Sunday, May 31, 2009

Tim Yeo: Claimed for pink laptop on MPs' expenses

Tim Yeo: Claimed for pink laptop on MPs' expenses

A former Conservative minister used his MPs' expenses to pay for a pink laptop computer from John Lewis in the weeks leading up to Christmas.





Regarding his pink laptop the MP said: "A laptop is a laptop whatever colour it is. This is a trivial point."

Is he seriously claiming that the pink laptop was for his own use on Parliamentary business? I suspect that it was a Christmas present for a girl or woman and that it is not a trivial point to bill the taxpayers for a personal gift!

Rare red kite chicks hatch in Scotland

Rare red kite chicks hatch in Scotland

Red kite chicks have hatched in the wild in Aberdeenshire for the first time in almost 150 years.


For the first time in almost 150 years red kite chicks have hatched in Aberdeenshire Photo: RSPB

"The chicks are being raised by birds released two years ago as part of a project to reintroduce the birds to the skies over the county.

At least three have hatched, and the public are being offered the chance to watch two in a nest via CCTV viewing points.

Red kites were once common all over the British Isles, but were persecuted almost to the point of extinction in the 19th century.

In the UK, the population had almost died out until birds began being reintroduced from overseas via breeding programmes in the 1990s".

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Is this man fit to be a judge?

Is this man fit to be a judge?



MPs' expenses: Humfrey Malins claimed £58,000 for flat in which his children lived

Humfrey Malins, a Conservative MP who serves as a Crown Court judge, has claimed £58,000 in taxpayer-funded expenses for a flat in which his children have stayed rent-free.


I admit I had never heard of Humfrey Malins until today. He has recently announced his intention to leave parliament at the next general election. No mention of the expenses scandal here: "I want to stand down at a time when hopefully some people will say 'We’re sorry to see you go', rather than 'We thought you’d gone ages ago'".

I cannot say I am sorry to see him go. However, I can understand why it is thought he can no longer serve as an MP. I fail to see how someone who is not fit to be a MP because of a expenses scandal can be fit to remain as a judge? The situation could occur whereby Humphrey Malins has to sit in judgment on a case of fraud...

Surely, Humphrey Malins must tender his resignation and no longer sit as a judge?

Animal pictures of the week: 29 May 2009

Animal pictures of the week: 29 May 2009


A lioness licks one of her newborn cubs at Aalborg Zoo in northern Jutland, Denmark...Picture: EPA

Red fox kits play on top of a den in an open field near Indian Paintbrush Elementary School in Laramie, Wyoming, Picture: AP

A bar-headed goose walks with one of her day-old chicks at the zoo in Servion near Lausanne, Switzerland, Picture: AP

Farm dog Sue peers at a lamb at a farm near Denny, Scotland, Picture: PA

Loads more photos here.

Lame Duck Parliament

Lame Duck Parliament

click on image to enlarge and see why the duck is a left winger

MPs expenses: The Report

MPs expenses: The Report

When I am in the right mood I will come back to this and provide my analysis.

Maddie The Truth of the Lies

Maddie The Truth of the Lies

MADDIE the Truth of the Lies MADDIE the Truth of the Lies

jailhouselawyer


The purpose of this book is to contribute to the ‘discovery’ or public release of relevant material and to contribute to ultimate justice in the case that has become known as ‘Maddie’. Truth and justice are the basic values to which I ascribe and which are an obligation of my conscience; these values reflect back to the fundamental purpose of the institution to which I had the honour of belonging. These values were not extinguished by my retirement and they will continue to be present and my guide here. There was no break in, therefore no child abduction, and no abductor. This firmly puts the liability for Madeleine's disappearance down to the McCanns. And, everything else has been a cover up.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Tory prat David Cameron does not know whether he owns 2 or 4 houses

Tory prat David Cameron does not know whether he owns 2 or 4 houses



Two homes no four homes I don't know how many homes David Cameron...


According to David Cameron “Do not make me sound like a prat for not knowing how many houses I’ve got.”

We don't need to make you sound like a prat when you do such a good job of it yourself!

Tory plan to scrap the Human Rights Act under attack

Tory plan to scrap the Human Rights Act under attack

Article by Jonathan Rayner

The UK could find itself parting company from the EU if Tory pledges to scrap the Human Rights Act (HRA) are carried through, the head of the Council of Europe has warned Conservative party activists.

David Cameron has pledged to repeal the HRA, which since 2000 has incorporated the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. A replacement British Bill of Rights would lead to a less hands-on approach by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, the Tories argue.

