Lobby Briefing July 1, 2008

Two interesting bits of Irish news yesterday. Research released Wednesday shows that in Britain the average company makes a profit of some €22,500 per employee. This compares to Irish companies who on average make a profit per employee of €45,800. This is after transfer pricing and other disortions were stripped out.

Is that why the security services on behalf of the British government illegally and secretly monitored every telephone, fax and email to and from the UK and Ireland for seven years. Using laws which the British government insisted were necessary to combat a growing threat from terrorism they undertook mass covert surveillance. Do they want the secret of high profits or do they think Osama is hiding in the caves of the West coast? Think he went that way…

In a landmark ruling yesterday the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the British government’s scheme of external surveillance was not “in accordance with the law”. Of course the British government tacitly allows the Americans to do the same to you.

Guido is hearing conflicting claims regarding the Vaz pay-off “appropriate reward”. Labour sources say he only managed to negotiate a better office. Selling our liberty at such a cheap price – surely not?

Some poor fellow was just walking along Great Smith Street ahead of me, just outside of the Department for Children, Schools and Families. A car zoomed up outside and the door was flung open in a “I’m important and busy” manner – hitting the poor pedestrian. The moron responsible eventually shouted a token “sorry”, but not before those standing about (including me) had spotted that the culprit was the popular Ed Balls.

The door was opened just ahead of the pedestrian who walked into it, although was protecting himself with his hands as he must have seen it coming at the last second.

It was the reason why he eventually shouted an apology. He also had his team with him (3 or 4 people), and there were another two or three bystanders.

A couple of years ago I was at the dentist in Victoria Street. Ed Balls was there with his daughter. When they left, Ed was on the phone being incredibly busy and important. He walked out of the heavy swing door letting it fall back on his daughter who got properly squidged. She must have been no more than about 8 years old and the valiant little soul put her whole body strength into squeezing the door open again and followed her dad out into the street where he was still on the phone completely oblivious.

At PMQs Dave asked Gordon where there deals done over the 42 days vote. Gordon gave an uncharacteristically direct answer in the negative. Dave asked him to explain the following as the Labour benches looked embarrassed.

The Daily Telegraph has got hold of a letter sent by chief whip Geoff Hoon to Vaz expressing an expectation that his former ministerial colleague will be “appropriately rewarded” for backing the measure to hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge.

Slimy Vaz is the Labour chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee. He was at first opposed to the plans but eventually gave them his full backing.

Vaz was asked in Parliament during the debate if he had been offered an honour for his support. He said: “No, it was certainly not offered—but I do not know; there is still time.”

Hoon’s letter says:

“Dear Keith…

Just a quick note to thank you for all your help during the period leading up to last Wednesday’s vote. I wanted you to know how much I appreciated all your help… I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded!…With thanks and best wishes,

Geoff.”

So “Lord Vaz” it is…