I’m sure you will have been following the BBC coverage of the “Open Borders” issue. Now like everyone else, I expect that UK borders are securely guarded and I have grave doubts regarding Theresa May’s abilities anyway. HOWEVER, the BBC is clearly pursuing a conquer and divide approach to this story, as is all too evident in this coverage;
The suspended UK Border Force chief Brodie Clark has been treated with “contempt” by Home Secretary Theresa May, his union officials have said. The First Division Association’s Paul Whiteman said: “It is astonishing the home secretary [declared] him guilty before he had a chance of responding.”
The BBC is giving full spin benefit to those Trade Unionists who are out to get the head of May and save that of Clark. There is the continual meme that May has failed, that she was secretly behind the neglect of duty, and May must go but I don’t quite recall the same BBC focus given to spectacular failings of successive Labour Home Secretaries who presided over vast numbers of illegals getting into our country.
A reminder of recent history for the political amnesiac BBC-NUJ-Labour:
“At last we know the truth: Labour despises anyone who loves Britain, its values and its history”
(Melanie Phillips, 2010)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1253295/MELANIE-PHILLIPS-At-know-truth-Labour-despises-loves-Britain-values-history.html#ixzz1d9EEAw00
And now, BBC-NUJ falls into its default position as a trade union-Labour supporter against the Tories, and this political position is propagandised on all BBC-NUJ ‘reporting’ on this issue.
The BBC gave plenty of time today for claims from that strange teenage boy Ed Balls is married to that Labour fixed their immigration problems and the Tories dropped the ball.
‘default position as a trade union-Labour supporter against the Tories’
To be fair…. SKY was as bad just now, only for naked ratings reasons vs. the more insidious BBC ‘boost Labouir’ agenda.
First, set up a ‘critics are saying… questions being asked… resignations called for meme’, with just about every one-sided view piled on, AND THEN wheel on the opposition talking head to smug their way riding that wave with zero counter as to their record on such matters.
I could care less about May, who does seem a mess purely in terms of leadership, and if she has mislead Parliament (as alluded, only) then she’s toast, but thhis country is poorly served by a media that serves itslef only, and only serves to chip away at any itch for the heat over light reasons stated above.
Onlky as a ps. was it mentioned that her version vs. Brodie Clarke’s was supported by a 3rd party in the chain between the latter and her.
I now am treated to the SKY peroxide sink political reporter reading the teleprompter on this sequence.
Wondering if the BBC had that caveat at least.
Ah yes, more of that Golden Legacy that Labour left us.
Cf the economy, hospitalsnschools, social fabric etc etc etc etc
Alas, I endured her “performance” before Kieth Vas’s kangaroo court.
A friend of mine, who is a vet, said she should be put “down”.
However he didn’t stop there, he thought that many of the of the other idiots in the room were some what of a danger to themselves and their owners.
Mind you, the BBC’s coverage prompted him to refer to his big book on rabies and how it can distort over paid pretend journalists working for the State Broadcaster.
Pugh cartoon on Borders:
“http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/11/08/article-2058634-0EB5AE3100000578-843_306x371.jpg”
As soon as it kicked off, I thought of that sequence in Airplane!
But this one, considering Mr. Bryant’s role, seemed as good…
Labour had open borders for 14 years and the BBC never noticed.
Al-Beeb have probably only noticed as there is a sudden increase in potential staff members
I’m sure many members of staff at the BBC will be delighted that our country has even more little brown boys living here illegally, who’ll do ‘anything’ for a bit of cash-in-hand work!
The BBC are only concerned that their supply of fresh ‘chicken’ might dry up.
I’m sure the BBC will spin this for all it’s worth to make May look appalling and Clark just a simple trade unionist doing his best for UKBA and his ultimate employers (ie you and me). It’s clear, however, from other press reports eg http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/8875635/Theresa-May-admits-she-does-not-know-how-many-suspects-entered-UK-under-relaxed-border-controls.html , May isn’t worth saving. Yes she’s a Conservative so has lost the game before she starts (as far as the BBC is concerned) but, frankly, the BBC doesn’t even have to try here.
