Local Elections – And The Other Elephant in The Room

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Click to visit sections below, if you can't be bothered reading all this diatribe:

• Slap in the face … polls for Brown and his government
• Britain’s politicians over a barrel over THIS ’sundry’ business
• The REAL Elephant In The Room
• Terrorism Trial – 2006 Aeroplanes Plot & 42 Days Detention
• Abdicating?
• Brown Travails AND Iraq & the USA ‘Special Relationship’
• Brown to the USA – He said WHAT?
• Blair’s Travels

[Key: ppm = 'present prime minister']

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Comment at end

16th April, 2008

‘SLAP IN THE FACE’ POLLS

The local elections in England and Wales are on 1st May, just over two weeks from now. They are ostensibly about local issues. As we know, they often end up being about the unpopularity of a prime minister or government, despite neither being up for re-election. Read the full April 2008 Populus poll here. And there’s this on the present world financial woes – Poll: Brown less trusted with economy than other western leaders

But before I prattle on – you MUST watch this. It should raise a smile. Not because of the grinning, toothy ppm – (remind you of anyone …?) – but because of his signing off words.

Yes, this IS the ppm Gordon Brown on Fox’s “American Idol” in the USA last week. What’s he doing? A Tony Blair impression, no less! And … wait, WAIT … it gets better, honestly. He uses the “God” word that Blair was advised against when telling the country we had gone into Iraq! Brown finishes up with “God bless you all”! Are you off the floor yet? I suppose it’s horses for courses. It’s clear that a British PM CAN DO religion when addressing an American audience, but not an irreligious British one. In fact, the choices made were probably essential in BOTH cases. But I can’t actually recall Blair mentioning God even when he spoke to the American people only. Not that you can speak to only one group of people in today’s internet world. And they ALL know that. There was a message being sent out from the ppm, with the previous pm in mind – [I'm a God-fearing man too, just like Tony. You can trust me too. And I like America, and Tony Blair is my best friend!]

BLAIRISM IN BROWN LETTERS

What is going on here? Brown is supporting, even promoting America, our shared values, Britain’s (unique) place in the American friendship pact, our ability to bridge the USA & Europe, and even supporting our approach to Iraq! And all this while some in his ‘revolting’ party hate America. Blairism writ in Brown lettering, but not writ as coherently or in such a principled and forthright way, imho. But he might just get away with it and come back home as not just the ba*t*rd … guy who killed off the British/American/Free World hero. After all, he also admitted he asked Blair for advice on dealing with his current travails. As long as he doesn’t forget to flash those choppers throughout while in the states, as did his predecessor so disarmingly! And, of course, so naturally. When the ppm gets back home, though, there may NOT be much to smile about. Toothy Brown grins, intermittent or not, won’t win him any friends two weeks Thursday in the locals in England and Wales.

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Now, where was I? Oh yes …

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VOTES FOR ALL AND SUNDRY, ESPECIALLY SUNDRY

In calmer waters, when a government is riding high in the polls, local issues ARE foremost in many minds. Not, in my humble opinion, THIS time. This time the Labour party and governing party finds themselves well and truly over a barrel. It is a time of great significance for the government. There may be many local issues – crime, NHS, Education over which local authorities have some financial control, but even in those cases, strategic decisions are taken by the government at national or devolved government levels. All eyes will be on the perceived success or otherwise of Brown’s government’s policies. He cannot avoid it, any more than could Tony Blair over Iraq. And Brown has a double whammy facing him. He, as Chancellor for ten years, is clearly accountable for the state of the economy. The present Chancellor, Alistair Darling, is as visible and largely as inconsequential as Brown seemed to be in Blair’s times of trouble. And the economy, sweetheart, is in all our minds as we await the depth of the downturn and subsequently of our financial well-being. So the popularity, or otherwise of the present prime minister will be uppermost as people go to the polls. That, and many other national and international issues – the economy, the rising cost of food and the fact that we are still in Iraq and likely to remain so for some time. SOME believed, for reasons best known to themselves, that Brown would have withdrawn our troops by now.

