The Government have, rightly, come in for a lot of criticism about the scandal of foreign prisoners being released from prison and not being deported. There is a case to be argued about how dreadful this is and how we shouldn't be letting foreign criminals loose onto the streets of Britain. It's an excellent case, particularly in the case of illegal immigrants and people whose application for asylum has either not yet been heard or turned down. In these cases I have no doubt that the criminals should be forced to serve their FULL sentences in a British jail then be returned to their country of origin.
But I have a few misgivings about just automatically throwing foreign criminals out of the country. It just seems too easy, too obviously a sop to the mob.
If someone has been given indefinite leave to remain, or even British citizenship, then they can't just be thrown out for committing a crime. People do commit crimes, make mistakes and it is right that they should be punished for it. The choice of punishment, however, should be made on legal grounds not political grounds, which expelling people from the country would be. There is no way that a criminal from the Sudan (for example) should be sent back there just to make Blair and Reid look tough.
There is a case in Scotland of a Cuban who has been in the country for 30 years having escaped with his family from political persecution. This man committed a crime and was jailed. By all accounts he was a good prisoner and has complied with all of his parole conditions. There is nothing to be gained from sending this man out of the country, other than ticking boxes about how many foreign criminals have been expelled.
Each case should be examined individually and many factors should be taken into account. I hope this is sorted out as soon as possible.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Brangelia
I can't stand this couple. Their latest piece of arrogance is that any foreign journalist wanting to enter Namibia must have their written permission.
Come on Namibian Government, I know the publicity will be good for your tourist industry, but tell this arrogant pair to get tae... (as we say in Glasgow).
I am a celebrity junkie, I love reading about the lifes of celebs, but come on. This couple actually believe all their own publicity.
Come on Namibian Government, I know the publicity will be good for your tourist industry, but tell this arrogant pair to get tae... (as we say in Glasgow).
I am a celebrity junkie, I love reading about the lifes of celebs, but come on. This couple actually believe all their own publicity.
It's Thursday Again....
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Thirteen Films I Love. These are the films that I can, and do, watch over and over again and never get bored. 1. It's A Wonderful Life - every time I hear a bell ring, I think of the angel getting their wings. 2. North by Northwest - possibly Cary Grant's greatest film 3. Singin In The Rain 4. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 5. Calamity Jane - ok, I love musicals. They are perfect Sunday afternoon viewing. 6. Die Hard - the best mindless action film of all time. Ideal popcorn fun. 7. Dirty Dancing - every girl my age loves this film. All it takes is I've had the time of my life to come on the radio and everyone in the office starts quoting from the film. 8. Pretty Woman. 9. Shooting Dogs - watch it, get sad, then get angry and find out what you can do about the situation in Darfur. 10. Harvey - I cry when Harvey stays behind and leaves Elwood, and Elwood knows why. 11. High Society - I know I shouldn't prefer it to The Philadelphia Story, but I do. 12. Independence Day - it's utterly preposterous, but's that part of the reason I love it. 13. West Side Story. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) Cheryl Natalie K T Cat Susan Nikki Mummy undercover angel Carmen Mandy Wystful1 Day by Day Amanda Laci Pixie Princess Mom Janet Mary Anneberit Tanya Susan Emily's Mom Anna EmilyRoseJewel Jessika Becky |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Brian Haw
I'm torn on this subject.
Brian Haw is the one-man anti-war protester who has been demonstrating outside Parliament for five years now. He sits in Parliament Square with metres of banners and shouts (a lot) about how wrong the war is. In response to Mr Haw's presence the Government brought in its shameful legislation banning unauthorised protests in a 1km square radius of Parliament. Yet another example of how this Labour Government is desperate to stifle opposition and freedoms in Britain today.
I believe it is a fundamental indicator of democracy how free the population are to speak out against the government, in Britain it's getting harder. We can't protest at our Parliament anymore, one woman was arrested just for reading names of soldiers killed in Iraq; if you speak out against the government in any way they will find a way of discrediting you - like the child abuse victim who was called "extremely disturbed" by government minister Margaret Hodge. Britain is sleepwalking into a loss of civil liberties and we don't seem to care.
But back to Brian Haw, his banners have been removed and they are still trying to get rid of him. And despite everything I said above, I'm really pleased. He is nothing more than a blot on the bloody landscape and a damn nuisance. I agree with most of his sentiments but really, one man with his shabby little tent and scraggy 40foot of banners isn't a protest, it's littering and vagrancy. Five years? Bugger off and get a job mate.
