When Sir Richard Dearlove was Head of MI6, the Blairites adored him as he approved the lying Dossier on Iraqi WMD which led to wars, invasion, the death of millions and the destabilisation which continues to wreck the entire Middle East. Now, as he writes to Tory constituency chairman advocating the hardest of hard Brexits, had they any capacity for self-reflection the Blairites would probably be thinking it was after all not such a great move of Tony to appoint the hardest of hard right nutters to head our overseas intelligence service.
In my last post, I noted how evidence against me was actually manufactured when I opposed the policy of torture and extraordinary rendition. I have explained ad nauseam that, having been in a senior position in the FCO at the time, I know that Blair’s dossier on Weapons of Mass Destruction was a tissue of deliberate lies, and not just an honest mistake; furthermore it is impossible to read the Chilcot report without coming to that conclusion.
The UK has security services which operate dishonestly and illegally. Interestingly, I cannot say that they are currently out of the control of the UK government; the evidence is rather they are willing to engage in every dirty and dishonest trick at the behest of corrupt politicians like Blair.
Dearlove regularly features in the media shilling for maximum Cold War. His letter yesterday on the dangers of intelligence and security co-operation with the EU, as undermining NATO and the UK/US/Five Eyes intelligence arrangements, is simply barking mad. There is no evidence of this whatsoever. He makes no attempt to describe the mechanism by which the dire consequences he predicts will follow. Amusingly enough, although those consequences are dire to Dearlove, to me they are extremely desirable. If I thought that May’s withdrawal agreement would undermine NATO and the CIA, I would be out on the streets campaigning for it.
But there is a very serious point. There is something very wrong indeed with the UK security services, which are most certainly not a force for freedom or justice. That MI6 can be headed by as extreme a figure as Dearlove, underlines the threat that the security services pose to any progressive movement in politics.
If Scotland becomes independent, it must not mirror the repressive UK security services. Furthermore it must be very chary indeed of employing anybody currently working for the UK security services. If Jeremy Corbyn comes to power in Westminster, he will never achieve any of his objectives in restoring a basic level of social justice and equality to society in England and Wales, without revolutionary change in major institutions including the security services.
My own view on Brexit is that the best deal for England and Wales would be EEA and customs union, essentially the Norway option. It seems that the Labour leadership have essentially got that right, but are making a complete pig’s ear of articulating it, presumably because of their desire not to antagonise their anti-immigrant voters.
Scotland demonstrably has a strong and strengthening pro-EU majority and this is the logical time for Scotland to move to Independence, with the assurance of strong international support. I trust the Scottish government is finally going to move decisively in that direction inside the next month.
Can someone answer a question for me? There is massive concern about the possibility of a hard Irish border. If we have a “no deal” Brexit, we will definitely have a hard Irish border. Why does nobody ever mention this?
Because the DUP can live with a hard Irish border. Not saying they want that, they don’t obviously as it’d hurt hinder trade. But they’ll continue to prop the Tories up if it’s ‘no deal’ and Tory MPs and many in the media can’t see beyond keeping the Tories in power.
The DUP (and many Tories) would not mind seeing an end to the GFA as it guarantees a referendum on Irish re-unification without the approval of Westminster in the event of a majority Sinn Fein NIA. Demographics, economic problems and a move away from sectarian politics make that a highly likely future outcome in NI.
Sinn Féin and the Irish govt would be furious if it happened. It might even lead to border violence, certainly a risk of that.
But they aren’t propping the Tories up at Westminster.
As I see it, any independent sovereign nation (such as the UK) has the right to make its borders as “hard” or “soft” as it chooses. Of course, it is courteous and diplomatic to arrange such matters with the other nations affected, but the right remains absolute and untrammelled.
If there is a hard Brexit, and if a hard border ensues, so be it. If anyone then sees fit to start committing terrorist acts, the harm will be entirely and solely on the heads of the terrorists.
That may be correct in very simplistic terms, but the idea that a “sovereign” nation can do what it pleases ignores the reality of the fact that all nations are linked in a complex web of trading and exchange of services, goods, people and ideas. No nation, no matter how “sovereign” exists in isolation. Therefore no nation can do exactly as it chooses, not even the really powerful superpowers. Any choice has consequences, and weighing these up and calculating the the pros and cons to achieve the best in the long term is what makes for wise decisions. To make a decision based on “so be it” or what appears to be a fanciful idea of macho posturing is exactly the opposite. “It’s our border so we can do what we want with it” ignores the fact that a border has two sides, and that once violence is rekindled it rapidly gets out of control, undermines any progress towards resolving the still existing tensions, sucks in resources and redirects all political and economic energy on trying to control what has been deliberately set loose. It would be stupidity of the highest order.
So your view is that a sovereign state should allow terrorists to determine its policies. “If you do X, we will set off bombs and kill thousands of people”.
not what the post says, or implies.
the DUP and its paramilitaries are already doing it, Tom, watch the vote next Tuesday. As for the 1 billion bribe/slush fund to support the Tories through thick and thin, its been paid but will not work for Mays deal.
The Tories and the Lib Dems have both been responsible for a referendum of lies, nothing they said will happen, still some see this as a step forward, when in reality they are enticing terror to rear its ugly head again.
I have just been driving home from Paris to Copenhagen passing four borders with a speed above 50 mph and it should be noted that the same is the case for the transport of all sorts of goods.
So best of luck with your hard border.
Or you could have flown home, and passed through the borders at over 500 mph. What’s your point?
The point is of cource that there are clear advantages in open borders. A hard border by definition implies a lot of red tape and waste of time not to speak about high cost of all sorts of controls.
Sorry Tom, I cannot agree with your view on this. The Return to a hard border would be devastating to Ireland and, as Arienne Foster almost said, not quite but definitely majorly hinted at it, that they would seek the return of the Troubles. We are not dealing with a group of rational politicians here are we? The best possible outcome is that May and her rotten excuse for a Cabinet and a Government lose the vote this week, are forced to stand down and the interim minority Government will be able to delay Brexit for a proper process to be agreed on. It is a disgrace to the Conservative Party, in fact more than a disgrace but I haven’t got sufficiently strong language to express it, that, after two and a half years alleged ‘negotiations’ which our UK negotiators such as Bojo and Moggie have misconstrued as War with the EU negotiators, they haven’t even drafted key legislation such as Fisheries, Agriculture etc to replace the vacuum left by the present agreed Legislation in place. There can be no return to a Hard Border and the EU are right to seek to preserve the GFA – it is a far more serious issue than you think – I suggest you do in-depth research as to how important it is. In short, we have a Government that are so incompetent, ignorant and self-centred, they haven’t actually got a clue about what they are doing on any level, let alone in Northern Ireland.
In case anyone here has forgotten (or was not around at the time) here are some pictures of what the Irish troubles looked like: https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisbethell/divisions-northern-ireland-irish-border-pictures
NI/Eire is that mythica beast made real by international treaty – A Unicorn.
I’m having a break from here, but since this week has been so big in politics and next week will be even bigger, here goes…
Is Richard Dearlove (never forget he was MI6 Director of Operations at the time of the Princess Diana assassination) Russian property? Or is he part of a British poshboy insider Brexit plot? The answer is probably both.
The “John Bercow allows a vote” move repays close inspection. Essentially it was about a group of people (MPs) doing something but blaming it on somebody else (the Speaker). That’s WHAT it was. The next question is WHY did it happen. My view is that it was a barium feed and preparation for the same group of people doing a similar thing next week, namely voting for another Brexit referendum.
