Covering Up Abuse In The Catholic Church

Paedophilia is a "grave sin" the catholic church teaches, so grave accused priests were moved to another parish, while paperwork was buried. Just how many abuses must be reported before they stop being above the law? If you abuse a child you commit a criminal offence and you should face prosecution. It's beyond the pale that the church was not only more concerned for their reputation than protecting children, but church law is still in play with these cases. They are crimes, those priests should be put on trial, not prayed for.

The Rise and Fall of New Labour

The Wardman Wire have posted a video of Liberal Vision’s take on the rise and fall of New Labour. I'm quite surprised by how I felt after watching it, I didn't expect to be so angry and disgusted. Looking over my posts it shouldn't really be a surprise to me. Yet I watched it with a growing sense of it just being so beyond the pale, it's scary that so few can have that amount of power and can do so much damage with it.

You can see it on YouTube here.

A Mountain of Bad News Was Buried Today

26 ministerial statements were released today, timed so the government won't be able to face difficult questions in parliament. I don't even know where to begin with this, it's just uncensored ineptness. On the plus side we are all less likely to be killed by terrorists, after the terrorism warning level was downgraded.

Gordon "Liar" Brown in Cover up on Iraq Inquiry

In a follow up to my post on Brown announcing an inquiry into Iraq, he did it today and it will be completely in private, with the extra slap in the face of Sir Martin Gilbert appointed to the committee, a man who compared Bush and Blair to Roosevelt and Churchill. More disgusting lies from this government, 6 years for that, it's an insult to everyone. I guess reform only happens when it doesn't actually amount to change or discredit anyone. Screw you too Brown.

I'm in the process of contacting numerous campaign groups to see if they will be arranging a protest in response. I'll post on any planned once I know.

Labour Censor

Click on image to enlarge

I was on Youtube and came across Labours official videos and channel. Their election broadcast has been up a week on YouTube and apparently only nine people have commented, all of whom want to vote or will be voting labour (see image above). Gonna85 is particularly interesting they said:

I'm supporting Labour on June 4th; real action for people now.

What make's Gonna85 interesting is they only comment and subscribe to Labour videos. They seem to particularly like Ed Miliband:

Ed Miliband is a great member of the party; he cares and listens. This is a prime example of a government listening and caring for people's needs.

There are other accounts that are very Labour focused, rating on videos are also disabled and clearly comment moderation is on. Doesn't that just tell you everything you need to know about Labour, censor those that don't see through the eye of Labour, that don't realise just how lucky they are to have them in government. As my comment won't be posted I'd post it here instead:

I'm not supporting Labour on June 4th; free speech for people now.

Jacqui Smith Faces Torture Legal Action

Unbelievable, more allegations that our government are out sourcing and being complicit in torture, several cases now and not one of these cowardly politicians will launch an independent investigation.

The home secretary Jacqui Smith faces legal action over allegations that MI5 agents colluded in the torture of a British former civil servant by Bangladeshi intelligence officers.

Lawyers for the British man, Jamil Rahman, are to file a damages claim alleging that Smith was complicit in assault, unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and breaches of human rights legislation over his alleged ill-treatment while detained in Bangladesh. (read article)

I really don't know what's worst the Bush administration or this disgusting government. Leaving the room when someone is being tortured doesn't make it legal or right, it's just averting your eyes when they're being beaten. If MI5 were acting outside the law they need a green light from a MP. If Jacqui Smith signed this off she is complicit in torture, she should face prosecution. Disgusting, how the hell do they sleep at night.

Update: A bit more information on Politics.co.uk:

Jamil Rahman, a former civil servant, gave a false confession during the torture, in which he said he masterminded the 2005 London bombings.

Derek "Admiral" Conway

I knew it was only a matter of time before my already disgraced, whip withdraw MP was in the Telegraph, and there he is in the Sunday sleaze section. Derek Conway or Admiral Conway as he likes to be known after his martyr speech, in which he compared himself to Admiral John Byng. Honest comparison really, as Byng only served on the most comfortable stations, and avoided the more arduous work. Much like Conway who has happily cashed his cheque, while sitting in a safe seat and doing nothing for his constituency.

