Visible arms distribution?
Found this in Hansard from two days ago:
"Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South dated 14 April, which countries his Department considers to have a stricter and more transparent arms exporting system than the UK. [168596]
"Mr. MacShane: The United Kingdom has one of the strictest arms export licensing systems in the world. The Government are not aware of any countries which overall operate a stricter export control policy, other than the case of countries such as Japan, which do not export any military equipment at all. We know of no other country that publicly reports more information on arms exports than the United Kingdom."
Phew, that's alright then.
Or is it?
Last week the Defence Select Committee took evidence from Safer World, Oxfam and Amnesty. But apparently Britain's 'transparent' system doesn't make it any easier to establish whether or not it leads to arms proliferation around the world:
"Q75 Chairman: Thank you, and thank you for your written submissions. They are very helpful indeed. Could I start with what I understand to be one of your key concerns which is increased proliferation, especially small arms but also proliferation more widely. Could you give us any specific examples of concerns you have about British exports leading to proliferation?
"Mr Parker: As human rights and humanitarian organisations our primary concern is around the human cost of proliferation. We also work towards suggesting solutions for the causes of proliferation, and in terms of United Kingdom exports what we would point to is the increased use of open licensing and tying that with the transparency issue in that it is very difficult to get a grip on quite how much equipment is being exported from the United Kingdom under open licences. It is very difficult for us to give you examples of United Kingdom exports leading to proliferation when a glance at the annual report shows open licences to places such as Luxembourg ‑ 91 open licences ‑ for all manner of equipment and we have no idea quite how much is going under those open licences. There is also a vast naval licence covering a huge range of equipment ranging from submarine parts through to general purpose machine guns which appears to have been granted to somewhere in the region of 40 countries but, again, with no indication of the amount of equipment going out under these licences it is very difficult to come to an informed opinion on United Kingdom exports leading to proliferation."
I look forward to seeing the report when it comes out.
Friday, April 30, 2004
Indefinite dispatch service?
I settled down to an evening of telly last night, the first in ages (although I am increasingly developing the sense that I could be better occupied).
A couple of troubling points though: first, who in their right mind ever commissioned the idea of a programme about bailiffs?! Soft and cuddly? Mean and menacing more like! Maybe its an instinctive sense of being opposed to authority, but I tended to sympathise with the people having their cars possessed - although they could have saved themselves a lot of money had they just stumped up the original £50 parking fines.
Second there was the Dispatches report on the Royal Mail. Being a resident of Tower Hamlets, I had almost forgotten the complaints which flowed into the local press last year about dumped, burnt and open post found around the neighbourhood. Last night atleasts one of the individuals who may have been involved in it was shown. But it's certainly making me think twice about sending anything special delivery.
And after having had a Switch card posted to me two years ago which went missing and ran up a few hundred pounds from my account, I've already decided I will only pick them up from the bank.
And then finally to This Week, with Andrew Neil, Diane Abbott and - standing in for Michael Portillo - Ian Duncan Smith. I hope they won't invite the former Tory leader back; even in an informal setting he seemed wooden.
But more worryingly, he seems the kind of man who when confronted with the truth will stick his fingers in his ears, close his eyes and shout, 'I can't hear you'. Otherwise how can you explain his repeated belief that Saddam had WMD despite all evidence to the contrary? No wonder it took the Tories so long to loosen his grip on the leadership.
I settled down to an evening of telly last night, the first in ages (although I am increasingly developing the sense that I could be better occupied).
A couple of troubling points though: first, who in their right mind ever commissioned the idea of a programme about bailiffs?! Soft and cuddly? Mean and menacing more like! Maybe its an instinctive sense of being opposed to authority, but I tended to sympathise with the people having their cars possessed - although they could have saved themselves a lot of money had they just stumped up the original £50 parking fines.
Second there was the Dispatches report on the Royal Mail. Being a resident of Tower Hamlets, I had almost forgotten the complaints which flowed into the local press last year about dumped, burnt and open post found around the neighbourhood. Last night atleasts one of the individuals who may have been involved in it was shown. But it's certainly making me think twice about sending anything special delivery.
And after having had a Switch card posted to me two years ago which went missing and ran up a few hundred pounds from my account, I've already decided I will only pick them up from the bank.
And then finally to This Week, with Andrew Neil, Diane Abbott and - standing in for Michael Portillo - Ian Duncan Smith. I hope they won't invite the former Tory leader back; even in an informal setting he seemed wooden.
