Wednesday, 11 June, 2008
- 11 Jun 08, 04:29 PM
In tonight's programme - two knife-edge votes - one in Westminster on 42-day detention and one in Ireland on the new European constitutional treaty.
We'll be assessing how far tonight's vote may help Gordon Brown to bounce back - and how far tomorrow's vote in Ireland could sink the "European project".
Plus a report from Afghanistan on whether the billions of dollars of aid that have poured into the country have been spent effectively.
Comment number 1.
At 11th Jun 2008, Andy wrote:(Written before the vote) If anything would change the mind of the waverers, it was the wonderful speech by Diane Abbott. This was one of those speeches that come direct from the heart, and it was unafraid and bold.
She pointed out the shabby backstairs deals that Brown's strongarm mob have been doing with the DUP and the other brave souls who rightly see this vote as nothing more than a political stunt.
Well done Diane. It's not often I agree with you, but on this I'm with you all the way.
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Comment number 2.
At 11th Jun 2008, JamesStGeorge wrote:It is shaming that votes appear to have been 'bought'. By promise and secret deals.
Labour are the accomplices of terrorists.
Alone terrorists could do little, A few bombs less harmful than the motor car to lives, yet with the complicity and aid of Labour they are destroying basic tenets of our freedom.
What little belief I had that any MP had any principal has been eradicated, they sold themselves, or rather us, out in behind closed doors secret deals.
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Comment number 3.
At 11th Jun 2008, BarneysWay wrote:The DUP has been bought off to rescue the Prime Minister. Has there been a more blatant example of 'pork barrel' politics in the UK?
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Comment number 4.
At 11th Jun 2008, thegangofone wrote:Does it ever occur to people in power that our ludicrous approach to intelligence may undermine security?
There is far more openness in the US - where they have real secrets.
We had the Shayler revelations.
In the last few weeks - and I may get my post blocked - there was a certain matter of an officer whose wife was "well known" to a prominent person involved in a sting relating to Formula One. He probably felt "super-charged" afterwards.
Now we have security documents left on a train. Its not the first time that has happened.
Do inappropriate tendencies to tell the plebs nothing help - or does it allow those in key positions to cover up mistakes and continue bad practices?
Do our politicians help - especially those that may get key posts on committees relating to intelligence due to their voting on 42 day detention periods that will/would be five times longer than in the United states.
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Comment number 5.
At 11th Jun 2008, stayingcool wrote:Silly reporting on Ireland. This isn't advertising land - this is supposed to be information.
The 大象传媒 keeps reinforcing, over and over again, that people are confused about the EU, usually here, but at this point in Ireland.
You would think there would be a little bit of joining up of dots, a little bit of penny dropping, and a little bit of shame, about the fact that the publicly-funded media has failed to inform.
But it never gets any better, especially on the EU.
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Comment number 6.
At 11th Jun 2008, braveparador wrote:during the interview (42 day detention vote" with your correspondent who asked mr Wilson of the DUP "what deal Gordon Brown had made with the DUP, for the votes ..mr Wilson answered that "there was no deal"...why did your correspondent then not ask Wilson what the DUP had asked mr Broan for in return for the 9 votes...seems quite logig a question to follow in as much that the DUP are playing with wording...
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Comment number 7.
At 12th Jun 2008, barriesingleton wrote:DOES GAVIN READ THIS BLOG?
Tonight Gavin asked: 'Where was the Clunking Fist?' Better to ask who invented the incongruous CF? Answer: Tony Machiavelli Blair.
Why: to stitch up Gordon in a suit which would never suit him; one that would never fit. I have said before: look at the kind of person Tony drew to him; now look at Gordon. The former he liked and respected . . . Gordon will never be a Clunking Fist any more than Tony will be nice to know.
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Comment number 8.
At 12th Jun 2008, Steve_London wrote:#5
I could not agree more !
I was watching a Lords debate and someone made a speech that certain members of the House of Lords should publicly declare pensions etc that they receive from the EU ,as these are in fact dependent on continued support of the EU.
Maybe News Night could do a piece on this and disprove or prove this ?
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Comment number 9.
At 12th Jun 2008, Neil_Breakwell wrote:braveparador (6)
That would have been a good follow up question I agree. Today we again heard from Gordon Brown at his press conference that "no deal" has been done with the DUP. The DUP have also reiterated this claim.
So, taking up your question, I have just called the DUP office and asked, regardless of whether a deal was or was not struck, did they as part of their meetings with the Prime Minister or any other Labour party official ask for any favours, assistance or support on any other matter that was unrelated to the substance of the 42 day / terror proposals.
They're going to get back to me and I'll let you know what they say.
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Comment number 10.
At 12th Jun 2008, Peter_Sym wrote:JamesStGeorge wrote:
"Alone terrorists could do little, A few bombs less harmful than the motor car to lives, yet with the complicity and aid of Labour they are destroying basic tenets of our freedom."
Winston Churchill, voted the greatest ever Englishman and the one man brave enough to stand up to the nazis:
-abolished elections
-introduced ID cards (and kept them for years after)
-interred 1000's of Germans and Italians without trial for 6 years
-did the same to some former MPs
-held secret trials and executions of Nazis
-executed several people post war on very dubious grounds (Joyce, an irish-american was hung as a British traitor).
42 days revieved every 7 by a judge is nothing compared to what we've done in the past.
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Comment number 11.
At 15th Jun 2008, dennisjunior1 wrote:42 days in detention: how long will be in the future? 90 days, 1 year ...
Ireland: the item was rejected by the voters..what is next for the country and the politicians in Brussels [belgium].
Afghanistan: it is because of corruption and mismanagement that millions of dollars went missing.
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