Jimmy Savile and the Death of Innocence UPDATED

Update -- 9 November 2012 Since this was originally posted Lord McAlpine has issued a strongly worded statement that reports linking him to the North Wales child abuse allegations are "wholly false and seriously defamatory", and independent reports have emerged that he is a victim of mistaken identity. This blog never named Lord McAlpine, but referred only  to reports about an unnamed "senior Conservative politician". However, I have decided to delete all references to the case to avoid any … [Read more...]

The King of Thailand is wrong

Oh damn! Now I've done it. I can never go to Thailand again. I've just committed a serious crime under Thai law. Just for saying "the King of Thailand is wrong", I could go to prison for 15 years. Thankfully, I'm not in Thailand. Because this is not some anachronistic old law nobody cares about any more. Hundreds of people are jailed under the lese majeste law every year. And King Bhumibol Adulyadej is wrong, to allow his people to go to prison under this archaic, disgraceful law. They … [Read more...]