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Blair - government by spin

I think there is a start in a trend of newspapers actually checking out what the government actually achieves.

If we start with Make Poverty History the Independent has done some work entitled "have we made poverty history" this shows that some progress has been made, but nothing like as much as was intended.

Then there is the Banning of Hunting which has resulted in more hunting with dogs.

The legislative agenda was clearly driven by spin. There was a problem with infection in hospitals, so a Bill was announced. Why legislation is needed to do a better job cleaning in hospitals is unclear? Disinfectant would be more useful.

We have "The Respect Agenda". I was summonsed to 22 Whitehall to discuss this. There was the plan to have a "respect action plan", which encountered widespread ridicule.

We are now having Expert Seminars on Respect. At least some people will end up getting some benefit out of it - the consultants running the seminars.

The legislation on terrorism was clearly not properly thought through. Many of the problems really related to the way in which PACE operates. A simplistic solution was adopted and then there was an attempt to drive it through - which luckily failed. It still appears that children asking for a penny for the guy are risking prosecution for glorifying terrorsm.

The Religious and Racial Hatred bill appears to actually be otiose. I am still hoping to find the judgement I think from 1983 that drives much of the context of actually the 86 Public Order Act. I did read an article that indicated the bill was otiose.

In the mean time we have reorganisations and silly cuts such as proposed cuts to supplies of ostomy bags.

In essence it appears that the government are too busy spinning to actually spend time thinking.

Comments

Bob Piper said…
Fortunate then that the Lib Dems are too busy fighting each other for anybody to pay them any attention whatsoever. Go back to your constituencies and prepare for obscurity.

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