A large majority of MPs are in favour of Remain but most MPs represent constituencies that voted Leave and in addition they are under the whips of parties (Labour and the Tories) that support Leave too, in the form of “honouring the holy 2016 referendum result” and all that “democratic” crap that politicians’ noses respond to by growing like Pinocchio’s when they come out with it. I am predicting that when the Commons vote for a referendum comes, it will be run as a Bercow story. Johnny broke with precedent. Read the Independent to find out why he’s a good chap who’s standing up selflessly and in a neutral way for what he thinks is right for his country. Read the Sun to find out why he’s a traitor. This is what is likely to happen. Meanwhile many MPs will have a good old smirk. They will think they’ve pulled a fast one on the population, having successfully evaded responsibility for their actions. They will think they are some kind of Macchiavellian geniuses. And the decision to hold a second referendum could be taken fast – faster than a senior commentator can finish inhaling his snort of cocaine and glance at his mobile phone to receive his instructions on what the talking points will be.
Bercow will not fall. I have known for some time that he would play an important role as things come to a head, and I have been watching out for a deployment of the misogyny and bullying allegations against him. That would be the way to get him out. And it hasn’t happened. Sure there have been a few minor mentions, but it hasn’t happened on the scale that would be necessary. Remember this is the guy who once joked about slipping date rape drugs into women’s drinks. That particular story has NOT been reprised. Bercow could fall in ignominy but he’s not going to.
For many the concept of “another referendum” (or “people’s vote”) is code for remaining in the EU. Remainer MPs will think they are so clever and that they are veritable Macchiavellis among Macchiavellis, but in actual fact they are a bunch of thickos who will have been the victims of a sting. Why? Because the coming referendum won’t lead to remaining in the EU. It will lead to “no deal”.
There will then be major repercussions in the EU elections in late May in the 27 remaining EU countries. UKIP winning the 2014 EU election in Britain did matter, but it didn’t matter half so much as certain results that might occur in EU elections in a whole string of EU countries in 2019.
“No Deal” is a reality-TV term. The three key things about it are as follows.
1. Freedom of movement would stop right there and then, at 11pm on 29 March 2019. So don’t plan to be on a ferry to Dover or a flight to Heathrow on Saturday 30th.
2. There will be enormous convulsions in the financial markets. What do enormou$ convul$ion$ mean? Huge profits very fast for a few people who are in the right position to act quickly and know what to do, which isn’t hard if you’ve been calling the shots to bring things to where they are.
3. Breakdowns of many services and realities that most people are accustomed to as part of normal life.
Definitely is something very fishy about the Bercow miracle. How many miracles do you have to do to get a sainthood? or in this secular age do you just get a massive bung? Grieve reminds me of a carved, marble Knight on a Westminster Abbey tombstone. You remembered just in time that all Tories are always liars.
Unlike saints who , unlike saints, never asked for people to come and commune with them after they’re dead and gone.
If all Tories always lie, you’re probably right to expect a no deal Brexit. But we are supposed to be panicking and the brain never works well in panic mode. It’s no good stressing out on the suspense and coming to the wrong conclusion. All the Irish meat they sell to the UK could go to the continent without 40% tariffs being imposed on it. And our meat could get laundered through the Irish backstop and find its way to the EU as well. The only people to find out will be the laser bar-code readers chomping statistics on Irish telegraph poles. Business always loves a good, secret scam at the taxpayers expense.’ Seamless border’ meaning not being counted. So Watch the other way my darling while the smuggling men go by. ReeSmoggy, Boggy, and Foggy have been well-trained by Coggy ( Cameron ), how to pull off a crackin’ good scam .
Don’t forget Moggy!
Sorry – first it was Donovan, now Rod Stewart. I need a lie down.
Their may be huge profits in the short term for finance shorting the £, but in the long term finance needs free movement of capital (guaranteed by the single market) and financial pass-porting with the EU to rob everyone blind. All the big banks supported and funded Remain for this reason. This is why Keynes insisted on capital controls in Bretton Woods as free movement of capital undermines a Governments economic policy and democracy and is financially destabilising, (such as in Germany in the early 30s).
More convoluted reverse engineering from one event to the big conspiracy network theory.
There are some interesting locations within 200 metres of the corner of Rue de Trévise et Rue Saint-Cécile in Paris where there was a gas explosion this morning. And I don’t mean the Folies Bergère.
What locations? Central Paris is pretty small, so everything is not far.
But central Paris is quite some distance from Nanterre….
J’accuse! Zeusse dumps on Chomsky from great height.
https://off-guardian.org/2019/01/10/chomskys-unearned-prestige/
Is he just Manufacturing Controversy?
Or has Eric suddenly had a Damascene conversion and gone rogue?
I personally have long considered both Chomsky and Zeusse to be one of the gatekeeper/damage control cadres – so this is a interesting turn.
In the meatime the can of worms that is SCL and it’s many hydra is getting the 1st Amendment treatment on MoA and elsewhere.
Alan Duncan should be dragged back by Thornberry to correct his prexmas bluster and misinformation at the despatch box.
A perfect storm; A traditional hoisting by their own petard and parliamentary politics by honourable and unowned representatives will yet save social democracy for humanity.
Both Chomsky and Zuesse have done huge amounts of valuable work exposing many evils of the Western establishment. (As well as Chomsky’s distinguished work in linguistics).
I have seen it said that Chomsky is soft on Israel. Perhaps so. One thing I have often noticed as I get older is that there are (virtually) no unalloyed, perfect “heroes”. A person who is magnificent in one context turns out to have feet of clay in another. A great scientist turns out to be naive about politics – an excellent politicians misunderstands global warming – many fine people are being bad-mouthed for believing one story or another about 9/11.
Take the good where you can find it, and if possible try to enlighten anyone who seems to be uninformed or misinformed.
“. One thing I have often noticed as I get older is that there are (virtually) no unalloyed, perfect “heroes”. ”
There are quite a few hothead nutters on the interwebs who, if you don’t agree with their particular point of view on every issue 100 point zero zero zero percent then you’re part of the dark side and to be ignored.
Many of these nutters are wetting their pants as soon as it comes to taking to the streets. No — their mornings, afternoons and evenings are safer spent behind the keyboard, maligning people like Chomsky.
They are utterly repugnant and divisive.
Does this commentator of Noamy Boy, fit under you ‘utterley repugnent and divisive?’ banner
https://off-guardian.org/2019/01/10/chomskys-unearned-prestige/
Dearlove is non exec chair of this miserable looking bunch based in Richmond on Thames. Gen Houghton is also on there but is not a director.
https://www.crosswordcybersecurity.com/about/team/
Their ‘services’ – https://www.crosswordcybersecurity.com/cyber-security-consulting/
The founder and CEO is well in.
Tom Ilube CBE, CEO – ‘Tom is founder and CEO of Crossword. He is also a Non Executive Director of the BBC and sits on Royal Bank of Scotland’s Technology Advisory Board. Tom was until recently Managing Director of Consumer Markets at Callcredit Information Group, the private equity backed UK credit reference agency sold to GTCR of Chicago in 2014. Whilst at Callcredit, Tom founded Noddle, a credit reporting service that eventually grew to four million users and was acquired by US-based Credit Karma in 2018. Prior to Callcredit, Tom founded and was CEO of Garlik, a venture capital-backed identity protection company, sold to Experian in 2011. Earlier, Tom served as Chief Information Officer of Egg Banking plc, which at the time was a pioneering main market listed UK internet bank. His earlier career included positions at Goldman Sachs, PwC, Cap Gemini and the London Stock Exchange.
