Crisis? What Crisis?

The Camerons on vacation in Ibiza on Sunday. Pool photo by Reuters

Crisis? I’m Off To Ibiza -- The SUN

Britain on terror alert, cops raid suspects, but PM jets out for hols

DAVID Cameron flew to Ibiza for a holiday yesterday — leaving Britain engulfed by the biggest terror crisis since 7/7.

The PM and his family caught a mid-morning flight to the Spanish isle after he told friends he was taking a break for “a few days” over the Bank Holiday.

He was pictured today at a restaurant in the sunshine with wife Samantha.

MPs are appalled that he has jetted off amid spiralling tensions following the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, South East London, on Wednesday and the arrest of two suspected Islamic extremists.

There were more arrests yesterday as police raided houses across the capital.

Three men, aged 21, 24, and 28, were held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder — with two having to be stunned by Tasers before they surrendered in Charlton.

Read more ....

Update: Cameron Criticized For Spanish Beachside Break -- IHT/New York Times

My Comment: The above photo is a pool photo .... which means that the PM office permitted it's publication. They did not even bothered to shoo-away the press .... and even though the optics are terrible .... it is obvious that they simply do not care. Sighhhh .... such is the state of British politics today .... and it is representative of ALL political parties.

Britain`s Foreign Aid Budget May Now Be Diverted To Peacekeeping Operations

Reuters

UK May Divert Billions In Foreign Aid To Military -- RT

David Cameron announced on Wednesday that he was ‘very open’ to the idea of channeling billions of pounds from the UK’s foreign aid budget in to military defense and ‘peacekeeping’ operations, in an attempt to avoid further defense cuts.

Money previously intended for overseas development and aid could be diverted into military operations deemed ‘peacekeeping’ by the British government. Funds from the Department for International Development (DFID) may be poured into the Ministry of Defense if the British PM has his way, and the idea is gaining momentum with the ruling party.

Read more ....

My Comment: The British government is only figuring this out now!?!?!?!

Downing Street Report: Liam Fox Put Security At Risk

Liam Fox Put Security At Risk, Downing Street Report Finds -- The Guardian

Former defence secretary guilty of multiple breaches of the ministerial code, inquiry into links with Adam Werritty concludes

Liam Fox put the security of himself and his officials at "risk" on overseas visits by releasing details of his diary to Adam Werritty, the cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell has concluded in his report into the former defence secretary.

In a damning assessment of Fox, O'Donnell said that the former defence secretary was guilty of multiple breaches of the ministerial code after "blurring" the lines between his private and official responsibilities.

Read more ....

My Comment: No kidding.

Liam Fox Scandal And Resignation -- News Updates October 17, 20011

British Defence Secretary's Exit Saves Face For Cameron -- Mark Hennessy, Irish Times

ANALYSIS: MUDDY MURPHY’S, an Irish bar on Singapore’s Orchard Road with an 1840s Irish cottage atmosphere and a farmyard out the front, was assembled in Ireland in the 1990s when the taste for Irish-themed bars was at its height, before being shipped out.

Today, it successfully appeals to locals, expatriates and internationals passing through Singapore. One of them was Adam Werritty, a close friend of British defence secretary Liam Fox and a man whose lobbying activities have now ended Fox’s career.

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More News On the Liam Fox Scandal And Resignation

Liam Fox and Adam Werritty: latest -- The Telegraph
Police to examine political donations to Fox -- Irish Times
Liam Fox affair: Adam Werritty facing fraud investigation by police -- The Telegraph
Call for Fox fund-raising probe -- Press Association
Liam Fox inquiry must continue - Labour -- BBC
Liam Fox affair: David Cameron warned over tighter controls for lobbyists -- The Telegraph
Fox: the civil service on the rack -- Daily Mail
Liam Fox: How his best man Adam Werritty brought him down -- The Telegraph
Why Liam Fox had to resign -- Toby Helm, The Guardian
Cameron's the expert on cronies -- Peter McKay, Daily Mail

Why Britain's Defense Secretary Had To Resign

Photo: Resigned: Dr Fox, pictured yesterday, has stood down as Defence Secretary after a week of allegations about his relationship with Adam Werritty

Secret Cash Trail That Meant Fox HAD To Go: Defence Secretary Resigns After Claim He 'Personally Asked Tory Donor To Fund His Best Man' -- Daily Mail

* Transport Secretary Philip Hammond is named as his replacement at the MoD with Justine Greening taking his job
* Dr Fox admits he 'mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my Government activities to become blurred'
* 'The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days,' he said as he quit
* David Cameron says he is very sorry but 'understands reasons'
* Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy says 'this was unavoidable and inevitable'

Liam Fox resigned last night amid allegations that he asked a wealthy Tory donor to fund his best man and former flatmate Adam Werritty.

