East London News replies to yet another witch-hunting article attacking Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman and his supporters, noting: “The point of the Telegraph article is not only to have a go at Tower Hamlets but also to have a go at Ken Livingstone in the run up to the election of London Mayor on 3rd May.”

Now, who do you suppose wrote that witch-hunting article? Yes, right first time, it was Andrew Gilligan. That’s the same Andrew Gilligan who was forced to resign from the BBC after the exposure of his inaccurate reporting and was saved by Boris Johnson who gave him a job at the Spectator. Gilligan evidently feels this is a debt that still needs repaying.

An attempt by a Bradford MP to make it law for all halal and kosher meat to be clearly labelled, allowing shoppers to have freedom of choice, has been thrown out.

Shipley MP Philip Davies said people had a right to know what they were eating and a change in the law would benefit everyone. He said: “My Bill would benefit those people who want to make sure their meat is kosher or halal before purchasing it, just as much as those who want to make sure it isn’t kosher or halal.”

But Manchester Gorton MP Gerald Kaufman opposed the Bill, forcing MPs to vote, on grounds Mr Davies was singling out two minorities. He said he would not have opposed the Bill if it had a wider scope, including labels on any chicken being sold that had been kept in “dreadful conditions”.

MPs voted by 73 against Mr Davies’ Bill and 70 in favour.

Continue reading →