Tom chaired the UK Government Technology Strategy Board’s Network Security Innovation panel. He was a member of the High Level Expert Group on Cyber security at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a Geneva based UN-agency. Tom is an Advisory Fellow at St Anne’s College, Oxford. He was awarded a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by City, University of London, an Honorary Doctor of Technology by the University of Wolverhampton and was appointed a CBE in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to Technology and Philanthropy.’
Dearlove has 11 directorships including the one above. He appears to like fishing too. 🙂 **
https://companycheck.co.uk/director/910625907/RICHARD-BILLING-DEARLOVE/companies
** There is/was a building plot for sale adjacent to his address in Cornwall.
Not his address in Cornwall but the address of a fishing club.
The address he gives throughout his listings is 20 Fenchurch St which is the ‘Walkie Talkie’ skyscraper. There are 105 companies listed there.
Interesting. when did Ilube first turn up in the UK and who backed him financially?
Whilst CM is right to publicise his own mistreatment and correct to complain that there has been much secret skullduggery, which if it cast to light would have people rioting in the street at the same time there has been some wonderful stuff without which we would have lost the second world war (eg in 1941).
Brexit negotiations are a pivotal point in British history and will determine the next 60 years and we can’t rely on the PM.
I would be very disappointed if there are not some back room ops in the shadows. It doesn’t have to be blackmail and bribery, but it requires intelligence, and understanding of where others are weak and what they want. You can’t get this only by smiling. It would be nice for this to be the subject of scrutiny and oversight, but that is very difficult. If it is not subject to review then it tempts those in the dark to play their own game not the national game. Such is life….. not always satsifactory and full of risk, temptation and opportunity.
what does trying to provoke a war in the middle east or ramping up tensions with russia do about brexit?
A columnist playing fast and loose with their career at the Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2019/jan/12/brexit-remainer-leave-voters-labour-northern-people
“I’m a remainer. So why do I feel more sympathy with leave voters? Anti-Brexit campaigners really do act like a ‘metropolitan elite’, with little or no interest in northern and working-class people.”
The lights might go out in England and Wales as investors and the Japanese government pull the plug.
The isolationist plan is working.
http://archive.vn/a1RWg
Japan like us floats on QE.
Meanwhile on top of JLR’s slash and burn project of 5000 jobs in Blighty. Ford are cutting 1,150 jobs in the UK, most will be lost at Ford’s Bridgend plant in Wales.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/fords-bridgend-plant-to-hardest-15664529
“slash and burn”–is that Highlands speak? In management terms one might call that cost mgmt./control, downsizing or similar.
So Ross, what do you really think of the Salmond affair? (Or have you decided you will compete with Sharpie for random inane links?)
You’re no Pompeo.
B for effort though.
And brutally killing whales.
And Dolphins Capt –
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/wildlife-taiji-dolphin-hunt-begins/
Whenever I hear Japanese bigwigs threatening this, that and the other if Britain leaves the EU, I am tempted to ask when Japan plans to become a province of China.
The way things are going, the Japanese would be far better off that way.
https://journal-neo.org/2019/01/11/why-is-japan-so-bitter-about-unstoppable-rise-of-china/
Tom We have to stop thinking that other countries don’t know what they are doing or cannot make their own economic decisions. God knows, the UK is in a shocking mess politically, economically and democratically (starting to ebb away very quickly) – the Japanese are right to say if the UK leaves Brexit without a deal it will pull its car industry out – it has to protect it’s own national economic interest. The monumental problem is that we have Government who are incompetent, ignorant, arrogant and Fascistic in ideology being kept in only by using the MSM as their propaganda machine. If I were a nation looking at the UK as a country to do business with in the present climate I’d say a resounding ‘NO’! too.
Brexit or no Exit cont’d
MoD planners are being sent in to Ministries including the Home Office and the FCO to deal with problems following a no deal scenario.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/12/brexit-no-deal-border-chaos
______
Immigration curbs after Brexit will ‘pull rug’ from the Highlands
MSP says white paper will harm area’s economy, which is facing ‘demographic timebomb’
12 Jan 2019
The UK government’s immigration white paper “completely pulls the rug from under the feet of businesses and communities in the Highlands”, according to the Scottish National party’s Kate Forbes, one of the area’s most vocal representatives.
The Scottish government warned last Thursday the government’s white paper on immigration would cut the number of workers from Europe eligible to work in Scotland by up to 85%. Forbes identified a “failure of imagination” from politicians who spent so much of their working lives in densely-populated cities that they cannot fathom there are areas of the country where that is not the case.
/..
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/12/uk-immigration-plans-would-harm-highland-industry-warns-snp-kate-forbes
It looks to be more and more likely that the UK will be crashing out.
Damn Cameron and his stupid referendum after which he slid out of it like the snake that he is.
“Damn Cameron and his stupid referendum after which he slid out of it like the snake that he is.”
But it’s you who is spewing the venom. Take care of your ticker. And the old adage, All work and no play….in your case All Work and No Pay either.
CB: “But it’s you who is spewing the venom.”
Ah, that’s just an endearing feature of our resident sainted S.E. If you point out that her ad hominems get in the way of the message, it’s _you_ who is “spitting poison” (she used that phrase on me!) and you’ll shortly become an Enemy of the People. For someone so incredibly thin skinned, SE sure likes to denigrate others, whether they be public figures, or posters here who have dared to challenge her. It’s also apparent she doesn’t understand how badly this approach detracts from her (often very worthwhile) message… still, there’s absolutely no telling some people.
For instance, SE would probably like this story, and find it worth following:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/israel-arrests-settler-teenagers-accused-stoning-car-190112144001361.html
But I can’t inform SE about anything, because I’m an Enemy of the People.
Another one of your ad hominems Glenn all the way from Portugal now I see. How about a proper contribution to the blog?
Pathetic stuff. You are a bully.
No less than four ad hominems against me in a single post! That’s ok, though, because it’s you that’s making them.
But thanks for proving my point that you are utterly impervious to criticism. That can only be because either you are perfect, or you cannot abide having flaws pointed out. Which is it?
Oh dear Glenn is so predictable theses days, if he’s not calling for evidence from Craig on personal matters, he can be found at the bottom of the barrel, along with the usual crowd attacking SE.
Maybe he/she will post something remotely interesting sooner than later.
RoS: Everyone knows you’re a bit hard of thinking, but do you really need a pretty obvious joke explained to you?
[ Because you clearly do, I’m referring to supposedly “calling for evidence from Craig on personal matters”. So personal, of course, that he wrote them down in his book, and has mentioned it on this well read forum more than once! 🙂
But in any case – he wrote about this incredibly beautiful woman, and – way above your head, obviously – I was asking to see more pictures of her. Duhhh!!! ]
“For someone so incredibly thin skinned, SE sure likes to denigrate others…”
Someone coined a rather nicw rod to describe that. “Mimophant”.
Sensitive as a mimosa about her own feelings.
Skin like an elephant when it comes to others’.
Sorry, “a rather nice word”.
Either I need a new keyboard, or more coffee – or maybe to learn how to type.
