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Thursday, 18 October, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 18 Oct 07, 05:55 PM

Europe
brown203x100.jpgWhen Gordon Brown sits down to dinner tonight with fellow EU leaders in Lisbon, the EU Reform Treaty may already have been effectively signed and sealed. So has Britain surrendered too much sovereignty and denied the people a say in a referendum? Or is the Treaty a simple tidying up exercise that will make the EU operate more effectively?

ITV
"Horrible" and "inexcusable" - ITV executive chairman Michael Grade's description of a damning review of ITV's phone in competitions. More than 8 million callers are now eligible for millions of pounds of compensation after they contacted programmes such as Ant and Dec's Gameshow Marathon and Saturday Night Takeaway. Many entered competitions that they had no chance of winning. Grade's sorry, but why hasn't he sacked anyone and how could such grand scale deception have taken place at all? Jeremy will interview Michael Grade on tonight's show.

Bhutto's Back
A tearful Benazir Bhutto has been greeted by tens of thousands of supporters in Karachi after eight years in exile. Mark Urban travelled in with Mrs Bhutto from Dubai, and spoke to her about her plans. Can she become Prime Minister again, or will her "deal" with President Musharraf count against her in the eyes of voters?

Comments  Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 06:22 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • ROGER HALLETT wrote:

A QUESTION FOR MR GRADE,SHOULD THE POLICE BE INVESTIGATING THIS DECEPTION AS I AM SHURE THIS IS STILL A CRIMINAL OFFENCE

DE MOCK CRASS Y

We have been lied to about just what is going on from Heath all the way to Brown. How can we possibly know the answer to your questions (above) or any other? Add the fact (as pointed out by various posters yesterday) that the relevant documents are written in convoluted syntax using at least one noun that is not in the dictionary: "competences". Seemingly, it is employed to avoid direct admission of lost POWERS. We are caught up in a crass mockery and left wondering "Y"?

  • 3.
  • At 07:08 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Ed wrote:

Dear Newsnight

No offence, but the future of the 主播大秀 is about 10 times more interesting than Europe, ITV and Bhutto.

I think the future of the 主播大秀 deserves another slot in the Newsnight programme tonight since it was today that Mr Thompson revealed the job cuts and his vision for the future which many people would like to question.

  • 4.
  • At 07:16 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • THE GRINCH wrote:


Gordon Brown, is not the sole architect of the UK's current position in europe, and should not be considered in that way. Tony Blair, John Major and Margaret thatcher have played more significant roles in how the public at large percieve the European union, constitution or not.I don't see where our sovereignty has been challenged. We still ahve the pound, a diabolical immigration policy, substandard school education, and an ineffective police force. What in the constitution will change any of that?

  • 5.
  • At 07:20 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • newsnightjunkie wrote:

Mr Grade quickly condemned the 主播大秀 for their slips in this direction.

If you must run those sort of shows which require audience participation,
it is important to check that all are doing the job properly.

  • 6.
  • At 07:25 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • csharp wrote:

Was it Mr Hain who called the original Constitution a 'tidy up'? Apparently the EU gets control of the UK oil during an energy crisis.

Can someone put the original constitution and the new treaty side by side and show what exactly has been taken out. Then we can see if there has been significant change. Everyone who has done this exercise comes to the conclusion its the same document.

Did ITV choose today to bury bad news? Apparently only 1% of people take up the offer of a refund?

  • 7.
  • At 07:27 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Adrienne wrote:

1) When Michael Grade was interviewed on this general issue on Newsnight not too long ago, an ex-colleague of his effectively said that Michael and he weren't exactly blind to such practices in their day. Michael Grade, I recall, visibly blanched as if he was being 'outed'.

So please, let's not play the innocents tonight... please.

2) On Europe:

/blogs/newsnight/2007/10/tuesday_16_october_2007.html

3) Is it now offensive to report what's published in the international scientific literature and in our own (and the USA government's) agency published education tests?

Isn't it time we stopped spinning and faced reality?

  • 8.
  • At 07:31 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Colin Wilkinson wrote:

Surely Mr. Cameron should promise to reverse the EU reform treaty when he becomes Prime Minister

  • 9.
  • At 07:39 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Mullerman wrote:

Whats the point, mention Europe to the average UK moron/citizen and they go off on one. 99% dont know anyhting about the treaty and the same ammount would vote against it .... because its got Europe in it!

