It is no secret that Alistair Carmichael is a friend of mine. Not least because he told parliament so in 2005:
“The Government’s signals to the Uzbek regime have not always been helpful. I am thinking especially of their treatment of my old friend, the former ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, who has done us all a great service in graphically highlighting the appalling human rights record of the Uzbekistan Government.”
Alistair was one of very few MPs who raised the dreadful human rights abuses in Uzbekistan even before I got there. He has a genuine interest in human rights worldwide, and had a much better motivation in going into politics than the large majority of politicians. He was never anything like a diehard unionist in personal conviction. I felt quite proud for him when he was asked during the campaign what would his role be in negotiating for the UK the conditions of separation after a Yes vote. He replied that he was Scottish, and he would be on the Scottish, not the UK side.
I have never chosen my friends by my politics, and I am not one of those people who is only happy in the company of those who agree with me. I am happiest with a few drinks and a good argument in intellectually challenging company. I also do know that all human beings are flawed, and I don’t expect perfection. So I have no intention of ending friendship with Alistair.
All of which makes it hard, but I have to say that I really do think he needs to resign as an MP, and to do so immediately.
It was not just a mistake to leak that memo, it was wrong. It was even more wrong because he himself believed it was written in error and did not give Nicola Sturgeon’s true opinion. But in an election in which the Scottish Lib Dems faced wipeout, he saw the advantage of playing this trick. That was wrong on many levels. I would add that I feel very confident that Alistair would never have done it without consulting Clegg first. Clegg should resign too. And instead of the usual Cabinet Office stitch-up, there needs to be a real inquiry into the whole history and production of that extraordinary minute, and whether Alistair was set up to do it. The Scottish Government needs to be an equal partner in constituting that inquiry.
Alistair has no alternative but to resign because he then repeatedly lied about what he had done. It is much better that he goes now with a full and frank apology to everyone, especially his constituents. When you have blatantly and repeatedly lied about something, you cannot expect people to give you their trust again. That it even seems a possibility is an example of the erosion of ethical standards, of which Tony Blair is of course the greatest example as liar, mass murderer and multi-millionaire.
But we should not lose sight of the real lesson. The corrupt and rotten structures of the UK state are so insidious that they can take a fundamentally decent man like Alistair and lead him to behave so badly. There is something within the rotting organisms of UK institutions in their decline from Imperial power and dependence on corrupt banking and corporate systems, that infects almost all who enter them. While I worked for the FCO I saw really nice colleagues, decent men and women I worked with, go along with organising what they knew to be illegal war in Iraq, and with facilitating the torture and extraordinary rendition programmes. Because that was what paid their mortgage, looked after their children, and above all gave them social status as high British diplomats.
Westminster gives untramelled executive power to a party with just 23% of the support of the registered electorate. The majority of parliamentarians are unelected Lords a great many of whom are themselves mired in corruption – and some much worse. The organs of state power are used to facilitate the flow of money from the poor to the very wealthy, which is the actual cause of the deficit in public finances. The rewards of being on the inside are sweet; those outside are measurably dispossessed of wealth, and measurably alienated in politics. The media is controlled by this corporate state.
Alistair Carmichael’s story is not the story of a bad man. It is the story of what happens to a good man who buys in to UK power structures. The real lesson of the sad story of this period in Alistair’s life is that the UK is evil, corrupt and corrupting, and that the UK state needs swiftly to be broken up.
‘I’m leaving the Greens btw.’
Why? ‘New LD’ in what way?
Please expand. Thanks.
US-China war ‘inevitable’ unless Washington drops demands over South China Sea
Well the banksters and their goons in military industrial complex have won again; we have always been at war with Eurasia!
Chinese military sets course to expand global reach as ‘national interests’ grow
The virus has been passed on, and the new order is as good as the old order; WAPO heralds the expanding military reach of the Asians.
Closer home;
Staffordshire Police to probe claims officers stood guard while girl, 6, was raped
The politicos control the horizontal and the vertical in this twilight zone where lying, cheating, stealing are the accepted order of day and standard conduct, although they then expunge the data from the public domain just before the elections.