She is genuinely incompetent and a walking testament to dishonest spinning (cf her ridiculous efforts on Today to whitewash the police failure at the start of the August riots and her current claim that she knew nothing about relaxation of UKBA controls). Her sole contribution to political life in the UK has been to coin the phrase “nasty party” to encapsulate her notions concerning the public’s perception of the (traditional) Conservative Party, particularly under Mrs T (who, in case you forget, won three elections in a row outright, nasty or not).
May is an ur-Cameroon with all that conveys in sheer limpness, Blairite ambition and lefty “social” crapola. She doesn’t deserve to survive this one although I believe that, unfortunately, she will.
The post of Home Secretary seems to go to incompetants. It has happened for years. This is because it is no longer seen as an important role. We do not have a “home” to defend.
It does make me laugh when the BBC state with astonishment that May does not know how many illegals have sneaked into Britain. How can anyone know that?
“The idea that Theresa May should take lessons from Labour on immigration is laughable”
By James Slack
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2058935/Theresa-May-taking-lessons-Labour-immigration-laughable.html#ixzz1dA3yHMEC
“100,000 signatures against mass immigration”
By Sir Andrew Green
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2059116/100-000-signatures-mass-immigration.html#ixzz1dA5cj8cd
Tony Blair patented that line. “How many illegals? Search me. No idea”. A practice spin confirmed this is the only media-safe line. The minute you give any figure, any estimate, the sky caves in on you, Mail headlines.
Of course they know. They have estimates from all over the place – number of “students” who forget to go home, who never turn up for classes, the result of raids on restaurants and hotels, the numbers of people attending hospitals for whom an NHS number trace is unsuccessful (20% at Lewisham Hospital when tested), airport counts in and out. It’s government demographers JOB to estimate these things.
Now boot on the other foot, Theresa May claims she doesn’t know. The exact number, of course not, to the nearest half million, easily. She is badly advised, and worse, she takes bad advice. Useless.
Groundhog Day alright…May has always been the very lowest calibre of politician.
These serial incompetents pepper political life now…in fact, they are the norm.
That said, the idea that immigration has ever been dealt with properly in recent history is a joke. And indeed, all the other gaffes and balls-ups we`re living through are somehow newsworthy.
The last lot were so inept and incompetent that they set a new benchmark of debauched public life…and I don`t remember the BBC bothering their arses about much of it.
If it keeps the viewers minds off Iran, Sarkozy/Obama and the EU shambles unfolding in Greece and Italy, then the BBC will continue to employ their fetid bellows to fan the flames…the Beeb are so predictable and deserve Theresa May…and she, them.
I find myself with a real dilemma. Yes, May is totally and utterly useless but I do not want to see her hounded out by an alliance of Labour, the Trade Unions and the BBC.
I do not have the same dilemma – this lot of “conservatives” are just a clone of Blairs New Labour. If this episode brings some real Tories to their senses then good. The BBC will not give up untill they have their scalp, better it comes quickly so we can have a proper Home Secretary and not a token female. (Strange that the last three Home Secretaries have been incompentent females – and I don’t intend that to be ‘sexist’ just a fact)
It isn’t fact, though.
I stand corrected
JHT,
What is the betting Cameron will appoint a Lib Dem ! But, I think the current cabinet are all socialists and I guess he can’t bring Liam Fox back.
Millie is right. Alan Johnson is not female !
Yes, the Postman! Jacqui Smith was the first ever female Home Secretary, I think. And lest we forget, the three men before her were all either sacked or resigned for incompetence and / or some scandal: Blunkett, Charles Clarke and John Reid. And before them we had the useles pompous English-hating Jack Straw. So the last time we had a halfway decent and competent Home Secretary was Michael Howard. May joins a long line of incompetents. If she goes, she goes<shrugs> But which Conservative wet lettuce would replace her? A Lib Dem in the job would be like putting Huhne in charge of Energy. What a disaster that is!
