By Lying, Dawn, Clearly....

Merton resident Dawn Spragg wrote in to ask why the council was not “actively engaging” with residents about ULEZ.

At the meeting, she asked a follow-up question, saying: “How are you as our elected members engaging with the people that elected you to advise them about the ULEZ that will be inflicted on our borough on August 29.”

The answer she got was not quite what she expected, it'd be fair ro say: 

Cabinet member for transport, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, claimed the scheme has cross-party support from Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour.

Oh, really? Reader, no. Not at all. 

This led to outrage from the leader of the Conservative group Councillor Nick McLean who said the Merton Tories oppose the expansion.

And when blatent lies won't shut up this pesky voter, what next? Take your ball and go home, of course! 

Ms Spragg’s question was one of four from the public on the ULEZ expansion. However, the other three questions were not discussed in the meeting.

When the Merton mayor, councillor Joan Henry tried to move on to the next item on the agenda she was heckled by those sitting in the public gallery, who included Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

It caused Ms Spragg to move to the microphone, where residents can speak at the meeting, to ask why the other questions were not being addressed.

Cllr Henry ordered Ms Spragg to move back to her seat but when her pleas were unsuccessful the meeting was adjourned.

Much as I hate to be on the same side as Corbyn's brother, this is not democracy.  

Always look behind the latest theatre

From the Brit perspective, three major headlines have been Raab, Bridgen and Tucker Carlson, for example:

… but we do need to be super careful, all the same. Our inimitable Deep Digger across the way posted these:

On Raab:

Oh for crying out loud! Raab being canonised now is laughable and shows either ignorance or what short or selective memories some have. Where was Raab when he was needed when the Brandon Afghan situ kicked off? On holiday and so was his deputy. Typical "I'm alright Jack, bugger you" attitude of a certain class of pollies in the midst of a crisis. 

https://archive.is/WeM8P 

Tucker:

Whilst everyone was looking the other way at distractions such as Tucker leaving Fox and the Lemmon getting the heave-ho from CNN, the squatter in the Maison Blanche passed this to send US troops to Sudan ostensibly to help with evacuation of US citizens. 🍿 

 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/04/23/letter-to-the-speaker-of-the-house-and-president-pro-tempore-of-the-senate-consistent-with-the-war-powers-resolution-public-law-93-148-3/ 

Here’s the timeline of US interference in Sudan which kicked off the current situ:  

https://t.me/Jack_Posobiec/25760 WW3 continues……..

In the high drama at any particular point, we’re well advised to ask ourselves … now what are the real headlines while all this theatre is strutting the net? What’s going on behind the scenes we’re failing to fill our column inches with?

And Nor Should They...

The latest moral panic:

Some machetes and other knives can have 'legitimate uses', such as those used for gardening, agriculture or culinary purposes.

This complicates legislation around knives, as it means certain blades can be kept at home and remain unseized by the police.

Currently, this means that even if police find a machete or other legal blade inside someone's residence and they believe the items could be used for violent or criminal activity, they have no lawful right to seize a blade.

Why, exactly, should we be tightening legislation because the police have trouble understanding it? We did that with the Dangerous Dogs Act, and yet the lazy bastards still refuse to act if they think they can get away with it. 

And since when did police 'suspicion' that you might do something illegal with a legal possession count for anything? 

Zombie knives are already included in the list of banned knives, meaning it is illegal to possess them, bring them into the UK, sell or hire them out or lend them to someone. But this only applies to the weapons which meet the three criteria: cutting edge, serrated edge and words or images that imply they are to be used for violence.

You have to have some criteria. What's wrong with these? It's not like my kitchen doesn't contain several knives just as capable of killing someone even without the words 'zombie annihilator' written on the hilt... 

Current Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: 'The thugs wielding these deadly knives aim to terrorise their victims and the public, and too often even carry out horrific or fatal attacks.

'They are emboldened by the cowardly idea that carrying these blades inflates their own status and respect.'

And Home Secretaries seem to be emboldened by pressure groups and newspaper headlines into knee jerk reactions that do little to resolve the real problem, Suella. 

What’s the real game?

Interesting take by Sundance on Tucker Carlson’s demise:

Carlson will not be asked to sign an NDA, is not bound by a “non-compete” clause following the contract nullification by Fox Corp, and will be free to do anything he wants in any venture.  

Additionally, he will be free to say whatever he wants about the issues at Fox and speak freely, or not, without any legal or contractual constraints.  Keep all of that in mind.

Prior to 2021, Tucker Carlson was what you might call a Fox News loyalist.  He was very loyal to the organization.  During the COVID-19 era, Tucker Carlson moved his physical location away from Washington DC to his home in Maine.  Fox built him a studio, and Carlson manifest his own destiny free from most production constraints.

Over the past 18+/- months, viewers have watched Tucker Carlson essentially red pill himself each evening.  As he enjoyed the proximity freedom far away from the Eye of Sauron (DC’s control mechanism), Carlson’s eyes opened further to the reality of the situation that blankets our national consciousness.

… interesting in the context of IYE’s comment:

Whilst everyone was looking the other way at distractions such as Tucker leaving Fox and the Lemmon getting the heave-ho from CNN, the squatter in the Maison Blanche passed this to send US troops to Sudan ostensibly to help with evacuation of US citizens. 🍿

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/04/23/letter-to-the-speaker-of-the-house-and-president-pro-tempore-of-the-senate-consistent-with-the-war-powers-resolution-public-law-93-148-3/

Here’s the timeline of US interference in Sudan which kicked off the current situ:

https://t.me/Jack_Posobiec/25760

So it’s pretty much a golden rule, innit … the moment there’s high drama with major figures, look about and see what’s really going on … esp. late at night.

