A News and Politics Blog - You Heard it HereA News and Politics Blog - You Heard it HereThe latest news, politics, political scandals and stories! Our views on the news as it breaks. Agree or Disagree? Please comment ... we love to hear your thoughts Articles
British Hostages Speak - The Reality behind the Show from Iran's President
2007-04-07 02:37:00 The cloud has been lifted and now we begin to hear the truth. Blair's triumph in diplomacy was nonexistent. The reality is this was a carefully planned and executed capture and release by Iran 's President , and Blair played right into his hand. The British Sailors and Marines made the statement the Iranians so proudly aired on TV under duress, while facing at best a 7 year prison sentence. Lt Carman said they were given two choices. "If we admitted we had strayed, we would be on a plane back to the UK soon. If we didn't we faced up to seven years in prison". The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, believed for at least four days that she was the only one still being held. Royal Marine Joe Tindell told how they feared for their lives in prison. "We had a blindfold and plastic cuffs, hands behind our backs, heads against the wall. Basically there were weapons cocking. Someone, I'm not sure who, said, I quote ' lads I think we're going to get executed'." Lt Carma... More About: Reality , Show
The "Real Gift" From Iran Was The Bomb They Supplied Iraq To Kill Our Soldi
2007-04-06 16:03:00 Diplomacy worked, sure it did. Iran may have returned 15 servicemen but today 4 died at the hands of an Iranian made bomb in Iraq . Four soldiers, two of them women, died when a huge Iranian-made bomb hit their patrol in Iraq. The blast exposed Ahmadinejad as the callous terrorist and hypocrite he is. While the 15 sailors and marines were on their way home from Iran, Iraqis were collecting souvenirs from the wreckage that killed our soldiers and celebrating around the 3 foot crater in the road near Basra . Blair's response was, "On the one hand we are glad that our service personnel are returned from their captivity. But on the other we return to the sober and ugly reality of what is happening through terrorism in Iraq." Perhaps if Mr. Blair took a stronger stance and there were consequences to terrorism it would no longer occur in such frequency. Including the Basra deaths six British soldiers have now been killed in six days in Iraq. This attack near Basra was carefully planned. I... More About: Gift , They , Soldi
British Crew is Home but More Soldiers Killed Today in Iraq
2007-04-06 11:22:00 More die in the Middle East. Is it sad, yes. Is it surprising, unfortunately not. "Just as we rejoice at the return of our 15 service personnel, so today we are also grieving and mourning for the loss of our soldiers in Basra, who were killed as the result of a terrorist act," Blair said outside his office at 10 Downing StBlair claims that the return of the service personnel today was a triumph in Diplomacy, I am not so sure. I would however, call it a PR triumph for the Iranian President. Iran's release of the eight sailors and seven marines raised hopes among some that Tehran might be open to compromise on other matters, particularly Western demands for a halt to Iran's uranium enrichment program. But Iran already was warning it would retaliate if the West pushed too hard. After Britain's "walking on eggshells" stance over the hostage situation it doesn't seem Iran has any fear, or reason to fear, the west's response should it "retaliate" for being pushed. As far as Iraq goes... More About: Home , Today , British , Soldi
Controls on advertising junk food to children came into force this week
2007-04-06 09:45:00 This article is from the BBC : "Teachers are warning that children are growing up too quickly because of pressure from advertising and commerce. They say advertising which targets children should be more tightly controlled because it encourages poor diets and general ill-health. The call comes from the annual conference of the National Union of Teachers in Harrogate, where delegates will also discuss education reforms. Controls on advertising junk food to children came into force this week. But dedicated children's channels are allowed to phase in the restrictions, which affect programmes aimed at four to nine year olds." I am very much in favour of children maintaining healthy well balanced diet. But where does the responsibility for this lie? The answer is with the parents, not commercial advertisers. Parents have options. They can choose which programs, if any their children watch. They can choose what food their children eat. Parents do have the ability to say no, despite the ... More About: Children , Food , Advertising , Force , This
