United In Utter Condemnation

Politicians have united in utter condemnation of political police tactics over the arrest of a senior opposition MP, while government ministers stick their heads in the sand, denying all knowledge of this outrageous affair. 

The Orange Party made its views quite clear as the heavy-handed police tactics became clear last night. The shameful arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green makes a mockery of the liberal facade of this government and to suggest no government minister was consulted is ridiculous.

Today Brown is still in denial, telling Sky News: "I had no prior knowledge, the home secretary had no prior knowledge, I know of no other minister who had any prior knowledge ... I knew about it only after it had happened."

Yes prime minister but Conservative leader David Cameron was officially told in advance, so was the London Mayor and so too the House of Commons Speaker - but no government ministers? 

What's even worse is that this was all played out while parliament is in recess, so no awkward questions would be raised today in the House. 

The MP was arrested by anti-terrorism police over alleged home office leaks but eventually bailed not under anti-terror laws but under common law. 

That all allows No 10, the prime minister and home secretary to deny any knowledge of this shameful charade. And only denial, no hint of outrage or even condemnation.

Earlier today the Orange Party joined many who expressed outrage and believes Green is paying the political price of public interest. Faced with a serious challenge to its power and authority, the government has responded by using the police as a political tool and using the law against its elected members. 

Now the issue raises not only serious questions for MPs but also the part played by the Speaker, Michael Martin, and why police were allowed to search the MP's offices in the House of Commons.

The LibDems called the arrest a "mayday warning" for democracy, akin to a "tin-pot dictatorship", said leader Nick Clegg. Tory leader, David Cameron, called the police operation "alarming" and the government had questions to answer.

Former Labour minister Denis MacShane said: "To send a squad of counter terrorist officers to arrest an MP shows the growing police contempt for Parliament and democratic politics."

It is the views of respected Labour grandee, Tony Benn, which the Orange Party particularly takes to heart. 

Speaking on the BBC's World At One, Benn condemned the arrest saying: "It is a total breach of what accord the privileges of parliament and therefore, the electors.  His computers have been searched, his e-mail has been frozen."

Benn said that it was tantamount to a Contempt of Parliament.  "Once police can interfere in parliament, then we're into a police state."

Read More...

Outrage Of Heavy-Handed Political Police

A top Tory MP is paying the price of public interest after the heavy-handed tactics of the political police were exposed with the arrest of a senior opposition minister over alleged  home office immigration leaks. 

The shameful arrest of shadow immigration minister, Damian Green, makes a mockery of the liberal facade of the government. Once again it exposes, the hidden workings of powerful institutions of political and social control. 

The arrest raises some chilling questions for MPs and chilling parallels with Mugabe's Zimbabwe. 

Green was arrested at his home in Kent by counter-terrorism police officers, follows a series of leaks to the Conservatives about government policy. Yet he was bailed, not under anti-terrorist laws but under common law, until February.

Downing Street is claiming this is a matter for the police and the prime minister had no prior knowledge of the arrest but Conservatives point out a police investigation into a high-ranking politician would have to have been cleared at "the very top".

As news of Green's arrest broke last night, the Orange Party smelt a big political rat at work  and some scary heavy-handed Big Brother tactics. The Conservative leader, London Mayor and House of Commons speaker had been officially informed in advance but not, apparently, any government minister.

The arrest of a senior opposition MP was made by counter-terrorism police and only came to light after parliament had gone into recess, so no awkward questions could be asked in the House, a point not lost on The First Post's Westminster Mole, who reckons the whole charade was set up to allow the prime minister and home secretary "deniability".

It also raises serious questions about how the State deals with individuals, let alone an MP, who disclose matters in the public interest. 

Both shadow chancellor George Osborne and Conservative leader, David Cameron, have condemned the arrest. Cameron is said to be extremely angry, accusing the government of "Stalinesque" behaviour

Green, a former journalist, denied any wrongdoing and said: "I was astonished to have spent more than nine hours today under arrest for doing my job...I have many times made public information that the government wanted to keep secret - information that the public has a right to know."

