Astroturfing is a relatively new term to me, an admission that belies my political anorak status. What it means is, to generate a fake grassroots campaign - hence astroturfing.

So a few days ago, the Government found itself with a mojority of 1 on the Terrorism Bill - and that largely thanks to George Galloway, Vince Cable, Nicholas Winterton and his racist wife Anne. The Government is still up against it with more votes on the Bill imminent.

So I was rather surprised on friday to receive an email from Charles Clarke:

I am emailing you today to find out your views on the action the Government is proposing to take to challenge the new terrorist threats that face all of us.

Since the London bombings of 7 July, we all know that the UK faces a terrorist threat of a different level of seriousness and complexity from anything Britain has faced before. We are confronting extremists whose aims are to kill and maim as many people as possible, to strike at the heart of our society and destroy what we stand for. These terrorists are part of complex international organisations that make ever greater use of new technology such as encrypted computers. Further attacks remain a real possibility, so action to protect our citizens is urgent.

The Government has introduced the Terrorism Bill, currently going through Parliament, to try and ensure that the police and intelligence services have the powers they need to stay ahead of the new breed of terrorist. Yet some are opposing the Government’s proposals, which come on the advice of specialist anti-terrorist police.

Facing up to the challenges of the new terrorist threat is so important; we want to have your views as soon as possible. Please go the Labour website to register your views. Click here to go there now.

Best wishes
Charles Clarke
Home Secretary

If you follow the link, you get to the most utterly useless and biased questionnaire ever written. The questions are…

“Do you think that our laws should be updated to cope with the current security threat?”
“Do you think police should have the time and opportunity to complete their investigations into suspected terrorists?”
“Do you think the government should make sure there are new safeguards to protect innocent people?”

I for one would very much like to know the name of the fuckwit in Charles Clarke’s office who thought up this wheeze, which is blatantly designed to give him some ammunition to bring Labour rebels back into line.

Please do email me if you know who wrote this questionnaire. In the meantime, here are a few more questions that didn’t quite make the cut.

1. “Do you think the police should unlimited powers to make sure the enemies of the civilised west can’t eat your babies?”
2. “Do you think the Home Secretary should have the power to keep baby eaters and suspected baby eaters in prison as long as he likes?”
3. “Do you think any MP who votes against the Baby Eaters Bill should be detained indefinitely for incitement to baby eating?”

and a note for Charles Clarke…

NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST PEACE PROTESTERS AT AN EAST LONDON ARMS FAIR AND AGAINST AN 80 YEAR OLD MAN IN BRIGHTON. WHAT WILL PREVENT THE POLICE MIS-USING OTHER POWERS YOU GIVE THEM?

Rant over.

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