Tony Blair who helped destroy hundreds of thousands of innocent lives becomes religious nut

Dear All

Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister has spoken that materialism is a threat to the planet and human identity.

That statement has been met with scorn in a few quarters as Blair has done nothing but attempt to acquire money, power and status since leaving Number 10 Downing Street.

Do as I say, not as I do is the jist of it from him.

He wants us all to sit in squalor while he travels the world staying on and in billionaires’ yachts and villas.

Since leaving Number 10; he has taken a number of high paying jobs as an advisor as well as doing speeches on the after dinner circuit. He is further being touted as a possible future President of the European Union.

In order to keep his profile raised he has joined the religious circuit as a modern day preacher when he should be sitting in a cell at The Hague on war crimes charges awaiting trial.

In a speech to the prestigious Communion and Liberation conference at Rimini in Italy; he told people of all faiths around the world that they should set their sights lower.

At the same time, ‘Preacher’ Blair was staying on Rising Sun, the five-deck yacht of American software billionaire Larry Ellison, anchored off the Sardinian coast.

Blair who converted to being a Catholic said;

"Ever since I began preparations to become a Catholic, I felt I was coming home; and this is now where my heart is, where I know I belong."

I wonder how the Catholic Church feels about a clown like this trying to hijack its faith for personal gain. Blair has set up and runs his own faith foundation as a vehicle to keep him in the public eye.

I find it ridiculous that the Catholic Church should allow someone like him to address its Communion and Liberation Conference when he has so much blood on his hands.

I see Blair’s agenda, to try and get on board EU Catholic countries to support his bid to become EU President.

In 1979, Margaret Thatcher used a quote from St Francis of Assisi before entering Downing Street as PM, then she went on to screw the country and it looks like discredited Blair is doing the same, using religion to for his own ends.

What is funny and sick at the same time is that one of the most greediest former PM’s should preach about others not making a good life for themselves while he does everything in his power to feather his own nest.

Why not use google street view to look at his £3.5 million pound house in Connaught Square, London and then ask yourself, do you believe this tripe?

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Jack McConnell, "it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Malawi?”

Dear All

Jack McConnell is the former First Minister of Scotland before he was famously thrown out of office on his ear by the voters in May 2007.

After losing that election; he was persuaded to make way for Wendy Alexander to take over the Labour MSP Group. As part of his package to go he was promised the High Commissioner’s post in Malawi by Gordon Brown.

The timetable for him taking up the post was fluid because the Labour Party didn’t want to fight a by-election in his seat due to their unpopularity. So, Mr. McConnell was given another role as a conflict envoy which was a paper title in name only.

So after Jack was a good little boy; he might find he isn’t going to be the High Commissioner after all. Someone else has taken his job, career diplomat, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, has taken up his post.

So the promise by Gordon Brown looks like it is going to be reneged on with Fergus sitting happily in Africa till 2012 and next year is the General election which will usher in a Tory Government.

So; I suspect that Jack McConnell will be fighting the Holyrood election in 2011, otherwise he will have no job but that of course will be in the hands of the voters.

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie said;

"Two years of dithering over his departure may have come to an end but his lack of commitment to the Scottish Parliament continues. Labour wouldn't let him leave and call a by-election but the people of Motherwell are left without a real MSP."

True and we should remember that Jack McConnell famously called his area a “pigsty” but strangely he is unwilling to trot off!

The Labour Party has said;

“Mr McConnell was a "highly-regarded and conscientious MSP" who ran a very busy office in his constituency”.

Highly regarded by whom?

The guy has one of the worst voting records at Holyrood and is regarded as a laughing stock, during the May 2007 election both Gordon Brewer and Bernard Ponsonby completely destroyed his credibility on television.

Their interviews are on youtube and worth watching.

In 1966, the actor, Paul Scofield played the role of Sir Thomas More in the classic film, A Man for All Seasons.

From that film; I always remember this quote;

“Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales?”

The same could be said of Jack McConnell and Malawi.
Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

It is time to invest in people who have no stake in society

Dear All

The facts speak for themselves; three-quarters of offenders who are sentenced to a short spell in prison are reconvicted within two years of their release.

So, how do you solve a problem like repeat offender?

If a person has nothing then it is no loss to suffer a spell in prison. People who have no stake in society don’t hold the same values as the rest of us. For these people, there is no tomorrow, just today.

The stats paint a damning report, 74% of those jailed for six months or less were reconvicted compare that to just over 40% for those given fines or community sentences.

So, although community service works, it doesn’t work effectively enough, massive room for improvement but it is better than prison. Crime is a ping pong ball for political parties; it is an annual election slogan, ‘tough on crime’.

But what we have seen is that the Tory and Labour approach has failed but that is what they want, the want to use crime as a stick to control the population.

The Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill has said the figures proved short sentences did not work but by the same token community services need to be upgraded as well.

It appears that on the law and order front there is confusion of how to win the war on crime, with Labour saying short sentences should be retained for some crimes. The fact is that the prison estate is being cluttered up with idiots who repeat offend with petty crime like shoplifting etc.

It costs about £32k a year to keep a person in prison and for that expense there is no return, it is by all accounts a serious failure that needs to be addressed.

We need a multi level approach to turn round offenders, education, opportunities, and training, we need to have these people in a system that delivers hope and a future.

This means that the probation service needs to be dramatically overhauled and parts of the law rewritten.

These people are trapped so they need a fresh start to allow them to put their past behind them.

If we are willing to spend £32k a year to keep a person locked up surely we should be willing to spend to get them a future with the added bonus of them being a good citizen and a taxpayer?

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Professor Roger Kirby questions the Scottish Government's right to free Al Megrahi

Dear All

So, it starts; the peer review drip drip effect to mock Kenny MacAskill’s decision on freeing Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi.

Professor Roger Kirby has stated that Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi could last as long as another year.

The Justice Minister of Scotland was asked to review a prisoner's case for release on compassionate grounds.

He then made a decision, the correct decision.

Professor Roger Kirby is chairman of the charity Prostate UK and director of The Prostate Centre, London, so what does his intervention mean?

Absolutely nothing, his educated guess on how long Megrahi will live is based on experience but it is still a guess.

So if Megrahi dies sooner rather later, will Professor Roger Kirby be left with "egg on his face"?

Given the realm that Kirby works in, surely playing games based on how long Megrahi will last is nonsense, is this to raise his profile?

Does he have a book coming out?

Or is it just an Englishman holding Scottish law and Justice in contempt?

Megrahi is due to re-start chemotherapy, which could give him additional time but the bottom line is; he is dying and it isn’t going to get any better.

Is Kirby thinking that now Megrahi is released he shouldn’t try to prolong his life?

Surely Kirby realises that the most basic wish of a person is their survival?

What Kirby does highlight is that even among highly educated doctors; they still can’t agree even among themselves.

In response to Kirby’s take on events the SNP Scottish government said;

"It was the conclusion of the report submitted by the Scottish Prison Service Director of Health and Care that The clinical assessment is that a three-month prognosis is now a reasonable estimate for this patient.' This view is based upon an analysis of all of the views expressed and the consensus of the medical experts."

