General Election 2010

Civil Liberties++++

The parties agree to implement a full programme of measures to reverse the substantial erosion of civil liberties under the Labour Government and roll back state intrusion.

This will include:

* A  Freedom or Great Repeal Bill.
* The scrapping of ID card scheme,  the National Identity register, the next generation of biometric  passports and the Contact Point Database.
* Outlawing the  finger-printing of children at school without parental permission.
 * The extension of the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to  provide greater transparency.
* Adopting the protections of the  Scottish model for the DNA database.
* The protection of historic  freedoms through the defence of trial by jury.
* The restoration  of rights to non-violent protest.
* The review of libel laws to  protect freedom of speech.
* Safeguards against the misuse of  anti-terrorism legislation.
* Further regulation of CCTV.
*  Ending of storage of internet and email records without good reason.
* A new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new  criminal offences.

w00t :D

I was gobsmacked at this, it felt like something out of a fucking Hollywood film, unbelievable, and from a fucking Tory administration! So much of what I had taken issue with, the authoritarian intrusion, every transference of individual power to the state seemingly redressed in a single document. I am hoping it happens.

I can put aside (if not understand) the wars New labour actioned, but the march of authoritarianism was simply too much, I was switched off from the New labour project long ago, long before protesters were beaten and corralled, long before email and telephone conversations and car journeys and tube journeys and walking down the street were legitimate targets for blanket surveillance.

I am no fan of the Conservatives, but good-fucking-bye to New Labour, glad to see the back of the fucking cunts.

YouTube- An Election Broadcast from the Hung Parliament Party

But mostly im feeling this:

Fucking brilliant. Evil will triumph if good men say nothing. When do you hear sentiments like that from men wielding guitars in Essex bars these days?

YouTube- Adam Boulton Arguing With Ben Bradshaw

Boulton shows some more passion

I was really hoping bolton's head would explode...next time.

Its all about what is happening at the time. The civil liverties thing is like our version of Barack Obama wanting to shut down Guantanamo as a top priority.

...but I still have 'that' patch on my bag :-(

I can put aside (if not understand) the wars New labour actioned, but the march of authoritarianism was simply too much, I was switched off from the New labour project long ago, long before protesters were beaten and corralled, long before email and telephone conversations and car journeys and tube journeys and walking down the street were legitimate targets for blanket surveillance.

I am no fan of the Conservatives, but good-fucking-bye to New Labour, glad to see the back of the fucking cunts.

I'm also really happy about this, though for me the wars were a much bigger deal.

Think you might be interested in this analysis of post-war political movements.

Modern Thinking: the Post-Liberal Consensus

This is the turd in the punchbowl; Thaksin Shinawatra and the Three Bs, Berlusconi, Blair, and Bush. A form of soft authoritarianism, keen on micro-intervention in social life and public-private blurring in economic life, with a bizarre delight in big events like the Olympics and the Champions’ League. Whereas the others talk left, or right, of where they govern, the Modern Thinkers govern to the right economically and to the left socially of where they campaign, which is straight down the middle.

They are the classic users of the postmodern politics package; which may explain why despite their constant promises of modernity and demands that we all keep up, they tend to struggle with big technical projects. Like old-fashioned junta technocrats, they often deny any political views or ideological claims, which should tell you plenty about their real mental history.

I'm also really happy about this, though for me the wars were a much bigger deal.

Think you might be interested in this analysis of post-war political movements.

Great article, read a couple of others of his, good stuff, feel sleepy now, might have a lay down.

If you need any further proof of how big a bunch of cunts New Labor are, read this

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7127819.ece

If you need any further proof of how big a bunch of cunts New Labor are, read this

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7127819.ece

I think a lot of people saw that coming, although I suspect the Conservatives have probably done much the same thing in the past - (as I suspect all administrations do to some extent when they can see their days are numbered) - apparently this is on an altogether bigger scale.

Prior to the election Labour's numbers were already labelled a 'work of fiction'.

I love the fact that they slipped in, quietly, unannounced and un-debated a ship that will cost us £13,000,000,000 (yes, £13 billion - thirteen thousand million pounds!).

The thinking is obvious, the fiscal deficit is already a ball and chain around the next government, so let's fuck them so badly they will last no more than a term.

That boat alone will cost us around another £400 each.

I think that ship is a plane. I think it is the refueling aircraft that Private Eye has been going on about for quite a while.

I think that ship is a plane. I think it is the refueling aircraft that Private Eye has been going on about for quite a while.

Yep, quick bit of research has shown you are quite right here, the tanker aircraft programme is in fact an aerial refuelling project and not a ship, my mistake - I read 'tanker' in the context of oil 'tanker' . . . . . as you say it is aircraft rather than shipping.

Still, £13,000,000,000 in the middle of recession, on a single military project, shocking stuff from the socialists.

A friend's Facebook status:

"If my surname was Milliband then I wouldn't have called my sons Ed or David. I'd have gone with Glen...."

Great article, read a couple of others of his, good stuff, feel sleepy now, might have a lay down.

Glad you liked it. Most recent post on his blogspot (no idea why he maintains two nearly identical blogs, but whatever):

In other admin, I finally found out what the mysterious lfgss.com referrals were. London Fixed Gear and Single Speed, indeed. Maybe I should get a new haircut?

That's us told.

A friend's Facebook status:

"If my surname was Milliband then I wouldn't have called my sons Ed or David. I'd have gone with Glen...."

I like it !

