was a number of votes against the CJB/A and a bloc abstention. But whatever, where's the clarification/apology/withdrawal of this bogus accusation. Blair was more or less right and you were more of less wrong. So put it right.
Where is one of your famous apologies, Mr Dale?
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