This latest debacle and undignified public scrapping between the Secretary of State and a senior official, reflects very badly on the PM as well as May. He didn’t know, allegedly. If he didn’t (hah!), he should have. Probably too busy saving the world, or at least swanning about it, posing as some World Leader. I have little confidence this government is going to sort out our border controls, despite the speeches the PM will wheel out from time to time. There is no main party that will do what most people want, which is to get a grip on our borders and who is allowed in.
Millie,
Well said, I quite agree.
David Davis! – not EVER gonna happen under Cameron, but he’d certainly be tough enough to cope with that bastard of an appointment.
My Tory MP is o.k., but my parents have got raving pro-EU loony Graham Stuart, who voted against his constituents having a say on Europe for the insane reason that he wants to “support democracy and the British people”. He also confused the National-interest with his own selfish Self-interest, and he is also the vice-Chairman of an International quango promoting the Climate Change scam.
The picture says it all.
From the left – “We’ve got a right one here”.
From the right – “Christ, we’ve got a right one here”.
Now if only she had experienced a biometric malfunction at Luton Airport, she could have been sent packing back to the land where it is obligatory to blame everybody else.
Oh sorry ! As she’s still on the run, I should shut up before she decides to migrate north and hide with me.
And as much as she might ply me with the finest Scotch, the answer to her designs to see my passport would have to be met with “show me yours first”.
She is the gift that can’t stop giving (so to speak) to the BBC.
David Vance,
“The BBC is giving full spin benefit to those Trade Unionists who are out to get the head of May and save that of Clark.”
You mean like in the seperate BBC news reports here,
The head of the UK Border Force has been suspended after allegations he ordered security checks at airports and ports to be scaled back during the summer.
or here,
In a statement to MPs, Mrs May said those responsible would be punished. Brodie Clark, head of the UK border force, is among three staff suspended.
or here,
A senior UK Border Agency official authorised the relaxation of border controls without ministerial sanction, Home Secretary Theresa May has said.
or here,
In a statement to MPs, Mrs May said those responsible would be punished. Brodie Clark, head of the UK border force, is among three staff suspended.
or here?
She [Theresa May] said UK Border Force boss Brodie Clark must take responsibility for his “unauthorised actions”.
Yeah, there’s all that “full spin benefit” given to Brodie Clark…
Dez,
But I don’t remember the BBC giving such prominence to Labour Borders’ cock-ups.
Brodie Clark has a long history of incompetence which the BBC should also be reporting, but seem to be quiet about.
By the way, now that you are around, do you feel the BBC’s reporting of the Euro crisis has been unbiased ?
Grant,
you have a poor memory.
“Brodie Clark has a long history of incompetence…”. Alledgedly.
“…do you feel the BBC’s reporting of the Euro crisis has been unbiased ?
Yes.
🙂
BBC reporting of Euro-crisis “unbiased”?
Paxman raised eyebrow:
“Come now, you surely can’t believe that?”
Dez,
You are so funny !!!!
And he can’t spell allejuddlee.
Spot on – From wikipedia:-
Career
Clark started his career in the Her Majesty’s Prison Service, accumulating 22 years of service, attaining the position as director of HMP Whitemoor. He was governor of Whitemoor in 1994, when six prisoners including Paul Magee and other IRA members, escaped from the prison’s Special Secure Unit after smuggling a gun into the prison. All were later recaptured.
Moved to the UK Border Agency, Clark was placed in charge of the Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, which was managed by Group 4. In February 2002, the building was burnt down following a protest by the detainees, triggered by someone being physically restrained by staff. When the fires started the Head of Group 4 security ordered all staff to exit the building, locking the detainees inside the timber framed building, resulting in five people being injured in the fire.[1]
Awarded a CBE in the 2010 New Year Honours, by April 2008 he had attained his current position as head of the UK Border Force in the new UK Border Agency.