: )

Glad you liked it. Most recent post on his blogspot (no idea why he maintains two nearly identical blogs, but whatever):

That's us told.

:)

Yep, quick bit of research has shown you are quite right here, the tanker aircraft programme is in fact an aerial refuelling project and not a ship, my mistake - I read 'tanker' in the context of oil 'tanker' . . . . . as you say it is aircraft rather than shipping.

Still, £13,000,000,000 in the middle of recession, on a single military project, shocking stuff from the socialists.

I've tried to find the Private Eye thing but failed. As I recall it was a typical tale of things going over budget by insane amounts. I can hardly defend it since I would like us to have the same military budget as Switzerland. Labour did so many shit things.

Look, it's either this or lots of planes falling out of the sky as they run out of fuel.

I was gobsmacked at this, it felt like something out of a fucking Hollywood film, unbelievable, and from a fucking Tory administration! So much of what I had taken issue with, the authoritarian intrusion, every transference of individual power to the state seemingly redressed in a single document. I am hoping it happens.

I can put aside (if not understand) the wars New labour actioned, but the march of authoritarianism was simply too much, I was switched off from the New labour project long ago, long before protesters were beaten and corralled, long before email and telephone conversations and car journeys and tube journeys and walking down the street were legitimate targets for blanket surveillance.

I am no fan of the Conservatives, but good-fucking-bye to New Labour, glad to see the back of the fucking cunts.

I am quite skeptical that we will see a reduction in the current apparent 'authoritarianism' through the duration of this new govt, at least in any meaningful way. If anything, I think it'll increase. I can't see them reducing the role of CCTV when crime is bound to shoot up over the coming years, when people start losing their houses and youth unemployment skyrockets. I see no proposals to amend the Digital Economy bill.

The apparent authoritarianism of the last 13 years of New Labour was given tacit approval by the majority of the British people. I think a lot of people might say they believe in libertarianism, in a reduction in the intrusion of the state, but in reality I think most people in the UK want a strong police force, strong government, strong national defenses, a strong army. The numerous new laws the New Labour created, and the strong financial support the police received was, arguably, to attempt to remedy, or patch over the problems instigated by the previous 18 years of Conservative government - the overall increase in crime created by a culture of individualism, the breakdown of family values, the broken society. People say they want a reduction in nanny statism until their next door neighbour starts blaring music at all hours of the night, or starts breeding pitbull terriers. Then people cry out for ASBOs to be handed.

The public want low crime rates, and right now, a reduction in the powers of the police will in no way achieve that. If anything, they will be given more powers...for example, a reduction in police stop-and-searches over the last few years has indirectly lead to a massive increase in gun & knife crime in the capital .. so yeah, I can't see the new coalition government doing anything real and meaningful, beyond a few token things. Just what I think ..

Diane Abbott to stand for labour leadership.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7131624.ece-

Ah, Diane.

The new programme for government stuff is here, but falling over at the moment, I guess due to lots of traffic:

http://programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk/

Some interesting things in there so far.

yeah go diane! better than ed balls or those milliband clowns. wouldnt want her as PM though

I am quite skeptical that we will see a reduction in the current apparent 'authoritarianism' through the duration of this new govt,

in addition to what the government says, the timing of the announcement is equally important. THe scrapping of ID cards and the other very popular policy changes came just after they were elected. It had the right effect too. No one can deny they are good things, even dogmatic anti-torys a forced to reconsider, if only for a moment.

Of course, I doubt they have many more such universally apealling policies to unveal over the next few years.

Who knows? maybe they have changed. (they haven't)

I am quite skeptical that we will see a reduction in the current apparent 'authoritarianism' through the duration of this new govt, at least in any meaningful way.

I wouldn't call the last decade apparent authoritarianism, it's broadly agreed across the political divide that New Labour were the most authoritarian post war government, the government's own reports, commissions and various 'tsars' say much the same.

I too am skeptical, but hopeful that this will change, the speech by Clegg yesterday was dramatic, the scope of reform and the speed at which he wants it to happen encouraging.

If anything, I think it'll increase. I can't see them reducing the role of CCTV when crime is bound to shoot up over the coming years, when people start losing their houses and youth unemployment skyrockets. I see no proposals to amend the Digital Economy bill.

I don't think you should view this as a simple cause and effect thing (more crime = more CCTV, for example) - it has been shown, repeatedly (and again often by the [last] government's own commissions) that CCTV is often ineffective as a tool against crime - it has it's place - but it is used indiscriminately and without a need for it's efficacy to be established

So as we are now to have tighter regulations on CCTV surveillance of the public, installations are likely to need to prove they cut crime (or achieve what it is they claim to achieve).

The apparent authoritarianism of the last 13 years of New Labour was given tacit approval by the majority of the British people. I think a lot of people might say they believe in libertarianism, in a reduction in the intrusion of the state, but in reality I think most people in the UK want a strong police force, strong government, strong national defenses, a strong army.

I'd like to see the data you yourself have seen that convinces you of this.

for example, a reduction in police stop-and-searches over the last few years has indirectly lead to a massive increase in gun & knife crime in the capital ..

Again, before making a comment, could I see the data.

I'd like to see the data you yourself have seen that convinces you of this.

Contact with people other than those who don't wash, wear hemp clothing, have dreadlocks and ride silly fixed wheel bikes I guess.

fnar fnar

Great - now we've got this evil cunt running the country's transport policy.
We're all doomed I tell ye!

New transport secretary yearns for the golden era before the 'war on motorists'