Shortly before Ramadan in 2008, then Lib Dem councillor Stephanie Eaton fired off a complaint to those in charge of council committees about a memo they’d sent out asking members to change their eating habits. Back in those pre-austerity halcyon days, councillors were given free snacks to help them endure the messy business of part-time democracy: biscuits, tea and coffee were served at the side of the room. It was all very civilised.
But the memo in August 2008 requested committee members to refrain from gorging on food until the breaking of the fast during the forthcoming month of Ramadan. This, the memo said, was out of respect for Muslim councillors who may be fasting.
Stephanie, who I think later regretted speaking out (for the fuss it caused nationally) but not the point of principle, said on behalf of her group at the time: “We fervently believe that the rules of any one religion should not be imposed upon others.”
Many, including Muslim councillors, applauded her. It was seen as a mistake by do-gooding non-Muslim council officers.
I think it’s fair to say that there’s no other borough in Britain that is more sensitive to observant Muslims than Tower Hamlets.
A quick glance of the calendar of council meetings, for example, shows that many have been scheduled to start earlier during this past month of Ramadan.
Yet there remain those who wish to exploit whatever perceived or minor insults they can for sad political reasons. Or even create insults for the same end.
Next Wednesday, it is Mayor John Biggs’s first proper full council meeting and the list of papers for it has just been published. They include a list of tabled questions to him from councillors.
This is what Cllr Ohid Ahmed, Lutfur Rahman’s former deputy mayor and someone who fancies the main role for himself in 2018, wants to ask.
Throughout London and elsewhere these past four weeks fasting Muslims and non-Muslims and others have shared offices without even the slightest hint of tension or friction or breakdown in “basic etiquette” as people have simply got on with their daily lives. Some have fasted, most haven’t. Some in the latter group will have politely asked their colleagues if it’s ok to eat in front of them. The replies are likely to have been ‘Of course! Thanks for asking.’
Indeed, this has undoubtedly been the case in Mulberry Place itself.
But there will always be those wanting to whip up or fabricate friction. I suppose someone or some people must have moaned to Ohid for him to learn about this meeting, but his language – is the stuff of parody.
“I believe morning breakfast [what other breakfast is there?] was offered…with much pomp and grandeur [what?? was it served by Royal butlers??] to the behest [I think he’s picked the wrong word here] of those who were observing their faith and those who felt left out and demotivated and somewhat belittled by the event taking place when they are obligated to fast.”
It’s the kind of stuff you see in exaggerated whip-lash claims. Or OTT constructive dismissal cases.
So what was this event that “belittled” people anyway? Well, it was work. More than 1,000 employees were asked to turn up to work.
As it has been explains to me, it was the Senior Management Development Conference. Lutfur used to hold it for fewer people in Mile End but this year Biggs and the council top team switched the venue to the Troxy and extended the invitation to 1,000 staff members, some 20 per cent of the workforce. It was aimed at informing the staff about developments at the council and listening to their feedback.
It lasted from morning until late afternoon, apparently and simple food was served for those who wanted or needed it. Sandwiches during the breaks/lunch, and tea, coffee, orange juice, biscuits and other snacks on arrival.
I was told speeches from Sir Ken Knight, the chief Commissioner, and John Biggs went down well. The latter was apparently cheered when he said there would be no more chauffeured mayoral car.
And I was also told (but I haven’t checked) that there was also an 80 per cent satisfaction rate from a survey at the end of the meeting.
Earlier this week, I was at the Arbour Youth Centre for an Iftar hosted by the committee there and by St Dunstan’s Church in Stepney. Many of the congregation of that church, as well as the rector, the assistant priest and the wardens, attended having themselves fasted throughout the day so they could share the breaking of the fast with their friends in Stepney’s Muslim community. (At one point John Biggs turned up to say hello before moving on to another Iftar elsewhere).
It was harmonious, sharing, respectful and friendly. I wish Ohid had been there. I suspect many in the Muslim community will find his cheap attempt at entrenched identity politics embarrassing.
In the meantime, below are the other questions for next Wednesday’s meeting. They are the usual mix of sycophantic, silly and sensible. I’ll let you decide which is which.
TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
And Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim readers. Don’t hoot your horns too wildly tomorrow…but then again why not!
Trial by Jeory 
Checklist for communications from THF/Respect/Lutfurite (delete as appropriate, given the naming convention of the day) people:
– Fomenting division and hate. Tick.
– Poor English. Tick.
– Overly flowery language. Tick.
– Appearing to claim some religious moral high ground. Tick.
– Passive-aggressive undertones. Tick.
– Vast chip on shoulder evident. Tick.
Yes, looks like the usual crew up to their usual tricks.
Oh and why sound horns at all for the end of Ramadan? If “We fervently believe that the rules of any one religion should not be imposed upon others” then why should disruption caused by a religious celebration be imposed on others? Allowing people to act to the disturbance of others ‘for religious reasons’ is as unacceptable as demanding that non-Muslims should take part in the Ramdan fast.
Tim.