He added: "In a democracy, opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account ... I was elected to the House of Commons precisely to do that and I certainly intend to continue doing so."

Green was arrested in connection with the earlier arrest of a suspected home office whistleblower who was suspended 10 days ago over a number of leaks. He was arrested but not charged.

Last November, documents from the private office of home secretary, Jacqui Smith, were leaked to the opposition showing ministers had known for four months that thousands of illegal immigrants had been cleared to work as security guards but had not told Parliament.

Further revelations in February included information about an illegal immigrant working at House of Commons, a list of Labour MPs preparing to vote against the government's anti-terrorism measures and a letter from the home secretary warning that a recession could lead to a rise in crime.

In a statement the Conservative Party said: "Mr Green has, on a number of occasions, legitimately revealed information which the Home Office chose not to make public ... Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest." 

Faced with a serious challenge to its power and authority, the government has responded by using the political police as its tool and using the law against its citizens and elected members. Green's arrest is a further sign of the deeply worrying trend towards a more authoritarian police state. 

Read More...

Anger Over Top Tory Arrest

Conservative leaders have expressed anger and disbelief after immigration spokesman, Damian Green, was arrested in connection with alleged leaked information over media stories about immigration.

The Conservative Party has confirmed the MP was questioned under the Official Secrets Act in connection with alleged leaks of information from the home office.

Downing Street is claiming this is a matter for the police and the prime minister had no prior knowledge of the arrest but Conservatives point out a police investigation into a high-ranking politician would have to have been cleared at "the very top".

The Orange Party smells a big political rat at work here and some scary heavy-handed Big Brother tactics. 

The arrest of a senior opposition MP was made by counter-terrorism police and came to light earlier this evening, after parliament had gone into recess, so no awkward questions could be asked in the House. It also raises serious questions about how the State deals with individuals, let alone an MP, who disclose matters in the public interest. 

In a statement the Conservative Party said:

"We can confirm that Damian Green was arrested ... As shadow immigration minister, Mr Green has, on a number of occasions, legitimately revealed information which the Home Office chose not to make public ... Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest. Mr Green denies any wrongdoing and stands by his actions."

Green, a former broadcaster and journalist, was appointed shadow immigration minister in 2005.

The Telegraph reports: "Mr Green was arrested at his home in Kent by counter-terrorism police officers. The arrest follows a series of leaks to the Conservatives about Government policy, including a sensitive memorandum from the Home Office's most senior official on crime figures earlier this month."

Both shadow chancellor George Osborne and Conservative leader, David Cameron, have condemned the arrest. Cameron is said to be extremely angry, accusing the government of "Stalinesque" behaviour.

In February this year, the shadow immigration minister criticised the government over leaked documents at the Home Office.

The Telegraph reports an alleged whistleblower, thought to be a home office official, was arrested 10 days ago. Last November, documents from the private office of home secretary, Jacqui Smith, were leaked to the opposition.

They showed that ministers had known for four months that thousands of illegal immigrants had been cleared to work as security guards but had not told Parliament.

Other documents, the Telegraph reports, included information about an illegal immigrant working at House of Commons and a list of Labour MPs preparing to vote against the government's anti-terrorism measures.

Read More...

The Evil MPs Do Will Live After Them

Government supporting MPs should be wrestling with their conscience as they are set to saddle the country with massive debt for years to come. Today's commons debate had to be prised out of the government after Monday's shambles of an election Budget exposed a shameful record of reckless borrowing and irresponsible spending. 



Today's PBR debate was a chance for MPs to see sense, do the right thing for the country or face a Shakespearean tragedy: "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."



As the smokescreen cleared, the message was loud and clear. The PBR showed up a decade of incompetence and mismanagement with more to come.

Labour MP, Frank Field, was in no doubt about the shambles of the pre-budget report and how it had been leaked and spun around, proclaiming: "The package therefore raised some fundamental questions about the Government’s competence in running a crisis economy."



A dire warning the economic crisis could drag on for a decade was delivered by one of the commons Captain Sensibles, the LibDems Vince Cable. He warned that tougher action is needed, though the Orange Party would beg to differ on his borrowing solutions. 



