Look! Over there...

So, anything interesting going on this weekend apart from the extremely embarrassing revelations about Oaten's private life and the death of that whale?

Why yes, I do believe there's another thrilling enstallment of lies, damned lies, and New Labour.

Act 1

Independent on Sunday:
Pressure over the use of British airports for secret CIA torture flights increased dramatically yesterday after it emerged that a Foreign Office minister misled Parliament over a meeting between the UN and UK civil servants about the issue.

The Independent on Sunday has learnt that Lord Triesman, the Foreign Office minister, misled peers when he told the House of Lords that no such meeting had ever occurred.

But Martin Scheinin, the UN Human Rights Commission's special rapporteur, travelled to London to hold meetings with Home Office and Foreign Office officials between 21 and 22 November last year. He raised concerns about the issue of "extraordinary rendition" - the policy of moving terror suspects to countries that use torture - and is so concerned following the lack of disclosure that he is writing to ministers.

Act 2

The Observer:
Ruth Kelly has suppressed a crucial report warning her plans for schools could drive a wedge between rich and poor children, The Observer can reveal.

The academic research warns that giving schools control over which pupils they admit could increase social segregation. This is precisely the claim made by Labour MPs in revolt over the reforms and until now denied by Kelly.

Its authors have been told by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to postpone publication of their study, which will not now be released to the Commons Education Select Committee which is set to report on the Kelly's education white paper this week.

Act 3

Chicken Yoghurt (on the police storing the DNA of innocent children):
It looks very much to me as if the government and the police (as Sir Ian Blair reminded us, an apolitical organisation) have colluded on an agreed line to take on this matter. What other explanation? Mental telepathy? Did Hyde copy Burnham's homework?

Finale

Tony Blair is first against the wall when the revolution comes.

Does he, I wonder, understand that he's radicalising people with his obsession with control and the stifling of dissent? Does he understand the frustration felt by people living under a government displaying such contemptable levels of duplicity? Does he realise that he shows a complete lack of respect for rational debate and the democratic process? Does he see that behaving as he does undermines the very institutions he puports to hold dear?

I don't know. Perhaps he's been in his Westminster bubble for so long that he genuinely can't see it. Perhaps he believes that the ends justify the means. Perhaps he can't see that this is how authoritarianism takes root and freedom is lost. Or perhaps he really is a idiot.



Tags: News, Politics, Tony Blair