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John Rentoul
John Rentoul is chief political commentator for The Independent on Sunday, and visiting fellow at Queen Mary, University of London, where he teaches contemporary history. Previously he was chief leader writer for The Independent. He has written a biography of Tony Blair, whom he admired more at the end of his time in office than he did at the beginning.
You can contact John in the comments area or email him at j.rentoul@independent.co.uk
You can contact John in the comments area or email him at j.rentoul@independent.co.uk
Outrageous, obviously, although no one yet knows the full facts behind Damian Green's arrest yesterday. But joyous too, certainly. To hear the squealing from the Conservative blogs and newspapers about the political use of the police, about how Jacqui Smith (at least) if not Gordon Brown (probably) ordered the arrest of a political opponent.
My favourite quote is from "a senior Tory source" in The Independent, who said the arrest was "Stalinesque" and that "this must have been cleared at the very top of Government". Of course, just as the arrests of Ruth Turner and Lord Levy - and the decision to interview Tony Blair - were.
Now, anyone prepared to reassess the cash-for-honours investigation using the phrases "police out of control" and "constitutional outrage"?
Comments
2. This government has bought the police under political control by such measures as allowing the Home secretary to remove 'off message' chief constables (a New Labour 'improvement') Previously, if the locally accountable police committee was happy with the C.C., the Home Secretary had no powers to sack them. This change resulted in the likes of Ian Blair and others getting involved publicly in the 90/42 days argument. The Police are here to enforce the law, not make it. This administration seems to have forgotten that.
3. I suspect that the cash for honours investigation was more to do with internal politics in the Met (battles between Blair and his deputy) than any serious attempt to prosecute anyone. Likewise, I think Green's arrest was politically motivated, Sir Ian taking his revenge on the Tory party for his effective sacking at the hands of Boris. Some people have suggested that Blair's removal was also political interference in the Police but it seems to me there is a big difference between a locally elected/accountable mayor expressing no confidence in their Police Chief and the Home Secretary, a central government agent, removing the same for not obeying government dictat. We must get back to a position where locally accountable police enforce commonly accepted rules on a largely consenting public, not act as agents of the ruling political party (particularly one that was only elected with barely a third of the votes cast).
The words fascist and Stalinesque are often derided when used about this government, the reason they are relevant is because the methods used, if not the degree (yet), to suppress debate and intimidate critics are often similar. The use of a general, all purpose threat to pass sweeping, highly repressive legislation - which is then used for purposes completely different to which it was allegedly intended - is a classic trick of dictators everywhere and basically means that NONE of us is safe from malicious arrest and other forms of state harassment. Just wait to see what it'll be like once these draconian laws are teamed with the ID card.