Your questions for Dominic Grieve

C Powell

Sorry: but the overriding question DG should have been asked is what, if anything, the next Tory Government is going to do to restore the civil liberties and freedoms which 11 years of Labour have removed or reduced. He should then be made to specify exactly what steps he intends taking, how and over what time period. I very much fear that the Tories in government will be just as illiberal and authoritarian as Labour now is. DC and Grieve talk too little about freedom and liberty, seem not to understand it and this should have been an opportunity to get DG to focus on this properly and not just come out with platitudes.

Frank Pulley

When he's answered the easy questions, how about asking him the one I posed? What would he do about the NBPA and the GLPA, particularly apposite, given the disgraceful current kerfuffle at NSY. Both the Gaffer and Ghaffur who wants to be the Gaffer would have been sacked a few years ago for bringing the Force into disrepute. You'll never deal with crime on the streets until someone gets a grip of overweening ambition and blatant minority political chicanery at Scotland Yard. Which of you lacks bottle? The shadow Home Sec. or the Speccie's messenger?

Nicholas

Yep, disappointing that none of these questions tackles the issues of civil liberties erosion or the worsening relationship between public and police. I would have thought both key for an incoming Home Secretary - and it seems others think so too.

Pete, Scotland

To me, this is typical of New Labours media management at it's best when it was smoothing things for the 97 election.

Nice soft easy to answer questions.

Elizabeth Elliot-Pyle

Frank Pulley, what is NBPA and the GLPA? and what is the kerfuffly at NSY? Could you please elucidate for the benefit of we ignoramuses. Thank you.

Nicholas

EEP:

NBPA = National Black Police Association

GLPA = Gay & Lesbian Police Association

NSY = New Scotland Yard

Hope Frank doesn't mind me responding. His Dominic Grieve question was a good one and deserved asking and answering.

Add ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) to this list and you have an unhealthy cocktail of powerful political lobbying on the part of police and other agendas which New Labour's Home Office and Ministry of Injustice accommodate.

Bad for policing, bad for democracy and bad for the police public relationship.

Pete, Scotland

Is there any difference between New Labour and the Tories with regard to civil liberties?

Frank Pulley

Thanks Nicholas, I couldn't have answered Elizabeth better myself. But now I'm worried that a lady with such an impressive name is unaware of what is going on at The Yard and the implications thereof when it is headline news on both TV and the mainstream media (but strangely I appear to be the first to raise it on the Speccie blogs). Moreover if the editorial team of what I considered once to be the best conservative magazine in the world is not prepared to ask a potential Home Secretary what he intends to do about 'firms within firms'(ring any historical alarm bells?) at New Scotland Yard - once the best police force in the world - and indeed throughout the police of the UK, then I don't see any point in inviting any questions at all. Race as politics; homosexuality as politics are both corrosive phenomena within the police function and are crucially damaging to morale as I know only too well as an erstwhile insider and now an interested outsider with friends still inside, so to speak. If you want three inch putts teed up for Dominic, you should specify it when you set up the game. Personally I want to see how he handles one that's buried in that bunker just short of the water. Perhaps I should write to him myself and then I could post his reply on the Coffee House wall subject to the moderator here of course! Now I'd like a double shot of very strong espresso, please, with your answer, Pete?

Thanks again Nicholas; a kindred spirit indeed.

BTW Elizabeth, don't make a habit of asking me to explain my acronyms, because some are for the bar-room where one never has to explain and I would hate to make you blush.

Elizabeth Elliot-Pyle

"A lady with such an impressive name...."???
Some acronyms are for the bar-room and you would hate to make me blush?
Sorry that you have come over all sensitive, but I really didnt know what you were referring to in your comment. Now I do, and I thank you.
My impressive name comes courtesy of my husband, and I am a mere 51 (just) years old. I am very, very ordinary.

Silent Hunter

Hi Dominic,

Could you be a dear and ask Peter exactly what happened to Silent Hunters T shirt and copy of the Spectator Anniversary issue he recently won for asking Eric Pickles a choice question?

Many thanks.

Frank Pulley

A spring chicken! Not so ordinary though, if you hang around the Coffee House with the eccentrics; watch out for the trolls though :-)

But seriously, did you really miss the current Scotland Yard scandals? You're obviously interested in current affairs or you wouldn't be here.

Btw we named our first daughter Elizabeth, which is why I think it's such a grand name. I'm pleased to see that you haven't foreshortened it to Liz, as she has; not when I'm around though I refuse to debase it and actually, I think she would be shocked if I did use the abbreviation.

I once knew a very cunning villain (and personable - the clever ones usually are) name of Pyle. Any relation?

TGF UKIP

You are right of course, but hasn't it yet dawned that under this editorship, The Spectator has absolutely no interest in embarrassing the current Leadership of the Tory Party.

Hence there may be one vaguely challenging question as per the first above, but the rest are all guaranteed to be patsies.

Personally, I now ignore this section of the Coffeee House.

C. Powell is dead right to "very much fear that the Tories in government will be just as illiberal and authoritan as Labour now is."

The "freedom agenda" flitted briefly across the Cameron soundbite grid only to be well and truly buried. The Cameron Tories will be just as bullyingly PC, particularly on climate change, as Labour ever were. All you have to do is hear Dave's new preaching tone to know what's coming - The Heir in every respect.

Hysteria

I agree TGF - this section is predictable and lame - we are in for tough times and we need some plain speaking politicos - I know not from where they will come!

Marian C

Hysteria - "I agree TGF - this section is predictable and lame - we are in for tough times and we need some plain speaking politicos - I know not from where they will come!"

Maybe a Coffee House / Speccie Political Party could be formed!!!

Elizabeth Elliot-Pyle

Frank, thank you for that (spring chicken!!! just what I need to hear after my 51st birthday this week!)
I honestly hadnt heard or read about these shenanigans at NSY - but then I only have time to read SOME of the stuff on the web.
I am terribly sorry to have to tell you that all my friends call me Liz. Only my mother calls me Elizabeth.
As to your villain called Pyle, knowing my husband it doesnt surprise me!
Thanks for making my day.