For the Tories, Cameron and his side-kick Osborne, are in no doubt this budget is a reckless gamble which is going to bankrupt the country. A borrowing binge and a tax bombshell.


Today Woolies and MFI went bust, while politicians wasted valuable commons time pratting around with a leaked treasury memo showing the government thought about a future increase in VAT. 


Left-wing Labour MP, Jon Cruddas, said it just left the Tories splashing around in the shallow end. 



Brown has his eye on votes, not the well-being of the economy. His deputy Lord Mandelson is behind every cunning political move. 


Today's debate on that Budget showed some MPs only bothered about clinging onto their seats, as they decided to take the country down with them.



On Monday, the government has very kindly condescended to a vote on the Christmas VAT election giveaway, to try to wrong-foot the Tories once again. 



Playing party politics with people's lives and livelihoods is not the way to run the economy or the country.

Read More...

Cable Needs Fire In His Belly

A dire warning the economic crisis could drag on for a decade has been delivered by the LibDems Vince Cable, warning tougher action is needed. But his borrowing solution has glaring omissions - government waste and squandered billions. His economics need political bite.

The gentleman of economics delivered a well-reasoned way out of the economic mess in today's Independent. But his grounding is still in New Labour, politically steered by Blair-boy Clegg. 

Dancing around the political dancefloor, Cable wrestles with the politician's dilemma – "Do we try to be positive and risk misleading people through complacency; or do we tell it like it is and risk adding to the fear and financial panic?"

Put simply should we be taken in by the government and the BBC"s 'Downturn' spin or ITV News 'UK Recession'. 

The Orange Party is in no doubt. Come clean and shout it from the rooftops. And as Cable says: "On balance, it is better to be straight."

Straight is not something that springs to mind after Monday's farcical Budget. That's led Labour MP, Frank Field, to conclude: "The package therefore raised some fundamental questions about the government competence in running a crisis economy."

The liberal economist, JK Galbraith, does spring to mind as Cable suggests precedents can be found in history for a way out of the crisis. 

Current interest rate cuts are not nearly enough to kick-start the economy. They must come down further and indeed they will. 

Tax cuts must be seen as fair. Cut taxes for the low paid funded by removing tax relief, allowances, tax loop holes and tax breaks which fund the lavish lifestyles of the wealthy, rather than the government's "tokenistic higher rate".

But it is on the issue of borrowing, which Cable reckons is necessary to prevent a further downward spiral, where the Orange Party would take serious issue. 

There's no need to borrow a penny more. Cut back on government waste, ridiculous schemes which squander billions and you have all the savings you need. Here the LibDems need to inject serious politics into economics. 

Make a start. Pull all troops out of the hugely expensive wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, scrap the despised ID cards, scrap Trident, the failed NHS computer system and meaningless government quangos. Do the maths, add up the savings. There would be money to spare.

There is no need for a squeeze on the public sector if the cash is spent wisely and sensibly. And those savings will allow public spending for where it really matters. Spending on schools, hospitals, social housing and public transport. 

Though ignoring the massive £33 billion off-balance sheet PFI debt, Cable does put his finger on the key to a way out of the current economic mess. The banks or rather the way money is lent. 

The present £37 billion bank bail-out was sold as part-nationalisation, when it was nothing of the sort. As Tony Benn said, you cannot have it both ways. True nationalisation is the answer, bringing full state control, responsibility and accountability. 

The government cannot walk away from direct responsibility, warned Cable. "It must take seats on the boards of leading banks, not to micromanage them, but set strategy." 

At the moment, as Galbraith said, government bail-outs with taxpayer's cash just allows the banks and financial institutions to "sail into the wild blue yonder".

The pain of deep recession will be most obviously felt by those facing house repossession and loss of jobs, Cable points out. Easing that pain should be top priority. 

The LibDems are moving in the right direction economically, thanks to Cable. Politically, they still have a long way to go, if Cable economics are to be turned into political votes. 

Read More...

PBR Debate Wipes Grin Off Brown's Face

The government's farcical pre-leaked, pre-election, pre-budget Budget is to come under full commons scrutiny after the speaker bowed to Tory demands for a full debate in parliament.

