Wednesday 28 November 2007

Complete concealment ? Eh 11

Donations were 'wrong' - Dromey
Jack Dromey
Mr Dromey said all parties had a duty to uphold high standards
Labour treasurer Jack Dromey has said the practice of accepting donations by proxy from property developer David Abrahams was "absolutely wrong".

Mr Dromey told reporters the prime minister had been "right to act".

But asked if he had been kept in the dark over the money's origins he would only say "complete concealment".

Last year he sparked an internal probe when he revealed he knew nothing about millions of pounds in loans made to Labour before the 2005 election.

He is also married to Harriet Harman, who has admitted accepting £5,000 for her successful deputy leadership bid, from Janet Kidd, saying she did not realise it had actually come from Mr Abrahams. She has returned the money.

Mr Dromey told reporters he had always stood for "the highest standards in public life", but did not say exactly what he knew about Mr Abrahams' donations.

He was asked, as he made his way to his car outside his house in south London, "Did you, personally, know about the Abrahams money, sir?"

Mr Dromey replied: "Complete concealment"

A reporter then asked: "Were you kept in the dark, sir?"

Mr Dromey replied: "Complete concealment."

He was then asked "were you kept in the dark over these donations, sir?" and "did your wife know the full extent of the Abrahams donations"?

Mr Dromey replied: "Complete concealment."

He was then asked again: "So you knew nothing about the Abrahams money whatsoever?"

Mr Dromey said: "I've nothing further to add."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7117667.stm

I followed convention in referring the matter to the Electoral Commission.

Police asked to probe donations
Chris Huhne

The Liberal Democrats have formally urged the police to investigate apparent "serious breaches" of party funding laws by Labour.

Acting leader Vincent Cable said it was essential to "establish the facts" and press charges if necessary.

Lib Dem leadership hopeful Chris Huhne has written to Met Police boss Sir Ian Blair asking him to investigate.

Gordon Brown has said donations made to Labour through intermediaries were unlawful and has announced an inquiry.

But, asked in prime minister's questions earlier why he had not called in the police, he said he had followed convention in referring the matter to the Electoral Commission.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7117024.stm

Labour Party Official Anonymous Donation Point

Labour Party

Official Anonymous
Donation Point

Donate Generously
Blank Cheques OK!!
Cash Preferred

Planning Applications
Helped Along

Email info@ukprimeministergordonbrown.co.uk
for details

Tuesday 27 November 2007

Oh dear !!!

For a so-called recluse, David Abrahams - the businessman at the centre of the latest Labour Party donations row - wasn't very difficult to get hold of.

Getting answers from him to my questions was harder.

A Sky News colleague kindly gave me Mr Abrahams' mobile phone number. I rang it and he answered with a nonchalent air, almost, of: "What's all the fuss about?"

The fuss, of course, is about Labour apparently not being straightforward about large donations from business tycoons once again, shortly after the 16-month cash-for-honours investigation by Scotland Yard.

After the Mail on Sunday's disclosure about the donations of almost £400,000 made on Mr Abrahams' behalf by a builder, Raymond Ruddick, who lives modestly in a former council house on Tyneside, and Janet Kidd, a secretary who lives in a Gateshead suburb, comes a new twist.

It emerges that Ruddick and Kidd are listed as directors or company secretaries alongside David Abrahams of a series of companies.

CityofdurhamMy attention was drawn to a planning application by a company called Durham Green Developments, of whom the named directors are Ruddick and Kidd (but not Abrahams), to build a 540-acre business park near the A1M in County Durham.

It seems they withdrew the application in 2003 when Durham City Council told them they would face an "Article 14" block by the Highways Agency, unless they could provide assurances that the development would not cause traffic chaos on the A1M.

Last year they re-submitted the application, having provided more detailed information about the traffic implications and it was given the go-ahead by the Liberal Democrat-controlled council.

Jan Hillary of the city council told me the council's understanding was that Durham Green Developments actually belongs to Mr Abrahams.

So it seems that it's not just in donations to the Labour Party that Ruddick and Kidd act on his behalf.

Could there be any connection between the donation to Labour, the lifting of the threat of an "Article 14" order by the Highways Agency and the fact the Douglas Alexander, Gordon Brown's loyal ally and Labour's general election co-ordinator, was Transport Secretary at the time?

Emphatically not, insist both the Department for Transport officials and close aides of Wee Dougie, who is currently in Tanzania, now that he is International Development Secretary

http://adamboulton.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/my-company-is-i.html

Bung what's that ?

http://www.order-order.com/2007/11/what-does-property-developer-buy-for.html

I know nothing about this !

Lucrative development in Durham at heart of row

By Colin Brown

Published: 27 November 2007

The resignation of Peter Watt may not be the final twist in the story of the van driver and the property developer's secretary who became the third-biggest donors to the Labour Party.

