In the wake of several posts on here about Parkside Police Station in Cambridge and the experiences of a friend of mine arrested for a piffling offence, not charged, but still on the DNA Database, I have had an e-mail from a Cambridge woman who tells a nightmare story about Cambridge City Council and their insistence that she go to the police before they would help her find a place in a refuge for abused women. The following are extracts from her e-mail:
"I have been married for many years, and it has been a complex and often unhappy marriage, mingled with great times and much love and support. There were elements of physical and verbal abuse on occasion, and by that I do not mean broken bones or terrible bruising, but as my husband suffered from an obsessive mental disorder, the situation is too complex to explain in a few sentences.
"Recently, I found myself absolutely at breaking point and sought help, wanting to find accommodation and support at a hostel for abused women so that I could sort my life out, and review the future of my marriage. I was terribly stressed and unhappy. My husband was oblivious.
"I was told that Cambridge City Council would help me to find a place in a hostel and went to them, to be told that I should go to the police - this would help my case greatly. I did not want to do this. My husband is not an evil man, and the situation between us was, as I wrote before, complex. But the City Council was insistent.
"I went to Parkside Police Station in Cambridge and saw a police officer there who basically cuckolded me into believing that the police would simply have to speak to my husband. This shocked me. I did not want to give my husband's name, but I was worn down so did so and gave the officer his name, description and the telephone number. I did not want to give any of this information. I simply wanted to get away. I begged the police officer not to take further action. He said "If you hadn't wanted us to do something, you wouldn't have come here.' I only went there because Cambridge City Council informed me that I should do so if I wanted to get a place in a hostel. This, as it turned out, was false information.
"My husband was arrested. I had no idea this would happen. When I arrived at the hostel, I was told by staff and management that they would have accepted a referral without any police involvement at all!
"The involvement of the police against my wishes, and the bizarre stance of Cambridge City Council in falsely informing me that police involvement would aid my getting a place at a hostel has contributed to the stress and disruption as my life has basically fallen to pieces.
"My husband has been criminalised, and is now on the DNA Database you mention, the complexity and stress of the situation has grown tenfold, and I cannot help but wonder what was the motivation of Cambridge City Council and Parkside Police Station in misleading me. Many women would be put off seeking aid if they knew they would be forced to go to the police before being granted any.
"Is this just Cambridge? Staff and management of the hostel I went to, which was many miles away, were greatly surprised at the stance taken by Cambridge City Council. I repeat, they said they would have accepted a referral without any police involvement.
"Is this a way the Cambridge police, aided and abetted by Cambridge City Council, use to reach Government targets for arrests and charges?"
It certainly surprises me that this has happened. And I can imagine many abused women being put off seeking escape by having to jump the hurdle of talking to the police and getting their husbands arrested before any help is given.
This, coupled with my friend's experiences at Parkside Police Station, has made me very concerned indeed about the state of our local police authority and city council.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Gordon Brown Tells Lies To Try And Justify The DNA Database
It should come as no surprise that Gordon Brown has been telling lies and playing on fear to try and justify the retention of innocents' DNA on the National DNA Database.
Says Brown:
"If we had not made this change [retaining innocents' DNA profiles], 8,000 suspects who have been matched with crime scenes since 2001 would in all probability have got away, their DNA having been deleted from the database.
“This includes 114 murders, 55 attempted murders, 116 rapes, 68 other sexual offences, 119 aggravated burglaries, and 127 drugs offences.”
But, as Cynical Chatter From The Underworld points out, Brown's claims are not based on any known figures. Cynical Chatter points us in the direction of GeneWatch, which tells us:
“The figures cited by the Prime Minister are not based on the tracking of actual cases. Rather, they are based on a statistical estimate of the numbers of matches that may have occurred between crime scene DNA profiles and the DNA profiles of persons who were charged but not proceeded against or acquitted.
“Not only is the actual number of retained profiles from innocent people unknown, but it is unclear how the number of matches made with these profiles have been calculated, since the estimate does not correspond to specific individuals.”
So, Brown is guessing and LYING.
I have a friend, accused of a piffling offence, which was not proceeded with, who is now on the DNA Database. A care worker since 1985, with no police record, his experiences at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge have caused him great trauma and he is now suffering from depression and has not worked for over a month.
I was stunned at his description of events at the police station, and he has given me permission to quote him here:
"I was arrested at the station, taken through to the back, and left in a cell because the two police officers claimed that they had had no time to look at the allegation made against me. Although it was a very minor allegation, I was in the cell for five hours, having been divested of my trousers and shoes. I was given a temporary pair of trousers which were not warm and the cell was cold.
"I was told I must have have my photograph, fingerprints and DNA taken. I protested at the DNA, but was told by a sneering female police officer, and I do not use the word lightly, that 'the Government says we can do it. In twenty to thirty years everybody will be on it.' We had to wait outside the room where prints and DNA samples were taken, and I could see a young boy and an older woman in the room with a male police officer. The woman was protesting that 'he's so young and and he's barely done anything.' I did not hear the male police officer's reply.
"At the reception desk, a young Asian boy was being told that: 'You are accused of sexually abusing a young girl at Cambridge Regional College..." The boy seemed to have little grasp of English and began screaming.
"The accusation was made and the scene was played out in full view and earshot of several members of the general public, including myself, that were nearby.
"I was finger printed on a computer, and I saw the female police officer type in the allegation I was arrested for before sending the prints off into cyberspace. I protested again that I did not want my DNA taken, and the female police officer said: 'Do you want to STAY here? You've no say in the matter!'
"This all seemed terribly far removed from English law."
So, there you have it. I am concerned for my friend as the events have had a devastating effect on him. I am also concerned at reports of people ending up on the DNA Database for trivial nonsense - like dropping apple cores!
What rankles most is that Gordon Brown is a villain. Pure and simple. He rules with no mandate, gives away our nationhood to the EU, and twists and lies at every opportunity.
But Gordon Brown, like so many of the corrupt elite ruling us, appears to be above the law.
Big hat tip to Cynical Chatter From The Underworld.
Says Brown:
"If we had not made this change [retaining innocents' DNA profiles], 8,000 suspects who have been matched with crime scenes since 2001 would in all probability have got away, their DNA having been deleted from the database.
“This includes 114 murders, 55 attempted murders, 116 rapes, 68 other sexual offences, 119 aggravated burglaries, and 127 drugs offences.”
But, as Cynical Chatter From The Underworld points out, Brown's claims are not based on any known figures. Cynical Chatter points us in the direction of GeneWatch, which tells us:
“The figures cited by the Prime Minister are not based on the tracking of actual cases. Rather, they are based on a statistical estimate of the numbers of matches that may have occurred between crime scene DNA profiles and the DNA profiles of persons who were charged but not proceeded against or acquitted.
“Not only is the actual number of retained profiles from innocent people unknown, but it is unclear how the number of matches made with these profiles have been calculated, since the estimate does not correspond to specific individuals.”
So, Brown is guessing and LYING.
I have a friend, accused of a piffling offence, which was not proceeded with, who is now on the DNA Database. A care worker since 1985, with no police record, his experiences at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge have caused him great trauma and he is now suffering from depression and has not worked for over a month.
I was stunned at his description of events at the police station, and he has given me permission to quote him here:
"I was arrested at the station, taken through to the back, and left in a cell because the two police officers claimed that they had had no time to look at the allegation made against me. Although it was a very minor allegation, I was in the cell for five hours, having been divested of my trousers and shoes. I was given a temporary pair of trousers which were not warm and the cell was cold.
"I was told I must have have my photograph, fingerprints and DNA taken. I protested at the DNA, but was told by a sneering female police officer, and I do not use the word lightly, that 'the Government says we can do it. In twenty to thirty years everybody will be on it.' We had to wait outside the room where prints and DNA samples were taken, and I could see a young boy and an older woman in the room with a male police officer. The woman was protesting that 'he's so young and and he's barely done anything.' I did not hear the male police officer's reply.
"At the reception desk, a young Asian boy was being told that: 'You are accused of sexually abusing a young girl at Cambridge Regional College..." The boy seemed to have little grasp of English and began screaming.
"The accusation was made and the scene was played out in full view and earshot of several members of the general public, including myself, that were nearby.
"I was finger printed on a computer, and I saw the female police officer type in the allegation I was arrested for before sending the prints off into cyberspace. I protested again that I did not want my DNA taken, and the female police officer said: 'Do you want to STAY here? You've no say in the matter!'
"This all seemed terribly far removed from English law."
So, there you have it. I am concerned for my friend as the events have had a devastating effect on him. I am also concerned at reports of people ending up on the DNA Database for trivial nonsense - like dropping apple cores!
What rankles most is that Gordon Brown is a villain. Pure and simple. He rules with no mandate, gives away our nationhood to the EU, and twists and lies at every opportunity.
But Gordon Brown, like so many of the corrupt elite ruling us, appears to be above the law.