Now, no amount of Brown smoke and spin can get them off the hook. The full extent of the economic mess is set to be exposed and MPs will decide if we are to be saddled with a legacy of debt.

With his stock rising, shadow chancellor, George Osborne, repeated his call for a full debate over the "reckless gamble" throughout the day. Now to his credit, speaker, Michael Martin, has agreed to a three hour emergency debate tomorrow.

Yesterday's widely leaked PBR was a farce. Brown and the gang of ministers were grinning like Cheshire Cats, thinking they'd pulled a fast one on both the Tories and the voters.

Tax cuts here, tax rises there was how it eventually played out, to a cunningly spun plan. That was designed to mask the truth in this Budget, which exposed astonishing government incompetence and mismanagement and paved the way for further massive borrowing to pile on the debt.

It was the extent of the borrowing which angered many including the Orange Party who yesterday called for such a commons debate - not out of party politics but out of decency and common sense.

This was a Budget in everything but name. Tax hikes on beer, fags and petrol alone demanded such a parliamentary debate. How on earth can a government commit the people of this country to further unprecedented reckless borrowing and irresponsible spending?

Government borrowing and public debt are going through the roof. Budget deficits around 8 percent of GDP, as the government is set to borrow an unbelievable £100 billion a year. That's on top of the £30 billion a year of taxpayers cash to prop up current debt.

The astonishing scale of damage inflicted on the country was hard to swallow as Darling tried to wriggle his way out of trouble. But the solution was even harder to swallow - borrow more and get the country deeper into debt.

Brown has one thing on his mind - party politics and clinging onto power. This election Budget did nothing to ease pain and suffering with a rat-bag of pointless Christmas giveaways, clawed back by unprecedented borrowing, rises in beer, fags and petrol and tax rises later.

The government's smug arrogance had to be challenged politically. Such budget measures require a full commons debate but also a fresh mandate from the country and that requires a general election.

Both ours and our children's future are at stake. Brown, Darling and the New Labour government have set out their stall but it should be up to voters to decide if we want to be saddled with this debt for years to come. An emergency commons debate is a welcome start.


Read More...

Another Fine Mess They've Got Us Into

Staggering government incompetence and mismanagement were laid bare today as 'Laurel and Hardy' were finally forced to admit: "It's a fine mess we've got you into". 

The astonishing scale of damage inflicted on the country was hard to swallow. The answer even harder - borrow more and get the country deeper into debt. 

If a government could be charged with criminal negligence for the economic mess, Brown and Darling today set out the case for the prosecution. 

Government borrowing is quite unbelievable - more than double to £78 billion this year and £118 billion next year, as Darling slashed economic growth forecasts for next year from 2.75% to a record-breaking  minus 0.75% to minus 1.25%.

Even a fool looking at the figures would ask the obvious. Why didn't the government balance the books in the boom years? Why go into recession with such high levels of borrowing when even that fool could see it coming a mile off?  

£37 billion of taxpayer cash is being used to prop up the banks, £33 billion for PFI. Borrowing is set to be more than even the Conservatives dared in the 1990s and more than under the last true Labour government of the 1970s.

The government had to come clean sooner or later. Brown is after votes. Battle lines are now drawn as the pre-leaked, pre-election, pre-budget Budget from Santa's Little Helper had little to do with economics and everything to do with posturing politics. A General Election manifesto in all but name. 

This was a bankrupt Budget from a bankrupt government for a bankrupt country. Santa's Little Helper did nothing to ease pain and suffering with a calculated nest of pointless Christmas giveaways clawed back by borrowing, rises in beer, fags and petrol and tax rises later. 

Yesterday's leaked paltry VAT cut was a sop to woo voters. A few bob off the price in the shops is pointless and will do nothing to help the economy or help people struggling with debt.

Rises in income tax for high earners, which only kick in after the next election, are insignificant. Nothing is being done about disgusting tax loopholes and tax advantages enjoyed by the very rich.

