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Saturday, January 29, 2005

Arab-Jewish Forum

The title of our latest conference is: ‘Media Bias? – An Arab view, a Jewish view, a Media view.’ The speakers will be Sharif Nashashhibi of Arab Media Watch, Ned Temko of the Jewish Chronicle and Adrian Van Klaveren Deputy Head of BBC news.

There is a £20 charge to cover costs and the conference will be held in Portcullis House, Westminster between 5pm and 8pm on Tuesday 8th. February. Further details available from Clive Soley MP, House of Commons London, SW1A OAA.

Two points to note: 1. You must book a place – please do not just turn up. 2. The Conference is held under the Chatham House Rule. Confidentiality is expected for all participants.

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Response

Dan and Andrew

As I understand it the UK has denied using the weapons you refer to. The US seems to be giving contradictory answers. I don't claim this is unimportant but I do think(and my Iraqi constituents tend to confirm this) that it is not the first priority. Why? Because most Iraqi's want an end to the violence and they see the elections as a crucial step in that direction.

I am aware that some people who were, for whatever reason, opposed to the war want to portray the UK and especially the US in a bad light. Fine! But I want to concentrate on the future of Iraq.

I think the people engaged in the attacks in Iraq are not freedom fighters but people determined to stop the elections taking place successfully. If they succeed Iraq is the loser. So is the rest of the Middle East.

I understand why you think the war in Iraq was wrong but I don’t agree and I am very critical of a world community that ignored the breaches of the UN ceasefire for 12 years while thousands upon thousands died.

No one is happy with the present situation. Perhaps we should concentrate on the UN High Level Panel Report which is seeking better ways of dealing with these situations. http://www.un.org/secureworld

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Parliamentary question

Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) female murder victims have been killed by their partner or husband and (b) male murder victims were killed by their partner or wife since 2000. [200926]

Paul Goggins: The latest available information on homicide is published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 01/04, "Crime in England and Wales 2002/2003: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime". Table 1.05 provides data on victims killed by their partner/ex-partner as given in the following table:

<>England and Wales

	Female victim	Male victim
1999–2000	88	24
2000–01	98	25
2001–02	120	30
2002–03	107	33
Total	413	112

Note:
Figures are as at 13 November 2003 and are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police, by the courts or as further information becomes available.

Friday, January 21, 2005

General

Thanks for the comments. I just want to say to Andrew that I didn’t intend to imply you supported either terrorism or Saddam. My point was that propaganda comes from all sides in a conflict like this and although it is important to keep a check on both the UK and US we should not assume that all the worst stories are true. I could be wrong but the napalm one doesn’t add up for me.

The AJF

The Arab-Jewish Forum which I chair is having another short conference on the 8th. February. It is addressing the way Arabs and Jews both feel the media is biased against them. I will put more details on this site but I haven’t got them with me now.

The Election

All this talk of an election is making me seriously demob happy! Should I keep this blog up after I leave the House of Commons?

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Parliament 17.1.05

Mr. Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush)

(Lab): This is a good time to remind ourselves that censorship is a dangerous thing for religions generally, especially minority religious views. Whether it be plays, books or operas on television, religionists would be ill advised to go down the road of censorship, not least because although I have not seen the "Jerry Springer" programme, having watched the play about it on the BBC the other week, my inclination would be to demonstrate against the makers of the "Jerry Springer" programme rather than against the BBC, which gave a strong moral message behind that play.

Estelle Morris: My hon. Friend is right. It is interesting that different perspectives can be brought to the issue. Most people of religious belief are well able to stick to their belief and defend it against those who criticise it or disagree. That is an article of faith, and many people who hold religious beliefs are happy to do so in the face of criticism.

Friday, January 14, 2005

There were some interesting responses to my posts. I don’t think I will respond to the discussion on the leadership of the Labour Party!

After my intervention at the Parliamentary Labour Party last Monday (widely reported in the media) I decided I should not give anymore interviews on this issue so an entry on this blog would not be appropriate. Sorry folks!

Life, Death, God and Everything!