The ECHR is funded by the Council of Europe. Council secretary general Terry Davis (pictured), in London this month to mark the 60th anniversary of the council’s creation, told the Gazette he had ‘privately warned’ the Tories that repealing the HRA could have far-reaching consequences. ‘In the first instance, it would return the UK to dependency on judgments from Strasbourg rather than its own domestic courts – as was the case prior to 2000. This will simply slow the process down, not least because the court has a 20,000 backlog of cases waiting to be heard.’ Davis added that to escape Strasbourg’s overarching jurisdiction the UK would also need to withdraw from the ECHR, which Strasbourg enforces. Withdrawal would disqualify it from membership of the council and thus from the EU ‘because every member state of the EU must be a member of the council, too.’

Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve has said that a British bill of rights would be compatible with membership of the Convention.


"Human rights are what they say on the tin. Rights that we are all entitled to simply because we are human. They are what the Nazis, for example, didn't give Jews, mentally ill people, gypsies, political opponents, the people of countries they invaded and the rest. The European Convention on Human rights arose from the ashes of World War II and we scrap laws defending human rights at our peril".

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Julie Kirkbride to face Madame Guillotine

Julie Kirkbride to face Madame Guillotine



Julie Kirkbride's £50,000 extension for brother - MPs' expenses

Julie Kirkbride, the Conservative MP, used taxpayers’ money to fund a £50,000 extension to her constituency flat so that her brother could live in the property.


"Yesterday, in her first interview since the expenses scandal began, Miss Kirkbride insisted that she wanted to remain an MP but said she would step down if requested to do so by David Cameron. “If he asks me to go, then of course I will do as he asks,” she said".

She should not need to wait for David Cameron to tell her to go. This is the final straw.

David Cameron must wield the axe...

Chop! Chop!

UPDATE: It gets worse for David Cameron...

MPs' expenses: Tory MP Sir John Butterfill paid no tax on £600,000 house profit

Sir John Butterfill, a Tory grandee, paid no capital gains tax after making a £600,000 gain on the sale of his taxpayer-funded house which he told the parliamentary authorities was his designated second home.

Doesn't she look like Esther Rantzen?

McCanns private detectives to interview suspects seen lurking outside of Apartment 5A

McCanns private detectives to interview suspects seen lurking outside of Apartment 5A



Either that or they are queuing to see the clowns perform in McCanns circus...

Judge Richard Bray loses his marbles

Judge Richard Bray loses his marbles

Judge Richard Bray criticised the police for not responding to an emergency call which was not made. And gave three violent thugs lenient sentences for committing Grievous Bodily Harm upon one man.

At the very least the judge should apologise to the police for his misunderstanding of the case, and there should be an appeal lodged to increase the sentences to reflect the gravity of the offences committed. It is no defence to claim that the police were not called because they would not turn up. I am aware that in many instances the police do not respond to calls for assistance. In this instance the police are innocent and got castigated, and the guilty almost got off scott free.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Woof justice

Woof justice

Up in court again tomorrow morning over the so-called public disorder and not having a dog under control.

I think it is just for the plea and setting the trial date.

Madeleine is dead: It's official

Madeleine is dead: It's official

Portuguese police have eventually announced what we have all feared for a long time 'The case is closed, she is dead'.

Personally, I think it is a shame that the case is closed. Because it lets the killer of Madeleine off the hook.

The only people claiming that there is no evidence that Madeleine is dead are the McCanns themselves. They concocted a false story in an attempt to distance themselves from legal liability. That is, they staged a fake break-in to Apartment 5A. The police have proved that there was no break-in. Therefore, there was no abduction. And yet, the only people claiming that there was an abduction are the McCanns themselves who needed a cover story to explain the disappearance of Madeleine.

Tough on Jobseekers tough on the causes of Jobseekers

Tough on Jobseekers tough on the causes of Jobseekers

Because some bright spark in government came up with a scheme to punish the unemployed who have been out of work for 6 months, I was supposed to attend Hull College for 5 days a week, 9am until 4pm, for 13 weeks.

It appears to me that the reasoning goes like this. Because you are supposed to be out looking for a job all day, therefore your time is not your own and your mind and body will instead be used by the state. It reminds me of prison.

The other week I went to another of these things, and spent the morning just filling in loads of forms all asking for the same information. I got pissed off. When I was asked whether I thought it would all help me back to work I said "no". I was then told I did not need to be there because it is voluntary and that I could go.

The Job Centre said it is not voluntary but compulsory and arranged for me to attend the same kind of thing at another venue.

In my view, like prison, it is a waste of time and waste of money. The only person to gain from all this is some company called Ae4, which employs people to inform us that we are out of work, and the task is to get us back into work.

I have got better things to do with my time. I have my comfort zone. I have to take my dog for his walk. I could not just sit there and suffer it all any longer and had to get back home. The government is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

UPDATE: A4E A Waste of Taxpayers money...

Monday, May 25, 2009

The sick Nadine Dorries should pick up thy bed and walk

The sick Nadine Dorries should pick up thy bed and walk

Personally, I think Nadine Dorries should be sectioned off under the Mental Health Act.

Rather delusional she states: "If I had to use one word to describe any personal quality I possess, it is loyalty".

