March 2, 2006
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Well, if Tony Blair says she did nothing wrong then I for one am convinced that Tessa Jowell is an ideal person to have in the Cabinet. Then again, having Blair’s “full confidence” didn’t do Mandelson or Blunkett much good…
March 2, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on £430 million
£430 million and the roof’s still dodgy. Nice work, Scottish devolution types… For future reference, I did woodwork at school for a bit – I could probably knock you up a functional debating chamber for, ooohhh… Let’s say £50k. (Note: … Continue reading
March 1, 2006
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
(Or, On democracy, faction and the future of party) The House of Lords is great: “Elections are still vitally important in holding decision-makers accountable, but that does not mean that every political institution should be elected. We need the addition … Continue reading
February 27, 2006
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
Depressing reading – the latest polling figures on public support for ID cards. 52% still in favour; 60% agree that if you’ve got nothing to hide you’ve got nothing to fear. More promisingly, 63% reject the suggestion that they could … Continue reading
February 25, 2006
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Has Tony Blair been getting ideas from Russia? “The social custom keeping communities in Russia together � krugovaia poruka, or ‘joint responsibility’ � has been used by the authorities as a means of control since Tsarism. In the Soviet period, … Continue reading
February 22, 2006
by Nosemonkey
9 Comments
Banality slips beneath the radar so much more easily than excitement. Call something “The Religious Hatred Bill”, people sit up and take notice. Call it “Administrative” “Legislative” or “Regulatory” something or other, no one notices for hell, and you can … Continue reading
October 17, 2005
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Another load of Blairite EU-nonsense? An attempt to make it look like we’re actually making an effort after the US farm subsides offer and ahead of the WTO meeting this week? Or is this just Prescott picking up his notes … Continue reading
October 7, 2005
by Nosemonkey
7 Comments
So Howard steps aside gracefully, leaving chaos in his wake; Blair clings to power even after saying he’s going to go, breeding resentment and fear respectively among his heir’s and his own supporters; Kennedy faces down his internal opponents and … Continue reading
October 4, 2005
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Heh – via a friendly French reader, Le Monde ponders why, as Gordon may have to wait a while longer to become Prime Minister, doesn’t he go off and save France, Germany and Italy from their disastrous heads of state … Continue reading
September 29, 2005
by Nosemonkey
19 Comments
Arrest Detain an 82 year old under the Terrorism Act for shouting “nonsense” at someone talking nonsense? I’m not sure I can express my views on this without swearing profusely, so I’m, glad other people already have. (Legal explanation, anger … Continue reading
September 9, 2005
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Awwww! Poor Charles Clarke! His massively intrusive plans for poking into every aspect of our insignificant lives seem to have run into a bit of opposition: the European Telecommunications Network Operators’s Association has branded Charlie’s data retention plans illegal, dubbed … Continue reading
September 7, 2005
by Nosemonkey
9 Comments
Charles Clarke’s speech to the European Parliament from this morning (link courtesy of a kindly comment). Apparently the reason some people are wary of the EU is that it “does not appear to give sufficient priority to offering practical solutions … Continue reading
September 5, 2005
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Heads up, people – ID cards propaganda phase two is under way, and it’s starting in the gloomy recesses of the EU where no newspaper ever dares send its reporters. Today the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and … Continue reading
July 28, 2005
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Britain’s future
A vision of Britain’s ID card future – “the more people that say something, anything, anywhere, the better. Making a subset of our fellow citizens feel less than complete members of our society, only causes the words ‘violent backlash’ to … Continue reading