On the issue of blasphemy, religion and censorship Trevor Phillips of the CRE made some useful remarks but I haven’t been able to track them down in a form I can link to.

I have received quite a few letters and comments calling for more censorship. I don’t think it’s a majority but there is a drift to the right on this issue.

Tom Grey thinks the alternative to believing in a god is too “empty” to accept. Why? I understand why people who are bereaved might wish to meet their family and friends again (although personally I would want to check the list first!) but it doesn’t mean life has to be empty.

Here’s a final thought on the life/death issue. I fear the pain of dying but I don’t fear death. I was dead before I was born and that didn’t cause me any problems! I think Ford Prefect would agree with me and the answer is 42 anyway! (You need to know the book to understand that!)

Iraq.

I really do not understand the further comments on napalm. Adam Ingram said the same to me that he said in the answer that was quoted by j or Andrew. The quote from a US officer doesn’t prove the opposite especially as it is hard to see why napalm would be used on bridges. Bridges don’t burn.

It is important to remember there is a propaganda battle going on. Andrew and j might not like the US or approve of the war but don’t make the mistake of giving support to the pro Saddam group or the terrorists.

Sunday, January 09, 2005

General

Thanks for the various comments and my education on tsunamis.

Religion

I didn’t intend to start a big debate on religion as I agree that militant atheists can be as boring as militant believers. I do however fear that ideological politics is being replaced by ideological religion.

Ideology is important as a guide to where we are trying to get to but it can become very authoritarian. The same applies to religion. It is interesting that historically when political ideology declines religious ideology tends to surface and vice versa. I can’t prove that but it does seem that way.

I also don’t like to see demonstrations calling for censorship against books or plays whether it’s by Christians, Sikhs or Muslims. The demonstration against the Jerry Springer Opera persuaded me that I should watch it! I thought it was very good and that it did have a strong moral message.

Mark Malloch Brown and the UN

I am pleased to see that Mark Malloch Brown has been appointed by Kofi Annan to be his Chief of Staff. His task will be to improve the performance and management of the UN. This is particularly important at the present time not least because many in the Bush administration want to see the UN fail.

Blair/Brown

I am getting angry about the manoeuvrings between the Blair/Brown camps. It is very demoralising to Party activists and just wipes the many good news stories off the front page. I predict a reaction at the next Parliamentary Labour Party meeting!

Charles Kennedy

I am fascinated by Charles Kennedy trying to explain what “tough Liberalism” means. Sounds like tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime! It reflect the problems we have been talking about in the comments and posts on David Blunket. All left of centre party’s have to do a balancing act on this and Charles has suddenly spotted that they have a problem. Welcome to the real world of politics!

Sunday, January 02, 2005

Tsunami

I don't want to add to all the comments about the dreadful tragedy of the Tsunami. I am still waiting to hear about friends in Sri Lanka.

I listened to a short programme on religious belief today. I am not religious and find it impossible to explain how any caring and all powerful god could allow such events.

Just before Christmas I heard a new group arguing against Darwinism on the basis that evolution was too complex and that there was evidence of what I think they called 'intentional design'. But if a God did design all this what was the intention? Anybody feel like a battery chicken or a laboratory rat?

I have rather more hope of an answer to my next question. Can any one explain to me why the sea goes out before the wave comes in? Is it the initial shifting of the ocean floor or is it to do with the dynamics of the incoming wave?

Anybody who still has enough functioning brain cells to answer this must have had a sober Christmas/New Year!

David Blunket

Welcome to the first post of 2005.

My comments on David Blunkett and class seemed to have stirred the water!

I am not anti liberal and I agree that some of David's actions/comments made me wince but do not underestimate the liberating effect of his policies to protect working class people from crime and disorder.

ASBO's are poplar because they do protect people from behaviour that otherwise restricts their freedom and allows the bullies to win.

Along with many other liberals I used to spend more time trying to 'understand' delinquent behaviour and too little time trying to stop it. I also got worried if we became too punitive.

The trouble with that approach is we leave people in poorer areas at the mercy of delinquent behaviour and we don't raise expectations of better behaviour. I think David was addressing that and it is what I meant when I talked about his working class roots.