The leaks were testing the water, leaking to Brown's BBC, changing the message strategy for political advantage, in a desperate effort to grab headlines. Those shameless stunts won't come cheap.

Shadow chancellor, George Osborne, in what many agree was a magnificent commons rebuttal, accused Darling of "bringing this country to the verge of bankruptcy" by doubling the national debt, echoing the well-planned Tory slogan: "However Gordon wraps it up, it's still a tax bombshell".

The chancellor had the bare-faced cheek to tell the commons and the country it would be "perverse and damaging" to stick to government borrowing rules in the current crisis - so they would be temporarily suspended.

That arrogant statement in itself must be challenged politically and bring into focus what the Orange Party has said all along as this debacle unfurled. Such measures require a full commons debate and a fresh mandate and that requires a general election. 

Brown, Darling and the New Labour government have set out their stall but it should be up to voters to decide if they want to buy into this. 

Read More...

Election Budget From Santa's Little Helper

Santa's little helper is set to deliver a crucial pre-election Budget as Brown's chancellor unveils an election manifesto in the battle for the economic high ground. The centrepiece, a widely-leaked silly little VAT sop to woo voters and tax rises later for high earners, will do nothing to help the economy, as the country plunges deeper into debt and recession.

Darling's pre-leaked, pre-election, pre-budget report has little to do with economics and everything to do with posturing politics. 

As Bruce Anderson observes in today's Independent - Brown is not after economic recovery, he's after votes. 

Designed to capture headlines, it is probably the government's last big shot before a snap election in Spring 2009 or later.

The Orange Party is in no doubt that further interest rate cuts are vital and, coupled with affordable tax cuts and tax breaks, is the only way out of this mess of the government's making. 

But that should never come from a foolish and misguided idea of borrowing more. The boom years were created on the back of debt in the public purse and private pocket. To continue is a false, foolish economy. 

Today Darling has some explaining to do. Why is next year's spending and income gap around £100 billion? Why is there no pot of gold left in the kitty? Why do the IOUs pile up? Why has the government squandered billions? Where's the drive on government waste? Whatever happened to prudence?

Yesterday's leaked paltry VAT cut is a sop to woo voters. A few bob off the price in the shops is pointless and will do nothing to help the economy or help people struggling with debt.

Rises in income tax for high earners, which only kick in after the next election, are insignificant. As left-wing Labour MP, John McDonnell, reportedly pointed out it's "hardly a revolution". Nothing is being done about disgusting tax loopholes and tax advantages enjoyed by the very rich.

Clearly the government couldn't afford to cut direct taxes now, so instead it's offering a temporary VAT cut and even that comes with the pain of tax rises later. 

Brown is borrowing billions for a cheap election bribery stunt. We get the gifts and then have to pay for them. Christmas giveaways are not the answer for a country riddled with debt and that's at the root of the current crisis. 

Brown and New Labour were the architects of the impending economic disaster and saddled the country with reckless levels of public debt and state borrowing. 

Pre-election giveaways will be there - fuel allowances, treats for the poor, some relief for small businesses. Today's measures are nothing short of election bribery. A shameless stunt which won't come cheap.

Brown will have to be forced to announce he needs a fresh mandate for his reckless political economic package. The wheels have been set in motion and the decks cleared for an election. 

Today's budget bribery is a general election manifesto, the latest salvo in the phoney war before a mandate and the campaign proper.

Much depends on how Darling's pre-election budget giveaway is received and perceived by voters, the media headlines and how the Tories play this one, using the election slogan: "However Gordon wraps it up, it's still a tax bombshell".

The Orange Party has made repeated calls for a 'Captain Sensible' approach. That could come from the Conservative's Cameron and Osborne, the LibDem economist, Vince Cable or the now castrated voice of the true Labour Left. 

There is no easy way out. Massive government borrowing will only make things worse. But opposing the government's borrowing plans at a time of crisis, leaves opposition Parties wide open to attack.

Brown's track record to date has been anything but honest. In collusion with BBC News, their behaviour at every twist and turn has been shameful. 

Thanks but no thanks to Brown as chancellor and now prime minister, the country is particularly badly placed to cope with the recession. 