Big hat tip to Cynical Chatter From The Underworld.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Police Harassment In Henley - National Flag Of England Is Not Allowed...
What kind of ignorant fascist twits behave like this?
From The Brussels Journal:
Threats of prosecution or fines for flying the England flag in England is not new, and perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that the English Democrats party – which uses the flag in its promotional material – is reporting that it has become a target of such intimidation. Yet it is different for one very significant reason: that there has been a longstanding, unspoken rule that political parties in Britain should not be harassed by the police, particularly when campaigning. We accustom such behavior with dictatorship, not democracy.
The incident occurred when candidate Derek Allpass and his team were out campaigning on June 21, for the Henley by-election (held June 26). They had set up a table with promotional material, and strung bunting sporting the red cross of St. George around it. However, the team was soon approached by the police and the Town Clerk, the latter of whom allegedly told Allpass, “we don’t want that flag here in Henley.” Darren Riley, the Party’s Kent Chairman, responded by pointing a church that was close by, and likewise flying the England flag (because it was under the denomination of the Church of England), and remarked, “if you don’t want England’s flag flying in Henley you had better take this up with the Vicar too.”
Nevertheless, the authorities claimed that the display of the flag by the English Democrats breached a by-law, and instructed them to remove both the table and bunting. The by-law in question has yet to be shown to the party, though as the town was also strewn with red, white, and blue bunting (signifying the United Kingdom, as opposed to England), one can only wonder how peculiarly specific it must be. There were several witnesses, and the party intends to issue the Town Clerk with a Section 65 Race Relations Act Questionnaire if the by-law does not state what was claimed.
The English Democrats team complied with the request – though not before taking photographs of the display – and continuing their campaigning. Henley is a Conservative safe seat, and was held by Boris Johnson until recently, who prompted the election when he resigned to concentrate on his position as London Mayor.
But of course the flag of Empire, the Union Jack, symbol of an element of Britain's "shameful" past, and now the favoured flag of the British National Party, IS allowed in Henley. So is the English flag - but only if flying on the local church.
Good luck to the EDP in challenging this latest example of anti-English/England bigotry in England.
The EDP has highlighted this issue on YouTube - see the video below.
Big hat tip to Wonko.
From The Brussels Journal:
Threats of prosecution or fines for flying the England flag in England is not new, and perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that the English Democrats party – which uses the flag in its promotional material – is reporting that it has become a target of such intimidation. Yet it is different for one very significant reason: that there has been a longstanding, unspoken rule that political parties in Britain should not be harassed by the police, particularly when campaigning. We accustom such behavior with dictatorship, not democracy.
The incident occurred when candidate Derek Allpass and his team were out campaigning on June 21, for the Henley by-election (held June 26). They had set up a table with promotional material, and strung bunting sporting the red cross of St. George around it. However, the team was soon approached by the police and the Town Clerk, the latter of whom allegedly told Allpass, “we don’t want that flag here in Henley.” Darren Riley, the Party’s Kent Chairman, responded by pointing a church that was close by, and likewise flying the England flag (because it was under the denomination of the Church of England), and remarked, “if you don’t want England’s flag flying in Henley you had better take this up with the Vicar too.”
Nevertheless, the authorities claimed that the display of the flag by the English Democrats breached a by-law, and instructed them to remove both the table and bunting. The by-law in question has yet to be shown to the party, though as the town was also strewn with red, white, and blue bunting (signifying the United Kingdom, as opposed to England), one can only wonder how peculiarly specific it must be. There were several witnesses, and the party intends to issue the Town Clerk with a Section 65 Race Relations Act Questionnaire if the by-law does not state what was claimed.
The English Democrats team complied with the request – though not before taking photographs of the display – and continuing their campaigning. Henley is a Conservative safe seat, and was held by Boris Johnson until recently, who prompted the election when he resigned to concentrate on his position as London Mayor.
But of course the flag of Empire, the Union Jack, symbol of an element of Britain's "shameful" past, and now the favoured flag of the British National Party, IS allowed in Henley. So is the English flag - but only if flying on the local church.
Good luck to the EDP in challenging this latest example of anti-English/England bigotry in England.
The EDP has highlighted this issue on YouTube - see the video below.
Big hat tip to Wonko.
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Green Party - About As Much Use As A Nuclear Accident...
Why do Green Party/Campaign For Rural England campaigners often display the most appalling ignorance of the political make-up of the UK post-devolution? Are they feigning? And why don't they question Ministers about the role non-accountable MPs have in pushing through legislation which affects England or England and Wales only?
This is from politics.co.uk and the speech detailed below regards the controversial Planning Bill, foisted on England by the Scottish Raj:
"The current proposals mean undermining democracy in favour of an increasingly centralised and authoritarian government," the Green party's principle speaker Caroline Lucas told politics.co.uk.
"Consulting with local people on disruptive, polluting projects like airports or power stations is essential, and any attempt to 'streamline' these processes to save money, or to hand them over to appointed yes-men, is a scandalous affront to the rights of ordinary people in the UK," she continued.
The Planning Bill does not apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - and was brought in by using the votes of non-accountable MPs. Remember, Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can vote on English issues, but this is not reciprocated.
If the likes of the Green Party were to highlight the various undemocratic practices taking place against the people of England they might arouse more interest.
But never mind. The type of people traditionally attracted to the Green Party tended to be middle class numpties, who thought "England" was a dirty word.
It seems some things don't change. Or is Caroline Lucas just thick?
This is from politics.co.uk and the speech detailed below regards the controversial Planning Bill, foisted on England by the Scottish Raj:
"The current proposals mean undermining democracy in favour of an increasingly centralised and authoritarian government," the Green party's principle speaker Caroline Lucas told politics.co.uk.
"Consulting with local people on disruptive, polluting projects like airports or power stations is essential, and any attempt to 'streamline' these processes to save money, or to hand them over to appointed yes-men, is a scandalous affront to the rights of ordinary people in the UK," she continued.
The Planning Bill does not apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - and was brought in by using the votes of non-accountable MPs. Remember, Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can vote on English issues, but this is not reciprocated.
If the likes of the Green Party were to highlight the various undemocratic practices taking place against the people of England they might arouse more interest.
But never mind. The type of people traditionally attracted to the Green Party tended to be middle class numpties, who thought "England" was a dirty word.
It seems some things don't change. Or is Caroline Lucas just thick?
English Planning Laws Changed With Scots Votes
Campaign For An English Parliament Press Release
On Wednesday June 25th harsh restrictions on democracy in the treatment of planning applications in England, personally endorsed and promoted by Gordon Brown UK Prime Minister, were carried with the help of votes of Scotland 50 MPs of which he is one. Mr Brown is MP for Kirkaldy and Cowdenbeath in Fifeshire. His government’s new proposals, which he calls ‘a reform of the planning laws’ were carried by a majority of only 43 votes.They were opposed not just by rebel Labour English MPs, the Conservative Party and the Lib-Dem Party but also such organisations as the Friends of the Earth (FoE) and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE).
‘This vote is yet another searing example of the way the 1998 devolution legislation devised and spearheaded by Gordon Brown treats England with flagrant injustice,’ stated Michael Knowles National Council member and Head of the CEP Media Unit in a message circulated to all CEP members in England. ‘That legislation provided a parliament for Mr Brown’s own country and an assembly for Wales but nothing at all for England. That legislation enables Scotland’s MPs to vote on every single measure which affects England while it denies to England’s MPs any say at all in the legislation that the Scottish Parliament passes for Scotland. Scotland by virtue of the 1998 devolution measures is now 75% independent of the rest of the UK. England’s MP’s have no say at all in Scotland’s planning matters. Yet Scotland’s MPs were able yesterday to help vote through the most restrictive and anti-democratic planning legislation affecting England only in the whole of the post-war period.’
The CEP endorses the opposition to the new proposals made by the FoE and the CPRE. ‘This planning bill is undemocratic, marginalises community voices and does nothing to tackle climate change,’ has stated Hugh Ellis FoE planning campaigner. ‘The new system removes the public’s right and safeguards” Mr Ellis stated. ‘Instead unaccountable commissioners will decide whether anyone can cross-examine, which witnesses are heard and whether there will be a public hearing for each planning decision.’
‘Unlike Scotland with its own parliament and Wales with its assembly,’ Michael Knowles wrote to the CEP membership, ‘England has no voice of its own to defend its environment. For this government, and Mr Brown in particular, England is just a market place, a building site, an employment park, a trading estate, a huge shopping mall, a monumental car park. Nothing else. By means of the 1998 devolution which he drove through the UK parliament he got for his own Scotland a parliament which can fully protect its great and glorious enviironment about which all Scots can be justly proud and enjoy to the full, himself included. He does not treat his country as a mere trading estate like he treats England. The time has definitely come for England to have the same means of protection, its own parliament.’
Go to the Campaign For An English Parliament site here.
