When I stood against Jack Straw in 2005, I wanted to confront him with open debate about my eye witness to torture and extraordinary rendition, after he lied to parliament continually and repeatedly about it. I was however, despite being a candidate, not allowed to participate in any of the candidate’s debates, including that broadcast by BBC Radio 4, and the debate hosted by the joint churches in Blackburn cathedral.
I went to see the Dean of the Cathedral about my exclusion. He said something quite extraordinary – “Look, Craig, you are leaving after the election. We have to live in this town.” He was scared of retribution. That sounds wildly improbable, but it was supported by much other experience. I agreed to short term lets of two shops for my campaign headquarters (there is no shortage of shops to let in Blackburn). Both cancelled when they discovered I wished to campaign against Jack Straw – one specifically told me that they would like to help, but feared trouble from the council. When I eventually succeeded, the landlords made the point that they lived and had their businesses outside Blackburn and this was their only asset there, so they couldn’t come to much harm.
Under electoral law a candidate is entitled to the use of schools and community centres free of charge for electoral meetings, but despite dozens of efforts I was never once allowed this. It is a serious and specific electoral offence for a candidate to provide free food and drink at public meetings – “treating” – but the Straw campaign did this on a very large scale, and both the police and returning officer took no action when I complained with sworn affidavits of evidence from eye-witnesses. Postal ballot fraud was extraordinarily blatant, with the same authorities determinedly looking the other way. I could not even get them to look at why thirteen postal ballots were cast from one single unoccupied flat.
The point of which is – I know how Cyril Smith did it. It was a different category of crime he was committing, but I have seen how in these Lancashire towns like Blackburn and Rochdale the authorities collude together so comfortably to cover up the crimes of the local big man, be it Cyril Smith or Jack Straw. It may seem quite incredible that everybody knew in Rochdale and nothing was done, but having tried to challenge Straw in Blackburn, I know precisely how it worked. The entire political culture of industrial Lancashire is deeply rotten, and ought to be a source of deep shame.
Cyril Smith was merely a symptom, not the cause.
I guess a person could take the broader view and accept that the subconscious desire of the majority of electorate is to keep those sorts as far away as is possible,thus the most dangerous freak and weirdo who share a social circle are usually sent away to a foreign country which happens to have been created in London.
If a person understands that then it’s easy to see that all voting in elections is erroneous,they should be sent to prison as cost effective for the tax-payer.
Your link to ‘rotten council.co.uk’ was very difficult to display Ba’al. Wonder why? 🙂
I saw the poll on the home page.
Rotten Council Poll
Planning Corruption
Do you believe your council’s planning department is corrupt?
Yes – ( 267 votes )
No – ( 11 votes )
Don’t know – ( 7 votes )
Total Answers 285
Total Votes 285
Enough said.
Mary
Thanks once more for supplying that link which identified the electoral areas at “higher risk” of electoral fraud. (*)
In return, you can thank me for pointing out that most of them are Labour-run at the local level and have returned Labour MPs. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats appear to emerge as the clean parties, don’t they. 🙂
No surprises there, I guess!
____________
(*) I bet you now wish you hadn’t, eh? Moral – always read your links carefully before posting them!
“News headline – George Osborne says economy grew by 0.8% in the last quarter.”
__________________
Encouraging news indeed, Mary, and I share your pleasure.
Moreoever, it appears that growth is strong in all areas of the economy, with the growth in manufacturing outstripping growth in services (incl. financials)and thus demonstrating that a certain rebalancing of the economy is thankfully underway.
*********************
“Rejoice!” (M. Thatcher, ca. 1982)
‘Rejoice’ was the witch’s command for the retaking of South Georgia. Living in the EmPyre’s past aren’t you.
Ben: Oh come on, my comment was surely playful rather than insulting? Why on Earth would I want to insult you? Sorry for the offence, since you perceived it as one. Unintended. Christ almighty, I should post here less often.
It’s not always been the case,if we look into various stories with some slight cultural significance we find the same sorts stoned to death.
Now if stoning was still practiced then what of many of the inhuman evils visited upon humanity?
There are no statistics for this what if,but common sense suggests if we stoned all the MP’s in Parliament tomorrow then perhaps a million lives would be spared from suffering their hubris over the next decade.