  • 10.
  • At 07:41 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Bedd Gelert wrote:

I'm with Ed - there may be bigger stories in the world than the 主播大秀 re-structure, but let us face it, they will never be covered in the way they deserve in the future if this rapacious decimation is allowed to be implemented.

I think you should devote the whole programme to this tonight, but have a 20% shorter programme, with the 'gap' being filled by a video of a brazier on the barricades to give a message to the imbeciles running the 主播大秀 that this will simply not be tolerated !!!!!

  • 11.
  • At 07:43 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Lilly Evans wrote:

Please get Mr Thompson on TV to explain to us what he had to say to 主播大秀 staff. We are stakeholders and not only want to know but need to know.

As for bandishing 'quality' as reason for chosing specific cuts, we should hear what 主播大秀 top brass means by it. More importantly, how will they recognise 'quality program' before they fund it.

Will 主播大秀 management run open sessions for viewers and licence payers across UK to find out what we want? And can they announce that in good time and keep doors open to allcomers?

Please do not let public down as you are publicaly funded service.

  • 12.
  • At 07:45 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Bedd Gelert wrote:

Dare you to open up the show with the new 2007 version of Joni Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi', as it seems people are belatedly waking up to the fact that we 'won't know what we've got till it's gone...'

Was it ever thus...

  • 13.
  • At 07:48 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Silkstone wrote:

Europe.

The answer to the first part - Yes!

The answer to the second part - No!

But then again you know that only too well....

  • 14.
  • At 07:56 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Lilly Evans wrote:

So now producers are sending emails on the content of Newsnight? Is it the task below all presenters except Gavin Esler? Bring him back please.

  • 15.
  • At 09:03 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Bedd Gelert wrote:

"As part of Newsnight's democracy series, filmmaker Sabiha Sumar met Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf."

Tonight's sad events in Pakistan seek to emphasise how important factual, accurate and fearless reporting like the above are to getting a proper world view from the 主播大秀. Will films like the above be the first casualties in the war for cost savings ? I hope not, but fear the worst..

  • 16.
  • At 09:07 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Silkstone wrote:

Re#7

Probably the word 'if' might be more prudent than 'when'.... Cameron becomes PM.

A book - 1200 pages of it - produced by Brussels, entitled Directory of Community Legislation in Force, lists all the decisions, directives, regulations etc., thousand after thousand of them; enabled by the transfer of sovereign 'powers' ceded in various Treaties, and which now sit within the EU's INALIENABLE POSSESSION.

The phrase for this as I've mentioned several times on the blog is....AQUIS COMMUNAUTAIRE and it is a phrase that needs to be rammed into every single debate before this lot is over.

Once power has been ceded it becomes set in stone and can NEVER be returned or claimed back: it is gone from a Nation's ownership FOREVER!

So it follows that red lines and 'red herrings' aside, neither Cameron nor anyone else could reverse Brown's ceding of the other 40 plus powers -including Immigration and asylum - after this infamous betrayal of Nations has been finally signed, sealed and delivered.

  • 17.
  • At 09:30 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Adrienne wrote:

Further to #7 on spin, distortion and accountability: to illustrate jjust how endemic all this PC nonsense is in the West, note that when Sarkozy points out that the plight of Africa today is not to be laid at the door of past colonialism (GDP is highly correlated with mean IQ and the consensus now is that that GDP (like SES) is the dependent variable not the independent), it isn't Sarkozy who's branded a 'racist' by France's most famous living philosopher, Bernard-Henri Levy, but Sarkozy's *speech-writer*. Yet no doubt it will be Sarkozy who gets the credit for anything that's perceved to be politically correct.

A lesson in the nature of 'credit assignment', modern absurdity and the failure of accountability.

Will we see more of it tonight over the ITV fiasco?



  • 18.
  • At 09:39 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Richard Patient wrote:

Ed (@ 07.08 PM on 18 Oct 2007)

No offence, but the future of the EU is about fifty million times more important than the future of the 主播大秀 et al.

It's about democracy, whereas your choice for "the most interesting" is about some kind of shallow entertainment.

  • 19.
  • At 09:46 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Harriet Hamster wrote:

主播大秀 Newsnight Staffers never reply to comments on the Web Site EVER they have no time MUCH to petty.

Last one was the "Oxbridge set" in joke with Peter Barron making a comment on Michael Crick's partner Lucy an exec 主播大秀 producer.

Crick did reply to say his partner Lucy indeed did made his first film !

What a hoot,other than that they have have no time for the blog..

Why Bother I ask ?

