Current News

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07 Feb 2007 – Wheatcroft on Hain

Geoffrey Wheatcroft attacks Hain over Iraq war stance

In the Guardian for 7 February 2007 Geoffrey Wheatcroft, author of the forthcoming book Yo, Blair!, expressed some pithy views on Peter Hain’s behaviour over the Iraq war. Wheatcroft said:

' It is a very long time since British politics has witnessed anything quite as abject and contemptible as Hain’s recent interview in the New Statesman . . .But really, what an utter wretch this man is! What a dismal, slippery poltroon! ’.

Strong stuff, just because poor Mr Hain now thinks the Iraq war was unjustified. A man can change his mind, can’t he?

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29 Dec 2006 - Latest on Hate Crime

This issue of Current News updates an article by FB published last January. It is about so-called hate crime, a term not known to the law. As the article says, this pseudo-law was invented by the police and a group of civil servants in the Home Office. Since publication of the article the latter have put on the Home Office website the following, described as ‘our definition of a hate crime’:

Any incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.’

Another development since the article was published is that the police have caved in over the case of Joe and Helen Roberts, described on page 28 of the article. A press release on the Christian Institute's website says:

Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire Constabulary have apologised to Mr and Mrs Roberts for the way the incident was handled and have revised their policies and procedures to ensure that the rights of all parties are protected. This includes the right of free speech and the right to protect vulnerable groups. The Constabulary recognises the need to investigate incidents appropriately. The Roberts’ have agreed to withdraw their claim on the basis that they will be paid £10,000, which will be donated to charity by them, and legal costs.’

David Green, Director of the think-tank Civitas and author of We’re (Nearly) All Victims Now discusses hate crime and FB’s article on the Police Federation of England and Wales' website.

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