But more worryingly, he seems the kind of man who when confronted with the truth will stick his fingers in his ears, close his eyes and shout, 'I can't hear you'. Otherwise how can you explain his repeated belief that Saddam had WMD despite all evidence to the contrary? No wonder it took the Tories so long to loosen his grip on the leadership.
Behind closed doors
So far news reports appear centered on the apparent irony between the American soldiers' mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners in one of Saddam's old prisons.
How long will it be before journalists and commentators start to ask that if this is happening in Iraq, then what else may be happening in Guantanamo and other places where 'enemy combatants' are based?
When the British detainees were released from Cuba I did think some of the statements made by them seemed fanciful at best. Now I'm not so sure.
So far news reports appear centered on the apparent irony between the American soldiers' mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners in one of Saddam's old prisons.
How long will it be before journalists and commentators start to ask that if this is happening in Iraq, then what else may be happening in Guantanamo and other places where 'enemy combatants' are based?
When the British detainees were released from Cuba I did think some of the statements made by them seemed fanciful at best. Now I'm not so sure.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
From pitch to track
Sometimes it's best to leave your childhood heroes behind.
My idol was Tony Lange, who was Aldershot's player of the year in 1987 and 1988; quite exceptional for a goalkeeper. I dreamed of playing like him one day - but my enthusiasm was always greater than my ability.
I had thought he had a bright future in football ahead of him when he left the Shots.
How strange, then to find that he now works for British Rail at Chichester.
The other 'where are they now' biographies make interesting reading as well.
Sometimes it's best to leave your childhood heroes behind.
My idol was Tony Lange, who was Aldershot's player of the year in 1987 and 1988; quite exceptional for a goalkeeper. I dreamed of playing like him one day - but my enthusiasm was always greater than my ability.
I had thought he had a bright future in football ahead of him when he left the Shots.
How strange, then to find that he now works for British Rail at Chichester.
The other 'where are they now' biographies make interesting reading as well.
Too much broth and no Cook
So yesterday my friend Mike and I attended a social democratic love-in on the future of international politics after Iraq at the LSE.
The timing couldn't have been more perfect: with 52 former ambassadors and criticising Mr Tony's foreign policy, one of the speakers was going to be Robin Cook. And given Cook's support for the disgruntled diplomats earlier in the day, it promised to be an interesting evening.
But the bad news. The Government had imposed a three-line whip on its Finance Bill and Cook wasn't able to make it. A loud groan of disappointment echoed around the lecture hall. So we would have to make do with the other three speakers, David Held, Mary Kaldor and Will Hutton.
While I agree with much of the observations made by these centre-left individuals, my hackles were raised by their assumption that not only did they agree with each other, but that everyone in the room agreed with their views. And what right does Hutton have to claim that the centre-left alone stands for 'progressive politics'? Not only is it arrogant to assume the left has all the best ideas, but it still buys into the implicit statement that human activity is on a linear trajectory which can only go forward.
Of most interest was Mary Kaldor and her view that democracy can't be imposed by war or from above - something I argued in a roundabout fashion the other week. She also pointed out that with the traditional military approach in place, a hierarchy of most to least valuable lives are created during the recent war and ongoing low-level conflict which was not compatible with the rhetoric of human rights and democracy.
She argued for a shift towards a more police-centered approach in Iraq - her assumption being that the police tend to treat all individuals equally and make no distinction between them and us, since they operate within a framework of rules; by contrast the state of war makes a distinction and generally suspends everyday rules.
I don't think she's entirely right though; tell that to the residents of Rio's favelas, whose experience of policing is hardly likely to equate with that of Kaldor's.
But even Kaldor's policing approach alone won't bring peace to Iraq; and while all speakers agreed the US-British coalition should be succeeded by a broader grouping, under the control of the UN, they recognised the tainted image that organisation currently has in Iraq.
Ultimately the panelists offered no easy answers - no surprise there then. The questions were generally desultory and Mike and I had the good sense to repair to the bar for what was the real scandal of the evening - a £3.10 pint.
Just as a few years ago the £5 pack of fags seemed likely, I am now starting to think I may need to start taking a mortgage out before I go out to the pub.
So yesterday my friend Mike and I attended a social democratic love-in on the future of international politics after Iraq at the LSE.