  • 20.
  • At 10:05 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Ed wrote:

Richard

No offence taken. But your opinions (and mine and every other Joe Bloggs) as an individual regarding Europe count for almost diddly-squat. But your views / opinions / posts on the 主播大秀 at least have a bit more mileage because I presume a few 主播大秀 people, at least, will be reading our posts (so as to get an idea of what their viewers think) at this very important point in the history of the 主播大秀 (this might sound dramatic but there are lots of people who like to see it disappear - such as politicans - Gerald Kaufman for example - commerical broadcasters - and many of the public in general). As i said deabte further just today (because it was today that Mr Thompson announced the cuts).

So, again, I ask do people want a public broadcaster - if yes, then what kind of 主播大秀 do people want? I mean you just have to look at the inane rubbish and constant adverts you get on American television and on the continent to understand what I mean (and although we don't need such proof, pyschologists have measured the negative influence television can have on people's lives, in particular children). Through a quirk a fate we have a gem in the 主播大秀 - a proven provider of accurate, creative, innovative and original television. But it is being damaged by people in the 主播大秀 who are turning the corporation into a commercial-like broadcaster, thus makeing its programmes more inane, and also weakening its position for future funding because people will ask - what is the point of paying for the 主播大秀 when it is indisguishable from commercial broadcasters.

  • 21.
  • At 10:15 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Liam Coughlan wrote:

Some of Britain's top TV entertainers, including some paid almost as much as the ineffective Jonathon Ross, have lied and cheated the public in the ITV television phone scams. This is the face of commercial TV. The 主播大秀 and its audiences are duty bound to defend the corporation from privatization. A different funding formula is needed, as a tax per television is as outdated as the TV sets that existed when it was introduced.

I predict there will be a referendum on the EU treaty. In the face of public opinion polls, Brown will u-turn, and boldly state that a referendum is what was planned all along, as evidenced by the manifesto promise.

  • 22.
  • At 10:24 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

If you get a chance to touch on the 主播大秀 plans - can you ask someone, is the cost of keeping pointless services like 主播大秀 3 and 4 worth the price of cutting back on solid original news?

If they did not have to fill the hours of broadcasting on these channels they would not have to increase the number of repeats.

Do viewers realise that a programme is often scheduled to repeat 4 times across the network on its first showing?

Paxman is right - They are reducing serious programmes to be replaced by frivolous websites and a download service that is clunky, low quality and basically another repeat!

  • 23.
  • At 10:41 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Bedd Gelert wrote:

"For copyright reasons we cannot show this video".

Great to see that there are absolutely no obstacles to Thompson's view of a multi-platform world !!!!!

  • 24.
  • At 10:45 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Liam Coughlan wrote:

"For copyright reasons we cannot show this video". This is the message flashed on the web edition for overseas viewers during the ITN interview. Shameful....overseas viewers cannot see clips of Ant and Dec ripping off US viewers? Come on Newsnight and 主播大秀 - review the copyright restrictions that block most UK content to non-UK viewers.

  • 25.
  • At 10:54 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Adrienne wrote:

#16 Excellent points made on Tuesday in:

/blogs/newsnight/2007/10/tuesday_16_october_2007.html

After the USA (see the video from ETS):

It will be Europe next many fear, and perhaps England first given the rate of low skilled immigration, their higher birth rates, and brighter people's lower TFR. The reaction to Watson is frankly ridiculous given the weight of evidence in the scientific literature and annual educational results at national level.

This is precisely why our civil disorder and other problems will just continue to get worse, as we are shooting our messengers. Clearly the 'extension' (and it will be in practical terms) of Human Rights through the EU Reform Treaty can only serve to reinforce the current trend.


This is Kafkaesque:

as it sadly tells us something about the pitiful state of science/ignorance in the country.

  • 26.
  • At 11:10 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • neil robertson wrote:

Fabulous Paxman grilling of Michael Grade who is talking legal bollocks:
in fraud cases, the fraudster's firm of lawyers does not indeed take the decision on whether to prosecute as
Paxman pointed out! Bring on PC Plod.

And of course the onus is on ITV to refund the money. Nonsense of Grade to suggest otherwise: if one of the online book purchase sites cannot fulfil online orders they take the initiative in organising a refund.

They remain open as well to a class action. 拢7m might not sound like a huge amount of money but it is 拢2m
more than Newsnight's budget. Ant & Dec have failed a Bush House Tucker theft test and 主播大秀 is right to call for heads to roll as they did at the Beeb .....