Ray Ruddick, 55, who lives in a former council house in Newcastle, and Janet Kidd, 56, of Gateshead, are also listed as the unlikely directors of a property company called Durham Green Developments, which stands to make a fortune after winning consent for a vast business park near Durham.

It emerged yesterday that David Abrahams, the publicity-shy developer who asked Ms Kidd and Mr Ruddick to donate his £600,000 to Labour, is also behind the planning application.

A spokesman for Durham City Council confirmed that Mr Abrahams was directly involved in the negotiations – but had used the name David Martin.

Mr Abrahams' full name is David Martin Abrahams but he is known to use "David Martin" in business dealings at the request of his late father.

"It has always been David Martin dealing with the planning department," said the council spokesman. "He goes by two names."

A former Labour politician who has known Mr Abrahams since he was a teenager yesterday called him "something of a Walter Mitty". Others who know him say he is eccentric, reclusive and generous in his donations to charity.

Official records appear to show he was born in Newcastle in 1944, although Mr Abrahams says he was born in 1954.

He initially made his living as a private landlord, known to his tenants as David Martin, but, as the son of a former Lord Mayor of Newcastle, he also had an eye on a career in politics.

He followed his parents, Bennie and Marion, onto Tyne and Wear Metropolitan County Council, but lost his seat in 1981.

His father died in 1990, and a year later Mr Abrahams won the nomination as Labour's candidate to run against William Hague in the North Yorkshire constituency of Richmond.

But he was dumped when it was revealed that a woman and young boy who had accompanied him to the selection meeting were not his wife and son, as he had claimed.

In fact he was not married at all, and the woman, a blonde divorcee called Anthea Bailey, later went to a regional newspaper saying that she and her 11-year-old son had gone along to the meeting withMr Abrahams to "boost his image".

She had agreed to get engaged to him as "a business arrangement" so he could "create the right impression" at the selection meeting and in discussions with the local party chairman, she said. Mr Abrahams had also told the panel he was 41, when he was 46, and that he was an administrator, when he was really a wealty North-east property developer going under a different name.

Mr Abrahams survived the deselection meeting by one vote, upon which his agent, press officer, chairman, two vice-chairmen, treasurer and secretary resigned in protest. He was finally deselected in a second vote.

He stood again in the mid-1990s for selection as Labour candidate for Wansbeck, a safe seat, but did not get through.

Durham Green Developments was given the go-ahead to build a 540-acre park near junction 61 of the A1 at Bowburn, south of Durham city, which could create more than 5,000 jobs.

The granting of consent was delayed by an order from the Highways Agency in 2004 amid fears the project would increase congestion. Durham City Council's spokesman added: "It could make a fortune. It is on prime land. The planning application was initially turned down when it was submitted in 2004 because of insufficient road access to the A1.


http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article3198869.ece


WHO GAVE WHAT WHEN

Isn't it strange that Durham Green Developments has only two directors, Ray Ruddick and Janet Kidd, the two employees of David Abrahams through whom he made donations of nearly £400,000 to Labour.

Plans for the 540-acre Durham Green Business Park were originally turned down by the Highways Agency on the grounds that it would cause too much congestion on the A1.

But last year the Highways Agency, which answers to the Department for Transport, removed its objections. The local Labour council approved the scheme.

I wonder why ?

WHO GAVE WHAT WHEN

Janet Dunn 31 January 2003 £25,000
Janet Kidd 06 May 2003 £25,000
Ray Ruddick 18 August 2003 £25,000
John McCarthy 12 January 2004 £15,000
Janet Kidd 01 April 2004 £10,000
Janet Kidd 27 October 2004 £2,000
John McCarthy 05 February 2005 £25,000
John McCarthy 01 June 2005 £25,000
John McCarthy 22 December 2005 £52,125
Janet Kidd 23 December 2005 £30,000
Ray Ruddick 23 December 2005 £17,850
John McCarthy 21 April 2006 £50,000
Ray Ruddick 24 May 2006 £50,000
John McCarthy 28 June 2007 £35,000
Janet Kidd 29 June 2007 £38,000
Ray Ruddick 29 June 2007 £24,000
Janet Kidd 10 July 2007 £80,000
Ray Ruddick 10 July 2007 £80,000

Total £608,975.00

I'm not going to meet Mugabe , ( Change the subject please )

PM to boycott talks over Mugabe
Gordon Brown
Mr Brown has carried out his threat to boycott the summit
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will not attend an EU-Africa summit after Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe confirmed he would be there.

The gathering in Portugal in December is seen as crucial to reviving Europe's relations with the African continent.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso insisted the talks were bigger than any personality clash.

Mr Brown said his boycott comes after a decade of thwarted attempts by the UK to offer assistance in Zimbabwe.

Human rights

Other European leaders agree with Mr Brown's views on the Mugabe regime and its abuse of human rights, but none has so far followed suit in boycotting the summit.

At his Downing Street press conference, Mr Brown said: "I will not be attending this summit.

