Subject planning decisions to public scrutiny
June 25, 2008
On Wednesday, Gordon Brown faces another revolt, which is becoming a Wednesday habit after Prime Minister’s question time.
This time, it is over the planning Bill, the purpose of which is to streamline planning decision-making in Britain by giving more powers to the secretary of state and a quango with limited accountability to decide on planning applications, providing that they fit within national planning guidelines, as proposed by central government. Read more
EDM 1850: Islington Arts and Media, Holloway and Highbury Grove Schools
June 19, 2008
That this House deeply regrets the inclusion of Islington Arts and Media School, Holloway School and Highbury Grove School on the list of under-performing schools by the Department of Children, Schools and Families; recognises that all three schools have benefited from Government investment, are rapidly improving and recently had good inspection reports; has full confidence in their head teachers and staff; and calls for the Secretary of State to remove their names from the list.
EDM 1846: Missile defence
June 18, 2008
That this House notes that two Czechs citizens, Jan Tamas and Jan Bednar, went on hunger strike for several weeks to express their opposition to US plans to deploy missile defence radar facilities in their country; further notes that their hunger strike was inspired by several opinion polls showing that 70 per cent of Czech people oppose the plan; recalls repeated statements by the former Russian President Putin that Russia would re-target western Europe if US missile defence facilities were located in the Czech Republic and Poland; congratulates Olga Zubova, deputy for the junior governing Green Party (SZ), Alena Gajduskova, senator for the senior opposition Social Democrats (CSSD), Anna Geislerova, famous Czech actress and Petr Uhl, former dissident and journalist, who have agreed to join the symbolic one-day fast chain hunger strike; calls on hon. Members to join this vigil in solidarity; and further calls on the Government to make provision for debate and decision on the UK’s participation in the US missile defence system.
Afghanistan will be the new Iraq
June 18, 2008
On Monday, Defence Secretary Des Browne managed to give a fairly optimistic statement to Parliament about the way that policy in Afghanistan was developing. He opened by saying that the population was being won over and that everything was, generally, on the up. But, buried in the midst of this rather lengthy monologue, he conceded that 260 more troops would be going to Afghanistan and that there would also be a very big increase in air power and firepower for existing forces there, which are mainly active in Helmand province. Read more
EDM 1802: Australian initiative to abolish nuclear weapons
June 16, 2008
That this House welcomes the statement made by the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who, speaking in Hiroshima on 9th June, called on the world “to resolve afresh from the ashes of this city - to work together for the common mission of peace… and for a world where one day nuclear weapons are no more”; also welcomes his announcement that Australia is creating a new international body, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Commission that will build policy and political momentum towards the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference; and calls on Her Majesty’s Government actively to support the Australian initiative and to reconsider plans to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system.
Defending human rights worldwide
June 11, 2008
I had the pleasure of attending the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva this week on behalf of Liberation.
The council is the main UN forum for the defence of human rights worldwide. Its existence is a compromise between the aspirations of many non-governmental organisations and the innate desire of most governments to prevent human rights abuses from reaching a wider stage. Read more
Blurring the line between Parliament and the judiciary
June 4, 2008
Next week, MPs will once again be faced with a crucial vote on civil liberties.
The function of MPs is not to give up liberties that were hard won or to reduce the ability of Parliament to hold ministers to account. It is to defend the liberties of ordinary citizens, including the right to a fair trial, and to ensure that public services such as the police and security services are held openly and publicly to account. Blurring the boundaries between Parliament and the judiciary via this imminent 42-day detention vote will do the opposite. Read more
