No 10 apology over 'slur' e-mails

[Stoat Boy]

But I understood that claiming for these films, which were an extra to the SKY package, was against the rules hence the belief that its inclusion in the expenses claim, which was signed by Smith, made it fradulent in nature ?

I just assumed that no prosecution happened because of the small sum involved and the less than 55% chance of the case suceeding. But as always happy to be put right.

 

[Fullyplumped]

It may or may not have been against the House of Commons rules to claim for personal expenditure in MP's expenses. The House of Commons rules may or may not have been broken. But there is no evidence that there was any dishonesty involved, and thus there is no evidence of fraud, either on the part of her husband against Mrs Smith, or on the part of Mrs Smith against the House of Commons.

 

[sus]

Sus, you appear to be under the impression that this area is specifically covered by legislation - it isnt, the nature of what was claimable at the time is covered by the Green Book and is overseen by the Department of Finance and Administration, and the Committee on Standards and Privileges. Both of those bodies will probably exonerate her (indeed the DFA did pay the bill), for the simple reason that she was probably safe to claim for it along with everything else she claimed for (she is allowed to claim under ACA for "telecommunications services", fittings and furnishings, "repairs" and so on)).

As Oborne says, this acceptance and lack of consequences for obvious pisstaking - as shown here, and in the cases of Conway (who only paid back a fraction of his "mistaken claims"), Spellman (ditto), Trend and everyone else - is probably enough to demonstrate that the system is actually working as they intend it to work.

I appreciate this is probably obvious, but I am not saying that these claims are in any way acceptable morally (I mean ffs under the ACA as it was they could claim for a TV licence), just that under the system that they devised they are legal.

.

 

[agricola]

Not covered by legislation? So if Conway refused to pay back his "mistaken" claims there would be no recourse in the law?

I actually said not specifically covered.

Its a hypothetical scenario at present, but had he not paid the fraction of it back that he did pay, then the poor wording of the Green Book on the issue (it appears that MPs are the ones who should ensure that the staff are doing what the GB says they should be), and the fact that the DFA had paid it (and paid numerous other claims with regards to family members working for MPs - for example, Jacqui Smith again), would probably have made any prosecution for fraud extremely difficult, if not impossible.

 

[treelover]

Whats also galling is the use of terms like 'Leftlist or 'Red Rag' used by the odious Draper to promote his ideas, etc, spread shite, there is nothing 'left' or 'red' about him, his cohorts, NL, etc.

So, another question is, why are these parasites/entryists using left wing nomenclature to promote thier Blairite/Thatcherite guff?

 

[agricola]

Whats also galling is the use of terms like 'Leftlist or 'Red Rag' used by the odious Draper to promote his ideas, etc, spread shite, there is nothing 'left' or 'red' about him, his cohorts, NL, etc.

So, another question is, why are these parasites/entryists using left wing nomenclature to promote thier Blairite/Thatcherite guff?

You would almost think that he associates scathing political mockery and scaring people into flight with leftism. I wonder why?

 

[sus]

This from labourlist
http://www.labourlist.org/derek-draper-emails

"Imagine if all your emails suddenly became available to people wanting to damage you. That is, of course, the other question that needs to be asked: how were these emails obtained? Was criminal activity and hacking involved? Believe me, these are issues I will be looking at when I return from my holiday. "Blog wars" are one thing but hacking into people's emails is surely a step too far?"

Unless of course it's the gov't holding them.

 

[agricola]

This from labourlist
http://www.labourlist.org/derek-draper-emails

"Imagine if all your emails suddenly became available to people wanting to damage you. That is, of course, the other question that needs to be asked: how were these emails obtained? Was criminal activity and hacking involved? Believe me, these are issues I will be looking at when I return from my holiday. "Blog wars" are one thing but hacking into people's emails is surely a step too far?"

Unless of course it's the gov't holding them.

George Galloway (edit: and Adam Boulton) gives Draper an absolute kicking here. Wonderous!

 

[lostexpectation]

George Galloway (edit: and Adam Boulton) gives Draper an absolute kicking here. Wonderous!

i scanned through that it doesn't seem to take him up on setting up the red rag site

 

[Kid_Eternity]

George Galloway (edit: and Adam Boulton) gives Draper an absolute kicking here. Wonderous!

You are Iain Dale and I claim my £5!

 

[agricola]

You are Iain Dale and I claim my £5!

