Monster that grew in our midst

Our democracy is falling apart in front of us

30/11/2008

CONSPIRACY to tell the truth wasn't an offence in Britain last time I checked. But things seem to be changing fast.

Last week an Opposition MP was arrested as 20 anti-terror officers stripped his home and office bare - in a LEAK inquiry.

And this tells you everything you need to know about the sickness in what was once the world's greatest democracy.

You won't have heard of Damian Green. He's the Tory's immigration spokesman, a camera-shy but solid digger.

He had a whistleblower in the Home Office who was leaking him details about the comic horrors going on there.

Once, that was called "doing his job". All of a sudden, it's called "conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office."

Leaks are a vital part of democracy, exposing bungling or venal ministers. Since when have they been illegal? Has a new law been passed? Nope, the police machine just went into overdrive.

Conniving

This is how British liberties are destroyed. Not by a conniving, cat-stroking Prime Minister. But by lack of attention.

The police machine went ahead on autopilot - and overkill. Just like it did when it sent tanks to Heathrow. No copper said: "We don't send anti-terror division after the government's political opponents. End of story."

The Home Office should have been given the same message as burgled home owners: "Sorry, no officers in the area."

But they weren't. As we'll learn from the inevitable inquiry, it was a cock-up. Even the PM is stunned.

He shouldn't be. Because unless you keep a proper check on the machine, it will get out of control.

Look at local authorities. Once they emptied bins and mended streetlights for the paying public.

But after years of looting our salaries via council tax, they've reinvented themselves - as local Stasis.

Erosion

Anti-terror laws are used to spy on residents suspected of leaving rubbish in the wrong place.

When children are hired to inform on neighbours for "environmental crime" you ask: how did it come to this? There wasn't a turning point. Councils' power just grew -as all unchecked bureaucracies do.

All it takes is for no one to shout "stop". Same with the police. Same with the erosion of Parliament.

Take Baby P. The full file of this atrocity is still locked in the office of Children's Secretary Ed Balls.

An energetic MPs' campaign could force it out.

But the so-called Children's Committee produces as much energy as David Cameron's old roof turbine. They're letting it lie.

INSANE ASYLUM

THINGS have come to a pretty pass when Britain is suspected of exporting Islamic terrorists to India. We don't know the nationality of the Bombay gunmen. But that Indian police think they could be Brits is bad enough.

Of course, India didn't spend years providing asylum and pulpits for the world's maddest mullahs. Britain did.

GIVEN the last rate cut didn't make a blind bit of difference, prepare for a full percentage point to 2% next week. One of these days we may find a bank to pass it on.

45p IS A SQUIRT!

GORDON Brown visited an Asda in Leeds on Friday to see how his VAT cut would be reflected in prices.

I hope he soon found the answer. VAT isn't charged on food, and a 2% price cut on other goods is meaningless.

Factor in outrageous tax hikes on booze and petrol and the 'stimulus' works out as 45p a day for lowest-income families.

Yes, this IS his best shot for saving the economy. A squirt, not a splurge. Which is why it won't soften the violence of this recession.

Your comments

This article has 9 comments

RE;JOHN Well john i would also wager that you dont earn anywhere near the min wage of the tesco worker either! You miss my point my freind you realy do and that is exactly my point! Maybe i am wrong in believing that most people feel that the very affluent should be asked to help our country and its lesser paid citizens out a bit more in times of financial hardship that we are all going through now,and maybe i am wrong for believing that to be fair and just but that wont stop me or the vast majority still believing it! Also if you knew me you would know i am my own man and speak my own mind and certainly do not need or use t.v soundbites to form it,no my friend thats called a conscience and just maybe who knows i am also wrong for having one of those!

By Paul A LANCASTER.. Posted December 1 2008 at 12:32 PM.

