tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post6988606787484658830..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Freedom Under the Rule of Law is Being ErodedIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30351864665748537502008-04-13T00:38:00.000+01:002008-04-13T00:38:00.000+01:00My every instinct concurs with the general nausea ...My every instinct concurs with the general nausea felt about this situation, and yet...<BR/><BR/>I think it is far more to do with NuLabour's laws of unintended consequences than anything else. National Security was the reason given for halting the enquiry, which never would have been started without they legislation they introduced, but how large in their thinking loomed the loss of all those jobs? And more pertinently, all those votes?<BR/><BR/>Margaret Thatcher worked very hard to get this contract and she was no fool. She must have known that it would involve bribes & kickbacks on a grand scale; that's how things work in that part of the world. Before so roundly condemning David Cameron, might it not be interesting to know what she would be doing in these circumstances? I suspect she might not be acting with the idealism you would like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-92092214389258591122008-04-12T20:49:00.000+01:002008-04-12T20:49:00.000+01:00Re spying on litter criminals etc. There is a bigg...Re spying on litter criminals etc. There is a bigger issue here which is a vicious circle. As a siginifciant part of society becomes more irresponsible, the rest of society pushes for tougher laws. When those tougher laws aren't enforced, the irresponsible think the law doesn't matter and carry on, then people demand even more laws, so on and so on. At some point there has to be real action to set down the limit and break this circle. Anyone involved in political surveys will know that they receive more comments about litter and dog muck than virtually any other subject. When harder criminals see a community declining (graffiti, property damage, litter, muck) and basic laws not enforced the think there is a system they can thrive in. Lets enforce the existing laws and do so regularly. I don't care if someone from the council hangs around watching but we should be ensuring that the law is enforced. I think we should also make offenders do proper community work and I mean hard work. They should be out in all weathers scraping up dog muck and picking up litter and sod their human rights. The Telegraph also talked about needing a new Thatcher but I know what Lady Thatcher would have done! No wonder I rarely buy the Telegraph anymore and they called this an "exclusive". God help us!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-41471792794677866592008-04-12T19:20:00.000+01:002008-04-12T19:20:00.000+01:00anon emmigre;kazakhstananon emmigre;<BR/><BR/>kazakhstanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91967201440762342742008-04-12T18:48:00.000+01:002008-04-12T18:48:00.000+01:00The mask behind which the Tory, Labour, Libdem and...The mask behind which the Tory, Labour, Libdem and the Communist Party front hides, was brutally torn away for the voting public to see on Saturday, 12 April, when the Communist extremist Searchlight organisation held an anti-BNP march in Wrexham, North Wales - and proudly put their hammer-and-sickle Communist flags on display for all the world to see.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14222552290515003342008-04-12T18:23:00.000+01:002008-04-12T18:23:00.000+01:00Iain,Your article is laudable,but does, rather, ig...Iain,<BR/><BR/>Your article is laudable,but does, rather, ignore the fact that Tapestry has made.<BR/><BR/>Sweeteners are made within this country. Sometimes they are called Christmas Gifts! A Bonus! A Thank you! But in the true sense of the word they are all corrupt acts!<BR/><BR/>Bribery is a way of life in certain parts of the world. In Hong Kong (when we were in charge) it was a matter of fact. One paid the Ambulance men if one wanted to get to the right hospital etc! It was so bad that they got British Police to head investigations into corruption - Did they stop it? Of course not.<BR/><BR/>One can be morally correct and say, as the Liberal Democrats are saying, that the investigation should be re-opened. But I bet, when the aircraft workers lost their jobs, they would be singing a different tune!<BR/><BR/>The French,Germans and most of all the Russians are well at it! If you want this country to have some industry left, I am afraid you have to be a little more savvy of life within and without these shores.<BR/><BR/>What do they say? There is no such thing as a free lunch! Guido has done much to highlight the fact that the BBC allows their political correspondents to have enormous expenses on dining and drinking! Now that is to obtain information .....but is it corrupt? I believe it to be so!