New Spirit Of Openness At Home Office
Apparently we don't need to know exactly how much the ID card scheme will cost and what ID fraud it will stop, we just need to believe the official line and not worry about the details, so our kind, benevolent Home Office is trying to put the kybosh on freedom of information. I wonder if we can work a paedophile angle into it to persuade them to disburse:
Now the department has decided to appeal against the information commissioner's ruling.
source
Meanwhile, this week's Private Eye has a story about the Libra computer system for courts (which we've already covered here. It is, of course, late and over budget and officially 'one of the worst PFI deals we have seen'. The price was renegotiated upwards from its original underbid when the DCA caved in under the threat of the contractor pulling the plug. Lest we forget, the CIO of the Identity and Passport service was in senior DCA IT management roles throughout this time, so she should have plenty of experience about getting value for money for the taxpayer.
RUPERT and tony secret
RUPERT and tony secret contacts. Downing Street is very coy on this one too.
Blair faces Murdoch ultimatum
By Andrew Grice, Political Editor
Published: 05 July 2006
Tony Blair may be forced to reveal information about his contacts with the media magnate Rupert Murdoch.
The Independent disclosed in May that Downing Street was trying to block attempts to make it reveal details of the Prime Minister's meetings and telephone conversations with Mr Murdoch. Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, ruled yesterday that the dates of some discussions should be published.
He admitted that disclosure might have some impact on Mr Blair's ability to have free and frank discussions but said there was a public interest in understanding the way in which government operates.
Tony Blair may be forced to reveal information about his contacts with the media magnate Rupert Murdoch.
The Independent
I'm not sure on this . A mean temptation to go for anything to nobble or embarrass the Detested One ?
PS enjoyed Tom Sun's Art of War.
Ironic (and satisfying) if
Ironic (and satisfying) if Blair was finally brought down by his association with the Dirty Digger, whose support has kept him in place for so long. Perhaps Blair was hoping for some tax avoidance tips - I gather that the reason the DD is so anti-EU is that too much joining up of governments might undo his creative accounting. I'm amazed rival papers don't explore this more, but perhaps there really in honour among thieves.
One of the DD's papers, The Australian, published an article recently about Richard Branson's tax avoidance schemes. Pots and kettles!
DIRTY DIGGER, blair, PFI, ID
DIRTY DIGGER, blair, PFI, ID cards, tax avoidance, hiding research paid for by you residents
Its now looking as though the Information Commissioner is becoming the Opposition to NuLabor.
Anyone else listen to tuesdays """grilling"" ? And why no thread ?
I heard most on radio 4 while busy on somefing else. but saw little in the papers about it...
Edward Leigh on walking safely in the streets of baghdad, under saddam, gottim a little ratty...
If Edward Leigh thinks Blair
If Edward Leigh thinks Blair was incompetent (at best!) regarding Iraq, why doesn't he sign Douglas Hogg's Early Day Motion? (Number 1088).
More signatures urgently needed. What about the new MP for Blaenau Gwent? Surely he will sign?
If Blair is fighting tooth
If Blair is fighting tooth and nail to prevent disclosure, it clearly shows that he has something to hide.
But surely he has nothing to
But surely he has nothing to fear...
I gather that the reason the
I gather that the reason the DD is so anti-EU
There's also the threat of pan-European media ownership tightening - Murdoch can stop it at a national level due to (haha) his media control, but doing it Europe-wide would be difficult. Hence the profound Euro-scepticism.
Incidentally, that's one justification for the EU, that national governments aren't strong enough to stand up to big corporations.