  • 27.
  • At 11:31 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Silkstone wrote:

Apologies re my opening referal in #16 above; it should have read Re#8 not Re#7.

  • 28.
  • At 11:38 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

I don't want to sound like a sneering curmudgeon, but having watched Michael Grade's hapless witterings to Paxo, it confirms what I've long suspected: any deluded saps who watch such programmes are asking to be ripped off.

  • 29.
  • At 02:15 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Silkstone wrote:

Europe.

Instead of inviting D. McShane to appear on the programme it would be simpler just to show a repeat of his previous, monotonously repetitive, attempted-wool-pulling responses.

He obviously believes, as must his equally fanatical fellow euro-federalists, Brown, Miliband, Murphy - particularly Murphy - et al, that the mental capacity of Newsnight audiences is that of ten-year olds!

With casual arrogance he dismisses the loss of 鈥渓ittle bits of sovereignty鈥 as he puts it.

He then makes the stupidly fatuous claim that as 44,000 words isn鈥檛 90plus percent of 160,000, that the Reform Treaty can鈥檛 possibly contain 90plus percent of the essence of the 鈥榝ailed鈥 Constitution document 鈥 this, in spite of straightforward admissions from political leaders right across the Continent that it does....the words 'abridge' or 'condense' probably hold no meaning for him.

He follows this with the unbelievably bald assertion that by implication pro-referendum people must all be right-wing Tories, whilst being fully aware that the 80percent, or four out of five voters who are demanding one, must come from all colours and quarters of the political spectrum; yet he still has the colossal crust to try to get away with it.

To add insult to injury he then insists that as referendums weren鈥檛 called by Thatcher and Major there is no 鈥榥eed鈥 to call one in this instance - and the hell with manifesto promises. How irrational can a man get? The fact that Thatcher and Major failed to seek the Nation's approval is PRECISELY why the Nation - if it wishes to remain a nation - CANNOT let it happen ever again and both Brown and Blair therefore MUST be brought to account at the highest possible level for indulging themselves in what amounts to the greatest betrayal of trust in the Country鈥檚 history; a betrayal that in former times would have been considered to be no less than high treason.

People have at long last started to wake up to the acquisition-by-deception-and-stealth tactics that have brought the euro-project thus far. And had people realised at the time of the signing of previous treaties just how much was being ceded 鈥 supposedly in their name 鈥 they would have made a far bigger shout than they are starting to make right now.


  • 30.
  • At 05:47 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

Absolutely brilliant Jeremy (34/10) with Michael Grade on the phone-in scam last night, and also on the attempted assasination of Benazir Bhutto.

  • 31.
  • At 09:46 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

Jeremy

You raised an important point about paying back money rather than claiming with Michael Grade

There is more dishonesty here, me thinks. It would cost ITV a lot in admin to automatically refund money.

They are relying on people not bothering to claim as it will cost them a lot less to write one big cheque to charity than to refunds millions of small amounts.

Another investigation anyone?

Michael Grade talked about it being a cultural problem, and he is right. But he talked as if this was a recent problem in the industry.

So far from the truth. Going back to the days of Payola this has been a problem. To request shows on radio where the producer picks the callers who's request matches the play list. (You don't think they really had every record ever made in the studio?)

  • 32.
  • At 11:40 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

In Pakistan establishment always nip the voice of descent which they successfully did when Nawaz Sharif landed at Islamabad on 10 September and his party鈥檚 main leaders and supporters were under arrest and Islamabad was sealed despite clear court orders and we will keep hearing contempt proceedings for weeks to come, but the damage is done. On the other side, here comes all time hated by the General the so called corrupt Ms. Bhutto entering the arena with free hand, full protocol, bullet proof truck, and her billions and change intact and her militia around her with support of the military dictator entering the political landmine with pomp and show. Her supporters are allowed to travel from Karachi to Peshawar and i believe some are travelling for days without any policemen noticing their journey. People鈥檚 party despite their politics and style of anti establishment gave in at the eleventh hour for a little relief in lieu of ousting a military dictator preferred to join hands with him. Some democrats and hard-line supporter of PPP are critical and questioning her wheeling dealing and some are leaving the party and others doubt her slogan 鈥榳ith Benazir comes employment鈥 to the one that 鈥榳ith Benazir goes what鈥檚 left in Pakistan鈥. Most of her supporters are jubilant as their leader is amongst them.

