World Watching

Yesterday i wrote about the news that wheel clamping is to be banned in new legislation as part of the coalition government’s Freedom Bill.

I have since writing the article, discussed the situation with a Wheel Clamper and a land owner who is plagued by unauthorised parking on his land. What i found out will i suspect if it becomes public knowledge kill off much of the celebrations as Parking Enforcement Companies are not it seems going away and will rise to the challenge with a number of resources in their arsenal.

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The Government has announced that it will ban wheel clamping on private land as early as next year.

The Legislation will be introduced to parliament in November as part of the coalition government’s Freedom Bill. If passed it could come into force as early as next year.

The news comes after a spate of high profile cases where people have been clamped after parking on private land without permission or authorisation.

While on the surface it looks like a good thing there is far more to the issue than just wheel clamping companies are bad people.

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At least it appears it has said no on the piece of legislation used by the OFT. It also appears that the judge has hinted in his ruling that the OFT could potentially have a case however if it uses another clause in the Unfair Terms and Conditions in Contracts laws (UTCC).

Many who have been trying to reclaim bank charges levied against them by the banks to the tune of up to £40 for going even £1 overdrawn on their accounts were evidently disappointed but even more determined to carry on the fight.

One spokesman for the banks has been quoted as saying “enough is now enough and it is over”.

However the website moneysaving expert run by Martin Lewis has declared that although today’s judgement was a blow, that a ‘Phoenix has risen from the flames’ thanks to the judges hints.

• Should Banks be made to repay the charges?
  
• Should free banking for some be funded by those who can least afford it?

At the moment it sounds like the issue is far from dead in the water.

What the bleedin hell is wrong with this country?

The terrorist suspect Binyam Mohamed who was released from Guantanamo Bay back in February now wants to be allowed to publish details of what he claims is proof that he was subjected to torture by the US intelligence agencies with British intelligence agents in full knowledge and on occasion with British assistance even though it would seriously harm US-UK relations… and it’s made it into court now!!

For crying out loud..  Why are the courts even considering whether an Ethiopian national should be allowed to endanger UK – US relations to the point that the CIA quite rightly, would think twice about sharing sensitive information knowing any tom, dick or harry could just go into a British court and have it made public knowledge??

The media:

Unsurprisingly the British media, represented in the High Courts by Guy Vassall-Adams  have rubbished the governments claim that US intelligence may be withheld even though a letter sent by the Obama administration clearly states that disclosure…

“may result in a constriction of the US-UK relationship”

Binyam Mohamed 31,  was born in Ethiopia and held resident status in the UK and having converted to Islam admits travelling to Afghanistan in 2001  prior to being arrested in Pakistan having then become a suspect in an Al-Qaeda bomb plot, Was arrested in Pakistan in possession of a forged passport, he confessed to being involved terrorist activities in 2004 to US authorities (twice) and was taken ultimately to Guantanamo Bay where he was held for a further 4 years. He then upon his return to this country from Guantanamo Bay had to re-apply for permission to enter the country because he isn’t a British citizen.

Sight seeing trip:

This may be an emotive issue but there are larger issues at stake here.. and i have yet to hear/read one credible account of just what he was doing lurking in the area’s of Afghanistan and Pakistan that he was known and has admitted to have been in..

“I decided to take a journey to Afghanistan as any 21, 22-year-old would do. Just go and see a part of the world and learn about what’s happening over there.” – Binyam Mohamed

“I was trying to understand Islam and I was told that Afghanistan was where the real Islam was.” – Binyam Mohamed

“wanted to kick a drug habit and get away from familiar haunts in London.” – Binyam Mohamed

“wanted to see whether Taleban-run Afghanistan was a good Islamic country” – Binyam Mohamed

The BBC has reported that, Mr Mohamed was originally said to have conspired with Jose Padilla, a US convert to Islam, but the charges against Padilla were dropped, although a US court convicted him of other terrorist offences.

A diversion?:

Regardless of what has happened to him, Binyam Mohamed’s supporters have clearly manufactured an effective diversion away from his ’sight seeing’ trip to a war zone by trying to deliberately endanger national security via the courts… and if you think about it, therefore meaning actually the US doesn’t need to prove a damned thing as Binyam Mohamed and his supporters are  now doing it all for them! which will ultimately weaken and possibly invalidate any claims he makes or explanations he gives.

A favour:

He would have done himself a big favour, to simply publicly thank the authorities for their assistance in getting him out of Guantanamo Bay and leave the rest to be handled by legal teams behind the scenes.

On a personal note: Given that the British authorities apparently worked damned hard to get him out of Guantanamo Bay, if i were the home secretary; i would probably be thinking of sending him on his way about now, with a pat on the back and something like “thanks for coming, but don’t hurry back” whispered in his ear!

Q: Was Binyam Mohamed treated harshly?
A: Yes, I’m sure he probably was.

Q: Should he be allowed to endanger British international relations and national security?
A: NO, of course he bloody shouldn’t.

It’s about time Mr Mohamed accepted he was caught red handed having gone to the home (Afghanistan) of Islamic extremeist terrorism, Entered another country (Pakistan) with a forged passport and then attempted to board a flight back to the UK with that same forged passport. Those facts alone demand serious questions be asked!

He should also consider himself bloody lucky that the UK has allowed him back into the country given that he has already had his asylum request refused once in the past.

Those who are supporting this legal bid to endanger national security should be asking themselves why they are doing it? and how does it look to others?

In my humble opinion the only people who would knowingly seek to endanger national security are those who wish to aid and abet those who would do harm to this country and it’s population.

On Tuesday it was NATO secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and now US vice president Joe Biden trying to boost support for the Afghanistan campaign.

