Toby Harris on Boris and Damian Green
It's always refreshing to find a blog that is written by someone with real knowledge of an issue rather than just delivering ill-informed rants (I know I'm often guilty of the latter).
Toby Harris, now in the House of Lords, was previously Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority and continues to serve on it as the Home Secretary’s representative on the Authority to oversee the national and international responsibilities of the Metropolitan Police, primarily its role in counter-terrorism and security. He has posted three really good pieces in recent days about the Damian Green affair, from the perspective of someone who understands how the Met handles such investigations: here, here and here.
posted by Luke Akehurst at 8:12 am
24 Comments:
It could be viewed that the Damian Green affair may raise serious questions regarding the 'heavy hand' of the Police and the State. However this is an argument very much open for debate.
However, it is my view that the Conservatives are over 'inflating' the saga to achieve Party political advantage. To try and paint the Labour Government as 'Stalinist'.
It is with this in mind that although I do believe that Civil Liberties have been substantially eroded over the past decade or so, the Tories are engaging in a highly cynical campaign.
Linked with this affair it is interesting to observe that it has been alleged that the Tory London Mayor Boris Johnson may have been connected to the story.
Since Lukes post mentions Boris, it may be of interest to his readers that it was a central plank of the Tory Mayors campaign that if he won there would be NO MORE TALL BUILDINGS IN LONDON.
Why is it the that the Tory controlled Wandsworth Borough Council with the seal of approval from Boris Johnsons Mayoral office has given planning permission for Minerva to redevelop the Ram Brewery site which as a core feature includes TWO HUGE TOWERS, one being 42 FLOORS and the other 32 FLOORS.
This a total disgrace making a total mockery of Mr Johnsons campaign and merely displays the fact that Boris is more than happy to transform much of predominantly 'Low Rise' London into an identikit 'Manhattan' or 'Hong Kong'.
On this issue Boris Johnson's actions do not match his promise. Disgraceful.
9:39 am, December 05, 2008
It is with this in mind that although I do believe that Civil Liberties have been substantially eroded over the past decade or so, the Tories are engaging in a highly cynical campaign
Agreed, but the same can be said for Labour. To hear the Home Secretary bleating on about leaks being the most appalling crime was beyond satire. Like her party hasn't made use of serial leakers! When the dust settles I think the conclusion will be that the police behaved with supreme stupidity in going in mob handed. The fact that the Tories have exploited this was easily predictable.
12:49 pm, December 05, 2008
Stephen
David Camerons Conservatives appear to be in a state of hysteria about the issue.
It is extremely regrettable that the Party cannot expend so much energy on a campaign and policies to combat the Economic Crisis.
The reason for this is that they dont have any substantive answers. It is all well and good Cameron proposing to give tax breaks to small businesses and incentivising them to take on staff. This is a move I may be inclined - not the specifics proposed - to support. However, for someone who is a free marketeer, he appears not to understand the dynamics of the Market. How can you possibly enable businesses to employ staff if their is no demand for their products??
I am not one of those who falls for the Conservative Party's obsession with 'spinning' almost every story for political capital. They appear to engage in more 'spin' than your average Washing Machine!!
In doing this the Tories are indulging in cynical 'New Conservative' poltics.
The Tories need to get with the times and realise that UK politics has moved on.
On the issue of the Economic Crisis they are trotting out the predictable old Thatcherite tone. Cut taxes only.
"Same old Tories, same old Stories".
In any case what has happened to the Tories previously much touted Social Justice and 'Green' policies??
3:43 pm, December 05, 2008
And you think Toby Harris is well informed...he has very close links with the government and hardly unbiased . And your post doesn't really tell us a lot more than what the papers have already told us.
I have to question the performance of the met on the issue of anti terrorism. There have been serious failings and the most publicized being the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes and the attempt to conspire to corrupt the course of justice by Sir Ian Blair.
Is it any wonder why people are actually very worried by recent events. We wouldn't let the police in our homes without a warrant and they would be very unlikely to even ask for entry without one. So why did the police raid parliament using terror police.
No matter what party governs people should fight to keep their liberties intact. There should be absolute freedom of speech and secrets should only exist if their release threatens our freedom or security. A government should not be allowed to restrict access to information no matter how unpalatable.
A good example was the attempt at the last government to restrict documents that linked BSE in cows to the human equivalent. Dr Lacey was removed from office and ordered to shut up. The reality was the government at the time was too concerned about the impact on the beef industry so they restricted the release of key documents and scientific research that could have saved lives. Should this information be classified under the official secrets act and would a opposition MP risk breaking the law by letting the electorate know the truth? My opinion is that it should not have been kept secret and it is an MPs duty to tell his constituents.
It really is up to you, let this go and we are heading for a police state. Subsequent governments will continue this trend and it will only stop until enough people stand up against it.
8:23 pm, December 05, 2008
Brown
9:30 pm, December 05, 2008
i noticed that 15 youths had been convicted of raping a 14 year old school girl .i bet we can all guess what ethnicity they were. is this what you in the labour party like to call enrichment.i bet the young girl feel and her family feel very enriched by the whole thing .as the bnp leaflet says racism cuts both ways
4:34 pm, December 06, 2008
"i noticed that 15 youths had been convicted of raping a 14 year old school girl .i bet we can all guess what ethnicity they were."
Same as these no doubt
http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2008/11/evil-paedos-are-secret-bnp-thugs_23.html
Prooves, I think, that the British Nazi Party are getting worried.
