Gagging at the MOD

 

It would appear that our lords and masters (Gag) in the Government, want to airbrush any mention of bad news about our armed forces during the election campaign.

Nick Gurr, the MoD's director of media and communications, says 'embeds' for all British news broadcasters and national journalists will be prohibited during the election campaign, expected to begin later this month.

Mr Gurr's memo, written last week, is entitled "Purdah (the period generally known to be between an election being called and taking place)* - Key Principles for Defence Communicators."

It details a string of steps the MoD is taking to minimise the chance of embarrassing disclosures. Information on MoD and armed forces websites, it says, must be 'cleansed.' Official blogs and website must 'report factual information only.' Even internal MoD and service journals must be 'submitted for approval before publication' with 'controversial issues avoided' because 'these get into the public domain'. Another order is that 'Any activity that can be delayed should be.'

Well lads and lassies in government, the media, and especialy the armed forces (I've been there). If you disagree and need a voice contact me here (Either in the comments or via my Email) and I will post it here for you. The Blogosphere will not be silenced just because the government wants an easy ride to a labour victory.

 

H/T to Subrosa

ASH v Forest

This hideous woman, Deborah Arnott has the temerity to state that Forest is funded by Big tobacco. What she doesn't let the viewer know is that ASH is in the main, funded as a lobby group by the government, and by Big Pharma.

The figures for Ash's funds over at the Fake Charities site are as follows.

Its 2008/09 accounts show a total income of £742,562, of which:

• Department of Health: £142,000
• ---
• Total £142,000 (19.1% of all income)

The remainder of its income comes from ASH International (part-funded by Pfizer), and supporting charities, principally Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.

It received just £4,975 in voluntary donations from the public, plus a £10,000 legacy.

Surely if the public were so against smoking the private donations would be flooding in.

Amazingly Smokers and anti smokers were able to collect twice as much in the campaign to free the Publican Nick Hogan. IN 4 DAYS.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, you overpaid Harridan.