Finally; although medical evidence played a major part in the release of Megrahi, this was a justice matter out with his sphere of knowledge.

Scotland is a completely different country to England.

update:

Whether as it was right to release him from custody, it was totally wrong to allow him to leave the country.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Enemy at the Gates

A great sniper movie starring Jude Law about a Russian sniper, Vassili Zaitsev. A very famous story a sniper's duel in Stalingrad during WW2.

Ed Miliband writes to George Laird?

Dear All

I was checking my email and came across this item, Ed Miliband, Government Minister writing to George Laird.

The first thought was why is he writing to me followed by how did he get my email address?

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, information collected for one purpose cannot be used for another.

So, how did the Labour Party get my email address when I didn’t give it to them, I am not a member of their party!

This is has all the hallmarks of something a bit sinister along the lines of Big Brother is watching you.

Here is the email and for the record; he never emailed previously.

From Ed Miliband (info@email-new.labour.org.uk)
Sent 28 August 2009 17:26:45
To georgelaird@xxxxxxxxx

Hello,

I emailed you earlier this week to tell you about my new website EdsPledge.com, well today marks a 100 days left until Copenhagen.

During the week people have been visiting EdsPledge.com to add their support – they realise that we need to show the strength of public feeling to get the ambitious, effective and fair deal we need.

The amount of passion I have seen in the messages of support people have left me in no doubt that we have more chance of getting a deal if we have real voices demanding action.

You may have many friends who aren’t members of the Party, and won’t receive this email so I am asking you to forward this email onto them now.

Ask them to make our pledge for a deal that’s ambitious, effective and fair.

Share EdsPledge.com with your friends

Ambitious means no more than a 2 degree temperature rise, with developed-country emissions to peak in five years and then the whole world peaking within ten.

Effective means keeping countries to their word, and letting money flow to where it will make the most difference.

Fair means supporting the poorest countries to cut their emissions and adapt to climate change. So please forward this email on now, or EdsPledge.com lets you send an email invitation, post a message to Facebook or Twitter - or simply just forward this email on to few friends right now.

Share EdsPledge.com with your friends

Thanks for your support. Ed

Ps. If you want to get instant updates on how the campaign is going just follow me on Twitter.

If anyone is interested then trot in and sign up. Well that’s George Laird's good deed for the day done!

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Michael Martin gets the title, 'Baron Martin of Springburn, of Port Dundas in the City of Glasgow' but the Red Baron is better!

Dear All

The worst Speaker of the House of Commons, certainly within living memory has been given a peerage.

Former Labour MP Michael Martin, was given the honour quietly in the middle of the Parliamentary recess because he resigned in disgrace.

His title has been confirmed as Baron Martin of Springburn, of Port Dundas in the City of Glasgow.

I wonder if that title was picked by the Labour Party because of the Glasgow North East by-election, don’t want to forget those Port Dundas voters, do we?

Anyway given that Martin has left in disgrace then I sure that my title of ‘the Red Baron’ would seem more apt.

He left red faced after being the first Speaker forced to resign in 300 years.

Althought it is established practice that a former speaker is elevated to the Lords in his case, he should have been bypassed.

He also singlehandedly with no training destroyed much of the dignity and integrity of Parliament by blocking reform of MPs expenses.

Martin has been likened to that of a Shop Steward rather a Speaker for his attitude to protect the status quo at all costs.

His biggest shame was repeatedly attempting to block the publication of MPs' full allowances.

His appointment to the red benches has met with distain in some quarters and even anger; Lord Oakeshott, a Liberal Democrat said;

“Mr Martin's period as Speaker diminished both the authority of the position and the credibility of the House of Commons. It is wrong that he should pick up a peerage automatically in the Lords after he failed as Speaker.”

Strong stuff from the usually quiet Lib Dems!

He also added;

“He's chosen Springburn as his title but the people of Springburn deserve to have a representative in Parliament. This is a disgraceful delay and the people deserve a chance to elect a new MP now.”

And what should be remembered is that Michael Martin cared so much for the people of Springburn that he never opened an office to the public so they could get effective representation.

The Michael Martin story doesn’t end there in a letter to Gordon Brown, the House of Lords Appointments Commission said Mr Martin's personal expenses claims were open to question and vocied concerned about the peerage.

Their concerns were ignored as Gordon Brown used his powers of patronage to ensure that Martin got a seat in the Lords.

So from one trough to another, Michael Martin trips the light fantastic as he qualifies for a £38,000 pension going up to £80,000 in two years when he hits 65, £176 a day for attending the Lords and £3,000 for office costs.

Yes, Michael Martins place is secure, in the lap of luxury.

It is a great pity however he never showed one tenth of that concern for the people he was supposed to represent and failed to do so.

The by-election for his old seat takes place in November, possibly the 5th or 12th, then the people will hopefully elect David Kerr of the SNP to represent them. He will be opening an office which the public will be warmly invited to attend with their complaints and concerns.

Something Martin or the Labour Party candidate William Bain didn’t think was important enough in the past.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Jaycee Lee Dugard returns home to her mother

Dear All

The saying ‘Only in America’ is a familiar saying as the US has brought us some incredible sights and stories.

This is one of the truly bizarre, a US woman abducted as a girl in 1991 gave birth to two children fathered by her alleged kidnapper.

Jaycee Lee Dugard is lucky to be alive as evil paedophile, Phillip Garrido repeatedly raped her.

During the course of her captivity she has two little daughters to this man, like the girl held captive in Austria; she was kept hidden from sight in this case within a "hidden backyard within a backyard".

Kidnapper Phillip Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, are now being held in Federal custody in California with the prospect of a high profile trial and media circus to follow.

I would expect on conviction that they will receive life terms and will both die in Federal Prison.

So how was Garrido caught?

By pure blind luck!

Police spotted Garrido on the University of California Berkeley campus with the two young children handing out religious leaflets. The Police acting on suspicions questioned him because as a registered sex offender he was not allowed to be with young children.

Further questioning by his parole officer revealed the truth regarding Ms Dugard.

During a telephone interview with KCRA-TV in prison; he has not admitted to the abduction.

He said;

"If you take this a step at a time, you're going to fall over backward and in the end you're going to find the most powerful, heart-warming story."

I would think his plea by his lawyer will be innocent by reason of insanity.

He added;

"I tell you here's the story of what took place at this house and you're going to be absolutely impressed”.

It seems like Garrido seems to think that he was living the ‘little house on the prairie’ lifestyle playing happy families.

He later added;

"It's a disgusting thing that took place with me in the beginning. But I turned my life completely around".
Well he is in for a considerable culture shock when he hits Federal Prison; I suspect that the sentence will be life without parole.

This is a shocking and horrible story of how some people act like animals without human decency.

There is something good that has came out of this, Jaycee Lee Dugard is alive and returned to her mother.