You know this reminds me a little when I was a trustee of my local village/community centre, Dragon Hall in Covent Garden (the NE corner, the Holborn end). Amongst other things we were asked to come up with ideas for things to celebrate, to make a fuss about, and get people involved. A more innocuous as I thought suggestion that I made was why not have a pancake day. OK this was around Easter, but there were no religious connotations. I’m not particularly supportive of any faith, let alone sect. The only opposition was from the very white and very middle class appointee of Camden Council – ‘cos people might be offended as it was about a Christian holy day / holiday. I ask you ………. she, and it was a person of that gender, appeared to have no sense of sensibility other than living in the Milliband quartier of Primrose Hill – or not that far away; and that basically put the khibosh on.
As someone of mixed Anglo-Franco-Indian descent, I thought this was so effing typical of the well-meaning, do-gooding, total absence of understanding, social work type classes ………
Bah – if not humbug!
We live in a world where nobody can make a move in case someone might be offended.
Its outrageous that Ohid Ahmed seeks to impose his fundamentalist interpretations of his freely chosen religion on society generally.
If Ohid were a Christian, especially a Roman Catholic, in Pakistan or in Bangladesh or in some other Moslem countries, demanding that Moslems adopt Catholic practises, he would be quickly murdered by a baying semi-literate mob.
Whilst living in the West, Ohid should observe Western traditions of tolerance and mutual respect. If he don’t like it here, he should go.
Meanwhile, in the real daily world of Tower Hamlets – totally unknown to Ohid – there are many serious problems requiring councillors’ attention.
Being a councillor is far too arduous and stressful for pitiful and deluded Ohid. Can we hope for a wonderful bye-election soon ?
Curious Cat.
@ Curious Cat
‘Whilst living in the West, Ohid should observe Western traditions of tolerance and mutual respect. If he don’t like it here, he should go’
Not sure what you mean by saying if he don’t like it here, he should go? Where do you expect him to go? Like you, he is also a British citizen, so if the same was asked of you, where would you go?
“Where do you expect him to go?”
I could make some suggestions.
Tim.
Living in the so-called “West”, has a burden, or duty or tradition of social values which pervade into established religions and established politics too.
In the West, for example, we don’t tolerate men having sex with women to whom they are not married whilst simultaneously stoning to death women who had sex with men they are not married to.
Its done this way. A deep pit is dug. The woman is placed in the pit and covered with earth (or sand) up to her neck. Her head is then covered with a white cloth. Then the murdering bastards, religious men of course, throw stones and rocks at the woman’s white covered head. Soon fresh bright blood seeps through the white cloth. That is a good indication this barbaric practise is proceeding “properly”.
We don’t, in the West, murder women who have been raped EITHER.
We don’t bomb and shoot girls whose only ‘crime’ is to want to learn. Those that kill the brainy girls are obviously educationally defective and jealous that a child has a superior brain to their own impaired specimen.
The West has developed an ideology where woman can wear short-sleeved tops, exposing their lower arms. They can even drive motor vehicles too. Surprisingly they are allowed out in public without a family male member, or their husband, accompanying them.
In the West praying to one of the numerous Gods, is not a crime punishable with imprisonment or even death.
Western men have agreed women should have the same voting Rights as men; men no longer have to authorise a woman’s marriage to a person of her free choice; equal pay for men and women; equal rights for men and women – except the men are reluctant to extend that Right to male abortion; women are not banned from becoming a country’s first minister or a country’s president. Unlike some non-Western male types, Western males are competent cooks, cleaners, child minders and parents who actually love and adore their own children.
Beating children has long disappeared in the West. Now its a crime potentially punishable with imprisonment. Wish that Western notion extended Eastwards.
The West even has something called Human Rights but, disappointingly, the British Labour Party deliberately refused to let the people of Britain enjoy the 54 European Fundamental Rights enjoyed in the other 28 member countries of the European Union. (Cameron’s Tories don’t like any Human Rights even though one of their ancestors was involved in creating European Human Rights).
Above all, in the West people are generally tolerant of others whose customs are different.
I would like to know which ‘Eastern’ countries have anything resembling Western Human Rights – not Israel, not Moslem countries, not China, not Buddhist countries et al. Not in Southern America or in Africa yet.
Curious Cat.
Ash,
If Ohid does not like the everyday practises in this country he should emigrate to a country in which he feels more happier.
Make Ohid happy. Give him a new start in a different country.
Curious Cat.
Ash,
If Ohid is unhappy living here, then perhaps he will be happier living in a country inhabited by orthodox Moslems.
Me ? Well, if I won the Lottery, I would go to Central or Eastern Europe – after all I’m truly an European and a EU Citizen until the white extremists deprive me of my treasured EU citizenship.
CC.
Ted wrote:
And Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim readers. Don’t hoot your horns too wildly tomorrow…but then again why not!
Not late at night. Not all the time. Do be tolerant of the rest of Humanity who have to endure all the crap.
Curious Cat.
I find his inflammatory comments quite troubling. At the best of times he can barely string a coherent sentence together so if someone write this for him, their command of English is only marginally better than his. Where is his tolerance and respect for non-muslims?
But he says refreshments were served at the behest of those observing their faith so I don’t know what he’s bleating on about. I’d have thought there were many more important things for the Council to concern itself with than this nonsense, except that if it’s taken seriously it will be far from a nonsense.