On Wednesday June 25th harsh restrictions on democracy in the treatment of planning applications in England, personally endorsed and promoted by Gordon Brown UK Prime Minister, were carried with the help of votes of Scotland 50 MPs of which he is one. Mr Brown is MP for Kirkaldy and Cowdenbeath in Fifeshire. His government’s new proposals, which he calls ‘a reform of the planning laws’ were carried by a majority of only 43 votes.They were opposed not just by rebel Labour English MPs, the Conservative Party and the Lib-Dem Party but also such organisations as the Friends of the Earth (FoE) and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE).
‘This vote is yet another searing example of the way the 1998 devolution legislation devised and spearheaded by Gordon Brown treats England with flagrant injustice,’ stated Michael Knowles National Council member and Head of the CEP Media Unit in a message circulated to all CEP members in England. ‘That legislation provided a parliament for Mr Brown’s own country and an assembly for Wales but nothing at all for England. That legislation enables Scotland’s MPs to vote on every single measure which affects England while it denies to England’s MPs any say at all in the legislation that the Scottish Parliament passes for Scotland. Scotland by virtue of the 1998 devolution measures is now 75% independent of the rest of the UK. England’s MP’s have no say at all in Scotland’s planning matters. Yet Scotland’s MPs were able yesterday to help vote through the most restrictive and anti-democratic planning legislation affecting England only in the whole of the post-war period.’
The CEP endorses the opposition to the new proposals made by the FoE and the CPRE. ‘This planning bill is undemocratic, marginalises community voices and does nothing to tackle climate change,’ has stated Hugh Ellis FoE planning campaigner. ‘The new system removes the public’s right and safeguards” Mr Ellis stated. ‘Instead unaccountable commissioners will decide whether anyone can cross-examine, which witnesses are heard and whether there will be a public hearing for each planning decision.’
‘Unlike Scotland with its own parliament and Wales with its assembly,’ Michael Knowles wrote to the CEP membership, ‘England has no voice of its own to defend its environment. For this government, and Mr Brown in particular, England is just a market place, a building site, an employment park, a trading estate, a huge shopping mall, a monumental car park. Nothing else. By means of the 1998 devolution which he drove through the UK parliament he got for his own Scotland a parliament which can fully protect its great and glorious enviironment about which all Scots can be justly proud and enjoy to the full, himself included. He does not treat his country as a mere trading estate like he treats England. The time has definitely come for England to have the same means of protection, its own parliament.’
Go to the Campaign For An English Parliament site here.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Kent Online Displays Its Ignorance On The English Parliament Issue And Stuart Wheeler Loses...
Kent Online displays its ignorance and trivialises the English Parliament issue by claiming it's got us "hot under the stiff upper lip" (surely that's "British"?!) and allowing the final say in its quoted comments to go to somebody with no grasp of the facts at all:
Robbie Craig from Dungeness, said: “ The only point of new government tiers is if they increase the accountability of politicians and bring important decisions closer to the electorate. An English Parliament would not do that.
“Better to have regional government and local government with real power.”
What is the gentleman on about? Non-accountable Scottish MPs, including our Prime Minister, rule us!
Surely the internal government of England should be decided by the electorate in England? All that was on offer was tinpot regional assemblies, which still allowed non-accountable MPs to decide crucial national issues pertaining to England. And health apartheid and the West Lothian Question are running absolutely rampant.
Don't get me wrong, a cross section of opinion is inportant, but the final paragraphs of an article carry great weight. Shame on you, Samantha Payne and Kent Online!
Meanwhile, Stuart Wheeler has lost his case to stop the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty - and even whilst the matter was sub-judice, the arrogant UK Government, headed by no mandate Prime Minister Gordon Brown and including non-objective beneficiaries of the EU Pension Fund like Neil Kinnock, went ahead with discussing and voting on the matter, and the Queen gave it royal assent!
Another bad day for democracy - and one which casts doubt on the honesty of our legal system.
My only comfort is that in the long term dictatorships never prosper. But I shudder at the thought of the damage that will be done before the downfall of this one.
UPDATE: Stuart Wheeler to appeal! Well done that man! He is speaking for an awful lot of people!
Robbie Craig from Dungeness, said: “ The only point of new government tiers is if they increase the accountability of politicians and bring important decisions closer to the electorate. An English Parliament would not do that.
“Better to have regional government and local government with real power.”
What is the gentleman on about? Non-accountable Scottish MPs, including our Prime Minister, rule us!
Surely the internal government of England should be decided by the electorate in England? All that was on offer was tinpot regional assemblies, which still allowed non-accountable MPs to decide crucial national issues pertaining to England. And health apartheid and the West Lothian Question are running absolutely rampant.
Don't get me wrong, a cross section of opinion is inportant, but the final paragraphs of an article carry great weight. Shame on you, Samantha Payne and Kent Online!
Meanwhile, Stuart Wheeler has lost his case to stop the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty - and even whilst the matter was sub-judice, the arrogant UK Government, headed by no mandate Prime Minister Gordon Brown and including non-objective beneficiaries of the EU Pension Fund like Neil Kinnock, went ahead with discussing and voting on the matter, and the Queen gave it royal assent!
Another bad day for democracy - and one which casts doubt on the honesty of our legal system.
My only comfort is that in the long term dictatorships never prosper. But I shudder at the thought of the damage that will be done before the downfall of this one.
UPDATE: Stuart Wheeler to appeal! Well done that man! He is speaking for an awful lot of people!
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Co-op and Asda Scottish Bias - A Polish View
Asda - anti-English, Scottish exalting labelling - also at Tesco, Sainsbury's and the Co-op.I was discussing the major supermarkets' anti-English bias with my Polish neighbour this morning. She creased her brow in puzzlement: "This makes me curious. Scottish labels and British labels? What are the Scots if they are not British? Where are they from?"
BBC Wales: Dr Who Turns Anti-English - Update
OH NO! IT'S THE DALEKS! They're almost as bad as the English...I noticed a few years ago that the revived Dr Who, made from the beginning by the BBC in London, was being made by BBC Wales - the main mover and shaker being one Russell T Davies. And now it seems anti-English bigotry is creeping in. Wonko writes on the CEP News Blog:
Tonight’s episode of Dr Who, broadcast on BBC1, had a scene which portrayed the English as racists, likening them to the Nazi’s.
The scene in question shows an Italian family being loaded into the back of a truck to be taken to a forced labour camp. The Italian man says “you know how it is, England for the English” and one of the other characters then made a reference to Nazi forced labour camps.
Dr Who is made by BBC Wales and the actor playing Dr Who is a Scot. Throughout the series and in previous series, they have been consistent in their use of “Britain” and “British”. I don’t recall hearing “England” or “English” used once in this series
I don't watch modern day telly, myself but I have heard of a recent Dr Who adventure featuring a certain Mr Saxon, who turned out to be a complete bastard. Was this, I wondered, based on the Welsh fantasy that they are Celts and the English are Anglo Saxons?
As it is, in my view, England is the most cosmopolitan and least racist of all the UK nations. Dr Who has been captured by the Little Waleans!
Read the CEP post here.
UPDATE: CEP Bucks visualises the scenario with the Dr Who production team at BBC Wales as they seek to tarnish the English image, even going so far as to misquote an old book title - which is what they appear to have done. "England For The English" should read "Britain For The British". But as with most Welsh and Scots anti-English racism, England is always specified if something negative is being inferred. They must leave themselves blameless.
Here's CEP Bucks:
I imagine a room somewhere in BBC Wales......
"how about "British Jobs for British People"?... No, that wouldn't work, the author is Scottish...OK, how about "Britain for the British"? It was the title of a book written in 1902 by a socialist and was adopted as a theme by the then fledgling Labour Party. It was also a popular theme for the National Front in the 1970s and is commonly used by the BNP today....No, that wouldn't work either, because it includes Scots and Welsh. We've got to think of a way to slag off the English whilst leaving the Welsh and the Scots squeaky clean....I know, how about we change the word "Britain" for "England" and then change "British" for "English"? So, it becomes "England for the English"! ...
Brilliant! That way we can liable the English and leave a subliminal message in the minds of the viewer...
Read it all here.
Monday, June 23, 2008
"Britishness" Foisted On English Schools By UK Government
Of course, "Britishness" suits Gordon Brown down to the ground. He is fearful that the devolution project, which sees the Scots and Welsh far better treated than their counterparts in England, will come to the attention of the people of England and cause him, as an unelected and largely unaccountable (his constitiency is in Scotland) Prime Minster problems.
And so school pupils in England are to be indoctrinated as British citizens under the Scottish Raj.
The "Britishness" thing is, of course, being vaunted as being inclusive and non-racist. Which an inclusive English civic identity could also be. As "Britishness" is not being taught in Scots and Welsh schools, it's easy to see the UK Government's agenda.
If you have school age children why not request that they don't attend these indoctrination sessions? For that is what this is - indoctrination - designed to keep the people of England divided and under the cosh of the UK Government.
