Many thanks for their kind words about me both to Martin Meenagh and to Martin Kelly, which latter writes:
One is grateful to Private Eye's 'Funny Old World' section for pointing out something which is neither worldly not funny.
Eye 1232 contains an item from The Serbia Observer of January 19, 2009, spotted by 'Mark Baillie'. It reports that the IMF has insisted that the equipment of Serbia's police must be made available for private rental.
A police uniform can be hired for 1, 440 dinars per day, a police horse for 2, 880 dinars per day, a police dog for 2, 160 dinars per day, individual officers for 360 dinars per hour and police helicopters and aeroplanes for between 54,000 and 168,000 dinars per hours. A Serbian politico named Dragan Todorovic is quoted as saying, "Everything is up for sale or rental...We are walking the path of economic slavery..."
He is quite right. If true, this is a disgusting and shameful business. For all the faults of the police, they are public servants - they should never be for hire. It says little for the IMF's understanding of the rule of law that it should have demanded such a stupid course of action.
And in response, a voice can be heard emanating from the belly of the beast - 'Yeah, dude, whatever. They're just Serbs'.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Trustafarian Trots
That is what my New Labour opponent's parents will have been back in the day. Then again, when were Trots ever anything but trustafarians?
Still, at least they were interested in politics at all. More than can be said for her, a trustafarian and nothing else.
Will she even bother standing? Against a Nazi who pretends not to be, a Nazi who doesn't (David Irving, with any luck), a member of the Stalin Society, someone who shares the views of Peter Tatchell (already a candidate somewhere else, alas), Oliver Kamm (what are you frightened of, Oliver?) and me, why not sit back and enjoy the most interesting and colourful mainland contest for donkey's years, possibly in living memory?
Still, at least they were interested in politics at all. More than can be said for her, a trustafarian and nothing else.
Will she even bother standing? Against a Nazi who pretends not to be, a Nazi who doesn't (David Irving, with any luck), a member of the Stalin Society, someone who shares the views of Peter Tatchell (already a candidate somewhere else, alas), Oliver Kamm (what are you frightened of, Oliver?) and me, why not sit back and enjoy the most interesting and colourful mainland contest for donkey's years, possibly in living memory?
Abortion In Northern Ireland
John Smeaton writes:
Northern Ireland's Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has issued guidance on the circumstances in which abortion can be performed, and it is fundamentally flawed. My colleagues in the province warn that the policy could face a judicial review if it is not amended to reflect the true state of affairs.
Mrs Betty Gibson, chairwoman of SPUC Northern Ireland, said: "Abortion is a criminal offence in Northern Ireland not a medical procedure. A medical intervention to save the life of a pregnant woman is lawful, even if it risks the death of her unborn child. However, it is never lawful to perform any operation solely aimed at taking the life of a child. This remains the law and the guidance published by the department of health cannot change that.
"The guidelines are incorrect in relation to a medical professional's refusal to facilitate an abortion. The DHSSPS guidance cites advice from the General Medical Council in an attempt to convince objecting doctors that they should refer women to a colleague who will approve the abortion. However, no-one can be forced to co-operate in the performance of a criminal offence.
"Doctors should remember that GMC advice also states: 'Patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives and health. To justify that trust you must show respect for human life and you must: Make the care of your patient your first concern.'
"Medical professionals have a duty to have respect for life and an ethical and legal duty of care owed to an unborn child as a patient. It is unacceptable for the health department guidelines to require anyone to put in place arrangements to facilitate the intentional killing of a child through abortion. On the contrary, a doctor has a moral and legal duty not to be involved in the deliberate killing of one of his or her patients.
"We believe the department of health has not listened to the concerns expressed by the Northern Ireland Health Committee. As a result these guidelines are fundamentally flawed. At present we are considering all of the options available to us to ensure that the law is fully reflected in the guidelines. If the department wishes to avoid a judicial review of this document then it must introduce serious changes right away."
Northern Ireland's Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has issued guidance on the circumstances in which abortion can be performed, and it is fundamentally flawed. My colleagues in the province warn that the policy could face a judicial review if it is not amended to reflect the true state of affairs.
Mrs Betty Gibson, chairwoman of SPUC Northern Ireland, said: "Abortion is a criminal offence in Northern Ireland not a medical procedure. A medical intervention to save the life of a pregnant woman is lawful, even if it risks the death of her unborn child. However, it is never lawful to perform any operation solely aimed at taking the life of a child. This remains the law and the guidance published by the department of health cannot change that.
"The guidelines are incorrect in relation to a medical professional's refusal to facilitate an abortion. The DHSSPS guidance cites advice from the General Medical Council in an attempt to convince objecting doctors that they should refer women to a colleague who will approve the abortion. However, no-one can be forced to co-operate in the performance of a criminal offence.
