May appoints chair of inquiry into child sexual abuse

Home Secretary Theresa May has today announced the appointment of the Baroness Butler-Sloss GBE to lead an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse. Baroness Butler-Sloss is a former president of the Family Division of the High Court and chaired the Cleveland Child Abuse Inquiry. The new inquiry was announced in the House of Commons yesterday and will consider whether and the extent to which public bodies and other important institutions have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse.

It will seek to address public concern over failings exposed by appalling cases of child sex abuse, including by celebrities such as Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris. Work is under way to finalise membership of the panel and agree terms of reference for the inquiry.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "In recent years, we have seen appalling cases of organised and persistent child sex abuse that have exposed serious failings by public bodies and important institutions. That is why the government has established an independent panel of experts to consider whether these organisations have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse. I am pleased to announce today that Baroness Butler-Sloss has been appointed to lead this inquiry. I look forward to an update on the panel's progress in Parliament before May next year."

Baroness Butler-Sloss said: "I'm honoured to have been invited to lead this inquiry. The next step is to appoint the panel and agree the terms of reference. We will begin this important work as soon as possible."

ASA investigation into the Home Office's "Go Home" campaign is welcomed by opposition parties

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has launched a formal investigation into the Home Office ‘Go Home’ ad campaign following 60 complaints. Complainants have expressed concerns that the ad, in particular the phrase “Go Home”, is offensive and irresponsible because it is reminiscent of slogans used by racist groups to attack immigrants in the past and could incite or exacerbate racial hatred and tensions in multicultural communities.

Separately, some complainants have challenged whether the claim “106 ARRESTS LAST WEEK IN YOUR AREA” is misleading. They’ve also challenged whether it is misleading because it implies arrest is the automatic consequence of remaining in the UK without permission. The ASA will publish their findings in due course.

The Home Office have confirmed they're in contact with the Advertising Standards Authority and "will respond in due course"

Green party leader Natalie Bennett responded to the news by telling me that the: "Complainants who have said that words 'Go Home' were offensive and irresponsible are entirely correct. That the government should be responsible for these vans is a reflection of their desperation to chase after UKIP votes. But by doing this, they are only strengthening UKIP's political position. The three largest parties should be standing up to prejudice and misinformation. We have major problems in Britain with low pay, with a shortage of housing, with austerity damaging essential public services from health to education, and these are the result of government's failing. Attempts to blame them on immigration are both deeply dishonest and deeply dangerous." 

Labour's Shadow Immigration Minister Chris Bryant responding to the news that the ASA are investigating said: "This is another embarrassing blow to a Government which continues to fail to deal with immigration. With more people absconding at the border and fewer illegal immigrants being returned, David Cameron and Theresa May can't even get the basics right, stumbling from one shambles to another. You've got to question the Government's competence. We need effective action on immigration not offensive stunts."

The Scottish National Party MP Pete Wishart commented: "It is not surprising the use of the 'go home' vans has received widespread criticism, and I am pleased they are being investigated by the ASA. The vans are highly likely to lead to illegal immigrants going underground - rendering them totally counter-productive - while intimidating peaceful and legitimate communities. These posters are clearly designed to address the growing electoral influence of UKIP in Westminster politics, and the anti-immigration plank of their agenda. The illegal immigrants the vans are supposedly trying to target are unlikely even to have a good enough grasp of English to understand what is being communicated."

Despite the words in opposition two years into government Gary Mckinnon is still fighting extradition

On the 15th of December 2009 the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, along with politicians from the Conservatives demonstrated outside the Home Office in favour of Gary McKinnon and called for Gary McKinnon to be tried here in Britain. Gary McKinnon who suffers from aspergers syndrome admits "computer misuse" but the alleged crime happened in the United Kingdom not the United States therefore any trial should be held here.

The extradition treaty which the United States Government is trying to extradite Mr McKinnon under was signed under the Royal Prerogative by the then, Labour, Prime Minister Tony Blair. It shamefully allows a British subject to be extradited to the United States without the United States authorities providing any evidence to back up their allegations. However the other way round is a no-no. This lopsided agreement only applies one way, a United States citizen can not be extradited in the same way.

In July 2009 the Leader of the Conservative party, David Cameron, said 'Gary McKinnon is paying the price for the spinelessness of Labour MPs. It should still mean something to be a British citizen - with the full protection of the British Parliament, rather than a British Government trying to send you off to a foreign court. I am disappointed that some of the Members of Parliament who signed up to do something about this did not follow through when it came to the vote.'

Earlier the same day, 74 Labour MPs who signed written motions backing Mr McKinnon or demanding a review of extradition agreements with the U.S. failed to oppose the party line. A demand to review the Extradition Act 2003 was defeated by 290 votes to 236. During the debate the Labour MP (now Independent pending a prosecution) Dennis McShane suggested Mr McKinnon was faking his Aspergers which Janis Sharp, Gary's mothers replied 'It was an absolutely awful, cheap shot. It is a horrendous suggestion. It also shows his ignorance.'

I am now wondering as both David Cameron, Prime Minister and Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister were infavour of a review of the extradition treaty in question in 2009 but two years into government have done nothing about it. They could of put it before parliament to vote it off the statute - they've not done it. They could of demanded the United States government allow a renegotiation - they've not done it. They could of simply ruled that Mr McKinnon be put through the legal system in the United Kingdom - they've not done it.

So before the election they supported Gary McKinnon they called on Labour to "find their moral compass" they called Labour MPs "spineless". Words and sentiments I agree with however two years into this Tory-led government when you look around the cabinet table - its not just Labour MPs who've had their spines taken out!

This Tory-led government are weak, cowardly and totally contemptible. To make a vulnerable person believe that he will be helped before an election then to do nothing about it after the election is gutter politics of the lowest order. Frankly if Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg left the political stage - who exactly would miss them? I doubt Gary McKinnon and Janis Sharp would.

May relief as Qatada loses right to appeal

Theresa May                                  Abu Qatada

The Home Secretary Theresa May will be breathing a huge sigh of relief as the European Court of Human Rights threw out a claim of appeal by the radical cleric Abu Qatada. Around three weeks ago Mrs May got embroiled into a political row over the timing of the decision to move. The Home Office claimed they were correct and it was after the deadline.

In their deliberation it was confirmed that the appeal request was within the time set by the European Court. However in defence of the Home Office the confusion came about as it was timed at 00:13 18th April on British time therefore after the deadline but on French time it was 11:13 17th April therefore inside the deadline. However the court decided that they would not allow the appeal regardless.

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, said on learning the decision: "I am pleased by the European Court’s decision. The Qatada case will now go through the British courts I am confident the assurances we have from Jordan mean we can put Qatada on a plane and get him out of Britain".