Corruption of billions from public purse is a matter of public interest and of great importance and at best will be decided by 20th July born new courts however death of Mir Murtaza Bhuttoo is quite an other. Fatima Bhuttoo, daughter of the martyred in her latest article in the News on 20 September 2007 questions the impropriety of PPP govt in that killing when she says, 鈥 Curiosity impels people to ask about the not-so hidden hand, the highest level of government.鈥 The government of no other but that of her aunt Be Nazir. Its not a matter of politically motivated stealing of a goat or a buffalo or commission allegations of polish tractors, or French spare parts repairs or oil or food programme of UN or money laundering its a pure criminal investigation for which a case is pending for years and that little girl seeks justice, and i think BE Nazir must bring those to accounts who are in power or at least re open her father鈥檚 case and deliver justice to his soul.

I think one must be happy that twice premier is allowed to enter politics as desired and deserved however the style with which such deal is negotiated is bit shameful. Her attempts to seek pardon from corruption via ordinance than courts and her secret dialogue to keep Nawaz Sharif a one time arch rival out of electioneering process is not democratic whereas they both came close to some sort of 鈥榩olitical reforms package鈥 under 鈥楥harter of Democracy鈥. 主播大秀 in their online survey exposed that over 82% questions the validity of free polls if Sarifs are kept outside the arena and on the 8th anniversary International Republican Institute in their fresh polls between 29 august to 13 September with 4000 people declared sharifs as the highest in rating with 36% with Be Nazir trailing with 28% and Military man on the bottom with 21%

Whilst democrats welcome her return to play her due role however Pakistan鈥檚 establishment knows it better that partnership with ppp with crippled opposition can be very dangerous. It can act as a double edge sword and only restoring two party system in reality as was before 12 Oct 99 is the ultimate solution and key to the security of the system guaranteeing protection to the state. Q league with divided vote with N league will suffer heavily at the hands of PPP, in fact PPP will eat them alive if allowed to canvass single handedly and maturity desires the return of other exiled leaders to ensure free, fair and impartial elections to allow the people to elect and reject the leaders. This fair dual is also necessary to have a check and balance to preserve serenity and common sense.PPP in power with military dictator will not be able to deliver as per claims and assessments are that such govt will be short lived and could be toppled with any uneven incident whether it is an incident like 9/11 or sudden death of any stalwart and then the situation will desire a rematch calling all the players again but at that juncture the loss will be of Pakistan and as long liberals are allowed to canvass against conservatives will keep the hardliners at arms way but a match between pro signing and dancing nightclub with direct pro madrassha clans could be fatal.


Mullah is not the root cause of the actual problem, lack of political will is, and the direct diagnosis of such extremism is vacuum and the absence of political leadership which has roots in the masses on conservative front which use to keep middle class mobile and up right to check and out number the militant out fits. If you remove conservative leadership, ultimately you are left with hardliners whether they are Lal Masjid style leadership, or Tribals who are fighting in northern areas who are ready to interpret Islam to their own choosing though not shared by commoners but have a frightening effect on masses and create a terror thus spoiling the balance.

I feel time is up and rather than opening one door channel of secret and open negotiations with a,b,c parties and damaging the system further, military leader must act as Spartan and initiate open and public discussion in the supreme national interest with all political parties at a round table ensuring unconditional presence of all exiled leaders to discuss how an exit can be practically made possible and how a fair and transparent elections can be held in Pakistan. Those consultations may discuss the mechanism of inducting an independent and reliable care taker set up possibly judges along with powerful election commissioner who will impartially hold elections which appears to be and are in fact transparent and fair. He also needs consultation with all parties how the independence of judiciary can be secured as his actions speak louder than his claims that he believes in justice and fair play. Only a fair and independent judiciary can guarantee holding of a fair election(s) in Pakistan.

These suggested actions are not imminent and may not happen at all as our leadership lack political will and have no roots as well as wisdom which needs to solve the crisis they are in and they can chant national reconciliation but when it comes to crunch they speak with oppression and operations where our soldiers are at war with our own people and some of them are kidnapped, on 12th May and 10th of September Govt sealed off Karachi and Islamabad for Chief Justice and Sharifs, however the same city is open on 18th Oct for one and only. Though Imran Khan is considered worthy of expulsion orders each time he attempts to visit Karachi. These dual policies needs to be addressed before national reconciliation is talked about and in all this 160 million people are somewhere missing as they are not party to any negotiations. How long will the regime run this government with these discriminatory tactics, they must come up with the task as Article 5 of the Constitution binds them that loyalty to the state is their basic duty and obedience to the constitution and law is inviolable and they need to ask themselves whether those duties are discharged properly , fairly and indiscriminately. Sometimes they need to get out of the bullet proof cars and go to local market and see with their eyes and listen to the live people how they see their performance.