"Given the circumstances of the last 10 years and our attempts to give assistance in Zimbabwe, which have been thwarted and resisted, it is not possible for us to attend this summit and sit down with President Mugabe."

Mr Brown highlighted how the country had gone from one of the richest in Africa to one where poverty affects 80% of the population, 4 million Zimbabweans are now refugees in South Africa and inflation is running into hundreds of per cents.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7115205.stm

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed he will not attend next month's European Union-Africa summit if Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is there.

Mr. Brown spoke Tuesday shortly after President Mugabe told the Portuguese news agency Lusa that he will attend the summit in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, on December 8 and 9.

The British prime minister told reporters that he cannot sit down with Mr. Mugabe given what he said are conditions of oppression in Zimbabwe.

Portugal invited Mr. Mugabe at the insistence of the African Union, but has voiced concern that his presence will overshadow the summit. Last week, Foreign Minister Luis Amado said Portugal would prefer the Zimbabwean president not to attend.

Portugal has been criticized by some countries for inviting Mr. Mugabe, who has been accused of human rights violations and ruining his country's economy.

http://www.huliq.com/43239/mugabe-attend-eu-africa-summit-brown-boycott



Sleaze , me , us , never !!!!!

Sleaze , me , us , never !!!!!

S--- and fan again !!

Donor's business park plan probed
David Abrahams
Mr Abrahams has said he never sought any favours from Labour
Ministers have promised to look into the details of a planning application made by Labour donor David Abrahams.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said she would liaise with other departments over the details of Mr Abrahams's plans for a business park in County Durham.

Her Tory shadow, Eric Pickles, said Mr Abrahams applied using the names of two employees and urged a review of rules.

An inquiry has begun into donations Mr Abrahams made to the Labour Party under the names of four associates.

Prime Minister has said the donations, which amount to more than £600,000 and were made over four years through four different people, were unlawful, "completely unacceptable" and would be repaid.

'True identity'

In the Commons, Mr Pickles said two of the people whose names were used for donations - Ray Ruddick and Janet Kidd - were also listed as directors of Durham Green Developments, which applied to build the 540-acre business park south of Durham City, near junction 61 of the A1.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7115597.stm


That's right Harriet , give it back as I said !

Harman defends Abrahams donation
Harriet Harman
Ms Harman won the Labour deputy leadership

Harriet Harman says she will return a £5,000 donation which turned out to have come from a property developer under someone else's name.

Janet Kidd gave her the money during the deputy leadership race but it has emerged it came from David Abrahams.

Ms Harman said she was unaware of the link between the two and had accepted the donation in "good faith".

Her Tory shadow Theresa May has asked her to explain why she accepted the money after the deputy campaign ended.

Ms Harman said she had received the donation on 4 July, had written to Mrs Kidd personally to thank her and had no reason to think the money came from Mr Abrahams, who she said she had never heard of.

'Spirit of law'

She registered the donation with the Electoral Commission, as coming from Mrs Kidd, as well as the appropriate government departments and registers of interests.

Ms Harman told the BBC her campaign team had strict rules on who to accept donations from, they had to be on the electoral register and they had to be known to members of the team, or already be an accepted Labour donor.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7115016.stm


WHO GAVE WHAT WHEN

Isn't it strange that Durham Green Developments has only two directors, Ray Ruddick and Janet Kidd, the two employees of David Abrahams through whom he made donations of nearly £400,000 to Labour.

Plans for the 540-acre Durham Green Business Park were originally turned down by the Highways Agency on the grounds that it would cause too much congestion on the A1.

But last year the Highways Agency, which answers to the Department for Transport, removed its objections. The local Labour council approved the scheme.

I wonder why ?

WHO GAVE WHAT WHEN

Janet Dunn 31 January 2003 £25,000
Janet Kidd 06 May 2003 £25,000
Ray Ruddick 18 August 2003 £25,000
John McCarthy 12 January 2004 £15,000
Janet Kidd 01 April 2004 £10,000
Janet Kidd 27 October 2004 £2,000
John McCarthy 05 February 2005 £25,000
John McCarthy 01 June 2005 £25,000
John McCarthy 22 December 2005 £52,125
Janet Kidd 23 December 2005 £30,000
Ray Ruddick 23 December 2005 £17,850
John McCarthy 21 April 2006 £50,000
Ray Ruddick 24 May 2006 £50,000
John McCarthy 28 June 2007 £35,000
Janet Kidd 29 June 2007 £38,000
Ray Ruddick 29 June 2007 £24,000
Janet Kidd 10 July 2007 £80,000
Ray Ruddick 10 July 2007 £80,000

