Ask David: Chagos, Bilderberg, Big Brother,Candidates, 7/7
Posted by David on Wednesday, 24 January 2007 20:06:19
Chagos: a wrong to right?
Asked by DanielSimpson on Tuesday, 16 January 2007 12:44:31
I understand your concerns on this general issue. There is ongoing legal action so I don't want to comment on the legality of all this. But I recognise that there is a moral issue here. We cannot undo any mistakes of the past, but we must do all we can to correct them now.
I recognise the importance of the air base on Diego Garcia, which was used in the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Gulf War of the early 1990s, and the security concerns that prevent islanders from returning to Diego Garcia itself. But we do need to look at why Islanders are prevented from returning to the outlying islands, which are clearly some distance from the air base.
The Foreign Office say long-term resettlement of the islands is unfeasible. But I don't want simply to take those claims at face value. I have asked my Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, to investigate this matter thoroughly. Geoffrey will be visiting the Chagossian community in Mauritius (where most were transferred), and meeting diplomatic and humanitarian representatives. He will look at the feasibility of a return, and the conditions in which Chagossians currently live, and report back to me and William Hague.
We will then consider the best way forward. So I don't want to commit to a Parliamentary motion at this stage.
Your Involvement With The Secretive Bilderberg Group
Asked by anewname on Monday, 15 January 2007 08:56:59
I haven't attended any such meetings, so your other questions don't apply!
The Big Brother State
Asked by IanWhickham on Monday, 15 January 2007 22:09:17
There's a lot of truth in what you say. And the short answer to the final question is that yes, ID cards would go.
Quite apart from new plans to weaken data protection laws, we also oppose the chips in wheelie bins to check your rubbish; and the council tax inspectors knocking on your door. Across the board, it's clear that the liberties and privacy of honest law-abiding citizens are being eroded.
The latest data plans are especially worrying given the history of Government failure when it comes to large-scale IT projects.
For example in May last year the Home Office admitted that 2,700 people had been wrongly labelled criminals since 2002 as a result of inaccurate records on the Criminal Records Bureau.
So, although there have been reassurances over the latest project, we can't always take these at face value.
Help for lower income candidates
Asked by SamuelCoates on Monday, 15 January 2007 08:00:05
You're right in saying my ambition is for our Party to be representative of modern Britain. We cannot be so without ensuring that our candidates include men and women not just from the public and voluntary sectors but from all over Britain. And while we have made progress, there is much to do - not just for Parliamentary candidates but in choosing council candidates and increasing our membership and supporter base.
I've spoke to Francis about your three suggestions to help attract a wider range of candidates.
First, he has agreed that the fee for the Parliamentary Assessment Board, where there are compelling cases, can be reduced on a case by case basis. In fact this is something that has happened in the past.
Second, we'll give some serious thought to your emergency access fund. I like the idea. If possible we should do it. I'm not promising anything immediate, but I'll see what we can do.
Third, instead of a ‘Candidate's Protector', which seems a little bureaucratic, we already have in place ‘MP Mentors' who guide and counsel candidates. I'll make sure John Maples gets Mentors to monitor financial demands placed on candidates.
Campaign Directors are in place working on Target Seats. They are the best placed people to advise candidates and associations on how time and money should be prioritised.
We deserve an independent inquirey into 7/7 The London Bombings
Asked by marndin on Monday, 15 January 2007 21:35:32
As I mentioned last week, we have called for a thoroughgoing investigation into 7/7, and I think that would be useful. But I think from a different perspective. We want to see what lessons there are to learn for the intelligence services for example.
bilderberg, ask david, chagos, candidates, terrorism, big brother