Spain is going to grant citizenship to 1.5 million grandchildren of civil war exiles. The news came as a surprise. Although I myself am an Argentine immigrant, am in favor of immigration, supported the PSOE in their amnesty and am sure that things would be going much worse for Spain had it not welcomed 4 million immigrants since the year 2000, I believe that this measure is a mistake by the government. There are two main reasons for this: one is the criterion for selection, as only one out of four grandparents needs to have been exiled; the other is the idea itself: welcoming many new Spaniards during a period in which things in general are going pretty poorly for Spain, and it is simply not capable of receiving many new immigrants without jobs and a nationality. Moreover this measure stands in great contrast with other government measures in which residents in Spain are given rewards to return to their country.

Potentially allowing 20% more immigrants to enter the country, chosen because of who their grandparents were, abandons the concept of meritocracy in practice until now, which says that an immigrant has to have a work contract. With respect to immigrants, Spain needs to have a selection criterion that has more to do with who they are today and not so much who one of their deceased grandparents was. There is no doubt in my mind that it was an enormous injustice that so many Spaniards had to emigrate more than 70 years ago. What is not very clear to me is how there is a stronger connection between that – in most cases – already deceased person that had to leave and his or her grandchild than there is, for example, between a current Argentinean resident of Spain and his own family, whom he cannot bring, even though he already lives in Spain and contributes to the country. I understand the concept of citizenship passing from parents to their children, especially because it is about the reunification of family, but passing it from a grandparent to all of his or her offspring is an idea that – although beautiful – ends up producing an enormous pool of possible candidates without job offers whom, at this time, Spain simply cannot take in.

What’s more, if the idea is to link immigration with family, then to me the case of the immigrant with a deceased grandparent who was exiled is much less convincing than the case of a husband or wife who wants to have citizenship and bring his or her living spouse or children now. It doesn’t make sense to think about an injustice that occurred 75 years ago and forget about a current one. In other countries, immigration is seen as a quota issue, and the best way to fill said quota is sought. While I do believe that a tremendous injustice was committed by Franco 3 generations ago I believe that a new one is being made today if nationality is not granted first to those foreigners now working in Spain who are not allowed to bring their loved ones.

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pa onclick=window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=300,height=281,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false href=http://bruxelles.blogs.liberation.fr/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/12/03/20081128_jai_01.jpgimg width=300 height=281 border=0 src=http://bruxelles.blogs.liberation.fr/coulisses/images/2008/12/03/20081128_jai_01.jpg title=20081128_jai_01 alt=20081128_jai_01 style=margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; float: left; //a L’Europe se transforme-t-elle en forteresse, se fermant chaque jour davantage aux réfugiés ? Les chiffres sont préoccupants : le nombre de demandeurs d’asile est passé en Europe de 424.000 en 2001 à 197.000 en 2006. En 2007, il s’établit à 222.000 à la suite d’un afflux d’Irakiens. Les demandes acceptées, elles, ne dépassent pas 40 %... Jacques Barrot, le commissaire chargé de la justice et des affaires intérieures, estime que em« l’Europe doit rester une terre d’asile »/em. Pour ce faire, a href=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1875amp;format=HTMLamp;aged=0amp;language=FRamp;guiLanguage=enil présente, aujourd’hui, un premier paquet de propositions visant à améliorer le traitement des demandes d’asile/a. Il sera suivi, en 2009, de deux autres trains législatifs. Voici l'entretien quea href=http://immigration.blogs.liberation.fr/coroller/ Catherine Coroller,/a la journaliste de Libération chargée de l'immigration et de l'asile, et moi-même avons eu avec Jacques Barrot (à gauche, avec Rachida Dati, photo Thierry Monasse)./ppstrongAlors que l’Union européenne est un espace sans frontière de libre circulation, il y a toujours 27 systèmes nationaux d’asile./strong /p pIl est indispensable de créer un système européen d’asile puisque nous avons supprimé les frontières intérieures. La politique d’asile va être un test de solidarité pour les Européens : il est inadmissible que la Slovaquie ou la Grèce soient plus restrictives en matière d’asile que l’Autriche ou la Suède, car