And so school pupils in England are to be indoctrinated as British citizens under the Scottish Raj.
The "Britishness" thing is, of course, being vaunted as being inclusive and non-racist. Which an inclusive English civic identity could also be. As "Britishness" is not being taught in Scots and Welsh schools, it's easy to see the UK Government's agenda.
If you have school age children why not request that they don't attend these indoctrination sessions? For that is what this is - indoctrination - designed to keep the people of England divided and under the cosh of the UK Government.
Gordon Brown Blames The 1980s For Today...
Social mobility, which we heard so much about in the 1980s, has apparently stalled and according to Gordon Brown it's all down to the 1970s and 1980s and Margaret Thatcher:"In the 1970s and 1980s, this rise in social mobility stalled. Skilled manufacturing jobs were lost. The opportunities for social mobility narrowed. Inequality and child poverty worsened.
"As unemployment rose to 3 million, the sons and daughters of many families missed out on many of the new educational opportunities that were being created.
"At a time when many of their fathers were hit by unemployment, many of the generation that some have called Thatcher's children - the lost generation - were sadly denied the chance to progress."
As a member of the "lost generation", and an ardent Labour supporter throughout the 1980s, I have a few thoughts on this.
There is no doubt that the latest angst from Gordon Brown is based upon statistics. Well, there are lies, damned lies and statistics as we all know.
I believe that the "lost generation" was not the so-called "Thatcher's Children" - it is the people of today. In the 1980s, politics engaged people's attention as I had never seen it before. Were you pro or anti-Thatcher? Cities burned, people marched, Spitting Image went for the jugular, yuppies made dosh - the decade was one long storm, replete with Red Wedge, shoulder pads and bizarre new technology.
It is useful to note that by the time Thatcher came to power in 1979, there were already a million and a half unemployed. Now, I wouldn't dream of defending her, even today, but there is no doubt in my mind that she believed her actions to be in the public interest - and that she had integrity. She was nothing if not straight forward.
In the 1980s, everybody was "into" the political scene, everybody had an opinion. Then came the long grey Major era of the 1990s, when, quite frankly, I believe everything flopped. People lost interest, became smug, fragmented and hypocritical. The 80s were bad. But we were all right now. That was the attitude. As conspicuous consumption becam non-conspicuous, we didn't go back to the material consumption levels of the early 1980s. We saw computers, mobile phones, fancy houses and fancy holidays as the norm.
So, what about the "under class"? Didn't the under class come about because of Thatcher? Let me share some of my 1970s childhood memories with you. We lived in a council house which had a 1950s prefabricated kitchen. There was mould growing up my bedroom wall. There was a very active prostitute living opposite us. The street was a ghetto, filled with people who were villains, on drugs or mentally ill and not equipped to be living in the "community".
There were several "ghetto" areas like this where I lived - in Cambridge, that great seat of learning. Many people were unemployed. Or unemployable.
Back to the 1990s, and by the time of the election of Tony Blair as PM in 1997, people were really living in Cloud Cuckoo Land. Labour was back! Only it wasn't Labour. It was New Labour. In my neighbourhood, the Social Services homes for the elderly were sold off. The local psychiatric hospital was reduced to three wards. The main building was sold off, becoming offices with the grand name "Capital Park". Care and medical staff were forced to sign secrecy clauses so that they could not expose the dreadful cutbacks taking place in the NHS - and other care services.
We began being watched by security cameras everywhere. Non-criminals began being placed on a DNA Database. Health apartheid and the West Lothian Question were writ large as the UK Government granted devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - creating a so-called "Celtic" elite.
Immigration became uncontrolled. People were (and are) coming here to do jobs that are so poorly paid they could barely afford to live. But don't voice any concerns about immigration levels. In the priggish 21st Century, that would make you a racist.
Then, Gordon Brown arrived. A non-elected PM, with no mandate to govern England. This man has lied and twisted in a way that Thatcher never did. He signed the Lisbon Treaty, despite promising a referendum; he went on with ratification of that Treaty, despite the fact that a legal challenge had been mounted and judgement was being awaited; he invited Thatcher to Downing Street and praised her to the skies.
But that stance doesn't suit him today.
The unemployment situation in the 1980s was dreadful. They were hard times for many. I sincerely believe that Thatcher was wrong.
But those days seem like the Teddy's Bear's Picnic compared to now and all the lying, self seeking and downright undemocratic politicians inhabiting the Government and the main opposition parties today.
The BBC clouds the issues - and joins the anti-80s theme, rewriting the past at every opportunity. Even several items of 1980s pop culture was exported to the absurdly hyped 1970s in the "I Love..." series. Nobody must have fond memories of the 1980s - in any way, shape or form, it seems.
Many people I speak to believe that the draconian laws threatening our civil liberties are necessary, that the dictatorship EU is a very good thing - very 1960s flower garden, that to denounce Gordon Brown for representing a Scots constituency unaffected by the majority of his legislation is "racist".
The 1980s generation were never a truly "lost generation". They were generally a very ebullient crowd. And there was chaos. From the riots early in the decade to the Acid House scene of 1988 and 1989, Thatcher had no reason to believe that the younger generation were "lost" or a walk over.
Nowadays, most youngsters I meet seem disinterested in politics. And they are treated as children for far longer. Now they are to be forced to stay at school until they are 18. Not a murmur do they make.
Are today's youth the truly "lost generation"? Perhaps, but I believe that the people of England are equally lost: ruled by non-accountable politicians, spied upon at every turn, and with the non-accountable EU project taking control of their lives more and more.
The complacency of the 1990s continues. The 80s are bad, We are good. We have nothing to protest about - well, as long as petrol prices stay down. You don't like the EU? Well, you're a little Englander, a racist.
Perhaps things are beginning to change. Slowly. But the perception of the "lost generation" of "Thatcher's children" is as nothing compared to the lost people of England today - already denied democratic rule and headed full tilt towards absolute dicatorship under the EU.
More here.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda And The Co-op Pander To Anti-English Racists In Scotland And Wales
We often fume over the anti-English packaging in our big three supermarkets, and the fact that such bias is shown towards the Scots and occasionally the Welsh. Well, Scilla Cullen, of the Campaign For An English Parliament, has been finding out why. Apparently, Asda, Tesco's, Sainsbury's and the Co-op won't label thing as "English" because anti-English Scots and Welsh bigots won't buy them. These are a tiny proportion of the population and should not be pandered to in any way shape or form. But, according to England's biggest supermarket chains, "English", "England" and the St George's flag must not appear on the packaging to appease racists.This makes the supermarkets appear to be anti-English bigots themselves.
Don't buy Tesco, Asda, Co-op or Sainsbury's if you can avoid, and boycott their "proudly marked" Scots and Welsh produce if you do have to go in.
Racism is wrong.
The anti-England/English Scots and Welsh bulldozer currently devastating several key areas of our lives, not least our politics and rights as shoppers, must be stopped.
Read the CEP's findings here.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Derek Wyatt - Labour MP Calls For An English Parliament...
Sorry I've been so slow with this story, it's plenty covered elsewhere, but I think the word should be spread as far as possible! Derek Wyatt, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, has joined the chorus calling for equality for England within the UK. Excellent!
This debate has a simple theme. My constituents are living in a half-finished house that costs them money, and they are beginning to resent it. The half-finished house in our country—the United Kingdom—has, like so many historic houses, grown up over the centuries without a master plan and according to the needs or whims of successive owners. Nearly 90 years ago, after a long and bitter dispute, we gave the neighbouring property to its sitting tenants—although some preferred to go on living with us. We spent the next 70 years or so trying to improve our house to make it a better place in which to live and trying to protect it from outside attack. We made no changes to the structure of the house and all the rooms and facilities were shared among all the residents.
However, in the past 10 years, there has been some major remodelling of the property. We converted the upstairs into a separate flat for the Scots and created another flat with inferior facilities in the west wing for the Welsh. We then persuaded the Northern Irish to live in another flat in the orangery—although many of them wanted to live with their neighbours next door. All that remodelling failed to create any special space for the English. They went on living in the property, but the Scots, the Welsh and the Northern Irish were still free to walk in and help themselves to the fridge and the drinks cabinet. They could even make rules for the English that they themselves did not have to follow. Meanwhile, the English went on paying most of the household bills.
More and more of the English, including many of my constituents, are finding that an uncomfortable way to live. They put up with it when there was plenty of money coming into the house, but now that money is scarcer and outgoings are rising, they are beginning to question it. I propose some restructuring of the property so that we can all live in the way that we want to without imposing on one another. I am also calling for a fair and transparent system of meeting the household bills. That will entail replacing the Barnett formula, which, as we know, was intended to be a temporary expedient that would last six months. However, the formula still regulates the financial relationships between the separate devolved entities of the United Kingdom. Our household settles its accounts through arrangements that were set up in the 1970s for reasons that no one can remember and with results that no one can understand.