Total £608,975.00

Enough of me , have you seen this it's more important

Operation Clambake:
The Fight Against Scientology on the Net
For decades L. Ron Hubbard’s instructions on how to crush any opposition
worked well. His loyal cult members destroyed lives and families in their attempts
to scare ex-members into silence and ruin critics. The campaign against the Cult
of Scientology is an attempt to bring its secrets and crimes to the surface, and justice
to its victims.
The Internet has changed everything for critics of Scientology. The time and cost
involved in conducting an investigation into cult activities has dramatically
decreased. On the internet it is possible to access more detailed information than
one can find in any single physical location. Books, court records, and other critical
information is readily available to be used to educate an unwary public and
potential victims.
L. Ron Hubbard never predicted the Internet, so the cult has no policy that can
handle it. Angry ex-members or fearless investigative journalists were no real
challenge for an unscrupulous cult with millions of dollars to spend. But the
impact of this new communication, of people exchanging documents and experiences,
is devastating. All the money in the world can’t stop thousands of critics
stirred into action by the information on the internet.
The cult seems to be caught off guard. People worldwide have done everything
from hosting a critical link on their homepage, to making the inner-most secrets
of Scientology available on their web sites. When Scientology sued one critic, ten
more appeared. On the internet, the Scientology “tech” to handle “suppressive
persons” (SPs) has proven only to harm the cult.
In 1998, the Church of Scientology began issuing its members a CD which contained
Netscape Navigator. This CD was given to church adherents under the
cover of providing them with internet access software. Those who installed
Netscape from this CD did not realize that a censorware program had been incorporated
into the installation process. This program gives no indication of its presence,
and offers no means of removal. If you are a member of the Church of
Scientology and have installed its software, you will not be able to access our web
site with your computer.

www.xenu.net

Who is Xenu? Would you like
to hear a wild story?
Are you sitting
comfortably?
Right, let’s begin:
Once upon a time (75 million years ago to be more precise) there was an alien
galactic ruler named Xenu. Xenu was in charge of all the planets in this part
of the galaxy, including our own planet Earth. In those days, Earth was
called Teegeeack.
Xenu had a problem. All of the 76 planets he controlled were over-populated. Each
planet had on average 178 billion people. He wanted to get rid of the excess population,
so he formulated a plan.
With the help of renegades, Xenu took complete control and defeated the good people
and the Loyal Officers. Then, with the help of psychiatrists, he called in billions of people
for “income tax inspections,” but they were instead given injections of a paralyzing
mixture of alcohol and glycol. Then they were put into space planes that looked
exactly like DC8s, except they had rocket motors instead of propellers.
These DC8 space planes flew to planet Earth where the paralyzed people, numbering in
the hundreds of billions, were stacked around the bases of volcanoes. When everyone
had been piled on Teegeeack, H-bombs were lowered into the volcanoes. Xenu then detonated
all the H-bombs and everyone was killed.
The story doesn’t end there though. Since everyone has a soul (called a “thetan” in this
story), Xenu had to trick the souls into not coming back. So while the hundreds of billions
of souls were being blown around by the nuclear winds, he had special traps that
caught the souls in electronic beams — the electronic beams were sticky, like fly-paper.
After he had captured all these souls, he had them packed into boxes and taken to huge
cinemas. There the souls had to spend days watching special 3D motion pictures that
told them lies about what life should be like, and these films confused them and tricked
them into believing things that were not true. They were shown “false” pictures and
were told “false” things, including stories about Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other
religions. In this story, this process is called “implanting.”
When the films ended and the souls left the cinema, they began to stick together in
groups. They had all seen the same film and thought they were the same “person.” They
clustered in numbers of a few thousand. There were only a few living bodies left, so they
stayed in clusters and inhabited these bodies — our ancestors.
As for Xenu, the Loyal Officers finally overthrew him and locked him away in a mountain
on one of the planets. He is kept there by a force-field powered by an eternal battery.
Xenu is still alive today.
That is the end of the story. And so today everyone is full of these clusters of souls,
called “body thetans.” If each of us is to be a free soul, then we must remove all our body
thetans and pay enormous sums of money to do so. And the only reason people believe
in God, Christ, Muhammad or Satan is because it was in the film their body thetans
saw 75 million years ago. ✦
Well what did you think of that story?
What? You thought it was ridiculous? Sort of like Battlefield Earth?
We think so too. This space opera, however, is the core belief of the religion
known as Scientology.* If its members had known about this story when they first
joined, then they would never have gotten involved. It is revealed when you reach
one of their secret levels called “OT III.” After that, you are supposed to rid yourself
of these body thetans through telepathic communication. You must pay a lot
of money to get to this level, or you have to work very hard for the organization
for many years, and for extremely low pay.
This leaflet is a warning. If you choose to become involved with Scientology, then
we would like you to do so with your eyes open and fully aware of the sort “teaching”
you will receive. The story of Xenu is the punchline to a very long and
expensive joke.
Most of the Scientologists who work in the Dianetics* centers and so-called
“Churches” of Scientology do not know about Xenu since they are not given this
information until they reach Scientology’s upper levels. It may take them many
years to attain this, if they ever do. Those who do know are forced to keep it a
secret and do not tell it to neophytes.
Part of the first page of the secret OT III document in L. Ron Hubbard’s own handwriting.
Now you know their big secret — for which an individual pays hundreds of
thousands of dollars. Don’t let that deter you from joining though.
www.xenu.net
FEEL FREE TO COPY AND DISTRIBUTE THIS FLYER

Harriet How could you ???