9:05 pm, December 06, 2008
Luke, can you post a lot more.
Every one you do seems the right-thinking crew are in there embarassing us all.
I can't go canvassing these days without being reminded that the UK economy is about to default and leave us up shitcreek.
For God's sake, what we need is a series of announcements to support our public spending programme through to 2020.
Same old Tories. They care much to much about who's paying. Let it rock, I say.
12:20 am, December 07, 2008
Oh Dear. 3 hours later the Sock Puppets of the Nazi Party have not responded !
Draw yer own conclusions.
BNP = British Nonces Party
12:38 am, December 07, 2008
go on to bnp.org.uk you will find hundreds of labour lib dem and tory councillors on there convicted for sex crimes the labour party and lib dem party are rife with them at least ours are dealt with at court and expelled from the party you lot sweep it all under the carpet and let them stay as members of your parties to continue in thier disgusting behaviour nonces the lot of you .your all kiddie fiddlers.also you lot dont give a monkeys about ethnics your only after their votes if they,re was not many of them you wouldent give a toss at least we are honest in our beliefs
11:17 am, December 07, 2008
Labour Conference 2005
A 92 year old Jewish escapee from the Nazis Walter Wolfgang, Veteran peace campaigner was arrested and Manhandled for shouting non-sense at the Foreign Secretary. I thought this was even worse than the Green Scenario. This was absolutely appalling and shameful way to treat an Old delegate & LP member! These Right Wing NLP have absolute contempt for Peace Campaigners or any One who may be a threat to the Fascist Etonian establishment. Its time for John McDonnell and J Corbyn to take over-So shift out the way sell out Brown?
12:06 pm, December 07, 2008
Peace campaigner like hell, usefull idiot more like it.
GW
12:15 pm, December 07, 2008
Luke
Is it the case that the Civil Servant in question - re: the source of the leaks to Damian Green - a one time Conservative Council Candidate and applied to work for Mr Green???
If this is the case, does this raise the queastion of a Tory activist breaking the sanctity of the 'Impartiality' of the Civil Service and also raise questions as to why this is not being highlighted by the Government?
What approach would the Conservatives take if they were the Government and an active member of the Labour Party in the Civil Service (most notably Central Government) leaked information to the 'Shadow Cabinet'??
mmm.....
4:42 pm, December 07, 2008
BNP are not worried. More popular than ever before, better funded and placed for getting its first parliamentary seat.
It is Labour that is worried, worried because it is under its watch that has seen the biggest growth in BNP support in British history.
Years of positive discrimination and anti British policies are finally taking its toll on NuLabours Britain.
10:24 pm, December 07, 2008
Update on British economy, for all those who doubted last weeks post:
Britain's economy overtaken by France, new figures show
We also have the biggest debt in relation to GDP and the highest taxation and poorer public services.
This is Browns legacy.
10:33 pm, December 07, 2008
Anonymous said... go on to bnp.org.uk you will find hundreds of labour lib dem and tory councillors on there convicted for sex crimes the labour party and lib dem party are rife with them at least ours are dealt with at court and expelled from the party you lot sweep it all under the carpet and let them stay as members of your parties to continue in thier disgusting behaviour nonces the lot of you .your all kiddie fiddlers.also you lot dont give a monkeys about ethnics your only after their votes if they,re was not many of them you wouldent give a toss at least we are honest in our beliefs 11:17 AM, December 07, 2008
One is tempted to question how someone with such limited command of the English language came to join a "Party" that claims pride in its cultural attributes.
12:33 am, December 08, 2008
Rich
Monetary Economies don't mean nothing-its only money-what matters is the spiritual wealth!
But saying that surely the bank share the government have purchased will pick up, after all they were purchased at rock bottom prices. The bank shares will start to pick up, but we must see the balance sheets and see how our tax payers shares are picking up.
All this capitalism is total bureaucracy and its time for a Socialist economy!
12:35 am, December 08, 2008
i might be limited in my command of the english language but that is the product of an education under a labour government .when people start picking on you because of your poor grammar you know you have won the argument and it shows you have nothing else to say but ignorant comments
7:20 am, December 08, 2008
What is the point of voting for the BNP, as its just another boring Tory party. We had BNP policies in the 80's?
France is having a lot of problems over there at the moment. There has been a lot of strikes and demo's in Paris regarding the unpopular Privatisation directives imposed by Brussels. At least the French workers are fighting back, but the French government is trying to brow beat them.
12:33 pm, December 08, 2008
"I might be limited in my command of the english language but that is the product of an education under a labour government .when people start picking on you because of your poor grammar you know you have won the argument and it shows you have nothing else to say but ignorant comments "
No sunshine we ain't picking on you for your spelling 'cos mine ain't too hot either.
We is picking on you for your stupidity !
And that stands out like a beacon.
3:22 pm, December 08, 2008
To the Anonymous stuck up Middle Class Toffee nosed person who criticised poor grammar!
I don't think it was so bad, considering it was after 4 pints of Weston's Scrumpy Organic Cider!
3:41 pm, December 08, 2008
i dont mind you calling me stupid but being a black man i find the term sunshine highly insulting and racist i thought you on the left were above all that
4:18 pm, December 08, 2008
But it could be taken the other way, as Sunshine is Bright and warm?
9:29 pm, December 08, 2008
That's because the French still have their balls intact. We lost ours during Thatcher and then 10 years of Labour false promises meant they have never grown back.
9:35 pm, December 08, 2008
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