MPs expenses and sex scandals deleted from Wikipedia pages by computers inside parliament
Fool me twice Sham…… once …….
Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)
26 May, 2015 – 3:01 pm
“Which is why you’re such an important contributor not only to this website but also to comminication on general, Doug.”
“Where Doug leads, the others will follow!”
…………………………………………………………………
Well I have to confess Habbabkuk that I don’t understand your comment.
While a new scandal of disgraceful sexual attacks on children appears in the media (Sky News) Habbabkuk pours scorn on me for bringing it to the attention of people on this blog.
What kind of man are you Mr Habbabkuk?
Who do you work for?
Villager. No. If you can see it, enjoy the dream.
Podemos & co. Much the same. This is not change. Supporting capitalism, traditional law, the violence of prisons as Pablo does. And Craig btw. “O lock him up”.
Progressive my ass.
If you cant* see it…
Feel free to fix mods and delete this.
You should read what your fellow-loonies write (Mr Scorgie at 13h42).
Are you short-sighted or is the sound of your own voice just irrestible? LOL”
___________________________
Now now now I know you took a bit of thrashing yesterday,by stupidly encouraging comments on the wonderful judical and morality of Israel.
We’ll put that down to a Freudian Slip,today however,you’re rather average standard of comment has well plummeted,to a very poor batch of incoherent ramblings,and odious slurs and profanties.
We all know you’re riddled with foibles and afectations,but do please try and reach a reasonable standard of commenting,there’s a good chap.
“Why? ‘New LD’ in what way?
Please expand. Thanks.”
__________________________
Ah Villager you’re back,good I have the toilet brush,now open wide,and I’ll clean that filthy mouth of yours.
Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)
26 May, 2015 – 2:59 pm
Mr Scorgie says:
“The BBC is of course 100% state owned.”
Habbabkuk says:
“It is, and TeleSur is also 100% owned by various South American govts, amoung which Venezuela is prominent (51%).”
……………………………………………………………………………
Logic, as we all know Habbabkuk is not your strong point.
I’m sure Fred will donate a tenner to this admirable cause.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-people-versus-carmichael#/story
Go on Fred,sign up you know you want to.
https://www.change.org/p/alistair-carmichael-mp-resign-as-an-mp
Why we’re all in the shit: Iraq.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/jeremy-warner/11616509/Jeremy-Warner-How-Iraq-has-left-us-with-the-biggest-financial-bubble-in-history.html
Follow the money…over the hills and far away.
TeleSur, Press TV, Russia Today – all 100% state owned by more-than-dubious régimes.
Their offerings should be taken with a strong dose of salt.
The Queens speech tomorrow has been written by the Conservative party,according to radio news.
No doubt HRH,will purr as she orates it with gusto.
Along the lines of:
Subjects minions and lesser mortals,my government…blah blah blah.
Mail continues to follow Janner:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3095586/Lord-Janner-steps-London.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
‘Innocent until proven guilty’ is a concept which seems to have slipped off the collective radar, it has to be said. Which would be addressed adequately by bringing him to trial, demented or not.
Mr Scorgie
“While a new scandal of disgraceful sexual attacks on children appears in the media (Sky News) Habbabkuk pours scorn on me for bringing it to the attention of people on this blog.”
_______________
On the contrary, Doug, I was heaping praise on your head for having brought the affair to the attention of those (on here) would do not follow the MSM.
You must learn to accept praise graciously, no matter how unusual an occurrence it might be.
But I do admit to chaffing you slightly for writing “not yet being reported on the UK MSM” while at the same time linking to Sky News! Forgive me 🙂
When the current “revolution” sweeping across the UE reaches here. We will simply find it a re-assertion of the old. The rule of capital with shiny new “no austerity” gloss.
Sod the fact that it’s fundamentally a system of usury and will, with it’s Hugh sums of money and power will trash us again. Your children.
Fool me once, fool me again. Fool me as many times as you like why don’t you. I’m a sucker.
