The Irish aren't thick...

Labour minister Caroline Flint has said that the reason the Irish voted no on the EU treaty referendum is because they didn't understand it!

The breathtaking arrogance of this government is quite simply incredible.

Poor, thick Paddies couldn't understand a simple choice of yes or no.

Does Flint and her ilk not think that perhaps the Irish understood perfectly that the EU is an undemocratic, unaccountable monolith and want no further part of it?

No, in the EU yes means yes and no means well no means you haven't understood that the only answer we want is yes.

At least, Miss Flint the Irish were given a vote - unlike we poor Brits who have lied to for more than eleven years.

Time for the police to shut up and catch crooks

Last week Karen Matthews, a venal and stupid woman, was found guilty of the kidnap of her daughter Shannon - because she wanted the £50,000 reward.

Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan said on the steps of the court: “Karen Matthews is pure evil."

Am I alone in not caring what the Super has to say? His job is to catch criminals, not to make public statements. His force was hardly covered in glory - it took them 24 days to find Shannon. Aren't the family supposed to be the first suspects when a child goes missing? The police didn't too much digging in that direction.

At last a blast for freedom from ... Europe!!

At last some common sense from the European Court of Human Rights which has ruled that the Government is not allowed to keep DNA samples and fingerprints from those who have committed no crime.

Naturally, Jacqui Smith, our buffoon of a Home Secretary, is said to disappointed by the decision.

The Strasbourg court found the force had violated article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to respect for private and family life.

In a strongly-worded attack, it condemned the "blanket and indiscriminate nature" of the powers.

Chief Constable Chris Sims, the forensics spokesman of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said the judgment would have a profound impact.

He said: "In making use of powers to take and retain a person's DNA the police service must continue to be balanced and proportionate to the rights and freedoms of individuals. However these developments risk diminishing our ability to protect the public and prevent crime."

Smith added: 'The existing law will remain in place while we carefully consider the judgment.'

What is to consider? Your beloved European Court of Human Rights has said you are wrong. Get over it and destroy those samples...

Stop giving our money away...

Each year the Government gives pensioners money - between £200 and £300 - towards their fuel bills, to help them keep warm.

Nothing wrong with that.

But why do pensioners who live aboard get the money?

One guess - yes, the EU.

Under European law, benefits acquired in one member state must be paid to those who move to another.

It is madness that someone who lives in a sunny, warm climate is entitled to money that someone who lives in Barnsley desperately needs.

It's different for Tories

I have not posted on the Damian Green saga - others have had plenty to say. One point that did catch my eye is that Mr Green was required to give a DNA sample and his fingerprints.

Some Labour apparatchiks have compared this to the Met's investigation of the Cash for Honours scandal. One main difference - as far as I am aware neither Lord Levy nor Ruth Turner were fingerprinted or gave DNA samples.