BN66 - Was Jane Kennedy Innocent?

[Emigre]

So Kennedy has resigned once again. Do these resignations indicate that she is principled and cares? Or quite the opposite, that she is scheming and only looking after her own future?

In terms of her involvement with BN66 how much do you think she knew during the debates on BN66 and therefore what best describes her actions?

[Menelaus]

So Kennedy has resigned once again. Do these resignations indicate that she is principled and cares? Or quite the opposite, that she is scheming and only looking after her own future?

In terms of her involvement with BN66 how much do you think she knew during the debates on BN66 and therefore what best describes her actions?

Smeargate was the final straw for Jane Kennedy she says

I’ve been unhappy for sometime about smears against colleagues, about the undermining of colleagues and friends orchestrated by Number 10. I can’t support it and I believe the Labour Party is part of reason for the rejection that people have indicated, and it’s a rejection of that kind of politics. I can’t distinguish between those around Gordon Brown smearing and Gordon Brown himself. It’s how politics is driven forward by Gordon and the people around him.

I fought against Militant in the 1980s and helped the Labour Party drive them out, because I was applled at their conduct: the bullying, the threats and the intimidation. I can’t stand by and say I am content when that is still happening. Everybody who is active in politics in Westminster knows what I’m alluding to.

We’ve never had the chance as a PLP to discuss the matters that arose out of the Damian McBride incident. My view is – and the view of many activists in my constituency – Gordon isn’t able to get our message across. That’s why voters are turning against us – his style, the type of politics he engages. My unhappiness is with the style of politics that Labour is exhibiting.

The bullying continues, Guido understands that the implicit menace being put about by Nick Brown, chief whip and Gordon’s enforcer, is exposure of expense misdemeanours in a career ending manner if you are disloyal. That is how they work, McBride may be gone, but his spirit lives on. Gordon operates like a mafia godfather, thuggish and threatening. The people have rejected him, will the party find a spine? Why is it only Labour’s women who have the balls to stand up to him?

http://order-order.com/2009/06/08/ja...dons-bullying/

[MuddyFunster]

We need a multi-select option. Misled and is incompetent

[DonkeyRhubarb]

We need a multi-select option. Misled and is incompetent

I would go further.

Mislead, Negligent and Incompetent.

Oh, and she did say her conscience was clear.

[DonkeyRhubarb]

This is pure supposition but here's what I think.

First of all, two supporting facts:

1) An FOI request to HMRC for everything they held related to BN66 was rejected on the grounds that it would cost too much to retrieve all the documents.
2) A similar FOI request to the Treasury was not rejected on cost grounds. In fact the Treasury said they would need to consult HMRC before releasing anything they held.

This says to me that HMRC were fully in the driving seat on this one. They came up with the idea and Treasury officials were happy to go along with it.

Clause 55 (bn66) was just one of nearly 100 measures in the Finance Bill, so there is no way Jane Kennedy would have known that much about each provision.

It was clear from things she said in the debate that she had only been briefed in general terms. When pressed by opposition MPs she didn't have answers on many of the details, and I don't believe this was because she was lying; I honestly think she didn't know.

She had been sold the "exceptional/agregious/unusual/exteme" tax avoidance angle, and she bought it hook, line and sinker.

There is no doubt in my mind that HMRC were the masterminds behind this and JK was manipulated by civil servants, but she was more than willing to go along with it.

Verdict: ignorant but that is no defence

[BrilloPad]

Good andyw option......

[Little'Old Me]

The HM Revenue & Customs believes that we all should "Pay our fair share of tax" and in practice it means to them - we should not do anything to reduce our personal tax liability and make sure we arrange our tax affairs to maximise the amount of tax we pay!

Its obvious the "Honourable ??? " members believe %$£@*&?*&%$@@*&*&$£