Brown on the ropes?

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Chris

Nope - that's an urban myth. Stating that something has been 'alleged' by someone else is not a defence against a claim of libel.

Why do they do it so much then?

You would have to ask them. At a guess I'd say it's an attempt to distance themselves from it, just in case it does come back to bite them. I don't know how successful a strategy that is though. 'Repeating a libel' is most definitely actionable.

I know of what I speak, by the way - I am a journo (a properly trained one, unlike most of the hacks in Fleet Street), and I've passed the course on newspaper law.

[Osem]

Cheers for that - just been doing some reading up on libel laws and it's an interesting field. One which perhaps more people should look into.

Found this which clarifies things nicely.

Interesting until you have to swot up for it, I promise you. Or until you have to actually make a snap decision on whether you can go to print with something or not.

Everyone should have a copy of McNae's on their shelf. (Go on, look it up ).

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Chris

Interesting until you have to swot up for it, I promise you. Or until you have to actually make a snap decision on whether you can go to print with something or not.

That's what brown trousers are for isn't it?

Why do i get the feeling now the telegraph are publishing details of who has claimed what we're about to see a sudden upsurge in honesty from some of our elected servents including good ol gordon.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Why do i get the feeling now the telegraph are publishing details of who has claimed what we're about to see a sudden upsurge in honesty from some of our elected servents including good ol gordon.

Well it does appear that the impending release of this information focussed some minds and improved a few memories around the House of Commons....

[Uncle Peter]

I wonder if Paul Murphy was actually referring to his central heating when requesting that "the old boiler" be replaced

Yeah funny how having a light shone somewhere dark can motivate some people isn't it .

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Chris

Interesting until you have to swot up for it, I promise you. Or until you have to actually make a snap decision on whether you can go to print with something or not.

Everyone should have a copy of McNae's on their shelf. (Go on, look it up ).

How is that the BBC feels able to publish and comment on the allegations now being made by the Daily Telegraph when, to my knowledge, nobody at this point is able to verify the facts or the accuracy of the information the newspaper has obtained? Today they've felt able to repeat certain allegations made against one minister who's already threatened legal action against the newspaper..

[rogerdraig]

i still think the question everyone should be asking is why are they papers doing this

i still think this is motivated by buisneses who whis to push MPs in to be relient on donations to get these perks rather than from us


in a few years time when their plasma tvs are provided by bpi, phorm, google, sky, etc wich way do you think laws will go ?

for the pariniod if the ID data base gets of the ground you will see insurance companies ofering perks then asking for law changes to check these data bases to prevent fraud against them ect

all because we seem to think they shouldnt have perks Yes MPs get paid more than most of us But against the wages of the big buisnesses they are there to regulate and control they are not on good money for what they do

i for one prefere is is us via taxes who bribe them to stay on our side than let those with more take over that roll

for make no mistake they will still have thier new plasma Tvs and trips to the bahamas who ever pays for it

I think there is some middle ground between what we have now and what you feel might come to pass Roger and that is where we should be aiming. I think the biggest step towards that is to take away the power to set the rules on expenses and wages for mp's by mp's and give it to an independently accountable body.

No one is saying that mp's shouldn't be entitled to claim expenses but only for things that are strictly job related and are only needed because of the job they do ie no more claiming for shopping or broken appliances. While i understand the defence many are offering that the system allows them to do it it doesn't change the fact that as individuals they could have played the game fairly, even if the rules allowed them to be less then fair and as we are seeing many decided not to do that which says a little about their charector.

[rogerdraig]

any thing that leaves a gap that outside companies will see a benefit to themselves in filling will be a backward step

[Osem]

To me this has the whiff of Mandelson and the spinners about it - "for God's sake show some humanity and humility Gordon or we're all screwed....."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...dian-interview

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/a...w-mps-expenses

To be honest, you could walk away from all of this tomorrow," he said. "I'm not interested in what accompanies being in power. I wouldn't worry if I never returned to all those places - Downing Street, Chequers ...

Yeah right. Of course you could Gordon..... That'd be why you wont resign or call an election until you're forced to..

...And it would probably be good for my children."

I'm not sure how good it'd be for his children but it'd be great for the rest of us.

[Osem]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8123723.stm

New policies? Not just a load more populist tripe which will never see the light of day if he stays in power then...