RepublicOfIgnorance
“The Queens (sic – missing apostrophe!) speech tomorrow has been written by the Conservative party,according to radio news.
______________________
The Queen’s speech is always written by the government of the day.
Did you really need the “radio news” to tell you that?
Are you a complete ignoramus or do you just like hearing the sound of your own voice?
Or are you perhaps attempting to discredit this blog?
In 2014 Saudi Arabia beheaded 87 people convicted of various offences.
In the first 5 months of this year (2015) there have been 88 beheadings.
Western governments stay silent on the issue. In the UK our government and even our royal family entertain these barbarians.
I await Habbabkuk’s defence of the practice with something like “well they shouldn’t commit the crimes.”
Just as he defended the Israeli Defence Forces for shooting dead Palestinian children who throw stones.
I paraphrase. “If they didn’t throw stones they wouldn’t get shot.”
Habby:
On whether Alistair Carmichael should resign?”
“What I think is that this is a seven-day wonder and will be forgotten in a day or so.”
____________________
Hi Habby, completely agree with you. Much Ado about Nothing.
Btw hope you’re well and good to see you here today. Hope you were upto something enjoyable for the couple of days we missed you.
Our friend was missing you too. There was one day she tried a little harder to pen her own thoughts. I noticed; it was a good sign that the Training of the Shrew was having some positive effect.
Enjoy the good weather! And, yes, thanks for the humorous one-liners yesterday. The dramatic relief always welcome here!
“Inconvenient Truths” – the 1st in the promised occasional series by Habbabkuk.
______________________
1/. The recent forced publication of a series of private letters from HRH Prince Charles to various govt ministers has turned out to be a complete damp squib, failing miserably in its objective of bringing the Prince into disrepute.
2/. At the same time, one notices the calls for Prince Charles to be passed over as the successor to Her Majesty the Queen, in favour of his son Prince William, have ceased.
3/. Furthermore, republicanism as a movement in the UK has been routed; it is dead in the water.
4/. Accordingly, the Monarch will continue – and will, happily, surely outlive those misguided individuals who still call for its abolition.
5/. HRH Prince Charles will prove to be an excellent successor to his mother when the time comes.
5/. And after he has passed on, his son Prince William will prove to be an excellent successor to Prince Charles.
Sorry (well, I’m delighted, actually!), but that’s how it is and how it will be, folks!
🙂
Doug, reminds me thanks for your response re the Arabs and Palestinians in an earlier thread. We’ll pick it up on another occasion.
On Saudi Arabia, they are a bunch of medieval thugs! How many of those thugs are foreigners…any idea?
Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)
26 May, 2015 – 4:13 pm
“TeleSur, Press TV, Russia Today – all 100% state owned by more-than-dubious régimes.”
“Their offerings should be taken with a strong dose of salt.”
……………………………………………………………………….
As should yours Habbabkuk.
Doug, sorry I meant to ask how many of those executed were foreigners?
O.T.:
Now THIS is a referendum question: grounded in international law, yet reads like motherhood and apple pie.
Should the people of [_____] have the right to freely determine their political status, economic, social and cultural development, and be consulted at referendum or plebiscite on the future model of governance?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/273213/solid-%27yes%27-vote-in-referendum-on-norfolk-island-governance
When Scotland revisits its self-determination in light of further British human rights derogations, this question would be a helpful model. To adapt it to Scotland’s situation it might be advisable to explicitly invoke the right to peace and the right to development. The human right to peace will stick in the craw of NATO satellite UK. The right to development is officially regarded by the US, and therefore its UK satellite, as ‘a dangerous incitement’ (although the UK did not vote against it in the UN, as the US did, alone – Britain claims to uphold it.)
The right to peace is crucial to an independent Scottish foreign policy based on rule of law, while the right to development is a comprehensive counter to predatory UK austerity. Together the two comprehensive rights provide scaffolding for a structure that can wall Scotland off from the overreaching British state. The Scottish Human Rights Commission can take a leading role here, and the SNP ought to pay more attention to this important national institution.
