Lord Carlile is amazingly unobservant. An excellent article in today’s Observer by Jay Rayner gives details of the establishment cover-up of Janner’s long continued child rapes. The silence of the Vaz draws most attention. But let us think about Alex Carlile.
Rayner states “The establishment, in the shape of his fellow MPs, men such as Labour’s Keith Vaz, Tory David Ashby and the then Lib Dem MP now Lord Carlile, closed ranks.” In the 1991 House of Commons debate deploring accusations against Janner, Carlile played a prominent part, describing Janner as a man of “integrity” and “determination”. Carlile should have known Janner fairly well. They were both MPs, both QCs, both members of Friends of Israel, both patrons of UK lawyers for Israel. The appear still to both be patrons of the Friends of Israel Educational Foundation. They were regulars on the same parliamentary committees dealing with legal affairs. They were both to leave the Commons at the same time and both to join the Lords only slightly apart.
Still, Carlile’s stalwart defence of his friend is understandable. You can’t expect him to have picked up on Janner’s secret life. Nor that of Cyril Smith. Carlile shared a small Commons office with Cyril Smith for many years. Oh dear. He really isn’t good at noticing things, is he?
Carlile’s mistress and eventual wife was a senior legal adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Cosy world, Westminster, it it not?
Carlile went on to be a stunningly illiberal “Independent” Reviewer of anti-terror legislation, where he demonstrated his independence by agreeing to absolutely everything the security services told him. 42 day detention with no charge? No problem. In fact there was no period of detention without charge posited so extreme that Carlile did not support it. Secret courts hearing intelligence evidence the defence were not allowed to see? Fine by Carlile. Control orders? Great. He is a fantastic bastion, protecting the public, is Carlile.
Even better, of course, at protecting his associates.
Letting the Scottish Nationalists dictate the direction of the UK government would be like getting King Herod to ‘run a baby farm’, Boris Johnson warned today in an escalation of Tory attacks on the SNP.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3046740/Letting-SNP-UK-government-Labour-like-getting-King-Herod-run-baby-farm-warns-Boris-Johnson.html#ixzz3Xr1V735S
A disgusting slur,and a sure sign the Tories are running scared.
Anon1; “I think it was Habbabkuk who pointed out that the majority of the refugees are from sub-Saharan Africa.”
Another one who follows the Habby Troll Garden Path To Nowhere !
Afghanistan is the leading country of origin for refugees, followed by Iraq and Syria, and now thanks mainly to Cameron and Sarkozy, Libya has jumped up the list.
http://hms.salvos.org.au/refugees-asylum-seekers-factsheet/
The Scottish First Minister also told voters the party will officially recognise Palestine as a state in an effort to halt bloodshed in the Middle East.
An excerpt from the SNP manifesto,a bold and forward thinking statement.
More from Boris Johnson,as he compares Nicola Sturgeon,to a convicted jewel thief left in charge of the Tower of London.
This is the mentality of the Mayor of London.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/04/20/david-cameron-nicola-sturgeon-snp-sofa_n_7099164.html?1429530653&utm_hp_ref=uk
Republicofscotland
As long as they keep up the dirty tricks against Nicola, we can be sure that the UK establishment sees her as a genuine threat, that there is no secret agenda to use the SNP in some convoluted Westminster political chess game.
Bring it on, top Tory toffs, your sneering and scare-mongering are music to my ears.
Housing as a hot issue. What’s the best way to get each party to answer either of the following questions:
How many of your candidates are private landlords?
or, [if your party’s view is that registering interests is only necessary once elected], How many of your party’s MPs who are standing for re-election are private landlords?
Listening to Nicola Gnasher’s speech earlier, it was clear that hatred of the Tories has reached something beyond what can be considered normal, rational or reasonable. It has religious-like qualities now, a defining cause for swathes of depressed Scotch lowland towns beset by crime, alcoholism, and public health crises.
Gnasher’s solution, as repeatedly expressed in her speech, is to literally hose Scotland with billions more pounds. Free everything. This is the great SNP opposition to ‘Tory rule’ (but paradoxically relies on Tory rule). She gives no clue to where the money is going to come from, apart from ‘bankers’ bonuses’ – cue rapturous applause. It has all the makings of a failed state.
A massive snub has been dealt to Scottish Fisheries,and Rural Affairs minister Richard Lochead.
The UK minister for the marine environment,George Eustice can’t make it to the EU’s Agricultural and Fisheries talks in Brussels.
A prior agreement between the UK government allowing Richard Lockhead to deal with matters regarding fishing in Scottish waters,has been reneged upon,by the Tory government.
Instead of Mr Lochead attending the meeting it will be, an inexperienced unelected Tory lord,by the name of Rupert Ponsonby de Mauley,who’ll represent Scotland and the UK’s fishing rights.
The move is actually a breach of the watered down Smith Commission,where it states a devolved administration minister,can speak on behalf of the UK at a meeting,of the Council of Ministers.