<BR/><BR/>Is it right that children of former BBC employees appear to get employed within the BBC (and Sky and ITV) over others who may be better qualified?<BR/><BR/>Is it right that positive discrimination is used or to promise 50% of a future cabinet will be women?<BR/><BR/>It is not trivialising what you have written, Iain, I am just saying the roots of this decay go far and wide!<BR/><BR/>It would be nice to think we could stop it. But it goes far too deep into almost all walks of life. The golfclub! Masonics/old school/ university pals and good old nepotism!<BR/><BR/>Would Maude be where he is if he did not have the Father he did?<BR/><BR/>Iain. I would love to support you but the world is against us!strapworldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18228784526399929300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66143108603428956822008-04-12T18:09:00.000+01:002008-04-12T18:09:00.000+01:00Anon at 2.27pm: why do you think that a LibDem cou...Anon at 2.27pm: why do you think that a LibDem council would spy on people like this? It was the Tories who introduced the DNA database and it was the Tories who started sticking up CCTV cameras everywhere. Labour has indeed embraced both with alacrity, whilst only the LibDems have consistently opposed this headlong dash to make the state all-powerful.<BR/><BR/>Please try not to be so blindly kneejerk in your criticism of other parties.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73885930916732963572008-04-12T17:14:00.000+01:002008-04-12T17:14:00.000+01:00The Anon. who keeps asking where might be a better...The Anon. who keeps asking where might be a better place to live than England could give Italy a try. Tomorrow Italians go to the polls to choose between a party coalition offering decent pensions, financial stability and low public debt, a high minimum wage, stable work contracts enabling proper life planning, and further investment in the physical infrastructure to enhance economic growth. <BR/>Or, offered by the opposition, there is the re-abolition of inheritance and gift taxes, slashing of capital gains tax, reduction in the size and costs of the state leading to lower taxes over all, the abolition of road and car tax, and a reining-in of government snooping into business conformity with trade union inspired regulation.<BR/><BR/>It is being rather cold and wet for the season, due to global warming, but usually there is a fine climate, there are lovely cities, marvellous seaside, mountains... good schools, and everyone speaks English though they pretend they don't. <BR/><BR/>And you can have a rest after lunch.hatfield girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12673905475452420002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26331524047033587102008-04-12T16:55:00.000+01:002008-04-12T16:55:00.000+01:00Stick to your position Iain, in this instance I co...Stick to your position Iain, in this instance I couldn't agree more with you. It is a shame the Conservatives appear to agree with the government. Perhaps they will review their position if they want to be seen as the party of ethical behaviour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-12867820373192107642008-04-12T16:53:00.000+01:002008-04-12T16:53:00.000+01:00The size of the bribe on the second, Euro fighter ...The size of the bribe on the second, Euro fighter contract was ridiculous - 10% of the deal! About 1% used to be the going rate. Essentially they gave back any profit in the deal. The Saudis are getting the planes for less than cost. <BR/><BR/>Jonathan Aitkin got them to buy Tornados (the crap fighter version) for a few million. His backhander included.<BR/><BR/>Next time we try and sell anything, anywhere, everyone will want 10%.<BR/><BR/>I dislike corrupt scum. But, I really, really hate incompetent corrupt scum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67141514991760834012008-04-12T16:49:00.000+01:002008-04-12T16:49:00.000+01:00I like this surveillance society.Come the revoluti...I like this surveillance society.<BR/><BR/>Come the revolution all ex-members of ZanuLabour will get the GPS tracking implanted. Along with the head removing explosive charge.<BR/><BR/>Then we can play Lemmings the fun wayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7483476003149180902008-04-12T16:47:00.000+01:002008-04-12T16:47:00.000+01:00Your parallel with the off-license selling drink i...Your parallel with the off-license selling drink is way off the beam - because that putative offence takes place in the UK. If a UK company pays bribes in Suadi Arabia that's an issue for Saudi law, not UK law.