Dr Fox quit when he learnt he was to face a torrent of new claims about damaging conflicts of interest between Mr Werritty’s backers and his role as Defence Secretary.

He fell on his sword after the millionaire money men turned on him and deliberately leaked details of how £157,000 was paid to Mr Werritty to let him fly around the world with Dr Fox.

Read more ....

My Comment: Scandals like this one usually occurs after a government has been in power for a few years. But .... sighhhhh .... the Tory-Liberal coalition is only a year old. With massive budget cuts impacting scores of families under his watch, soldiers dying in Afghanistan, and a complete gutting of what was once a world class military institution .... it is now clear to me that Liam Fox was more preoccupied in helping his best friend than those helping who honorably serve in the armed forces. What this former Defense Secretary did is borderline criminal, and definitely unethical .... and I for one would not be surprised if this ends up in some court.

As for British Prime Minister Cameron who has spent the past few weeks defending his Defense Secretary .... I have one question .... what were you thinking?

How Defense Contractors Operate In Britain

Photo: Cameron: BAE letter warned of the consequences if he axed two aircraft carriers

BAE 'Held A Gun' To Prime Minister's Head Over Aircraft Carrier That Will Never Carry An Aircraft -- Daily Mail

Britain's leading defence company ‘held a gun’ to David Cameron’s head to force him into buying a white elephant aircraft carrier,according to a damning letter released tonight.

BAE Systems threatened to close three shipyards, axe 5,000 jobs and warned that the UK would never build another major warship if the government axed plans for two new carriers.

A bombshell letter published yesterday revealed how the company held the government to ransom during the recent defence review.

Read more ....

My Comment: The fact that this letter was leaked tells me that the people in Number 10 Downing Street must be really `pissed`.

UK Coalition Shaken By Nick Clegg's Comments That The Iraq War Was Illegal

Clegg voiced his strong opposition to the war as he stood in at the Commons dispatch box. Reuters

Coalition Confusion As Nick Clegg Tells Commons That The Iraq War Was Illegal -- The Telegraph

The invasion of Iraq was illegal, Nick Clegg has declared throwing into confusion the Coalition Government's policy.

The Deputy Prime Minister's statement, while standing in for David Cameron in Prime Minister's Questions, could lead to renewed legal claims against the Government and armed forces.

Mr Clegg's comments angered some Conservative MPs, many of whom, including Mr Cameron, had voted for the 2003 invasion. His remarks came as Mr Clegg clashed with Jack Straw, who was standing in for Harriet Harman, Labour's leader.

Read more ....

More News On Declaring The Iraq War Illegal From The Liberal Party Of England

Nick Clegg under pressure after 'illegal war' comment -- The Independent
Clegg backtracks after declaring Iraq war illegal -- The Independent
Nick Clegg's 'illegal' Iraq war gaffe prompts legal warning -- The Guardian
Clegg calls Iraq war 'illegal' -- AFP
Britain's Clegg says Iraq invasion was "illegal" -- The Reuters
Nick Clegg enrages Tories by declaring the Iraq war 'illegal' -- The Mirror
Nick Clegg’s Bad Day at the Office -- Ian Martin, Wall Street Journal

My Comment: Wrong time, place, and venue to make such a remark. There will be an accounting of the Iraq war one day .... but not today.

This Former Politician Found It "Very Wearing" To Meet The Families Of Fallen Soldiers

Photo: Adam Ingram

Former Defence Minister: It Was 'Very Wearing' To Meet War Heroes' Families -- The Daily Mail

A former defence minister has complained that it was 'very wearing' to have to meet families of British soldiers killed in Iraq.

Adam Ingram faced heavy criticism after saying that politicians were not trained to talk to grieving families and that it was 'very difficult when you are being accused of causing the death'.

