'Animal Rights Groups Not Complacent' Claim!

Although I have my doubts about the effectiveness of the animal rights lobby blocking a future Tory attempt to destroy the welcome ban on fox-hunting, the anti-hunting lobby inform me that are in control of matters and not to worry. I wish I shared their confidence (e-mail from International Fund for Animal Welfare below), as I fear they underestimate the insatiable blood-lust of grassroots Conservatives!!!

From: IFAW

Sent: 10 July 2009 15:45

To: __________________

Subject: RE: fox hunting

Dear Mr____________,

I am aware that there are members of the pro-hunt lobby who are also Conservative voters that are very vociferous about their aim to bring back hunting. However the polling I referred to was carried out by an independent reputable polling company and therefore is a far more reliable source of information. IFAW is of the view that it is a good thing most Tory voters don't support hunting and this is something which we need to continue to point out to their shadow front benchers.

I am sorry you have formed the conclusion that our approach is complacent, as this is simply not the case. If that were so we would not continue our valuable work in this area.

I am sure you will be aware that it is necessary for us to keep the details of our strategy confidential given the nature of the opposition on this issue. IFAW is working closely with the League Against Cruel Sports and I do hope you will continue to follow IFAWs campaign in the run up to the election.

Kind regards,

New Labour's Legislative Overload

It pains me to say it as an opponent of the 'old boys' judicial network, but the 'Establishment' judge has go it spot on in this article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1199839/Government-passed-crime-laws-says-senior-judge.html

Since being elected in 1997, New Labour have passed over 3,000 new laws, many of which are excessive , pointless and ineffective. They have been enamoured by the clever PR of the police force and granted the 'boys in blue' unaccountable and excessive powers on an unprecedented scale.

Having studied the history books, I am well aware of how little Labour was in power during the 20th century, a fact that is one of the party's greatest failures. This legislative excess appear to be the actions of an organisation that realises it is not in power very often and wants to cram as much in as it possibly can before it loses power again.

It is a sad indictment of the lack of imagination of the left that all it can do is overload the legal and judicial system with more regulation and control of ordinary people's lives. This is a clear example where New Labour, heavily dominated by 'reformed' ex-Communists, has gone seriously wrong, and the party will need to reflect on this tendency while in opposition.

Boris Johnson- Old Etonian Values

Boris Johnson lets the compassionate Conservative mask slip by declaring his annual salary of a quarter of million pounds for writing one newspaper column a week as 'chicken feed'!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8148899.stm

I was under the impression that the Tories were now all cuddly, compassionate and understanding of the concerns and daily challenges faced by ordinary people. Seemingly not in Boris' case, as this quarter of a million obviously makes limited impact in his apparently vast reserves of wealth. It just goes to show what an education at Eton does- providing a complete detachment from the harsh realities of everyday life. No who else does that remind me of???

Jack Straw- The Great Survivor

One-time student radical Jack Straw has managed to remain at the heart of the New Labour government since it took power in 1997, holding a variety of jobs and positions and always managing to stay on the right side of the leadership.

He appears to have put political ambition before his concerns about the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003 (evident in various Labour memoirs) and as Foreign Secretary he brazenly toured around parts of Britain with Condoleezza Rice during the height of anti-war protests.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/4860496.stm

He has recently been in the news for his 'tough' posturing as Justice Secretary, refusing leniency in the cases of train-robber Ronnie Biggs and Liverpool teenager Michael Shields, the latter case causing great anger on Merseyside where many people believe Shields is totally innocent.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/07/03/mother-collapses-as-jack-straw-rejects-pardon-for-liverpool-fc-fan-michael-shields-92534-24063538/

I think Straw's increasing reputation as a political chameleon is admirably summed up by Peter Oborne's article in the following link- Flip-flop Jack is now a figure of ridicule:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/columnists/article-1194303/Europe-squalid-Blair-Cameron-pact.html

I don't agree with everything Oborne writes (nor the Daily Mail for that matter!) but I feel he is an effective commentator and has hit the nail on the head here. Mr Straw on the one hand poses as the tough, unforgiving and illiberal law-enforcer for Middle England, yet at the same time salutes his own role in the passage of the 'liberal' Human Rights Act!

Such Orwellian double-speak and ambiguity says a lot about the fundamental plight of the current government (and it saddens me to say it!)- all things to all people and with no direction or identity as a result. Straw, although undoubtedly a skilful politician, is the embodiment of this depressing reflection of modern politics.