Read the whole speech here.
This debate has a simple theme. My constituents are living in a half-finished house that costs them money, and they are beginning to resent it. The half-finished house in our country—the United Kingdom—has, like so many historic houses, grown up over the centuries without a master plan and according to the needs or whims of successive owners. Nearly 90 years ago, after a long and bitter dispute, we gave the neighbouring property to its sitting tenants—although some preferred to go on living with us. We spent the next 70 years or so trying to improve our house to make it a better place in which to live and trying to protect it from outside attack. We made no changes to the structure of the house and all the rooms and facilities were shared among all the residents.
However, in the past 10 years, there has been some major remodelling of the property. We converted the upstairs into a separate flat for the Scots and created another flat with inferior facilities in the west wing for the Welsh. We then persuaded the Northern Irish to live in another flat in the orangery—although many of them wanted to live with their neighbours next door. All that remodelling failed to create any special space for the English. They went on living in the property, but the Scots, the Welsh and the Northern Irish were still free to walk in and help themselves to the fridge and the drinks cabinet. They could even make rules for the English that they themselves did not have to follow. Meanwhile, the English went on paying most of the household bills.
More and more of the English, including many of my constituents, are finding that an uncomfortable way to live. They put up with it when there was plenty of money coming into the house, but now that money is scarcer and outgoings are rising, they are beginning to question it. I propose some restructuring of the property so that we can all live in the way that we want to without imposing on one another. I am also calling for a fair and transparent system of meeting the household bills. That will entail replacing the Barnett formula, which, as we know, was intended to be a temporary expedient that would last six months. However, the formula still regulates the financial relationships between the separate devolved entities of the United Kingdom. Our household settles its accounts through arrangements that were set up in the 1970s for reasons that no one can remember and with results that no one can understand.
Read the whole speech here.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Arthur Aughey, Socialist Unity And Who Is Allowed To Consider Themselves "Exemplary"...
From Socialist Unity:
It is common on the left to argue that national differences in culture and character are incidental. The danger with this approach, especially for those of us who live in a metropolitan imperial power like Britain, is to confuse our own particularity with universality – the danger of this is greatest for those of us who are native English speakers, given the adoption of English as an international lingua franca. Self-awareness of the particularities of English political culture is necessary in order to counter-act this tendency to assume that the whole world looks to us to set an example.
Um, just who in England, which doesn't even exist constitutionally, thinks that the world looks to "us" to set an example? What is English political culture? There is no such thing.
Those of us who live in a cosmopolitan imperial power like Britain? Uh, when was that, then?
Ulster Unionist Arthur Aughey has written a book, The Politics Of Englishness. Here's a quote from it:
a reversal of the anxieties that were familiar in the non-English parts of the United Kingdom where the hegemony of England promoted two anxieties: the anxiety of parochialism, in which acknowledgement by England (the centre) was thought necessary to validate the local, and the corresponding anxiety of influence, in which such validation ran the risk of appropriation by English hegemony. The experience of devolution, however, has provoked a corresponding set of English anxieties about the Union which inverts those familiar ‘Celtic’ grievances. In short, the English have discovered the rest of us in the Union not as appendages to England but as assertive political communities.
Oh please, as a kid in the 1970s, I was never taught about "England" - it was always considered somehow shameful - we were "Britain" - which was not considered to be very commendable either. I was always made fully aware though of the existence of Scotland, Wales and Ireland - three nations which had fully participated in the British Empire movement, but had climbed into various pulpits afterwards and denounced England as the wrongdoer.
I'm sick to death of the likes of Arthur Aughey and Socialist Unity proclaiming that England has somehow dominated the so-called "Celtic" nations in the past. England ceased to exist with the Act of Union and has been so submerged in the "United Kingdom" project, which happened at the behest of a priviliged few in England and Scotland, that finally it was almost completely lost.
The other nations, meanwhile, went on and on gaining special priviliges - such as Secretaries of State - and various subsidies. And now a parliament and two assemblies.
There was never a time in Arthur Aughey's purely imaginary "English hegemony" when health apartheid and issues like the West Lothian Question roamed the land.
Mr Aughey is simply afraid that the Union may be about to become unstuck. And so it should in my opinion. As a thoroughly mongrel Englishman I'm all for an inclusive civic English national identity, but I take exception to Mr Aughey's posturings and those of Socialist Unity, which seem to believe that the Scots are fine to primp, preen and consider themselves exemplary, "pure bred Celts", etc., but that England must fit to their rigidly defined views and is somehow solely to blame for the Empire.
From Socialist Unity:
From my perspective, English independence would not be about making England exemplary, but recognising that we are no more special than anyone else, and abandoning the delusions, the pomp and the swagger of our British imperial past.
But it's fine for Tony Blair to proclaim Scotland, his homeland, a "proud, historic nation" is it?
And for David Cameron to proclaim that certain of his ancesters "...were Scottish Empire builders - conquered all sorts of parts of India, I think."
I don't think so.
It is common on the left to argue that national differences in culture and character are incidental. The danger with this approach, especially for those of us who live in a metropolitan imperial power like Britain, is to confuse our own particularity with universality – the danger of this is greatest for those of us who are native English speakers, given the adoption of English as an international lingua franca. Self-awareness of the particularities of English political culture is necessary in order to counter-act this tendency to assume that the whole world looks to us to set an example.
Um, just who in England, which doesn't even exist constitutionally, thinks that the world looks to "us" to set an example? What is English political culture? There is no such thing.
Those of us who live in a cosmopolitan imperial power like Britain? Uh, when was that, then?
Ulster Unionist Arthur Aughey has written a book, The Politics Of Englishness. Here's a quote from it:
a reversal of the anxieties that were familiar in the non-English parts of the United Kingdom where the hegemony of England promoted two anxieties: the anxiety of parochialism, in which acknowledgement by England (the centre) was thought necessary to validate the local, and the corresponding anxiety of influence, in which such validation ran the risk of appropriation by English hegemony. The experience of devolution, however, has provoked a corresponding set of English anxieties about the Union which inverts those familiar ‘Celtic’ grievances. In short, the English have discovered the rest of us in the Union not as appendages to England but as assertive political communities.
Oh please, as a kid in the 1970s, I was never taught about "England" - it was always considered somehow shameful - we were "Britain" - which was not considered to be very commendable either. I was always made fully aware though of the existence of Scotland, Wales and Ireland - three nations which had fully participated in the British Empire movement, but had climbed into various pulpits afterwards and denounced England as the wrongdoer.
I'm sick to death of the likes of Arthur Aughey and Socialist Unity proclaiming that England has somehow dominated the so-called "Celtic" nations in the past. England ceased to exist with the Act of Union and has been so submerged in the "United Kingdom" project, which happened at the behest of a priviliged few in England and Scotland, that finally it was almost completely lost.
The other nations, meanwhile, went on and on gaining special priviliges - such as Secretaries of State - and various subsidies. And now a parliament and two assemblies.
There was never a time in Arthur Aughey's purely imaginary "English hegemony" when health apartheid and issues like the West Lothian Question roamed the land.
Mr Aughey is simply afraid that the Union may be about to become unstuck. And so it should in my opinion. As a thoroughly mongrel Englishman I'm all for an inclusive civic English national identity, but I take exception to Mr Aughey's posturings and those of Socialist Unity, which seem to believe that the Scots are fine to primp, preen and consider themselves exemplary, "pure bred Celts", etc., but that England must fit to their rigidly defined views and is somehow solely to blame for the Empire.
From Socialist Unity:
From my perspective, English independence would not be about making England exemplary, but recognising that we are no more special than anyone else, and abandoning the delusions, the pomp and the swagger of our British imperial past.
But it's fine for Tony Blair to proclaim Scotland, his homeland, a "proud, historic nation" is it?
And for David Cameron to proclaim that certain of his ancesters "...were Scottish Empire builders - conquered all sorts of parts of India, I think."
I don't think so.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The EU Dicatorship - Lisbon Treaty Ratified In House Of Lords
Another shameful day in UK politics as the House of Lords ratified the EU Constitution - oops, sorry, I mean Lisbon Treaty. It apparently gains Royal Assent from the dear old Lizzie puppet tomorrow.
What a travesty! Why weren't WE consulted?
Meanwhile, Gordon Brown sought to portray the Tories as “viscerally anti-European”. That's rich - coming from the head of a Government which is viscerally anti-democratic.
What a travesty! Why weren't WE consulted?
Meanwhile, Gordon Brown sought to portray the Tories as “viscerally anti-European”. That's rich - coming from the head of a Government which is viscerally anti-democratic.
Campaign For An English Parliament Helps Perpetuate The "Celtic" Myth...
Interesting e-mail from "Donald"...
Those berks over at the Campaign for an English Parliament are always perpetuating the "Celtic" myth. It's not just us!
