This is not a very pretty picture of the new Justice Minister Ken Clarke is it? In fact, this picture is the worst I have ever seen of him. It makes him look like a ranting demonic bully.
It's a very good idea to study the pictures that newspapers choose to publish. Quite often, the choice of picture can tell you a whole lot more than the actual story. The Jersey Evening Post always choose their photos with great care - if they are, for instance , running a story about Ex Senator and whistleblower of child abuse Stuart Syvret, they are careful to choose the most unflattering one they can find, even if it is two years since it was taken.
Getting back to Ken Clarke. Why would the Daily Hall of Mirrors deliberatly publish the most horrible picture they could find of him, to accompany their story? And what a story it is. According to the Broken Mirror, Ken Clarke has lost control of the MOJ finances and had no idea what its staffing bill was.
"According to the Public Accounts Committee, the MoJ lacked a consistent approach to the supervision of its finances, and after two years still did not have a detailed understanding of staff costs."
Erm - hang on a sec. How long has Ken Clarke been in the job? Two years? I year? 6 months?
Who was the last person in charge of the MOJ? Lets think - oh yes, the last person in charge of the MOJ was married to the ex husband of Margaret Hodge! Well well well! Happy Families, eh Jack Straw? (not so happy for all the poor sods who have been smashed to smithereens in the Secret Family Torture Chamber Childstealing Forced Adoption Human Trafficking Kangaroo Courts!
"Labour MP Margaret Hodge, who chairs the committee, said improvement was needed in fine collection as the amount of unpaid court fines grew each year."
See my previous blog post, for more information about Hargaret Hodge's track record regarding justice for the most vulnerable victims of institutional child abuse.
Here is the Daily Through The Looking Glass article:
"Ken Clarke told to get a grip on Ministry of Justice's finances
by Jason Beattie, Daily Mirror 25/01/2011
KEN Clarke was ordered to get a grip on the financial chaos at the Ministry of Justice yesterday.
A report by the Public Accounts Committee said the ministry had lost control of its finances and had no idea what its staffing bill was.
It came as Justice Secretary Mr Clarke was forced on the defensive over the decision to slash funding at riot-hit Ford open prison.
According to the Public Accounts Committee, the MoJ lacked a consistent approach to the supervision of its finances, and after two years still did not have a detailed understanding of staff costs.
Labour MP Margaret Hodge, who chairs the committee, said improvement was needed in fine collection as the amount of unpaid court fines grew each year.
In 2009-10 the value of unpaid fines and penalties more than six months old was £1.5billion, of which 30% was deemed recoverable."