As long as they keep up the dirty tricks against Nicola, we can be sure that the UK establishment sees her as a genuine threat, that there is no secret agenda to use the SNP in some convoluted Westminster political chess game.
Bring it on, top Tory toffs, your sneering and scare-mongering are music to my ears.
________________________
Yes Node,agreed the more the Tory insults fly at Nicola Sturgeon the more,people realise,what a shallow,inept party the Conservatives are.
Boris Johnson likes to play the buffoon, it’s designed to make him seem more accessible and plausible to the public,in reality Mr Johnson is a shrewd operator.
Walt
““Buggery of young boys is rife throughout the Muslim world” – Islamophobia?”
No. A simple statement of fact.
Btw, Bonnie Greer has come up with a new one – “Scotophobia”. Lol.
Macky
“Afghanistan is the leading country of origin for refugees, followed by Iraq and Syria”
Not from Libya it isn’t and for all three you have your rabid Islamist fanatics to thank.
Btw, Bonnie Greer has come up with a new one – “Scotophobia”. Lol.
______________________
The word Scotophobia already exists,it means an abnormal fear of darkness.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Darkness
It comes from the Greek word for darkness “Skotos”
More vile comments from,the press and coloumnists,directed at Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP.
Imagine the public outcry, if these comments came from the SNP or nationalists.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/zoomers-on-stunned/#more-69955
Anon1
A splendid series of posts from you and even the combined efforts of at least five of the Eminences and Useful Idiots are unable to master you!
I am worried for the sake of the country, I must say. All those Eminences and Useful Idiots have received an education and the opportunity to develop proper critical thinking; moreover, they have every reason to be grateful to the UK and the British state.
Whence, I wonder*, their hate of the UK and, more generally, their curious outlook on life?
_______
* with apologies to Lysias, who probably wishes to enjoy exclusive use of this verb. 🙂
“The word Scotophobia already exists,it means an abnormal fear of darkness.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Darkness
It comes from the Greek word for darkness “Skotos””
_________________
Lysias – the Oxford Greatsman – to confirm, please!
““Afghanistan is the leading country of origin for refugees, followed by Iraq and Syria”
Not from Libya it isn’t and for all three you have your rabid Islamist fanatics to thank.”
_______________________
Absolutely correct, Anon1.
No refugees from Iraq while the US and Coalition was there to keep order. Only when Islamist fanatics started their mayhem.
Syria – only after Assad the Younger started up the family business again (“Assad & Sons – torture, rape, murder and mayhem out speciality”) and then, afterwards, the Islamist fanatics.
Afghanistan – people who have a lot to fear from the resurgent Taliban (democrats, secularists, intelligentsia, women….).
Anon1; “Not from Libya it isn’t and for all three you have your rabid Islamist fanatics to thank”
Well if you want to concentrate on sub-Saharan Africa contries, the two countries that generate the most refugees are Eritrea & Somalia, who happened to be countries long at war with Western backed Ethiopia; funny how “rabid Islamist fanatics” only became a problem after their respective countries were attacked by the West.
Iain Orr
“Habbabkuk on 19 April @ 7.23 pm – Ad hominem arguments are perfectly valid when what is at issue is a person’s character and their ability to think critically, both of which come into play over dealing with evidence about a friend’s behaviour and being an independent reviewer of legislation.”
__________________
You are letting your fondness for a bon mot get the better of you, I think.
Leave aside his performance as the reviewer of anti-terrorist legislation, the issue I raised was Craig’s criticism of Carlile in the Janner affair and in particular the notion that he should have spotted Janner’s tendencies at the time.
Your post implies that the way Carlile dealt with the “evidence” of his friend Janner’s behaviour casts reflects negatively on his character and his critical ability.
Two questions to you:
1/. What “evidence are you talking about? Do you mean the evidence which led to the then DPP to conclude that Janner should not be prosecuted?
2/. Do you share Craig’s idea that the the professional and political links between Carlile and Janner were so close that there was no way Carlile could not have been aware of Janner’s (alleged*) proclivities?
______________________
I say alleged because you will be aware that only a trial can establish the man’s guilt, not the wish of the police and the agreement of the DPP that he should be sent to trial.
“casts” is superfluous.
Habbabkuk; “It comes from the Greek word for darkness “Skotos”
Not the only Greek connection; both countries have kilts, both play bagpipes, both have a sheep offal based food dishes (haggis & magiritsa); one account I read was that the Romans had some Greeks helping to build Hadrian’s Wall, and because the land on the other side was often covered in mist & fog, they called it the Greek for darkness, “σκοτάδι”.
‘Simple’ is the dominant adjective in your case Anon1 – child’s play… btw ‘scotch’ is an abbreviation for a whisky made in Scotland or a brand name.
Your ‘failed state’ might well be a rapture here in Britain where the government has become so corrupt, prostrate, rotten and geopolitically raw the British people lust for a radical shift in constitutional thinking.
That is what Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP are propounding; a push to benefit an increasingly discerning and discreet society.