Afshin Rattansi and Going Underground
Windrush scandal victims speak out against PM May & is neoliberalism to blame for Brexit? (E698)
12 Jan, 2019
We speak to two Windrush scandal victims, Ewaldo Romeo and Rachelle Romeo, who tell their stories and call the re-appointment of Amber Rudd to cabinet “a slap in the face.” We speak to Tim Dunlop, author of ‘The Future of Everything’ about neoliberalism and whether it is to blame for Brexit.
https://www.rt.com/shows/going-underground/448652-windrush-scandal-rudd-brexit/
Advise you to take a walk round the block Habbabkuk and then have a lie down.
I can’t resist it:
I present Michael Gove’s leadership bid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9SSOWORzw4
Sarts at 5 secs
You really should stop trolling.
You do have a rather unfortunate name. Well actually it’s obviously a choice you made which makes for a rather even more unfortunate sense of aesthetics, if i may say so, Senor. Self-awareness is the moral of the story.
[ Mod: On the subject of names:
This ban is a response to persistent trolling. It is temporary and will be reviewed at a later date. ]
So they do want to postpone Brexit by extending article 50.
That means we will stay part of the EU and hence implement the agreement we agreed to 5 years ago. The new offshore regulations will therefor apply to the City of Lonndon corp.
Great.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=undefined&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjLmKXYkOnfAhUNuRoKHVH6AhIQzPwBCAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fbusiness%2F2017%2Fjun%2F18%2Feuropean-commission-to-crackdown-on-offshore-tax-avoidance&psig=AOvVaw1RmRkh6lZ1TbeJwqoiRrf4&ust=1547412978212436
Nevermind, It seems to me to be the case that Treason May should never have triggered Article 50 in the first place without first having in place key areas of negotiation, the first draft of key legislation to replace the void left by that of the eU and without a proper framework including parameters as to what was being negotiated and which included an (I) ideal position; (ii) a realistic position and (iii) fallback position. Instead of which, she sent 3 totally ignorant, rabidly pro Brexit and woefully incompetent MPS to negotiate who were given free reign by May to determine the negotiations. No wonder we are the laughing stock of Europe. That we have an MSM who is totally incapable of asking any question or doing any proper investigative journalism – I see no reason why the EU should grant an extension of Article 50.
Jo Dominich a,
“I see no reason why the EU should grant an extension of Article 50.”
The EU will hopefully, kick the UK out, with no deal, to set an example, and make us suffer.
Best thing that could happen. That is what the majority voted for.
Its called Democracy.
Tony
Cheers for the Info Sharp Ears..
Not sure it’s all True though.. When one travels the Islands and Highlands you find that among non Scots English
Folk are by far the Largest Group.. the wee cottage we go to every year on Seil Island, is run by an English woman, we were there in October for my birthday.. and will be back in June for the Big ‘ All Under One Banner ‘ March / Rally in Oban
It’s way more likely that large growers of produce in other areas will suffer most
Radioactive?
Military in biohazard suits remove windows at home of ex-spy Sergei Skripal in ‘deep clean’ to remove potential traces of Radioactive material after Russian poison attack
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6584645/Military-biohazard-suits-remove-windows-home-ex-spy-Sergei-Skripal-deep-clean.html
So is the most deadly Nerve Gas ever invented also Radioactive?
This is starting to get silly.
This is becoming a rather expensive piece of propaganda to maintain.
If the Russians smeared/sprayed the Novichok on the door handle of Mr.Skripal
the door handle is just above ground level, rain washes Novichok off, how come the roof beams are contaminated, does rain go up?
Novichok appears to be all things to all men. It can be persistent, but it can be washed by rain and baby wipes, it can be extremely poisonous but fail to kill targeted victims, it can be viscous and sticky but also vaporize and permeate the ceilings and girders, it can only be Russian made, but also made by Iran, Czechoslovakia (as then was) and others, it can be very difficult to detect but our then foreign secreteray can detect it with confidence within days, It can be 100 pure after days of exposure to the elements and so on.
Michael, you are right, it has been a silly but serious set of lies from the start supported by the MSM but now, as you suggest, radioactivity? It has now reached the really silly level
I suppose there was more in Skripals house than they are letting on.
MaryPaul, Good point there! Doesn’t explain though how the cats and guinea pigs were alive but in a state of severe malnutrition!!
What do you mean “starting” its way, way past that, it has flown by unbelievable, and orbited ridiculous for awhile before speeding up and passing preposterous, now it’s into the realms of fantasy, as it heads way out there to Pluto and beyond. ?
RoS..
Here is a New book you may Find interesting, Craig too, and Some otheres here at Craig’s..Maybe a wee bit Pricy, But Looks worth it –
https://allofusfirst.bigcartel.com/product/scotland-an-atlas-of-opportunity
It must be silly, but the news on Skripal house somehow got tied in (in my brain) with the news on Amazon’s security cameras. Honestly, I have no idea why I think this can be connected. Perhaps I just fall into conspiracies or try to play detective, or may be it was just timing.
https://theintercept.com/2019/01/10/amazon-ring-security-camera/
Tatyana
All we need to know is that if this was alleged Novichok poisoning then five people would be dead.
Unfortunately Dawn is the one victim.
Her partner Charlie is suffering from something.
The other three ( higher class status) have ” miraculously survived.
there is allegedly only one bottle of application applied to the door handle.
There are actually two doors ( an inner and an outer door).
Yet Charlie says ( an old pop song from the nineties ) that he ” unwrapped ” a bottle of perfume with a knife.
Therefore implying contrarily the narrative of the State that there must be TWO bottles doing the rounds in Salisbury?
p.s. as an adjunct to the State narrative I’ll predict that May will not deliver her old deal for consideration next week but will present the Plan B for discussion and perusal, thereby avoiding humiliation.
As Old Moore said to me before his unexpected death – ” As a rule – I don’t make predictions ”
This might just happen.
The irony is that the British people think that the Russians are devious.
Compared to The British State they are rank amateurs.
You don’t gain and hold Colonies by being stupid.
Well spotted Tatyana, we have to question everything these days as there is no responsible Press or organisations that seem to be capable of doing so. You don’t fall into conspiracies – like most analytical people – you weigh up the actual evidence against spurious statements and arrive a natural conspiracy conclusion. Keep up the good work!!
It was silly from the get-go, I reckon.
while studying English we were taught by our professors some ‘have-to-know’s.
First, London is the capital of Great Britain. And when we say Britain, they may think of England or UK.
Second, British people are POLITE, very polite and we should be extra-polite (extra for russian), too.
Third, there are adressing forms, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms. and several special ones, like Your Highness, for aristicrats. These norms do no exist in russian, and omitting them is very rude!
Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Shakespear and Oscar Wilde are necessary to know most part of references in a common conversation (strange, Holy Bible never mentioned, but it is the greatest difference between russians, mostly ateists and british mostly religious).
—
Entering this blog, I knew I cannot keep to what I was taught. For some reasons, those are: it was very very very long ago, and I was not an excellent student, further I had no chance in my life to live in, or even to visit an english speacking country.
So, I decided – let it be as it is – what am I loosing, after all? People are people everywhere, two eyes, two ears and a mouth to say something out.
Now I can tell, knowing foreign language is really a splendid gift. One can just drop in, and say ‘hallo’ and get a ‘hallo’ in return. People in Britain are not really all those stifffed lords, needing to be adressed in a special way. They are not claiming you to be some way specifically polite to them. Gosh, they are really just as we are!
To some extent, they are suspicious, to some extent, they are sincere, to some extent, they let them be what they actually are. Everithyng is exactly is what we, russians, do in any web-forums.