The English is terrible so it looks like now that his group doesn’t have access to council employees who speak and write good English they have to rely on their own resources.
I wouldn’t read to much into this. He is obviously sounding off for the sake of it and has, no doubt, been presenting himself in his community as a ” Defender of The Faith “. Nothing to see, move along.
It was interesting to see the quality of The Advertiser back in 2008 compared to the gossip sheet it has become. We have it delivered but I think we’ll cancel it soon, it’s not worth the money.
Ted – why are you blogging about such trivial things?
What about the fall out from the OFSTED letter about 100 children accountably removed from schools in the Borough)?
Or how about a report on Tues evening’s meeting of the independent Standards Board – the first meeting since the Election Petition hearing and Mawrey’s damming judgement about the councillors elected under the THF label?
This blog used to be about serious things albeit in a humorous style.
I don’t think it is trivial. It’s the whipping up of the race card again. I expect him to use it in the Bengali media.
As for other issues, yes, they’re all important but they’ve largely been covered elsewhere. I only have limited time to write and so I tend not to duplicate.
I’m v happy to accept guest posts if you’d like to help out.
Some people need to go on permanent fasts!
Perhaps all female council workers should also wear head scarves, and men grow lovely thick beards? I know Manboob would be impressed, and perhaps a little threatened.
The sad thing is, if Lutfur were in power, I’d not put this out of the realm of possibility. Slipping it into new staff contracts and HR handbook.
I’m sorry, but religion is something that should not affect your work, nor be foisted upon others. What next, spraying burkas on adverts of ladies in summer clothes? Whoops, it’s already happened multiple times in Tower Hamlets
If you cannot complete your paid duties during a ‘holy month’, then take the time as annual leave, or unpaid if you’ve used it up. No doubt there will be cries of discrimination, but it’s your choice, roll with it.
Perhaps we should trade religious days off. You take Ramadan off, and cover other religions during Christmas, Easter, Hanukah and Diwali etc. With a set number of days allocated, and any others taken as unpaid?
That’s my behest!
Dear Ohid I’m currently doing Alternative Day Fasting to lose weight. I also have to go to meetings and events where there are refreshments available on days when I am on a very restricted diet.
I agree it is frustrating to see snacks so freely available – biscuits are the devil’s temptation. But I certainly don’t feel insulted or offended or expect everybody to bow before my dietary demands. Get over it.
Yours sincerely etc etc
I too am on a diet at present and vote this as the best comment yet!
However I am reminded of the mental trick that I used to give up smoking – which is that when in the presence of temptation you just have to decide not to smoke for the next half an hour. It’s a very effective way of denying yourself what you want.
Based on that experience, I’d have thought that the fact adherents to the faith were in the presence of temptation and resisted it only reinforced their commitment to their faith?
Or did I misunderstand the notion of fasting as a challenge?
Councillors are not Council staff so why was he at a Council staff conference? His presence wasn’t essential to the event and if he felt offended, he could have left. I’m sure nobody would have minded in the least.
Perhaps he was feeling hungry ?
🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
I’m actually wondering why anything at all – beyond tea and coffee – got offered to staff. Isn’t this a Council which has to find budget savings?
Why is it serving breakfast?
Food refreshments for staff were usually the first thing to get the chop in Councils I’m familiar with. No more choccie biccies, no more custard creams……
For a preview of Ted’s next post do take a look at his Twitter feed as the ex-Mayor has finally gotten round to applying for a judicial review
https://twitter.com/TedJeory/status/622043668103434240 – do make sire to click and read the whole conversation of comments – it makes for interesting reading!
I should have embedded the tweet – but you need the links to see the conversation
Ted or anyone,
Any chance of sight of the application ?
Curious Cat.
(not a lawyer)
My recollection of the case is that any one of the allegations if proven was enough to sink him.
My understanding of JRs is that they are restricted to strict matters of process (ie the application of current law) and are never ever about merits of the arguments
I wonder whether having his assets frozen prior to stumping up for the estimated £500k of the legal bill of the four defendants is driving the imperative to challenge the judgement.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/disgraced-extower-hamlets-mayor-lutfur-rahman-has-350k-in-assets-frozen-10372639.html
I really think it’s a matter of public interest that the electorate of Tower Hamlets should know who is funding his bid for a JR.
I really wish the Met would pull their fingers out if their arses and lock this crook up once and for all. That goes for his cronies also.
It is offensive that the lying and corrupt ex-mayor is allowed a JR when he has paid nothing towards the costs of the original case but he’s not funding his JR.
At the Waterlily on 30/04 it was announced that a fund had been set up and people were asked to donate. I would be surprised In nearly 3 months it would need to have reached about £100k for the JR.
His appeal is against 3 of the 7 counts he was found guilt of. In effect he is admitting he Is a liar and is corrupt but just not quite as much as the judge said.Not sure how that helps him apart from reducing the period he is barred from standing.
Grim,
Don’t be unreasonable. Hogan-Howe’s cowboys and gals are still sipping their coffees
Jay Kay,
Nothing on Google about Rahman’s JR application.
