Here at Monkey Towers, we have been measured on the issue of Damian Green’s arrest. While we have observed many rantings about how “MPs should be sacrosanct and what’s wrong with grooming?” - we have preferred to wait until the Police have determined whether or not a crime has been committed, and if so, who is the criminal. After that time there will be plenty of opportunity for recrimination.
However, though one supports the presumption of innocence for MPs as much as for any member of the public (not more so), I’m quite sure that illiciting unpublished information from civil servants, through coercion, “grooming” or by other means, can be described as espionage.
And I’m not certain that the law distinguishes between those people who can legitimately encourage civil servants to breach confidence and those who cannot.
And let’s make this clear, just because someone’s a Tory politician, it doesn’t mean we can GUARANTEE that they are not or have not ever been a terrorist.
editor[at]recessmonkey.com
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“we have preferred to wait until the Police have determined whether or not a crime has been committed, and if so, who is the criminal.”
Isn’t that the role of the courts, or am I just being old fashioned…?
Marcus Walker said this on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Yes Marcus, you are being old fashioned
(courts, schmorts!)
Recess Monkey said this on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
It doesn’t make you a little uncomfortable, having the police search through an MP’s correspondence with their constituents (even if it is not what they are actually trying to read)?
dutch said this on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
But there are a lot of us who don’t want to “wait and see”, and let the grown-ups sort it out, because we’ve seen far too many dirty issues vanish into lengthy enquiries, popping out 18 months later a lovely shade of white.
My guess is that’s exactly what’ll happen here..
Sousbois said this on December 2nd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I’m not comfortable with the police having access to constituency correspondence. But neither would I be happy with my own home being searched without a very good reason.
Recess Monkey said this on December 2nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Nice post Recess. Here in Watford we have the strange case of Ian Oakley still hanging over us. Oakley, the Tory PPS, conducted a three year campaign of harassment, which the judge at his trial described as subverting the electoral process. Whilst he eventually received a suspended sentence, neither the party locally nor nationally care to apologise for selecting such an unsuitable candidate. Personally I think it is high time for the Conservatives to face up to their own shortcomings. Caramel Cameron has some hard thinking to be done if he wants to emerge as a credible candidate for PM.
Martin said this on December 3rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
And the difference between this and Brown’s own considerable use of leaks when in opposition is ??????
One difference well worth pointing out to you increasingly totalitarian monkeys is the one between revealing information that might damage the national interest of the country, such as military secrets for example, and revealing information that is only damaging to the electoral prospects of the Labour party, such as the things Damien Green revealed.
Mr Angry said this on December 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Exacty what I was thinking Martin, and a point I make here:
http://www.labourhome.org/story/2008/12/3/163958/347
Kerron said this on December 3rd, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Great post of yours too, Kerron. I like the way you get the arrogance of the B’stards. Rule of law for us, they can do as they please. I’ve got to pop out down to the Wiggenhall Road depot just now, to do a bit of recycling and try to find out why the incompetent Lib Dems want to make the WRAP project there homeless, but I’ll take a proper look at your post and try to contribute to the debate when I get time.
Martin said this on December 4th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Mr Angry, did you really mean what you said - your post contains an implicit admission that Green’s leaks are not injurious to UK national security. I think that is true, but form the tone of your post, think you have made a bit of a boo boo here. For the record, leaking is at least as old as spin, (remember “Mrs Mops”, anyone?) and considerably more time honoured. Where would we be without Ponting, Tisdall, Katherine Gunn? But if Green, as has been claimed - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5263908.ece , solicited leaks from Galley when the latter contacted him then Green should have his Parliamentary Pass stapled to his testes and set aflame.
Dan J said this on December 5th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Don J, the question remains the same, why was Gordon Brown soliciting leaks any different from Damien Green allegedly doing so? By your lights it would seem that Brown should be facing testicular stapling as well, although as to whether he actually has any Balls, other than Ed that is, is another open question.
Mr Angry said this on December 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Is there any information about this subject in other languages?
work and travel said this on December 25th, 2008 at 9:24 am