What’s Ken Been Smoking?

The Justice Secretary is clearly smoking something stronger than Camel Lights. Today Ken Clarke insisted that Abu Qatada had not committed any crime and his release is nothing to do with the European Court of Human Rights. Perhaps he’s talking about a different Abu Qatada. The one being released from prison appears to be wanted for terrorist activity in Algeria, the US, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and Jordan (where he has been convicted in his absence I believe). The UK courts ruled that he should be deported to Jordan in 2009 to face a further trial, but in 2012 the European Court of Human Rights ruled he could not be deported. That followed a previous ruling from the European Court of Human Rights in 2009 when judges ruled that his detention without trial in the UK breached his human rights. They also awarded him £2,500. So Ken, in what parallel universe has he committed no crime and the European Court of Human Rights nothing to do with his release?

I wrote on 31 Jan that Stephen Hester, CEO of RBS, had turned down his £1 million bonus. I also suggested that the argument about bonuses being necessary to retain quality staff was only justified if he resigned. Well guess what, today Hester announced that he s not planning to resign, although he did think about it. So, in my mind the argument is now either dead, or Hester is not quality staff.