A conspiracy between Labour and Conservative frontbenchers has imposed a gag on the truth on Parliament’s worst decision for 50 years.
The only explanation is cowardice and self-preservation. The UK did not need to join’s Bush’s illegal and unnecessary war. In similar circumstances Harold Wilson to his great credit kept us out the Viet Nam war.
The cost of this secret decision to the UK in blood and treasures has been vast and tragic. 178 British lives have been lost and 7 £billion has been wasted.
Today I received a 200 page document publishing previously secret details of meals taken as hospitality by Government officials. It's tedious piddling rubbish of no consequence whatsoever
. The news that the war was illegal must have been known to the members of the Labour Cabinet and to Tory shadow cabinet. Their dirty little secret should be published. Our British involvement in Bush's war has made us a target for terrorism and added to the Muslim communities' impression of double standards.
Today is a dark day. Labour courageously introduced Freedom of Information laws. Credit is due for that. But questions have been asked on whether the war was based on a lie or a deception. Did 178 Britons die in vain?
Today's decision will lead the country to believe the worst. The country would be right.
Mean Channel 4
Why did Channel Four fail to broadcast the highlight of their awards ceremony.
The whistling and quiet booing that greeted Peter Mandelson's award were not audible
in the broadcast.
But the best moment of the night was the well deserved lifetime award to Tony Benn. Thoughtfully, Tony's grand-daughter was recruited to present the award. It was a touching moment that drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Why was it cut from the broadcast? `is `Tony Benn still too hot a political potato for Channel 4 to handle? I know that the Benn family were very disappointed by the censorship.
Explain yourself Channel 4?
Blog exposed
BBC News gave me several minutes tonight to extoll te virtues of blogging.
The interview was based on a report that 11% of MPs blog. The interviewer took issue with the use of the invitation 'Read my day' on this blog. He suggested that did not sound very much like an inter-active site. What a cheek!
The purpose of my posts is to seek reactions and fresh ideas from correspondents. They have arrived in their thousands. But the interview was a great chance to put the case for the banking 'Thin Cats' in my constituency who deserve their bonuses. I also quietly raged about today's denial of information move.
Peter Mandelson preceded me on the programme so I wa asked for comment on the part privatisation of Royal Mail.
I still cannot understand why a private group can rescue the Royal Mail pension fund and make a profit, why cannot a reformed Royal Mail do the same?
I absiolutely agree, Paul, i think one of the reasons I have such great admiration for Harold was he had the guts to say no to America - something even the "great"(?) Thatcher never felt able to do.
I am not a violent man, but I always feel I would like to kick Straw: he is so pusilanimous. That bit yesterday about "not being in the public interest" what he really meant of course, was not in HIS interest - or that of Brown, who, I understand was quite content to go to war when Blair wanted to - the circumspection and failure to say anything in public for a very long time was yet another demonstration of Brown's craftyiness or cowardice - I suppose there would be the two schools of thought on that.
Finally the odious Mandy - why was the booing edkited out?. And on the subject of Royal Mail - IF that letter wasn't planted, or one of Mandy's tricks - it doesn't say a lot for NuLabour that they cannot find £5.9 billion for the Royal Mail pensions fund yet could find £150 billion for the bankers.
I agree that there are Labour MPs who deserve support because of their independence - John McDonnell is one of my favourites, Bob Marshall-Andrews another (though sadly I think he is stepping down, as is Alan Simpson) and your goodself, but the majority of the shower - the real crawlers and the closet Tories - I won;t name anyone - deserve political oblivion.
Posted by: Graham Marlowe | February 25, 2009 at 04:06 PM
I'm glad you are standig on your personal record Paul in 2010 because no Labour MP worth his salt can defend this current Labour Government.
Unfortunately labour by their actions have ensured another period out in the wilderness while we get a period of the equally inept Tories.
Policiticians are now viewed like bankers,estate agents and Lawyers.
We need more people like you Paul coming into politics.Maybe it has to get even worse before the electorate finally has enough and demands real change.
Posted by: John | February 25, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Patrick, the electors are choosing individuals in elections. Yesterday was a new low. 139 Llbour MPs voted against the war in spite of a three line whip. Some electors will not punish those who were correct then.
If all Labour MPs had known the truth six years ago, the vote would have been against the war and 178 British soldiers would not have died in vain.
I'll be standing on my personal record in 2010
Posted by: Paul Flynn | February 25, 2009 at 09:07 AM
PF
Perhaps a stimulating blog proposal could be the subject of , Is their a British political party worth voting for at the next election?
There is no point voting for Red or Blue as they have merged into a decreped, corrupt, and indistinguishable mess.They should take Freud's lead and amalgamate under the name 'The Neanderthals'.
New labours illegal war and further defecation on it's traditional vote has boosted both the Liberals and even the BNP.
It would be interesting to see if anyone actually thinks there is a party of substance out there.
Posted by: patrick | February 25, 2009 at 08:48 AM
I feel pronounced shame for our government that they have stopped publication of the cabinet minutes. THis is disgraceful and is a new low for New Labour when we thought they couldn't get any lower.Surely what is in the minutes can be no worse than what we will all now presume??
Like many I was opposed to the Iraq war and although we may feel vindication now that we were right to do so it is too late for the many hundreds of thousands who have lost their lives.
I was talking to my elderly parents both in their 80's who have never voted anything but labour and now feel nothing but shame for its actions over Iraq. For what our country took us into, following what they call the evil incarnate George Bush. Much of this should be laid at his door but we are as complicit by following his lead. Such actions by their beloved Labour Party rattle them to the core of their beliefs.
Disgraceful
Posted by: John | February 25, 2009 at 07:39 AM
The BBC standards have been falling. It's no surprise that the news is now called Pravda in the blogosphere. I watch little TV news now. Even the grand dame Today is flimsy and superficial. What bloody cheek to criticize this blog! There's more accurate analysis in one post here than a week's output of Pravda. Paul is to be particularly commended for the dilligent way the comments are handled.
Posted by: Kay Tie | February 25, 2009 at 01:35 AM
Thanks for the news Adam Johannes.
Good luck with the vigil.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | February 25, 2009 at 12:17 AM
A group of students are now in occupation at Cardiff University in solidarity with the bombed Gaza University and to demand that their university disinvest from the arms trade: www.occupiedcardiff.blogspot.com
Send messages of support/solidarity to [email protected]
Posted by: Adam Johannes | February 24, 2009 at 11:53 PM