Harman took cash 'in good faith'
Harriet Harman
Ms Harman won the Labour deputy leadership
Harriet Harman said she had accepted "in good faith" a £5,000 donation which turned out to have come from a property developer under someone else's name.

Ms Harman was given the money by Janet Kidd during her successful bid to become Labour's deputy leader.

It has now emerged the money was David Abrahams'. He said he made the donation via Janet Kidd to protect his privacy.

Ms Harman said she "was not aware of any funding arrangements... between David Abrahams and Janet Kidd".

The statement issued on her behalf said she had "received a donation of £5,000 in good faith from Janet Kidd on the 4 July 2007".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7115016.stm


We'll give it back !!!!!!

Labour donations to be returned
Gordon Brown
Mr Brown faces tough questions at his monthly press conference
Gordon Brown has said donations to the Labour Party by a property developer through middlemen were "completely unacceptable" and would be repaid.

The prime minister told reporters he had had "no knowledge" of £600,000 of donations from David Abrahams and said they could "not be justified".

"The money was not lawfully declared so it will be returned," he said.

Peter Watt's resignation as Labour general secretary was "a necessary first step" but more had to be done.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7114327.stm

S--- and fan come to mind

Questions raised over £60m business park


By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter
Last Updated: 2:54am GMT 27/11/2007

Fresh questions about David Abrahams's donations to the Labour Party have been raised by MPs after it emerged that he is behind a £60 million business park granted planning permission after he gave £160,000 to the party.


Proposed site for Durham Green Business Park: Click to enlarge
Proposed site for Durham Green Business Park: Click to enlarge

Plans for the 540-acre Durham Green Business Park were originally turned down by the Highways Agency on the grounds that it would cause too much congestion on the A1.

But last year the Highways Agency, which answers to the Department for Transport, removed its objections. The local Labour council approved the scheme.

On Oct 19 last year a new company was set up to develop the site, called Durham Green Developments. It has only two directors, Ray Ruddick and Janet Kidd, the two employees of David Abrahams through whom he made donations of nearly £400,000 to Labour.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/27/nlabour827.xml





I'll get HMRC onto it straight away , my Darling will sort this out .

More on David Abrahams' Labour Donation

Just a couple more thoughts on the Labour Party donor once-removed, David Abrahams.

1. If he gave his two staff £382,000 for them to donate to the Labour Party, HMRC will no doubt be interested if they paid 40% tax on it.
2. If the Electoral Commission just administers a slap on the wrists rather than a punative fine, what will deter an overseas donor channelling money through one of his UK staff or contacts?

http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2007/11/more-on-david-abrahams-labour-donation.html

Peter Watt , David Abrahams , who are they? I've never met either

Labour Chairman Peter Watt has resigned after it emerged that businessman David Abrahams was revealed to have given the party £600000.

Monday 26 November 2007

Crisis what crisis ?

Analysis
By Nick Assinder
Political correspondent, BBC News website

Gordon Brown
Mr Brown had wanted to focus on his long-term plans

Just a few hours after Gordon Brown attempted to move on from his recent setbacks and yet again draw a line under the Blair years, he was engulfed by a new party funding row that threatened to re-open all the old wounds.

The resignation of Labour's general secretary, Peter Watt, over the "hidden donations" from a wealthy businessman will revive memories of the darkest days of Tony Blair's final months in power which were marked by the cash-for-honours affair.

It has swept away the prime minister's work earlier in the day in which he attempted to refocus all the government's energies, and voters' attention, on his long-term programme and away from the recent squalls which have seen his reputation for competence and solidity suffering a serious setback.

Instead of moving on, Mr Brown has been knocked back with yet another revelation suggesting he is still at the mercy of events rather than in control of them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7113962.stm


Phew , we'll keep it , thanks Peter , honours to follow !!!!!

Labour boss quits over donations
Peter Watt
Mr Watt said he had resigned "with great sadness"
Labour general secretary Peter Watt has resigned following the revelation that a property developer made donations to the party via two colleagues.

David Abrahams, who gave more than £400,000 through associates, said Mr Watt's resignation was "sad".

Mr Watt told a meeting of officers of Labour's National Executive Committee he had known about the arrangement.

Under the law, those making donations on behalf of others must give details of who is providing the money.

'Highest standards'

In a statement, Mr Watt said he had always "prided myself on having complete integrity" but added that, as general secretary, he was legally responsible for the reporting obligations for the party.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7113255.stm

I've said we'll give it back !!!!!! What more can I say !!!!!!

Just when the dark and ominous cloud over the financing of Britain's political parties — Labour's especially — started to clear, a freak storm has burst without warning from another direction. Many potential donors were sent scurrying for cover by the cash-for-honours inquiry. Even when prosecutors decided this year not to press charges, wealthy benefactors were wary.