I sincerely hope that she and her daughters are given every help by her community to have a normal peaceful life.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Labour MP, Frank Field to tackle abuser of the poor, Gordon Brown

Dear All

Remember Gordon Brown and his rant of “help for hard working families”?

Now, the inept Prime Minister has a new way of punishing the poorest in society; he plans to cut the benefits of the poorest families by up to £15 a week.

He obviously saw this as part of his moral compass.

Brown by his incompetence allowed greedy bankers to run the economy into the ground and now in the aftermath as a going way present he wants to cripple the poor.

In others words his budget before the General Election is a scorched earth policy to cause as much damage as possible in Britain. This is an economic version of the Russian scorched earth policy used in WW2, destroy everything and retreat.

The move could lead to a backbench revolt as Labour MPs try to save their seats at Westminister. There is no upside for them unless they can get a reversal of this decision, protesting will not be enough, deeds will be demanded.

The poor have been for years the subject on an ongoing smear campaign to paint them as an underclass that has to be managed. For example as justification for punishing the “greedy” poor, the government links together benefit fraud and their benefit error.

This tactic is to create a high figure so politicians get carte blanche to deny rights, opportunities and keep the poor trapped.

Crisis, the housing charity is appalled by the government decision saying that people on £65-a-week jobseekers’ allowance losing 20 per cent of their income.

Does this kill the myth that New Labour is the party of the poor?

Frank Field who led the revolt over the abolition of the 10p rate of income tax is determined to try and stop this going through parliament and he will have a hard job. The Tories will probably support it as it will put pressure on the government to collapse quicker.

Karen Buck, Labour MP said;

“We should not under any circumstances be taking money from the poorest and making them choose between reasonable housing bills and meeting day-to-day expenses. I don’t know how many that applies to. Either way, either the savings aren’t there or poor people will suffer.”

I wonder if she regrets joining the Labour Party!

Sarah Teather of the Liberal Democrat said;

“Gordon Brown has once again abandoned the people who need the most help.”
The change was announced in the small print of the Budget”.

Seems an odd statement because Brown never helped them in the first place; he holds the poor working class in contempt.
Each day in this country those at the bottom are denied a little more, bit by bit, this will drive people towards the extremist parties such as the BNP who stand to gain support from measures such as this.

Perhaps that is what Gordon Brown wants a country so fractured that he is prepared to lose a term in office to try and regain power from the Tories further down the line.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

SNP Councillor James Dornan hits the comeback trail joining the GHA Board

Dear All

After stepping down as the candidate for Glasgow North East, SNP Councillor James Dornan has bounced back by joining the board of the Glasgow Housing Association.

James Dornan withdrew from that by-election after concerns about his previous financial issues led to a possible breach of the Charity Law.

The GHA has had a very trouble existence and the appointment of Mr. Dornan is part of enforced changes to try and put the association back on track.

The dramatic changes come about as Scotland’s housing watchdog has decided to get tough with the failing business.

As well as Mr. Dornan’s appointment, Glasgow Labour councillor Phil Braat deputy convener of the economy committee will fill another seat on the board. Councillor Braat is close to Steven Purcell who leads the administration of Glasgow City Council.

The new board members will have a difficult task ahead as the GHA has a history of failure to deliver, particularly in second stage transfer.

Months of turmoil at the GHA has led to executives and senior board members jumping ship as the housing watchdog brought forward a review after a damning report into its activities.

The next meeting of the board should be a lively affair as a series of motions are to be tabled including question about what exactly the outgoing Chief Executive will receive financially.

Mr Dornan's nomination is somewhat of a shock within the Glasgow political village but what should be remembered is that although Mr. Dornan had difficulties in the past; he worked his way through and got back on an even keel.

Mr Dornan in relation to his appointment said;

"It's important I take this position as we need to move on with GHA and with the changes to the board there can be a fresh start and we can begin fulfilling the reasons why GHA was set up in the first place. It's also crucial that we get a good relationship going between GHA and the city council and hopefully this will be the start of it."

Not all people however are happy with the appointment of Mr. Dornan; Housing campaigner Sean Clerkin said;

"This is a bad appointment”.

I think that if Mr. Clerkin would look at Councillor James Dornan’s record rather than the personal financial difficulties he got into then he might change his mind. What happened to James Dornan is no different to what has happened to thousands of others in troubled economic times.

He added;

"How can a man who cannot control his own personal financial affairs be put in charge of a large-scale multimillion-pound operation like GHA?"

Well to answer that question; I would say, yes, James Dornan had problems in the past but rather than walk away; he took measures to get himself financially stable and back on track.

He therefore has gained through adversity experiences and knowledge that will come in useful.

I think SNP Councillor James Dornan will do a good job as he is a person willing to listen and more importantly willing to act.

Sean Clerkin should give him a chance to prove himself; James Dornan like everyone else should be given the opportunity to stand or fall on his own merits.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Gordon Brown, failure of leadership again!

Dear All

After a long silence on a matter of national interest, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has emerged from the Bunker to say.

Nothing!

In the case of the Lockerbie Bomber; he was expected to say something significant but failed to do so.

Gordon Brown has maintained what some are calling a "Trappist silence" on whether or not it was the right thing to do to free Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi.

Brown famous for his claims to have a “moral compass” seems to be looking to a higher power, trade with Libya.

He doesn’t want to rock the boat when financial deals are on the table for British firms.

His political opponents have derided his refusal to comment on Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's decision to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi.

They describe it as a "failure of leadership" and a "masterclass in evasion" with speculation that Brown has something to hide.

In order to be transparent, the SNP Scottish Government said it would publish details of the meeting in Greenock Prison between the Justice Secretary and the Libyan prisoner.

The notes and "all relevant information" on the applications for prisoner transfer and compassionate release are to be put in the public domain before a debate at Holyrood next week.

The Labour Party in the shape of Dr Richard Simpson has found voice, to ask how long a piece of string is, regarding Megrahi’s continual life span.

Simpson said;

"It is clear to me from the medical reports and the opinion of the specialists that Megrahi could live for many more months."

And that is what it is, an opinion, not a fact just a guess, educated but still a guess.

Brown did however state how "angry" and "repulsed" he was at the hero's welcome afforded the Libyan at Tripoli airport.

Brown is known for having a temper.

Whitehall sources have trotted out the Brown’s strategy on the Megrahi decision not to comment on the Scottish Justice Minister’s, Kenny MacAskill's decision.

So, Gordon Brown will be mocked for lack of leadership again.

Some moral compass!

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Big Brother to be cancelled by Channel Four

Dear All

Crash TV that is Big Brother is to end.

Thank you to the person who decided to kill it.

Big Brother represents one of the worst examples of people interaction that you could ever wish to see.

Truly dreadful doesn’t describe it adequately.

Channel 4's director of television Kevin Lygo said the show;

"had reached a natural end point on Channel 4 and it's time to move on".

About five series back in my opinion.

Television is all about ratings and Big Brother has suffered as their ratings continually plummet, the current run was the least watched.