“Well if you want to concentrate on sub-Saharan Africa contries, the two countries that generate the most refugees are Eritrea & Somalia, who happened to be countries long at war with Western backed Ethiopia;”
__________________
Of course, the wars between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia have nothing to do with the local political leaders and various tribal gangs and their inability to govern themselves peacefully and effectively…they’re ALL THE FAULT OF THE WEST because the West is BACKING ETHIOPIA!
I am beginning to see why Macky denies the existence of the “John Goss moment” so vehemently. 🙂
Macky
You saved our friend Lysias the trouble of answering. That was kind of you.
But surely, as an Oxford Greatsman, he would have been both delighted and able to do so himself?
@Monteverdi (link to Hansard) Thanks for this interesting and important extract. It shows how Janner’s innocence was eloquently defended by his colleagues. If Janner turns out in the future to have been guilty, it will show that people can do terrible things and yet impress everyone with a show of innocence.
The extract also defends the principles of open justice and freedom of the press, and presumption of innocence. We might ask to what extent these principles have been respected in recent terrorism cases.
Habbabkuk; “You saved our friend Lysias the trouble of answering. That was kind of you”
Surely all cultured people know some Greek ?!
Habbabkuk; “they’re ALL THE FAULT OF THE WEST because the West is BACKING ETHIOPIA!”
For your education;
http://original.antiwar.com/prince/2010/12/13/wikileaks-reveals-us-twisted-ethiopias-arm-to-invade-somalia/
http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2007/10/19/mass-murderin-the-horn-of-africa/
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/baroud.php?articleid=11934
If you want more educationing material, just ask ! 😀
Anon 1 @ 2.40 pm and Habbabkuk @ 3.20 pm: It does a disservice to rational political debate to suggest that Nicola Sturgeon hates either the English or the Conservative Party. While I was – though a voteless expat Scot – in the “No” camp on the independence referendum, I heard her speak at LSE on 16 March and answer searching questions – some as hostile as your misrepresentation of her politics. It was clear that what she wants for Scotland and England, Wales and Northern Ireland are largely the same; and that as long as Scotland remains part of the UK, SNP MPs will be promoting the same sort of domestic and foreign policy options for the UK as they would pursue for an independent Scotland.
That she does not wants to see David Cameron back in Downing Street is no more controversial than that David Cameron wants Scotland to remain part of the UK. If his unionist values are to be believed, he wants votes in Scotland to count just as much as votes elsewhere in the UK in governing the UK. Yes, Westminster MPs can’t vote on matters that are devolved to the Scottish Parliament; but that applies equally to Scottish English, Welsh and N Ireland MPs. It’s a consequence of devolution.
Macky-Today 3.40p.m. Watching BBC News at 1 p.m. I was amazed at the reporting of the deaths of up to 700 migrants. No sense whatever of the real reasons behind their extreme desire for escape. File under Leon Festinger (4)-“Ignore or deny any information that conflicts with existing beliefs.” Cognitive Dissonance at its best, brought to us courtesy of the CDBBC. Cameron has blamed “Appalling human traffickers” and called for a “Comprehensive approach to the problem”. I don’t suppose for a minute a severe cull of Neocons will be part of this strategy.
@Abe Rene
20 Apr, 2015 – 4:26 pm
The statement put out by Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, included a quite unprecidented list of the allegations against Janner:
“In relation to the allegations investigated in Operation Enamel, the CPS considers that the evidential test was passed on the basis that the evidence is sufficient to have warranted charging and prosecuting Lord Janner in relation to the particular charges listed below; these relate to nine individuals:
14 indecent assaults on a male under 16 between 1969 and 1988
2 indecent assaults between 1984 and 1988
4 counts of buggery of a male under 16 between 1972 and 1987
2 counts of buggery between 1977 and 1988.”
http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2015/04/the-decision-not-to-prosecute-lord-janner-statement-from-the-dpp.html
Alison Saunders was obviously put under intense pressure to drop the case. She’s shown this by including the allegations in her statement (and I may be wrong, but I don’t think a dpp has ever done that before).
And can I also add that the number of trolls appearing on this thread, to either defend these vermin or turn the thread away from the subject, is utterly disgusting.
It’s the bad breath of an utterly vile and rotten Establishment, a vile and rotten Establishment that is stupid enough to think that it can spin and lie its way out of justice.
We’re coming for you vermin.
Make no mistake about that.
Dr Richard Lawson, Green parliamentary candidate for Weston constituency, has written a letter aimed at getting the law changed s that Janner can stand trial in absentia.
http://greenerblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/challenge-to-cps-decision-on-greville.html
He has asked the other candidates for Weston to join him. You can endorse his letter to the attorney general.
“Whence, I wonder*, their hate of the UK and, more generally, their curious outlook on life?”
An inevitable outcome of living in a strong, successful Western democratic state I’m afraid, Habbabkuk. You’re always going to have a small minority of self-hating losers trying to spoil it for everybody else.