Prime Minister's Questions

Last PMQs before the Summer Recess, and the expected lively session it was, too. Watch the fun here on the BBC. In particular, the first 'Question' is so badly put and blatantly planted that it was drowned out by derision from all sides of the House.

News from Somewhere

As we know, people detained at Guantanamo Bay are treated humanely. The USA therefore doubtless welcomes the release of this home movie from there on the BBC website. That said, one may wish to reflect that the camera may have been secreted there by associates of Mr Khadr, and its presence may not have been unknown to him at the more touching points of the video. Perhaps this is all that goes on there ... ?

Wernher von Morgan ?

"'Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?
That's not my department', says Wernher von Braun"
- as Tom Lehrer put it.

It would of course be a grave misunderstanding to view in that light the statesmanlike stance adopted by Welsh 'First Minister' Rhodri Morgan on the human rights implications of his efforts to further Wales' trade with China. Trade is a devolved matter, so he pursues trade. Human rights etc is a Westminster matter, so he leaves that kind of stuff to the UK Government. Not his problem. If only Amnesty International would see it that way.

News from Dewsbury

Labour MP Shahid Malik has an interesting perspective. See for his remarks here. He is not (he says) talking about the Holocaust.

Song for Gordon

Even for those not long in the joystick enough to remember The Stranglers' 'Golden Brown,' here is a First Anniversary [as PM] Greeting that Gordon Brown probably feels he didn't need ...

Wisdom of Lord Woolf

Near the dawn of the Human Rights Act, Lord Woolf remarked in giving judgement that it was important that the concept of 'human rights' was not abused by over-extension, since the idea as a whole would come into public disrepute - the right use as well as the ab-use, without distinction.

Two recent news stories illustrate His Lordship's wisdom.

In Sweden, a boy has been reported to the authorities for not inviting a couple of classmates to his party. Apparently this breached their human rights - by being discriminatory.

Back in Blighty, the Government are preparing legislation to allow witnesses in criminal trials to insist that the Defence are not told who they are - including by having no information that might be used to identify them being given in Court.

Those notoriously namby-pamby liberals the Romans objected to the use of anonymous informers: Gordon may wish to reflect that those Emperors who favoured them (eg Domitian) tended to come to sticky ends. But of course there is nothing that 'just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get me' Domitian's example can teach the PM, surely ?

Difficilior est non bloggere

Access remains a bit problematic, but there's really no choice.

When the Labour Party are beaten into fifth place in the Henley by-election - with barely a thousand votes - by one of our less respectable 'Oh no, we're not fascists' parties - when Gordon Brown is too frit to put his attacks on freedom to an electoral test in Haltemprice - then (as Juvenal would say) it is easier to give in and resume blogging.

Those numbers in full:

John Howell: Conservative 19,796

Stephen Kearney: Lib Dems 9,680

Mark Stevenson: Green 1,321

Timothy Rait: BNP 1,243

Richard McKenzie: Labour 1,066

Chris Adams: UKIP 843

Still, at least Gordon beat UKIP ...

A Quiet Year ?

Reading this, I realise it's been just over a year since I last blogged here. We've a new Prime Minister, and yet another bout of (alleged) Constitutional Reform is due.

My more usual outlet on BlackBoard may pass on soon, so watch this space in the summer for resumed postings.

As Number Six used to say, Be seeing you.