Brian Haw is the one-man anti-war protester who has been demonstrating outside Parliament for five years now. He sits in Parliament Square with metres of banners and shouts (a lot) about how wrong the war is. In response to Mr Haw's presence the Government brought in its shameful legislation banning unauthorised protests in a 1km square radius of Parliament. Yet another example of how this Labour Government is desperate to stifle opposition and freedoms in Britain today.
I believe it is a fundamental indicator of democracy how free the population are to speak out against the government, in Britain it's getting harder. We can't protest at our Parliament anymore, one woman was arrested just for reading names of soldiers killed in Iraq; if you speak out against the government in any way they will find a way of discrediting you - like the child abuse victim who was called "extremely disturbed" by government minister Margaret Hodge. Britain is sleepwalking into a loss of civil liberties and we don't seem to care.
But back to Brian Haw, his banners have been removed and they are still trying to get rid of him. And despite everything I said above, I'm really pleased. He is nothing more than a blot on the bloody landscape and a damn nuisance. I agree with most of his sentiments but really, one man with his shabby little tent and scraggy 40foot of banners isn't a protest, it's littering and vagrancy. Five years? Bugger off and get a job mate.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Surely Not True
Iain Dale's blog has a story today about Cherie Blair and Alistair Campbell signing a copy of the Hutton Report for auction at a Labour Party fundraiser.
One of the most shameful incidents of this sleazy Government's time in office and the Labour Party have reduced it to a jokey fundraising method.
Must be categorised under "Too Crass to be True", I just find difficulty in believing that it really happened.
For those who don't know all about Hutton, visit the BBC website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2003/david_kelly_inquiry/
One of the most shameful incidents of this sleazy Government's time in office and the Labour Party have reduced it to a jokey fundraising method.
Must be categorised under "Too Crass to be True", I just find difficulty in believing that it really happened.
For those who don't know all about Hutton, visit the BBC website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2003/david_kelly_inquiry/
The Definition of Irony....
Raining non-stop since the imposition of a drought order.
Bloody water companies should sort out their leaks rather than worrying about whether or not I take a bath or a shower or whimpering about someone washing their car.
It's time that big businesses started to justify their massive profits. I have no problem with big profits, I think they are a good thing, but when a water company imposes strict rules on their customers and fails to sort out their own leaks which are surely more damaging to the water supply than Mrs Miggins watering her petunias, then there is no justification for such huge profits. Profits and dividends to share holders should be a reward for a job well done, not an automatic right, no matter how shoddy service is.
Friday, May 19, 2006
New Labour Book of Sleaze
From two of my favourite bloggers. Labour were puritanical about all forms of sleaze before their election in 1997. This will help to destroy the myth that they were EVER whiter-than-white.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen Things that I learned in Israel
1 You could never forget which country you were in, there are lots of flags flying from lamp-posts and cars.
2. Israeli taxi drivers driver VERY fast, frighteningly fast at times.
3. While talking on at last two mobile phones at a go.
4. Leaving is tougher than getting in - very tight security at Ben Gurion airport.
5. There are apparently only two decenet football stadia in the country, but I can't remember what they are.
6. The Dead Sea Scrolls aren't terribly exciting, just bits of really old paper.
7. Virtually everyone is conscripted into the Army at the age of 18.
8. The standard issue army weapon is the M-16.
9. There are lots of teenagers roaming the streets of Israel with M-16s, even when they are off-duty.
10. Every army recruit has to visit Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust museum.
11. Which means there are lots of impressionable children, with M-16s, who are have just learned about the worst atrocity committed against their people....
12. I never once felt unsafe.
13. The Garden of Gethsemene and the Church of the Holy Sepulchure were both very moving and helped to reaffirm a faith I didn't quite realise I still had.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
www.chaotichome.blogspot.com
http://lifran.blogspot.com/
http://www.kickass.4everlasting.com/
http://dariadonovan.blogspot.com/
http://wystful1.blogspot.com/
http://boringsonya.blogspot.com/
http://carmenhasgonetoplaid.blogspot.com/
http://lifeinthenhs.blogspot.com/
http://www.yellowrosesgarden.com/
http://grandmastreasures.blogspot.com/
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Friday, May 05, 2006
Morning of the Long Knives
The PM is desperately scrabbling about to try and save the last salvages of his government by sacking members of his Cabinet everywhere.
I think the biggest shock must be that Patricia Hewitt actually remains in her job. And sacking the Home Secretary, Chief Whip and Party Chairman - pretty influential people to have sniping from the backbenches.
I think the biggest shock must be that Patricia Hewitt actually remains in her job. And sacking the Home Secretary, Chief Whip and Party Chairman - pretty influential people to have sniping from the backbenches.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
My 4th Thursday Thirteen
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Visitors to this week's 13. http://carmenhasgonetoplaid.blogspot.com/ |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
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