Now the row over David Abrahams's secret gifts of almost £400,000 to Labour, channelled through intermediaries to shield his identity, threatens to bring fresh disrepute on the funding of politics.

The case is deeply puzzling. The very purpose of the law introduced by Labour in 2000 was to end secrecy in political donations. The issue has been at the heart of fierce political controversies, both in the 1990s when the Conservatives' finances were under the microscope, and much more recent in the year-long police investigation into allegations that Labour offered peerages in return for political donations.

Mr Abrahams protested this morning that he did “did not have the rule book in front of me” when he began making donations to Labour via intermediaries in 2003.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2947437.ece

Great global leaders of the 21st century

Britain can be "one of the great global leaders" of the 21st century through long-term economic management, the PM has said.

Shared Values !!!

Saudi rape victim 'having affair'
Woman in Saudi Arabia
Saudi women are not allowed to mingle with unrelated men
Saudi justice officials say a woman who was sentenced to prison and flogging after she was gang-raped has now confessed to an extramarital affair.

The case of the unidentified woman, 19, drew international criticism after an appeal increased her 90-lash sentence to 200 lashes and six months' jail.

The justice ministry statement rejected "foreign interference" in the case.

It insisted the ruling was legal and that the woman had "confessed to doing what God has forbidden".

The statement carried by the official press agency late on Saturday said the sentence would be carried out in accordance with Saudi law.

The woman was initially to be punished for violating strict gender segregation laws in Saudi Arabia, for riding in the car of a man who was not related to her when they were both attacked.

"The Saudi justice minister expressed his regret about the media reports over the role of the woman in this case which put out false information and wrongly defend her," the statement said.

"The charged girl is a married woman who confessed to having an affair with the man she was caught with."



Barbaric

Adultery is a punishable offence in Saudi Arabia's strict system of Islamic law, and correspondents say judges are given wide powers to impose custodial sentences or corporal punishment.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7112999.stm


Human rights activist Peter Tatchell said it was "incredible hypocrisy" for ministers to condemn the Burmese and Zimbabwean regimes while saying nothing about human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.

He said: "It just shows oil and arms sales seem to have bought the government's silence. "

On Monday, Foreign Office minister Kim Howells called for Britain and Saudi Arabia to work more closely together, despite their differences.

He said the two states could unite around their "shared values".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7070288.stm

long-term long-term long-term long-term long-term long-term long-term

Oh God I used long term 17 times in this speech , how much longer have I/we got !!!!


Brown outlines 'long-term' plans
Gordon Brown
Mr Brown promised new welfare obligations
Gordon Brown has sought to regain the political initiative, telling business chiefs he was taking the "long-term" decisions Britain needs for the future.

He would not "shirk" over decisions on things like new runways or new nuclear power stations, the PM told the CBI.

A re-think over capital gains tax was hinted at, as were plans to force more jobseekers to accept training places.

The Tories called the measures "short term", while the Lib Dems called it an "incoherent view on Britain's future".

Mr Brown's speech, his first to the audience of business leaders since he became prime minister, followed a series of problems over emergency funding for Northern Rock and the loss of two discs holding personal details of 25 million people

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7112455.stm

We'll give it back !!!!!!

Labour donations handling 'inept'
David Abrahams
Mr Abrahams said Labour was a "worthwhile cause"
Labour's failure to check donations made by a businessman through two colleagues was "inept" and "daft", a former party treasurer has said.

Property developer David Abrahams gave more than £400,000 through associates, claiming he wanted to avoid publicity.

But Lady Prosser said party officials normally ran a "due-diligence test" to ensure people were "bona fide" and money received was "legitimate".

Labour is investigating the donations, which may have breached electoral law.

The Electoral Commission has also asked the party to explain.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7113255.stm

Papers focus on party donations
Mastheads of the national newspapers
The news that wealthy property developer David Abrahams channelled thousands of pounds to Labour through friends attracts much coverage in the papers.

Both donors and political parties have a duty to be open, says the Sun.

The Times adds that the episode threatens to reignite the row over Labour donations in the wake of the year-long "cash for honours" police inquiry.

That episode cost millions of pounds and resulted in no charges being brought, the newspaper reminds us.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7112530.stm

well done Richard ! I'm with you all the way and many thanks !!

Virgin named as top Rock suitor
Northern Rock branch
The Northern Rock will be rebranded under the proposal.
Northern Rock has confirmed that it has chosen a consortium led by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group as its preferred buyer for the stricken bank.

Virgin's offer - which has been backed by the Treasury - includes an immediate repayment of £11bn of the £25bn the bank owes the Bank of England.

If the bank's shareholders block the deal it could be nationalised or be taken into administration.

Northern Rock's shares were up 19% to 102.1 pence by early afternoon trading.