What's The Point Of The ICO...?

The blunder happened when a recording app, which automatically records all calls, was rolled out in 2017. It was downloaded by 1,024 employees – many unaware their phones were logging calls. The app was supposed to be used as recording software by a small number of hostage negotiators to support kidnap and crisis negotiations.

But both forces chose to make it available for all staff to download on their work phones in 2017, which meant they continued to automatically record conversations for almost four years.

Yesterday the watchdog said it was highly likely that the app captured a large variety of personal data during these calls and the processing of some of this data was 'unfair and unlawful'.

So, a million pound fine is in the offing. But... 

Stephen Bonner, ICO Deputy Commissioner, said: 'Sussex Police and Surrey Police failed to use people's personal data lawfully by recording hundreds of thousands of phone calls without their knowledge.

'The reprimand reflects the use of the ICO's wider powers towards the public sector as large fines could lead to reduced budgets for the provision of vital services.

'This case highlights why the ICO is pursuing a different approach, as fining Surrey Police and Sussex Police risks impacting the victims of crime in the area once again.'

So, basically, if you're in the public sector, you can get away with anything? 

St George’s Day

The first of this year’s mini-biographies was by Croydon Constitutionalists some days ago:

… and this was another fine effort:

… whilst hopefully, a wild sea of patriotism for Olde England will run rampant up and down the land:

… duly noted by a chastened MSM who have suddenly seen the light and slain the Woke scourge of pestilence on this auspicious National Alarm Day.

Just a reminder to all that any attempt to avoid abject compliance at 3 p.m. will be hunted down by the Indian PM’s rainbow coloured officers and inappropriate measures will be taken … so there.

Dom the Raab v Permasmirk v The Slimy Mandarins

Sigh. Yes:

Hat tip Martin Cole@IroniesToo for this, plus the letter: “ Sane words and maybe a step backwards from his past path when he reversed course on a difficult but critical Brexit vote!”

Yup … country sure is in great hands … last word:

Remember, These People Are The 'Lifeblood Of London's Restaurant Trade'...

Kesarajith Perera was left red faced after taking a tumble on a patch of oil at The George pub in Harrow, London, prompting his manager Hesham Badra to laugh out loud at his expense.

Mr Perera was later dismissed over an unrelated matter, prompting him to sue Stonegate Pub Company Ltd claiming racial and religious harassment and cite Mr Badra's response to his accident as evidence.

Well, of course, because he no doubt did it with our money! But once again, he met someone not prepared to be swayed: 

But employment judge David Maxwell threw out his case, saying that the 'slapstick element' of someone falling over was likely to provoke laughter.

'Whilst it might be tempting to hope that one colleague would only ever react in a sympathetic way towards the misfortune of another, common experience suggests this is not always the case,' he said.

Hurrah! But what was the 'unrelated matter' that saw him canned, anyway? 

In October, following failure to provide documentation for his proof of right to work in the UK, he was dismissed, prompting him to take the pub's owners to a tribunal complaining of racism.

Oh... 

Mr Perera's additional complaint that he had been given the 'full time role of cleaning toilets' was also dismissed. Judge Maxwell added: 'Cleaning the toilets could scarcely be made into a full-time role.

'Mr Perera's objection was the same as before - this was an unpleasant duty he did not think he should have to carry out.'

Well, indeed! Probably objected to having to wash his hands before waiting tables as well... 

Dismissing his claims of harassment, Judge Maxwell said: 'None of the treatment complained of had the proscribed purpose or effect.

'The conduct itself, objectively, came nowhere near having the proscribed effect, and his view of matters was unreasonable.'

But he did get a consolation prize!

However, the tribunal did rule in his favour regarding unlawful deductions of wages and awarded him £1,426.11.

He was also handed £908.91 for the pub's 'abysmal' paperwork after he was not provided with a written particulars of employment.

Yes, let's all go back to working in offices and paying fortunes for commuting to keep these businesses propped up, shall we? 

Of iniquity

This is a three-parter … first about the NHS, then two from Leggy on Twitter.

1.  Please consider this below. This is the entire daily problem for so many and why the terror reign of bureau-overlords on obscene salaries must cease henceforth:

2.  Question is … will Andrew L even bother to listen, let alone heed?

3.  Leggy’s having a wisdom day it seems:

This Wasn't The First Time...

The 58-year-old paramedic can be seen casually strolling up towards a side table where the cash was placed, before rummaging through her things and pocketing the money.

When he realised he'd been filmed, Mark Titley quickly put the cash back - but the victim's son saw what he had done and said it made him 'sick to his stomach'.

He's done this before. and got away with it, I'll bet. In the days before the proliferation of cameras, probably many times. 

The 58-year-old was one of four medics called to the woman's home in Shrewsbury on June 29 last year, following reports she had collapsed in the garden. They worked on her for about 20 minutes before she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shrewsbury Crown Court was told Titley then entered the property in search of a 'do not resuscitate' form.

To cover what they'd done in pronouncing her?  

Titley initially denied the allegation, telling police he intended to 'secure' the cash and take it out to family members.

Sure, that's why he spotted the camera and put it back. Even modern cops aren't that naive! 

However, he later admitted theft and was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work and pay £530 costs and a £187 victim surcharge.

Can we at least be certain he can kiss goodbye to his public sector pension? 

The court heard Titley, of Linley Avenue, Pontesbury, was no longer a serving paramedic, having retired from West Midlands Ambulance Service days after the incident.

*sighs*