I’m happy to know, that people of that part of the panet are not some strange extraterrestrials 🙂
Tatyana, that was very pleasant, thank you, I am expecting most ordinary Russian people are much of a muchness with ordinary English people, sometimes honest, sometimes funny, sometime untruthful, sometimes opening up, letting their true selves be known.
Michael, more of it, I now think that All Ordinary People on Earth are just the same and we have no ground to be hostile to each other, unless our ‘authoritative influencers’ teach us to hate.
I saw that and had to laugh . They are trapped into the fantasy they created and with the integrity initiative papers out for everyone to see they must continue with the fantasy . In saying all this I have a feeling that Skripal is no longer alive . Twice journalists have stated by mistake “the murder “of or “murdered Sergei Skripal “ which is sinister and seems more like a slip rather than a mistake .
Isa – agree that it looks as though Sergei is no longer with us. Apart from anything else, given that he kept in regular contact with his mother, I can’t imagine him agreeing to any deal that didn’t include at least getting a message to her that he’s alive and safe.
Re “seems more like a slip rather than a mistake .”
Because if he is dead and that was confirmed then there would be calls for an inquest, or enquiry, or both. Which the PTB would have been keen to avoid as too much of their other embarrassing activities would have come to light. And then the authorities would have yet more explaining to do. Difficult to look innocent when you have provoked such an attack. So Skripal probably dead.
«In saying all this I have a feeling that Skripal is no longer alive .»
I reckon that he is in some kind of “black site” prison.
That he has never been paraded as the victim of Putin in some PR exercise with the press is indeed highly significant, but I doubt that he has been killed by MI5 or whatever. My best guess continues to be that he was trying to make money with some black-market trades in illegal and dangerous substances of which his daughter was the courier, the last trade resulted in an incident, and MI5 or whatever were very angry that he was doing deals behind their backs; and made the best of a bad situation by spinning an accident in a attack.
This is a rather comprehenive view on the Skripal case:
http://www.theblogmire.com/category/skripal-case/
As I have mentioned a few times, the only thing we can be absolutely sure of about the Skripal affair (including the subsequent Amesbury nonsense) is that HMG has been lying through its teeth, deliberately and cynically. As have the police, sad to relate.
The various official statements, especially in the light of media articles which often contradict them and each other, cannot possibly be reconciled. What’s more, it’s obvious that this is so. We can only conclude that HMG thinks we are so stupid that we won’t notice, or alternatively that it doesn’t matter because it is immune to any retribution or accountability.
As well as Craig’ various debunking efforts, see http://www.theblogmire.com/summing-up-the-official-claims-in-the-salisbury-poisonings-weighed-in-the-balances-and-found-wanting/
“….the threat that the security services pose to any progressive movement in politics.”
They seem to want it both ways. On the one hand they claim our democratic systems are wide open to outside interference(eg Russian interference, allegedly) and seek to counter that with things like the Integrity Initiative, yet on the other won’t support those urging progressive ideas such as implementing a fairer, more representative voting system.
Taking the Netherlands as an example; in their last general election 28 parties stood and thirteen of those won seats in a fairly even distribution. Such system would be a nightmare for anyone seeking to control or manipulate voters, parties or politicians. In our two-party it’s fairly easy to change votes at scale, pushing them to vote for the other side. Maybe some are just miffed they(and their MSM) don’t have a monopoly on doing that anymore?
Should we examine what info is presented to the voters, through which media and with and with what bias? It doesn’t matter what system you have if the voters are all brainwashed.
The democratic system really is key to shaping that media environment too. It isn’t just the fact proportional representation shields against interference, it undoubtedly does that. The two-party system is flawed in other ways too.
We had, for a long time our two big parties broadly in agreement on most issues. When the then leader of the opposition, Ed Miliband, decided to break with convention and vote against action in Syria, it created a big ruckus; because his decision was almost an affront to that cosy consensus. Yet polling at the time revealed little public support for a full scale attack on Syria.
This is but one example of how the political class in a two-party system can connive and ignore the broader electorate. It was even worse under Blair, when Iain Duncan Smith was Tory leader. Before the Iraq war IDS was a bigger cheerleader for war than even Blair himself ; goading Blair at PMQs for not being more vocal and gung-ho in his support for the US invasion plans. Anti-war opinion, for example, a 2 million strong anti-war march in London, was just ignored by the political class, because in a two-party system, where else can they go if both parties agree? The Iraq invasion + lasting repercussion, which Craig mentions frequently wouldn’t have happened under a proportional system in all probability.
Or is it that the media environment is key to shaping the democratic system? As is currently and demonstrably the case?
Do you have any specific evidence for your claim that PR shields against interference? Your idea of the 2 party system solely comprising two people of power surprises me.
It doesn’t prevent interference entirely, but it makes attempts to interfere, whether from actors inside(establishment) or outside(hostile states) more futile. Because coalition negotiations are complex and those other parties have to be kept in the loop once in power. A PM can’t form a too cosy relationship with an Intel agency chief – as many allege happened with Blair and John Scarlett. The checks and balances on power are far better in countries that frequently see such coalitions.
Basically Britain wouldn’t be the most secretive country in Europe were it not for the fact majority govts can be built with just over a third of the vote. We wouldn’t have had the Brexit referendum with a proportionate system either. Cameron only got 36.9% of the vote in 2015.
«was just ignored by the political class, because in a two-party system, where else can they go if both parties agree?»
When M Thatcher said “There Is No Alternative” that was not a claim, that was a plan to make sure voters have only one choice in 2-3 slightly different colors, for the sake of appearance. That’s seems the motivation for the constant ferocious attacks against J Corbyn (and before him even E Milliband), with ferocity out of all proportion to their very mild political positioning. The same for the attacks on the SNP.
You are right of course, Goose, however, it seems to me that the biggest warmongers are the MSM – regardless of the rights and wrongs of the situation – they are armchair warmongers with little regard for truth, human life, international law and huge numbers of civilian deaths – none of it will ever be on their shoulders because they always bleat the same old same old “We only reflect the will of the people”. Well, b*******s to that – they go out of their way to distort the truth, print lies and support the current ruling elite all in the name of more war. Had it been a Labour government that had presided over the dire mess this Government has made of the economy, of the Benefits system, of housing and of Brexit – OMG – the MSM would have not just crucified them but dropped the atom bomb on them as well!!
There’s a simple explanation, Goose. The powers that be have things arranged exactly as they want them – and they won’t countenance any change. It’s not so easy to run a country oligarchically or rather plutocratically, and still have most of the people believing it’s a democracy.
It’s ridiculous how anyone discussing having more transparency and a fairer voting system gets labelled unpatriotic or even anti-west.
The people unquestioningly defending the status quo are the useful idiots. Not those seeking to bring our democracy into the 21st century.
I understand people who have the means are building nuclear bunkers in NZ !! I would urge them and the banksters, the media, the arms companies, Blairite MP’s and pro war mongers to go a bit further afield and leave NZ alone and take their loot and weapons with them.
Sorry – but we must protect the “supra-national intelligence organisation that does not answer to the known laws of its own countries” – The sword of Damocles hangs over Lake Wanaka..
Five eyes are watching u
I understand that people with means have thoroughly distorted NZ’s housing/land market and hence many locals cannot afford to get housing and live destitute.
@Wikikettle – Have you got a source for the rich getting themselves nuclear bunkers built in NZ? I thought some had been buying themselves a foothold in that country in preparation for a scenario in which it would NOT be hit by the nukes that would obliterate many of the cities of Eurasia and North America.
