Political shrapnel rips through the Government

golfwidow

The Indian Home Minister accepted that the buck stopped with him and resigned. Smith should do likewise. Now. But, given the refusal of this government to accept responsibility for anything, far less to apologise, I'm not holding my breath.

Alex R

Think Marr also made an astute point that if Green's blackberry and phones had been bugged, then Smith would have had had to sign it off. Lots more to come out here.

However, I think you speak too quickly with regards to the public's "outrage". We have seen no polls on the subject yet. But, I am willing to bet that most people will have no idea what "parliamentary privilege" actually means. In fact they are probably disgusted that MPs have any additional privileges, given their low opinions of politicians.

With 30,000 people about to lose their jobs at Woolies and everyone looking forward to an austere Christmas, I recon their thoughts are on other matters.

The Tories must be careful not to appear too engrossed in a Westminster bubble story.

However, I think you speak to quickly with regards to the public's "outrage". We have seen no polls on the subject yet. But, I am willing to bet that most people will have no idea what "parliamentary priverledge" actually means. In fact they are probably discusted that MPs have any additional priverledges, given their low opinions of politicians.

With 30,000 people about to lose their jobs at Woolies and everyone looking forward to an auster Christmas, I recon their thoughts are on other matters.

The Tories must be careful not to appeal engrossed in a Westminter bubble story.

kinglear

The opinion polls would tend to suggest that there will be no election in 2009. The Greengate scandal could be enough to bring the government down

Andy Leeds

It is true people do not understand the finer points of Parliamentary Privilege. However people do see and understand the propriety of arresting an MP, send 9 (YES 9) anti-terrorist officers to his home and to the Police searching an office of an MP within the Palace of Westminster.

I went out to supper with friends last night. The air was blue with rage and indignation and contempt, not only for the government by also the spineless Speaker and the Police.

When Parliament is opened on Wednesday the Tories should follow this up with vigour and I also think MPs of all parties should ask a lot of questions. The event might not show up in the opinion polls but it underlines a loathing for the present Government. Bad call and a serious political error, but no more than we have come to expect from this lot.

James J

Alex R
The general public probably don’t know about Parliamentary privilege but the political and media classes do and as we know these set the agenda. Less than 25% of the eligible electorate voted Labour, no doubt because none of the main parties reflected the values of the Non-voters. Raise the awareness of what is happening to this country and the “anyone but Labour” vote could decide the next election.
If what Smith said is true then the police are out of control. In a democracy they cannot act against the main opposition party in this ridiculously unnecessary heavy handed way.
She came across as out of her depth and a demonstration of the dangers of political appointments that are made to fill quotas rather than on merit. Would you employ her in a senior capacity in a large organisation?

Warren Hamilton

The general public couldn't care less about any of this. Which is precisely why the government will get away with it. It will be the dreadful state of the economy in 2009 which will bring the government down, not worries about the executive thwacking the legislature over the head with the judiciary.

liz Brown

Having just watched Stasi Smith's interview with Andrew Marr, I have aboutley NO DOUBT that she shuold resing immediately. her failure to apologise to Mr Green and i # his family is disgraceful. Hding behind weasel words re "security" and etc is no defence. Had she not, as she says, had any knowledge of what was going on, who was due to be interviewed, what the process was and etcs, shows a naivety of the duties of her office that defies belief. Grounds enough to resign. Also on the resignation list should be Gorbals Mick and if not - an immedeiate sacking. Next step a General Election and the incarceration of Bliar and Brown and all the zanulab lot in The Tower for treachery against the Crown and State

adrian drummond

She had 'guilt' written all over her face.

Peter Wilson

I agree with Andy Leeds, the public would understand and be angry with the story of a MP being arrested simply for trying to hold the Government to account.

They would also understand the nature of this heavy-handed Police action because a lot of us experience it via terrorism acts being used for other purposes e.g the RIP act for bin collections

biggestaspidistra

"The Tories must be careful not to appear too engrossed in a Westminster bubble story"

This is no Westminster bubble story. The public are seething with anger at anti-terrorism legislation that has become a tool for everything from smoking, overfilling bins, littering, sending a child to school. They do not need the 'political and media elite' to inform them of these issues, they need this elite to listen to voices outside the Westminster bubble.

Verity

"She had 'guilt' written all over her face." Congratulations on your strong stomach! I get the heaves when I look at that fat, louche, venal face and have to look away quickly.

