Odd stance for Diane Abbott to take I think, irrespective of what happened to Chelsea in terms of transitioning.
It wasn't a position of Diane Abbott. It was the official Labour Party line.
I watched in adject horror to her speech in the HoC.
She cited it as press freedom. Its bullshit. We have a tradition of whistleblowing hard hitting journalism in this country - possibly greater than any other country. But this is also characterised as responsible (and generally) ethical journalist when it comes to areas of particular sensitivity such as security. Media outlets spend a lot of time and money on lawyers and considering what can be published in the public interest, and what they should withhold being it may pose some sort of problem - such as placing an individual in danger.
Wikileaks has none of these concerns and as such I regard their claim to be journalists as highly questionable. They had no responsibility over the impact of their lack of gatekeeping. Its just a data dump without this process and consideration.
Not only this Abbott went on about how Assange was being persecuted and had don't nothing wrong but expose the US's wrong doing in Iraq.
I found this incredible.
Indeed it gave Sajid Javid easy ammunition in saying that she was not standing up for the rule of law and how Assange was guilty of skipping bail.
Abbott not long afterwards was clearly on a damage limitation exercise as she tweeted
Diane Abbott @ Hackneyabbott
Home Secretary claims law applies to everyone. But no-one argued that Julian Assange's skipping bail here should be ignored. It's the extradition to the US that is at issue, where he faces lengthy imprisonment for whistle blowing of US military operations in Iraq.
Except this is completely disingenuous representation of her statement in the HoC. She prattle on about his poor health and held against his will.
There also seems to be a certain amount of dissent in Labour. Diana Johnson MP for Kingston and Hull said
I am concerned that a man suspected of rape, which is what in this case actually happened, was able to do what he did for several years to escape justice. I have seen media reports that lawyers for the victims in Sweden are taking steps to start the proceedings off again. I wonder whether the Home Secretary might be able to investigate that and let the House know. I am sure that many Members of Parliament are very anxious about the matter.
The case of Assange is far from simple and I certainly do have concerns about any one being extridited to the US on computer misuse charges for human rights reasons.
But the way Abbott has presented the case today is nothing short of appalling.
I believe there are rumours of stronger charges yet to come from the US against Assange, possibly in relation to Trump Russia (and talk of the death penalty possibly being on the cards). In which case under the ECHR we would not legally be able to extradict him.
If I'm honest, I have to say I hope Sweden take the problem out of our hands though. He's cost us enough in terms of the £13million spent on policing and frankly I'd rather someone else handled it, because the case will be too politicised on tribal lines to be in the interests of the public at all.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-04-11/debates/0650F0B8-1D1E-4FD5-8E6D-9A94FE112986/ArrestOfJulianAssange
Anyway here is today's HoC debate on the subject so judge for yourself.
I'm very pissed off about it.
Without understanding the importance of ethics in media, the press is a very dangerous power. We are all too aware of cases where media has not acted ethically and this has proved to be a bad thing. For the Shadow Home Secretary to be unable to comprehend this and speak in a way that reflects this nuance is terrifying in its implication.
Abbott gets so much unnecessary abuse, but on this occasion I can't help but feel she's had not only a bad day at the office but one which neglects key issues which protect individuals from abuse of power and neglect of responsibility for the consequences of actions.
/rant