Debunked?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/106980695/mystery-surrounds-secret-kiwi-survival-bunker-claims
Mini Nukes used on Gazza Tonight _ Bastards
Did you mean Gazza or Gaza? Could we have a link please?
A lot of wise ones do not have Fbook.I often see items a day or more befor they appear on Criag’s.. That is why i wish some would put onto you tube a wee bit sooner..I encourged some..Like Robert Inalakesh, Tom Dugan.. To me This is no Ordiary Bomb – in Gaza.. Crowded with Children.. In this Image Children are Murdered –
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2326222630721952&set=pcb.2326222767388605&type=3&theater
Brian, I have this foreboding that a hot war is coming and it will be started by Israel. My heart sank when I read that they had somehow interfered with politics in the Sudan recently to the extent that they know have the right to fly over it. I see big war coming started by Israel and supported by the USA. Where are the UN here?
A correct transliteration of the Arabic does have two z’s. I suppose it would be Ghazza.
The EEA deal would not work as this would require adherence to the single market that requires free movement of capital that is financially destabilising and undermines democracy as it undermines a Governments economic policy, An EEA deal would also require adherence to EU state aid rules that are much more stringent than WTO rules. An EFTA deal without EEA membership would not require adherence to EU state aid rules of require free movement of capital. A customs union although requiring a common external tariff, would not require free movement of capital or adherence to EU state aid rules so is less problematic. The UK needs to restructure its economy away from financial services with periodic housing bubbles supporting debt fuelled consumption and diminishing oil this will require state aid in violation of EU rules that require state aid to be pre-approved by the EU commission.
In this situation a no deal would be required to bring the EU to a reasonable negotiation position later.
@Reg – “Periodic” means they come and they go. Contrary to the impression given by estate agents and retail-market moneylenders who have at times whinged that property prices have fallen by a few percent over a year or two, the huge personal debt bubble which is the cause of the sky-high property price level has not yet burst in this country. The question is how the f*** much of the country the ruling scum are willing to destroy, or watch go to the wall, in the interests of finance capital, of moneylending, of the City of London. We may well be about to find out.
Interestingly Tesco already has an Armed Forces Network. As early as last year they “launched a drive to recruit former military personnel into high level careers across the company, offering jobs in everything from communications to logistics, security to project management.” Those who study the British ruling class will know that this company has also agreed a big property contract with Trinity College, Cambridge, the outfit that – oh look! – owns the Port of Felixstowe. So don’t expect any empty bellies at high table!
Your misinterpretation of periodic housing bubbles misses the point. It destabilizes the economy, increases housing costs and increases inequality (as the better off own assets) and income from capital (such as housing) increases over earned income. It also leads to misallocation of investment as the real economy is starved of investment as more money can be made from speculation and rentier extraction with the financial sector being the main beneficiary as parasitical on the real economy extracting unearned income. This lack of investment contributes to the UKs trade deficit and the lamentable record on productivity. No periodic bubble do not come and go as housing remains overpriced after the economic crisis so have not corrected to affordable levels such as 2.5X median annual income, (as this was the multiple of affordability used by building societies), rents remain also unaffordable so have not corrected.
Military planners have been seconded to the Cabinet Office, the Home Office, the Foreign Office, and the Transport Department. As far as I know this has not happened before in peacetime, not even when the IRA bombed 10 Downing Street during a cabinet meeting.
I believe the recent flight stoppages at Gatwick and Heathrow airports were ordered to test defences. Which country the order originated in is another question.
Serious food for though N. Having read a variety of opinions of the drones at Gatwick and Heathrow I think you have a point there.
Military planners are very good at logistics, plus they have control of the UK’s air and sea movements assets. Could be a good reason for bringing them in.
Also, they don’t leak to the press and will work long hours. My brother was in air movements at the time of the Falklands War and was working 12/7. No overtime pay either but he got a gong.
“If Scotland becomes independent, it must not mirror the repressive UK security services”
Then why ignore the miscarriage of justice of the Scottish judges in the case they presided over, when Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was fitted up over the Lockerbie bombing. How can a country be independent that allows such a bent judiciary to freely operate…_
Digger
It is a Stain..Even though the British / U.S Intel were up to their neck in corruption of the case. Bribing witnesses ect
“If Scotland becomes independent, it must not mirror the repressive UK security services”
An Independant Scotland.. Wont need to
“Stain” ? what kind of whitewash is that……Scotland has a bent judiciary, and a political establishment that covers it up. And that is before independence.
Good luck with a free Scotland…_
DiggerUK, although the Lockerbie trial was supposedly carried out under Scots Law in the Netherlands, I don’t think Scots Law was really in control. Scots Law has been rubbished since James of the Glens was wrongly hanged. The UK is a puppet of Washington and it would be naive to believe otherwise.
It would be good luck if an Independent Scotland could shake off the shackles of Washington/Westminster.
Well Said JOML..All the Best
Megrahi was released at the behest of the US to avoid his impending appeal being heard.
Publicly US/UK wanted to blame SNP for the “outrageous decision”, but the absence of any reprisals shows they were happy with the decision. The SNP feared reprisals if they didn’t go along with the charade and settled for a face saving released for humanitarian reasons, which unofficially would be true as he was innocent.
Even Scots law cannot ensure a fair trial when the Yanks pay the main witness millions of dollars to change his story by 180 degrees.
As Robert Black, and both the UN and EU observers stated afterwards, it was one of the worst travesties of justice ever seen.
Good Luck Trying to Keek Scotland’s Wealth under London Shackles.
Who’s ignoring it? Surely the point is that since the establishment will always protect itself, it needs to be working on behalf of rather than in opposition to the interests of the general public.
This miscarriage of justice under Scottish judges is being excused on the grounds that it is normal procedure for Scotland, and has been since time immemorial.
This was a trial on Scottish territory, presided over by Scottish judges, with all appeals going to Scottish courts presided over by Scottish judges. After numerous appeal proceedings the sentence was confirmed, and a minimum tariff of 27 years was imposed. Which meant Abdelbaset al-Megrahi could not even apply for parole until he had done 27 years in gaol.
The SNP have been shameless in not demanding justice be done. So Scots have the double whammy of a bent judiciary, and a bent political party to look forward to in a ‘free and independent’ Scotland…_
Just as well we didn’t still have the death penalty then, eh????
A brief mention of Dearlove in the MoS today, basically a book advert, but does highlight some holes in the narrative
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6585263/Damning-new-evidence-Dr-Kelly-DIDNT-commit-suicide.html
Only 7 comments when I read the page, are 77th brig. asleep? Caution: contains flashy pictures of the messianic rich former PM, read in a safe place whilst wearing personal protective items.
Crucially, Broucher has told me something he had never previously disclosed: that during their meeting Dr Kelly named Blair’s spin doctor Alastair Campbell as one of those exerting pressure to make the dossier on Iraq’s possession of WMD as strong as possible.
Leading Establishment figures of the day, from Tony Blair down, agreed to be questioned at the Hutton Inquiry. There was evidence from Alastair Campbell and from Sir Richard Dearlove, the head of MI6, whose voice had never been heard in public before.
In the very early days there were a few words from the medic-first responders, these have now “vanished”
I think their relevant points were the body had been moved ( deep memory from a barbed wire fence to leaning on an oak tree)
virtually now blood, yet he was clutching a pruning knife, which was thought strange.
So whats up over there ? 🙂
According to newsies here , nothing much. Britain is sorely under reported, judging by this site. So much vile doings, so much treachery, so many corrupt politicians, run amok secret services.