Come to think of it, I don't think we've ever had a government with so many repulsive looking people in it. Venality writ large and crude.

EC

Pete, Thanks for a good round up of articles about 'events' that, but for more tragic events abroad, should have caused a political earthquake.

Perhaps opportunistically using Mumbai as the mother of all smokescreens was seen as a good day to cloak their skulduggery as 9/11 was seen as "a good day to bury bad news."

The Definitive Polka Dot

That she bothers to wear make-up tells us that Jacqui Smith looks even worse without it! Oh, the horror!

Rod Jones

Those people like Warren Hamilton who imagine the general public don't care should think again. It was a major topic of discussion at a wedding I was at yesterday, with no political or media class members present, and anger at the government was high.

Nicholas

Verity I share your disgust at the Home Secretary. Her patronising, infantile twaddle and lack of gravitas are serious imperfections in a public servant holding such a powerful position.

I note also that her insistence on police operational procedures being "independent" did not prevent her quoting private letters from the senior policeman responsible for the decision to arrest Damien Green MP in order to bolster the government case for 42 days. As far as Jacqui Smith is concerned her relationship with the police is a tap to turn on or off as it suits her purpose.

The worst Home Secretary in the history of parliament and a member of the worst Cabinet under the worst Prime Minister. Just when are we going to be able to see the back of this ghastly bunch of self-serving charlatans?

Austin Barry

Jacqui Smith cannot help her face, and indeed its bovine complacency reflects much of the Zanu-Labour constituency. What does concern me is her flaccid intellect. What attracts these fatuous duds (Prescott, Beckett et al) to high office and why do people continue to vote for them?

Fergus Pickering

acqui Smith was a lefty schoolteacher, was she not? We've all known a few of those. Ignorant, venal and stupid.

EC

Verity, "I get the heaves when I look at that fat, louche, venal face and have to look away quickly."

I get the same mental image every time I see the scribble of the shallow, fat headed, smug, tedious, self-appointed board monitor at 'the other place' who sets out his own standards and then fails to live up to them! I sometimes wonder whether he shares a common purpose with ZaNuLab in subjecting the world to the grey grinding tedium of their proselytic propaganda intended to demoralise and eradicate gainsayers. I've had my Fill of both of them!

JONNY

'I get the heaves when I look at that fat, louche, venal face and have to look away quickly.'

Nice stuff indeed but not sure if even these adjectives (sharply apt though they be) can totally do her the injustice she deserves.
She's a political dwarf
enveloped in a gross body package.
And incompetent to boot!
I wouldn't employ her as Manageress over a medium-sized Slough typist's pool.

The Laughing Cavalier

Either she knew what she was going on and is guilty of abuse of Miisterial power so she should resign or she didn't and is incompetent so she should resigmn. Whichever way you look at it, she should go. But of course, she won't. I don't believe for ne minute that Brown and the others in the vile cabal running this once decent nation didn't know what was going on.

mac

Austin,

Duds indeed, and Hoon is always the first name I'd put on the list.

The question is what propels them into high office, since so many of them are demonstrably inept.

In the case of Smith, it's blind obedience - practised and proved as Labour's Chief Whip (and what a class act she followed in that role) - to whatever Brown directs is necessary for the greater glory of G Brown. Of course, Sappy Smith is doubly useful because when Brown needs a senior scapegoat - and it looks as though the time's looming - she has neither the gumption nor support in the party to fight her corner.

But she'll get a seat in the Lords and a remunerative quango chair or two to cushion the pain.

EC

Such is the gravity of the threat to our nation state that Damian Green, now released on bail, reportedly doesn't have to return for questioning until February! Now Damian Green is, reportedly, accused of "grooming" a civil servant with all the innuendo that that that term implies.

This is typical ZaNuLab character assassination. They are the most gangrenous, morally bankrupt bunch of treasonous chancers to which this realm has ever been subjected.

Verity

Jonny - I thinks she looks like a tea lady who used to wheel a trolley round offices. Or maybe a school dinner lady. (Not to insult either one of those jobs, btw. Those women probably perform their work more deftly than pudding face.)

Austin Barry - Of course she can help her face! If she stopped stuffing it with pies and puddings, you might be able to see cheekbones.

The Dandiprat

Hell she looked rough this morning. She made Andrew Marr look stylish sat there beside him. That's some talent surely?

I had to defend her though earlier today when someone remarked that she isn't fit to shovel shit.
Oh yes she is I says.

eeldaimun

we certainly now know who ate all the pies