<BR/><BR/>While I'm not completely against the extension of UK law to the rest of the world, I'd like the government to make a start by enforcing UK law in the UK, something they seem to have a major problem with.Labanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12031578024191117985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-69176045825725350512008-04-12T16:32:00.000+01:002008-04-12T16:32:00.000+01:00The regular use by the government of ' in the inte...The regular use by the government of ' in the interests of national security' to justify dubious decisions and policies, and erode freedoms, is a real worry. And all too often, when their decision is questioned, they will not give their reasons for - you guessed it - 'reasons of national security.'<BR/><BR/>'National Security' is becoming a Rogues' Charter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-77394383347761897122008-04-12T16:10:00.000+01:002008-04-12T16:10:00.000+01:00Sorry Iain, I didn't know you were in politics. In...Sorry Iain, I didn't know you were in politics. In what way?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3434385580376158472008-04-12T15:31:00.000+01:002008-04-12T15:31:00.000+01:00"The story of Poole Council in Dorset spying on th...<I>"The story of Poole Council in Dorset spying on the parents of a 3 year old child was on Newsnight last evening.<BR/>I haven,t checked if its Tory run but assumed not otherwise the pro left BBC would have delighted in pointing that out."</I><BR/><BR/><BR/>Poole Council is Conservative controlled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45364787672018824492008-04-12T15:30:00.000+01:002008-04-12T15:30:00.000+01:00I think everyone will be pleased by the tone of th...I think everyone will be pleased by the tone of the judges' remarks on the rule of law, and the way the government seems to have caved in shamelessly in the face of one man's threat does seem a convenient pretext. <BR/><BR/>But I don't think this is an area in which moral absolutes answer every question. I agree (and so did the judges) that it should be lawful to stop an investigation or prosecution on grounds of national security. I think that's what the Tories have agreed with, and if that's the case then I think they're right. My own view (contrary to what seems conventional opinion right now) is that a decision like that should be made by a minister accountable to Parliament - i.e. the Attorney, who'd have to be invented if she didn't exist - and not by an official. <BR/><BR/>And I think it's worth considering other scenarios involving the absolute rule of law vs. other considerations. First, every prosecution has to pass a "public interest" test - I don't think anyone is proposing abolishing that. Second, what about US attempts to extradite British citizens under the one-sided arrangements we have with them, or at least had until recently. Do with think the behaviour of the US authorities should be unbending, and take no account of British attitudes and the risk of our scrapping the treaties?<BR/><BR/>Finally, what about those parents in Poole? If all criminality is always to be pursued no matter what other consequences to the public interest there may be, then Poole certainly should be snooping, shouldn't it?Carl Gardner, Head of Legalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11623620299558039098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11769816161251222032008-04-12T15:24:00.000+01:002008-04-12T15:24:00.000+01:00Spot on in your analysis Iain, and I can't tell yo...Spot on in your analysis Iain, and I can't tell you how much that depresses me.<BR/><BR/>Trouble is, almost everything we want is coupled with an unwanted consequence. Want high value arms deals, but don't want to deal in bribes - tough. Want to catch dole cheats, but don't want covert surveillance - tough. Want a good standard of living, but don't want to generate pollution - tough.<BR/><BR/>I suspect that there is an underlying cause - there are too many people in the world and all the 'slack' in resources is now gone. It was the 'slack' which let people who disliked local conditions move on elsewhere - but as you now find there are very few places to go.<BR/><BR/>Most likely outcome? I guess that in a few years time there will be more and more social unrest in the 'developed' countries, and outright war over water, land or fuel elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>The alternative (that people rein in their appetites) seems too unlikely to be credible. Now you know why I'm depressed.DiscoveredJoyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05300239909689336895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-69190157321087492422008-04-12T15:20:00.001+01:002008-04-12T15:20:00.001+01:00no one either within this country or outside in en...no one either within this country or outside in entitled to interfere with our justice.