[See below on Blair's decision on Iraq - "Yes." Brown supported the Iraq invasion".]

(I wrote about the complexities of the Iraq decision here.

It has long been clear that Brown was with Blair on this. And the longer he is PM the more he understands that it was the right thing to do.) The local elections are likely to be as much about whether or not this PM and his government are up to the job as about local schools or hospitals. And to cap it all the latest YouGov opinion poll shows that voters would prefer Mr Blair as PM. If he were still in charge, Labour would be 5% behind rather than the present 16%!

Well? Didn’t I warn you?

That slap in the face for Labour’s big mistake of dumping their most successful election winner EVER, is part of, though only the most recent part of the reported behind-the-scenes position jostling of Ed Balls, Charles Clarke and David Miliband, to name but a few. But that’s only half the story. Gordon Brown’s competence or popularity is not the only ‘Elephant In The Room’ There is another elephant hiding behind the sofa.

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THE REAL ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM – CREEPING ‘ISLAMISTISATION’

(The word “Islamistisation” refers to Islamists rather than to Islamics, where some take umbrage at “Islamisation”. Don’t know if Islamistisation is in general use. But If not, I’m inventing it, thus avoiding Bardot’s fate, hopefully!)

Note: I have no concerns over the religion of anyone in my country, except where fundamentalists of any religion threaten MY country. And until moderate Islam disowns the Islamist fundamentalists who frequently remind us that they intend to take over this country and the west and do away completely with democracy – all, purportedly, in the name of Islam – I will draw attention to this. Shockingly, I understand that Brigitte Bardot is on trial in Paris, charged with “inciting racial hatred” over remarks she made in a letter to the French president Nicholas Sarkozy.

WHAT?! This animal rights campaigner is a serial nuisance, for reminding her countrymen about what she sees as a threat to France? Incredible, mes amis!

Are the French courts also trying the Islamists who remind us that they look forward to a Caliphate France, under a Caliphate World? And, from my understanding, that means ALL Muslims. Or at least all who take the Khoran at face value.

There has been no collective, authoritative condemnation of ongoing terror acts since 9/11. And no blanket condemnation of fundamental terror at all as far as I have noticed. I don’t know the full story on this veteran (1960s?) star, but I will keep tabs on this.

Given that we often vote on national issues – “to give the government a kicking” as in last May’s elections, when the Scottish Parliament elected the first Scottish Nationalist Party government, winning by one seat over Labour, what SHOULD and even MAY be the Real Elephant? It may just turn out to be this issue. An issue which all the main political parties, shamefully, dare not mention, AT ALL. The growing, creeping Islamistisation of Britain (and the world) If it features at all, it will be obliquely, in the perennial Tory “tighten up the borders” plea, or the “stop immigration” calls of the British Nationalist Party or the “withdraw from the EU” mantra of the UK Independence Party. And even in these cases it is unlikely to be as prominent as the Guilty (political) Parties might wish it to be, if they were brave enough. All of these issues, policing borders, immigration, the EU are emblematic of the REAL and UNMENTIONABLE fears of many in this country. But, the BNP apart, possibly, you won’t hear it mentioned in local election leaflets. Why? Because all votes are needed. And because no mainstream or ambitious political party wishes to be tainted by the words “extremists”, “xenophobic”, or ethnically “prejudiced”. We’ve already had our descriptive language sanitised so that “Islamist terrorism” and “war on terror” are banned from political use. Even the Tories don’t use them any more. Or hadn’t you noticed? So if you think they’re going to mention this word - Islamistisation – or something similar – forget it! Elephants have famously good memories, but as for the rest of us … the country’s politicians seem to want us to forget one or two little matters.