Certainly not to the electorate. Nor to her disabled husband who she divorced to become a MP.

"I would never betray a friend and I always instinctively, fiercely, protect those I care for". Obviously did not care for her husband!

"I had God on my side, I began to vomit".

God on her side? Nadine Dorries makes me sick!

I don't think upsetting those Barclay Brothers was a good idea.

I predict a retirement is on the way.

Hat-Tip to Constantly Furious

McCanns involved in Madeleine Fund fraud

McCanns involved in Madeleine Fund fraud

"The search for [Madeleine] is now being headed by two retired policemen, Dave Edgar, a former RUC and Cheshire Police officer, and Arthur Cowley, previously of Merseyside Police, who run Alpha Investigations Group and have been hired by the Find Madeleine Fund to investigate missed leads".

I don't know whether these two ex-cops were corrupt as serving police officers. However, their current private investigation is certainly corrupt in the eyes of the law. According to the quote above they have been hired to investigate missed leads. How can so-called experienced former detectives miss the lead in relation to the fake break-in, the cover story, put out by the McCanns? Either they are so incompetent or crooked. If their remit excludes investigation of the McCanns themselves, then it is not a proper investigation at all but instead a smokescreen. This being the case, then the McCanns are fraudulently taking money from the Madeleine Fund not to investigate missing leads but instead to lay a false trail away from their door.

Daily Telegraph reports "Investigators working for the parents of Madeleine McCann hope to question convicted paedophile Raymond Hewlett as early as today – and want him to undergo a DNA test".

And...

The Sun coverage.

"Kate and Gerry's official spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "Mr Hewlett has denied any involvement in Madeleine's abduction.

"Our investigators hope he will co-operate by giving them whatever information is needed so they can eliminate him from the investigation.

"It's clear the man is ill and it is clear he has information that our investigators need."

The McCanns have no legal or moral authority to hound this very ill paedophile. It is not for him to prove his innocence to the satisfaction of the McCanns and/or their private inquisitors. This is not the Spanish Inquisition. Given that we have the fake break-in story, no evidence of any abduction, it is not Mr Hewlett who should be eliminated from the investigation but instead the McCanns themselves. It is clear that Mr Hewlett is ill. It is not clear that he has any information which will assist in discovering what happened to Madeleine.

After the stink of the MPs expenses scandal: A breath of fresh air...

After the stink of the MPs expenses scandal: A breath of fresh air...



How can any of the others in Britain's Got Talent hope to compete against Susan Boyle? Yet another stunning performance.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Alternative BNP Flyer: Why we are not voting for the BNP

Alternative BNP Flyer: Why we are not voting for the BNP



Original story here.

Tory blogger Iain Dale libels yet another Labour MP

Tory blogger Iain Dale libels yet another Labour MP

Tory blogger Iain Dale, who recently libelled Labour MP Tom Watson, has now gone and libelled another Labour MP called Brian Jenkins.

In spite of Bob Piper exposing the Young Conservative party fraudster, and myself bringing this to Iain Dale's attention in the comments section of his post, he has brazenly left the libel in place and I hope that this time Brian Jenkins sues the arse off Iain Dale. Last time it was Iain Dale writing in the Daily Mail and the Daily Mail paid out substantial damages to Tom Watson, however, Iain Dale escaped any financial penalty. Once again it is the Daily Mail at the centre of the libel. Whereas previously the Daily Mail repeated Iain Dale's libel, this time Iain Dale has repeated the Daily Mail libel.

Given that Iain Dale has recently been caught out bullying an Old Soldier, once more this displays what a hypocrite he is claiming that someone else is a bully!

UPDATE: Unity over at Liberal Conspiracy has also picked up the story.

Snout in the trough Conway pockets pigskin wallet

Snout in the trough Conway pockets pigskin wallet

Twat!

"Some of Mr Conway’s more surprising claims include £160 for a pigskin wallet from the Smythson luxury goods store on Bond Street".

I think we should all have a pigskin wallet made from the hides of those snout in the trough expenses fiddling MPs!

Derek Conway is a good friend of Tory blogger Iain Dale. You are known by the company you keep.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage boasts of his £2m in expenses

Ukip leader Nigel Farage boasts of his £2m in expenses



"Nigel Farage, who is calling on voters to punish "greedy Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem MPs" at the European elections on 4 June, boasted of his personal expenses haul at a meeting with foreign journalists in London last week".

In my view, it is rank hypocrisy for Mighty Mouth to call for a clean up of MPs expenses when his own fiddled expenses amount to £200,000 per year for 10 years totaling £2M!

Sour milk

Sour milk

Rusty Kuntz milking a cow and untrusty cunts milking the system

The Independent is claiming that The pursuit of MPs is becoming a witch-hunt

The Independent is as guilty as other newspapers when it comes down to possessing knowledge about the systemic abuse of the allowance system and remaining silent. So, it is a bit rich for the editor to now claim that the public are bullying MPs. In my view there is a difference between a which hunt to find out MPs who have been abusing the system, and a witch hunt that pursues innocents for holding beliefs.