How do you know Rahman has received permission for a JR ?
CC.
He hasn’t even got a date for an application hearing yet never mind permission.
I will try and publish the documents later once I’ve read them!
Thanks Ted.
So he has filed and is now waiting.
He will have to serve copies on the Returning Officer and the 4 Petitioners.
Fascinating. He must have a unique technical challenge (apart from: “Its not fair. They caught me when I wasn’t prepared.”)
CC.
His QC is Ben Emmerson of Matrix Chambers
Thanks Ted.
https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/Members/49/Ben%20Emmerson.aspx
Commentators note that he has “the ability to put together fantastic packages of ideas” and “is able to work minor miracles” with the cases before him. Many of his matters are international in nature and he has vast experience of handling cases in the European Court of Human Rights.
1. Having is insufficient for a successful appeal.
2. is inadequate when a Major Outburst of Miracles will be needed.
3. No mention of outstanding litigation successes; attending court and not winning is hardly the recommendation Rahman desperately needs.
4. Rahman was damned by his own actions and by the actions of his ‘agents’.
5. The judgement summary = http://law.slough.info/law46/law46p066.php
6. Even if Rahman is found to be never-the-less his election to Mayor is damned by the activities of, in election law, his agents.
JR result = Rahman lost the mayorship.. The best Rahman can hope for is to be allowed to contest future elections.
Curious Cat
This is only his APPLICATION for a JR – he had to file now otherwise he would have run “out of time” i.e. three months from the judgement.
I seem to recall that to pursue a court case you have to show the wherewithal to do so.
Somebody who has had their assets frozen due to a failure to pay into court the required £250k downpayment on the costs of the case which issued a judgement in April might well mean that the High Court will be minded to ask how he is going to fund this case as well as the previous case.
Met detectives have been already going around houses collecting witness statements from people.
What can I add, apart from 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
That’s good news. I share The Grim Reaper’s desire that The Despicable Rahman should face criminal proceedings and his actions be tried in court. The outcome, if it was to be done properly (which I slightly doubt would happen, mainly due to the bias and incompetence of the Met) would be very interesting.
I’ve said before that I’d be very happy to see him launch a JR against the election court. I think he has very little chance at all of winning but it will be very expensive for him. The thought of him throwing even more money down the pan amuses me, although I think we should know whose money it is.
Tim.
Let’s hope that the outcome of investigations exposes the criminality which appears to have aw been endemic under Rahman’s mayoralty.
I don’t even mind my hard earned taxes paying for further multiple local by elections if and when these crooks are banged up.
As it’s not Rahman’s money he has nothing to lose but he’s unlikely to even get permission to appeal because he’s relying on a law that he knew or ought to have known, was capable of being put before the court in the original trial.
The appeal, if granted, is likely to fail for much the same reason. His appeal is based on errors of law. There can be no error of law if a law, on which Rahman now relies, was never introduced in the original trial.
JR usually mean a complete legal argument has to be submitted when seeking approval for the application to be ‘heard’.
I would enjoy reading Mr Rahman’s detailed legal argument.
Curious Cat
Ramadan is not a particularly onerous period of fasting. If you really want a gruelling fast try the Orthodox Christian Lenten fast.
That would be the “no chocolate at all for six weeks” one? 😉
I take it Mr Catalan has no knowledge of the Matrix Chambers or he would not be making such facetious comments!
Try the Wikipedia entry…..
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Emmerson
Dear Sir,
It is not, as you appear to suggest, Matrix Chambers representing Mr Rahman but one of the tenants. Although one might also refer to the person as a Landlord.
I based my opinion on the ‘sales’ material displayed on Matrix Chambers’ web page for that particular tenant.
I see nothing on the Wikipedia page to alter my original opinion.
If you have a list of stunningly impressive litigation victories, then do exhibit them without further avoidable delay.
Yours etc.
Curious Cat.
Reporting cases is so much more difficult since reports went behind paywalls!
How about this article in The Guardian? The Guardian: Historic ruling ends services gay ban
Or this article about how he made a mitigation case against prison sentences
The Independent: Men in gay sex parties case escape sentences
Or this article by The Independent about him as a lawyer
Ben Emmerson QC: The bête noire of the right wing press with a ‘leviathan intellect’ The human rights lawyer’s liberal stance makes him a divisive figure
Tip – when doing research it helps to have some knowledge of the topic (Matrix is very well known within local government circles) and to look for independent verification
You could have just relied on Ted’s tweet……..
He’s going to be rather busy right now with the Child Sex Abuse Enquiry https://www.csa-inquiry.independent.gov.uk/panel-members/ben-emmerson-qc
In relation to being one of the Founders of the Matrix Chambers, I think you must have been scan reading the statement about Ben Emmerson which clearly states he is a Founder in the second sentence.
https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/Members/49/Staff.aspx
Emmerson is also the human rights editor of Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, the criminal practitioner’s bible – and has been since 1995. I think you’d agree this requires a certain degree of credibility in the field.
Is that enough for you Mr Catalan?
Bottom line, the ex-Mayor has gone to one of the leading “go to” QCs re human rights who has an appetite for and is willing to argue test cases. I guess that’s probably because he’d like to maintain his reputation….?