People selling products want to be associated with success, to be hip, trendy and cool.

Big Brother is like watching your granddad wash his underpants in the sink!

Channel 4 head Julian Bellamy said;

"Big Brother has been our most influential and popular programme over the last decade."

But now it is like a fart in a spacesuit that Channel 4 can’t wait to get rid of.

The biggest star of the show was Jade Goody who went on to show the world that people with no talent can be a celebrity based on the fact they are thick but likeable.

Others like Kate Lawler went onto other work such as being a successful DJ and presenting.

Davena McColl, an ex drug addict front the show and has done extremely well out of it by getting to be the face for a cosmetic company.

So, what was Big Brother, living soap which showed that some people will do anything for the chance to win fame and money!

Truly wretched TV that showed how misfits implode if thrown together.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Labour MSP, Jack McConnell missing in action!

Dear All

Jack McConnell is an unhappy bunny; he lost the Holyrood election, was forced to stand down as leader of the Labour MSP Group for Wendy Alexander and was fobbed off with a job in Malawi which he might never get if the Tories get in at Westminister.

Since the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi; he has been going about the place talking about Scotland’s shame.

But now the telly cameras are off him it is back to normal for McConnell, yesterday Parliament was recalled for a statement on the release of the Lockerbie Bomber but no McConnell.

After shouting the odds; he can’t be bothered to even turn up at Holyrood!

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie said that Mr McConnell’s “petty posturing” had been exposed.

Christina McKelvie should know that Jack is just treading water before he does a runner.

McConnell said on Sunday that it was "absolutely vital" that the Scottish Parliament took action.

Bizarre statement, what action; deny the right of the Scottish Justice Minister to do his job?

Ms. McKelvie stated;

“Jack McConnell’s outrageous comments over the weekend have backfired badly as more and more Scots show their support for Kenny MacAskill’s compassionate decision”.

Most Scots are fair-minded and I believe with the facts pointed out about the unfairness of the trial; they would question whether it was morally right to keep Megrahi in prison. Jack McConnell judged wrongly the mood of the nation in 2007 and now in 2009; he still gets it wrong.

If he isn’t interested in being an MSP; he should step down and let the voters choose someone else to represent them.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Labour Candidate, William Bain divorced from reality?

Dear All

I am nosey!

So, being a curious sort; I wandered over to the website of London Labour man, William Bain who is the Labour Candidate for Glasgow North East.

William Bain works in London as a law lecturer in London South Bank University.

Today, I see on his website that a proxy has been wittering on about the creation of 800 new jobs in finance by Tesco coming to Glasgow. Here is a flavour of the outpourings and my contribution combined. Willie Bain, Labour’s candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election said;

"Creating these jobs is a real boost for Glasgow”.

At least for 800 people but Mr. Bain should remember that these vacancies are open to people not living within Glasgow as well, so it is a little premature to rejoice about 800 jobs being located here and taken up by the residents.

Mr. Bain further added; "This is exactly the type of thing we need to do to tackle unemployment in the city and support the local economy.

We?

Is that the Royal “we” because as far as I know he isn’t elected to anything!

So is William Bain proposing that the UK Labour Government sets up a Supermarket chain?

Where will the cash come from?

As well muttering away nonsense he then said;
"Although the UK government had to rescue Scotland's two largest banks, Glasgow is still a great place for companies from across the UK to create jobs”.

These Banks that were rescued were not owned by the Scottish people but rather by private investors who owned the shares and if it wasn’t for the incompetence of Gordon Brown and New Labour with regard to banking regulations we wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place!

As his final parting shot;

"During these tough economic times, people was politicians to work together to help us through. This just shows what can be done when politicians work together."

“People was politicians”?

He been watching the Life of Brian?

Centurion: What's this, then? "Romanes eunt domus"? People called Romanes, they go, the house?

Brian: It says, "Romans go home. "

Centurion: No it doesn't ! What's the latin for "Roman"? Come on, come on!

Brian: Er, "Romanus" !

Centurion: Vocative plural of "Romanus" is?

Brian: Er, er, "Romani" !

Centurion: [Writes "Romani" over Brian's graffiti] "Eunt"? What is "eunt"? Conjugate the verb, "to go" !

Brian: Er, "Ire". Er, "eo", "is", "it", "imus", "itis", "eunt".

Centurion: So, "eunt" is...?

Brian: Third person plural present indicative, "they go". Centurion: But, "Romans, go home" is an order. So you must use...? [He twists Brian's ear]

Brian: Aaagh ! The imperative ! Centurion: Which is...? Brian: Aaaagh ! Er, er, "i" !

Centurion: How many Romans?

Brian: Aaaaagh ! Plural, plural, er, "ite" !

Centurion: [Writes "ite"] "Domus"? Nominative? "Go home" is motion towards, isn't it?

Brian: Dative ! [the Centurion holds a sword to his throat]

Brian: Aaagh ! Not the dative, not the dative ! Er, er, accusative, "Domum" ! Centurion: But "Domus" takes the locative, which is...? Brian: Er, "Domum" !

Centurion: [Writes "Domum"] Understand? Now, write it out a hundred times.

Brian: Yes sir. Thank you, sir. Hail Caesar, sir.

Centurion: Hail Caesar ! And if it's not done by sunrise, I'll cut your balls off.

I take it Willie Bain wouldn’t be applying for Tesco jobs on three counts, bad spelling, divorced from reality and doesn’t pay enough!

He appears to imply that the UK Government is responsible for bring the Tesco jobs here; it was Tesco, Mr Bain.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Tories trot out tough on crime but not smart about dealing with it

Dear All

The Tories have stumbled on the obvious that the poor are being let down.

They have gone for the old classic, Problem, Reaction Solution scenario.

Problem = crime, Reaction = blame the government, Soution= crack down on criminals.

In other words wield the big stick to manage the underclass.

Not exactly original thinking by any means since it is the old Tory mantra of law and order.

So; the Tories is traditional fingering pointing mode have singled out the cause, the UK Government is failing the poorest communities in England.

To a certain extent that is true but the failure of Government goes beyond crime, it reaches into education, housing, economic opportunities even into law that allows people to be discriminated against because of passed faults.

In Britain, a glass ceiling exists caused by bring forward legislation which effectively shuts part of society out of social and employment opportunities.

This has effectively created an underclass with no stake in society and no means to escape their situation.

When people have no stake in society then they abandon the morals and social codes of society.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said Labour had "let down" the poor and could no longer claim to be "the party of progressive politics".

For progressive politics read socialism but then Tories could hardly be called socialist could they?

So, how do the Tories solve the problem of crime and the underclass?

Simple; they have to invest in people from the bottom up, rather like building a house with solid foundations.

They have to break the cycle of crime that some people are trapped in, redraft certain laws and ensure that quangos like the EHRC take more of an interest in defending their rights to secure employment and or opportunities for them.

In other words, these people need a fresh start.

Such thinking maybe too much for the Tories to stomach!