The Independent claims that "the row is now in danger of eroding the democratic health of the nation". So, the democratic health of the nation is suffering because corrupt MPs have been exposed? It is their conduct which has damaged the democratic health of the nation. They were trusted by the public and they breached that trust.

I think it is fair to say that both Labour and the Tory parties leaders have been guilty of trying to protect some of those in the Cabinet and shadow cabinet, when they should have been cleaning out their respective pig stys.

The Independent claims that "there is a big difference between fraud and the milking of a laxly policed expenses system". True. However, it is theft to milk a farmer's cow without lawful authority. It is no defence to say that because the farmer left his cow in the field it is alright to milk it. The system was lax because the MPs made their own rules to permit this laxity.

I do not believe that the public is tarring every MP with the same brush. I believe that they are aware that some MPs legitimately claimed expenses. However, I do not accept the The Independent's claim that it is legitimate to furnish a second home from the John Lewis list. Only those who really needed a second home should have claimed, and only then to the extent to purchase necessary items in relation to their work.

Fraud challenge to home secretary

Fraud challenge to home secretary

A man has appeared in court to try to start a private prosecution against the home secretary over her expense claims.



Anthony Weaver, from Holborn in London, applied for a summons before a district judge in Jacqui Smith's constituency in Redditch, Worcestershire.

He alleges she defrauded the public purse of between £116,000 and £200,000 by claiming her main residence was her sister's London house.

The judge adjourned the case, advising Mr Weaver to contact Scotland Yard.

"I am not going to grant or dismiss the summons," said district judge Bruce Morgan, sitting at Redditch Magistrates' Court.


Surely, in the interest of justice Jacqui Smith should be removed from her post as Home Secretary because she is responsible for policing and her continued presence may hamper a proper investigation into her conduct?

Nadine Dorries is the Nurse Ratched of politics

Nadine Dorries is the Nurse Ratched of politics



Nadine Dorries: MPs 'at suicide risk over McCarthyite witchhunt'

Fat Cat

She definitely looks like a witch to me. With duck pond politics we must have the ducking stool. Nadine Dorries is good at ducking questions about divorcing her sick husband to follow her desire for the power attached to politics. And, ducking her expenses claims responsibilities.

Here she ducked her responsibilities to her sick husband!

And Nadine is attacked here for dishonesty...

"If ever there was a classic example of power corrupting, this is surely it. Nadine Dorries, that daft bimbo MP, ranted on her blog of her honesty, when to me (and most taxpayers) what she (and others did) is beyond the pale".

Link.

How this stupid cow can sue for loss of reputation is beyond me. What good reputation? Here she claims that the Daily Telegraph is torturing MPs!

"What they are doing by taking out a few MPs a day, from all parties, not allowing them to defend their position, not printing what they say, shouting over them and doing this day after day after day amounts to a form of torture which any group of human beings would find difficult to bear".

UPDATE:

Nadine Dorries disowned by David Cameron. Toast!

Nadine Dorries caught out telling a lie

Nadine Dorries caught out telling a lie

"In this morning's interview, Ms Dorries insisted that the underlying problem was not the greed of politicians but the fact that no Prime Minister in recent history had dared to award MPs a proper pay rise, preferring to use the second home allowance to make up the difference".

Hold on a minute, even I remember this scandalous MPs set for 30% pay rise! In comparison, "Elsewhere in the public sector, local government workers will get only a 2.9 per cent rise this year"!

UPDATE: Nadine Dorries being less than honest in interview with Iain Dale...


Watch Class of 2005: Nadine Dorries MP in Politics  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Wasn't Nadine Dorries under Oliver Letwin before being mysteriously offered a seat?

Why did the McCanns tell the PJ a lie about a fake break-in to Apartment 5A?

Why did the McCanns tell the PJ a lie about a fake break-in to Apartment 5A?

The Daily Telegraph is reporting the following headline: "Madeleine McCann: British paedophile Raymond Hewlett is 'significant new suspect'". And, the sub-heading "Raymond Hewlett, a convicted British paedophile responsible for a number of sex attacks in the last 40 years, is being investigated in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, it has emerged".

I note that the claim 'significant new suspect' is in inverted commas, to protect the newspaper from libel.

According to the Daily Mirror Leicestershire Police have stated "It remains a Portuguese investigation".

And, the Portuguese have not announced any new suspect in the McCann case, let alone one that is described as significant. In fact, the Portuguese authorities have announced that they have closed the case into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Therefore, there is no official investigation continuing. So, what on earth can the Daily Telegraph be going on about? If there is no official investigation, it follows that that there is no new suspect significant or otherwise.

