July 3rd
Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab):
The evidence we heard yesterday from the chief constable was that she was called in and, out of the blue, the police and crime commissioner said that he would dismiss and humiliate her. That is an extraordinary, menacing and bullying attitude. Are police and crime commissioners the Government’s stupidest policy?
For the first time, democracy has been introduced into the policing of this country, and that must be desirable. I also heard the evidence, and no doubt the Home Affairs Committee will be reporting in due course.
Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab):
Was it the Prime Minister’s conception when he set up the office of police and crime commissioner that a fine chief constable such as the one in Gwent should have a career cut short by a vindictive bully who told her to resign or he would humiliate her?
The point of having police and crime commissioners is to make sure there is proper accountability and that police constables have to account to a local person. That is why a number of former Labour Members of Parliament stood for the post. In some cases, such as that of John Prescott, the people of his region saw sense and rejected him.
Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): Will the Prime Minister seek to change the rules of this House so that the names of the fallen can be honoured by being read out in this Chamber—the same Chamber that sent them to their deaths? What lasting achievements have there been in Afghanistan that justify £37 billion of taxpayers’ money and 444 deaths?
The Prime Minister: We do read out the names of those who have fallen, and we rightly pay tribute to them because they have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country and our security. The hon. Gentleman asked what this has achieved, and the point I make is that before 2001 Afghanistan was a haven for terrorists who were plotting actively to do harm to people in this country and elsewhere, but since 2001—he can ask the security services about this himself if he wants—there have not been major, serious plots hatched in Afghanistan and carried out against us. That is a big and important achievement, but we also have to look at the capacity Afghanistan has today to continue to deliver that. When I first visited Afghanistan in 2006, there were no Afghan security forces in Helmand province; they did not exist. They have been built from scratch. I do not think we honour those who have paid this price by talking down, in any way, the extraordinary achievements that we have seen there. That is not to say that things are perfect—of course they are not—and it is not to say that there is not more that needs to be done, but on the ledger of Britain’s engagement in Afghanistan, we should correctly identify the good points as well as the difficulties that still remain.
"Must learn the truth before we blunder into Iran or Syria."
If they were idiots they would surely get it right sometimes accidentally. But they are wrong every time. I believe they have a hidden agenda.
They dictate the events in places like Afghanistan and Syria. But what right have they to do so? Do you honestly think they give a shit about these people when they have proved they will screw the most vulnerable in our OWN society? I want to see them held to account for their naked abuses and criminality.
They act slick but their actions speak for themselves. Why should we let the bad guys have an easy walk? Why should these corrupt bastards win and where are are all the decent politicians? Or does our political system simply preclude them?
EVERYTHING they say is vindictive, duplicitous and downright nasty. They are RATS. They are the slyest bunch I can ever recall or expect to see.
THEY are destroying our heritage. Where will it end? Where do you think these rats want to take us? What kind of society would they prefer?
They LITERALLY target the minority, the most vulnerable, the sick and the poorest. And there is no logic to it that I can see except that they have a hidden agenda which is; "sod the majority, sod everyone lets ruin the country for OUR OWN benefit". They are willing to murder and oppress anybody for the sake of what (at this point) is an extreme ideology. And it will not get better next year or in two years with a change in government. They are the same party. George Osborne's and Ed Milliband's wives are best friends (so I've heard).
Why do they act like this? They are bad seeds for one but more importantly they believe they can get away with it. This is a ruling class full frontal assault and there is no real opposition.
Oh, they certainly will be held to account. They will not get away with it in the end. But who will rise up against them? They use their position to make laws to hurt US. It can and will be turned against THEM. THEY attack the innocent with impunity, so I see no problem in attacking and destroying criminals.
Posted by: Ad | July 06, 2013 at 12:32 AM
The Tories had a daft populist idea that RAMBO PCC would sort out soft Police Chiefs. The public did not warm to the idea which is shaping up to be the Coalition's most useless initiative.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | July 04, 2013 at 09:10 PM
Thanks Ad
The families of the 444 fallen UK soldiers will find their cherished beliefs shattered as we do a deal with the Taliban. They were consoled with the hope that their loved ones died in a noble cause that improved the lot of the Afghans. Yet again, another lie.
Spoke in a public meeting last night in London on the futility of the 623 deaths in war meant to defend the UK against NON-EXISTENT Taliban Terrorist and Iraqi WMD. Must learn the truth before we blunder into Iran or Syria.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | July 04, 2013 at 09:09 PM
Re What has been achieved in Afghanistan. A backwards war blighted country has had to suffer another decade and more of artillery and bombs falling around them whilst nothing significant or long lasting has been delivered. Their hopes after 'liberation' have been betrayed while a minority of governors and western businesses have made a fortune.
Cameron claims British engagement in Afghanistan has kept Britain safe, but what has really been achieved on that front? The Taliban who British forces have fought year after year (resulting in civilian and military deaths) have no desire to attack Britain itself. NATO has created a corrupt, abusive and weak state which in all likelihood will become dominated again by the Taliban. So what was the point of all the carnage of the last 7 seven years? Are these pro-war politicians simply reluctant to own up to the fact that they have failed completely?
Posted by: Ad | July 04, 2013 at 08:55 PM
Re police commissioners, I agree with you, I just do not see the point of them. I really don't understand what value they are going to bring (other than another person in employment). I think the Carmel Napier situation is awful...30 years service and to be treated the way she has been is appalling. Great post.
Posted by: Projectnewport | July 04, 2013 at 10:46 AM