cela détourne les flux vers les pays les plus généreux. Chacun doit accepter d’accueillir sa part de demandeurs d’asile et d’instruire correctement et individuellement les demandes. Je ne peux imaginer qu’un système le plus ouvert possible, car on ne peut pas accepter que l’Union ne soit pas à l’avant-garde de toutes les grandes régions pour accueillir les personnes persécutées. /p pstrongCertes, mais le règlement européen de Dublin II sur le pays responsable du traitement d’une demande d’asile fait supporter tout le fardeau aux États de « premier accueil » : en clair, les pays frontaliers du sud de l’Union qui sont aussi les plus pauvres.../strong/p pCe règlement a été adopté pour éviter des demandes d’asile multiple à l’intérieur de l’Union. Or,a onclick=window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=330,height=450,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false href=http://bruxelles.blogs.liberation.fr/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/12/03/refugies.jpgimg width=198 height=270 border=0 src=http://bruxelles.blogs.liberation.fr/coulisses/images/2008/12/03/refugies.jpg title=Refugies alt=Refugies style=margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right; //a aujourd’hui nous sommes confrontés à sa trop grande rigidité puisque Dublin ne permet pas une répartition de la charge des demandeurs d’asile : c’est injuste vis-à-vis des pays de premier accueil et des demandeurs d’asile qui vont voir leur cas examiné dans un pays qui se montre restrictif, parce que submergé. Il faut donc admettre qu’un demandeur d’asile ne soit pas systématiquement renvoyé dans le premier pays d’accueil au nom de Dublin. Je propose donc de modifier le règlement de Dublin II afin la demande puisse être examinée dans le pays dans lequel le demandeur se trouve à condition qu’il puisse faire état de liens familiaux, de connaissances ou d’une forte présence de sa communauté. Nous allons aussi instaurer un mécanisme de suspension de Dublin décidée à la majorité qualifiée des États sur proposition de la Commission qui sera déclenché si un pays connaît un fort afflux de demandes. Ainsi, on ne pourra plus lui renvoyer les demandeurs qui sont entrés dans l’Union par son territoire, à condition qu’il s’engage à examiner tout le stock des demandes. /p pstrongL’hétérogénéité des statuts accordés aux demandeurs d’asile est aussi très grande entre les Vingt-sept./strong/p pNous voulons aboutir à une harmonisation, en particulier en ce qui concerne la question de l’accès au marché du travail. En France, par exemple, ils n’y ont pas accès. Nous allons donc proposer que tous les demandeurs d’asile puissent en principe travailler, les États pouvant cependant interdire l’accès au marché du travail durant six mois. Ce dispositif fonctionnera comme une incitation à raccourcir les procédures qui sont parfois très longues. La Commission souhaite aussi que les États ne se contentent plus seulement d’assurer le gite et le couvert des demandeurs d’asile, mais leur verse un pécule pour qu’ils puissent être indépendants tant qu’ils n’ont pas accès au marché du travail. Enfin, nous voulons renforcer les garanties procédurales en cas de détention, détentions qui sont interdites pour les mineurs : elle doit être exclu sauf impératif d’ordre public majeur et il faudra instaurer des procédures d’appel. /p pstronga onclick=window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=400,height=266,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false href=http://bruxelles.blogs.liberation.fr/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/12/03/famille_refugies_inondations_400__2.gifimg width=280 height=186 border=0 src=http://bruxelles.blogs.liberation.fr/coulisses/images/2008/12/03/famille_refugies_inondations_400__2.gif title=Famille_refugies_inondations_400__2 alt=Famille_refugies_inondations_400__2 style=margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; float: left; //a Comment rapprocher les jurisprudences nationales en matière de reconnaissance du statut de réfugié ?/strong/p pLa première étape sera la création, au début de l’année prochaine, d’un « bureau européen d’appui » en matière d’asile. Il fournira aux États une assistance opérationnelle, comme l’information sur les pays d’origine, afin de rapprocher les appréciations faites par les différents ministères des Affaires étrangères. Je veux que les ONG soient associées à cette évaluation. Il organisera aussi des formations communes afin de rapprocher les pratiques et les comportements et, en cas de besoin, il renforcera les administrations qui font face à un afflux. /p pEnsuite, au printemps 2009, nous allons revoir les textes sur les procédures et les conditions pour se voir reconnaître le statut de réfugié. Nous allons augmenter le nombre de garanties procédurales obligatoires et éliminer la prolifération de pratiques disparates. La Commission va aussi s’attaquer aux protections subsidiaires temporaires, qui sont généralement accordées en cas de persécutions de masse. Le problème est qu’elles n’ont pas la qualité du statut de réfugié tel que défini par la convention de Genève, statut que certains pays veulent réserver à ceux qui sont victimes de persécutions personnelles. À défaut de les supprimer, il faut au moins les harmoniser en prévoyant notamment un niveau minimum de droits. /p pstrongIra-t-on jusqu’à des critères européens de reconnaissance du statut de réfugié voire à la création d’une Cour européenne d’asile chargée d’harmoniser les différentes jurisprudences ?