Do You Want To Be Required to Own a Biometric ID Card? You will be if Labo
2007-04-05 15:41:00 According to Home Office papers from 2004 one third will NOT cooperate with ID card checks. The Home Office claims these figures were incredibly out of date. Labour says ID cards will have a wide range of benefits and plans. If they win the next election they will bring in new legislation to make it compulsory to own, but not necessarily carry, a card. The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives both oppose the identity card scheme. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Jeremy Browne said: "A major failing of ID cards is that it will cost billions of pounds to coerce law-abiding people into providing their details while those with genuinely malign intentions will strive to avoid complying with the authorities." I don't often agree with Liberal Democrats but I am with Browne 100%. As with the talking cameras and airport eye scans, this takes Big Brother to a whole new level. Browne correctly stated that the people who will get the ID's, simply because it is the law and not becaus... More About: Card , Will , Want , Metric , ID Card
Iranian Hostages Will Be Released as a "Gift"
2007-04-05 02:56:00 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says 15 British naval personnel captured in the Gulf are free to leave. Ahmadinejad still maintains that the British sailors and marines "invaded" Iranian waters, but said they were being released as a "gift" to Britain. They are expected to fly home to the UK on Thursday. New television pictures showed the Iranian president smiling, chatting and shaking hands with the crew at the presidential palace in Tehran. It is reported that one crew member said: "I'd like to say that myself and my whole team are very grateful for your forgiveness. I'd like to thank yourself and the Iranian people... Thank you very much, sir." One can only imagine what the crew were really thinking. Ahmadinejad spoke at a news conference marking the Persian New Year for an hour reprimanding the west over its policy in the Middle Wast before even mentioning the hostages. When he did he said,"We have every right to put these people on trial,But I want to give them as a pre... More About: Iran , Gift , Released , Release , Host
Big Brother Strikes Again - Talking CCTV Cameras Scheme Expanded
2007-04-04 15:17:00 If you live in Middlesbrough I sympathize as I'm sure you know all about these "talking" CCTV Camera s. I have never had the pleasure of coming into contact with one. In fact, the whole idea repulses me. The Government is taking big brother to an entirely new level. "Talk ing" CCTV cameras that tell off people for littering or committing anti-social behaviour are to be installed in 20 areas across England. Apparently, these cameras are controlled by the control centre staff who watch then use a loudspeaker to tell anyone misbehaving to stop. Apart from being absurd and an unnecessary expense which Britain can ill afford, is this really the way forward? I have almost come to accept the nearly 4.2 million CCTV cameras watching nearly every move we make as a necessary evil. They did help us find several terrorists. This however, is going too far. Britain will feel more like a regime then a democratic country. The prospect of the future the way this government wants it is horrifying. Fac... More About: Big Brother , Other , Cameras
Government Votes for Complete Ban on Smoking
2007-04-04 14:36:00 The Government has voted for a complete ban on smoking in pubs, clubs, restaurants and work places from summer 2007. I am a smoker. Should I dodge all the stones being thrown now? It is very popular in this day and age to vehemently state how awful smoking is and how it should be banned. But, have you considered what effect the ban will have? First, the financial effect. Smokers pay enormous taxes on every pack of cigarettes they buy. The government is already having a "cash crisis" so much so that they are suggesting untrained maternity support workers to deliver babies. What effect will the loss of the revenue from cigarette taxes have? At the very best the government will raise our taxes to compensate. Next, The British Medical Journal study of over 30,000 people over a period of 40 years showed zero incidence of higher incidence of lung or heart related disease in families of smokers. The cancer society objects to this study. Not surprising as it would invalidate every other st... More About: Men , Comp , Smoking , Vote
Maternity Support Workers to Replace Midwives to Cut Costs?