In pure monetary terms, it costs £30,000 a year to keep a person locked up, add to that they produce nothing, pay no tax and in most cases will return to prison within a short space of time after committing more crime.

It is commonsense to invest.

The problem is that crime is a ping pong ball between political parties, Tory and Labour, each trying to be seen as “tough on crime”.

If the Tories drop out playing that game, it exposes Labour’s approach for what it is using crime as a tool to convince the rest of society that the underclass need to be managed and controlled by really that is for political gain.

If the Tories want to make head way they can’t repeat their mistakes of the past and Labour’s current ones.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

CIA Operatives torture Afghan cat who struck blow for freedom

Dear All

Breaking news, today the Pentagon has said that it was time the War on Terror got tough.

Fluffy; an Afghan Cat struck a blow for freedom by pissing on an American Five Star General touring the forward positions.

A spokesman for the General issued this statement;

“The General was reviewing troops when he was subject to an unprovoked attack by Afghan wildlife. The attack was directed at his trousers and boots and they stink to high heaven, Christ knows what these Afghan cats eat and drink!”

Subjected to arrest the Cat issued a statement through his lawyers, Kabul and Son;

“Fuck him; he nearly drove right over my head”!

However; his lawyers said that they intend to lodge a defence with the court based on self defence and Cat Rights. Pictures of Fluffy’s torture have already leaked into the public domain and shocked the world as CIA Operatives have subjected my client to cruel and degrading treatment.

The trial is expected to start next week.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Funniest Joke of the Year?

Dear All

The funniest joke of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

"Hedgehogs. Why can't they just share the hedge?"

A bit tame, not in the same league as a rottweiler savaging a granny!

Where’s the bite?

Here is a better one as it involves relationships and the often thought question by some, is the bird faithful?

A man who had four kids, all gorgeous with the exception of the youngest one; Craig, who was nothing short of gruesome.

While on his deathbed, the husband asked his wife, "Marie, tell me one thing.

And please be honest. Am I Craig's father?"

"Yes, honey," replied his wife. "I promise you, Craig is 100 percent yours."

"I can die a happy man. Goodbye my love."

And the man peacefully passed away.

Marie gave a big sigh and said quietly, "Thank heaven almighty he didn't ask me about the other three."

As Basil Brush would say;

'boom boom'!

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Sir Richard Dannatt smear campaign suffers major setback

Dear All

Recently, George Foulkes MSP put in one of his many FOI requests, this time to try and smear one of the highest ranking soldiers in Britain.

General Sir Richard Dannatt, the target of Foulkes however has had the last laugh on him.

In the last four years, Army General Sir Richard Dannatt has claimed less than £20,000 for official entertaining.

I assume that Foukles thinks everyone is as greedy as a Labour MP in the Westminister trough.

As well as Foukles having a pop, a Sunday newspaper obtained details of his expenses through the Freedom of Information Act.

The General has been living very modestly by buying £5-a-head meals from Lidl and Tesco and bottles of wine for £1.49.

What an embarrassment for Foulkes but he doesn’t care as he will probably be plotting his next victim.

An MoD spokesman said;

"As head of the Army, Chief of the General Staff undertakes official hosting and entertaining of both overseas and United Kingdom dignitaries”.

In that regard, I suspect most people would think he would splash out for some good grub instead of meals from Lidl.

He added;

"This is an important part of his remit to assist in the betterment of international relations, to promote the British Army and facilitate a wider public understanding of its role."

I would hope then in future that the budget is raised by a few quid, people like Sir Richard Dannatt deserve it.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Justice Minister should have final say on prisoners in Scottish Jails

Dear All

Professor Alan Millar gives us his opinion on a question of human rights surrounding the case of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.

I would therefore like to go through his thoughts recently articulated in the press.“Was it right for the justice secretary to give compassionate release to Megrahi?

Professor Millar gives his answer as yes, which I would agree with, more than just the compassionate argument there is also the question of the unfairness of the trial. This in my mind possibly added weight to the argument for release.

However he goes on further to ask other fundamental questions.

“Yes, he made the right call for the right reasons. But it should not have been in his gift to do so. Allowing a politician to be the final decision maker over the liberty or detention of any individual is a serious weakness in the system”.

Here I completely disagree with his assessment that the decision should be taken out of politicians hands. This is a safety valve in a democracy with politicians forced to be open and transparent and more importantly accountable.

The flaw in his argument of an independent and impartial tribunal or court is that Britain is a corrupt country.

This has been articulated with devastating effect by Iris Josiah in my article here.

As well as the case of Ms. Josiah; I have personal experience of corruption which I would say adds further weight to why politicians are better placed.

Sir Muir Russell has been appointed lay chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland which appoints judges.

Russell was involved in covering up bullying and criminal fraud at the University of Glasgow while Principal.

Would such a person be fit to decide on the release of prisoners?

A copy of a letter which he refused to act upon can be found here.

Miller then goes on to discuss "human rights" of various people.

“Have the human rights of the victims, their families and Megrahi been recognised and respected over the past two decades?”

“No”; he suggests.

Firstly, the dead don’t have human rights.

How do we know this?

The European Convention on Human Rights deals with human rights of the living.

Secondly he mentions the “human rights” of the victim’s families but again in the European Convention on Human Rights no such “rights” exists.

“The relatives of the 270 people who lost their lives are entitled to an independent and effective investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy”.

No; they are not, that is the province of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, again no such “right” exists that compels the Crown Office to act but it would be highly unlikely they wouldn’t, which is not the same thing.

He adds;

“the state has a duty to investigate the circumstances and prosecute alleged perpetrators”.

That is complete separate from the human rights issue.

People cannot force the state to act in any crime by invoking what he is claiming is a “right” in this situation.

“Here is where the unfulfilled rights of the families meet the unfilled rights of Megrahi”.

The victims of the Pam Am Flight 103 had human rights up till the time they were killed; then the state acted because a crime was committed.

“Compassionate release wasn't recognition of his (Megrahi) "human rights"; it was due process under Scottish law".

Although Megrahi went through a process established to deal with Compassionate release, it was the decision of the Scottish Justice Minister which in the end was the deciding factor.

Professor Millar’s final concerns relate to matters regarding an inquiry.

“The idea of an inquiry has been raised. An inquiry would only fulfil the rights of the families and Megrahi if it was independent and impartial from the UK government and had sufficient scope and powers”.

Given any inquiry will be into the criminal case then the remit for such an undertaking would be for the Scottish Government to action and not the UK Government.

Finally; Professor Alan Millar said;

“The key lesson is that the human rights of all parties need to be at the centre of the legal process and decision making if the public interest is to be served, and if justice is to be done and be seen to be done”.

As a general concept; I agree that all parties involved in a Court of Law should have the full protection of human rights.

I am slightly puzzled that Professor Alan Millar seems to think that those not directly involved in the legal process should have their “human rights” considered. Their “rights” do not exist in the eyes of the court; as it cannot consider other people’s rights unless they are involved in the process.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Iris Josiah, black magistrate highlights extent of discrimination in Corrupt Britain

Dear All

As I have previously highlighted through-out this blog, Britain is a corrupt country.