The timing couldn't have been more perfect: with 52 former ambassadors and criticising Mr Tony's foreign policy, one of the speakers was going to be Robin Cook. And given Cook's support for the disgruntled diplomats earlier in the day, it promised to be an interesting evening.
But the bad news. The Government had imposed a three-line whip on its Finance Bill and Cook wasn't able to make it. A loud groan of disappointment echoed around the lecture hall. So we would have to make do with the other three speakers, David Held, Mary Kaldor and Will Hutton.
While I agree with much of the observations made by these centre-left individuals, my hackles were raised by their assumption that not only did they agree with each other, but that everyone in the room agreed with their views. And what right does Hutton have to claim that the centre-left alone stands for 'progressive politics'? Not only is it arrogant to assume the left has all the best ideas, but it still buys into the implicit statement that human activity is on a linear trajectory which can only go forward.
Of most interest was Mary Kaldor and her view that democracy can't be imposed by war or from above - something I argued in a roundabout fashion the other week. She also pointed out that with the traditional military approach in place, a hierarchy of most to least valuable lives are created during the recent war and ongoing low-level conflict which was not compatible with the rhetoric of human rights and democracy.
She argued for a shift towards a more police-centered approach in Iraq - her assumption being that the police tend to treat all individuals equally and make no distinction between them and us, since they operate within a framework of rules; by contrast the state of war makes a distinction and generally suspends everyday rules.
I don't think she's entirely right though; tell that to the residents of Rio's favelas, whose experience of policing is hardly likely to equate with that of Kaldor's.
But even Kaldor's policing approach alone won't bring peace to Iraq; and while all speakers agreed the US-British coalition should be succeeded by a broader grouping, under the control of the UN, they recognised the tainted image that organisation currently has in Iraq.
Ultimately the panelists offered no easy answers - no surprise there then. The questions were generally desultory and Mike and I had the good sense to repair to the bar for what was the real scandal of the evening - a £3.10 pint.
Just as a few years ago the £5 pack of fags seemed likely, I am now starting to think I may need to start taking a mortgage out before I go out to the pub.
Towards a car-free environment?
The Norman Baker anti-car campaign takes another turn this week.
Not content with raising the tax on 4X4s and stopping them being used on the school run, Norman's now asking questions about the advertisement of car speeds in Monday's Hansard:
'Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to prevent car advertisements from referring to maximum speed levels achievable where these are in excess of the national speed limit. [167766]
Mr. Timms: The rules under Section 48 of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code already provide such safeguards for motoring advertising.
Section 48.3 states:
"Marketers should not portray speed in a way that might encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly or to break the law and should not condone irresponsible driving."
Section 48.2 states:
"Marketers should not make speed or acceleration claims the predominant message of their marketing communications. However it is legitimate to give general information about a vehicle's performance such as acceleration and mid-range statistics, braking power, road-holding and top speed."
The Norman Baker anti-car campaign takes another turn this week.
Not content with raising the tax on 4X4s and stopping them being used on the school run, Norman's now asking questions about the advertisement of car speeds in Monday's Hansard:
'Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to prevent car advertisements from referring to maximum speed levels achievable where these are in excess of the national speed limit. [167766]
Mr. Timms: The rules under Section 48 of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code already provide such safeguards for motoring advertising.
Section 48.3 states:
"Marketers should not portray speed in a way that might encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly or to break the law and should not condone irresponsible driving."
Section 48.2 states:
"Marketers should not make speed or acceleration claims the predominant message of their marketing communications. However it is legitimate to give general information about a vehicle's performance such as acceleration and mid-range statistics, braking power, road-holding and top speed."
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Tubes, parties and budgets
The Lib Dem manifesto for London has been published and finally I no longer need to tap my nose whenever anyone has asked me what was in it.
There are some really good things in it and I'm pleased that some of my points were taken onboard.
The proposal to extend tube hours till 2am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings is a brilliant idea and should help demonstrate the Lib Dems are the 'young peoples' party - now all they have to do if they really want it is get off the sofa and vote!
And I'm pleased to see the original suggestion to support a broad programme of cultural events from the city's diverse communities struck a chord; there was a danger in the early drafts that the usual suspects - the Irish and Asians - would hoover up all the attention. I'm pleased that my intervention at regional conference about the need to pay attention to smaller groups - specifically the Latin Americans - was expressly noted.
