This bird should never have been caged
James Forsyth 12:06amAs Fraser says, one hopes that there is more to this Damian Green case than we currently know about. If not, it is a disgrace. It does make one wonder what kind of country we now live in.
Maybe I’ve been watching too much The Devil’s Whore, but Green’s arrest—and the search of his Commons Office—seems to be an affront to Parliamentary democracy. Green appears to have been exposing things that the public are entitled to know. After this one wonders if a new offence will be introduced of trying to hold the executive to account. Also given the stories that were apparently involved, I’m struggling to see what possible justification there is for the use of counter-terrorism police in this investigation and arrest. It is even more baffling that, according to the BBC, nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in the arrest; Green was hardly likely to do anything over than come quietly.
The fact that Boris Johnson was informed—and objected to—Green’s arrest in advance, suggests that government ministers might have known about this investigation and arrest in advance. If that was the case, it will make this case even more worrying.
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dilys
November 28th, 2008 12:17am Report this commentPerhaps it is Ian Blair getting his own back?
Nicholas
November 28th, 2008 12:51am Report this commentI've banged on about the politicisation of the police before. It has happened mainly under Ian Blair's watch and is very unhealthy. I understand that anti-terrorist police took part in this arrest. If that is so, it is deeply worrying.
Samantha
November 28th, 2008 1:39am Report this commentWell, let me say this, if he has paid for leaks he should face a criminal charge.
If all he is done is publish leaked material I dont see how he has broken the law.
But if he has incited such leaks with financial inducements or offers or favours then he is breaking the law and will probably end up with prison time.
Verity
November 28th, 2008 1:44am Report this commentLabour has reduced Britain to a slag heap. There are no civil rights. There is no civil society. Just officious bossyboots bossing one another about, keying in reports on each other and forbidding each other. At obscene expense to the taxpayer. And a gigantic parasite society trailing along.
The law means what the labour law lords and labour "public service" law firms want it to mean. And, of course, the bizarre, not to say criminally insane, EHRA.
My father always said that Britain needed a written constitution, as the Americans have. He identified what could be wrought by determined people with wicked intent. How prescient he was. By not having a real written constitution, our rights, our laws, our measures were slithered out from under us. The fabric of our society unpicked, stitch by stitch. (The French feel the same, by the way.)
RH
November 28th, 2008 8:17am Report this commentBe afraid. Be very afraid, George Orwell was closer than we realise.
GeoffH
November 28th, 2008 9:19am Report this commentVerity.
A written constitution is just as useless in these matters when faced with a determined government with complete control over the Police and Armed Forces.
Democracy only exists, written or unwritten constitution, when the majority accept the restraints that it imposes on actions that they could perfectly well carry out with a gun in hand (or tank on your lawn).
If GWB decided today, and had sufficient accomplices with armed units willing to back him, to declare himself President for life there's nothing the US courts, Supreme or otherwise could do when banged up in Sing Sing with armed guards holding Obama under house arrest.
liz Brown
November 28th, 2008 9:35am Report this commentThis has Mandelbum's fingerprints all over it
dilys
November 28th, 2008 8:49pm Report this commentDare I say that the nu Labour left are behaving like Nazi's.
Verity
December 1st, 2008 3:46pm Report this commentDilys - That's what the left is: fascist. Controlling.
May I note at the same time that there is no such thing as NuLabour Left. NuLabour is by definition as far left as you can travel before reaching the international dateline.
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