Abu Qatada will not be deported from the UK

McNulty was disappointed as the man, branded Bin Laden's right hand man, will not be deported.

Radical cleric Abu Qatada has been granted permission to appeal against a decision to deport him from the UK.

The government is attempting to deport the terror suspect to Jordan, but his lawyer's argued that he would be killed upon his return.

The Home Office has claimed it will challenge today's ruling and that Mr Qatada will remain in prison in the meantime.

McNulty, Home Office Minister said that he was "disappointed" in the ruling.
"I am disappointed that the courts have found that deportation to Libya can not go ahead for now,"

McNulty said."We will continue to push for deportation for people who pose a risk to national security, in the meantime we will take the necessary steps to protect the public.

"In the meantime, he will remain behind bars."

The controversial Islamic preacher has been referred to as Osama bin Laden's 'right-hand-man' and declared a "truly dangerous individual" and a "key figure" in al-Qaida-related terror activity.

Richard Reid, the failed 'shoe-bomber' and Zacarias Moussaoui, both of whom have been jailed for involvement in terrorism, are claimed to have sought religious advice from Mr Qatada at some stage.

MPs declaring the gifts, benefits and hospitality they receive - a step [toward invasion] too far?

Are MPs having their lives invaded upon?

The fact that most of their lives are tracked – their speeches in parliament are posted on the internet and they are often followed by the ever hungry press, suggests that this may be the case.

I mean, most of this blog is based on what I can scramble together from the Internet.

To worsen the matter, even aspects which you could consider ‘social’ or ‘personal’ matters, of the MPs lives are being exposed in the Register of Members' Interests

Reading entries into this makes me feel as if I am spying on McNulty.

As he logs his movement, it’s like your travelling in his back pocket.

For example, on the 5th June 2007, McNulty wrote in the Register of Members' Interests: ‘I received travel, tickets and hospitality for the FA Cup Final in Cardiff in May 2006; tickets and hospitality for the FA Cup semi-final in Birmingham in April 2006, and occasional hospitality and tickets at Upton Park for home games, all as a guest of West Ham United Football Club. (Registered 13 May 2006)’

Thankfully he doesn’t give the exact dates within the months specified, or else I would feel like a stalker-beyond-a-stalker.

Does he not sound like a prisoner as he seems to declare his life to a mere Register?

You can gather from the information posted that McNulty may be a West Ham football club fan.

The Register is apparently not intended to be an indicator of a Member's personal wealth. While it may not indicate McNulty’s personal wealth, the word personal should be given special focus.

To what extent should McNulty be accessible?

Should aspects of his personal life not be kept separate from his working life?

Apparently not.

The compulsory Register of Members' Interests was established in 1974, voted for by the House of Commons.

Please note the word compulsory- it was enforced, so poor McNulty probably has little say in the matter.

MPs are required to declare in the register the sources of any extra income or gifts which they receive so that there can be no suspicion that their behaviour in Parliament is unduly influenced by outside interests.

The purpose of the Register is to encourage transparency. It is "to provide information of any pecuniary interest or other material benefit which a Member receives which might reasonably be thought by others to influence his or her actions, speeches or votes in Parliament, or actions taken in the capacity of a Member of Parliament" (Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, HC (2005-06) 351, paragraph 9.)

'Entries made in the Register aim to give a clear description of the nature and scope of the interests declared. Subject to the Rules, however, each Member is responsible for the content and style of his or her own entry' – a sign of a wee bit of freedom then?

On a general level, McNulty, according to theyworkforyou.com, voted very strongly against a transparent parliament. Would you not feel like prey if you were McNulty?

The register is published annually and is available for public inspection.

I guess you could argue that seeing as its been around for so long, it’s the status quo, and wont be changed. But then again, is it fair?

And so we begin...

Consider how concerned the young individuals of the UK today are about politics. You may reach the same conclusion as I did: most are either keen bean, know-it-alls (the people to whom “right winger” may mean something), or not bothered and simply haven’t a clue.

I fall into the latter category.

Almost utterly politically detached from the world around me, this is my attempt to connect with the wise.

Seeing as McNulty, Labour MP for Harrow East, is probably far too busy to blog about what he does, what decision he made a few seconds ago, which votes he gave etc, I will be his secretary and do it on his behalf.

Forget the ‘political talk’ of big words, posh talk and language which is difficult to understand, I will post the most relevant information straight from parliament (via the helping hand of theyworkforyou.com, and from my own research) with McNulty in mind.

Maybe this could be an effective noise maker for mothers dropping their children to school, or even a blog overlooked because its considered ‘boring’ by a fellow politically detached person.

Inept in this world of “politics” I will try to inform the people whom McNulty’s decisions affect.

Doing this should mean that I have better knowledge of political issues.

Also, for those just as clueless as myself, the blog will be accessible via search engines so the true McNulty can be accessed from any home, school, college or organisation.

Recent, perhaps ‘hidden' information will be more readily available, and the ‘fish wrapper mentality’ – the idea that yesterday’s news is good enough for wrapping our fish in today, will be reduced.

I’ll be your personal servant, serving up your political news, hot off the parliament.

Sounds like a plan?