2007-04-04 14:14:00 Ministers have reneged on the election promise which guaranteed all mothers receive one-to-one care from a midwife during labour. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt admitted that midwives would probably not be present during the whole labour in any NHS hospital. Campaigners said that costs could be cut by using "maternity support workers" not midwives during the majority of the labour process. There is no national training program for these workers with most trusts insisting they take only an NVQ ( a qualification course lasting only 15 days) versus midwives who endure a rigorous 3 year training program. I would consider the birth of a child one of the most, if not the most, important event in a person's life. The government obviously does not agree or they would not have suggested "support workers" who are meant for jobs such as cleaning up to deliver our babies. What's next to save money... suggesting a family member take a 15 day NVQ so the government doesn't have to pay at all... More About: Workers , Work , Port , Cost , Support
Beckett Doubts Swift resolution with Iran ... "We are not seeking a militar
2007-04-04 03:20:00 Foreign Secretary Margaret Beck ett says that we shouldn't hope for a swift resolution to the hostage situation in Iran . She continues to stress that the government is not seeking a military confrontation with Iran and continuing to pursue diplomatic channels. The Iranians don't seem particularly interested as they still have not responded to a formal note sent by Britain. Beckett's comments came after new pictures of the hostages were released and as Tony Blair said negotiations to free them were entering a "critical" phase. I think we passed critical quite some time ago Mr. Blair. As far as Margaret Beckett is concerned I would love to know what she defines as a "swift resolution" because I guarantee if she was the one held in Iran or it was a family member of hers she would be a lot more enthusiastic about rescuing them by any means! Diplomatic channels are NOT working, neither is sending notes which Iran ignores. Day ONE we should have given them the option to return the hosta... More About: With , King , Doubt
Tory Proposal for Sandhurst Style College for Police
2007-04-03 19:43:00 Tory spokesman on police reform Nick Herbert today said : ''We are told that officer numbers are at record levels, but where are they? Vast amounts of police time are spent tied up in stations, officers spend more time on paperwork than on patrol, and less than a tenth of officers are dedicated to neighbourhood policing.'' If this is the case which is not surprising in the slightest then why were 4 police officers sent to the 11 year olds house for making a politically incorrect comment? Between paperwork and minor crimes there are not any police left to deal with dangerous criminals. I do think the police need an overhaul and the Tory's proposal of a Sand hurst style college may work. Herbert stated: ''The police's hands must be untied to give them the discretion they need and to release officers for front line duties. Unnecessary forms should be scrapped and antiquated computer systems joined up to eliminate the multiple keying of data - a major impediment to efficiency. Ce... More About: College , Proposal , Police , Style
4 Police Officers sent to deal with 11 Year Old Boy for being Politically I
2007-04-03 06:25:00 I could not believe my ears when I heard this. Apparently a little 11 year old boy received visits from not one but FOUR police officers after making 1 comment to a schoolmate. He called him Gay and apparently meant it in a harmless way. He explained he was using it to mean stupid. Now, it might not be the most politically correct thing to say but does it require 4 police officers, NO. The police claimed 11 year old George was being investigated for a "very serious" homophobic crime. George used the word "gay" in an email to a 10 yr old classmate. This just epitomizes the problem with our government. Four police officers for 1 comment by an eleven yr old... I couldn't get 4 police officers to my house if I had been robbed! Our government is far to busy chasing after people like this 11 year old to actually deal with real crime. While they are wasting police time on this child how many serious crimes are happening in your neighborhood? If our Government spent as much time tracking... More About: Office , Political , Police , Politica , With
Britian Rewarded for Playing Nice with Iran over Hostages ... Are you Serio
2007-04-03 05:01:00 From the Telegraph "Iran today softened its rhetoric in the ongoing diplomatic dispute with Britain, promising not to show further television confessions as a reward for "positive changes" in the British negotiating stance." What are we... children? Any why on earth are we letting these people treat us as such. We (the civilized British people) are allowing Iran (the terrorists holding our men and women hostage) to scold us then reward us for acquiescing to them in the way we handle the situation? What is wrong with our Government? Someone please enlighten me. Let me recap. Iran takes HOSTAGE 15 British men and women. Iranians ATTACK the British Embassy with the consent of their government. The Iranian government controlled TV station parades two sailors on television where they are forced to point to a map and apoligise. Iran completely ignores our demands to return the hostages. Instead of using force the British government is walking on eggshells and are being rewarded by Iran ... More About: Play , With , War , Host
New Video of UK Hostages in Iran .. When Will it End?