Interconnect social networks are in place at every level that act as barriers to people getting justice.

This is rife, right across the social sphere, from the cradle to the grave most people experience this in one form or another in education, housing or law.

In most cases the bulk of discrimination never reaches the public domain. The Government has brought forward laws on discrimination which most people are effectively banned from being able to access because of the way the legal system is set up.

No money, no justice!

In Britain getting justice is more about subject to status rather than the righteous of your case.

Iris Josiah, a black magistrate was lucky because her case was taken by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

She was victimised after highlighting alleged racist treatment of black defendants doing through the Court system.

She said there was a 'culture of unfair practices against black defendants' among magistrates in Enfield, North London.

This fits in with the theme I have been highlighting over many years about how things work in Britain.

Her allegations are pretty damning as she describes her fellow lay justices as routinely 'hostile' towards black people and convicted them on slim or no evidence.

Ms Josiah, a former councillor in Haringey, was unlawfully suspended by court bosses after voicing her concerns about her colleagues' racism.

This is a familiar tactic to silence dissent rather than deal with the problem, her bosses instead decided to silence the victim.

Another tactic used was drag the process out as long as possible in the hope that she would go away but luckily for the public, she decided to fight for the higher principle.

However Stratford Employment Tribunal in east London has made no ruling as to alleged race bias by magistrates.

So the problem is only part solved, the victim gets reinstated but the culture isn’t addressed.

Ms Josiah claims that she suffered a seven-year campaign of racist bullying and harassment by colleagues.

As someone with previous experience of being a victim of harassment at Glasgow University; I completely understand what she is saying.


Her solicitor Lawrence Davies, of law firm Equal Justice, said yesterday;

“This case illustrates that the justice system itself harbours those who victimise alleged victims of racism.”

This is exactly in keeping with my theme of social networks that protect those involved in bullying and discrimination.

At Glasgow University such a network exists that does every thing possible to ensure that victims of crimes by staff don’t receive justice or equal treatment.

Enter a Ministry of Justice spokesman.

He said;

“The Ministry of Justice has clear set standards of expected behaviour for its own staff and takes a tough stance on bullying and victimisation.”

In corrupt Britain; I assume that the Ministry of Justice will bury this for over a year then say guidelines have been revised.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

UK Government uses code of conduct to deny human rights.

Dear All

Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right, except if you happen to work for the UK Government.

A civil servant who campaigned strongly against Worcestershire Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride has been unfairly sacked for using his legal right in law to speak out.

Mark France was sacked by managers at the Jobcentre in Bromsgrove, for gross misconduct.

The Department for Work and Pensions used its unfair code of conduct to deny him his legal rights because he engaged in political activities.

Let us be clear; he worked in a jobcentre.

Julie Kirkbride was a poster girl during the expenses scandal as both she and her husband Andrew Mackay both claimed second home allowances on both their homes, that way they effectively lived rent free with the taxpayer picking up the bill for repairs etc.

Although legal through the House of Commons rules; it was morally distasteful in my opinion.

In the village of Bromsgrove, ordinary people some linked to a political party have spoken out and organised a 'Get rid of Kirkbride Campaign'.

Due to the media pressure, Kirkbride decided to step down at the next election.

She was also criticised after the newspaper the News of the World revealed her brother lived rent-free in her constituency home and her sister did secretarial work for her despite living more than 100 miles (160 kilometres) from her Bromsgrove constituency.

Her husband, a Cameron aide fell on his sword and has already declared he is standing down.

So, the Department for Work and Pensions probably with one eye on pleasing their future Tory Masters have acted to sack Mark France.

It said he had broken its Civil Service Code by ‘speaking about politics on live national television, campaigning for signatures, making statements to the media, standing as an independent candidate in local elections without permission, and making comments on a politics website’.

In other words the legal rights he is guaranteed in law don’t apply if you work for the UK Government, despite the fact they are supposed to defend them .

Mr France said he is considering an appeal and said;

"I certainly didn't think that by speaking my mind in a democracy that it would lead me to lose my job”.

Unfortunately Mr. France didn’t realise that Britain is a corrupt country where the Government uses internal rules to circumvent the law.

He added;

"Everybody should be free to express their opinion. I think it's an issue of human rights."

He is quite correct, it is a human rights issue and I wish him well if he challenges it in a tribunal or a Court of Law. Lord Denning, the great English Law Lord once opined that an unfair contract wasn't legally valid, and no contract by law can remove human rights even with the consent of a person.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Glasgow City Council needs to end the celebration of bigotry parades

Dear All

In Scotland, an industry has been established that needs to be killed off.

It is the “sectarian industry” set up to keep the people of Scotland divided along religious lines, Protestants against Catholics.

For many people, the sectarian industry doesn’t in anyway affect their lives but it is a running sore across the entire country which the Labour Party use to make sure that people understand they have to be “managed” for their good.

In Glasgow, the apex of religious divide is defined by two groups, the Protestant Loyal Order and Irish Republican parades.

Both these groups have no place in a modern Scotland.

Each of them celebrates one thing only at their hearts, bigotry.

What is complete ridiculous is that Glasgow hosts more bigotry parades than Northern Ireland's two biggest cities combined Belfast and Londonderry.

Now Glasgow City Council is allegedly planning to take steps in order to curtail these parades and place the burden of cost of Policing on them.

In fact Glasgow City Council should have the courage to ban these marches completely, but I suspect that these parades will continue in a limited form.

It has been suggested that Glasgow City Council is considering a reduction of 90% of these marches which will be a good start.

Once these parades are gone from Scotland’s streets then the sectarian industry that has grown up around them can be finally killed off.

That day cannot come soon enough for Scotland.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Labour anger has they can take no credit for freeing Al Megrahi

Dear All

Yesterday, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was released from prison to fly back home to Libya on compassionate grounds.

It was the right decision by the SNP Government and the most difficult decision that has ever faced Kenny MacAskill as Justice Minister.

Megrahi returned home to a jubilant welcome which British Foreign Secretary David Miliband described the scenes as "deeply distressing".

So, now after the release politics will start with politicians wanting to sound tough for the cameras and broadsheets.

The Lockerbie case is one of the worst cases of mass murder ever committed in Britain but doubts of the guilt of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi still hang over it.

One thing that is readily accepted by many is that Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi didn’t receive a fair trial.

Now, people may never know what role the Americans played in ensuring that a conviction was found at all costs.

US President Barack Obama said his administration had told the Libyans that Megrahi should not receive a hero's welcome and should be placed under house arrest.

On what charge could the Libyans go this?

Col Gaddafi's son said;

"I would like to thank the Scottish government for its courageous decision and understanding of a special human situation."

I am sure that part of British Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s upset is that it was the Scottish Government releasing Megrahi on compassionate grounds and not through the Prisoner Transfer Agreement; now the Labour Government cannot claim any of the credit for his release.

