People Power

Every now and again there are a set of circumstances which combine over a relatively short period to prove that ‘people power’ is alive and well and fulfilling its obligations to sort out the crap which is central government and the police.

Now I’m no commie, and I thank my lucky stars that the UK  has a democratic system whereby virtually anything these two establishments do is considered, judged and commented on by the people. And long may it be so.

Neither am I anti-police, but policing has now become so political in the UK that the boundaries between Westminster and the Chief Constables, and in particular Scotland Yard, have become blurred to the extent that sometimes I think that the politicians are policing and the police are playing at politics. Would any of us be surprised if the Head of Scotland Yard turned up at 10 Downing Street one day and arrested the Prime Minister for claiming a season ticket at Raith Rovers on his expenses? No I thought not. Nor are we surprised when one of the Police elite is found to be wanting and the politicians pile onto him as a way of deflecting attention from themselves. But none of this would happen without some member of the public somewhere finding out about these little transgressions and blowing the whistle. Look at what has happened in the last couple of weeks to prove that ‘people power’ is alive and well.

Bob Quick, Britain’s anti-terror chief was the guy who decided to be a political star and, overriding all parliamentary convention, stormed into Westminster without a warrant and searched the Conservative Damian Green’s office and arrested him, raiding his home and offices with some 23 policemen, and causing his family, and parliamentary colleagues to think that a new gunpowder plot was in the offing and Green was the ringleader.

Now, forgetting about the convention and long historical precedent that this is not supposed to happen in Parliament, it was clear that Quick had decided to become a political star using Scotland Yard’s close ties with New Labour to try and curry favour with his paymasters. As it turned out, Damian Green has never been charged with anything and Quick was passed over for the Commissioner’s job recently, so normality and a sense of reason prevailed.

It was therefore nothing of a surprise, to me at least, when Quick was effectively sacked last week. He had arrived at Downing Street to brief the Prime Minister on the latest terror plot and naively had his papers showing. These were duly photographed by the press and within minutes were on the internet. The exposure of the papers which appeared to show who was involved and where and when they were to be arrested, caused an anti-terror operation to be brought forward, but only by 24 hours. The ‘political establishment’ then started a concerted effort to have him removed – and it worked. Within 24 hours he was history.

Now for what it’s worth, I don’t think Quick should have been forced to resign. I’d rather have Quick running anti-terror ops than some new guy who knows nothing about it, but when you get involved in politics, it’s like playing with sharks. Occasionally you will be bitten and shark bites are usually fatal!

And as a linked aside, wasn’t it fortuitous that a member of the public, an American no less, took a video of the police manhandling Ian Tomlinson, just before he died at the G20 protests. Without that video, Ian Tomlinson’s post mortem would have been carefully ‘managed’, he’d have been buried and nothing more would have been heard about it. Thanks to that video, the police officer involved has been suspended and an inquiry is underway.

Next we have Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary and by a delicious twist of fate, Bob Quick’s boss. Poor Jacqui has had a torrid couple of weeks. Somebody doesn’t like her and keeps leaking things to the press. But astonishingly, she’s survived – so far.

Now her problems are more to do with ‘business politics’ rather than pure party-based politics. She suddenly turns up as Home Secretary having had no track-record, and of course the civil servants hate that. She’s probably quite a strong, logical character, not having been moulded over years by the political system and, in my opinion, she’s actually done quite a good job, which has confounded her critics. She’s not attractive but she has something which many men find strangely appealing. All in all, her enemies within the system are probably just jealous, hence the leaking of the information that her husband watched porno films on the TV and then claimed for them in their parliamentary expenses. And just when that furore was dying down, the leaking of information that she actually claimed 88p for a bath plug!     

Embarrassment sure. Resigning material – surely not? But the ‘establishment’ is at work on Jacqui Smith and I’m sure there’s more to come. See the latest little dig at her with a blue plaque (picture at top) placed on her sister’s house wall. What a hoot!

And finally, Damian McBride.  Who’s he when he’s at home? I didn’t know either but he turns out to be Gordon Brown’s most trusted adviser. The backroom guy responsible for helping Brown get where he is and who keeps him on track with what’s going on, with whom and by whom, and who is charged with making Brown electable for a 2^nd term, which is probably the most futile job in history!

Anyway, Gordon Brown famously said upon achieving his dream of getting his big feet over the step of 10 Downing Street, that there would be ‘no spin’ in his premiership. No dirty politics. He was a ‘son of the manse’ and we could trust him. Bollocks and so it has been proved.

Last week, some salacious e-mails about George Osborne (Shadow Chancellor) and David Cameron (Leader of the Opposition) were doing the rounds between Brown’s ‘trusted advisers’. These were penned by Damian McBride and were being sent by him to those plotting Brown’s re-election. Thing is, they reached a political blogger called ‘Guido Fawkes’ (his name is not an accident) and then all hell was let loose. Within 24 hours McBride was a gonner and the debate now is - did Brown know?

Guido, having obtained copies of the e-mails, deliberately issued them this Easter weekend when he knew the political landscape would be quiet – for maximum effect. Power to the people indeed!