The Independent reports: New lead in hunt for Madeleine McCanns' spokesman says British paedophile is 'of interest' to investigation

Now it is becoming clear. Clarence Mitchell, who is the McCanns spokesman, claims that Raymond Hewlett is a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine. And that two retired detectives, employed by the McCanns as private investigators to discover the whereabouts of Madeleine, are interested in questioning Raymond Hewlett. According to the Daily Telegraph "He has been on the run since Madeleine's disappearance". I hope that the Daily Telegraph is going to produce the evidence for this assertion?

According to the Daily Mirror, Raymond Hewitt is not on the run at all. Rather, he is laid up in a hospital bed with cancer.



So, two ex-coppers wish to speak to a dying man because he is reported to have been 30 [later reports state 60] miles away from the scene of the crime?

What kind of shoddy investigation is this?

Why are Dave Edgar, and Arthur Cowley, the two ex-plods, not investigating two people who were not 30 [later reports state 60] miles away from the scene of the crime, but were actually there at the scene of the crime at the relevant time?

What good is an investigation which excludes the two most likely suspects, Gerry and Kate McCann?

Instead of these bungling Inspector Clouseaus going on a wild goose chase, and the Mainstream Media following them like lemmings jumping over a cliff, why don't they concentrate on getting an answer to the following pertinent question? That is: Why did the McCanns tell the PJ a lie about a fake break-in to Apartment 5A?

Until the McCanns answer that question they must remain the prime suspects in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann!

Why is the Mainstream Media not asking this question, and why are the McCanns and Clarence Mitchell not answering the question?

UPDATE: New McCann suspect 'was questioned by police but had an alibi'

The two people who do not have an alibi are Gerry and Kate McCann. Can we now return to my question and get the McCanns and/or Clarence Mitchell to provide an answer?

UPDATED UPDATE: Madeleine McCann police chief found guilty of falsifying evidence

He didn't falsify the fake break-in. The McCanns did.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Question Time was brilliant this week

Question Time was brilliant this week.

Blears test she has to go...

Brown has to call a General Election...

Duck Pond government...

Lack of moral authority in Parliament...

Twat Iain Dale on Twitter: "David Dimbleby is becoming a caricature. Just playing to the gallery for cheap applause".

I twatted him with this reply: "Iain Dale is pissed off with Dimbleby on Question Time. The bullying Tory blogger cannot stand the heat he should get out of the kitchen".

I've Twittered "Shed no tears for Hazel Blears her worst fears out on her ears".

Hazel Blears to be deslected by constituency party officials

Hazel Blears to be deslected by constituency party officials



The Daily Express reports that Hazel Blears is daring Gordon Brown to sack her from the Cabinet in his next reshuffle.

Apparently, she is thought to be threatening to Brownmail Gordon by dishing the dirt if he sacks her. If this is the case, all the more reason for him to show leadership qualities and boot her out on her arse. NOW!

In any event, her local party will not be selecting her to stand at the next General Election. The "constituency party officials insisted she would not be de-selected before the next general election". Hazel Blears is living on borrowed time. Next!

In my view, she has become to big for her motorcycle boots. My advice is that she gets on her motorbike, rev up and fuck off...

UPDATE: Blears test - why she has to go

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Royal Family feeling the pinch as servant looks for buried treasure with a metal detector

Royal Family feeling the pinch as servant looks for buried treasure with a metal detector

Iain Dale costs Mail “substantial damages” for allegations

Iain Dale costs Mail “substantial damages” for allegations

by Sunny Hundal


In April leading blogger Iain Dale wrote an article titled ‘Smears, glowering henchmen-like the Nixon White House’ for the Mail on Sunday - alleging not only that Tom Watson MP was copied into the ’smeargate’ emails to Derek Draper, but that he “encouraged” them.

It is of course with great sadness and regret I hear that two of this country’s best-loved media institutions - Associated Newspapers and Iain Dale’s blog - ended up with a massive pie on their faces.

Associated now accepts that these “allegations are entirely untrue”, and had to pay out substantial damages to Tom Watson MP.

This is the same blogger who once said,

If I say something libellous on my blog, I’m responsible for paying my libel bills. And that means there is more of an onus on bloggers to get it right, to not post unsubstantiated rumours…

I guess its easier to get someone else to pay your bills. Bizarrely enough, Iain Dale has so far managed to avoid issuing an apology on his own blog.

Comment: I cannot help wondering why Tom Watson did not also sue Iain Dale? Did the Queen of the blogosphere apologise and beg not to be sued and agreed to interview Tom Watson as part of the out of court settlement?

UPDATE: Press release by Tom Watson

Iain Dale is still silent on not posting on this story and apologising profusely for being caught out lying again!

'Failing' prison neglected disabled inmates

'Failing' prison neglected disabled inmates

By Jack Doyle, Press Association

A disabled prisoner was unable to wash properly for over a year because staff refused to carry him to the showers, a damning report revealed today.