They had earlier leapt more than 48% after the immediate announcement of the Virgin news.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7112481.stm

Sunday 25 November 2007

Well done Jack !! That's told them , let's hope they believe you

Labour woes 'no Black Wednesday'
Jack Straw
Jack Straw has urged ministers to hold their nerve

Ministers have rallied to dismiss Tory claims that Labour is facing its own Black Wednesday over Northern Rock and the missing data discs crisis.

Jack Straw told Sunday AM it was "utter nonsense" to compare recent events with the pound's exit from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992.

The justice secretary said ministers were handling the crises well and urged colleagues to "hold our nerve".

It comes as three opinion polls suggest confidence in Labour has been shaken.

Mr Straw said Black Wednesday - which saw confidence in John Major's government collapse leading to its defeat at the 1997 election - had been caused by "personal decisions by senior ministers," while the current problems were "external".


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7111649.stm

Saturday 24 November 2007

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Six more data discs 'are missing'
Police officers search HMRC offices
Police have finished their search for the discs at HMRC offices
HM Revenue and Customs has confirmed that a further six data discs have gone missing in transit between its offices in Preston and London.

The discs, which were reported missing on 30 October, contained recorded conversations between a member of staff and a customer making a complaint.

Police are still searching for two computer discs containing the details of 25m Child Benefit claimants.

The HMRC says evidence suggests the discs are still on their premises.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7111056.stm

Friday 23 November 2007

Bugger Ratings down again !!!

UK PM Brown's Ratings Fall In Polls -AFP


LONDON (AFP)--U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown saw his poll ratings plummet Friday as confidence in his government's competence crumbled over its handling of recent crises.


Brown - who trumpets his achievements during his 10 years as finance minister - saw his reputation and his governing Labour Party slump in two separate polls.


Two recent crises - one involving the bailout of Northern Rock (NRK.LN), the U.K.'s fifth-biggest mortgage lender, and the other the loss of nearly half the population's personal data in the post - appear to have dented the reputation of Brown's government.


A YouGov poll for Channel 4 television put the main opposition Conservatives in one of their best positions since they lost their own reputation for economic competence in the Black Wednesday crash of 1992.


A Populus survey in The Times newspaper showed the proportion of voters confident in Brown and his finance minister Alistair Darling's ability to handle economic problems had more than halved from 61% to 28% since early September.


Asked whether Labour were competent and capable, 26% said yes, down 30% in three months; 28% said Labour had a good team of leaders, down 30 percent; 20% said they "share my values", down 24 percent; while 28% said they were a united party, down 25%.


"This poll points the way to a fundamental change in Britain's political preference," The Times said in its editorial.


The daily said the "astonishing loss of confidential data" had dealt "a hammer blow to their reputation.


"The extent to which this event has deflated confidence in Gordon Brown and his administration across the board is striking.


http://www.lloyds.com/CmsPhoenix/DowJonesArticle.aspx?id=373277

Oh God not more discs !!

Private data 'also given to firm'
Compact discs
The discs containing the data were unencrypted
Unencrypted discs with 25 million Child Benefit records on them were handed to an accountancy firm by government auditors, it has emerged.

The National Audit Office (NAO) gave the CDs - similar to the ones lost by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials - to accountants KPMG for auditing.

It said the discs - with bank account details on them - were delivered "by hand" to KPMG and returned safely.

The Information Commissioner is probing whether data laws were broken.

A spokesman said the commissioner would be looking at "all aspects" of data protection surrounding the missing Child Benefit records as part of its investigation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7108532.stm

More Freebies !!


I have got nothing but praise for our armed forces

Brown hits back on forces funding
British soldiers in Afghanistan
The government says defence spending is second only to the US

PM rejects criticism
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has rejected criticism from five former military chiefs about the treatment of and funding for the armed forces.

He said he had "nothing but praise" for the forces, and was putting more money into defence "than ever before".

Former chief of staff Lord Boyce said making Des Browne defence and Scottish secretary had been an "insult".

Tory leader David Cameron has written to Mr Brown asking him to divide the roles between two people.

'Great courage'

Asked about the criticism, the prime minister, who is in Kampala, Uganda, for a Commonwealth summit, said: "I have got nothing but praise for our armed forces.

"I have visited them in Iraq and Afghanistan and what they are doing are acts of great courage.

I will put my record in relation to both commitment and delivery up against anyone's
Des Browne
Defence secretary

Browne defends dual role
Analysis: MoD spending battle

"I want to see the armed forces properly equipped with the resources that they need. And that's why we've been increasing expenditure on defence compared with the cuts under the previous government."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7108650.stm

Contemptuous , Me??????

Brown 'shows contempt for forces'
British troops in Helmand
Ministers have been criticised over treatment of the armed forces
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has treated the armed services with "contempt" and "disinterest", a former chief of the defence staff has told a Lords debate.

Admiral Lord Boyce said the decision to give one person - Des Browne - the jobs of both defence and Scottish secretary was an "insult" at a time of war.