If your business is murdering tens of thousands to millions as a group activity for whatever it is you find gratifying about such an endeavour then from time to time one must surely expect to find disenchantment among those given nothing but the right to approve of your organisation.
Big deal Lord Steel.
Lord Steel says he quizzed Cyril Smith over sex claims
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27203110
Now if a candidate came to your door and manifested genuine ectoplasm from his head in the form of a dead relative who spoke and suggested profitable investment opportunities you may well be struck dumb but candidates only ever offer a vague bribe in exchange for your support of their lifestyle.
To my own amazement, I have decided in the course of my recent research into the Burnes that Freemasonry played a very positive role in hastening the dismantling of the British Empire, by undermining the belief in racial superiority and religious mission among the ruling classes. I can promise you I was surprised by that conclusion as you are.
Fascinating, Craig – I look forward to hearing about it. This negative effect was entirely unintended, I take it?
“Unintended.”
OK, Glenn. Let’s move on.
Craig
A similar point seems to have been made in this book:
Builders of Empire: Freemasons and British Imperialism, 1717-1927, Jessica Harland Jacobs
Haven’t read it but this review alludes to it:
“Harland-Jacobs concludes her history with the Empire’s dissolution looming on the horizon. She quotes Indian Mason and writer K.R. Cama as reminiscing, “One of the happy results attainted by introducing natives into Masonry has been that of bringing them to closely associate, socially, with their European brethren – I was almost going to say, masters.” That Masonry continues in India and other former colonies to this day, despite such conflicted feelings, is a testament to its true universalism and the gifts it offers worthy brethren.”
http://www.amazon.com/Builders-Empire-Freemasons-Imperialism-1717-1927/product-reviews/1469613484/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1
I suppose it goes from empire to international elite.
Ben, sorry for the unintended slight; you hadn’t ignored Craig’s question.
Craig, while I believe that freemasonry has in its ranks many good men and that there has always been an acceptance of natives into lodges in countries in which imperialists planted their flags, these were predominantly the educated and wealthy natives, or those who could be of service in one way or another like policemen, postal workers or messengers. Most of the passing on of information is done electronically today and the number of Freemasons has declined considerably over recent decades, though whether there is a connection I am not sure. What I am sure of is that the inclusion of anybody into masonic lodges is something each candidate goes into blindly. My understanding is that favours are initially bestowed through the three degrees to master mason, and then continued later in an environment of mutual fraternity on those who chose this elitist path. Once compromised in this way the return of a favour when called for can easily be achieved by reminding the mason of how he was helped by other brothers. Like the armed forces masonry takes away certain freedoms but less blatantly. There are many lodges in the armed forces and police. The elitism is extended to, for example, Masonic charity schools, for example, were for the sons and daughters of Freemasons. So, yes, they were not overtly racist, but they were elitist, sexist, (no women), ageist, nobody under the age of 21 (nonage) and nobody starting to lose their marbles (dotage). No jokes now about why I’m not one.
Masons are always pleased to laud those of their ranks who were talented, like Kipling and Mozart, and a whole load more but give very little attention to those who were manipulatively useful at the time, like Lenin and Kerensky (the majority of Kerensky’s ministers were Masons). Chicherin was an important mason who negotiated a secret agreement at Rapallo with his German brother, Walther Rathenau, while the Genoa conference (full of masons) was going on in April, 1922. Power is important to Freemasonry. It is what it was set up for to see perpetuated with itself at the helm. So whether it comes to the control of governments, or a county cricket club, there will be masons there to guide the decision-making.
Freemasonry is based on the mystical side of Judaism, with, especially in the nineteenth century some rather severe and ritualistic punishments meted out to those who revealed the “so-called” secrets. The ritual murder of William Morgan is denied by masons, but when the whole judiciary is riddled with masons, ordinary souls would never really know, would they? News outlets control information. It’s the same kind of thing and mutually compatible.
Having said that there is a moral obligation upon masons to be dignified and upstanding and most of them are.
I used to play golf with a man whose family were masons and he said as a child he wanted to go into the lodge and was warned off. “Be careful the goat doesn’t get you.” Anyway Brian, wherever you are in the hereafter, I’m sure you won’t mind me passing on that little anecdote. There is perhaps a lesson for us all there.
No debate. Just appointed.