I've noticed this before. And it pisses me off. And popping over to the CEP blog, I immediately find:
The Scottish Raj will, of course, be reluctant to curtail the lavish redistribution of England’s wealth to the celts and equally reluctant to allow the Scots fiscal autonomy.
So, as I have a Scots mother, I'm half-Celt, am I? Not according to her family tree I'm not! There's all sorts there...
Why do some English nationalists insist on the "Celt" nonsense? The "pure Celtic" thing was always a myth anyway! We are English, Scots or Welsh - they are UK sub-nationalities, nothing more, nothing less!
Those berks over at the Campaign for an English Parliament are always perpetuating the "Celtic" myth. It's not just us!
I've noticed this before. And it pisses me off. And popping over to the CEP blog, I immediately find:
The Scottish Raj will, of course, be reluctant to curtail the lavish redistribution of England’s wealth to the celts and equally reluctant to allow the Scots fiscal autonomy.
So, as I have a Scots mother, I'm half-Celt, am I? Not according to her family tree I'm not! There's all sorts there...
Why do some English nationalists insist on the "Celt" nonsense? The "pure Celtic" thing was always a myth anyway! We are English, Scots or Welsh - they are UK sub-nationalities, nothing more, nothing less!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Scoto-Britain
From Our Kingdom:
Historian Richard Weight called for a progressive nationalism that emphasised the hybridity of English identity, noting that "there's a hyphen in Anglo-Saxon."
What a twit. The vast majority of us know the English aren't a "pure race". What about challenging the racist "Celtic" twaddle emanating from Scotland, Wales and Cornwall? No hyphen in "Celtic", and no sense of reality, either.
This e-mail from a Scots Nat on the comments thread made us smile:
The current fiction is that Britain is a unitary state and always has been. Once England and Englishness are acknowledged as a nation and a nationality Scotland and Wales have to get the same treatment. Currently they are considered and treated as provinces of a unitary Anglo-Britain.
But England doesn't exist, dear - it's artificial regions, ruled by a Scottish Raj. It's a Scoto-Britain if anything. You can even die in England for want of medication available on the NHS in Scotland(subsidised by the English).
What will it take to make some people pull their heads out of their arses?
Historian Richard Weight called for a progressive nationalism that emphasised the hybridity of English identity, noting that "there's a hyphen in Anglo-Saxon."
What a twit. The vast majority of us know the English aren't a "pure race". What about challenging the racist "Celtic" twaddle emanating from Scotland, Wales and Cornwall? No hyphen in "Celtic", and no sense of reality, either.
This e-mail from a Scots Nat on the comments thread made us smile:
The current fiction is that Britain is a unitary state and always has been. Once England and Englishness are acknowledged as a nation and a nationality Scotland and Wales have to get the same treatment. Currently they are considered and treated as provinces of a unitary Anglo-Britain.
But England doesn't exist, dear - it's artificial regions, ruled by a Scottish Raj. It's a Scoto-Britain if anything. You can even die in England for want of medication available on the NHS in Scotland(subsidised by the English).
What will it take to make some people pull their heads out of their arses?
An Innocent On The DNA Database
Eurealist looks at the views of David Aaronovitch on David Davis:
With a little bit of NewLabour double think, Aaronovitch argues that Davis is soft on crime because he is against the universal DNA data base, and would only maintain the records of those who have been imprisoned, “what Davis means is that the guilty who haven’t been to prison will also get taken off.”
But surely, as Eurealist points out, people are innocent until proven guilty? The likes of David Aaronovitch don't seem to realise just how easy it is to end up on the Database - nor of the psychological effects being on it can have on the innocent.
The National DNA Database is a despicable abuse of police and Government powers: a friend of mine, recently arrested at Parkside Police Station, Cambridge, on an absolutely piffling and unprovable charge, found himself facing "no further action" - but he's still on the DNA Database. The guy has been a care worker since 1985 and is in his 40s, with no police record at all.
My friend has slid into depression because of his recent experiences at Parkside Police Station - where a young woman police officer gloatingly told him that they could take his DNA "because the Government says we can," and where he spent five hours in a cell waiting for the police officers to get round to looking at the facts surrounding his arrest. Now, he feels insecure and has become somewhat withdrawn.
The most charming of men, well known for his generosity of spirit - he regularly gives up his days off for charity events - there is no way my friend deserved this treatment, and no way that his DNA should be on any database against his will.
"You needn't worry," the police officer at Parkside Police Station said: "Within twenty to thirty years everybody will be on the database..."
The electorate is all too willing to stand by whilst the Government implements this sort of thing - it's the same with the 42 day detention legislation. It's basically throwing away our ancient civil liberties because of a perceived threat of "terrorism". Well, we've lived with that threat (and various attacks) for a very long time. What is happening now does not actually make the public safer. It simply makes the Government and the police force, supposedly there to serve, our masters.
And if you think you are safe from being on the National DNA Database, rubbing shoulders with nasty criminals on a cyberspace list, think again. No ordinary UK inhabitant, no Joe or Joanne Bloggs, is safe. And if you're an upmarket hyphened-type, don't get complacent either. Trumped up charges, various changes to the law, and new highly trivial "offences" can all see you databased - don't even drop an apple core!
"It couldn't happen to me"?
Oh yes it could!
With a little bit of NewLabour double think, Aaronovitch argues that Davis is soft on crime because he is against the universal DNA data base, and would only maintain the records of those who have been imprisoned, “what Davis means is that the guilty who haven’t been to prison will also get taken off.”
But surely, as Eurealist points out, people are innocent until proven guilty? The likes of David Aaronovitch don't seem to realise just how easy it is to end up on the Database - nor of the psychological effects being on it can have on the innocent.
The National DNA Database is a despicable abuse of police and Government powers: a friend of mine, recently arrested at Parkside Police Station, Cambridge, on an absolutely piffling and unprovable charge, found himself facing "no further action" - but he's still on the DNA Database. The guy has been a care worker since 1985 and is in his 40s, with no police record at all.
My friend has slid into depression because of his recent experiences at Parkside Police Station - where a young woman police officer gloatingly told him that they could take his DNA "because the Government says we can," and where he spent five hours in a cell waiting for the police officers to get round to looking at the facts surrounding his arrest. Now, he feels insecure and has become somewhat withdrawn.
The most charming of men, well known for his generosity of spirit - he regularly gives up his days off for charity events - there is no way my friend deserved this treatment, and no way that his DNA should be on any database against his will.
"You needn't worry," the police officer at Parkside Police Station said: "Within twenty to thirty years everybody will be on the database..."
The electorate is all too willing to stand by whilst the Government implements this sort of thing - it's the same with the 42 day detention legislation. It's basically throwing away our ancient civil liberties because of a perceived threat of "terrorism". Well, we've lived with that threat (and various attacks) for a very long time. What is happening now does not actually make the public safer. It simply makes the Government and the police force, supposedly there to serve, our masters.
And if you think you are safe from being on the National DNA Database, rubbing shoulders with nasty criminals on a cyberspace list, think again. No ordinary UK inhabitant, no Joe or Joanne Bloggs, is safe. And if you're an upmarket hyphened-type, don't get complacent either. Trumped up charges, various changes to the law, and new highly trivial "offences" can all see you databased - don't even drop an apple core!
"It couldn't happen to me"?
Oh yes it could!
Monday, June 16, 2008
The EU: Don't Trust The People To Decide Their Future...
The sheer and unblievable arrogance of the EU is demonstrated in this comment in the European Weekly, an official EU publication:
The security, liberty and prosperity of hundreds of millions of
European citizens ask for complex leadership actions, which
cannot be appreciated by heterogeneous populations, from the
point of view of the information level and the education one.
Surely "politics is for the people"? However, arrogant dictatorships, like the EU, are not.
Big hat tip to the PJC Journal.
The security, liberty and prosperity of hundreds of millions of
European citizens ask for complex leadership actions, which
cannot be appreciated by heterogeneous populations, from the
point of view of the information level and the education one.
Surely "politics is for the people"? However, arrogant dictatorships, like the EU, are not.
Big hat tip to the PJC Journal.
Radio Two, Gordon Brown and Other Topics...
Being thoroughly caught up with the campaign to secure England democratic parity, and seething at the unjust and undemocratic processes of the EU, I often feel shocked when I encounter the world outside - a world which smugly ignores the realities.
Today, I was subjected to four hours of BBC Radio Two. The Lisbon Treaty didn't seem to exist there - the main news story was about the Scottish Parliament and a move to make 21 the minimum age for buying alcohol. This was obviously in line with the recent BBC report claiming that Auntie spends too much time on "English" news stories - and ignoring the fact that Scotland has its own dedicated national BBC service, whilst England doesn't. The main story was of direct interest only to a tiny minority.
By the way, I didn't hear the word "England" mentioned once outside of the weather forecasts (which referred to "England and Wales" and then "Scotland" separately), and I didn't hear the word "English" once, either.