/strong/p pLes critères communs émergeront progressivement grâce à l’harmonisation des procédures. Mais on n’en est pas encore à envisager la création d’une Cour européenne : la demande d’asile reste encore fondamentalement un acte de souveraineté. Mais c’est une voie d’avenir. Mon but est que L’Europe reste une terre d’asile./p

divimg alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.15.1/98596?ns=guardianpageName=Politics%3A+Damian+Green+row%3A+I+did+not+authorise+police+search%2C+says+Speakerch=Politicsc3=guardian.co.ukc4=Michael+Martin%2CDamian+Green%2CConservatives%2CPolice+%28politics%29%2CHouse+of+Commons%2CPolitics%2CUK+newsc5=Policy+Society%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CUnclassifed+Contributorsc6=Deborah+Summersc7=2008_12_03c8=1128134c9=articlec10=GUc11=Politicsc12=Michael+Martinc13=c14=h2=GU%2FPolitics%2FMichael+Martin" width="1" height="1" //divpThe Commons Speaker, Michael Martin, today insisted he did not authorise a police search of Damian Green's Commons office, nor was he told that they did not have a warrant./ppMartin made today's statement to explain why the Metropolitan police were allowed to search the shadow immigration minister's parliamentary office following a string of high-profile leaks/pp"I was not told that the police did not have a warrant," Martin told MPs. I regret that a consent form was then signed by the serjeant at arms without consulting the clerk."/ppHe added: "I was not asked whether consent should be given."/ppMartin said the events surrounding Green's arrest were of "grave concern" to all MPs and announced that he would set up a committee of seven senior MPs, nominated by him, to investigate the case and make recommendations./ppThe police raid on Green's offices last Thursday prompted outrage among MPs on all sides, who considered it a breach of parliamentary privilege./ppHowever, Martin reminded MPs that chapter seven of Erskine May – an authoritative text on the working of parliament – states that parliamentary privilege has never "prevented the operation of the criminal law"./ppThe Speaker said police contacted the serjeant at arms, Jill Pay, to request access to search Green's office./pp"I have been told that police did not explain, as they are required to do, that the serjeant was not obliged to consent or that a warrant could have been insisted upon."/ppMartin said he "regretted" that the serjeant then signed a consent form without consulting the clerk of the house./ppThe Speaker said he wanted to make "very clear" that he was not asked the question of whether consent should be given or whether a warrant should be insisted upon./ppIn points of order that followed the statement, Green thanked MPs for their support but said he wanted to make it clear that MPs were not above the law./ppHowever, he added "releasing information that is merely embarrassing to the government is not against the law"./ppMichael Howard, former Tory party leader, said Green's arrest and the search of his offices had been "a deplorable affair"./ppDavid Winnick, Labour MP for Walsall North, said Martin's statement showed the raid was "totally without justification" and he demanded the officers involved to be called to the bar of the house to explain their conduct./pp"We need an explanation and we need it promptly," he said./ppJacqui Smith, the home secretary, is expected to make a statement to the Commons tomorrow regarding Green's arrest./pdiv style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"ullia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/michaelmartin"Michael Martin/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/damian-green"Damian Green/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/conservatives"Conservatives/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/police"Police/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/houseofcommons"House of Commons/a/li/ul/diva href="http://www.guardian.co.uk"guardian.co.uk/a copy; Guardian News Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html"Terms Conditions/a | a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds/1,,1309488,00.html"More Feeds/a pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/j-uqI4GnGGdQQmh0yDpkkLCj6BQ/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/j-uqI4GnGGdQQmh0yDpkkLCj6BQ/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/p