2007-04-02 13:56:00 The situation in Iran is completely out of control. The latest video show two more of the British hostages last night aploigising to their captors. The hostages were identified as Royal Marines Captain Chris Air and Royal Navy Lieutenant Felix Carman. The men, in combat fatigues, were shown pointing to a map of the Persian Gulf. The Iranian Al-Alum TV (which is run by Iran's government) said the hostages were identifying where the British Royal Navy Boats had crossed into Iranian waters leading to their capture. Lieitenant Carment then proceeded so say “I would like to say to the Iranian people I can understand why you were so angry about our intrusion.” To say this video is unacceptable is like saying a speck of dirt is sligtly on the small side. It is an outrage that they were taken hostage in the first place. An outrage that has only been compounded by the fact that these men and women are now being forced to act as mouthpieces for this horrible country and their fanatics... More About: Video , Host , Will , When
Government of Iran Supports Attack on UK Embassy ... WHY ARE WE NOT TAKING
2007-04-01 21:04:00 This is from the BBC: Iran ian students have thrown firecrackers and rocks into the British embassy compound during a protest in the capital Tehran. About 200 people demonstrated against what they say was the illegal entry into Iranian waters of 15 UK Royal Navy personnel captured nine days ago. The BBC's correspondent, who was outside the embassy when the missiles were thrown, said the demonstrators were hardline Islamist students from Tehran University. The protesters,whose demonstration was allowed by the Iranian government , were chanting "death to Britain" and calling for the deportation of the British ambassador, she said I would love to know why we have not taken action against Iran to rescue our men and women. Exactly what Mr. Blair is thinking! Maybe he is to concerned with being questioned by the police over the "Cash for Honours" scandal. Maybe he is to busy playing tennis with sleazy Levy. Who knows. What I can not understand is why nothing is being done. By nothing I d... More About: Government , Men , Port , Support
CLARKE WILL CHALLENGE BROWN IF MILIBAND DOESN'T
2007-04-01 06:44:00 The view is starting to surface that David Miliband will NOT challenge Brown for the leadership. Not surprising after it was said he would be "human sacrifice" by foriegn secretary Beckett if he chose to stand. It looks as though Miliband is more likely than not positioning himself for a top position in Brown's governement although he has not ruled out standing. If this is the case former home secretary Clarke is ready to challenge Brown. Not necessarily a bad thing as it would force Brown to make public exactly where he stands. Many labour supporters (if there are many left after the recent scandals plaguing Blair's governement) would welcome the challenge as it would give them a chance to openly debate Labour's future. More About: Band , Challenge , Will , Hall
WHY SHOULD WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND IRAN'S (KIDNAPPERS AND TERRORISTS) POINT OF
2007-04-01 06:34:00 Terry Waite, who was kidnapped in Beirut while trying to negotiate a hostage release in 1987, offered to travel to Tehran to try to secure the release of the 14 servicemen and one woman. “I don’t think one needs to be afraid of these people, but one does need to have respect for their point of view, whether you agree with it or not,” said Waite, who spent almost five years as the hostage of an Iran ian-backed fundamentalist group in Beirut. This is ABSURD!! What is the world coming to when a former kidnap victim says you need to respect Iran's point of view!!!!! I admire Mr. Waite's courage for offering to go to Tehran to attempt to secure the release of the service men and women but who brainwashed him to say we need to unDerstand their point of view. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR POINT OF VIEW, DO YOU... they KIDNAPPED and are holding HOSTAGE our servicemen and women, forcing them to make videotapes and write letter and doing god knows what else to them. I still say use w... More About: Terror , Terrorists , Should , Terrorist
STILL HELD CAPTIVE IN IRAN ... GET THEM HOME!!!