I think my comment that if the London-based Irish should have a St Patrick's Day parade, then why not a Carnaval event with the Brazilian community? I think the image cheered many of the delegates and the explicit reference to the various Latin American communities made their way in.
And finally although many people will not notice it, Simon is now committed to the 'Londoner's Choice', whereby the public will be able to decide how £1m should be spent betweenthreee projects proposed by the Assembly.
Perhaps it's the policy wonk in me, but I can only muster two cheers for this policy. It's doesn't deliver what I want in its entirety - that of participatory budgeting which is carried out in Porto Alegre and other Brazilian cities - but at least it's a start. And now it's been committed to, it can be tailored and improved upon in later documents.
What do you think of the manifesto and its policies? Let me know.
The Lib Dem manifesto for London has been published and finally I no longer need to tap my nose whenever anyone has asked me what was in it.
There are some really good things in it and I'm pleased that some of my points were taken onboard.
The proposal to extend tube hours till 2am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings is a brilliant idea and should help demonstrate the Lib Dems are the 'young peoples' party - now all they have to do if they really want it is get off the sofa and vote!
And I'm pleased to see the original suggestion to support a broad programme of cultural events from the city's diverse communities struck a chord; there was a danger in the early drafts that the usual suspects - the Irish and Asians - would hoover up all the attention. I'm pleased that my intervention at regional conference about the need to pay attention to smaller groups - specifically the Latin Americans - was expressly noted.
I think my comment that if the London-based Irish should have a St Patrick's Day parade, then why not a Carnaval event with the Brazilian community? I think the image cheered many of the delegates and the explicit reference to the various Latin American communities made their way in.
And finally although many people will not notice it, Simon is now committed to the 'Londoner's Choice', whereby the public will be able to decide how £1m should be spent betweenthreee projects proposed by the Assembly.
Perhaps it's the policy wonk in me, but I can only muster two cheers for this policy. It's doesn't deliver what I want in its entirety - that of participatory budgeting which is carried out in Porto Alegre and other Brazilian cities - but at least it's a start. And now it's been committed to, it can be tailored and improved upon in later documents.
What do you think of the manifesto and its policies? Let me know.
All kitted out and nowhere to go
Oh dear. Am I the only one who sees Lula's proposal to double the army intake to 100,000 this year with many of those numbers coming from the favelas as a quick fix?
Lula's pulling out all the standard and stock reasons given by those who support military service: instill discipline, love of country and the rest. But what about the consequences of such a policy? If the aim of the policy is to get kids off the streets and away from the drug trade, is it wise to teach them how to more effectively use firearms? Especially if there are no jobs to go to once their tour of duty is over.
Until that is thought through, Lula's proposal smacks of desperation - and a quick headline during a period of political crisis following the allegations of bribery by a government official two years ago.
My views on military service are already known to those who are interested in them - come to think of it, I still haven't yet been to the consulate this year.
What do you think? Let me know.
Oh dear. Am I the only one who sees Lula's proposal to double the army intake to 100,000 this year with many of those numbers coming from the favelas as a quick fix?
Lula's pulling out all the standard and stock reasons given by those who support military service: instill discipline, love of country and the rest. But what about the consequences of such a policy? If the aim of the policy is to get kids off the streets and away from the drug trade, is it wise to teach them how to more effectively use firearms? Especially if there are no jobs to go to once their tour of duty is over.
Until that is thought through, Lula's proposal smacks of desperation - and a quick headline during a period of political crisis following the allegations of bribery by a government official two years ago.
My views on military service are already known to those who are interested in them - come to think of it, I still haven't yet been to the consulate this year.
What do you think? Let me know.
Monday, April 26, 2004
They 'mayor' be positioning themselves
Interesting news afoot in the world of would-be mayors. Simon (yes, he at the Bangladeshi wedding), supposedly failed to scotch any rumours of a potential leadership bid after the mayoral campaign in today's Independent.
Meanwhile across the Atlantic the Workers Party is to choose its candidate for mayor of Rio, ahead of October's elections. The Folha de Sao Paulo suggests Jorge Bittar may get it; but where is Benedita da Silva? She's been vice-governor of the state and was a minister in Lula's government until it was revealed she had some dodgy financial dealings last year. But despite that, she still retains some support in the party.
What do you think? Let me know.
Interesting news afoot in the world of would-be mayors. Simon (yes, he at the Bangladeshi wedding), supposedly failed to scotch any rumours of a potential leadership bid after the mayoral campaign in today's Independent.