Mind you he won’t come cheap!
Reporting cases is so much more difficult since reports went behind paywalls!
That is strange. Judgements of substantial courts are on-line, and have been for many years. Access is entirely free.
How about this article in The Guardian? The Guardian: Historic ruling ends services gay ban
Or this article about how he made a mitigation case against prison sentences
The Independent: Men in gay sex parties case escape sentences
Or this article by The Independent about him as a lawyer
Ben Emmerson QC: The bête noire of the right wing press with a ‘leviathan intellect’ The human rights lawyer’s liberal stance makes him a divisive figure
What has any of these to do with election offences ???
Tip – when doing research it helps to have some knowledge of the topic (Matrix is very well known within local government circles) and to look for independent verification
And we all know how incredibly corrupt English local government is !
You could have just relied on Ted’s tweet……..
Wow.V heavyweight human rights QC Ben Emmerson representing Lutfur for his JR.Is counsel for Child Sex Abuse inquiry https://t.co/f1gbrfx8oq— Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) July 17, 2015
He’s going to be rather busy right now with the Child Sex Abuse Enquiry https://www.csa-inquiry.independent.gov.uk/panel-members/ben-emmerson-qc
A pre-occupation with sex, including homosexual sex, is still inadequate to deal with election offences.
In relation to being one of the Founders of the Matrix Chambers, I think you must have been scan reading the statement about Ben Emmerson which clearly states he is a Founder in the second sentence.
https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/Members/49/Staff.aspx
See my remark about the .
Emmerson is also the human rights editor of Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, the criminal practitioner’s bible – and has been since 1995. I think you’d agree this requires a certain degree of credibility in the field.
I’ll have a look in my copy (2 volumes and 1/3) and see if I can find his name.
Is that enough for you Mr Catalan?
Obviously not or I would not be replying to your misplaced concern 🙂
Bottom line, the ex-Mayor has gone to one of the leading “go to” QCs re human rights who has an appetite for and is willing to argue test cases. I guess that’s probably because he’d like to maintain his reputation….?
Mind you he won’t come cheap!
Cheap or expensive is not the substantive issue. It is whether or not gay sex is an excuse for election offences; and whether or not is is a fundamental Human Right to be able to ‘fix’ elections.
You clearly did not read the entire judgement of the Tower Hamlets election petition. I did and I still remember some of the pertinent points.
If I were Mr Rahman, I would engage a skilled election law practitioner or two or three of them. Gay sex victories, Archbold work, other assignments inevitably mean, certainly to me, Mr Rahman’s choice may not benefit him in pursuing this immensely difficult task.
Curious Cat
The challenge is based on issues related to Article 9 of the Human Rights Act and accordingly the ex-Mayor decided to go with a human rights specialist.
That’s why the articles I quoted are relevant – they relate to human rights. This is the penalty of skim reading – you miss the important points!
I think the recognised Election Law specialist actually tried the case – so I don’t suppose there’s too many other lawyers to choose from if you are going to limit their expertise to only election law.
For somebody who likes to endlessly quote the law while denying being a lawyer, you seem very determined to ignore the achievements of Ben Emmerson – for no obvious reason – other than yet more attempts at ‘grandstanding’.
Let’s be realistic. It’s extraordinarily unlikely that get Emmerson was appointed to be the Counsel to the most prominent public and controversial Enquiry currently being conducted in the UK without having a considerable degree of credibility as a lawyer.
Do you really think he’s going to have difficulty mastering a brief about election law?
Mr Couldn’t wrote
The challenge is based on issues related to Article 9 of the Human Rights Act and accordingly the ex-Mayor decided to go with a human rights specialist.
So we, or at least me, has a gander at Tony Blair’s weak masterpiece also known as The Human Rights Act 1998 (1998 c. 42; c = chapter but that is for another day).
SCHEDULE 1 The Articles
PART I The Convention Rights and Freedoms
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/schedule/1
Article 9 Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
2. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
Which is, in my non-lawyer’s opinion, a totally stupid and wasteful approach to the matter of removing all of the Election Commissioner’s determinations.
That’s why the articles I quoted are relevant – they relate to human rights. This is the penalty of skim reading – you miss the important points!
No I did not. The important points in the matter of Rahman versus The State are:
(a) there were multiple findings against Mr Rahman personally.
(b) Mr Rahman was damned by the multiple actions of his, in election law, “agents”
(c) allowing religious stitch-ups still will not exonerate Mr Rahman and will still
not restore him to his former mayor-ship BECAUSE multiple other items are recorded against him – items done personally by Mr Rahman and items done by his ‘election law agents’.
I think the recognised Election Law specialist actually tried the case – so I don’t suppose there’s too many other lawyers to choose from if you are going to limit their expertise to only election law.
Mr Rahman was found guilty, personally and by his agents, of election law offences – not shop lifting and not driving whilst over-the-limit.
For somebody who likes to endlessly quote the law while denying being a lawyer, you seem very determined to ignore the achievements of Ben Emmerson – for no obvious reason – other than yet more attempts at ‘grandstanding’.
