NEW Home Secretary Suella Braverman came out of the starting blocks pulling no punches.
Take her proposals to quash illegal immigration, her anti-woke stance, her criticism of “Benefit Street culture”, her contempt for political protestors and a planned crackdown on the number of foreign students.
The conviction of TV’s Rolf Harris was helped by victims speaking out after seeing the men being accused in the media[/caption]
Her to-do list is all pretty right of right wing. But at the Tory party conference last week she appeared to take a sharp left-hand swerve.
She announced she would consider anonymity for anyone arrested — including suspected paedophiles — until they are charged.
Her main reason is to stop what she calls a “media circus” or “trial by media” surrounding people who are falsely accused.
This proposal appears to be totally out of tune with her other hard-line policies, and to many it is completely baffling.
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Instead of concentrating on crime she is choosing to shackle the Press, who have traditionally worked hand in hand with the police.
If someone is wrongly accused, then their lives can be ruined by being identified before they are ever charged.
Just ask Sir Cliff Richard, the effect it had on him when he was falsely accused of historic sex offences.
This is because most people believe there is no smoke without fire and that if people are saying someone has done something wrong there is usually a good reason for what they are saying.
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In Sir Cliff’s case it turned out to be a load of hot air.
The result for him was very traumatic, which no doubt could have been avoided if police investigated accusations properly.
If they do this, most false claims would be dismissed before arrest.
Take Operation Midland, which saw police investigate several high-profile people — from politicians to heads of security — over claims of historic sex abuse and murder only to later realise they had been duped by a fantasist and liar.
Suella’s plan would protect the wrongly accused. But on the other side of the coin, it could stop victims coming forward.
Convictions of TV’s Rolf Harris and Stuart Hall were both helped by victims speaking out after seeing the men being accused in the media.
It’s been ten years since Jimmy Savile was outed as a prolific paedophile and sexual abuser.
Naming him, and later Hall and Harris, allowed and encouraged other victims to come forward.
Not only that, but it also led the BBC to investigate what was happening under their roof.
Jog memories
The BBC — or any employer — has the right and the duty to investigate misconduct among its staff.
Just this week the corporation started investigating some allegations made against former DJ Tim Westwood.
Westwood has not been charged or convicted of any crimes and denies the accusations.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed in August it was investigating a man over four alleged sexual offences and the corporation previously acknowledged six complaints about bullying and sexual misconduct.
The BBC wants to make sure its staff are safe and that abusers are not using their job status to commit misconduct.
You can’t investigate what you don’t know about — and often victims will only come forward if asked.
Naming suspects in cold cases jogs memories and generates new information about the case, too.
In suspected terrorism or serious crime, there is a need to warn the public someone dangerous is on the loose — when the risk outweighs any potential embarrassment from getting it wrong.
When serial crimes are alleged, naming the accused is vital to securing convictions.
I for one would want to know if a suspected paedophile or accused murderer lived next door to me.
And I bet Suella would too.
Not so funny thing
Daisy May Cooper hit a nerve last week when she revealed that she has been trolled after losing weight[/caption]
DAISY May Cooper hit a nerve last week when she revealed that she has been trolled after losing weight.
I do think it is interesting that ever since the 36-year-old actress and comedian slimmed down on the keto diet, she has been flooded with messages telling her she is no longer funny.
Discussing her appearance, Daisy said: “I’m so for body positivity but when I was at my biggest I was at my most miserable and I had a massive food addiction. I wasn’t healthy.
“I couldn’t breathe when I was walking up the stairs. I was so unhappy.
“And I’ve had some messages like, ‘Well, now you’ve lost the weight you’re not funny any more’.”
Could it really be true that the British public feel that women need to be fat to be funny?
She asked: “Why do women have to be f**king fat to be funny? That makes me so angry.
“I champion anybody. I think everybody should be happy with their body. But I wasn’t.”
Could it be the case that some people are threatened by funny women unless they are fat?
Daisy May’s experience seems to imply as much, which is certainly food for thought.
Up for a fuel fight
IT is all looking a bit like the Seventies with the possibility of blackouts this winter if Vladimir Putin shuts off gas supplies to Europe.
I know people are up in arms at the Government, but it’s not Liz Truss who invaded Ukraine and started a war.
She is the one trying to sort it out by giving generous cost-of-living handouts to assist people with their energy bills.
We could try to cut down our consumption or we can turn a blind eye to Putin and his illegal war and get the gas pumping.
I would rather use candles than give in to the monster.
Lovely Liz has been keeping us abreast of cancer risk for 27 years
YOU’VE got to love Liz Hurley for championing breast cancer awareness after losing her own grandmother to the disease.
The star signed up to be an ambassador for Estee Lauder’s pink ribbon campaign 27 years ago, after her relative’s death, and hasn’t run out of steam.
This week, on Loose Women, she said that back when her grandmother became ill, she didn’t go to the doctor because she was scared and embarrassed.
This is a good reminder of how much life has changed.
“I won’t give up until women stop dying”, she said.
She is so right – this will never stop being important.
Thanks Liz, for reminding us this October of how important it is to remember to check our breasts.
Great deal
IN the latest chapter of supermarkets pulling a blinder in the cost-of-living crisis, Asda is offering over 60s soup, a roll and unlimited tea and coffees for £1.
The deal is part of its new “winter warmer” initiatives in any of the supermarket’s 205 cafes all day and every day throughout November and December.
What a great innovation – and one that will make a real difference, as so many older people have few places they can go and enjoy a cuppa and a chit chat without worrying about the cost.
A little kindness goes a long way.
When not in Rome
I TAKE serious umbrage, on Manchester’s behalf, at complaints from the wife of Manchester City footballer Ilkay Gundogan.
Sara Arfaoui has declared there are no good places to eat in the whole city.
The 27-year-old model was born in France but moved to Italy as a child, and onwards to Manchester.
In her post she said she is fed up with “horrible food in the city”.
She added that she could not find “a real Italian or just fresh food . . . everything frozen”.
I just cannot believe that is true in a city of Manchester’s standing.
But what bothers me most about the comment is it’s like going to Rome and complaining that there aren’t enough English restaurants there.
Mix ‘n’ match
The Prince and Princess of Wales looked like they were really enjoying themselves during a spirited cocktail-making race this week[/caption]
Kate laughed as she raced husband William to mix up a particular drink[/caption]
THE Prince and Princess of Wales looked like they were really enjoying themselves during a spirited cocktail-making race this week.
The couple – who are doing a brilliant job as ambassadors of the Royal Family – had a blast at an outdoor market in Belfast during their surprise visit to Northern Ireland this week.
William and Kate, both 40, laughed as they raced each other to mix up a particular drink, before the prince was declared the winner.
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I’ve often noticed that these two seem like they have got a healthy – and funny – level of competition in their relationship.
I wonder if that is perhaps one of their secrets to happiness.