Read more ....

My Comment: And this U.K. politician was a former defense minister .... sheeeessshhhh .... I am speechless.

British Ex-Minister Tells Successor 'No Money Left'

Mr Byrne insisted the message was meant as a private joke

Labour's Warning To New Government: 'There's No Money Left' -- The Telegraph

The former chief secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, left a note in a desk stating, ''I'm afraid to tell you there's no money left,'' his successor has claimed.

His pithy summary of the serious challenges facing the new power-sharing administration was revealed by Liberal Democrat David Laws, who has taken on the role.

Speaking at a press conference at the Treasury, he told reporters: ''When I arrived at my desk on the very first day as Chief Secretary, I found a letter from the previous chief secretary to give me some advice, I assumed, on how I conduct myself over the months ahead.

Read more ....

My Comment: The British press is all over this story. Read here, here, and here. But .... the outgoing former chief secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, is right. He knows that tough times are ahead .... and it is now the incoming administration's job to face up to the decisions and policies that the Labour Party enacted over the years.

The U.S. is already entering this level of "insolvency". Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs Cartwright made it public last week when he told the services to "Wake Up to Reality of Smaller Budgets". In short .... budget shortfalls will become the rule (rather than the exception) for all departments .... defense included .... both here, Great Britain, and almost everywhere else. But if Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs Cartwright is right .... it appears that no one is prepared for this day of judgment.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown Resignation Accepted By The Queen

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his family leave 10 Downing Street.
(Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images / May 11, 2010)

Gordon Brown Resigns As UK Prime Minister -- BBC

Gordon Brown has announced he is resigning as UK prime minister.

Mr Brown has officially tendered his resignation to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and recommended Conservative leader David Cameron succeed him.

Speaking alongside his wife Sarah outside No 10 Downing Street, he said the job had been "a privilege" and wished his successor well.

Mr Brown is also stepping down as Labour leader and as an MP with immediate effect.

Read more ....

More News On The Resignation Of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown

Brown resigns as British PM, Cameron to take over -- Yahoo News/Reuters
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigns -- L.A. Times
Brown resigns as British PM, Cameron to take over -- Reuters
Brown Resigns as British Prime Minister, Conservative Could Take Reins -- FOX News
Britain's David Cameron on brink of power -- Yahoo News/AP
Labour say Brown successor should be chosen quickly -- BBC

U.K.'s Election Fallout Continues

Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain said on Monday that he intends to stand down as Labour Party leader. Paul Hackett/Reuters

Brown Quits As Labour Leader To Thwart Tory-Lib Dem Pact -- Times Online

Gordon Brown announced tonight that he is to step down as Labour leader but wants to remain in No 10 for a few more months as part of a coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats.

Playing Labour's final card after an extraordinary weekend of post-election wrangling, the Prime Minister announced that the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had formally asked for negotiations to begin on a power-sharing deal with Labour.

Read more ....

More News On The U.K. Election

Brown Announces New Talks and End of His Tenure -- New York Times
Gordon Brown 'stepping down as Labour leader' -- BBC
UK Brown To Stand Down As Labour Leader,Prime Minister -- Wall Street Journal
UK's Gordon Brown to resign as prime minister -- Washington Post
Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigns; plans to step down in September -- New York Daily News
Brown to step down as Labour leader -- CNN
Gordon Brown stepping down -- L.A. Times
British Government in Limbo as Parties Bargain -- New York Times
Brown resignation: Reaction in quotes -- BBC

U.K. Election News Updates -- May 7, 2010

Election 2010: First Hung Parliament In UK For Decades -- The BBC

The Conservatives have won the most MPs in the UK general election but fallen short of a majority, leading to the first hung parliament since 1974.

As counting continues the Tories have gained 92 seats, Labour have lost 86 and the Lib Dems six, despite hopes of a breakthrough for the third party.

The battle is now under way to see which leader can form a government.

Read more ....