"Doctors should remember that GMC advice also states: 'Patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives and health. To justify that trust you must show respect for human life and you must: Make the care of your patient your first concern.'
"Medical professionals have a duty to have respect for life and an ethical and legal duty of care owed to an unborn child as a patient. It is unacceptable for the health department guidelines to require anyone to put in place arrangements to facilitate the intentional killing of a child through abortion. On the contrary, a doctor has a moral and legal duty not to be involved in the deliberate killing of one of his or her patients.
"We believe the department of health has not listened to the concerns expressed by the Northern Ireland Health Committee. As a result these guidelines are fundamentally flawed. At present we are considering all of the options available to us to ensure that the law is fully reflected in the guidelines. If the department wishes to avoid a judicial review of this document then it must introduce serious changes right away."
Clinton Backs European Federalism
No surprise here. It's been an American project since the Forties.
Let Battle Commence
Using my Christian name without permission, northeast@bnp.org.uk writes:
David,
My Father fought the Nazis, I don't think they stand up here in elections, nor would he or I vote for them.
Now that you have shortlisted yourself for NW Durham. Is this an invite for the BNP to stand in the hope that we can take enough votes of LibLabCon to maybe just get you elected (assuming we don't beat you), or are you looking for the BNP vote if we decide not contest this constituency?
I agree with you, Labour are in turmoil up here.
I'll have a bet with you. Let's fill out the personal and party details on the nomination papers, without the proposer, seconder and nominees. Then we can meet in a neutral location in the presnce of some nice media chaps, who can follow us around to see which candidate gets the completed nomination returned and accepted by the elections department.
Ken Booth
To which I have replied:
“My Father fought the Nazis, I don't think they stand up here in elections, nor would he or I vote for them.”
My father also fought the Nazis, and I am fighting you in that same spirit. If you do not want self-identifying Nazi votes, then I have taken the liberty of copying this to those who might, and look forward to seeing them on the stump. I have also copied this to the local media.
“Now that you have shortlisted yourself for NW Durham.”
Your incorrect use of basic terminology says a very great deal.
“Is this an invite for the BNP to stand in the hope that we can take enough votes of LibLabCon to maybe just get you elected (assuming we don't beat you), or are you looking for the BNP vote if we decide not contest this constituency?”
Neither. And I think we can safely say that I wouldn’t get the latter! Or do you encourage voting for mixed-race left-wingers?
“I'll have a bet with you.”
I’m not a betting man.
“Let's fill out the personal and party details on the nomination papers, without the proposer, seconder and nominees. Then we can meet in a neutral location in the presnce of some nice media chaps, who can follow us around to see which candidate gets the completed nomination returned and accepted by the elections department.”
You have absolutely no idea how these things work. And I will not need to go door-to-door in search of signatures.
David,
My Father fought the Nazis, I don't think they stand up here in elections, nor would he or I vote for them.
Now that you have shortlisted yourself for NW Durham. Is this an invite for the BNP to stand in the hope that we can take enough votes of LibLabCon to maybe just get you elected (assuming we don't beat you), or are you looking for the BNP vote if we decide not contest this constituency?
I agree with you, Labour are in turmoil up here.
I'll have a bet with you. Let's fill out the personal and party details on the nomination papers, without the proposer, seconder and nominees. Then we can meet in a neutral location in the presnce of some nice media chaps, who can follow us around to see which candidate gets the completed nomination returned and accepted by the elections department.
Ken Booth
To which I have replied:
“My Father fought the Nazis, I don't think they stand up here in elections, nor would he or I vote for them.”
My father also fought the Nazis, and I am fighting you in that same spirit. If you do not want self-identifying Nazi votes, then I have taken the liberty of copying this to those who might, and look forward to seeing them on the stump. I have also copied this to the local media.
“Now that you have shortlisted yourself for NW Durham.”
Your incorrect use of basic terminology says a very great deal.
“Is this an invite for the BNP to stand in the hope that we can take enough votes of LibLabCon to maybe just get you elected (assuming we don't beat you), or are you looking for the BNP vote if we decide not contest this constituency?”
Neither. And I think we can safely say that I wouldn’t get the latter! Or do you encourage voting for mixed-race left-wingers?
“I'll have a bet with you.”
I’m not a betting man.
“Let's fill out the personal and party details on the nomination papers, without the proposer, seconder and nominees. Then we can meet in a neutral location in the presnce of some nice media chaps, who can follow us around to see which candidate gets the completed nomination returned and accepted by the elections department.”
You have absolutely no idea how these things work. And I will not need to go door-to-door in search of signatures.
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