• Forget the Muslim world’s seeming inability to rein in its extremist outriders.
• Forget the fact that no authoritative Islam body has spoken out AGAINST the ongoing fundamental Islamicist threats against the world.
• Forget the fact that Muslim Sharia law already exists here in Great Britain, and is supported by state benefits, such as for bigamists in this land where bigamy is illegal.
• Forget the fact that the security services are investigating 30 terror plots as we speak and that thousands of groups or individuals are under surveillance, and still the liberal left calls for “freedom” from government interference.
• Forget, even, the fact that people are starting to thank Tony Blair for trying to explain that he and Bush did NOT invent Islamist Jihad.
• And forget the treacherous betrayal by Little Englanders of ALL political colours who see Blair, Bush, the EU, Big Business and the government’s laws on civil rights and surveillance as the problems and not the answer.
• Forget it all – as our politicians hope you will. Too much thinking could be bad for your vote.

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In this daily tot up of terrorist attacks I’d prefer to refer to it as Islamist Terrorists – though I know some see no difference

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And in the great race to remain Mayor of London in the May elections, Ken Livingstone the present incumbent (right leg in/left leg out/right leg in – now he’s shaking it all about) is playing the Islam card for all it’s worth (to his [Muslim] voters, in London):

The Torygraph … Telegraph article leads with this:

“A Palestinian apologist for suicide bombing is among the leaders of a group trying to win Muslim votes for Ken Livingstone in the London mayoral election.”

Dr Azzam Tamimi, a supporter of Hamas which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, is part of a group called Muslims 4 Ken which is aiming to mobilise hundreds of thousands of Muslim voters to help re-elect Mr Livingstone for a third term on May 1. Their site says: “Boris Johnson would be a disaster for London. He is an Islamophobe who has insulted and condemned Islam and Muslims.

I hold no great admiration for Boris, fun as he is, but this is dreadful stuff and Livingstone should be ashamed.

My forecast for London – Boris will win the mayoral post, and Livingstone will blame Brown.

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POLITICIANS ARE ABDICATING RESPONSIBILITY

I consider this downright refusal to discuss the politics of terror an abdication of responsibility. Our politicians and thus the rest of us, may be sleepwalking to disaster. It may already be too late, given that politicians have become dependent on Muslim votes in many seats. Particularly the Labour party. And the other parties too do not have the guts or conviction to tackle the issue head on. For years they have been aware, have no doubt. And for years they thought or hoped, in good faith, that multi-culturalism would nullify the extremes of a theology whose aims are to do away with democracy itself. It was widely expected that the vast majority of good Muslims would rein in the rest, long before 2001. And then came 9/11 and the opportunity for radical Islam to raise its ugly, violent head. Aided and abetted by a willing and compliant leftwing press, who had other bones to pick with this government over “lies, deceit, loss of civil liberties, human rights and the demise of Old Labour” the radicals went for the propaganda jugular. AND FOR A WHILE IT SEEMED, THEY WERE WINNING

BUT, I SENSE THE TIDE IS TURNING

Our Muslims friends and neighbours have recently provided us with some food for thought. Thanks to the internet we can keep tabs on it. ONLY IN BRITAIN – A FEW EXAMPLES OF BRITAIN TODAY

• Multiple Wives Means Multiple Benefits! This is NOT a joke. This is OUR country!!! We don’t DO bigamy OR polygamy!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Excuse the exclamation marks!!!)
Multiple Benefits for “bigamists”? DISGRACEFUL! AND IF TONY BLAIR HAD AGREED TO IT, I’D STILL THINK IT IS SHAMEFUL!

• Muslim swim times in Hackney – What? Not Dianne Abbot’s constituency? Throw me a lifebelt! See Small dead animals site on this.
• Accusation: Christian Church attacks are taken less seriously by Police than non-Christian attacks.
• A Muslim Pub in Oldham – No Booze – No Women! Cheers …
• Muslims and Alcohol? I’ll drink to that … a little tipple!
• 40% of Muslims want Sharia Law in Britain (2006 poll) Don’t know if anyone DARES run another poll.
• 4,000 Muslim Forced Marriages per Year. Where? Here in Britain.

