Thursday 27 September 2007

Straw to call for new laws to protect homeowners who defend themselves


In a move to be announced by the UK ‘Justice’ Secretary, Jack Straw, in his conference speech, telegraphed by ‘sources close to him’, it seems Nu-Lab are at long last apparently planning to ‘reform’ self-defence laws in a way that "better balances the system in favour of victims of crime".

“This will be aimed at ensuring that those who seek to protect themselves, their loved ones and their homes as well as other citizens have confidence that the law is on their side,"

Where have we heard this before?

Oh yes - familiar stuff this - A 2004 review of the self-defence laws, following Conservative pressure resulted in...

...absolutely no change whatsoever, any changes being ruled out by Blair on the grounds that the existing legislation was ‘sound’. Right, almost as sound as a cracked bell.

So what has changed since then? Well we know that Gordon would like to Tar Dave the Chameleon with Tony Blair’s brush and steal some of ‘the party formerly known as the Conservatives’ clothing (and votes). So a good sound bite then.

To be fair, it could be that Mr Straw may have actually had genuine second thoughts on the matter, after reportedly being involved in four ‘there but for the grace of god…’ ‘have-a go’ incidents, including chasing and restraining muggers near his south London home.

So we know the Justice dude kicks ass then - Judge Dread eat your heart out…

It remains to be seen what actual practical difference, if any, this may make. But the sheeple may well dimly remember the sound bite, even if nothing more comes of it.

TV & Internet ‘cold turkey’

From time to time one reads of people, who as an experiment, go without TV, the internet, etc. Sometimes they appear to make heavy going of it.

I am a pretty heavy user of the internet and I usually watch at least an hour of news per day, Plus there are the papers.

I do not see myself as a news and politics junky - but I do generally take a keen interest.

In any event I have just had a two week break from TV and didn’t even rally think about it ‘till the initial idea of technology withdrawal surfaced in my mind. Ditto the internet – and I am normally a heavy user. I must confess to having read a couple of newspapers though…

I just got by with convivial conversation, reading books, sight seeing, swimming, good food, drink and relaxation.

I suppose it may have been different if I had to go without them in my normal day to day routine, but I can honestly say, that I missed them so little on holiday that I didn’t even consciously notice their absence.