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Prime Minister Questions
Topic Started: May 19 2004, 02:42 PM (168 Views)
ds9074
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Admiral
Did anyone see the drama that unfolded wednesday lunchtime in the House of Commons? Some fathers rights protestor was in the "invites only" section of the gallery and he then thrown two packages at the Prime Minister hitting Mr Blair and scattering red powder all over the cabinet and accross the floor of the house. The MPs thought it was antrax or some such as M16 had previously issued an alert of a possible attack so there was some considerable confusion. The session was suppended of course and the PM later laughed it off, asked if he was concerned he replied yes - about the dry cleaning bill. Yet everyone knows how serious this is.

In someways I am glad that this guy showed up a very serious security breach. I am also saddened. Already the "ordinary" (ie univited public) is behind a screen and there is discussion about whether the public should be allowed to get so close to the MPs during Questions in the future. Its sad because its a major and historic part of our democracy. The public watching the deliberations of their Parliament first hand, close up (the Commons chamber is not that big), watching their political leader grilled in a way not seen in the US or France for example. Its another small victory for the terrorists :(
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Fesarius
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Admiral
^^^
Although not a good thing to have occur, it is perhaps good for the security reasons you mentioned. Does Britain have a Secret Service? If so, by what name is it called?
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24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
No, I am afraid I didn’t see that incident. It is good that the incident was benign. Seems you all had some yahoos scaling Big Ben not too long ago too. At least these security wholes can be closed up. However, I agree that this is a small win for the terrorists . I have on occasion seen the Questions session on C-Span and it is a wonderful spectacle. I can’t imagine any of our own politicians here in the US being able to hold up in such a format.

I also love the tradition of calling people the right honorable <insert name or insult :lol: >.

Hopefully, a happy medium can be met without totally doing away with the tradition of the public being able to attend/and meet security needs.
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Admiralbill_gomec
UberAdmiral
Actually it was purple powder.

Someone should tell the powder thrower, after they teach him a lesson with their truncheons, that this was in poor taste.

This is NOT the way to further your cause. It only builds up resentment. Just like those PETA idiots who through red dye at fur/leather wearers, these actions do not draq supporters to your cause.
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Data's Cat's Sister
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Commodore
Fesarius
May 19 2004, 02:53 PM
^^^
Although not a good thing to have occur, it is perhaps good for the security reasons you mentioned. Does Britain have a Secret Service? If so, by what name is it called?

I don't know? MI5 may be responsible for security at Westminster but I am not sure.

I felt it was sad too. Especially coming from a pressure group with such a worthy cause. How stupid.
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ds9074
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Admiral
Because Parliament is independent of Government security has traditionally be the remit of the Parliamentary Authorities, such as the sergent at arms and the Speaker of the Commons. After all Parliament fought a war with the Crown a few hundred years ago and historically didnt want its security to be controled. M15 and the Special Branch of the Met will now take a much greater role I suspect. Even if the parliamentary authorities dont like it they will justify it as nessasary to protect the Ministers of the Crown present.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
DCS and DS,

Thanks. I've never heard of M15 (or MI5). Can either of you point me in the direction of a link which might explain the organization? :)
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ds9074
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Admiral
http://www.mi5.gov.uk/

I will try to explain the situation as best as I can. The UK intelligence and security services are made up of 4 main branches.

MI6 - Foreign Covert Intelligence and Security (Bond was supposed to be M16)
MI5 - Internal Intelligence and Security
GCHQ - Communications based Intelligence
Defense Intelligence - Non Covert Intelligence gathering and analysis

These organisations work together with the Special Branch of the Police and the Armed Forces to ensure the security of Britain and British Interests and to provide the decision makers with the intelligence information they require.

MI = Military Intelligence
GCHQ = Government Communications Head Quarters (which is based right here where I live)
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captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

Fesarius
May 19 2004, 02:53 PM
^^^
Although not a good thing to have occur, it is perhaps good for the security reasons you mentioned. Does Britain have a Secret Service? If so, by what name is it called?

Haven't you seen any James Bond movies?
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captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

yeah, we got full coverage of this on the news. I am surprised there wasnt a more fervered response initially from the ministers, especially in this day and age. The public gallery should be closed, it is too much of a risk.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
^^^
Yes, and I'm an avid fan of the Avengers. But the Ministry isn't real, is it?
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ds9074
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Admiral
Its real, remember a couple of bond movies back when he files out of a building and there is a river chase through London? The building is MI6 HQ. While Bond is an exageration we do have covert agents.

I think the public will still be able to watch the proceedings but will be kept in the strangers gallery, further away from the MPs and behind the new bullet proof, bomb resistant screen installed over Easter. Its a shame but it nessasary. Imagine the chaos if most of the Government had been killed on mass.

Its actually spawn a bit of a debate here with people I know over what would have happened. Personally I said that The Queen would call together her most senior ministers that survived, including the Lord Chancellor who doesnt sit in the Commons, senior members of the Opposition and the Chiefs of Staff for the military. I suspect there would then have been a national government formed until new elections to the House of Commons could be called and the most experienced politician there whether they be Labour or Conservative - someone with experience of high office - would be PM.
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