  • 33.
  • At 11:41 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

Association of Pakistani Lawyers a in UK jointly condemn the blasts of 18 October during a political procession of former Prime Minister of Pakistan and they have jointly expressed their condolences to the families of the people who have lost their lives and expressed sympathies with those who are injured. They demanded from Govt of the day to provide free medical aid to all of them indiscriminately.

APL demanded that the Sindh Govt and Governor Sindh who have failed to ensure law an order situation on this expected heavy turn out day must resign from their posts pending enquiry as this is the third major incident after the Nishtar Park blast, and 12th May massacre and now fatal disruption during Ms. Bhutto鈥檚 arrival in Karachi which calls for immediate action.

APL demands that SC appoints a judicial enquiry which is time barred and brings those to account and justice who have violated the law of the land as governmental enquiry will be a pointless exercise as we have seen on last 2 occasions.

APL further condemn the deteriorating law an order situation in Pakistan as a result of which situation like 12 May 07 is seen almost every other day in Pakistan and regionalism is promoted and Karachi has been made a 鈥榥o go鈥 area for certain quarters and citizens of Pakistan. The government of the day must show political will to promote some integrity and tolerance to bear the voice of opposition which is their democratic right as they claim in their enlightened moderation charter and as it is the election year and level playing filed must be ensured to two top political parties of the country which must be considered as a national asset. Political leaders however are advised not to stir ethnicity divide as the situation in Pakistan is extremely volatile and political parties in the run up to elections must also consider holding their processions at a an open place or at stadiums in lieu of thorough fares to ensure maximum security arrangements and to avoid loss and damage of lives and properties.
APL further called for a broad based national reconciliation where all parties are truly represented to ensure initiation an open and frank public discussion in the supreme national interest with all political parties at a round table ensuring unconditional presence of all exiled leaders to discuss how an exit of military from national politics can be practically made possible and how a fair and transparent elections can be held in Pakistan. Those consultations may discuss the mechanism of inducting an independent and reliable care taker set along with powerful election commissioner who will impartially hold elections which appears to be and are in fact transparent and fair. Those consultation with all parties will also discuss as to how the independence of judiciary can be secured as only a fair and independent judiciary can guarantee holding of a fair election(s) in Pakistan. APL hopes that Lawyers, media and Civil society鈥檚 contribution is fruitful to bring Pakistan out of this crisis to save the federation and country from imminent dangers as secure and tolerant democratic pakistan is in the interest of the world.

  • 34.
  • At 11:52 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Derek Phibes wrote:

I found the Grade piece fascinating - was it intended as parody?


Celebrity figures frantically caper in the media to get popular attention.
People are encouraged to participate by voting.
Votes are portrayed as meaningful and having some effect on decisions.
Voters have to pay but don't know where the money goes.

Hidden from public scrutiny the 'elite' ignore the votes and decide the outcome themselves.
As their decision does not agree with the majority vote this confirms in their minds that they are an elite.
When there is talk of the police being called in to investigate it seems some lawyers can be found who will say there was no crime to answer.

So the 'elite' get to make the decisions, and when their self-interest is discovered they get to judge themselves. The outcome is that their contrived decisions stand, and none of them are punished.

Harriet Hamster (19) - Sorry you feel this way. Perhaps we don't reply as often as we should. Now, did you have another question? Someone will get back to you. Neil. (Newsnight Producer)

  • 36.
  • At 01:32 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • shella wrote:

On TV scams - it is reflective of the terrible state of our media which does not seem to be able to make programmes anymore, unless they have some daft phone competition attached to it. Even CSI, the only fairly well scripted drama still on TV, has been turned into some kind game show! All we get ia game shows, repeats, sport, and phone in competitions. Now the news programmes are being cut I am thinking of getting rid of my TV, and just getting a better computer link! What exactly is the point of television any more - as the media seems to continually shoot itself in the foot, and has now joined the criminal fraternity!

No-one mentions that the odds are hopelessly against anyone winning, on any of these phone-in bets, paticularly as the deadlines keep getting extended. All the channels are guilty but ITV is particularly bad. It is people's desperation for more money that drives this kind of TV so the whole genere is really reflecting the pretty dire state of UK society as a whole, debt-ridden, broke and ready do anything, to try and make a fast buck.