Another disabled prisoner went six months without a shower because of a lack of staff "trained" to push his wheelchair, an official inspection found.

Inspectors said HMP Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, where both men were held, lacked "basic levels of safety and decency".

Prisoners were poorly supervised by staff, violence was "endemic" and there was widespread abuse of prescription drugs.

It's claimed injuries to prisoners that were described as "unexplained" were not properly investigated, and a proper inquiry was not carried out into an alleged assault of a prisoner by a member of staff.

The report also found a group of radical Muslim prisoners were able to spread their extremist message to other inmates.

The Muslim chaplain who offered to set up a teaching group to combat the radicals received "little support" from management.

One group of staff were described by inmates as "intimidating", and inspectors overheard prisoners referred to as "bodies".

The category B prison, which holds nearly 500 mostly violent and sexual offenders, is a former military hospital first converted into a prison in the mid-19th century.

The report paints a picture of a dysfunctional institution. Parts of the prison building were dilapidated and litter dumped out of cell windows went uncollected.

Chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers said Parkhurst was a "troubled institution" with "substantial shortcomings".

She said relations between staff and management were "exceptionally poor".

The report said: "One prisoner with impaired mobility had not been able to shower for over a year, apparently for lack of staff support.

"Another who used a wheelchair was denied access to a basic regime and had not been able to shower for six months, apparently because only three staff were prepared to push his wheelchair and they had not been available to undertake this task."

Ms Owers said: "In many ways, Parkhurst is a failing prison: prisoners feel unsafe and poorly treated, and neither the environment nor the regime are suited to the role of a modern training prison.

"Exceptionally poor industrial relations also exert a malign influence over an already troubled institution."

"Parkhurst badly needs regional and national support to ensure the restoration of basic levels of safety and decency, together with investment to increase purposeful activity."

Phil Wheatley, director general of the National Offender Management Service, said he accepted the prison had fallen below an acceptable standard.

"Parkhurst now forms part of HMP Isle of Wight, whose Governor has embarked from May 1 this year on a radical programme of change with the help of a new senior management team."

"I am determined that the creation of the new prison and the associated restructuring will deliver the changes required," he said.

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said today that she had called on the Prison Service to comply with its responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act.

She said she was writing to Director-General Phil Wheatley, Secretary of State Jack Straw and Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to ensure the service does comply.

She said: "The Ministry of Justice is breaking the law by allowing Parkhurst and other jails to be used as an inhumane, double punishment for disabled people."

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has started to show leadership qualities

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has started to show leadership qualities

Blears claim unacceptable - Brown

Gordon Brown has described cabinet minister Hazel Blears' expenses claim as "totally unacceptable behaviour"
.

Hazel Blears is history. It would be a sign of weakness if Gordon Brown is seen to be backing Hazel Blears for the next General Election. He must cut adrift those who no longer deserve a place in the life boat. And concentrate on the Saints within the party.

Mr Brown displays his mettle here: "He also cast serious doubt on the future of government whip Margaret Moran as an MP, describing her expenses claims as "completely unacceptable".

The Luton South MP is already under investigation after spending £22,000 to pay for dry rot treatment at her partners' home in Southampton.

She has agreed to repay the money and has been backed by her local party.

But Mr Brown said any Labour MP found to have "defied the rules" will not be allowed to stand at the next election".

In my view, it would be too hasty to write Gordon Brown off just yet. He holds the power to actually achieve more than David Cameron can promise to deliver as leader of the opposition. Gordon Brown's strategy must focus upon keeping out Cameron and the Tories will dispose of him if he fails to deliver the Tory party to power.

Iain Dale bullies Old Soldier blogger

Iain Dale bullies Old Soldier blogger

Evidence of Iain Dale's guilt.

And the truth he sought to suppress (I bet he did not try to scare the Daily Mail with threats of libel? And neither has Nadine Dorries!)...

Nadine Dorries dumped a MS suffering husband to become a MP.

Iain Dale does not like this unpalatable truth, and bullied a blogger into censoring a truthful comment I made on his blog on a post about Iain Dale and Nadine Dorries. I said that I could not forgive her for dumping her husband for power. She has fraudulently fiddled her expenses.

The decline and fall of Mark Leech

The decline and fall of Mark Leech

I have got an axe to grind, therefore it is intended to do a hatchet job on Mark Leech. He is an ex-prisoner, like myself, however, he likes to present himself as a successful businessman. For example, he is the owner of Spyhole Press Ltd t/a ConVerse. In April of this year the Advertising Standards Authority handed down its judgment on the claims made by Mark Leech. (To read the judgment click on the link).

www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/...