Soham murder trial judge Sir Alan Moses to head new Press regulator IPSO
Court of Appeal judge previously jailed Ian Huntley over murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman
IPSO replaces Press Complaints Commission in wake of Leveson inquiry
Sir Alan says he will ‘protect the public’ and ‘encourage a free and fearless Press’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2616109/Soham-murder-trial-judge-Sir-Alan-Moses-head-new-Press-regulator-IPSO.html
‘Mr Javid said: ‘The work has been done, and it is now a decision for the Press what they want to do next. I don’t see any further role for Government in this.
‘Notwithstanding the fact that any industry has its bad apples, I think our Press is the best in the world. It is fearless without favour.’
I think Mr Javid’s superlative is laughable. Recall Iraq and all the rest. The Westminster bubble – filled with foul odours – the new Culture Secretary the most obvious emitter.
Also should there be a connection between the press and the judiciary also Judge Moses seems to be upstanding, he is establishment.
@Anon 8.48pm – Try not to be so insulting – there’s a dear! I wasn’t making a terminological argument based on two meanings of the word “mason”. You really should have understood that. Someone who insults someone without understanding what the person has said doesn’t half look a fool.
Kate Holden has been offered the Blackburn seat for services rendered to Jack Straw, without City Hall collaborators in his game, playing off ethnic and tribal differences between ethnic minorities in his town.
Jack Straws age old promise to make Blackburn a City has failed, first he tried by building some sort of university were there never was one, then he strenuously pointed out that Blackburns cathedral was a sign of a city, doooh. Kate Hollern knows a lot about Jack and his past, just as he was chosen for his ‘guile and cunning’ she is stepping into his footsteps, knowing full well that he stood in a pile of shit.
She will carry on the same subdefuge and sham that has kept Blackburn and its multi ethnic population down in the past.
A very moving review by Gary Corseri of Kathy Kelly’s book.
Kathy Kelly’s Challenge
Witness, Courage, Compassion, Becoming
April 30th, 2014
What does the Lord require… but to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.
— The Book of Micah
Grant us your forgiveness, Lord. And unto you be our becoming.
— The Salaat, the final Muslim prayer of the day
About 90 pages into Other Lands Have Dreams, Kathy Kelly’s extraordinary book of recollections and reflections, we’re immersed again in the immediacy of her amazing life…
/..
http://dissidentvoice.org/2014/04/kathy-kellys-challenge/
Other Lands Have Dreams: From Baghdad to Pekin Prison
http://www.powells.com/biblio/1904859283?p_isbn&PID=36683
….Should there be a connection between the press and the judiciary? Although Judge Moses appears to be upstanding, he is establishment after all.
Various insinuations that there is a high-level paedophile ring seem to be coming to the boil:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pressure-mounts-tony-blair-answer-3475758
I have read allegations about two big hitters in Scottish Labour before. I wonder if this is one of them, the unnamed ex-minister?
Meanwhile, what has happened to the Patrick Rock investigation and the suggestions that Downing Street covered it up? He advised Cameron on internet porn policy. You couldn’t fuckin script it. I wonder what he was advising Cameron to do?
Nevermind…
Thanks for the wee inside… insight on that episode…depressing as fuck..that good people are trodden on by the establishment bullies…
Nevermind –
” As campaigns and election coordinator to the first ever female Independent Muslim candidate in Blackburn 2010, I can vouch that the whole town of Blackburn, Police, council, local businesses, especially the media are thouroughly corrupted. We had to fight and argue to be included on the panel at every election meeting and debate that was arranged. In Blackburn Cathedral I was assaulted, pushed against one of the pillars by the sacrister who was irate at the suggestion that we would not leave the church until we are included on the panel. This was a foot away from one of Jack Straws private police, whop obviously had not seen or heard anything.
“Despite visiting the police station and giving evidence regards the assault on me, deswpite the afidavit delivered by Craig, the police let him wait for three hours before finally taking it, nothing ever happened.”
See ya soon
Re. Mike’s post – this one maybe?
http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/117720/police-send-lord-janner-file-crown-prosecution-service
So what can be drawn from this?
The cult of celebrity is a big ol’ Paedophile ring with Masonic Judges in Oxfordshire exhibiting telling leniency on the less well connected of their kind so as to set precedent in law.
Say it ain’t so!
Quis custodiet?
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/01/judge-constance-briscoe-guilty-lying-police
Beyond Ugly, indeed.