The House of Lords Constitution Committee to quiz three Ministers this week in the final of a series of evidence sessions of the peers inquiry into the constitutional arrangements for the use of armed force. This week’s session will focus on Parliament’s role in approving decisions to use armed force overseas, bearing in mind that MPs, from all parties, in the past few weeks were pressurising government not to supply arms to Syrian rebels fearing that might become a mission creep with British military involvement in that troubled and troublesome part of the world.
Category Archives: Democracy/Parliament
Egypt Opposition accuse ‘Nosy’ US ambassador of meddling in their affairs & Urge Cameron to be tough with Morsi
Egyptian opposition accuses American ambassador in Cairo of meddling in Egyptian internal affairs as they prepare for the largest day of protest since their revolution two years ago and urge Prime Minister David Cameron to raise human-rights, freedom of speech women, gay and Christians’ rights with Egypt’s president Mohammed Morsi when he meets him in London Early next month.
As Egyptian secular, nationalist and liberal opposition, which form majority of body-politic in the nation prepare for a mass protest on June 30 to get rid of the Islamists ( a coalition of Muslim Brothers, Salafis and lesser Islamist trends with fascist tendencies ) president elect Mohammed Morsi, opposition figures criticise US ambassador Anne Patterson ( nicknamed Nosy Anne) for her role not only in backing Morsi and the Muslim Brothers against secular opposition, but for what they say meddling in Egypt’s internal affairs.
EU Council Meeting Monday: Is William Hague pushing a US Agenda to Arm Syrian Rebels?
Our foreign Secretary William Hague heads to Brussels to attended the European Union Council of ministers meeting monday ( 27 May), to discuss, among other issues, amending the embargo on providing arms to Syrian rebels fighting to overthrew the dictatorial regime of President Bashar al-Assad in a two year bloody civil war that claimed an estimated 94,000 lives and turned near one fifth of the population into refugees . Backed mainly by France, Hague wants to amend the embargo ( which comes to an end or renewal at midnight Friday 31 May), in order to supply more equipment to the rebels. In February, the UK and France persuaded other member states, overcoming considerable reluctance, to allow the supply to the rebels of non-lethal military equipment for defensive purposes.
An overwhelming Deja vu pricked my sense watching Foreign Secretary William Hague making his statement to the commons about Syria and other matter. Same like reading columnists pontificating on the Middle East, or reading Arab press – especially those sponsored by our allies in the Gulf. America’s president issue strong warnings to another Arab dictator(yes a handful of them still around despite what naively and historically wrong called “ Arab Spring”) dictator accused of using (WMDs) or chemical weapons, our prime minister straight away joins the chorus disapproval, while the opposition ( from the dictator’s own nation), backed by our Arab friends in the Gulf call l for western intervention. Heard it all before?
Pray read on….. Continue reading
Press Regulation Royal Charter Welcomed by Third World Fascist Regimes
Prime Minister David Cameron, his Deputy Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg and leader of HM opposition Ed Miliband, who seldom agree on any thing, agreed to regulate the press opining the door for tyranny of the state to control the freest and best press in the world. The step is most welcomed by Arab dictators and despotic regime to emulate in more exaggerated forms to silence their critics. Arab and Third world dictators as well as authoritarian and fascist Islamists regimes are delighted with our politicians’ attack on press freedom. They love it as the media they control are spinning how Britain, cited by demonstrators risking their lives for freedom and justice as mother of parliamentarian democracy, is today turning the mother of parliaments into a tool to censor, control and muzzle the press.
Islamists Governments Want Western Democracies to Censor what they Deslike
The mad wave of protests targeting not just American embassies and business, but also western diplomatic missions, is getting nastier by the day, while elected Islamists leaders in Cairo openly ask western democracies to change the law to criminalise expressions they see as critical of their interpretation of Islam.
House of Lords Reform Bill
The government ( Deputy Prime Minister office) publish the house of lords reform bill.
the final electoral period Government proposes 360 elected peers, 90 appointed ones and 12 bishops and other spiritual lords.
here is summary of the proposed structure of the House of Lords:
I In the first electoral period the House of Lords is proposed to consist of—
120 elected members, 30 appointed members, then up to 21 Lords Spiritual ( Bishops and religious figures from other churches and faiths) . In addition to any ministerial members, and the transitional members for that period.
II – in the second In the second electoral period the House of Lords is to consist of: 240 elected members, 60 appointed members, up to 16 Lords Spiritual, in addition to any ministerial members, and the transitional members for that period.
III- Then In each subsequent electoral period the House of Lords is to consist 360 elected members, 90 appointed members, and up to up to 12 Lords Spiritual, and any ministerial members.
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In reply to the committee report the Government states that it accepts that a mainly elected House of Lords is likely to be more assertive, as it has been after every major reform to its membership. However, the Government believes that this will enhance the ability of Parliament as a whole to hold the executive to account.
Summary of the Bill:To make provision about the membership of the House of Lords; to make provision about the disclaimer of life peerages; to abolish the jurisdiction of the House of Lords in relation to peerage claims; to make other provision relating to peerage; and for connected purposes.
Link to the Bill on the house of lords site
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/houseoflordsreform.html
Culture Media and Sport Select Committee on Phone Hacking
Just a short link to the report
The report finding is a bit daft. It finds Rupert Murdoch ‘ not fit to run an international company.’ This is a businessman, who has, for near three decades, running, perhaps the world’s most successful media business in recent history, created thousands of jobs world wide, revolutionised broadcasting and television satellite service. How would anybody take this report seriously.
See the report in full..http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmcumeds/903/903i.pdf
Miliband ought to focus on NHS IN PMQs instead of alienating Journalists
After months of failing to score points during PMQs, Labour leader Ed Miliband made good progress in the past few weeks by focusing on the government controversial NHS reform bill but he is in danger of losing jouranlists support.