Quoting the law is something that everyone can do. Read the law then quote it. It is astonishingly easy to do that. I know no reason why I should falsely proclaim to be a lawyer when I am not, and never have been, a lawyer.
Are you really unable to grasp an elementary fact that in court, someone’s name is not important but that person’s clarity of thought and legal arguments are. Lord Devin, in retirement, fought a public footpath case before magistrates and lost because his legal argument failed to persuade the bench. Lord Devin’s name and substantial reputation was insufficient to get the magistrates to capitulate. You should remember this point well !
Let’s be realistic. It’s extraordinarily unlikely that get Emmerson was appointed to be the Counsel to the most prominent public and controversial Enquiry currently being conducted in the UK without having a considerable degree of credibility as a lawyer.
Help. Is there no end to this foolishness ? I have never questioned Emmerson’s . Since you have lots of spare time, do sign-up for the Open University’s Law Course. I honestly do think you will do well on it. It will certainly make you think and in instances re-examine your current thinking.
Do you really think he’s going to have difficulty mastering a brief about election law?
Yes, very definitely. It is an acquired skill gained by lots of in-depth research and on the job experience.
Curious Cat
Quien es el senor Catalan? I apologise for not having a Spanish keyboard.
¡Hola! Dave
Lessons on how to type strange, southern European, characters.
1. Part 1
Get Linux, and use it. Its free and immune to Microsoft viruses. The best and brilliant alternative to Microsoft Office is Libre Office – its FREE too.
http://libreoffice.org/ ——— it has versions for Windoze and Linux
2. Part 2
ñ = hold-down SHIFT+CTRL+U release them then type f 1 space
á = ditto ….. e 1 space
See: http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0080.pdf
Que tengas un buen día
P.S. í = ….. e d space
Gato el hombre curioso y lucha contra la corrupción
P.P.S ó = …… f 3 space
P.P.P.S If an accented letter code has two leading zeroes you do not, in Linux, need to type them.
(a) hold down SHIFT and CTRL and type u (you will see u underlined)
(b) release the keys
(c) type the code followed by a space (example, for degree symbol, ¶ whoops wrong one, ° ) b 0 space
See: http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0080.pdf
Adiós
(ó …. f 3 space)
I’d call that a casual reading of status.
He’s one of the Founders of one of the more famous and leading sets of Chambers – leaning towards the left (Cherie Booth is also one of their Founders), and set up to be more progressive. As such it likes leading edge and difficult cases testing the boundaries of recent legislation especially that related to civil liberties/discrimination/human rights and public law.
see http://www.legal500.com/firms/9227/9227 re reputation
Golly, golly, golly.
Mr Couldn’t you obviously can not understand that it is not the ‘quality’ of a den of lawyers, also called a Chamber meaning room although these days they do have multiple rooms, but …………………….
the quality of one person’s mind, thinking, analytical ability and research material and helpers that actually win court cases.
Consequently if a barrister was working in shabby surroundings in a slum, that would not automatically prevent him or her winning court cases – although we all like to work in nice surroundings and local government staff are renown for spending pubic funds on their own comforts !
Curious Cat
You completely miss the point. The standing of a Chambers is determined by its Founders and Lead Counsel. If they’re very good, they then tend to attract very good juniors who in turn become QCs themselves – who in turn tend to reinforce the reputation etc etc.
Like I said – some people know the reputation of the Matrix Chambers and its founders. You’re obviously not one of them.
The nature of the offices they work out of are completely irrelevant.
Mr Couldn’t,
Why are seemingly unable to comprehend that it is NOT the Chambers representing Mr Rahman at Court – it is a barrister.
The reputation – good, middling or even bad – of a Chambers is not a matter for any court to determine and, I suggest very strongly to you, the Chamber’s reputation is not in the pleading either !
Neither of us are gaining from this senseless deliberation. Discourse over the substance of the claim/application is awaited with considerable interest.
Curious Cat.
Interesting take published in Haaretz By Khaled Diab
Published 02:03 17.07.15
Why Muslim nations shouldn’t make the Ramadan fast a matter of law
Piety cannot and must not be imposed by the state – the road to hell is paved with pious intentions.
Ramadan is a unique month. It is time of stark contrasts. Fasting and austerity during the day, feasting and revelry once the sun goes down. It is paradoxically characterized both by enhanced spirituality, as many faithful withdraw from the world to worship and spiritually cleanse themselves, and greater materialism, as the average family’s consumption skyrockets.
The holy month, which ends this week, is marked by greater forgiveness and charity, but also heightened levels of impatience and anger, especially in the form of the “fasting furious” during rush hour in urban areas across the Muslim world. One unedifying aspect of Ramadan is when piety stops becoming a personal quest and becomes a question of public interest and even legislation.
This was recently illustrated in Morocco, where five people were arrested for eating and drinking in public, which is prohibited in the kingdom by law and carries a sentence of up to six months in prison.
Of course, Morocco is not alone. A number of Arab and Muslim countries have similar regulations in place, especially in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia has gone a step further and threatened to deport any non-Muslim found eating and drinking in public.
Even in countries that do not ban eating and drinking, overzealous individual officers can sometimes take the law into their own hands.
