Henry Porter

Thursday 5 November 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

It is difficult to think of two more sinister New Labour figures than Phil Woolas, minister for immigration, and Lady Delyth Morgan, parliamentary under-secretary for children. They are joined in unholy alliance in the foreword to the new government guidelines on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.

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Wednesday 4 November 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

Let's see if we can tease out the logic of the latest New Labour backflip. The former foreign office minister Kim Howells suggests that the policy in Afghanistan is not working and it is time to consider withdrawing troops and putting the money saved as result into the UK Border Agency and greater surveillance and monitoring in Britain.

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Wednesday 4 November 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

Let's see if we can tease out the logic of the latest New Labour backflip. The former foreign office minister Kim Howells suggests that the policy in Afghanistan is not working and it is time to consider withdrawing troops and putting the money saved as result into the UK Border Agency and greater surveillance and monitoring in Britain.

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Thursday 29 October 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

"In the areas of security and liberty many would argue (and I agree) that there has been too much legislation," wrote Charles Clarke last week.  Some may experience a sense of vindication reading this but I believe the proper reaction is nearer scorn, for the article contains neither concession nor apology, but is merely an attempt to reposition Labour before the next election.

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Wednesday 28 October 2009, Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

Listen to mayor Dorothy Thornhill. Her council has just banned parents from watching their own children at two council play areas in Watford. Quoted in the Watford Observer this evidently simple-minded woman says, "Sadly, in today's climate, you can't have adults walking around unchecked in a children's playground." 

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Monday 26 October 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

The shocking Guardian report into the surveillance operations run by the police National Public Order Intelligence Unit makes it clear that the right of free protest in Britain now hangs in the balance, and that the very expression of opinion and attendance at meetings is enough for an individual to be categorised as an enemy of society.

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Wednesday 21 October 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

If there's one minister whose every action betrays the menace of the government's intent it is Jack Straw. His malicious drive against freedom and openness is phenomenal.

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Monday 19 October 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

The government's climbdown on proposals that the police should keep innocent people's DNA for between six and 12 years should not be mistaken for a change of heart, nor should we celebrate this as a victory for article 8, the right to privacy, of the Human Rights Act.

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Sunday 18 October 2009,  The Observer

The plight of the children of asylum seekers represents a sadly unexceptional failure of public conscience

Wednesday 14 October 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

When dealing with the Home Office you become aware of the dim, dogged nature of a primitive life-form. Last week the department which runs the UK Border Agency issued a statement which appeared to suggest that it was retreating on the issue of gene tests being used to determine race and origin. Science and Nature magazines both attacked the plan, the former by quoting scientists and geneticists who were horrified at the idea of untested science being used by unknown scientists to decide a person's race and origin, and therefore future.

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Tuesday 13 October 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

Sometimes things go right. Yesterday Jacqui Smith, the former home secretary, rose in parliament to apologise for nominating her main home in West Midlands as a second home; and a report was published vindicating Damian Green after the MP's arrest last November.

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Sunday 4 October 2009,  guardian.co.uk

Labour stripped away many civil liberties, and we should expect the Conservatives to do the same

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Friday 2 October 2009,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

A Home Office experiment with the DNA of asylum seekers to establish their likely race and place of origin is causing outrage and alarm among scientists.

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