The culture of boom and good times riding on the back of debt, runs deep and is difficult to shift. It will be a long uphill struggle to drive home that message from wherever it comes.

In times of crisis, people look to government. But scratch the surface and you get pointless public sector jobs, a misplaced public spending spree and silly Christmas giveaways. All funded by debt which has to be paid off some time later. None address issues of government waste and squandered public spending. 

Honest Joe doesn't always win general elections. But honesty is the best economic and political policy. Being honest with the electorate and offering sober, sensible solutions, however harsh and a clear idea how they will be paid for, which the whole country can get behind, could eventually pay off. 

Brown has been quick to accuse others of playing party politics. Party politics is what today's pre-election bribery Budget is all about.

Read More...

Smith Used Sex To Sway Voters

Plans to punish punters who pay for sex have been exposed as a cheap election gimmick, with critics rounding on home secretary Jacqui Smith's tough stand as just riding on the back of the popularity stakes.

Proposals from the home secretary left the Orange Party feeling distinctly uncomfortable. 

Here was a raft of tough-talking proposals coming out of the blue and receiving widespread publicity. That begged the questions - why now and why those measures in particular? 

Cracking-down on customers who pay for pimp-controlled or illegally trafficked prostitutes smacked of the warped inverted sexism and party politics so beloved of the government. 

A voice of reason and common sense was needed. Preferably female, liberal minded and preferably with a religious tone which could speak from a respected moral high ground.

Those voices have now been heard. But surprisingly they are voices from the political right which have rounded on the home secretary. Voices which one would expect would take a firm hand on prostitution. 

At issue here is yet more laws and control. No government can outlaw prostitutes, never could, never would, but it can try its damnest to outlaw prostitution. 

In a well argued article in the Sunday Times, Minnette Marrin, is clear: 'Slithery Jacqui Smith wants a backdoor ban on prostitution'.

"Anyone with a tittle of sense would see that this is unworkable and unfair ... Once again this government is trying to override common sense, human nature and personal freedom in the interests of a policy not fit for purpose." 

The Adam Smith Institute (ASI), named after Thatcher's favourite economist, takes an equally bold stand and cites Roman catholic priest, George Pitcher, from the Daily Telegraph: 


“Laws made by legislators with an eye to the electorate, rather than care for the oppressed and vulnerable, can make lives considerably worse for those who most need our protection ...  Cosy, self-satisfied, middle-class observers may claim that there is no such beast as a good user of prostitutes. The prostitutes themselves would disagree.” 

As the ASI points out: "When an ordained priest of the Church of England writes that the government’s policy of criminalising paying for sex then it is quite likely that those in power might be making a mistake.'"



Crucially ASI states: "The motivations behind this government’s approach are clearly the perceived popularity of the tough stance."

The ASI also harnesses Dr Belinda Brooks-Gordon, writing in the Telegraph on the home secretary and government thinking which “include the radical feminist thesis that all heterosexual sex is exploitation, a Marxist view that all work is exploitation, and a religious evangelism which argues that all non-procreational sex is wrong.”



The Orange Party believes there's a simply effective solution in licensing but that's not one which would find favour with the warped views of government. 

All prostitutes would have to be licensed. In happens already many parts of the US and elsewhere. That licence crucially controls age and is often only given after medical and drugs checks show the all clear. 

As Marrin points out: "If every prostitute had to get an up-to-date licence showing her photograph, birth certificate, nationality, licensed place of work and registration with the police and show it to every punter to prove she was not under duress, many of the worst traffickers and pimps would be forced out of business."

Decriminalisation is shared by Dr Brooks-Gordon: “Ministers should scrap the prostitution laws and start again by following New Zealand's lead in decriminalising the industry, which empowered workers and reduced violence."

Those sensible measures would require a politician to be honest with voters. Honest about wanting to protect the most vulnerable prostitutes and honest about motives. 

At a stroke though those measures legalise prostitution and that's a difficult political pill to swallow. 

However the public would prefer this honest approach to tackle a social issue and an honest debate, rather than the current half-cocked measures pushed out for pure political advantage. 

Read More...