I see this as the fuel to his anger.

In this case Scottish Justice won over UK Labour Government backdoor deals.

Despite Miliband’s fake outrage; we can expect him and other British Officials to start up relations very soon with Libya in order to win trade.

At that point he will go very quiet about Megrahi and say that both countries have moved on; he is that kind of hypocrite.

In fact, it has already started as he said some major British oil and gas companies, bidding for highly competitive contracts with the country could benefit from improved relations between Libya and the UK following Megrahi's release.

But what will be remembered by the Libyan Government is that it was compassion shown by the SNP Government that paved the way to normal relations being restored.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

William Bain throws his hat into the ring at Glasgow North East

Dear All

I was looking back through my posts and realised that I haven’t done a post on William Bain, the Labour Candidate for the Glasgow North East by-election.

So who is William Bain?

Willie Bain is a 36 year old University Lecturer who works in London South Bank University, London.

He is being portrayed by the Labour Party as a “local candidate” even although he works 400 miles away in London.

As to his bio on his website; he is surprising secretive, not open and transparent by any means as you would expect a person standing for public office to be.

This secretive approach even extends to his details at London South Bank University.

If you want a laugh have a look at this;

http://www.williebain.com/uploads/cb893176-9f86-0404-192f-4c2706ecfcf7.jpg

William Bain is so concerned about knife crime and people; he stares directly into the camera in this staged photo op.

In the movies, this is called “breaking frame”, letting the audience know that you are watching them.

So, we now know that a petition on knife crime was organised for him because he is standing for election.

Where was his concern before?

If you google him you; will see that until he was selected Bain never put his money where his money was, in speaking out for Springburn.

Why?

There are other reasons why William Bain should not get elected, principally why didn’t he speak out about why the Constituency Office of Michael Martin wasn’t in the community?

Can he explain why the Constituency Office wasn’t open to the public?

Can he explain why he thought this was acceptable?

So other than staged photo calls, what does William Bain stand for?

No one knows and he doesn’t say on his website.

Does this sound like a man who is committed to public service or is it a man who wants to inherit the Martin Fiefdom?

Will Mr. Bain open an office in Springburn to the public?

Again no one knows because I suspect that other than the money and perks; he doesn’t really stand for anything other than himself.

And he should have a pretty good idea of how to feather his nest; Michael Martin was one of the best at it in Westminister.

The only hope for real change is for the people of Glasgow North East to elect David Kerr, the SNP Candidate.

He will open a public office that will be accessible to all the residents and staffed by experienced case workers.

Finally; to show how petty the Labour Party can be on William Bain website here is a quote by them because the SNP on a leaflet never put David Kerr's name or picture on it;

"By contrast, Labour's Willie Bain appears on all Labour's by-election materials including letters, leaflets, surveys and emails".

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

David Cameron gives a flavour what English Justice will be under a Tory Government

Dear All

As expected Conservative leader David Cameron has condemned the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi as "completely nonsensical".

The Tories like to claim they are the Party of Law and Order but really, they are all about oppression.

David Cameron said that Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill has made a "very bad" judgement.

The Tories don’t do compassionate unless it is one of their own who is caught.

Mr Cameron went on further to say;

"I think this is wrong and it's the product of some completely nonsensical thinking in my view”.

This is an indicator of how under a Tory Government people will feel the Tory boot on their necks.

He added;

"But if this is about genuine release on compassionate grounds, I think it is wrong”.

I find this a bit rich coming from a man who was a member of the famous Bullingdon Club which would go to restaurants, which during the course of an evening their members would smash up.

Then because they were from rich families, they buy off the people who livelihood they were destroying.

That is the true David Cameron.

Ex-Labour MP Tam Dalyell, a former father of the House of Commons, said;

"Mr MacAskill has arrived at the right decision on compassionate grounds”.

This shows how divided this issue is but regardless, this was a straight forward justice matter.

Finally, Cameron’s thoughts betray what justice in England will be like under the Tories.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi goes home

Dear All

Today the SNP Scottish Government took a courageous and difficult step by freeing on compassionate grounds the man known as the Lockerbie Bomber.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi has now left Scotland on board a plane bound for Libya after being freed from Greenock Prison.

The decision to release Megrahi, who has terminal prostate cancer was the correct one but it has attracted considerable anger in some quarters, The White House said it "deeply regretted" the decision and some of the US victims' families have expressed outrage at the decision.

A police convoy left Greenock Prison, where Megrahi was serving his sentence, more than an hour after the announcement of his release was made to take him to Glasgow Airport.

Megrahi then boarded an Afriqiyah Airways Airbus plane bound for Tripoli, which took off shortly before 1530 BST.

Megrahi will now spend his final days back home with his family and possibly reflect on the circumstances of his life.

The SNP Government said it had consulted widely before Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill made his difficult decision.

What does this decision say about the SNP Government and Scotland; I would say it proves that Scotland has grown up and is not afraid to take the difficult decisions anymore, that justice rather than just a word is starting to germinate again.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Megrahi’s his release would be "absolutely wrong".

She patently doesn’t understand the true nature of justice and her remarks are possibly more about running for Presidency at some future date.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement;

"The United States deeply regrets the decision by the Scottish Executive to release Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi”.

Given the damage caused by the Bush Administration; I feel that statement has little value.

Some of the family of the victims have expressed themselves in pretty clear terms;

Kara Weipz, of Mt Laurel, New Jersey said;

"I don't understand how the Scots can show compassion. It is an utter insult and utterly disgusting”.

Paul Halsch, whose 31-year-old wife was killed, said;

"This might sound crude or blunt, but I want him returned from Scotland the same way my wife Lorraine was and that would be in a box."
Those are understandable feelings from relatives who lives were shattered, people want vengeance for wrong doing.

But the facts are that Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi wasn’t given a fair trial and evidence was withheld.

Does the end justify the means? I would say not.

Without the justice of a fair trial, society has nothing.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds, those grounds show what we as a people stand for.

Justice!

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Labour MSP Wendy Alexander's GHA failure crashes even further!

Dear All

The Glasgow Housing Association saga has taken a dramatic new twist with two senior executives at Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) stepping down.

The GHA has had a trouble existence since it first came into being following a vote by tenants to become tenants of the Association.

In effect the tenants were blackmailed by the UK Labour Government that if they didn’t change then the government wouldn’t write of the debt and renovations wouldn’t go ahead.

The tenants were sold a pig in a poke.

The political architect of GHA was Wendy Alexander; she is part responsible for failing to ensure that the systems were in place that the GHA ran properly.

Alexander is big on vision and short on delivery, this is very much her donkey.

The GHA scandal was compounded by the failure in speedy stock transfer which led to the Scottish SNP Government to act decisively in demanding real action and not platitudes.

Now, GHA chief executive Taroub Zahran is going and the vice chairman Fred Shedden has resigned with immediate effect.

Good and not before time.

In a letter today in the Glasgow Herald, Fred Shedden complaints bitterly that he was forced to resign.