AND A FEW EXAMPLES FROM ELSEWHERE

• For the First Time – More Muslims than Catholics in the World.
• Now Where Would Anyone Get the idea Muslims are Linked With Terrorism?
• There’s no such thing as a “Moderate Muslim” so says this writer, with links, which he says, prove it!
• Rights of non-Muslims in an Islamic State? Cherish & protect YOUR free British OR western country NOW.
• Are Muslims residing in the West different from their counterparts in native countries?

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THE GOVERNMENT IS RIGHT ON 42 DAYS – THOUGH BLAIR WAS MORE RIGHT ON 90!

Will 42 Days Detention Laws Get Brown A Life Sentence? The Home Secretary (read at NoW site): “There are 2,000 individuals who are being monitored. There are 200 networks involved and 30 active plots.” And she warned the menace of Islamic fanatics is mounting so fast that police will be unable to cope within a year—unless they are given new powers to lock up terror suspects for longer.

And then there was this guy – Abu Qatada Bin Laden’s ‘right-hand man’ set for life on British benefits after judges rule deportation would breach his human rights.

SUICIDE VIDEO – AEROPLANE PLOTTERS

And meanwhile, in the ongoing trial of six accused of airplane plots, in August 2006, there’s this:

The Tories & Lib Dems are voting AGAINST extending this detention period. Why? Do they really think the Police will use it to lock up civil righters such as Simon Jenkins, or Shami Chakrabarti? Not that I’d complain! But if my government thinks it’s necessary, I believe THEM, not the little civil righters. So whose side are the Tories and Lib Dems on?

Every now and then, something gives me hope

Islam’s public enemy Number 1: Coptic priest makes 10 Demands of Islam – Mass Conversions to Christianity.

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BROWN’S TRAVAILS FIRST THE BAD NEWS … And he’s had some of those recently! In fact more or less since the election that never was. For starters, the Global Crunch and the10p Tax Rate Cut. WHY, with the latter, didn’t Brown see this problem coming? It was he, as chancellor, who brought it in and then last Spring discontinued the 10p rate for the lowest paid. Perhaps he did see it coming. But he had intended holding and winning a general election by the time it came in! Boobed again, ppm. The tax rate cut, the impending 42 days detention for terrorism suspects, police and teachers striking or complaining bitterly! The troops are threatening mutiny. Wonder how THAT feels? Ask Tony, why don’t you, Mr ppm.

After this “Sulphurist” meeting with his backbenchers I guess he already knows. Then there are “The Ultras” (Blairites) said to be plotting against Brown. No!? Why ever would they do that?

To top it all, the latest poll says that Brown’s rating is now Minus 37 – down from Plus 48 in August. Most, it seems, would prefer Blair back.

The papers are asking – For how long will Labour give Brown the benefit of the doubt?

Challengers line up Behind Brown – The Independent Is Brown clinically depressed? Well, wouldn’t YOU be? Not, it seems if you have the Blair resilience gene.

Number 10 website boob – Labour link for local election help removed! Ooops! Does the ppm … webmaster think the Downing Street website belongs to LAbour, and not the country! It’s now been fixed. But this is how it looked until today, (courtesy of The Register website).

Didn’t happen under Blair. Party members wonder why it’s been a disappointment under Brown. Yes, honestly, they DO. Example.

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Tuesday’s Telegraph says: BROWN DEFIANT OVER GLOOM

Still, it’s good to know that he can still approach his old friend and Tony Blair for advice.

” … he even admitted that he had spoken to Mr Blair about the problems. He said: “I have worked with Tony for years and we’re very good friends. We talk often about some of these things. I think after ten years of one party in government, you’ve obviously got to be able.”

To be able to what? Be in government for ten years? Work with friends? Talk to that dead guy? What do you mean, Mr ppm? Don’t keep us hanging on!

Also on Tuesday, the Bank of England released another £15 billion of taxpayer-backed loans for British banks in an attempt to ease the credit crisis.

And ahead of his trip to America – where it is feared he may be overshadowed by a visit from the Pope – the Prime Minister repeatedly tried to show that he was capable of pulling Britain through the economic crisis.