Habbabkuk, Our establishment has to be the grossest more rotten system in the world, oppressing, abusing, using, killing, countless people through the ages, and will continue to kill and use innocent men women and children in delight. At home ever more so. Society in a permanent state of degradation.
It’s totally appropriate that you are delighted. But one day most people will see what’s what first hand. And at the knowledge of which they are apart will surly sweep you away regardless of consequences or thought to “stability” .
And the truth is your never safe. Will continue in constant antagonism. I’m happy to chip in what I feel is honest indignation sometimes. But I don’t have to live with the next me (whoever that will be) and the next, and the next.
I really can’t see the appeal, frankly.
….If I can gain the same dignity in the face of a boy in the slums of Deli then there is nothing more to wish for. He shone, and more alive than i’v seen anyone. Some, I get the feeling, may as well not be.
“Do you think Salmond should resign?”
I haven’t been calling for anyone to resign.
I certainly wouldn’t call for one to resign without the other.
Appalling people Fedup @ 3.39pm. From your Mirror link:
‘References to sex scandals, expenses controversies and arrests have been deleted from Wikipedia pages of MPs by computers owned by the House of Commons, it has been revealed.
An investigation by the Telegraph found the pages of more than a dozen MPs had been edited to remove negative references.
The bulk of the deletions took place before the election, raising suspicions that it was a deliberate attempt to ‘clean up’ the images of MPs ahead of the poll.
Anyone can edit Wikipedia anonymously – but a record is kept of the internet connection used to make the change.
The internet connections used to delete the references were owned by Parliament.’
The Telegraph link within
Expenses and sex scandal deleted from MPs’ Wikipedia pages by computers inside Parliament
Exclusive: References to ‘chauffeur-driven cars’ and a criminal arrest wiped from online biographies in run-up to election
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11574217/Expenses-and-sex-scandal-deleted-from-MPs-Wikipedia-pages-by-computers-inside-Parliament.html
This individual’s photograph is in yesterday’s Express. Having a stroll. Can’t see any sign of a nurse or carer.
PICTURED: Lord Janner takes stroll after being ruled ‘too ill’ to face child sex claims
A LABOUR peer who was ruled too ill to stand trial over allegations of child sexual abuse, has been spotted taking a stroll in London.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/579760/Lord-Janner-spotted-London-dementia-child-sex-abuse
I can’t believe Scotland is so shit. The SNP really offer much the same. And what do they promote about independence? More cash. Who’s going to see any of that, who may need it? Industry owners.
Don’t know if I want cash around at all tbh.
Nope…Corporate power dressing tools who have no vision or ability to fundamentally think of anything new, and WILL vehemently defend the interests they are a part of. There job depends on it. As does their perceived status and extensive wardrobe.
From
Prince Charles ‘black spider’ memos reveal lobbying of Tony Blair
Publication of royal’s letters following freedom of information battle reveals correspondence with PM on helicopters, farming and complementary medicine
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/13/prince-charles-black-spider-memos-published-after-10-year-legal-battle
‘The letters – 27 memos to and from the heir to the throne, the prime minister and ministers in six government departments – relate to an eight-month period from September 2004 to April 2005, and were the subject of a Freedom of Information Act request by the Guardian journalist Rob Evans. The government has spent more than £400,000 on legal costs to fight the battle.’
A snip. A bargain. In ‘Austerity GB’ where food banks proliferate and people are living in hovels at extortionate rents.
Mary
26/05/2015 5:34pm
“Lord Janner takes stroll”
One of the chief considerations given as grounds for not holding a trial of fact regarding Lord Janner’s alleged offences was that there was no risk of future offending.
If Lord Janner is fit enough to walk about unsupervised, there is quite clearly a high risk of future offending, so a trial of fact would be appropriate. Alzheimer’s Disease can have the effect of dissipating sexual inhibition in any case, so under no circumstances should this man be permitted out unaccompanied.
Having said that, the photo isn’t very clear. He appears to be in a car park or some such. Perhaps there is somebody with him.
Kind regards,
John