104 replies to this topic

[Bazz]

I used to work in the Cabinet Office in the early seventies and I was a member of the Labour Party (and the Tribune Group).

I never heard of any restrictions on membership of any party (including far left).We had to go through what was known as positive vetting and I was accepted despite my political affiliations.

[WearyRhino]

I used to work in the Cabinet Office in the early seventies and I was a member of the Labour Party (and the Tribune Group).

I never heard of any restrictions on membership of any party (including far left).We had to go through what was known as positive vetting and I was accepted despite my political affiliations.

Maybe it was just the MOD. The OHP slide I was shown, at a 'security' presentation as part of my induction, had a list of left and right wing political parties and groups who were proscribed - CPGB at the top of the left, NF top of the right. LPYS some way down the left hand side.

LPYS was a battleground between Militant and Socialist Organiser at the time, so maybe that had something to do with it.

I too was positively vetted and passed despite being a de facto member of LPYS.

[Northern Sol]

I'd be stunned if MI5 didn't have files of some kind on pretty much everyone.

It wouldn't be that hard to manage. The NHS can do it after all.

The NHS have a reason, almost everybody uses the NHS at some point and their "files" are just records of their dealings with the public. The vast majority of people (including lefties) will never come into contact with MI5.

[Wolford6]

When the DHSS built Quarry House in Leeds (the enormous building that looks like a power station sat next to the elevated bit of York Road), the top floor was for MI5/MI6.

[gingerjon]

their "files" are just records of their dealings with the public.

And I would imagine the vast majority of MI5 files are similarly superficial.

[fieldofclothofgold]

When the DHSS built Quarry House in Leeds (the enormous building that looks like a power station sat next to the elevated bit of York Road), the top floor was for MI5/MI6.

It was nicknamed the Kremlin too and It got that name from the staff too

[Shadow]

When the DHSS built Quarry House in Leeds (the enormous building that looks like a power station sat next to the elevated bit of York Road), the top floor was for MI5/MI6.

Of course it was

[Steve May]

Moreover, some years ago (depressingly 30) when I was employed by the Ministry of Defence I was informed that membership of the Labour Party Young Socialists was proscribed. The LPYS was the youth wing of The Labour Party for under 25s.

My parents met in the LPYS. I am, literally, a child of the Labour Party.

[Steve May]

Mere membership of the Labour party - hardly.

If you had been an MP then I could believe it.

I'm pretty sure that MI5 will have pretty fat records on all MPs. Especially Labour ones.

MI5 have a track record of actively trying to bring down or prevent Labour governments,

Hardly. MI5 aren't the Stasi, they don't have the resources to have a file on every Labour member.

It has been admitted in Parliament that at one point in the 70s MI5 had files on several million British citizens. I understand the current officially admitted figure is something like 420,000 people. You can, of course, multiply that a few times to get the true number.

[Steve May]

When the DHSS built Quarry House in Leeds (the enormous building that looks like a power station sat next to the elevated bit of York Road), the top floor was for MI5/MI6.

I don't know about that but there is an MI5 office in Leeds.

[Northern Sol]

I'm pretty sure that MI5 will have pretty fat records on all MPs. Especially Labour ones.

MI5 have a track record of actively trying to bring down or prevent Labour governments,


It has been admitted in Parliament that at one point in the 70s MI5 had files on several million British citizens. I understand the current officially admitted figure is something like 420,000 people. You can, of course, multiply that a few times to get the true number.

Source?

[WearyRhino]

It's OK, I have just looked at the MI5 website and they say they don't do any of this sort of stuff and I am now reassured.

[getdownmonkeyman]

If someone goes to Boston, they should contact me and then follow my instructions to the letter.

Come on then, spill the beans. Boston/Cape Cod is being narrowed down as my holiday destination this year.

[Methven Hornet]

On the issue of being blocked from entering the USA, I take a Marxist standpoint: I wouldn't want to visit a country that would have me as a visitor.

[gingerjon]

I take a Marxist standpoint

[l'angelo mysterioso]

goty back this morning

life will never be the same again: and in a good way too.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[gazza77]

goty back this morning

life will never be the same again: and in a good way too.

Sounds like a great trip.

[Wolford6]

My son went there with his girlfriend a few weeks ago and came back with her as his fiancee.

Is there anything you want to tell us?


Glad you enjoyed it.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

best meal: corned beef hash with eggs over easy and home fries in this diner which was just how I imagined they were

best beer: all of it. The beer in NY and Washington for that matter is fantastic

best night out: seeing Johnny Winter at BB King's

best visual experience: all of the art deco atchitectural masterpieces in manhattan inside and out. Went to the toppermost of the toppermost of the empire state and the rockefeller...unbelievable

most moving experience: ground zero and the vietnam memorial

best trip: washington to NYC by train. It was like being in a springsteen video.

in fact it was all a total blast-places, people the lot.

If there was a negative it was tipping. It got to the stage where I'd tip somebody if they passed me in the street.