What on earth does Jonathan Ross do to earn his million pound salary??? That money could surely be spent on quality drama and documentaries - not Ross's inane, absurd, chat show that panders to a parasitic celebrity fetish so destructive to our culture. This kind of show, like phone in gambling scams, bores the pants of anyone with any brains at all!

  • 37.
  • At 02:24 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Harriet Hamster wrote:

Neil
Thank you for the reply

No not really a question it was a follow-on to the comment made by poster number 14.

The concept of bloggs (i thought) was to exchange views,interact as for example the Guardian do very well and without exception their journalists and editors reply to opinions offered.It was just one example i selected to support evidence that your team seem to only reply if it's pertinent to their domestic situation.
Many thanks

  • 38.
  • At 02:54 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Adrienne wrote:

The draft of July Reform Treaty was available as four PDF files:

July Draft
1) 1495 KB
2) 0572 KB
3) 0641 KB
4) 0079 KB

The 'same' four PDF files in the October draft:

1) 1483 KB
2) 0715 KB
3) 0310 KB
4) 0085 KB

The 53 Article Fundamental Charter of Human Rights (2000/2007), (note, not the 1950 18 Article Fundamental Convention on Human Rights which our 15 Article Human Rights Act (1998) was based) *was* in file three. First, just look at the chronology of the ECHR (1950), UK HRA (1998) and the FCHR (2000).

Secondly, it seems that what they have done is *reference* documents in both the July, and again in the October, Reform Treaty in order to cut down the size and make the whole process more opaque. That seems to be a good part of the reason why the number of words has fallen from the original Constitution to the Reform Treaty and from file 3 in July to October.

So, the way that Denis MacShane (aka Denis Matyjaszek) put the relationship between the original EU Constitution document and the July Reform Treaty is rather misleading to say the least, as one could just look at the change between the July to the October draft to pick up on what's been going on.

Jim Murphy is not much better (see his website and previous comments on his constituency demographics and the proportionality spin remarked upon elsewhere, as whilst it may comprise over half to 80% of the Jewish population of Scotland, this would seem to be no more than 3.5% of his constituency). David Miliband is hardly a paragon of transparency either, and this chicanery has not gone unremarked upon by the HoC European Scrutiny Committee in the last two evidence sessions.

On 16th October, Miliband stooped to playing the WWII persecuted minority card in response to a 'Peace in Our Time' appeasement remark by the European Scrutiny Committee chairman.

Here's a reminder, of the remarks from currently (allegedly) 'Stalinist' Russia (the New Left, largely a creation of Ralph Miliband, is also, allegedly, essentially Trotskyite, hence the anarcho-capitalism air to New Labour I suggest) in order to widen the context of what *may* be going on (but see the gmwatch articles below). I don't necessarily mean to imply that any of these people are wilfully engineering anything (see the Standards Site PDF on 'unwitting racism', they may in fact, just be incompetently dealing with very complex matters thinking that they're a lot smarter than they actually are.

I guess the lesson is to be wary of subterfuge and tangled webs (see comments).


The 16th October evidence session:

For anyone offended by James Watson's recent remarks, I suggest they look at the official education data for the Key Stages:


especially:

If not too offended by those data, look further, i.e. to the 主播大秀 Office figures from the Youth Justice Board, and the crime and rate of imprisonment generally showing offending rates for ethnic groups relative to their population base rates. Muslims, incidentally (and somewhat ironically given all the talk of 'the war on terror'), are statistically under-represented in offending and imprisonment, possibly through the influence of Islam).

If James Watson can be treated this badly for telling the truth, what does one think's happening elsewhere to thousands of others? Statements made by so called experts in The Times article of the 19th October:

are grossly ill-informed to say the least. Who is going to tell them, and why should we listen to any of these people on other matters if they get this so radically wrong? An APA Task Force 1996 essentially vindicated the Bell Curve (which was not about race and intelligence anyway, it was about class and intelligence). The work has moved on since 1996.

In the light of this all this spin, perhaps some comments on entryism in science are in order (although, how one discriminates between Trotskyite 'entryists' and people who just don't know what they're talking about these days is a very difficult call):



or just put LM into SEARCH at the gmwatch.org site.

I have to say in passing that it does appear to be the case that the empirically well documented higher mean IQ (largely verbal, usually a female characteristic) found within the Jewish people (note, a frequencies issue, some=not(all), does appear to render (some of) them disproportionately more gifted at spin (perhaps at the expense of the sober realities of life?).

