Comments on: Butler Report http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:59:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Chuck Unsworth http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563#comment-2914 Chuck Unsworth Wed, 30 Mar 2005 14:38:06 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563#comment-2914 In other words Straw is saying Butler's report means 'let's finger the spooks because they can't respond publicly without breaching their contract - and if they do we'll be able to bang them up'. Who actually chose to go to war? Certainly it wasn't the civil servants - but perhaps this was part of great scheme by a few disaffected spies to justify more cash. At least the EC guys do publish minutes of their meetings - accurate or no - and let's not forget that minutes aren't verbatim records. In other words Straw is saying Butler’s report means ‘let’s finger the spooks because they can’t respond publicly without breaching their contract - and if they do we’ll be able to bang them up’.

Who actually chose to go to war? Certainly it wasn’t the civil servants - but perhaps this was part of great scheme by a few disaffected spies to justify more cash.

At least the EC guys do publish minutes of their meetings - accurate or no - and let’s not forget that minutes aren’t verbatim records.

]]> By: Francis Irving http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563#comment-2912 Francis Irving Mon, 28 Mar 2005 16:52:25 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563#comment-2912 The Written Ministerial Statement referred to is this one, I think. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2005-03-23.73WS.1 The Written Ministerial Statement referred to is this one, I think.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2005-03-23.73WS.1

]]> By: gdfgdf http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563#comment-2905 gdfgdf Fri, 25 Mar 2005 02:40:03 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563#comment-2905 This demand for minuted meetings is civil servants telling ministers how to go about running the country. That's not good. The British people elected a guy sitting on a sofa with a mug of tea in one hand, a guitar in his lap - that's one thing actually stuck too in office - he brought a massive change of culture to Government. Now, with good reason the establishment are slowly reacting and excercising a moderating force. This demand for minuted meetings is civil servants telling ministers how to go about running the country. That’s not good. The British people elected a guy sitting on a sofa with a mug of tea in one hand, a guitar in his lap - that’s one thing actually stuck too in office - he brought a massive change of culture to Government. Now, with good reason the establishment are slowly reacting and excercising a moderating force.

]]> By: Julian Todd http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563#comment-2902 Julian Todd Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:41:37 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/03/23/1563#comment-2902 I think we should go the whole hog and attach a camera + microphone to the Prime Minister which relays in real time to a special 24 hour video channel that we can all watch to make sure he's not getting up to no good. It's only fair. If he feels we private citizens don't need any airy-fairy civil liberties, rights or privacy from all their ID card and biometric people tracking systems, ostensibly to prevent us from getting into trouble, the same case goes for him. Only more so. As a private individual, the crimes I can commit are miniscule, but the ones he can and has managed are massive. Blair could not have committed so many international crimes if he was under 24 hour public audio surveillance. The requirement to take down minutes for every meeting so that crimes can be detected and proven is just the beginning. If he's nothing to hide he's nothing to fear. I think we should go the whole hog and attach a camera + microphone to the Prime Minister which relays in real time to a special 24 hour video channel that we can all watch to make sure he’s not getting up to no good.

It’s only fair. If he feels we private citizens don’t need any airy-fairy civil liberties, rights or privacy from all their ID card and biometric people tracking systems, ostensibly to prevent us from getting into trouble, the same case goes for him. Only more so. As a private individual, the crimes I can commit are miniscule, but the ones he can and has managed are massive.

Blair could not have committed so many international crimes if he was under 24 hour public audio surveillance. The requirement to take down minutes for every meeting so that crimes can be detected and proven is just the beginning.

If he’s nothing to hide he’s nothing to fear.

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