Meanwhile across the Atlantic the Workers Party is to choose its candidate for mayor of Rio, ahead of October's elections. The Folha de Sao Paulo suggests Jorge Bittar may get it; but where is Benedita da Silva? She's been vice-governor of the state and was a minister in Lula's government until it was revealed she had some dodgy financial dealings last year. But despite that, she still retains some support in the party.
What do you think? Let me know.
Unholy BNP-Bangladeshi alliance?
Imagine my surprise when, turning up at the Bangladeshi wedding, I saw a table had been reserved for the BNP. What possible reasons could there be for a bunch of fascists to attend such an event?
Only, it wasn't them. It was representatives of the Bangladeshi National Party in Britain.
It reminded me of the time a few years ago when a bunch of anarchists broke into a London hotel and smashed up a room reserved for a meeting of the BNP - except that time it was the Banque Nationale de Paris.
Imagine my surprise when, turning up at the Bangladeshi wedding, I saw a table had been reserved for the BNP. What possible reasons could there be for a bunch of fascists to attend such an event?
Only, it wasn't them. It was representatives of the Bangladeshi National Party in Britain.
It reminded me of the time a few years ago when a bunch of anarchists broke into a London hotel and smashed up a room reserved for a meeting of the BNP - except that time it was the Banque Nationale de Paris.
Gonna get married... Sorry, elected
Onto Lib Dem stuff yesterday, I swapped the streets of Mile End for a big event in the Bangladeshi community.
The son of on of our prominent party members was getting married and I was invited to attend. Thank God it didn't go on for ten days though! But unknowingly, I turned up way before everyone else and had to wait an hour before people slowly started to arrive.
Having never been to a Bangladeshi wedding before, I wasn't sure what to expect. The bride and groom each arrived separately with their retinue, both dressed in indigenous clothing fancier than you'll see on the Whitechapel Road on a regular Monday morning. Oddly though, neither seemed particularly happy, although I was informed this was because weddings are a solemn occasion.
Similarly, the actual 'ceremony' passed me by; the men on stage listened to some readings from the Quran, read by the imam from Brick Lane mosque and the groom was asked if he accepted the pre-arranged oath offered by his bride. So by the time the bride arrived they were already married.
I was sat at one of the most prominent tables, along with some of Lib Dem councillors, Jonathan Fryer our European Parliament candidate and later Simon Hughes, the mayoral candidate. As well as councillors from Labour, community activists and the London-based Bangladeshi press and media were there as well. Simon was even called on stage to say a few words, although pleasingly he kept all politics out of it.
One of our local activists told me that unlike the sub-continent, arranged marriages in London tend to be more informal, with a family member knowing another family who has a son or daughter seeking to get married; there aren't as many professional match-makers yet. But this is slowly changing.
While arranged marriages seem to work, he told me that when they fail it's usually because the young people - especially the women - feel inhibited from speaking to their parents and elders about what they want and expect from a match. These young Bangladeshi women, many of whom are graduates and confident outside the home, can be shy and inhibited behind the family's front door.
And yet aspects of Bangladeshi society are changing. According to one of our councillors, it is becoming more common at events like these for men and women to sit together; a few years ago there would have been segregation.
Onto Lib Dem stuff yesterday, I swapped the streets of Mile End for a big event in the Bangladeshi community.
The son of on of our prominent party members was getting married and I was invited to attend. Thank God it didn't go on for ten days though! But unknowingly, I turned up way before everyone else and had to wait an hour before people slowly started to arrive.
Having never been to a Bangladeshi wedding before, I wasn't sure what to expect. The bride and groom each arrived separately with their retinue, both dressed in indigenous clothing fancier than you'll see on the Whitechapel Road on a regular Monday morning. Oddly though, neither seemed particularly happy, although I was informed this was because weddings are a solemn occasion.
Similarly, the actual 'ceremony' passed me by; the men on stage listened to some readings from the Quran, read by the imam from Brick Lane mosque and the groom was asked if he accepted the pre-arranged oath offered by his bride. So by the time the bride arrived they were already married.
I was sat at one of the most prominent tables, along with some of Lib Dem councillors, Jonathan Fryer our European Parliament candidate and later Simon Hughes, the mayoral candidate. As well as councillors from Labour, community activists and the London-based Bangladeshi press and media were there as well. Simon was even called on stage to say a few words, although pleasingly he kept all politics out of it.