More News On The U.K. Election

Election Results by Riding -- Daily Mail
Clegg slaps down Brown's hopes of a Lib-Dem/Labour pact and says Cameron should be given the first chance to form government -- The Daily Mail
Nick Clegg offers coalition talks to David Cameron -- Times Online
Clegg says Conservatives have right to govern -- The Telegraph
Election results - live blog -- The Guardian
Tories Gain but Fail to Take Parliament -- New York Times
Britain plunged into election deadlock -- Yahoo News/AFP
UK Conservatives become largest party, no majority -- Yahoo News/Reuters
UK's top 2 parties locked in election standoff -- Yahoo News/AP
UK Election Produces Hung Parliament, Conservatives Lead -- Wall Street Journal
UK faces hung parliament after election -- CNN
UK election results: the winners and losers -- The Guardian
UK assets pounded in post-election limbo -- Reuters
U.K. Election Uncertainty Hits Pound -- Wall Street Journal
The Financial Impact Of Britain's Baffling Election -- Forbes
David Cameron will be PM – and here's why -- The Telegraph
Election 2010 analysis: What's next for the leaders? -- BBC
The Road Ahead Is Uncertain and Likely Difficult -- New York Times
History of hung Parliaments in Britain -- The Telegraph

Voters Go To The Polls In the U.K. -- News Roundup

Voters Go To Polls In Tight U.K. Race -- Wall Street Journal

After one of the closest and most unpredictable campaigns in memory, U.K. voters went to the polls Thursday in an election that itself could have a cliffhanger result.

The opposition Conservative Party and its leader, David Cameron, were long favored to rout Prime Minister Gordon Brown's ruling Labour Party and return to power for the first time in 13 years. But the Conservatives slid in the polls this spring as Mr. Cameron's economic message failed to resonate.

Then last month, the race became a multifront war when Britain's No. 3 party, the Liberal Democrats, surged strongly after leader Nick Clegg's star-making turn in televised debates. Mr. Brown, meanwhile, took a hit when a live microphone caught him calling a voter he had just met "bigoted," prompting a humbling round of apologies from the prime minister to the 65-year-old woman he insulted.

Read more ....

More News On The Election In The U.K.

Tories scent victory as poll lead widens -- Times Online
Britain votes 2010 - AFP Live Report -- AFP
Election results 2010: an hour-by-hour guide -- The Guardian
Britain Votes In Cliff - Hanger Election -- New York Times/Reuters
Election day: To the polls -- The Economist
As Britain Votes, Economic Clouds Hover -- New York Times
On eve of British election, shake-up in Parliament is forecast -- Washington Post
If British election 2010 results trump popular vote, what next? -- Christian Science Monitor
Poll in pictures: the UK election campaign -- The Financial Times
General Election 2010: polling day through history -- The Telegraph
General election 2010 is shaping up to be a very good vintage -- David McLie, The Guardian
If No One Wins Britain's Election, What Then? -- New York Times/AP

U.K. Election News Updates -- May 5, 2010

'We Have 24 Hours To Save Britain': Cameron In Last Gasp Bid To Oust Brown As Four In 10 Voters As Still Undecided -- The Daily Mail

* Tory leader: 'We're going all out for a majority'
* Brown attacks Tory cuts in bid to shore up core vote
* Lib Dems now in danger of slipping back to third
* Simon Cowell declares his support for David Cameron
* New poll shows 38% of voters could still switch sides
* Ulster Unionists could prop up Tory government

David Cameron warned there are just 24 hours to 'save' Britain from another five years under Gordon Brown today as the party leaders frantically campaigned in a final push for votes.

With Britain still on course for a hung parliament, the Tory leader admitted he was nervous but insisted the Conservatives have 'every chance'.

Read more ....

More News On Britain's General Election

Election 2010: Assessing the campaign as end approaches -- BBC
General Election 2010 latest: live -- The Telegraph
Swing Seats Hold Key to U.K. Election -- Wall Street Journal
Lib Dems squeezed as election day looms -- Times Online
Leaders make final campaign push -- BBC
Party leaders in last ditch bid for votes -- Financial Times
British party leaders woo voters in final hours -- Reuters
Britain Enters Final Day of Campaigning Before Elections -- Voice of America
Brown delivers final big set speech before polling day -- BBC
Immigration Could Sway Coming Vote in Britain -- New York Times
General Election 2010: Quotes of the campaigns -- The Telegraph
Nick Clegg is runaway general election victor (in bookish vote) -- The Guardian
Pound Advances on Speculation Conservatives May Form Government -- Bloomberg