Number 7,
Yes, as I said Clark is a serial incompetent. Typical Labour placeman.
Dezzie, would you care to comment or are you on one of your hit-and-run raids ?
Grant,
“Yes, as I said Clark is a serial incompetent. Typical Labour placeman.”
Clarke was appointed governor of Whitemoor when John Major was PM; to sort out known problems at the Prison, which had built up over several years. He’d only been there a couple of months when the breakout happened.
The Woodcock Enquiry had nothing but praise for the reforms he had managed to put in place in such a short amount of time (although too late to avoid the escape).
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm27/2741/2741.pdf
(if you can be bothered)
He subsequently received credit for ‘fixing’ HMP Whitemoor; probably why he was transfered to Yarl’s Wood which was already in crisis.
The enquiry into the fire also found Clarke to be entirely blameless.
Click to access special-yarls-wood-fire-02.pdf
So given the facts I wonder where exactly you have picked uo this idea that Brodie Clarke is “a serial incompetent”? Some sort of smear put about to try and cover Theresa May’s arse perhaps?
(sorry for that mental image…)
“Broken borders, broken promises and the anger of a public betrayed”
By Max Hastings
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2059199/Broken-borders-broken-promises-anger-public-betrayed.html#ixzz1dCEP10gf
May’s biggest mistake was not to root out and replace the labour placemen in the highest levels of management as soon as she took over.
On becoming PM, Blair immediately politicised the civil service and the labour government made sure that promotions went to people who were ‘on message’ and politically correct. Even to the extent that people could be sacked for their political beliefs. If you were terrible at your job, you could not be sacked, but if you supported “that” political party, you could be sacked.
This meant that for 13 years, the management of the public sector was filtered by a labour led belief system until all the rational and capable people had ben replaced by labour yes men and politically correct idiots.
May took over an organisation filled with people who have a political motive to create embarrasing failure, who could run to the Unions, the labour party and the BBC/Guardian/Independent for a sympathetic hearing.
Geyza,
You are not suggesting Brodie Clark is a Labour supporter, surely ?
Civil Servants are politically neutral………. err……….
We can all rest easy knowing that the UK Border Agency is doing such a good job:
Civil Service Diversity and equality awards 2011:
Excellence in Service Delivery Award
Mark Jeffery, Forester, Forestry Commission England
Individual Achievement Award
Sofia Haq, Immigration Liaison Officer, Cairo, UK Border
Agency
Leading Change in Diversity & Equality Award
Melanie Dawes, Director General, Business Tax, HM Revenue
and Customs
Understanding and Engaging with Communities Award
Ian Cheeseman, Jennifer Segal and Geoff Sharland, New
Asylum Model+ Quality and Learning Team, UK Border Agency
For full details on the winners and shortlisted nominees
please visit: http://www.diversityandequalityawards.com
Come on , Millie, this is satire. You are taking the mickey aren’t you ?
In bygone times this would have been satirised mercilessly by the BBC and others. Now no-one dares to for fear of being labelled racist.
While a Civil Servant, “celebrating diversity” was the only fixed item in your Annual Objectives. In case you didn’t get the message you got a full day in a hotel training course. Everyone was absolutely paranoid about it people went to bizarre lengths . Most of us positively loathed it, but your job depended on it. Civil servants are cowed by Blair’s thought-police state.
Ah, Grant, if only!
Read all about it…here, by grace of carrier pigeon Google:
http://network.civilservicelive.com/pg/cmspages/read/diversityandequality
I’m so glad the BBC is getting it’s pork?? sorry story’s from reliable unions who are run by fine upstanding men with connections to nice groups like International Socialists and then the Trotskyist International Marxist Group which was the British section of the Fourth International
also a member of the T.U.C who spoke up for the Union Freedom bill I.e ‘ to maximise the freedom of workers for participating in industrial action as a last resort, and not be liable to any detrimental response by an employer for doing so or having done so’
A man who got the job through a labour PM after the last incumbent left to join the Labour government and become a labour peer !
