It is now four days and three postal deliveries since the FCO emailed me saying that they were sending me the Gould/Werritty diary entries by post, together with a covering letter – and something else of which the very existence is explosive news. But still, this has not actually arrived.
I know that there has been a massive argument going on in the FCO about what I am legally entitled to receive under the Freedom of Information Act, and just how much they are revealing by adding the additional bits of information. I cannot believe that they are going, even now, to resile from the commitment they made to me to send the documents, and I can only imagine there is continuing haggling over what can be redacted.
I have not succeeded yet, but I must say I am happily surprised that there is still enough of the rule of law left in this country for those within the FCO to prevail who were arguing that the FCO had to comply with its legal obligation and release the material. There were those who wanted the material simply to be quietly destroyed. I know names, and those will also follow later. I suspect this new, after the last minute, extra delay means there will be extra redaction in the material.
No wonder the arch-liar Gus O’Donnel as he left his job was arguing for the castration of the Freedom of Information Act. He has a great deal to hide.
You would think they have something to hide, that couldn`t possibly be…could it?.
What is the penalty for not complying with a freedom of information act?
I think, Craig, it might be in your interests to step back and take a deep breath, before you publish the material, in case the build-up raises expectations to such a height that nothing you pull out of your hat can live up to what people have been led to expect, and people can be cruel when they are disappionted and feel let down. Still, I’m sure you know what you’re doing.
Let us hope there exist the rule of law, and it will hold sway in this case.
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Although, redactions that you refer to, are in fact a cover for rogue agents, engaged in their clandestine sabotage of whatever hints of accountability that as yet remain. Secrecy is the domain of thieves, brigands, thugs and ne’er do well’s, that can hardly be justified in any modern society.
Craig, you are not alone
http://www.firmmagazine.com/news/2354/Exclusive%3A_Crown_Office_keep_FOI_Commissioner_waiting_5_months_for_info_on_Angiolini%E2%80%99s_legal_bills_against_the_media_.html
This as well
(http://www.firmmagazine.com/news/2764/FOI_success_%22undermined%22_by_authorities%2C_says_outgoing_Commissioner.html)
Writerman,
Remember I haven’t seen it yet. But there is a reason that, even if this material itself is deadly dull, the fact of its existence is vastly incriminating. I could reveal why that is now, but it will be easier to explain once I have the material.
Royal Mail can be slow, especially if someone else has to look at it first. If it arrives in a see-through envelope, with a message that it has been opened by the Royal Mail, that is a legitimate practice. I’ve had a few of these in the past. But I used to get a lot more where the packaging had been blatantly opened without explanation. It seems to have stopped recently.
The worst that might happen if they flaunt the FOI Act is a slap on the wrist from the Information Commissioner about a year down the line. I don’t preclude that there might be some conscientious and law-abiding staff at the FCO, though. However you are entitled to ask for an explanation of the redactions one by one, Craig.
Craig, why you?, the newspapers should be pursuing this story!, the fact they are not tells us all as to the state were in!. Chilling.
They wouldn’t be arguing about whether they can redact information in the UK on the basis of Israel’s national security, would they?
“if they flaunt the FOI Act is a slap on the wrist from the Information Commissioner about a year down the line.”
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Tony, you are correct
http://www.firmmagazine.com/news/2764/FOI_success_%22undermined%22_by_authorities%2C_says_outgoing_Commissioner.html
Craig, I wish you a long and happy life.
Great work, Craig. Take care!
Tony, but if they disregard the FOI act, they can’t really complain if someone leaks the same material, can they?
I think an individual can get a criminal conviction and £5,000 fine, for deliberately ignoring/obstructing requests under the act.
“ignoring/obstructing”
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As you know Craig, its all about interpretation of the two above words, in such cases the government interpretation is the one and only interpretation deemed to be the right one!.
who would have reckoned with a go slow by posties, tut tut, maybe you should offer to pick them up next time your in London Craig.
Norfolk is still under snow and young Chloe, our favourite up and coming new hopefull with a broken toe, is meting people in the pub. Fancy a pint Craig? 🙂
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/broken_toe_will_not_prevent_norwich_north_mp_chloe_smith_s_latest_politics_in_the_pub_event_1_1199099
MerkinOnParis, similar comments have occasionally been taken as veiled threats; I hope you aren’t covering up for these twats.
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All, the above is a joke. If you don’t get it, look up the word “merkin” and/or “twat”.
Hi Clark, MOP was taken as a name after careful consideration of its meaning.
As regards the other, both Salmond and Murray are thorns which the government would love to pluck. Let’s hope they are not successful in this Olympic year when pretexts for the invasion of Iran are plentiful.
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/11/23/1322082592083/Cabinet-Secretary-Sir-Gus-008.jpg
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Would you buy a used car from this spiv?
‘I wish you a long and happy life’ sounds like a Jewish saying.
Craig
Should it not be the task of LibDem members of the Coalition to ensure that no Ministers in the Coalition are allowed to get away with emasculating/ ignoring the letter and spirit of the FOIA? It reflects, after all, what were LibDem values and commitments. There ought to be plenty of Labour supporters of FOIA, especially on the topic of your request, even though Tony Blair latterly did all
he could to strangle the Act when enough of it survived its long gestation to be an obstacle to his elitist anti-democratic way of doing politics.
Clark,
What is the use of An artificial hairpiece for the pudendum; a pubic wig? or a merkin in another word?
“What is the use of An artificial hairpiece for the pudendum; a pubic wig? or a merkin in another word?”
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What…aint you ever slipped and grazed your knee on astroturf Fedup??…:.)
Fedup, in general, I haven’t a clue. The concept seems rather outdated, with the current fashion for “Brazilians” and “unwanted hair”. I’m rather amused at the thought of someone’s collection of these objects, maybe hanging pegged to a washing line or displayed for selection on a mantelpiece. Like Tribbles from Star Trek, maybe. But our very own Merkin (on Paris) is a very helpful contributor to the threads.
From what oi read, merkins were pubic wigs used in Georgian times, to disguise a lack of real pubic hair, lost after the use of mercury ‘cures’ for syphilis. So apt for substituting for the word ‘American’?
Jives,
Your remark brought back memories of getting the knees not so much as grazed but muddy, with the additional and unforgettable figure 1887 embossed on the more fleshy parts of my companion. How I miss the care free days and the exuberance of being alive in its totality. Thanks Jives.
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Clark,
You made me laugh, the thoughts of merkins hanging on the line, and awaiting to be combed and made presentable. Although I remain curious as to what kind of hair was used in the make-up of these, and whether the donors get paid for their hair, and who actually got to trim the said hair, and if the operation was post bathing, or the harvester held his/her breath in a fashion akin to divers?
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Barbara
Thanks for solving the puzzle, the denuded souls were trying to hide their bout of the genitourinary afflictions they had experienced, through donning their merkin.
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However, does “Paris” refer to that Hilton character, or the Matthew character? This secondary and arising question needs to be explored further.