Although it was once unheard of in my native Egypt, where there is a vibrant parallel non-fasting culture, recent years have seen a number of incidents in which Egyptians were detained by police for violating the fast in public. Controversy surrounding the alleged arrest of 25 people prompted Egypt’s interior ministry to reiterate that eating in public is legal during Ramadan.
And it is important that it stays this way. In fact, Egypt needs to go further, and lift the ridiculous ban it has on alcohol sales during Ramadan.
Some pious people will object. I’ve debated this issue with numerous conservatives. Some argue that it is about not putting temptation in the way of the faster. But, surely, a Muslim who can’t handle fasting around others who are eating doesn’t possess the spiritual stamina to fast.
Besides, the Moroccan arrests took place at a beach resort, which implies that fasters could endure tourists in beachwear sipping cocktails on the beach, but thirsty locals are suddenly intolerable.
Another justification is that in a Muslim country people must respect Islamic values and rituals. “These people were arrested for not showing Ramadan the respect it deserves,” one interlocutor argued.
Well, those chanting “This is a Muslim country” should not mind at all that China is forcing Muslims to eat in public this year – after all, Ramadan conflicts with the country’s ostensibly communist ideology. Of course, this is an enormous violation of the rights of Chinese Muslims – but so is forcing people not to eat in public.
This kind of coercive imposition of ideology is not just an Islamic ailment, of course. In Israel, for example, it has surprised me how the country must go into forced lockdown on Yom Kippur and, every Shabbat, public transport comes to a grinding halt and traffic is banned from ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.
Showing respect should be a personal choice, not a legislative issue. Coercion results in the kind of “respect” people show thugs and bullies. Respect is a two-way street. Just as liberals like me don’t force pious Muslims to drink alcohol, why do the pious believe it is their right to compel us to fast, or at least to pretend to do so in public?
Such pressure for citizens to exhibit public piety is counterproductive, as it promotes a spirit of hypocrisy – something that has undermined numerous Arab and Muslim societies. Do what you want in private but lie in public, is the implicit, underlying message.
More fundamentally, such coercion is a violation of the principle of religious freedom. And even if you exempt non-Muslims from this, this raises the problematic issue of setting different rules for different citizens, which can raise tensions and fuel sectarianism. In addition, such exemptions still infringe on the rights of non-practicing Muslims not to practice their religion.
The road to hell is paved with pious intentions. If this logic works in Ramadan, why stop there? Shouldn’t the pious then have the right to impose their values on the rest of us all year round?
This is happening before our eyes. Despite its reputation for tolerance, Morocco is becoming increasingly draconian. A telling example of this are the two women currently standing trial for “public indecency” for wearing miniskirts. They face the prospect of spending two years behind bars.
Luckily, tolerant Moroccans have not taken this lying down, and have come up with creative ways to protest, including a campaign to bare legs in solidarity. More than 27,000 have signed a petition telling the minister of justice that “wearing a skirt is not a crime.”
Such initiatives are not a campaign to spread “debauchery” and “immorality,” but seek to protect the freedom of everyone, even the pious. What the self-righteous pious don’t realize is that there are always those who are more pious and radical.
By showing intolerance towards those less pious than themselves, they open the door to the more extreme doing the same to them. Today, they fashion a self-righteous moral case against the length of a skirt. Tomorrow, others might persecute them for wearing the wrong length of beard or a “revealing” type of hijab.
The only way to guarantee your own tolerance is to tolerate others, without exception.
Khaled Diab is an Egyptian-Belgian journalist, blogger and writer living in Jerusalem. He is the author of “Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land.” Follow him on Twitter: @DiabolicalIdea.
Interesting and nicely written. Well worth reading.
Going back to the question of the questions being asked of Mayor Biggs on Wednesday 22nd July…..
How come NOT ONE COUNCILLOR has asked what the Council is doing to review and support the schools in Tower Hamlets where children are regularly going missing….. as the National News reminds us on a regular basis.
The only one who is getting anywhere near is Councillor Andrew Cregan
However it is very clear from the OFSTED letter dated 14 July (published after Cllr Cregan’s question) that some considerable concerns remain – not least in relation to the number of children who go missing from school without adequate explanations or assurances as to their safety.
Advice letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, on the latest position with schools in Birmingham and Tower Hamlets
PDF, 257KB, 4 pages
which led to MANY reports about “what happens in Tower Hamlets” yet again in the national papers e.g. The Guardian
‘Missing children’ at risk of exploitation, says schools inspections chief
Sir Michael Wilshaw highlights ‘serious safeguarding issue’ with pupils taken out of schools vulnerable to falling prey to radicalisation
and Annex 2 of this document Annexes for advice letter from HMCI on the latest position with schools in Birmingham and Tower Hamlets PDF, 196KB, 7 pages
which includes the following statement
(My bold)
Might that quality of response from the Council relate to the level of attention and priority given by the Council and its Councillors to the education and safeguarding of children in Tower Hamlet Schools?
I wonder how many parents – and Councillors – within Tower Hamlets are aware that the local Council’s response to a school which was put into ‘special measures’ last November was found “not fit for purpose”?