So as my local hospital closes down and I pray I don't end up having an accident, leaving me bleeding to death before I reach the next nearest. I realise now it must have been difficult finding time to fight to stop it's closure, in-between shopping on the taxpayers credit card and all that travelling back and forth to Northumberland, 330 miles away from the constituency he's meant to represent.

Some people of course would say he's a thieving, cheating, liar who used the fact he had a safe seat to subsidise his life style and line the family pocket, and I agree completely. I wouldn't mind betting that the Tories shouldn't count on it being such a safe seat now.

Speaker Martin - Hypocrite, Amoral and Greedy

When the audacity of these expenses couldn't get worst Michael Martin comes along, to prove why MPs thought it was fine. The man meant to be in "charge" of the commons gave a statement on expenses. He said that MPs should consider 'the spirit of what is right' in their claims. He would know all about that, after all he's only claimed hundreds of thousands on his subsidised life style.

The speaker read his statement from a piece of paper in his emotionless weak voice, that was until Kate Hoey raised a point: doesn't the Metropolitan Police have better things to do than investigate leaks, isn't it an awful waste of money? Good point, why waste police time and more money when you can conduct your own inquiry? Not a legitimate point though for Martin, he became vocal for once about something he does care about, those who criticise him and someone releasing the expense claims before black markers were used on them.

He really does represent what's wrong with the whole system, MPs who are hypocritical, amoral and greedy.

Jacqui Smith DNA Spy

Up to 1 million innocent peoples DNA will be removed from the database, Jacqui Smith said:

there has to be a balance between the need to protect the public and respecting their rights. Based on risks versus benefits, our view is that we can now destroy all samples.

What she's not saying however is the European Court of Human Rights ruled that keeping the samples "could not be regarded as necessary in a democratic society". She has no choice but to comply. Smith can dress it up all she likes but, she cares about as much for civil liberties as most people care for her.

Yet her dishonesty doesn't end there though, after saying she respects the concerns of people with regard to her mega database and U-turning on it. Agent Smith backhandedly created a program called 'Mastering the Internet'. Like something from a James Bond film MTI, has installed black boxes which gather email and internet information on us. The project has been allocated a budget of £1 billion over three years, so it is well past the "possibility" stage. The Times reports it as:

A huge room of super-computers will help the agency to monitor — and record — data passing through black-box probes placed at critical traffic junctions with internet service providers and telephone companies, allowing GCHQ to spy at will.

One of the firms undertaking the work is American, which is particular interest as under USA Patriot Act the data can be requested by the US government. This worry has been raised before with a US firm being awarded the census 2011. Coincidentally the same company.

Update: GCHQ has issued a statement denying any plans to monitor everyone, saying that the project is intended to "enable the organisation keep pace with developments in internet technology."

Jacqui Smith's Data Cost

For a moment I thought Smith might of back tracked for some "degree" of privacy worries. Having done a little web searching, alas no it's money, she reduces the cost of her database from £12bn to £2bn, by pushing the work and costs over to the service providers. The Independent are reporting phone and internet bills may have to rise to pay for collecting and sorting private information. Effectively if the government don't cover all the costs with our tax, we'll pay for it via our phone bills as well and what's the betting that happens.

We don't just stand to be swindled there though, ID cards are also in the spot light, minsters want to cut the unpopular plans as they look for £9bn spending reductions, ID cards are estimated at £5bn cost. Though Computer Weekly has a very interesting post on the costs to us. £650m worth of contracts have been awarded and producing passports and ID Cards aren't so easily separated. As the government intends to regain their cost via us paying for them. Everyone needing an ID card reduces the cost, as it's shared between the whole population. Scraping ID cards means only passports will be used to regain the expense, as not everyone has a passport it could easy be a £200 plus bill for those that re-new and get one. Yet we still stand to get ID cards technology within our passports, unless they cancel the contract.

At least there's one positive point to this recession, it curbs Smith's ability to create database upon database of information on us. Big sister is still watching though, as she raids our piggy banks.

Is it Possible To Have Some Privacy?

Not content with CCTV, DNA databases, monitoring websites sites, stopping us taking photos/filming the police and ID Cards. New Labour have unveiled plans to monitor every one of our phone calls and emails, creating a mega base.

