Factual accuracy
There’s a danger of jumping in too soon without all the facts. While it is equally as bad to hold off until it’s no longer news, a political blogger stands or falls by his factual accuracy; witness the way I get jumped on here when I make an error.
It’s one thing to be told: ‘You’re wrong,” when the accuser has nothing but his assertion to back him up or to say: ‘Well, I’ve never read that,’ hardly a debunking, one would have thought. It’s entirely another to state that an MOD facility is in one place and used for this when in fact it is in another place and used for that.
There’s an EPP story which has appeared but some of us are currently waiting on some hard data before we go with it; ditto with the Bulger/Venables, possible Straw cover-up. I see he’s agreed to meet the family personally and truth is, we haven’t a break on this one yet, just an awful lot of assertion and “well there must be something wrong”. Unfortunately, there are people who would leap onto that and tear it apart at this stage so better to hold fire and see what comes in.
Filed under: Politics & economics
I’m just waiting for the info to be released during the middle of the GE campaign when there is some bad news that Labour want buried.
Sorry for any confusion, I was referring to Straw/Venables just then.
When I read that Jack Straw has agreed to a meeting with James Bulger’s mother, I think of photo opportunities with politicians kissing a baby. It’s just for show. There is also a feeling of a queue of night clubbers outside a venue waiting to get in, and a ‘A List’ celebrity turns up and the bouncers make way for him or her to get access denied to others.
It used to be a case of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Outta There, now it is more a case of I’m a celebrity because I am a victim get me in there. All Denise Fergus will get for her troubles are meaningless platitudes from Jack Straw. I am against victims and politicians interfering with the due process of the law.
It used to be the case that the MoJ would fob off questions by stating that they would not comment on individual cases. Then along came Ronnie Biggs (Great Train Robber), followed by Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi (The Lockerbie Bomber), even though it was Scottish and not English jurisdiction, now comes Jon Venables.
Personally, I would prefer that Jack Straw dealt with the issue of convicted prisoners human right to the vote. Rather than get distracted by this media sideshow. If Jon Venables is not released in time for the next general election, he should be allowed to vote from prison.
Restraint is good. Difficult but good in the name of accuracy.
So um…while you’re waiting… you could um…perhaps… go over to Power Room Graffiti and read my new article and comment so that the people who give me money for writing will think I’m brilliant? Hey, you started it!
James exactly right. The same principle though applies in the cases that you have discuss on here like the Kercher affair.
Jail House Lawyer, no he should not be allowed to vote. He has committed a crime and I cannot see any reason in political theory or philosophical principle why he should be given the vote. Once he has served the time for his crime, then he should be given the vote but not before and the if the law says otherwise then the law should be changed
Gallows not rights.
Sounds interesting!
The whole thing is a Government whitewash. Both those baby killers have been fighting, druggies who have breached their licences with full knowledge of the police in the pas, so why now is he being recalled and more alarmingly for what?
The British Government has spend millions ‘rehabilitating’, educating them[they even hired prostituts for thm when they came of age], protected them- and jeopardised everyone’s safety in the past given Venables taste for violence.
It is reported the Venables married, the other has a child and these woen do no know their true identities,leaving them and any children vulnerable.
The close’monitoring’ they reeceive is being required to check in with their probation officer FOUR times ANNUALLY.
I hear people on benefits have to account for themselves ore regularly than that!
So, the question is, if they were aallowed to breach thier life licence terms on several occasions in the padt because it would be egg on the Governent’s face to recall them, it would create a national outcry and security nightare, what has he done that NOW they have recalled him AND trid to slip him back inside on the hush hush!
Only when life licencees commit a ‘serious’ follow up crime in the UK, is the MOJ required to convene a three panel parole hearing [with one udge attending] within 28 days of the recall- which is what they are doing.
I fear he has done something so big that he has proved to be what he always was- a serious threat to society- and the Government needs to protect us,not them-and we need to ask questions and hold THEM accountable with a BIG MICROSCOPE.
I’ve no doubt you’re right – a big microscope is required but we need something on the slide first to observe.
James ,the facts are as stated.
1.Both boys have been caught breaking the law in the past[selling and doing hard drugs-heroin and coke] both were let off. Both have been in fights which show their violent nature is still intact. Atleast one has breached conditions governing NOT going to Merseyside w/out written permission.
The public were justifiably outraged that they were ‘pampered’ moreso han any victim of any crime is,and then let out in public, identies hidden at our great expense, for their safety whilst society’s safety[and any women and children of these monsters were jeopardised, not knowing who they were marrying] was inconsequential.
The public felt they were so violent ,so twisted they could not be rehabilitated.
The Government-to save their necks- have let them lead a drugged up, violent, criminal life whilst still protected and paid for, with MINIMAL supervision whilst feiegning they were /are c.losely monitored.
They have had due cause to recall BOTH their licences in past but did not. Why?
Now they have which begs an even bigger ‘why’? given the FACTS above.
And as he is jailed undr his redundant name ,why hide that he was recalled in the first place when they trid to slip him through the system without or knowledge?
Because he has proved he is STILL a menace to society in a BIG way and the Government and MOJ mishandled their cases from day one.
Time to protect society,not them!