I wonder how many parents – and Councillors – have actually received, read and understood the new leaflet Advice to Parents and Carers: Keeping Children and Young People Safe Against Radicalisation and Extremism produced by the LBTH Parental Engagement Team and published in March.
Yet not one Councillor – of any political party – thinks it necessary to ask a question and want an update about a matter which continues to keep Tower Hamlets in the national news?
In fact I can find no record of the situation ever being discussed at Council – other than to deny there was a problem prior to much publicised events in February regarding three pupils from the Bethnal Green Academy.
They should ALL be ashamed of themselves!
I note that Ofsted’s former national director for social care Debbie Jones has been appointed as interim director of children’s services (DCS) at Tower Hamlets Council..
Could this be a mark of the continued seriousness with which the Government’s Commissioners or the Councillors regard the current situation in Children’s Services in Tower Hamlets?
Good posting Mr Couldn’t. Keep-up the good work.
The deadline for questions to be submitted was the 10th July, the OFSTED letter came out on the 14th July so there was no way of asking this question without a time machine.
I have asked two questions in Council about the decline in quality of primary schools in the Borough over the last year (based on OFSTED reports), the first time I was effectively ignored and attacked for allegedly attacking the children of TH. The 2nd time when OFSTED showed a further decline Council agreed that O&S should investigate, O&S later decided not to investigate.
We have no formal process for Councillors to raise purely education related issues as there is no education O&S sub-group for example like you have in Newham.
In Audit Committee the failure of some schools to properly follow CRB/DBS processes has also been raised as this is done by individual schools not the Council.
Anne Canning the previous office holder left months ago and the attempt to recruit a replacement failed dismally last month which is why an interim head was appointed.
Andrew Wood wrote:
I was effectively ignored and attacked for allegedly attacking the children of TH.
That is a typical Labour Party response seen so often all over England. There must be a Labour Party Handbook that all these despicable people are following.
Why must questions be submitted an week in advance ? To give the senior staff the opportunity to write the answers which the elected nobility then regurgitate as if it was their own honest reply. Does the public really need a load of expensive talking parrots unable to think for themselves ?
If the questions are directed at elected nobility whose official responsibility is the subject of the question, why can’t we have – in this declining sub-standard world of crap, inefficient, deplorable and unaccountable local government, questions on the night submitted an hour before the meeting starts ?
Because the frighten, incompetent elected nobility desperately need the senior officials to hold their sweaty hands and reassure them “Its all right. I’ll write your answers for you AND pretend it was all your own work” ?
You know my suggestion/proposal does make a lot of sense especially if the questioners are representing and articulating the interests of local residents. The current system is like that employed in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe – hardly fit for the alleged democratic accountability of pathetic England as it gently slides beneath the waves.
To implement my excellent idea, a minor change to Tower Hamlets Rules (also known as The Constitution – which is surprising in a country lacking a national Constitution). Who has got the guts to propose the overdue change ?
Curious Cat.
Curious Cat The first motion on Wednesday night is from Cllr Craig Aston titled the ‘Motion regarding the Constitutional Working Group’ it calls for a review of the TH Constitution by a working group to ‘be convened to consider revisions to the constitution which would strengthen scrutiny, oversight, and executive accountability.’
Despite the advance notice it was still surprising how poorly prepared previous Cabinet members were in answering questions. We shall see if that changes on Wednesday
Let’s face it – one of the major problems is the capacity of some Councillors to read any Agenda Papers at all and do anything more than “showboat” when they answer questions.
I’ve personally been of the opinion for some time that anybody wanting to represent the electorate should be required to take an examination which sorts out whether or not they can
1) read
2) handle paperwork
3) write
4) understand basic principles about how government operates in this country.
I wholeheartedly endorse Couldn’t comments. They made me laugh.
Agenda papers are best used, by some elected representatives, as doodling pads.
The council training given to councillors can be woefully inadequate, and sometimes bad. It is not unusual for someone in the audience to know more about the subject than the so-called .
Hence my repeated calls, all falling upon deaf ears, for a radical reform of English local government. Its far too political and remains largely unfit for purpose.
Curious Cat.
Andrew,
Constitutional Working Parties (or panels or groups) consist of council officials who often have a vested interest and councillors lacking sufficient brain cells to achieve anything beneficial.
They meet in secrecy; don’t publish minutes and the first anyone knows about changes is when it appears as an Agenda Item.
Transparency in everything a local authority does is essential.
Lots of sub-standard local government staff have to be kicked-out. Local government needs quality, not crap, and that also applies to elected councillors especially those who haven’t much of a clue and/or unable to speak, write, read and understand English.
There is absolutely no reason why local government should not excel in everything it does – apart from paying top staff morally indefensible bloated salaries, and pension payments, for often sub-standard results.
Public parasites have no legitimate place in English local government.
Curious Cat
As a Muslim I find this highly embarrassing. Just because it’s Ramadan it doesn’t mean you stop going about your business. It would have been a nice gesture from the Council if they did delay, but there was really no need to especially if it was at cost or nuisance.
I think the Councillor forgets that one of the core messages of Ramadan is steadfastness and that is being steadfast when going about your daily life including work. If people bended over backwards to accommodate your fasting then there would be no point.