Sweden is embarrassingly boring, we cant form a gubmint and are all raped 4-6 times a day by illegal immigrants, nothing new rally, although my behind is sore! (my cat is erratic , I think it has been raped too).
But its good to see Britain is in full vigor as usual, mischief and evil deeds in the dark. Are you not leaving soon BTW ?
What fun it will be with the Irish border (The border between Ireland and NI, the one secured through the GFA) but you know all that of course… So you are stocking up on foodies ? Non ? Better do, as things might not go to plan, and a little British spirit aint going to fill much in an empty belly.
How is the market for gillets jaune ? A no-go too ? tsk-tsk ! I understand why my ancestors (Danish :)) picked on you, easy prey, docile and complete ignoramuses, could not organize a wedding in a church.
But you are leaving, right ? Right? Whadya mean you are not sure! Whith all the vile stuff exposed of your deeds (Skripal, White Helmets, MH17) we really do not like to associate with you very much, and you DID break the engagement, you know…
I will call back in 6 months, do not call me, I will call you!
до свидания! (do svidaniya) (trying to adjust to the future :))
LOL
An interesting scenario is building up. If there is no deal but a delay to article 50 then the EU will have had the EU parliament elections in April with no MEPs from Britain. So effectively we will have no representation which would be a problem if there is a second referendum which keeps us in Europe. Anyone knows what that would mean?
Apparently, quite recently, some European Court made a provisional ruling that if the U.K. Government write a letter to The Elite of the E.U. backing off and claiming the U.K. is no longer leaving, then no one can stop the U.K. remaining under normal conditions.
If this does happen, we will be voting in the upcoming European M.E.P. Elections.
Now that could put the cat among the pigeons.
In any case the make-up of the new European Parliament will likely be more”challenging” for the Elite.
Basically right there M.N., tho’ the court mentioned that any art.50 withdrawal letter to Council should follow as part of a significant democratic event, such as a major government defeat by a sovereign parliament, or announcement of a general election, referendum or such.
My advice to May, worth obviously £0.00, is to write the ‘sorry we are not going letter’ to Council on the evening of Tuesday 15th January 2019 (if she lost her vote on Tuesday)
Announce with Corby a new referendum without digital nudge psyop advertising on either side, to take place on 21st June. And write a new art.50 “we are leaving” letter at 08:00Z on Wednesday 16th January , announcing that the UK will leave the union on 31/12/2021, will mention that we might cancel this second leave letter should the majority of the population, following their, by now, two years of education in this matter, actually vote informedly to a) stay in EU, b) remain in EEA & lobby to join EFTA but withdraw from many EU activities (can have a long list of agencies/institutions and what they do – tick Y/N), or c) third choice to leave everything and enjoy the brave choice of going alone.
From what I can gather, the EU is sad to see UK ‘go’, but welcomes the people’s informed choice to do what they wish. We might need a significant ‘something’ to write the art.50 ‘remain’ letter, it’s about 729 x easier than any actual art.50 ‘pause’ permissions from the other MS, but we could immediately trigger a new leave letter, keeping up admirably with the track record of perfidious albion.
David
You must be an honourable person to ascribe so much honour to both the EU and Mrs May, that they have the best interests of their constituencies in mind. If Mrs May had taken even a few seconds during her tenure at No 10 to act reasonable with the public instead of bombarding them continuously with Tory ALT right dogma, she would not be in the position she is in now. Same with the EU to a certain degree. The first and most important thing to get done this week is to remove May. She’s so [ insert Corbyn non pc adjective of your choice ] and withdrawn one can only suppose the Tories chose her on purpose thinking they could swing the argument with ease to their own points of view. So now we have hundreds of different Tory points of view.
The Nebulousness is all her fault because she is unable or unwilling to address the concerns of people. The alternative is to let her do her thing. see the consequences and reverse it in due course. It’s not that Albion is perfidious, it’s just that it instinctively selects the most opaque personalities to conduct their Imperial poker game. Or alternatively they select someone like Blair with a joystick on the top of his head who they can control. They will never select a good communicator with a passion for justice like Corbyn.
Whatever happens this week , it will not be that nuclear option.
The UK will not join EFTA as Norway is opposed to have a constant irritant troublemaker it its midst.
The EU is not allowing or supporting Catalonias informed choice/vote, it is absolutely rife for reform, time to elect the top echelons.
@SA – Delay requires agreement by all 27 continuing members of EU. Revocation could be brought about by the British state off its own bat, in which case if the Brexit process were to be restarted there would have to be another A50 letter but remember that once an A50 letter is submitted exit may be implemented (on agreement) in less than two years. Just to be clear on that.
EU elections are on 23-26 May. The EU parliament’s term ends on 18 April. The inaugural plenary session of the new parliament is on 2 July. I think such sessions have so far been largely ceremonial and once the MEPs have been introduced to the channels through which they get paid their backhanders they get down to considering substantive stuff only some time later, perhaps even as a late as late August.
Any exit “deal” must be agreed by all 27 continuing members and it must also be ratified by the EU parliament. So ratification requires that there is an EU parliament. I conclude from that if there were to be a British request for delay (“Oh please please, government of Estonia, we’ll give you anything you want” kind of thing) it would not be for less than three months and would probably be for at least five.
I have no idea why an article under Theresa May’s name has been published in today’s Daily Express (possibly called the Sunday Express in its print incarnation).
“Revocation means revocation” and so long as another A50 letter were not submitted before the May elections then the elections would take place in Britain as well as in the other 27 member states. Even if another A50 letter were submitted on the same day that the first one was revoked (is anyone seriously suggesting that British politicians aren’t shitclown enough to try it?), then if the idea were that a referendum were to be held with a Remain option then British MEPs would have to be elected in May in the normal way.
Conclusion: if there is to be a referendum it will be before May and probably also in good time for 18 April. Never mind what all the smartarses and jobsworths say about the Electoral Commission and all that “process” deskboy codswallop. Greece held a referendum at 10 days’ notice and Britain can do the same.
It’s going to be no deal, probably sealed by a referendum. Hoard food. Don’t trust Tesco’s. And watch the skies, because some kind of fascination-inducing mass delusion is likely.
N_
May needs to understand ” P45 means P45 “. We are not a charity for millionaire Miss Havershams.
Before the end of the week No 10 Downing Street will be occupied by Mr Gove. No deal is not a problem. “L” plates dithering is a problem. I have doubled my larder space this summer, and if it gets worse, there’s always the spare bedroom.
Gove has a Blair-like joystick sticking out of the top of his head, and so will be a suitable candidate to implement Trump’s expansion into Syria of the Greater Israel, subtley indicated by his latest suggestion that Egypt and Saudi Arabia can sort out Daesh instead of Erdogan.
Sisi and MBS have joysticks on their tellitubby unifiorms.
Marr this morning. Cable. Barclay. Corbyn.
Will there be a General Election? Will the Tory party split?
I hope the Scottish Government moves soon Craig.
In saying that, we the people, will push it on.
Onwards and upwards.
??