One of our local activists told me that unlike the sub-continent, arranged marriages in London tend to be more informal, with a family member knowing another family who has a son or daughter seeking to get married; there aren't as many professional match-makers yet. But this is slowly changing.
While arranged marriages seem to work, he told me that when they fail it's usually because the young people - especially the women - feel inhibited from speaking to their parents and elders about what they want and expect from a match. These young Bangladeshi women, many of whom are graduates and confident outside the home, can be shy and inhibited behind the family's front door.
And yet aspects of Bangladeshi society are changing. According to one of our councillors, it is becoming more common at events like these for men and women to sit together; a few years ago there would have been segregation.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Random thought on a Friday
Given the point of the monarchy is to propagate itself, could we have a gay king?
If either of my two readers have any ideas, then please email me.
Given the point of the monarchy is to propagate itself, could we have a gay king?
If either of my two readers have any ideas, then please email me.
Boxing them in - for our sake rather than ours
Yesterday it was the generals. Today it's the turn of the politicians. More specifically those who voted in favour of a £1.5m glass screen to protect themselves from 'terrorist attack'.
First, since when did a glass screen cost that much? I know some fitters in Bethnal Green who could gladly do it for less than that.
But why do they even need it? Anyone who enters Parliament has to run the gamut of an X-ray machine and body search by the armed policemen at the door. If you can't find a suspicious looking phial with anthrax there it says a lot about your security.
Some good points were made during the debate which showed up thepointlessnesss of the measure; if there was a threat, one asked why the committee rooms did not also have glass screens put in the them, since the public can attend those meetings too; another asked how this was supposed to protect MPs in Central Lobby, where politicians and public can freely mingle.
But others deserve opprobrium. Stand up Oliver Heald, who said "The threat is immediate, and we need the screen now."
Oh really? It's been two and a half years since the anthrax scares in the US Congress - and to my knowledge not one case hasoccurredd here.
There was also a suggestion made which was overlooked:
"Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): Does the Leader of the House agree that this is the appropriate time in the ongoing review of the security of the Palace of Westminster to address once and for all the ownership of Parliament square, and to look to ways of bringing that within the parliamentary estate and the world heritage site? It is my contention and that of others that one cannot properly secure what is inside if one has not secured what is outside.
Mr. Hain: The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. The matter has been discussed with the Security Servic. I myself have discussed it and it will no doubt form an important part of the review."
Certain MPs have become fed up by the protestors and demonstrations taking place on Parliament Square over the last year and a half. Some would like them moved on. I just hope the Government's willingness to review the status of the square (currently a glorified roundabout) won't result in them turfing them off. A real win for democracy there!
Sometimes I think our MPs have too much time on their hands and not enough to do. So they dream up ideas like this. But then perhaps the screen is not to protect them from us, but rather the other way around.
What do you think? let me know.
Yesterday it was the generals. Today it's the turn of the politicians. More specifically those who voted in favour of a £1.5m glass screen to protect themselves from 'terrorist attack'.
First, since when did a glass screen cost that much? I know some fitters in Bethnal Green who could gladly do it for less than that.
But why do they even need it? Anyone who enters Parliament has to run the gamut of an X-ray machine and body search by the armed policemen at the door. If you can't find a suspicious looking phial with anthrax there it says a lot about your security.
Some good points were made during the debate which showed up thepointlessnesss of the measure; if there was a threat, one asked why the committee rooms did not also have glass screens put in the them, since the public can attend those meetings too; another asked how this was supposed to protect MPs in Central Lobby, where politicians and public can freely mingle.
But others deserve opprobrium. Stand up Oliver Heald, who said "The threat is immediate, and we need the screen now."
Oh really? It's been two and a half years since the anthrax scares in the US Congress - and to my knowledge not one case hasoccurredd here.
There was also a suggestion made which was overlooked:
"Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): Does the Leader of the House agree that this is the appropriate time in the ongoing review of the security of the Palace of Westminster to address once and for all the ownership of Parliament square, and to look to ways of bringing that within the parliamentary estate and the world heritage site? It is my contention and that of others that one cannot properly secure what is inside if one has not secured what is outside.
Mr. Hain: The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. The matter has been discussed with the Security Servic. I myself have discussed it and it will no doubt form an important part of the review."