 

[Gingerman]

Might watch GMTV tomorrow to see how they cover this story seen as Kate Garraway is married to Dolly Draper

 

[ViolentPanda]

I'm suprised you dont know




There's also the strange case of General Smedley Butler:



It's a big area of study with plenty of blind alleys for sure, but there is depth despite any unawareness on your part.

I take it that you have looked into Butler's background to find out the basis for his claims?
It's just that so many people who talk about him or cite him haven't.

 

[Lakina]

OMG could Derek Draper fuck things up even more???? Is he a secret Conservative sleeper?

Draper - please just dig a big hole and bury yourself in it.

 

[Stardark]

Derek Draper says it was nothing at all, while Gordon and his croneys are diving for cover.

Such a disparity of views suggests that DD hasn't got much of a future with the Labour party...

 

[Yelkcub]

OMG could Derek Draper fuck things up even more???? Is he a secret Conservative sleeper?

Draper - please just dig a big hole and bury yourself in it.

I'm amazed he's not getting more shit for his reply that some of McBrides' ideas were 'brilliant'.

 

[Shevek]

I dont know the full details of this but it doesnt seem that bad. So what some politicians are slinging mud at other politicians. Isnt that part of the job. I dont agree with it but is it that surprising?

 

[happie chappie]

An interesting side issue (and it is only a side issue at the moment, but it may have increasing significance as this story unfolds, as I’m sure it will) is how Guido Fawkes got hold of the e-mails. Was McBride's and/or Draper's systems hacked? If so, who by?

More intriguingly, there is a rumour the e-mails were passed over to Guido from someone inside Unite. There's a seemingly strong Unite connection to this story. If the leak did come from within the union, to what end? A vendetta against McBride? Against Draper. Or even a very cunning move to discredit Brown by attacking one of his very senior lieutenants.

Harriet Harman's partner is a senior Unite official. She might benefit if Brown was irreparably damaged by this.

Happie Chappie

 

[gosub]

I dont know the full details of this but it doesnt seem that bad. So what some politicians are slinging mud at other politicians. Isnt that part of the job. I dont agree with it but is it that surprising?

Personally don't think that's what politics is about, and I'm guessing from the fact that He wasn't a politician that either do politicians. He was politician's monkey messing with bad medicine, being paid as a "Civil" Servant by the tax payer. Not what I want my taxes spent on and I'm not involved. If I was Osbourne's wife or one of the other's smeared I'd really resent paying taxes so they could be used to invent scandal about me.

 

[TAE]

It might not be unusual but I still don't like people who work for the government spreading lies about members of the opposition.

 

[agricola]

The fightback from No.10 is on, with this astonishingly inane Guido assasination piece in the Telegraph.

 

[Stardark]

Oh, but the comments...

And I lied. You did say it would be a smearjob.

 

[Corax]

Is there a thread on this?

Containing the classic quote:

A Metropolitan police spokesman said the force was "not discussing it".

Have I missed it somewhere, or has Urban somehow not noticed it?

 

[agricola]

The Sunday Mirror continues the No.10 offensive with a front-page exclusive:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest...-top-tories-in-tell-all-book-115875-21288361/

 

[DotCommunist]

Is there a thread on this?

Containing the classic quote:


Have I missed it somewhere, or has Urban somehow not noticed it?

I heard that on the radio. Fucking disgrace.

 

[Corax]

The Sunday Mirror continues the No.10 offensive with a front-page exclusive:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest...-top-tories-in-tell-all-book-115875-21288361/

Natalie reveals she was hired by “Tory C” after his wealthy friends bet him he couldn’t get a black girlfriend. But then he became addicted to her weekly whipping sessions.

She said: “I’d turn up for sessions at his home … but what was bizarre is that he was still living with his mum and she’d be in the house while it was going on.”

But she says he was a let-down when it came to sex, earning him the nickname Two-minute Wonder.

Nice to see the tories have left their image of being racist, impotent mummies-boys behind.

Part of me wonders what will actually be in her book though. This is pre-publication hype, after all.

 

[gosub]

Nice to see the tories have left their image of being racist, impotent mummies-boys behind.

Part of me wonders what will actually be in her book though. This is pre-publication hype, after all.

I googled Natalie Rowe, first was an anti News of the World blogger complaining that last time this was in the press it was just a reheat from 2005. Reckon what we need is an expert on media and politics to explain what is going on, someone like this bloke :

 

[Corax]

I googled Natalie Rowe, first was an anti News of the World blogger complaining that last time this was in the press it was just a reheat from 2005. Reckon what we need is an expert on media and politics to explain what is going on, someone like this bloke :

Good spot!

Tres bizarre.