In the interests of fairness, his letter can be found here.

So what now?

I have a suggestion, the tenants of the GHA should be re-balloted and following a successful vote, the social housing stock should be returned to Glasgow City Council.

This would allow the accountability and oversight that ‘champagne socialist’ Wendy Alexander failed to deliver to the people of Glasgow.

Wendy Alexander, Labour MSP failed the poor again!

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Tory MP, Sir Patrick Cormack gets out the begging bowl for more pay but he's no Oliver Twist!

Dear All

Even before the expenses scandal was brought to the fore, MPs pay was a touchy subject.

Now a senior Conservative has broke cover and called for MPs' pay to be doubled.

He wants MPs to be paid circa £130k a year and in return; he wants to scrap the second home allowance.

Not a chance!

I do believe that Sir Patrick Cormack has a point; MPs should receive an proper increase in pay somewhere around the £90k.

In return for an MP getting this type of rise then it should be made clear that the second paid job racket should end.

Cormack has since been condemned as "out of touch" by the Labour Party, some of their MPs have been involved in claiming for mortgages that don’t exist and milking the system mercilessly so wring out every penny for themselves.

Lib Dem Foreign Affairs spokesman Ed Davey said the veteran Tory "must be living on Planet Zog".

I wonder how much his travel expenses are from there?

Sir Patrick Cormack made this call in a submission to the Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly. This is the Commission which will ensure that MPs don’t lose out too much.

Sir Patrick says that his proposal could be seen as "politically unacceptable".

I think he forgot to mention publicly as well!

In an odd statement he said that "reluctantly" concluded that it was the best way to restore public confidence in Parliament.

No, the best ways to restore trust is to kick out everyone involved in abuse and put in place staff at the Fees Office who has the ability to think and say NO!

At present the will of the people is firmly against MPs being paid more and even paid properly but that is down to the systematic abuse that has become a culture in Westminister.

This sudden concern for more dosh by Cormack is based on the belief that he thinks that the current MP's salary was "so low in absolute and relative terms" that members of the professional and business classes would be deterred from entering Parliament.

Given the multi-millionaires there currently skinning the system; I don’t see that as a viable argument.

Finally, what unbelievable bad timing by Sir Patrick Cormack to bring the begging bowl to the public domain; he isn’t Oliver Twist.

Yours sincerely

George LairdThe Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Labour MP, James Purnell's flat shock!

Dear All

We are all a bit mucky in the house sometimes but former Cabinet Minister James Purnell has left his taxpayer-funded second home “looking like a pigsty”!

More than that he claimed more than £1,600 for cleaning and repairs and it still looks like a squat.
.
The Work and Pensions Secretary has abandoned a smart, £1,820-a- month apartment with wine stains on the wall, a grimy kitchen, rusty sink and filthy carpets according to his landlord.

After Purnell flew the coup from the tenancy a bitter exchange of legal letters between his solicitor and the landlord’s lawyers over unpaid bills amounting to £4,000 then ensued.

In one exchange of letters Mr Purnell’s lawyers admitted the flat had not been properly cleaned when he left.

A gross understatement of the facts!

Being a ‘socialist hero’, Mr Purnell did not submit receipts for the cleaning and repairs as he was not required to do so for expenses coming to less than £250 until last year.

Take the money and run Purnell.

When he done a runner from his midden, a three-piece suite was found in the flat despite claiming a further £1, 541 in second home furniture allowance between 2004 and 2008.

Naturally, the taxpayer funded £2,520 deposit was used by the landlord to pay a £2,587.25 decoration and repair bill.

It is alleged that he still owes According documents obtained by the Sunday Express he still owes £1,523.12, including £910.63 for alarm repairs, £307.74 for cleaning, £47.50 inventory charges and £190.00 for changing the locks.

Gosh that boy knows how to spend other people’s cash!

Mr Purnell, 38, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde in Greater Manchester is a bachelor and judging by the photos of the flat, a dirty one!

What in the name of God is that brown stain in the sink?

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Tam Baillie, Children's Commissioner needs someone to explain Human Rights to him!

Dear All

Every so often someone pops up with a stupid idea, “rights” which don’t exist are put forward as having some kind of value.

Scotland's new Children's Commissioner, Tam Baillie is one such character who wants Judges to take into consideration whether an offender is a parent before locking them up.

Baillie is proposing radical changes for Judges to take into account the human rights of an accused's children.

That is sheer nonsense and an abuse of the human rights system; he is proposing to paralyse the criminal justice system.

Tam Baillie’s role is to ensure Scotland fulfils its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In other words; he is so short sighted that he appears unable to look at the wider picture.

He wants an amendment to the forthcoming Criminal Justice Bill, to insert children's rights as a factor to be taken into consideration alongside previous convictions.

This is completely wrong on his part; I can only wonder how such an individual managed to get appointed as a Children's Commissioner?

The over riding thing that should determine whether a person may or may not be sent to prison is the crime itself.

I would sincerely hope that Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Secretary has no truck with this idea as it creates a two tier justice system.

If two people are guilty of an equal crime then the punishment should be equal as well.

Mr Baillie's idea comes from a ruling made by Judge Albie Sachs who set a legal precedent in the case of S versus M by not sending a woman to jail because she had three children.

Baillie said;

“This was a landmark judgment in South Africa of a woman appealing a custodial sentence partly because she had three children".

He added;

"They thought it was an open and shut case but when they looked at the impact on her children, they discovered what they described as a small perforation' which changed their way of thinking."

If you break the law then you cannot use the human rights of others in order to circumvent justice. That isn’t then a human right, as “rights” are specific to the individual in the Court.

Judge Albie Sachs decision in S versus M is not I would argue based on human rights rather it is based on a subjective whim.

This nonsense should therefore not be touted as a human rights issue.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Richard Baker, Labour MSP gets humiliated over justice issue

Dear All

Yesterday, Labour Justice Spokesman, Richard Baker called for a recall of the Holyrood Parliament to discuss the fate of the man known as the Lockerbie Bomber.

As the song says;

“What a difference a day makes”!

Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson in reply has said;

“I have weighed up all the factors and have decided not to recall Parliament”.

So, not only is Richard Baker wrong and out of step; he is also out of time.

Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson goes some way to agreeing with my point that any decision on releasing is purely a matter for Scottish Ministers alone.

This matter is solely the province of Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill; he may listen to others, seek opinions and take soundings but the decision is his alone as it should be.

There will be no trial by petty politicians such as Baker.

Baker is fast gaining a reputation as man who can put his foot in his mouth in any number of situations.

How he ever acquired the Shadow Justice brief is a mystery; he seems totally inept and out of his depth.

This inept performance by him shows that he is unable to take command decisions by himself and seeks approval to cover himself.

The true mark of a Justice Minister is to uphold the principles of their public office without party politics playing a role.

Baker can’t function outside the structure of Labour Party control.

So, the correct decision has been made by the Presiding Officer, what a pity there are such poor quality politicians such as Richard Baker who cannot understand the concept of Justice.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University