18

Feb

2010

14: Simon Singh, Libel Reform, Joanne Cash and Twitter Outrage

This week we’re joined again by Allen Green, writer of the Jack of Kent blog and convenor of Westminster Skeptics, and by Bill Jones, Professor of Politics at Liverpool Hope University and author of Skipper.

Download the MP3 file, Subscribe using iTunes or listen using the player below.

We talked about:

  • Next week, Science writer Simon Singh’s case will be heard by the Court of Appeal. Singh was sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association after accusing the BCA of promoting ‘bogus’ treatments. The Singh case brings up a number of issues with English libel law, as detailed at the libelreform.org website
  • Joanne Cash recently resigned and then was re-instated as the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Westminster North. Is this a sign of Conservative Headquarters’ tightening grip over local parties, and are they underestimating the ‘Turnip Taliban’?
  • We tend to elect MPs based on their ability to campaign, not their ability to run a government. Tony Blair’s time in office seemed particularly affected by a lack of ability to ‘execute’. Could it be that we’ve got this all backwards?
  • Finally, there’s been a rash of ‘Twitter Outrages’ over the past week, the biggest concerning an ill-advised remark on David Wright MP’s Twitter account. Are we to expect similar dramas more often over the next few months, and should anyone care?

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15

Jan

2010

10: The Police State

In this week’s House of Comments Podcast, we’re joined by Lib Dem blogger and councillor Sara Bedford, and Allen Green, convenor of Westminster Skeptics and writer of the Jack of Kent blog.

Download the MP3 file, Subscribe using iTunes or listen using the player below.

We chatted about:

  • Greg Stone’s resignation as a Lib Dem PPC after being ‘outed’ as the author of a number of lewd comments about ministers and other politicians made on the Guido Fawkes live chat last year. Is he paying too high a price for having made these comments anonymously?
  • The banning of Muslim protest group Islam4UK in advance of their planned demonstration in Wootton Bassett has raised many eyebrows. Is it right to pre-emptively ban an organisation such as this – and could banning them just give them the publicity they desire?
  • The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Britain’s police stop-and-search powers are illegal and constitute a breach of the right to privacy. Are the police becoming too powerful in this country?
  • Last week’s ‘Snow Plot’ attempted coup was short and sweet – but will it cause lasting damage to the Labour Party, or do they appear more united behind Gordon Brown in its wake?
  • Finally, Parliament has released a Flash-based computer game with the intention of giving 11-14 year olds a taste of life as an MP. Is this the right way to go about engaging the youth?

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