2007-04-01 01:47:00 WE SHOULD BE PROTECTING OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN NOT LET THEM BE USED AS PAWNS AND MOUTHPIECES FOR IRAN IN THE WAR!!! The Mail Printed the following: Their captors wished to show them looking relaxed and in their own clothes, continuing the "theme" of the first footage of the captives broadcast on Wednesday, when they were shown tucking into a meal in a bid to show how well they were being treated. In the video, Royal Navy sailor Summers, from Hayle, Cornwall, appears to admit 'trespassing' into Iran ian waters but the video displayed signs of editing, suggesting his words were being manipulated. Looking relaxed and in his camouflage fatigues, he said: "I would like to apologise for entering your waters without permission. Since we have been arrested in Iran our treatment has been very friendly. We have not been harmed at all. They've looked after us really well." The video had clearly been cut and edited between his reference to "trespass" and "apologise". The new letter purport... More About: Home , Stil , Them , Still
Foriegn Secretary calls David Miliband a "Human Sacrifice"
2007-04-01 01:05:00 FOREIGN Secret ary Margaret Beckett has 'warned' that David Miliband would be offering himself up as a “human sacrifice” if he stood in a Labour leadership battle. When addressing speculation about the minister challenging Gordon Brown Beckett added that Miliband was a “very good minister” as Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs but the though of challenging Brown was," complete nonsense."She continued saying that “He is very bright. He is a very good minister. I am sure he will be a major figure in the party for a long time to come and a major contender at some time in the future.“But should he take this step to satisfy someone else’s prejudices? He would be daft,” she added. Obvousely not to Beckett but to several others Miliband has been considered to be a candidate who would appeal to supporters of Prime Minister Tony Blair. Any supporters Mr. Blair has left apart from Lord Cashpoint, that is. Although I hear through the grapevine that Lord "Cashpoi... More About: Band , Human , Calls
Prince William's Long Time Girlfriend has had Enough!
2007-03-31 05:58:00 Middleton Files Official Complaint Against British Tabloid. 3oth March Middleton Files Official Complaint Against British Tabloid.... British royal Prince William 's girlfriend Kate Middleton has made an official complaint against a British tabloid for printing photographs obtained "as a result of harassment". Ms. Middleton who many assume will marry the Prince filed a formal complaint with the British media watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission (Pcc), yesterday (29March07) after the Daily Mirror printed photographs of the English beauty, which she claims infringed upon her right to privacy. The Pcc has launched an investigation to determine whether the newspaper breached the commission's code of practice when taking the picture of the 25-year-old walking to work, clutching a cup and her car keys. A statement released by the Pcc says, "The Press Complaints Commission has today received a formal complaint from Kate Middleton that a photograph of her in today's Daily Mirror was ... More About: Girlfriend , Time , Friend , Girl
Lord Caspoint Strikes again!! New victim Courtney Coventry
2007-03-27 06:55:00 I read the article Lord Cashpoint the Bogus Count and His Porn Star Wife in the Mail 25 March. Wow. The scandals never cease to amaze me. The mail seems to be gunning for Courtney Coventry and her husband as well as the Lord Levy and Tony Blair. From the sound of it she was just trying to expose how corrupt Lord Cashpoint is. The smile on sleazy Levy's face was bigger than usual.... I bet it was Tony Blair's smile is pretty big too(see the picture we found) , she is gorgeous!! In that picture he looks like he's going to get a cramp in his face he is smiling so hard. I bet she had no idea what she was walking into, a twenty year old from America versus a old sleaze like Levy who has been squeezing money from people's bank accounts his entire life! I think we should thank the girl and I wish more people would speak honestly about Levy and his Cash for honours deal. More About: Again , Point , Strike
Lord Sleazy Levy Demands Aide to Lie in "Cash for Honours" Scandal
More articles from this author:2007-03-20 21:38:00 Labour fundraiser Lord Levy (or Lord Cashpoint as he is commonly referred to) was accused of ‘bullying’ one of the Prime Minister’s top aides, Ruth Turner. It seems Ms. Turner was so concerned over a meeting last summer she went so far as to put her fears in writing. Unfortunately for labour and Sleazy Levy in particular, this document reached the police and has caused quite a stir. It was described how the meeting, which occurred around the first time Lord Levy was arrested, left her shaken and in tears. Ms. Turner, one of Blair's closest aides later went so far as to say Levy asked her to lie in the "cash for honours" investigation. "There is a document addressed to Johnathan Powell in the course of which she (Ruth Turner) alledges that Lord Levy had asked her to lie for him" This man is despicable. Harrasing and bullying a, from all accounts, a well liked honest woman into lying for him. Does he know no shame? His nicknames... Sleazy Levy, Lord Cashpoint, how appropriate.... More About: Demands , Scandal , Honours , Anda 1, 2, 3, 4 |