His comments followed a series of poor poll ratings and unrest from some Labour backbenchers about his ability to show clear leadership.

In one interview, he insisted: “I’m starting a job that I mean to continue.”

In another

Following criticism that he was increasingly out of touch with the economic concerns of ordinary people, Mr Brown also used the media appearances to empathise with voters.

He said: “I wake up in the morning thinking what can we do to help homeowners, to help those people who have got small businesses, people looking for jobs, people wanting opportunities so they can have better jobs for the future.”

He added: “And we will do everything in our power to make sure we’re on the side of ordinary hard-working families who need a government on their side, that we will take the action necessary.”

Mr Brown insisted he “recognised” the financial difficulties facing families. But he said he was prepared to risk unpopularity in order to make the right “long-term” decisions for the country.

Labour party members are in a panic about the Brown effect on their party. They’re in a quandary as to how he copes – more Blairite than Blair seems to be a “no-no”.

That’s it then, folks; it was good while it lasted.

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On the Special Relationship, who said this?

“What unites us is shared values. The belief in liberty and freedom, the sense we can together work for justice is common to the people of the United States of America and the peoples of Europe and many other parts of the world.”

A clue – his name starts with “B” – got it? No, not Blair (though, he said it too). Yes, it was that Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Gordon Brown. In the USA to meet money market people over choppy financial seas, President Bush and the three hopefuls for his job, and a chat about a few other matters, he will hope not to be upstaged too much by the visit by His Holiness. Oh, yes, and that reminds me. By fortuitous coincidence guess who’s following up the trip to the USA next week? Tony Blair. Compare and contrast time for Americans – those who noticed Brown was there in the first place AND was now British PM.

More from Nicholas Watt, The Guardian:

Brown refrained from using the same analogy as his predecessor but made clear his intentions as he offered his whole-hearted support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and pointedly remarked that Europe failed to support Bush.

Brown said: “European leadership did not support President Bush in Iraq other than Britain and one or two other countries, but we want a better relationship with America and I feel I can bring Europe and America closer together for the future.”

He acknowledged the deep differences over Iraq but said that Europe and the US were united by common values. “What unites us is shared values. The belief in liberty and freedom, the sense we can together work for justice is common to the people of the United States of America and the peoples of Europe and many other parts of the world.”

Brown, who was said by critics to have offered less than enthusiastic support for Blair over Iraq until the eve of the 2003 invasion, made clear that he fully supported the decision.

I wonder if his parliamentary party will notice this? Brown supported Blair’s decision over Iraq. Or did they notice it all along but were content to do away with their most successful leader ever, because of some other issue(s)? Yes, Brown agreed with Blair over, well, more or less, everything … perhaps excluding super casinos. Please, one of you Labour backbenchers, explain to me WHY we had to lose Blair. Why in the name of all that’s fair and just? And meanwhile, in the American elections, where – I believe Senator MsCain will win in the end – it is clear there are quite a few others who share my concerns over the direction in which our great western civilizations are heading. And I don’t care which party they belong to, any more than I care which party Geert Wilders belongs to. It’s telling it like it is time.

BROWN ON IRAQ – CBS interview (Read full interview here). Before he left for the USA, Brown was questioned on HIS position on Iraq:

COURIC: Tony Blair stood solidly with President Bush on Iraq and Afghanistan. Are you as supportive of this war, particularly in Iraq, as your predecessor?

BROWN: Yes. We’re moving to a position in Afghanistan where, as I say, more than 40 countries are now involved. When it comes to Iraq, it has been a more disputed issue because some of our European colleagues have not come down the same road as we’ve gone, but I think we’re moving to a position in Iraq where-to-the areas where British troops are playing a big role, Basra and the south, where we can move from combat to what we call “overwatch,” training the Iraqi troops for the future. We’ve seen a great deal of progress in the past few months, we’ve trained 40,000 police and soldiers for the Iraqis, we plan to train another 15,000, and then we look to provincial elections, Iraqis taking more of an interest in their affairs.

COURIC: Finally, ideally, what would you like the American people to know about you?