The Lisbon Treaty was not mentioned at all, instead a lot of air time was devoted to a Kilroy style "discussion" about youth offenders being forced to do community service in pink tabards to disgrace them in front of the general public (an unseemly row between two individuals ensued - such "entertainment", eh, folks?!!). Meanwhile, Steve Wright, comic hero of 1980s Radio One, appears to have become a smug bastard - whose playlist and attitude would disgrace the humblest of local radio stations.
Returning home, I consulted the Witanagemot and discovered that Gordon Brown, no mandate PM and signer of the Scottish Claim of Right in 1989, vowing to put Scottish interests first, had said:
"The legal position on the European treaty is very clear, that all 27 members must sign and therefore ratify the treaty before it comes into force.
"It is for each member to decide its own process for doing so and we will continue the process of debating this in the House of Lords and then (it will have) royal assent."
Thanks to the PJC Journal for informing me of the fact that Gordon Brown is continuing to be an undemocratic shit - a piece of news which I regard as being of the utmost interest to the population of the so-called UK.
Carry on with your slanging matches, Scottish bias and clouding of facts, Auntie Beeb. I get the feeling that your days are numbered.
The BBC as it currently stands cannot be allowed to go on much longer.
Today, I was subjected to four hours of BBC Radio Two. The Lisbon Treaty didn't seem to exist there - the main news story was about the Scottish Parliament and a move to make 21 the minimum age for buying alcohol. This was obviously in line with the recent BBC report claiming that Auntie spends too much time on "English" news stories - and ignoring the fact that Scotland has its own dedicated national BBC service, whilst England doesn't. The main story was of direct interest only to a tiny minority.
By the way, I didn't hear the word "England" mentioned once outside of the weather forecasts (which referred to "England and Wales" and then "Scotland" separately), and I didn't hear the word "English" once, either.
The Lisbon Treaty was not mentioned at all, instead a lot of air time was devoted to a Kilroy style "discussion" about youth offenders being forced to do community service in pink tabards to disgrace them in front of the general public (an unseemly row between two individuals ensued - such "entertainment", eh, folks?!!). Meanwhile, Steve Wright, comic hero of 1980s Radio One, appears to have become a smug bastard - whose playlist and attitude would disgrace the humblest of local radio stations.
Returning home, I consulted the Witanagemot and discovered that Gordon Brown, no mandate PM and signer of the Scottish Claim of Right in 1989, vowing to put Scottish interests first, had said:
"The legal position on the European treaty is very clear, that all 27 members must sign and therefore ratify the treaty before it comes into force.
"It is for each member to decide its own process for doing so and we will continue the process of debating this in the House of Lords and then (it will have) royal assent."
Thanks to the PJC Journal for informing me of the fact that Gordon Brown is continuing to be an undemocratic shit - a piece of news which I regard as being of the utmost interest to the population of the so-called UK.
Carry on with your slanging matches, Scottish bias and clouding of facts, Auntie Beeb. I get the feeling that your days are numbered.
The BBC as it currently stands cannot be allowed to go on much longer.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
At Runnymead...
Great post over at the Anglo Saxon Chronicle.
Sadly the only thing that seems to wake the "stubborn Englishry" these days is a rise in the price of petrol.
"Don't try comin' between me an' my motor - awright?!!"
Sadly the only thing that seems to wake the "stubborn Englishry" these days is a rise in the price of petrol.
"Don't try comin' between me an' my motor - awright?!!"
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Ireland Says No, The EU Says Ignore It...
That arch Nu Labour/EU puppet the BBC is wittering on about just over three million people (in Ireland) deciding the future of the EU for 490 million people. Bad piece of reporting. No other electorate has been given a say on the EU Constitution - or "Lisbon Treaty" as it is now known.
Meanwhile, David Miliband says ratification will continue. With no hope of the people of Britain having a say at all. He says a "British view" is important. Of course, he means the British political elite.
Angela Merkel is, of course, pushing for ratification as well: "We are convinced that the agreed reforms included in the Lisbon Treaty are necessary to make EU more democratic and more efficient and that they will enable Europe to meet the challenges confronting the European citizens."
"Agreed reforms"? WHO agreed them, Ms Merkel?
The political elite is now pushing its dangerous agenda too far. Dictatorships do not flourish.
Meanwhile, Devils Kitchen has come up with a lovely gift idea for the no mandate UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown...
Meanwhile, David Miliband says ratification will continue. With no hope of the people of Britain having a say at all. He says a "British view" is important. Of course, he means the British political elite.
Angela Merkel is, of course, pushing for ratification as well: "We are convinced that the agreed reforms included in the Lisbon Treaty are necessary to make EU more democratic and more efficient and that they will enable Europe to meet the challenges confronting the European citizens."
"Agreed reforms"? WHO agreed them, Ms Merkel?
The political elite is now pushing its dangerous agenda too far. Dictatorships do not flourish.
Meanwhile, Devils Kitchen has come up with a lovely gift idea for the no mandate UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown...
The BBC Lisbon Treaty Comments Thread - "Let's Include A Few Kicks In The Groin For England, Shall We, Chaps?"
As the dust settles after the Irish referendum "NO" vote on the Lisbon Treaty, BBC online has decided to allow a comments thread on the subject. We know how the BBC likes to make sure no nationality or race is offended by any of its published comments, so it is heartning to see that this policy is adhered to here.
Apart from the English, of course.
First we have a Scots Nats person spouting drivel:
Ranting about being kicked out of the EU and free border crossings in the EU do not justify our erosion of soverignty over our own country - some Unelected gathering in another country making laws to govern us is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by the British people - The Scottish want free of England so why should the accept the EU - Give us the vote and be a man gordon - you were elected by the people and you can go in the same manner if you fail to listen.
I replied to this, pointing out that England does not exist constitutionally and that the PM is a Scot, representing a Scots constituency. I also included my views on the EU. None of it was published.
Then this:
English jokes often portray the Irish as dim. I as an Englishman applaud their intelligence in voting no and criticise the naivity of other countries in not protesting more vigorously against their govenments´ refusing a referendum. What happened in Britain was an utter disgrace; the government made an election promise and then went back on it fearing a no vote. The EU is full of hypocrisy, claiming to be democatic but denying the people its say. No doubt it will come up with some clever fudge!
Isn't it odd that English people so often submerge "English" under "British" in writing and speech and yet this e-mail paints a perceived wrong-doing as being "English" - and yet the old "Englishman, Irishman and a Scotsman" jokes were prevelant throughout England and Scotland in the 1960s/1970s!
A source close to this blog also informs me that the writer of the e-mail is not English at all - but Scots!
Why is he/she disguising him/herself as English? Search me...
Just a little quibble - but I'm always amazed when I read BBC comments threads at the number of times Auntie lets anti-English stuff seep in - even if it is totally untrue as in the case of the first comment featured here.
Still, the tone of the majority of the comments is highly encouraging as far as I can see - but still David Miliband declares that the ratification process in the UK Parliament will continue... And we still won't get a say.
"It's right that we continue with our own process." says Mr Miliband. But it isn't OUR PROCESS. It's the politicians'. And it's not RIGHT. Ratification was supposed to depend on unanimity.
Mr Miliband goes on to say that there should be a "British view" on the treaty - but surely that should come from the people, not a bunch of dictators closeted away at Westminster?
Apart from the English, of course.
First we have a Scots Nats person spouting drivel:
Ranting about being kicked out of the EU and free border crossings in the EU do not justify our erosion of soverignty over our own country - some Unelected gathering in another country making laws to govern us is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by the British people - The Scottish want free of England so why should the accept the EU - Give us the vote and be a man gordon - you were elected by the people and you can go in the same manner if you fail to listen.
I replied to this, pointing out that England does not exist constitutionally and that the PM is a Scot, representing a Scots constituency. I also included my views on the EU. None of it was published.
Then this:
English jokes often portray the Irish as dim. I as an Englishman applaud their intelligence in voting no and criticise the naivity of other countries in not protesting more vigorously against their govenments´ refusing a referendum. What happened in Britain was an utter disgrace; the government made an election promise and then went back on it fearing a no vote. The EU is full of hypocrisy, claiming to be democatic but denying the people its say. No doubt it will come up with some clever fudge!
Isn't it odd that English people so often submerge "English" under "British" in writing and speech and yet this e-mail paints a perceived wrong-doing as being "English" - and yet the old "Englishman, Irishman and a Scotsman" jokes were prevelant throughout England and Scotland in the 1960s/1970s!
A source close to this blog also informs me that the writer of the e-mail is not English at all - but Scots!
Why is he/she disguising him/herself as English? Search me...
Just a little quibble - but I'm always amazed when I read BBC comments threads at the number of times Auntie lets anti-English stuff seep in - even if it is totally untrue as in the case of the first comment featured here.
Still, the tone of the majority of the comments is highly encouraging as far as I can see - but still David Miliband declares that the ratification process in the UK Parliament will continue... And we still won't get a say.