Dr Swee Ang has shared an e-mail about an appeal for funds for the Syrian and Palestinian refugees living in tents in freezing conditions in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon. Storms, rain and snow and more severe storms are forecast.
https://www.facebook.com/BeitAtfalAssumoud/posts/1671553462946355?_
The appeal comes from the National Institution of Social Care and Vocational Training (NISCVT) known as Beit Atfal Assumoud (BAS)
Hi Sharp Ears, I truly truly despair that Israel is being allowed to get away with more bombing of Gaza, killing children, unarmed civilians, imprisoning teenagers etc. The UN is worthless in this regard. Wny aren’t individual countries imposing sanctions on Israel. Is there any possibility at all that, in becoming so arrogant and aggressive, Israel will fail spectacularly and be seen for the Fascists, murderous, racist country that they actually are. I write this as an Israeli News source had to take down an article advocating for Genocide of the Palestinians as been necessary – It was only taken down after serious international condemnation. Please give me some good news
May sounds as though she’s panicking this morning.
“Theresa May: rejecting Brexit deal would be ‘unforgivable breach of trust'” Graun. I don’t know people are going to be impressed by that.
Laguerre I also think the shivers are going up and down her spine, which way to jump, the frying pan or the fire?
Why would anyone who is assured a cushy and prosperous future, come what may, be panicking?
It’s us proles who should be panicking!
J Galt, you have a point there – however, you are forgetting the allure of total power to a Prime Minister who is currently acting more in keeping with a Fascist Dictator than a democratically elected MP. As Lord Denning said ‘Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”. Now, May is panicking because she knows a No Deal Brexit which she has advocated for is going to spell economic disaster for the UK and it’s all at her door. Leaving that aside, she is power mad – she wants to crush us proles and service her cronies the rich. The only thing in fact, she is truly interested in is retaining Power – after all, she managed to get the UN to support the UK’s view on the Skripal affair didn’t she? Unfortunately, any would be successors within her Party are more rabidly Fascist, ignorant and incompetent than she is!
“As Lord Denning said ‘Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”.”
On a point of information, that wasn’t Lord Denning. I’ll let you find out who it really was.
Charles B, Lord Denning said it in his Judgement in a case where the Inland Revenue had done a dawn raid on someone’s house to obtain documents they could have got through the legal system. Whether he was quoting someone else’s original quote I do not know but I do know he said it.
Aye. A photo of her and hubby showed them to be in jovial moods.
Demob happy.
She is finally to be allowed to move on and enjoy her billionaire lifestyle and a ‘seat at the table’. She was supposed to have retired last year except her partners in crime NuLabInc had right royally screwed it all up! Not her problem.
The Police investigation is named: ‘Operation Diem’.
Diem…?
Wasn’t he the President of South Vietnam…?
The one assassinated by (or at the behest of) the CIA…?
It’s an interesting choice of name for a political assassination….is it not?
Officers who are investigating the harassment claims are also examining alleged incidents in relation to Salmond at Edinburgh Airport.
Staff at the airport were interviewed by officers about allegations that date back to 2008, when he was First Minister.
An airport spokesman said at the time: “We are helping police with their inquiries and are unable to comment further at this time.”
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17338094.staff-contacted-as-part-of-operation-diem-police-probe-into-salmond-sexual-misconduct-claims/
It says here the police are also speaking with people from the SNP
somebody really, really, really has it in for Salmond.
Would that be because he now writes and broadcasts for RT UK?
It would appear that Leslie Evans has some past form of being economic with actualité
https://www.kidsnotsuits.com/fake-news-how-public-lies-begin/
«The UK has security services which operate dishonestly and illegally.»
Well, the foreign intelligence service by necessity as spying is illegal in most countries. And perhaps they commit in foreign countries worse crimes than spying. The obituary of a former deputy head of MI6 reports that: “His Roman Catholic faith remained central to him, although in later years, knowing himself, he did not take communion since he could not reconcile it with decisions he made in the office.”
The issue is why there is a domestic “security” service distinct from the police, and the answer can only be that the police is, however weakly, bound to respect the law, so the domestic security service commits criminal acts on behalf of their masters. For several thousand years the tools of “security” services have indeed been threats, blackmail, bribery (all tools also used by party whips too). In the pursuit of legal purposes all these are actually unnecessary, so presumably domestic security services don’t just pursue legal purposes.
«Interestingly, I cannot say that they are currently out of the control of the UK government;»
* In the less recent past since Churchill (and Attlee) they have been under the control primarily of the USA government anyhow.
* In the more recent past thanks to electronic surveillance they obviously are routinely collecting “stuff” on every politician, and this may well give them in time the upper hand on their supposed masters.
This is a new article by Miles Goslett about Dr David Kelly’s death. Dearlove gets a mention of course.
Damning new evidence that Dr Kelly DIDN’T commit suicide: The disturbing flaws in the official government story surrounding the death of Blair’s chemical weapons expert
Official explanation was that the weapons expert had taken his own life
But since Dr Kelly’s death in 2003, time has done nothing to dispel suspicion
Successive governments have refused to allow full coroner’s inquest to be held
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6585263/Damning-new-evidence-Dr-Kelly-DIDNT-commit-suicide.html
Who has a book to sell on the subject…
The false flag cover stories are so poor it must be deliberate to warn everyone off considering the events. That is the details so betray the event that you know the official line is a cover-up and so you can’t get involved by mistake, threatening your career or worse.
I think a more accurate headline would have been ‘Mildly interesting new evidence that Dr Kelly DIDN’T commit suicide.’ I read this story at 8am when there were 7 comments, and just now again when there were still only 7 comments. Some of them have been up-voted more than 8,000 times. So at least 8,000 people have read the comments, but only 7 felt inclined to leave a comment. Somehow I don’t think so…
Sharp Ears, thanks for posting this. I cannot escape the feeling though that all these MSM stories are being put out to blur the real issues currently under scrutiny ie.. A minority Government who has bypassed parliamentary democracy and who is not fit to govern; dire economic forecasts for t he future magnified by a No Deal Brexit; the failure of Universal Credit which they will not acknowledge, a heavily critical IMF report on the UK’s economy and strident criticism of this Government’s recently handing out significant tax breaks to the very Rich whilst making the middle and poorer classes even more worse off than they presently are, a climate where, for the first time since the WWII that most working people have seen a significant drop in their salaries due to rising inflation, a lack of pay rises over 10 years of Tory rule, rising interest rates and a huge leap in the cost of living. Better I guess to write articles about David Kelly to deflect public opinion away from the more crucial issues at hand. Slight of Hand = the death of democracy with an MSM that is nothing more than a propaganda machine for this Government.
The problem of course is if a police investigation is politically driven by those making the complaints, it can go on for ever, like Trump, as due once started it difficult for police to drop and relies on smoke rather than fire, to damage the target. But that said, if its clearly viewed as a political investigation, it only works if the target is unpopular already.
«Interestingly, I cannot say that they are currently out of the control of the UK government; the evidence is rather they are willing to engage in every dirty and dishonest trick at the behest of corrupt politicians like Blair.»
For some politicians that’s exactly what the purpose of the “security” services is, but that puts them in a potentially difficult position: what if the government changes and the new government thinks that the “dirty and dishonest trick at the behest of corrupt politicians” need to be punished?corrupt politicians”
Try to imagine what the “corrupt politicians” and their helpers in the “security” services must be thinking of the possibility of J Corbyn being PM, with full access to files and people, and ordering a cleanup after Iraq, Kelly, Uzbekistan, MH-117, Skripal, Salmon, …
Once bent politicians bend the “security” services, every unbent politician, whether they be independent scots or Corbyn, getting in power must be seen as an existential threat by both categories.
At that point the political class has become a proper ganster organization, where only those who are complicit, by commission or omission, with nasty crimes can gain membership, because otherwise they cannot be trusted to keep the lid on.