BROWN: That I’m very pro-American and I’ve always been so. I feel America and Europe, and America and Britain in particular, because ours is a very special relationship, I feel that America and Britain can achieve so much in the next few years. When people talk about China and India and Asia, yes, there are changes taking place, but America and Britain working together and then America and Europe working together, we can change the global landscape in a way that deals with climate change, that makes for stronger economies where we don’t have the sort of turbulence we’re seeing at the moment by co-operating together and there’s prosperity around the world to deal with problems like terrorism and violence and instability and conflict in a way that by co-operation we can achieve far more than if we leave it to fate. I think we make our own destiny and Britain and America have got a lot to do together.

This is the video of the Brown interview on CBS. He says “yes” when asked if he is as supportive on Iraq as Tony Blair (1:30). Hardly ambiguous.

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BROWN SAID WHAT?

As well as all the previously Blair-uttered words of vision, values and special relationships in the Land of the Free, he also hit back for being called ‘a dot’ on the world stage, by Mugabe.

Gordon Brown at the UN today:

“No-one thinks Mugabe has won” (the election) And a “stolen election would not be an election at all”.

What’s got into HIM suddenly? He’s sounding tough. He’s saying something. Must’ve been talking to Blair!

And meanwhile at home -

“Home Secretary breaches purdah”, say Tories. Is this a storm in a teacup, or electioneering?

“We can’t arrest our way out of terrorism”, said Jacque Smith, the Home Secretary, several times today.

Is the government playing the “security” card, or is this a breakage of the electoral rules on purdah in the period prior to an election? Or, as some argue, since oppositions don’t stop criticising in the run-up to an election, is it realistic to expect the government to stand still on important announcements just because an election is on the way? Perhaps purdah rules are not all that clear. Or perhaps the “security” issue DOES play well right now.

THE GOOD BROWN NEWS

(Sorry, just realised I’d forgotten to add this section on the ppm)

Erm … er … uh … let me think. Tell you what – I’ll get back to you when I think of any.

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BLAIR’S TRAVELS

FIRST THE BAD NEWS … SFO Judge slams Blair & Attorney General Lord Goldsmith questions the court’s right to question questions of security questions. Clear enough? It was for the Attorney General, Blair & the SFO. Good enough for me.

THEN THE GOOD … Blair speaks to Spanish business opinion formers Blair praised by Bertie Ahern, on Northern Ireland Settlement AND by Bono Blair & Ahern to be awarded Honorary Doctorates (of Law) from Belfast University.

Blair in Abu Dhabi, 15th April. Pushing for Palestinian help for a three-day conference in May, offering more than $1 billion worth of projects to foreign investors.

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Some earlier posts you might find relevant, interesting, or just fun!

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• “SAVE US!” … Former Prime Minister!
• BAE/SFO/Deporting Terrorists/Democratic Decay
• Blair- ‘Cometh The Hour’ Vs Militant Secularism
• Wilders Video – Strife laden?
• Iraq, Blair & the “Art of the Possible”
• Embryo Research, Winston & Why Religious ‘Interference’ Is Dangerous
• Iraq – And What the Press HAVEN’T told you
• Who said: “I met a man who wasn’t Blair …”?
• Thank You to the British Troops. You’re the Best!
• Doctor Heal Thyself! (To David Owen on his Calumny of Blair)
• Blair: Climate Change & Undiluted, Unembarrassed Ubiquity
• Tony Blair is STILL the Prime Minister, Dontcha Know?

NEW BLOG! Bring Back Tony Blair

Watch my videos on Tony Blair at YouTube

A Leader’s Deathbed Confession – 11th May (the day of Blair’s constituency retirement announcement)

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Tags: 1. Tony Blair, 42 days detention, Boris Johnson, Brown (Gordon Brown & his Labour Government, from June 2007), elephant in the room, Home Secretary, Islam, Islamicisation, Jacqui Smith, Ken Livingstone, May local elections, Muslims, President Bush, Special Relationship, Terrorism, UN, United States of America, usa