Tuesday, NATO’s  Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was calling for greater equality in sharing the burden of dealing with the taliban from the US and UK’s so called NATO allies.

Mr Scheffer is quoted by the BBC as saying:

“If we were to walk away, Afghanistan would fall to the Taliban, with devastating effect for the people there – women in particular,”

and,

“As much as we may long for the near-perfect security of Cold War deterrence, we must accept that security today requires engagement in far away places – engagement that is dangerous, expensive, open ended, and with no guarantee of success.”

never the less the limp wristed brigade of spineless cowards in this country have seen 17 UK deaths reported and are againing whining about being involved in the campaign.

Now today, Vice President Biden has been reminding those who are whining about the death toll, that forces are engaged in combat in taliban held area’s and that if we were to just walk away the taliban would be free to “wreak havoc in the UK, the US and Europe.”

On a personal note, i cant think of anything more dis-respectful to the memories of the brave soldiers from the allied forces than to simply walk away. Do those lives that have been lost count for nothing in what passes for brains in the whinging half-wit simpletons that want to run in the face of  global terrorism?

Do these cowardly Muppet’s not actually understand that this isn’t entirely about terrorism but also the fact the region is a big drug producing tract of land and operated by those sympathetic to both the taliban and AL-qaeda?

Well it seems snouts are definately still in the trough according to the Colchester Gazette, but its now Essex County Councillors that are living it up at the taxpayers expense.

During the financial year April 2007 – March 2008 they managed to run up a £79, 442 food and booze bill in a members only club at ECC in Chelmsford which averages £1059 per member, But on top of that Tom Smith-Hughes, Leader of the countys Lib Dem Group claimed the full council only sits 5-6 times a year making…. £200 per councillor per meeting???? and there is a canteen there as well.. rendering the ‘members club’ nothing but an obscene extravagance.

Whether they are scoffing £200 worth of food and booze at a time or not.. Its about time councillors were brought to book like the MP’s, The total expenses bill for Essex Councillors during the 2007-2008 financial year topped £1.54 million!

In no other job, would you be able to get away with claiming expenses just for turning up to work.. and only in public office do you find the kind of people that think its ok to claim expenses to turn up and ‘earn‘ your wage.. and i use the word ‘earn’ loosly.

Hmm.. The illustrious Jobcentre Plus has sunk to a new low… by pushing an advertisment for someone to host a pornographic TV show.

The successful candidate, who must be over 18, will be required to work “semi nude” and talk dirty to strangers. They will work three days a week from 9pm till 5am, and earn up to £220 per shift.

The advert for the London-based position of Adult TV Channel Presenter on the Jobcentre Plus website states: “Duties involve explicit sexual dialogue which may cause embarrassment to some.

“The successful applicant (will be) required to be semi-nude. Duties will involve working on a well-known adult TV channel… Must have good spoken communication skills as will be taking calls from the general public live on air.”

Revolver Models, which placed the ad, said all applications had to go through the Jobcentre.

Shocked jobseeker Sophie Randall-Price, 25, said: “I’m broad-minded, but I couldn’t believe they want us to apply for such a sleazy job.

“I’m willing to work hard, but not to whip off my top and talk dirty to a bunch of weirdos in the middle of the night on national TV.”

The Department for Work and Pensions said: “The Jobcentre Plus has a duty to advertise any legal job.”

Unfotunately what the illustrious DWP fail to mention is that they can compel a jobseeker to apply for a job or risk losing their benefits. I wonder how long before a court case is heard in regard to some hapless jobseeker being ordered to apply for a job as a porn star?

Conservative Leader David Cameron has called for ‘ordinary voters’ to stand as tory candidates at the next election.

The call comes at a time when many expect a massive change in the faces swanning around the Houses of Parliament after the next election.

A publicity stunt on the part of Mr cameron? absolutely! but it stands to reason that the replacements for the ones who have forced to quit will be voters.

Before Mr Cameron gets too carried away selecting new candidates though, there are still individuals walking the corridors of Westminster who have mis-used public funds and one would hope he will spend as much time keeping the pressure on for them to quit and repay the money they have ’stolen’ from the public purse, regardless of which political banner they may unite under.

Tory MP Anthony Steen is on his ’final warning’ according to David Cameron. This came about as a response to Steens interview which he gave to the BBC and broadcast on Radio 4’s The World at One show.

In the interview he blamed the freedom of information act for his downfall, accused ‘people’ of being jealous of his large house, which according to the MP looks like Balmoral, and questioned peoples ‘right’ to interfere with his private life.

Well i have to say Mr Steen, you are seriously out of touch with reality here. When your frittering away the taxpayers money they have EVERY right to know where it is going and why. Consider your self lucky to still be in a job, any ordinary citizen of this country in an ordinary job would definately have lost that job already and most likely be answering charges of fraud.

Brown defends ministers on expenses – , – MSN News UK

Gordon Brown has demonstrated once again his total contempt of the british voter by defending cabinet MP’s dodging tax. He even insisted there was “no problem” with the way in which the secretary for transport Geoff Hoon and secretary James Purnell have sought to avoid Capital Gains Tax on their second homes.

Also in the firing line is senior Tory MP, Sir Peter Viggers who has to become the third Tory to announce he will stand down at the next election after it had been revealed his claims have included £1645 for a “floating duck island” for his pond.

Tory MP’s Anthony Steen and Douglas Hogg have also announced their exit from politics having themselves been publicaly ridiculed over their outrageous claims on the public purse. Steen was also forced to unreservedly apologise having lashed out and blamed the freedom of information act for bringing about his demise.

The simplest way to now sort this out is to call an election and get the MP’s cash hungry snouts out of the trough that is the public purse sooner rather than later.