Certain MPs have become fed up by the protestors and demonstrations taking place on Parliament Square over the last year and a half. Some would like them moved on. I just hope the Government's willingness to review the status of the square (currently a glorified roundabout) won't result in them turfing them off. A real win for democracy there!
Sometimes I think our MPs have too much time on their hands and not enough to do. So they dream up ideas like this. But then perhaps the screen is not to protect them from us, but rather the other way around.
What do you think? let me know.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Building a coalition against terror... and for profits
I should admit now that I only read through the Parliamentary record, Hansard, for work reasons. But every once in awhile I come across something which deserves to be plucked out from the usual Government non-answers.
And to think that bringing in Libya from the cold was just for their betterment. Silly me!
"Mr. Mike O'Brien: The positive developments in the bilaterial relationship have led to a significant increase in the level of interest from UK companies wishing to do business in Libya. We believe that opportunities exist for UK firms in a number of sectors, including oil and gas, airports, education and training, ports and logistics and tourism."
I should admit now that I only read through the Parliamentary record, Hansard, for work reasons. But every once in awhile I come across something which deserves to be plucked out from the usual Government non-answers.
And to think that bringing in Libya from the cold was just for their betterment. Silly me!
"Mr. Mike O'Brien: The positive developments in the bilaterial relationship have led to a significant increase in the level of interest from UK companies wishing to do business in Libya. We believe that opportunities exist for UK firms in a number of sectors, including oil and gas, airports, education and training, ports and logistics and tourism."
Myopic generals
The short sightedness of our military sometimes staggers me.
Yesterday the Independent reported that the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Michael Walker, said that "we would not see ourselves engaging in an inter-state conflict on our own."
Don't they remember the Falklands? When Ronnie Reagan, Maggie's close friend, tried to derail the British road to war?
And what about this recent statement by Bill Rammell, a Foreign Office minister at the end of March:
"On 15 and 16 March 2004 the Argentine naval Icebreaker, Almirante Irizar sailed through the Falklands outer conservation zone and the Falklands interim conservation zone. These are areas for which the Falkland Islands Government issues fishing licences. During the time that it was inside these zones, the Argentine vessel was challenging other vessels to identify themselves. While transit of the conservation zones is permissible, the policing of the zones by a foreign vessel contravenes the Falkland Islands exclusive jurisdiction.
"We asked the Argentine Government for an explanation of the vessel's actions. Their response was not satisfactory. We have therefore made a formal protest to the Argentine Government concerning the actions of the Almirante Irizar, underlining the need to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again. This note also reiterated that HMG has no doubts about UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands."
Do our generals really think the Americans would join us on a shooting exercise in the South Atlantic? Although war should always be the last option, it does seem a little misguided to put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to military planning.
What do you think? Let me know.
The short sightedness of our military sometimes staggers me.
Yesterday the Independent reported that the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Michael Walker, said that "we would not see ourselves engaging in an inter-state conflict on our own."
Don't they remember the Falklands? When Ronnie Reagan, Maggie's close friend, tried to derail the British road to war?
And what about this recent statement by Bill Rammell, a Foreign Office minister at the end of March:
"On 15 and 16 March 2004 the Argentine naval Icebreaker, Almirante Irizar sailed through the Falklands outer conservation zone and the Falklands interim conservation zone. These are areas for which the Falkland Islands Government issues fishing licences. During the time that it was inside these zones, the Argentine vessel was challenging other vessels to identify themselves. While transit of the conservation zones is permissible, the policing of the zones by a foreign vessel contravenes the Falkland Islands exclusive jurisdiction.
"We asked the Argentine Government for an explanation of the vessel's actions. Their response was not satisfactory. We have therefore made a formal protest to the Argentine Government concerning the actions of the Almirante Irizar, underlining the need to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again. This note also reiterated that HMG has no doubts about UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands."
Do our generals really think the Americans would join us on a shooting exercise in the South Atlantic? Although war should always be the last option, it does seem a little misguided to put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to military planning.
What do you think? Let me know.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Putting my stick in
So now it's official - our youngest brother has been picked out to represent Brazil's field hockey team at the Pan-American championship next month.
Although he's not the only one to be coming from outside the country, he is the only one to be based in Europe. I anticipate an entourage of Burtons making the journey over to Canada to cheer from the sidelines.
But if any sportswriter offers to write your biography, Hugo, make sure you say some positive things about your eldest brother!