Paul A Lancaster. Posted November 30 2008

You are typical of the Politics of envy, now I don't earn anywhere near £150k pa why should anyone be forced to give up any more of their salary to this governemnt of thieves. Those on that sort of money flood the govt coffers with all the indirect taxes thay pay on the goods they buy along with keeping the shop assistant iat tesco in a job. May the tesco assistant is a student who has taken employment to pay for their studies as this govt has denied them the funds to do so. also maybe hrough hteir studies they are aspiring to gain an occupation paying the ammounts you wish to have taxed further. Taxing the rich may may good politics for those who only listen to soundbite on the TV but it has been proven to be economic stupidity as tax levels against the higher earners go higher the revenues collected eventually go down., thusa taxes for everyone goes up, and I'm sure the tesco assistant would like that???????????

By John.. Posted December 1 2008 at 12:09 AM.

The people stating in this column about the majority of councils being Tory run are missing the Point. All these rules are brought in via the EU which our Govt eagerly make sure that they are adhered to by threats of reduced funding to the council. So it's either put council tax up A LOT, and get yourself voted out, or think of ways to appease this Dictatorship in Westminster, it's amazing what so called moral people will do to protect their livlihood. I personally would scrap all the councils and start from scratch, as this country is quickly heading to becoming a Police state. Also I would like to say that I haven't heard anyone from the Conservative party saying they will repeal/overturn these attacks on our freedoms or liberties that this Soviet Govt have brought in

By John.. Posted November 30 2008 at 11:59 PM.

Many Councils are run by Conservatives. Who to blame for the erosion of democracy, then?

By Giovanni.. Posted November 30 2008 at 5:21 PM.

Couldn't agree more Paul A Lancaster although I'm not sure about the US being the promised land. It fascinates me how the government has been lambasted for interfering and introducing too much red tape, but when there's a problem, the government is urged to get involved and pitch in resources and money. There must have been better ways to spend public money than bailing out Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley. Some are luckier than others when it comes to being rescued from financial mismanagement.

By Michael Wells.. Posted November 30 2008 at 4:43 PM.

Excellent article Fraser, freedoms we took for granted are eroding by the day.

".....Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety....." - Benjamin Franklin

By James Strand.. Posted November 30 2008 at 2:14 PM.

The stupid ID card is the next attempt by this failed government to control the public. It won't stop any terrorists but will be costly (£100 each) and will result in civil service snoopers being allowed to ask more intrusive questions.

By Neil Edwards.. Posted November 30 2008 at 10:14 AM.

I think Fraser is spot on, but there's little chance of Brown doing anything - after all he put the hopeless Ms Smith into the Home Office.

As for Paul Lancaster, yes we would like a first class education, health care and law enforcement system. Sadly, after 11 years of Labour, and unequalled spending ( often waste ) by Brown, we don't have any of these things.

By LondonKen.. Posted November 30 2008 at 8:45 AM.

Council Tax Fraser? Me thinks you slipped up there as the vast majority of local councils are Tory ran! Tut Tut central office wont like that brilliant piece of observation from its posh man in common clothing!Years of neglet by both parties when in power but under this government the highest spend on public service infastructure staffing levels and pay in our countrys history.We now have a min wage and tax and pension credits to help the less affluent and a better and fairer system where kids from those backgrounds can access university education if bright enough and just why shouldnt someone earning 150 k a year stick his hand in his pocket for a few quid more to help out a shop assistant working at tesco on the minimum wage ?Its time for the country to smell the coffee and the affluent members of our great country to realise an extra 3k a year tax increase aint going to affect their already high standard of living compared to what the vast majority of hard working families are having to cut back on during this very testing period of economic madness! I believe this country and the many hard working millions that work and live in it deserve and believe that EVERYONE should have the right to 1st class education,health care and law enforcement and put the word GREAT back ino britain!but these things do cost money and if only you could put aside your obvious party loyalties and tell it how it is we may then get a country of HOPE and CHAN GE like the U.S!

By Paul A Lancaster.. Posted November 30 2008 at 4:32 AM.

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