Today I visited the Spyhole Press/ConVerse website. If you follow the link, you will note that Mark Leech is still falsely advertising that ConVerse is the highest circulation national prison newspaper. www.spyholepress.com/converse.html

But, the dishonesty does not end there. Note the photograph depicting the team at Spyhole Press/Converse? It is a stock photo. Recently, the BNP came under flack for its fraudulent use of stock photos to falsely claim the people depicted supported the BNP. The website Tin Eye exposes Mark Leech’s attempt at deception. The link shows where the image has last been used and its origin. tineye.com/search/25f3942404589edda3bd56...

“As part of Prisons.Org.UK we are part of the premier prisons publishing company (and accredited legal training organisation) in the country. From publishing The Prisons Handbook, the definitive 950 page annual reference book for prisons, to operating the SRA and Bar Standards Board accredited Institute of Prison Law, we can offer value that no-one can match”.

I think it is a bit rich to be claiming to be the premier prisons publishing company. But, it is the accredited legal training organisation bit which interests me more. The Solicitors Regulatory Authority and Bar Standards Board only deal with qualified solicitors and barristers. Mark Leech has no formal legal qualification, therefore they cannot supervise him in relation to his claim to be accredited by them. It is yet another fraudulent claim by Mark Leech who has convictions for fraud and deception. Inside Time – The National Newspaper for Prisoners (with the highest circulation figures) announced in its April issue that it would be publishing their own Prisons Handbook, so even Mark Leech’s claim to publish the definitive annual reference book appears to be being challenged.

You would expect with such a fancy title as the Institute of Prison Law that the institute actually exists as a physical structure. However, I would challenge whether a correspondence course and the odd renting of rooms for those foolish enough to pay money and sign up for what Mark Leech has to offer actually constitutes an institute under English law. I would call what Mark Leech is doing as obtaining money by deception. That is for the relevant authorities to determine.

On the Spyhole Press/ConVerse website, if you click on the About Us link at the foot of the page, it takes you to a page which has an endorsement by Jeremy Bamber who was convicted in 1986 of murdering several members of his family, including twin six-year-old children, in a highly-publicised case. This is hardly the recommendation I would have thought appropriate, but there again Mark Leech is probably desperate not being able to get anybody respectable to endorse his products. In the sidebar on the left of the page we are treated to some more false claims:

“We publish all the mainstream publications on prisons in England and Wales - with annual, quarterly and monthly titles - and operate the main accredited training body on prison law in the country, The Institute of Prison Law”.

I wonder what the following accredited training bodies in prison law think of Mark Leech’s claim to be the main authority? www.insidetime.org/docs/training%20provi...

I feel like the cat which has given the mouse a mauling and has now tired of the game of cat and mouse.

[Originally posted as "Mark Leech is as honest as expenses fiddling MPs, no ifs, no buts" on MyTelegraph]

Police boss might defy High Court

Police boss might defy High Court



The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police Colin Port says he is prepared to go to jail rather than return suspected child pornography.

There is something rather disturbing about a police officer declaring that he is putting himself above the law.

Half of prisoners die of starvation in Zimbabwe jails

Half of prisoners die of starvation in Zimbabwe jails

More than half of the prisoners in Zimbabwe's maximum security jail have died of starvation or disease in the last year, it emerged yesterday.


The death rate inside Chikurubi prison, about 12 miles east of Harare, compares with the worst jails in history, according to the Standard, an independent weekly newspaper.

Of the 1,300 inmates, at least 700 have died in revolting conditions. Six were found dead in their filthy cells yesterday alone. About the same number died last weekend.

Some 100 bodies, many of them mutilated by rats, are stacked up in the prison mortuary. If they are unclaimed, they will be buried as paupers in prison grounds.

The collapse of Zimbabwe's economy and of the state itself has crippled the prison system, leaving thousands of inmates with scarcely any food. Any provision of medical care has also collapsed, leaving prisoners to die of starvation and disease.

Chikurubi packs about 30 inmates into cells designed for only 10. An off-duty warder confirmed the figure of 700 dead and said the mortality rate in other prisons was probably similar.

"It's the same at all the rest of the prisons around the country," he said. "We often find six died at a time. A lot have Aids, but die quickly because they don't have enough food."

Since Zimbabwe's new coalition government took office in February, the International Committee of the Red Cross has begun improving prison conditions, installing a borehole in Chikurubi two months ago.

The death rate has recently fallen, but prisoners still succumb almost every day. Between November and January, 327 deaths were recorded at Chikurubi - almost a quarter of all the inmates.

Major-General Paradzai Zimondi, the commissioner of prisons, is in President Robert Mugabe's inner circle. "He has never been to see what is going on in Chikurubi" said the warder. "He doesn't care."

Monday, May 18, 2009

MPs' expenses and Commons Speaker Michael Martin's statement: analysis

MPs' expenses and Commons Speaker Michael Martin's statement: analysis

MPs who want Commons Speaker Michael Martin out will have to wait a bit longer - despite the ongoing sandal of MPs' expenses.

By Andrew Porter, Political Editor


How much longer they will have to wait is now the most pressing question at the Commons. It cannot be very long.