So now it's official - our youngest brother has been picked out to represent Brazil's field hockey team at the Pan-American championship next month.
Although he's not the only one to be coming from outside the country, he is the only one to be based in Europe. I anticipate an entourage of Burtons making the journey over to Canada to cheer from the sidelines.
But if any sportswriter offers to write your biography, Hugo, make sure you say some positive things about your eldest brother!
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
The Coalition of the Willing - Minus One More
Since when exactly did Honduras declare war on Iraq?
And what exactly is Micronesia, Nicaragua, Tonga and the Solomon Islands bringing to the 'party' in Iraq?
I wonder what the US aid budgets for these countries are for this year?
What do you think? Let me know.
Since when exactly did Honduras declare war on Iraq?
And what exactly is Micronesia, Nicaragua, Tonga and the Solomon Islands bringing to the 'party' in Iraq?
I wonder what the US aid budgets for these countries are for this year?
What do you think? Let me know.
Monday, April 19, 2004
British immigration checks to start in Brazil?
Some interesting news from the London section of the PT (Partido dos Trabalhadores) this weekend. The Jornal do Brasil recently published an article on a new campaign being spearheaded by the British government to reduce the number of illegal Brazilian immigrants.
Latest figures show the number of illegals entering the UK rose by 60% between 2001 and 2002, to 2400.
The British says there's still much more work to be done to understand the relationship between the two countries, but apparently he knows the majority come from Minas Gerais, Londrina and Goias.
This comes in the wake of Britain's decision to station immigration officials at the Eurostar terminal in Brussels last week. Is it flippant to imagine whether British officials will now also be winging their way to the bus stations and airports in there places in a bid to stop them making their way to England?
What do you think? Let me know.
Some interesting news from the London section of the PT (Partido dos Trabalhadores) this weekend. The Jornal do Brasil recently published an article on a new campaign being spearheaded by the British government to reduce the number of illegal Brazilian immigrants.
Latest figures show the number of illegals entering the UK rose by 60% between 2001 and 2002, to 2400.
The British says there's still much more work to be done to understand the relationship between the two countries, but apparently he knows the majority come from Minas Gerais, Londrina and Goias.
This comes in the wake of Britain's decision to station immigration officials at the Eurostar terminal in Brussels last week. Is it flippant to imagine whether British officials will now also be winging their way to the bus stations and airports in there places in a bid to stop them making their way to England?
What do you think? Let me know.
Avoiding asking for votes and hot towels
I'm slightly Lib Dem-ed out.
Last Thursday I helped survey some of the estates north of Old Ford Road. Surveying is always much more preferable to canvassing, since you don't have to actually ask people how they're planning on voting.
Then on Friday (Friday!), we selected our Parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow. Fiyaz Mughal, the chair of the Ethnic Minority Lib Dems won on the first round. I'm sure he'll do a good job in what is a constituency with a strong ethnically diverse community.
I had to make a short speech as well while they counted the votes; I felt rather like the hot towels that come between the main course and dessert.
Saturday I went leafletting around the estates south of where I live in Bethnal Green. It felt slightly odd distributing campaign material with my picture on them. As a candidate, I can no longer hide behind the relative cloak on anonymity which comes from just being a campaign worker!
And on Sunday we were supposed to do some leaflet delivery in Newham, but the chair's illness and the rain put paid to that Probably just as well, since I needed a break and Sunday lunch with friends in Dulwich seemed more appealing!
I'm slightly Lib Dem-ed out.
Last Thursday I helped survey some of the estates north of Old Ford Road. Surveying is always much more preferable to canvassing, since you don't have to actually ask people how they're planning on voting.
Then on Friday (Friday!), we selected our Parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow. Fiyaz Mughal, the chair of the Ethnic Minority Lib Dems won on the first round. I'm sure he'll do a good job in what is a constituency with a strong ethnically diverse community.
I had to make a short speech as well while they counted the votes; I felt rather like the hot towels that come between the main course and dessert.
Saturday I went leafletting around the estates south of where I live in Bethnal Green. It felt slightly odd distributing campaign material with my picture on them. As a candidate, I can no longer hide behind the relative cloak on anonymity which comes from just being a campaign worker!
And on Sunday we were supposed to do some leaflet delivery in Newham, but the chair's illness and the rain put paid to that Probably just as well, since I needed a break and Sunday lunch with friends in Dulwich seemed more appealing!
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