Another former defence chief, General Lord Guthrie, said Mr Brown had been "unsympathetic" to the military.

The government said it was "absolutely committed" to the armed forces.

Five former defence chiefs spoke during the Lords debate, during which there were calls to improve levels of military funding.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7108354.stm

Browne not Brown !!!

Browne defends dual minister role
Des Browne
Mr Browne said he was able to cope with both portfolios
The defence secretary has rejected a suggestion that the armed forces are being treated with contempt because he also acts as Scottish secretary.

Former military chief Admiral Lord Boyce said Des Browne should not be allowed to continue in both jobs.

However, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Mr Browne insisted he could continue with both portfolios.

He hit back at the admiral's claims and said he would put his record in the defence role "against anyone's".

Admiral Lord Boyce had earlier criticised the dual role.

He said: "When you have got people who have been killed and maimed in the service of their government, and you put at the head of the shop someone who is part-time, that sends a very bad message."

Following his comments, it emerged that Conservative leader David Cameron had written to Prime Gordon Brown Minister asking him either to remove the role of Scottish secretary from Des Browne, to allow him to work full time as defence secretary, or to appoint someone else into the job.

This is not an issue that has ever been raised with me by any serving soldier
Des Browne
Defence/Scottish secretaries

His letter reads: "At a time when our forces are engaged in two highly dangerous missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the need for the defence secretary to be able to concentrate full-time on his role is surely a matter of plain common sense.

"People do not understand why you have chosen to combine the job of defence secretary with Scottish secretary at such a crucial time.

"Now Admiral Boyce has made clear this concern extends to those on the front line, I hope you will take this opportunity to reverse your decision and appoint a defence secretary who is able to devote his total attention to this vital job, unencumbered by other responsibilities within government."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7109821.stm

They are WRONG

A group of former military chiefs and politicians, calling themselves the UK National Defence Association (UKNDA), has launched a campaign for a major increase in funding for the armed forces.

It is rare for former top brass to start such a public campaign, let alone in such a sensitive political area - but they believe it is time to speak out.

The establishment of the UKNDA can be seen as a sign of the growing gulf between ministers and some in the military over the course of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are claims that the government is no longer honouring the military covenant, Britain's duty of care to its servicemen and women.

Winston Churchill, former MP and grandson of the UK's prime minister during World War II, is president of the group and insists that the government must prioritise spending on the armed forces.

"Successive governments have let people down," he says.

"Whereas health and education have seen surges in spending, defence has seen a decline, and that needs to be reversed if we are to ensure our men and women on the front line have what they need.

"That decline in spending also means that when they come home injured there are few defence medical facilities for rehabilitation and some have to rely partially on charity for funding.

"While in terms of compensation, they get a fraction of what a civilian would receive for injuries."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7084444.stm

Bugger why didn't I buy some shares !!!!!

For those who ran Qinetiq, it was Krug in diamond-encrusted, solid gold goblets. The top ten executives in the business made £200 for every £1 of their own cash they invested in the business. Sir John Chisholm, Qinetiq’s chairman, turned £130,000 into £26m; Graham Love, the chief executive, scooped £21m from £110,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/

Wednesday 21 November 2007

Free things that's what I like !


Competence Hah! Who's PM MEEEEEEEEEE

Brown taunted on competence
Prime minister's questions sketch
By Nick Assinder
Political correspondent, BBC News website

Yesterday it was Alistair Darling who was facing allegations of incompetence - Gordon Brown knew today would be his turn.

David Cameron
Mr Cameron had the prime minister in his sights over missing data crisis

He attempted to take some of the heat from the looming storm by using the very first question of PMQs to offer his full apology for the missing data crisis.

His defence was simple - this was a case of proper procedures having been ignored and it should not have happened. Investigations had been launched and procedures tightened - in other words, the stable door is being locked.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7105722.stm

I'M SORRY !!!!!

Brown apologises for records loss
Gordon Brown
Mr Brown said the government was not "complacent" about the losses

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he "profoundly regrets" the loss of 25 million child benefit records.

He apologised in the Commons for the "inconvenience and worries" caused and said the government was working to prevent the data being used for fraud.

But Conservative leader David Cameron said the government had "failed in its first duty to protect the public".

The Revenue and Customs data on the two missing discs includes names, dates of birth, bank and address details.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7104945.stm

Oh my Darling what a cock up !!!

UK's families put on fraud alert
Alistair Darling
The chancellor urged people to monitor their bank accounts

Two computer discs holding the personal details of all families in the UK with a child under 16 have gone missing.

The Child Benefit data on them includes name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number and, where relevant, bank details of 25 million people.

Chancellor Alistair Darling said there was no evidence the data had gone to criminals - but urged people to monitor bank accounts "for unusual activity".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7103566.stm

Oh my Darling your not a Rock

Chancellor Alistair Darling has defended the Government's decision to bail out the troubled bank Northern Rock.

Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have criticised the Bank of England for giving the company a £24bn pound loan.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7101583.stm