This fine whistle blower who said nothing in 2008 when the deed was done and then received a C.B.E from a grateful PM ??sorry country
And just does his bit with guest speaker bits a SDW conferences where all the companies that make I.D and biometrics meet and press the flesh !
So unlike that nasty nurse the BBC rightfully threw to the wolves!
The BBC is corrupt.
Nothing more, nothing less
Look, if May – or the coalition – had meant business about immigration she would have reinstituted the primary purpose rule on day1 (as Straw did the reverse in 1997 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/06/0605/straw.shtml ). She didn’t and no coalition appointee had or has any intention of so doing.
The reality of immigration control is that our rulers have no control – and, despite all the noise, do not seek control – over immigration from the EU or the sub-continent or Africa. OTOH (to my personal knowledge) US citizens who are not on benefits, are law-abiding, paying UK tax and who hold down jobs here for which neither UK or EU citizens are qualifed (ie we need them) are given annual grief at Lunar House in Croydon (almost always by incompetent, arrogant, language-deficient and, in many cases, corrupt http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/4479514.Lunar_House_investigation_squad_bust_immigration_fraudsters/ “new Britons” recruited in an orgy of diversity awareness by past governments).
Having had direct personal experience of the UK visa system in several cases on many occasions, I can testify that it is total crap !
(not a statistically significant sample, I should add, before Dezzie boy picks me up on it ! )
I seem to recall that one former Labour Home Secretary ended up, um, working for the BBC.
Maybe the Beeb will invite the newly-resigned Theresa May to make a documentary on shoes?
Alan Johnson, you mean? The Beeboid Corporation can’t get enough of him. Radio 4 had a series presented by or about him, I think. Something to do with music. He plays a guitar, I believe. And they wheel him on to what used to be the regular Diane Abbott seat on This Week. Charles Clarke also gets his turn in that seat. As does Jacqui Smith. Blimey! I’d never realised that before – a seat for three Labour ex-Home Secretaries!
Open question, a little off-topic: who earns the bigger salary – the Home Secretary or the head of the Border Force?
I haven’t checked but I think I know the answer.
“….Mr Clark’s salary as £130,000-£135,000 per annum, with a bonus range of £5,000 – £10,000.”
http://employmentlawupdate.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/mr-brodie-clark-to-claim-constructive-dismissal/
Mrs May would I beleive be paid the going rate for a Cabinet Minister which is presently £134,565 (‘five per cent’ less than Ministers received in the previous administration.) as of May 2010
Click to access m06.pdf
JHT,
And neither of them worth a single penny !
Politically biased BBC-NUJ-Labour does its bit and adds to:-
“Pressure on Theresa May as border force head steps down”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15649548
The above BBC-NUJ-Labour propaganda is predominantly on behalf of Labour and trade unions.
‘Telegraph’:
“We lost our border controls years ago”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/8874506/We-lost-our-border-controls-years-ago.html
MAC cartoon on relaxation of UK border control checks:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059205/Mac–relaxation-border-control-checks.html
I think the Mail might be in trouble for suggesting that the beardy ones just might have a predisposition to carry bombs.
Unless that’s meant to be a giant dildo in there.
Apparently the BBCs boy…Milipede Minor …took a hell of a beating today at PMQs.
All his questions were about the immigration bunfight with Theresa May…and Cameron was able to tell us all that the Labour Party treebled immigfration, that they deliberately encouraged it so the Tories would never hold power again…and that Eds own policy wonk( Glassman) said that Labour lied about the scale of immigration throughout their time in office.
You might think that the BBC would run PMQ as alead item in their news bulletins…but today I don`t seem to have seen anything about this weekly crucible of political debate and what ensued.
Anyone able to tell me why the BBC might not be too keen to show the duffing up of the lead duffer(here today/gone tomorrow) of the PinkRose Party?…I`m at a complete loss myself!…
Tom Bradby on Twitter tore into Milipede saying he was crap.
Don’t think he will be getting a job at the BBC any time soon.