  • 39.
  • At 02:56 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

Who who will benefit most by demolishing pro-democracy elements and derailing the democratic process in Pakistan? Not the disenfranchised tribesmen in the far flunged frontier areas but the demons of dictatorial dispossesion.

Whenever moblization of masses is poised to pick up some momentum, use of force, violence and intimidation attempts to cow down the people in to passivity. Does someone care about the consequential complications? By tomorrow, the media will leave this sad episode behind.

The 18 October blasts in Karachi are aimed to punish the hundreds and thousands of people who voted with their feet for a change.

This is not an isolated incident. The day of 29 September manifests how a free hand was given to baton yeilding thugs to suppress free expression. Instead of upholding the rule of law, its custodians held up the baton.

Instead of tolerating the right to assemble, authorities resorted to the might to disperse. What kind of accomodation such blantant display of heavy-handedness is supposed to Pakistan to?

The series of mishaps from 9 March (Chief Justice's dismissal) to 12 May (12 killed in Karachi) and 10 September( Nawaz Sharif's forced deportation) to 29 September(brutal beating of lawyers and journalists) suggest that there are some perennially disposed to display power rather than flexibility and accomodation that steer Pakistan to tolerance and peaceful plural co-existence.

  • 40.
  • At 03:07 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Jos wrote:

I enjoyed the interview with Mark Francois and Dennis McShane. I did think Mark Francois was let off the hook by not being asked if the Tories would support or oppose the treaty either in parliament or in a putative referendum. It seems to me that the referendum issue is being used by the conservatives to avoid taking a position on the treaty itself.

  • 41.
  • At 03:21 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

Adrienne,

I believe the Ashkenazi Jews practiced a form of eugenics centuries ago, as Rabbis, etc., were encouraged to have large families while workers were discouraged.

I also believe there is a serious disjunction between the IQ (a very dubious measure) mean between Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews.

Meanwhile, the rest of us encouraged inbreeding in our Leading Families....

Salaam/Shalom/Shanthi/Dorood/Peace
Namaste -ed

It would be illogical to assume that all conditions remain stable.
-- Spock, "The Enterprise" Incident", stardate 5027.3

Harriet (37)

I'm pretty confident it's not the case that the team are only interested in our "domestic situation", but you're probably right that replies only seem to address these. Maybe we sould post earlier on in the day the stories we're pursing? Can't tell you how desperate we all are for inspiration first thing in the morning! I'm not in till Tuesday so hold all thoughts till then mind. Neil.

  • 43.
  • At 04:09 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • wrote:

Neil,

You might pursue the choice between drinking and driving posed here:

Slainte

ed

Falling in love is a lot like dying. You never get to do it enough to become good at it.

  • 44.
  • At 07:46 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Harriet Hamster wrote:

Neil replies

"Can't tell you how desperate we all are for inspiration first thing in the morning"

Well
It's 19.50pm Friday night and still no Newsnight web-site for Friday so yes you do need ideas !

  • 45.
  • At 11:06 AM on 20 Oct 2007,
  • peter price wrote:

U.K.I.P.are like policemen never around when you need them.They are never in the news telling you what their policies are the only time you hear from them is at election time I wish they would become more outspoken and let people know what they are about I will support any party that gets us out of Europe completely we've done well without them for years the only thing we have done with them is to pay them loads and loads of money and loans hour power of sentencing of criminals.it was stated that the British people are waking up to all the lies about europe I am afraid not enough of them are waking up to it sole come on U.K.I.P.pull your finger out and let's hear from you you won't be heard if you do not speak.What I would really like to see is Britain out of Europe and America out of Britain their backsides having taste for long enough by Britain so get rid and let's get the great back into Britain .

  • 46.
  • At 02:48 PM on 20 Oct 2007,
  • peter price wrote:

U.K.I.P.are like policemen never around when you need them.They are never in the news telling you what their policies are the only time you hear from them is at election time I wish they would become more outspoken and let people know what they are about I will support any party that gets us out of Europe completely we've done well without them for years the only thing we have done with them is to pay them loads and loads of money and loans hour power of sentencing of criminals.it was stated that the British people are waking up to all the lies about europe I am afraid not enough of them are waking up to it sole come on U.K.I.P.pull your finger out and let's hear from you you won't be heard if you do not speak.What I would really like to see is Britain out of Europe and America out of Britain their backsides have been kissed for long enough by Britain so get rid and let's get the great back into Britain .

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