"It's right that we continue with our own process." says Mr Miliband. But it isn't OUR PROCESS. It's the politicians'. And it's not RIGHT. Ratification was supposed to depend on unanimity.
Mr Miliband goes on to say that there should be a "British view" on the treaty - but surely that should come from the people, not a bunch of dictators closeted away at Westminster?
Friday, June 13, 2008
Good For Ireland - But Will The Undemocratic EU Carry On Regardless?
The Republic of Ireland has said "NO" to the Lisbon Treaty. Good for it! I wish I could feel optimistic that this will put the brakes on the undemocratic EU - but I fear not. The voice of the people doesn't count in this scenario.
One of the biggest pro-EU undemocratic gits is, of course, Scotland's very own Gordon Brown, apparently "our" PM (without a mandate). You know, the guy who signed the Scottish Claim Of Right in the 1980s, promising to put Scotland's interests first? The chappie who heads a government which passes legislation the majority of which does not affect his own constituents?
And it was this completely undemocratic geezer who signed us up to the Lisbon Treaty, having mouthed bullshit about a referendum in the past.
Well, Mr Brown, I now want the same rights as the people of the Republic of Ireland - I want a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty - and furthermore I want accountable national government for my own country, England. I want an end to health apartheid, the West Lothian Question, the endless anti-English "Celtic" racism practiced in the so-called UK.
And as well as all this I want you to fuck off.
One of the biggest pro-EU undemocratic gits is, of course, Scotland's very own Gordon Brown, apparently "our" PM (without a mandate). You know, the guy who signed the Scottish Claim Of Right in the 1980s, promising to put Scotland's interests first? The chappie who heads a government which passes legislation the majority of which does not affect his own constituents?
And it was this completely undemocratic geezer who signed us up to the Lisbon Treaty, having mouthed bullshit about a referendum in the past.
Well, Mr Brown, I now want the same rights as the people of the Republic of Ireland - I want a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty - and furthermore I want accountable national government for my own country, England. I want an end to health apartheid, the West Lothian Question, the endless anti-English "Celtic" racism practiced in the so-called UK.
And as well as all this I want you to fuck off.
English GP Services Now Under Threat
1,236,085 people have signed a petition against planned UK Government "reforms" of the current GP services in England - and only in England, those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are safe.
DARZAI MUST RESIGN! – says the GPs conference!
FAMILY doctors yesterday expressed their furious opposition to privately-run polyclinics and voted to take ‘unprecedented action’ in response to ‘unprecedented political threats to general practice’.
Read it all here.
Big hat tip to charlie marks.
DARZAI MUST RESIGN! – says the GPs conference!
FAMILY doctors yesterday expressed their furious opposition to privately-run polyclinics and voted to take ‘unprecedented action’ in response to ‘unprecedented political threats to general practice’.
Read it all here.
Big hat tip to charlie marks.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The BBC - Another Attack On England... Sorry, I mean "The Regions"...
With all its dedicated national services for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and its usual complete refusal to admit that England and the English exist, splitting our nation up into artificial regions with no dedicated national English services, Auntie Beeb has now decided that BBC News has “a general bias in favour of stories about England”.
Um, is that because England is much larger than the "devolved nations"? And the BBC is not covering stories about England really. Rarely does it let that word escape its priggish and bigoted lips. There is absolutely NO national BBC service for England, unlike Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
From The Times Online:
The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish never cease to complain that the BBC is really the English Broadcasting Corporation. Despite its chorus of regional accents, they imagine that it is full of metropolitan luvvies who venture beyond the M25 only rarely and in trepidation.
The BBC Trust's review of coverage of UK nations and regions suggests that it has embraced the same implausible view. It claims that BBC journalism is failing the UK's devolved nations and favouring England. It is utterly wrong.
By examining only UK network news, the trust has ignored whole swaths of the BBC's own journalism. Since devolution, Scots have had dedicated coverage of the Holyrood Parliament and a national news programme of their own. BBC Scotland opts out of Newsnight to transmit Newsnight Scotland. Wales is equally well supplied. BBC Northern Ireland provides for Ulster appetites on radio, television and online.
This expensive reality is overlooked by the report's assertion that BBC news shows “a general bias in favour of stories about England”.
Read the full article here.
It's time we disbanded the BBC. It's simply not fair minded enough to broadcast. Its instinctive anti-England bias is now way beyond ignoring.
Um, is that because England is much larger than the "devolved nations"? And the BBC is not covering stories about England really. Rarely does it let that word escape its priggish and bigoted lips. There is absolutely NO national BBC service for England, unlike Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
From The Times Online:
The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish never cease to complain that the BBC is really the English Broadcasting Corporation. Despite its chorus of regional accents, they imagine that it is full of metropolitan luvvies who venture beyond the M25 only rarely and in trepidation.
The BBC Trust's review of coverage of UK nations and regions suggests that it has embraced the same implausible view. It claims that BBC journalism is failing the UK's devolved nations and favouring England. It is utterly wrong.
By examining only UK network news, the trust has ignored whole swaths of the BBC's own journalism. Since devolution, Scots have had dedicated coverage of the Holyrood Parliament and a national news programme of their own. BBC Scotland opts out of Newsnight to transmit Newsnight Scotland. Wales is equally well supplied. BBC Northern Ireland provides for Ulster appetites on radio, television and online.
This expensive reality is overlooked by the report's assertion that BBC news shows “a general bias in favour of stories about England”.
Read the full article here.
It's time we disbanded the BBC. It's simply not fair minded enough to broadcast. Its instinctive anti-England bias is now way beyond ignoring.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Cornish Nationalism On The Supermarket Shelves?
After my last post, "Cornubian" has written to say that Cornwall is also excluded from the national flags on the packaging at the Co-op. Interesting point, although personally, until there has been a referendum on the subject and the people have actually voted for independence for Cornwall, I do not believe that Cornish produce should carry the "Cornish" flag - unless it is coupled with an English one. Being half-Scot myself, but regarding myself as English, I have grave concerns about the whole exclusive "Celtic" thing which is so much a part of Cornish nationalism.
I have written on this subject here .
I'm sure that "Cornubian" will be pleased to know that the Co-op was stocking Ginster's products with the Cornish flag proudly displayed on the packaging.
I have written on this subject here .
I'm sure that "Cornubian" will be pleased to know that the Co-op was stocking Ginster's products with the Cornish flag proudly displayed on the packaging.
Friday, June 06, 2008
"It's All At The CO-OP Now!" - Scottish, Welsh, British But Not English
Today we trundled down to our local Co-operative supermarket, the dear old CO-OP, to check out the situation regarding flags on packaging. We found the Scots flag on some meat and fish products.
We found the Welsh flag on some meat products.
We found the British flag on a variety of products - including English meat products.
But we found no trace of an English flag.
"British" = English, Scottish and Welsh. The Co-op is yet another supermarket which sees fit to recognise Scotland and Wales but totally ignore England.
UPDATE: "Cornubian" has written to say that Cornwall is also excluded from the national flags on the packaging at the Co-op. Interesting point, although personally, until there has been a referendum on the subject and the people have actually voted for independence for Cornwall, I do not believe that Cornish produce should carry the "Cornish" flag - unless it is coupled with an English one. Being half-Scot myself, I have grave concerns about the whole exclusive "Celtic" thing which is so much a part of Cornish nationalism.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Anti-English And Absurd Asda
Seeking a supermarket that does not flag up Scottishness and ignore Englishness, we today tried our local Asda. We hadn't gone far into the store, when my wife called: "Look at this!" And we saw the above labels. The usual thing. British and Scottish as separate entities.As always, we reflected that the whole "British" nationality actually came about because of the union of Scotland and England, and that the Saltire is also featured as part of the Union Flag.
We're aware that some English cheese on sale in Asda bears the Cross of St George. And we're well aware of the effort made by one individual to achieve this. But elsewhere Asda is failing as dismally as Tesco and Sainsbury's to recognise the fact that England exists, and deserves the same recognition as Scotland.
We found the labels pictured above absurd and offensive.
Monday, June 02, 2008
"We Say What About EU Dictatorship?"
Lipdub Europe United par les Jeunes Européens - France
Uploaded by JeunesEuropeensFrance
This video, a spoof of a dreadful 1960s-sounding song from the 1990s, is absolute trash. Were the youngsters taking part brainwashed? Paid well? Or simply thick? And as for the miming... well, I ask you!
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Tesco Update
Alfie The Awake has news of a brilliant development in the long running saga of Tesco The Anti-English.
And we can report several hits at this blog in the past couple of days (since our last Tesco blog post) from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire... which just so happens to be home to Tesco Head Office.
Keep up the pressure, folks, on Tesco's and Sainsbury's - remember Every Little Helps...
And we can report several hits at this blog in the past couple of days (since our last Tesco blog post) from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire... which just so happens to be home to Tesco Head Office.
Keep up the pressure, folks, on Tesco's and Sainsbury's - remember Every Little Helps...
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