A motion of no confidence in the Speaker has now been tabled. This is very likely to seal his fate.

The Tories and the Liberal Democrats will demand that the debate is held – possibly this week. If the Government refuses to allow it then they will be seen to have propped up the Speaker.

A weak Gordon Brown cannot allow that to happen. Crucially, Number 10 shows no sign of shoring him up and what that means is Mr Martin is now on borrowed time.

There will be little support for Mr Martin in any vote of confidence. But even if he won a vote he would not command enough support among MPs to stay in office.

In the current climate no MP would feel comfortable telling their constituents that they have shored up a discredited Speaker.

For the public, Mr Martin is now one of the unacceptable faces of the whole MPs' expenses scandal.

One Labour MP called his performance “abysmal”. That is a correct assessment.

Very soon Mr Martin must also accept that and do the right thing.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Ministry of Injustice seeks to deny prisoners access to the courts

Ministry of Injustice seeks to deny prisoners access to the courts

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that "The Ministry of Justice said it was examining ways to stop legal action by prisoners". What is rather curious is that this frightening prospect is buried in a story with a headline which is more in keeping with the Sun than the so-called respectable Daily Telegraph: "Murderer forces government to pay for his £7 haircuts".

The Daily Telegraph points out that prisoners can cut each others hair. In my view, the government is lucky that those prisoners who have suffered haircuts from unqualified inmate barbers have not sued for being assaulted and battered.

Given that according to section 47 of the Prison Act 1952, prisoners are in the care of the Secretary of State 24/7 it goes without saying that the Minister of Justice is responsible for paying for prisoners haircuts.

If the Ministry of Justice wants to know how to stop legal action by prisoners, I will give him some free legal advice Don't infringe prisoners legal rights which give them cause to sue!

Related content...

Nine Iraqi civilians who were abused by British troops have been awarded almost £1 million in compensation, it can be revealed.

Gonçalo Amaral to sue the McCanns

Gonçalo Amaral to sue the McCanns



Gonçalo Amaral said to TVI today that he will sue the McCanns. Gonçalo Amaral also stated that' the McCanns are very fearful that the process might be reopened, but this is their strategy, so let's see.'

Hat-Tip to Joana Morais

Moonlighting MPs should be sacked

Moonlighting MPs should be sacked

It's not just expenses fiddling MPs who are a problem, but also those who are working for outside interests whilst being paid to work for the public!

MPs are earning substantial amounts from jobs outside parliament while claiming generous parliamentary expenses, unpublished employment contracts have revealed.

More than 150 MPs have accepted nonparliamentary jobs, with some tripling their Commons salaries. One Conservative backbencher who claims the maximum possible second homes allowance has 10 other jobs.


The rules need to be changed to prevent MPs from working for someone else when they are supposed to be working for the electorate. If They Work For You, this is a full-time job and there is no time to work for anybody else otherwise they would be working part-time for the electorate and yet draw a full-time wage!

Speaker Martin must go says Nick Clegg

Speaker Martin must go says Nick Clegg



There I was this morning, tying my shoe laces ready to take Rocky for a walk and watching the Andrew Marr Show at the same time. I could not believe my ears when Nick Clegg said he would break with convention and call for Michael Martin to go.

Pressure on Commons Speaker Michael Martin dramatically escalated today when Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg joined public calls for him to quit.

Childkillers McCanns to sue for being called childkillers

Childkillers McCanns to sue for being called childkillers



This is a sick joke. The killers of Madeleine state: "We - together with our three children Madeleine, Sean and Amelie - are taking this legal action against Goncalo Amaral".

Gerry and Kate McCann, you only have two children now because Madeleine died in your care. If you recall, you are not only responsible for Madeleine's death but also responsible for child neglect and child abandonment whilst you went out binge drinking with your friends. There never was an abduction. If you recall, you stated that there had been a break-in at Apartment 5A in an attempt to cover your tracks. The police found no evidence to support your claim. The police did find evidence that you had both lied about the event.

The McCanns are taking this legal action in an attempt to censor further publication of Mr Amaral's book The Truth of the Lie, and his television documentary which proves that the McCanns are lying childkillers. It is ridiculous for the McCanns to attempt to stop negative publicity for their conduct, and their so-called search to find Madeleine is a money-making scam because they know Madeleine is dead and where her body is.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

MPs expenses: there are honest politicians after all

MPs expenses: there are honest politicians after all

The events of the past week may have left the impression that greed is a job requirement for MPs, but the Telegraph has discovered that there is such a thing as an honest politician.

There are currently 646 MPs.

The honest ones can be counted on the fingers of both hands. Ten out of 646 who are honest. I would not be surprised if there are more innocent prisoners in the same number...

There is no news today but there will be cause for celebration soon...

There is no news today but there will be cause for celebration soon...

Friday, May 15, 2009