[sarcasm]I'll be the first to admit there clearly is incredible logic and reasoning behind this. By criminalising an entire country, making everyone prove they're not terrorists we can defeat terrorism. We can certainly sleep safe at night knowing the government will store and keep our data safe and sound, we can trust them not to lose it on a bus or train. Just like we can trust they'll always use terrorism laws in a honest way, for our safety, never to snoop. It's impossible that innocent people will be accused and detained under these laws. Unthinkable that the people given these powers will abuse them. I can't think of a single time that has happened. [/sarcasm]

Ian Tomlinson's Death Internal Bleeding

The second post-mortem examination by Dr Cary, concluded that Ian Tomlinson died of abdominal haemorrhage, this over turns the previous verdict of a "heart attack" and "natural causes". A statement from the City of London coroners court said:

Dr Cary's opinion is that the cause of death was abdominal haemorrhage. The cause of the haemorrhage remains to be ascertained. Dr Cary accepts that there is evidence of coronary atherosclerosis but states that in his opinion its nature and extent is unlikely to have contributed to the cause of death.

The police officer that attacked Mr Tomlinson has been interviewed under caution on suspicion of manslaughter.

I hope Sir Paul Stephenson unlike his predecessor, actually uses this as an opportunely to make the clearly necessary changes to the Met. The death of any innocent person at the hands of our police should never be treated with such disgrace, and certainly not covered up.

The answers and information we get over the next couple of weeks, will show whether the Met has another Ian Blair running it. I hope not, yet it's already not looking good.

New Video Of When Police Attack 2

The policeman without his numbers on display is the second officer to be suspended from the Territorial Support Group which prides itself on:

TSG officers are selected on merit, and much emphasis is placed upon their personal ability, motivation and good communication skills.

Indeed he has much to be proud of, well trained, calm under presser, didn't provoke the crowd, communicated well and a woman beater. Just what we expect from our police service.

Michael “Piggy“ Martin and 1 in 10

I have to admit that I really dislike the Commons Speaker Michael Martin, but in one of those irrational ways that everything he does irritates.

However it turns out my irritation wasn't so irrational, as he's been caught doing a "Hoon". While living in a grace-and-favour apartment, he claimed a second-home allowance for his constituency home and rented out his actual second home. He has continued to make annual claims of up to £17,166, though he doesn't have a mortgage claiming for basically living costs, bills, decoration and furniture. You would be forgiven for thinking a salary of £141,000 would cover living costs in Glasgow and a home that's allegedly hardly being used. Alas no not to Martins standards, and these standards don't just apply to his home, he's run up bill of £148,657 for just 11 trips aboard between May 2005 and September 2008.

He isn't alone though, 65 other MP's that's 1 in 10, have raised eyebrows by not living within their means and using tax payers money to subsidies buying homes and renting them out. Interestingly 65 is the amount the Conservatives plan to cut from the total number of MPs in Westminster.

Writing these kind of posts is getting really repetitive, to the point that reading them and writing them is becoming an effort. Yet the alternative is we turn a blind eye and I'm not prepared to accept that. There is something so fundamentally wrong, when MPs think it's fine to use tax payers money to subsidies their income and living standards. As every penny they take to line their pocket is robbed from people who actually need and deserve it, from our nurses, fire fighters, schools and hospitals. It's disgraceful, particularly for the Speaker of the House of Commons whose role is to keep order.

Sleaze Hoon & Smith Parliament Pigs

Jacqui Smith expenses claims are getting more incredible, the Mail are reporting - a barbecue, toothbrush holder, doormat, patio heater and a flatscreen TV. She says - “I've abided both by the letter of the law and by the spirit of the regulations”. Really? Regulations that state claims should only be for items needed to perform your parliamentary duties. You're having a laugh, kitting out your family home is what a salary is for Smithy.

Geoff Hoon is also in the spot light now, having lived rent free in a grace and favour flat when Defence Secretary, he rented out his main home and then claimed taxpayer's money for his “second home” in his constituency. Effectively he makes a choice to buy two homes and claims for the expense, yet again he's saying it's within the rules. These must be the unspoken rules of parliament, they who make laws can break laws.