I get the principle here but do you seriously believe anyone would ever be prosecuted for breaching the Official Secrets Act by telling the police about *****philes? Do you seriously think any jury would convict them?
How do we know it hasn't happened before? I bet people came foward about Savile and Cyril Smith but they used the OSA to stop them. You just have to look at this: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ex-cop-claims-royal-*****phile-ring-5379159 Who knows what else goes on to cover **** up. At least if the immunity was given against OSA, people would have less fear to step forward. Even if rule out prosecution they could still use the OSA to shut people up. Threatening that they could lose their jobs etc, with immunity they couldn't do that.
The PM said if re-elected he would serve the full five years of another Parliament and then leave Number 10. Mr Cameron tipped Home Secretary Theresa May, Chancellor George Osborne and London Mayor Boris Johnson as potential successors. As we are talking about why Cameron shouldn't get in. *shivers*
We know (as much as we can be sure) that nobody has been prosecuted because there would have been enormous publicity if anybody had revealed that kind of information and then been prosecuted. I have no doubt that all sorts of things (not necessarily related to sexual abuse) have been covered up in the past and probably will be again. As you say, confirming people wouldn't be prosecuted wouldn't stop pressure from their bosses etc. Any policemen who know about this sort of thing have probably stayed quiet more because they want to progress a career or keep their job than because they're worried about going to prison.
What I am getting at is the OSA is just another hurdle ( or another thing a boss wanting to cover up stuff can use to shut people up). With it gone it will at least make more people come foward. Yes there will still be pressure from people desperate to stop info getting out. But they wouldn't be able to use the OSA as a quick way to sort things. How it is now isn't right.
Don't forget that some Labour MPs have had links to PIE, all of the major parties have issues with *****philia.
An old Etonian and former member of the Bullingdon club is most certainly not the best option for the United Kingdom in 2015.
My Dad had a room double booked recently in a travel lodge.... It wasn't in Sheffield though someone opens the door and walked in on him in the middle of the night. That's not good
What's the view here mods? We are heading towards a general election and politics is supposed to be a banned topic. People are starting to discuss it (understandable as it's a fairly important event) I think you mod type guys need to have a chat and decide what to do. If it is allowed to have political discussion then I wonder if a separate thread should be put up just for the run upto the election? What could get messy if is Koeman's is used as a political debating hall. I can see that getting very silly and any other topics being drowned out with public rows that get out of hand. It is probably one of the most emotive topics to discuss. I've already read comments that are derogatory towards four of the party leaders. We don't really want a political divide on the forum do we? Personally I would get frustrated reading that people will vote one way or another because they are right/left/centre or because their great grandad always voted that way. You rarely get a comment that says someone is voting one way because they have read through some parties key manifesto points and believe they have the best policies to run the country - as novel an idea as that may be. A one time "Election Thread" may be sensible. What do the mods think? It will be hard to keep politics off the forum during such an important political time.
^ What he said. I'm bored already, as every political post I've seen so far appears to have the reasoning "I hate X Party/I hate XY parties/I hate all parties/All politicians are ****s. So therefore every single thing they ever say or do is worthy of comment by me. Because I really hate them." Vin
I suppose strictly speaking we are breaking the rules by having political debate on here, but it seems a shame not to have it coming up to an election. My personal view is that as long as we don't start abusing each other or being overtly offensive about people, it's OK on Koeman's. But that's me talking, not the mods in general. I'll find out what the others think.
It's bound to happen near the time of an election. A seperate thread would be better though imo. Myself, I refuse to vote for anyone, they're all ****s, and if we're honest. NONE of them really have our interests at heart do they?? I refuse to be a pawn and participate in their stupid little game
To be honest Chilco, if I'd have thought we were running into danger I would have said something about it when Beefy put up his initial post about the parliamentary OSA issue. Provided we do the decent thing and respect each other then I don't see a problem. It's a testament to the good general running of this forum that we have that leeway. If posters realise that we might have to reluctantly step in at the odd point then carry on. Be good to each other. And if you don't mind, we'll leave this chat on Koeman's
