Tag Archives: Democratic Unionist Party

(2012) Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne M.P. faces massive claim over ‘illegal’ investigation

Posted by Watt Tyler on

The Bullying of wind farm protesters could cost Government dear. Chris Huhne is facing a £1.25 Million legal claim from an anti-wind farm protester, who claims to have caught the ConDem regime’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change authorising an illegal police investigation in to his private life.

George Watson, Legal Advisor to the European Platform Against Windfarms (EPAW), says that he discovered by accident that he was being investigated by the UK government under special powers which are only to apply to criminal/terrorist activities.

A letter, reproduced below, has been sent to Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, denouncing this improper use of the legislation, and announcing legal proceedings against the UK government. A formal complaint has also been made to the Metropolitan Police.

Mr. Watson has announced his intention to claim £2.5 Million in compensation, on a split 50/50 basis from the Government and from Mr. Huhne personally.

Criminal proceedings?

The move will add to pressure on Chris Huhne, who is also facing likely criminal proceedings at the end of a long-running police investigation into allegations by his ex-wife that he got her to accept points on her licence when in fact it was him who was speeding.

According to EPAW, Mr Watson was also harassed by a police officer who visited his home in a Scottish rural area on Christmas Eve!

Mark Duchamp, Executive Director of EPAW, is asking UK government Ministers if they intend to investigate and harass other members of the public who oppose the destruction of the British landscape, the killing of protected bird and bat species, and the deterioration of the health of wind farm neighbours. Mr Watson’s only crime, he said, is to have found legal flaws in the way the UK government’s energy policy is being applied.

EPAW claims that wind farms are ineffective, immensely expensive, and destroy jobs in the rest of the economy; that they are also seriously harming human health, and finally that they are killing protected wildlife. In the circumstances, concludes Duchamp, the 514 associations from 23 countries represented by EPAW would like to know why their members in Britain are being investigated and harassed by the authorities, using special powers supposedly reserved for criminals and terrorists.

Mr. Watson’s letter is reproduced below. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Mr Huhne:

Reference: Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) 

I contact you in relation to the above-mentioned legislation. 

It was brought to my attention by another Government Department, quite by accident, that you authorised an investigation into my background/private life under the provisions of RIPA. I require you to provide me with the following information: 

a) It should be noted that it would be negligent administration and an abuse of your position, if you did not have evidence that I was involved in criminal/terrorist activity before authorising such action. Taking this fact into consideration, I require details and copies of ALL instances where I was involved in criminal or terrorist activity. However, I freely admit I have been in constant touch with your office in relation to the idiotic policy of IWT’s and the danger to Human Health; 

b) I advise you that I require a ‘true copy’ of any warrant granted and details of the issuing court. In addition, I require a ‘true copy’ of ALL additional material presented to the court in order to attain any warrant; 

c) I require details/copies of ALL documentary information that was attained by your office through the illegal intrusion into my private life. In addition, I require written confirmation that the documentation provided is a full disclosure of information attained/held; 

d) A ‘true copy’ of the authority signed by yourself for the illegal intrusion into my background/private life. 

I advise you that I have instructed Senior Counsel to begin legal proceedings against the UK Government and you personally as an individual. I further advise you that as you have abused your position, this is actionable. A Petition will be lodged against the UK Government and yourself in the coming weeks, in which I will seek ‘Punitive Damages (Exemplary Damages) at the amount of £2.5 million (pounds sterling) on a 50/50 split between the UK Government and a personal liability by yourself. An apology is not sufficient in this case.

Yours sincerely
GEORGE WATSON

Seven DUP MPs to repay over €14,000 for expense claims

Posted by Watt Tyler on

SEVEN DUP MPs are to repay more than £14,000 in Westminster expenses on recommendation of retired civil servant Sir Thomas Legg.

SDLP MP Eddie McGrady revealed last night he will agree to repay £6,112, although he is to query the basis on which this figure is calculated.

Sinn Féin’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is to hand back £3,000, while the Ulster Unionist MP Lady [Sylvia] Hermon is to return £1,365, and SDLP leader Mark Durkan is repaying £236.

Sir Thomas examined MPs’ expenses claims and payments following the controversy over the issue in May and June of this year.

Mr McGrady, the South Down MP, is to repay the largest sum of all 18 northern MPs. He said in a statement: “Despite disputing some of the amounts as calculated and having certain reservations about what appears to be excessive but necessary zeal in the retrospective application of non-existent rules, I too, shall be making full repayment of the schedules outlined in Sir Thomas Legg’s letter to me for the full amount of £6112.00.

Of the DUP grouping in Westminster, South Antrim MP William McCrea is to repay the largest sum – £5,329 – in respect of furniture claims for his London home and other costs. Gregory Campbell is returning £2,656 as his accommodation claims exceeded the allowable limit. Iris Robinson is sending back £2,274, and Dr Ian Paisley is returning £1,181, while Jeffrey Donaldson, David Simpson and Peter Robinson are returning £1,964, £400 and £299 respectively. The remaining two DUP MPs, Sammy Wilson and Nigel Dodds, have not been asked to return anything. Lady Hermon, the UUP’s sole MP, is sending back £1,365 and Foyle MP Mark Durkan is repaying £236.