<BR/><BR/>Does this include,or exclude Brussels?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70271053782754404022008-04-12T15:20:00.000+01:002008-04-12T15:20:00.000+01:00So you don't want an aircraft industry. I was tra...So you don't want an aircraft industry. <BR/><BR/>I was trained in the arts of bribery and corruption working a sales representative in my youth. I didn't like doing it but that is the way that most business works where the customer is not self-employed, or where the customer is a sovereign power in a part of the world where such things are normal.<BR/><BR/>Britain's own government ran like that for centuries, and possibly still pays off more officials etc than we will ever be told.<BR/><BR/>Question - Would you be prepared to forego possession of your beautiful car to achieve your moral ideals?<BR/><BR/>(Thought not!)Tapestryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267094484651413428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-9468089502705143322008-04-12T15:13:00.000+01:002008-04-12T15:13:00.000+01:00I'm not trying to debate you Iain, I'm asking a st...I'm not trying to debate you Iain, I'm asking a straightforward question - where is freer than the UK? I want an answer because I want to move there! I am sick of this government's authoritarian policies and want to move to a country where I'd be freer but unfortunately I can't find one. My name's Timothy Price but I can't see how that's in any way relevant or meaningful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86435622475005270292008-04-12T14:42:00.000+01:002008-04-12T14:42:00.000+01:00Anyone care to define 'the national interest'? Bl...Anyone care to define 'the national interest'? <BR/><BR/>Blair's definition (if he ever had one) seems to have been forgotten, Brown doesn't seem to understand the concept anyway, as for the others on the Government Front Bench - which of them has the slightest idea? <BR/><BR/>All we are left with is Brown's occluded 'vision'.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, at least the judiciary have an inkling. If it was in the interests of 'security' that the inquiry should be abandoned then no doubt the Government will be able to provide chapter and verse on this. They introduced the legislation and, presumably, understood the implications of so doing. <BR/><BR/>Still, 'hoist' and 'petard' come to mind. Which particular genius thought this one up, eh?Unsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307116169498533047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83247677709271404922008-04-12T14:27:00.000+01:002008-04-12T14:27:00.000+01:00My understand is that Poole is Tory controlled, wh...My understand is that Poole is Tory controlled, which I why I find their actions, and explanations even more unacceptable. I would half expect some Labour or Lib-dem zealots to act in this way - but a Tory Council???<BR/><BR/>Come on Dave be explicit in deploring these actions, this council and say what you will do to tighten up matters so the trivial does not get mixed in with the serious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29501751899121529902008-04-12T14:19:00.000+01:002008-04-12T14:19:00.000+01:00Iain. Congrats on this post. My respect for you as...Iain. Congrats on this post. My respect for you as a commentator is on the up given your ticking off of the Conservatives for siding with Labour on this. It's refreshing when a blogger isn't unceasingly partisan (David Boothroyd could learn a lesson from you!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67136248223038600422008-04-12T14:00:00.000+01:002008-04-12T14:00:00.000+01:00Are you Tim Ireland in disguise? Read the above an...Are you Tim Ireland in disguise? Read the above answer. And if you want to enter into a debate, give your name. I do not enjoy debating faceless people.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7244058168909394182008-04-12T13:58:00.000+01:002008-04-12T13:58:00.000+01:00If there's no country in which you'd rather live d...If there's no country in which you'd rather live does that mean that you think Britain is the country that most respects the rule of law Iain?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38708321906176001932008-04-12T13:45:00.000+01:002008-04-12T13:45:00.000+01:00If I wanted to live somewhere else I would do so. ...If I wanted to live somewhere else I would do so. That doesn't prevent me from saying I don;t want to live in a country where this sort of thing happens. Which is exactly why I write and such things and which is why I wanted to go into politics - to change things and make this a better country to live in - one where those in power understand the concept of freedom under the rule of law.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.com