divimg alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.15.1/74903?ns=guardianpageName=Politics%3A+Welfare+and+crime+at+heart+of+Queen%27s+speechch=Politicsc3=guardian.co.ukc4=Queen%27s+speech%2CPolitics%2CUK+news%2CWelfare+%28Politics%29%2CCriminal+justice+%28politics%29%2CPublic+services+policy+%28Society%29%2CSocial+exclusion+%28Society%29%2CPrisons+and+probation+%28Society%29%2CSocietyc5=Society+Weekly%2CPolicy+Society%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CBusiness+Markets%2CCommunities+Society%2CSocial+Care+Societyc6=Deborah+Summersc7=2008_12_03c8=1128040c9=articlec10=GUc11=Politicsc12=Queen%27s+speechc13=c14=h2=GU%2FPolitics%2FQueen%27s+speech" width="1" height="1" //divpGordon Brown put tough new measures on welfare and crime at the heart of today's Queen's speech as he attempted to broaden his political agenda beyond the current economic crisis./ppIn a concise statement Her Majesty outlined 14 government bills designed to show the government was "committed to helping families and businesses through difficult times"./ppThe speech paved the way for a crackdown on benefit cheats with claimants compelled to take lie detector tests. Those found guilty of fiddling the system will lose benefits for a month, in a "one strike and you're out" initiative./ppThe government is also proposing to give the public clearer information, mainly via the internet, on how criminals are sentenced in local courts. Communities are to be given a bigger role in deciding what form of community punishment local criminals should be forced to undertake./ppThe proposals mark a break by the prime minister from his focus on the economic crisis for the past five months and suggest he believes he needs to widen his government's programme if he is to claw back lost votes./ppThe government's legislative plan was scaled back from the 18 bills listed in May's draft Queen's speech to make way for new measures to deal with the financial downturn./pp"My government's overriding priority is to ensure the stability of the British economy during the global economic downturn," the Queen said./ppNew legislation is being drawn up to protect people's savings and reduce the likelihood of banks getting into difficulties./ppIn other proposals new legislation will be draw up to improve policing, reduce crime and disorder./ppLap dancing clubs will be reclassified as sex establishments, allowing councils greater scope to close them./ppAirport security will be enhanced and border controls strengthened by bringing together customs and immigration powers. Newcomers to the UK will have to earn the right to stay. /ppThe government also intends to introduce an equality bill to promote fairness, fight discrimination and introduce transparency in the workplace to address the pay gap between men and women./ppThe introduction of a lie detector test for benefit claimants is the most striking shift to a more populist programme, similar to Tony Blair's so-called "respect agenda"./ppSo far, 25 local councils administering housing benefit to 500,000 claimants are using "voice risk analysis technology" to test whether a claimant is providing false information./ppThe government introduced the technology in Harrow, north-west London, last year, but says it plans to make the technology available nationwide. In the first three months of using the technology Harrow saved £300,000, suggesting that levels of benefit fraud may be higher than government estimates. Ministers are cracking down on benefit fraud even though it is officially at its lowest recorded level, down 66% since 2001./ppThe government currently withdraws 13 weeks of benefit from anyone found making a fraudulent claim twice in five years, but said yesterday it intends to tighten this process by withdrawing four weeks' benefit for first-time fraudsters./ppThe benefit withdrawal will be taken against both those that suffer an administrative penalty as well as those found guilty in a criminal court. Currently the Department for Work and Pensions seeks court penalties only where the alleged fraud is worth more than £2,000./pdiv style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"ullia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/queens-speech"Queen's speech/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/welfare"Welfare/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/justice"Criminal justice/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/policy"Public services policy/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/socialexclusion"Social exclusion/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/prisonsandprobation"Prisons and probation/a/li/ul/diva href="http://www.guardian.co.uk"guardian.co.uk/a copy; Guardian News Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html"Terms Conditions/a | a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds/1,,1309488,00.html"More Feeds/a pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/KvTbVxn5XsnuFUby8_s2BUetO0U/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/KvTbVxn5XsnuFUby8_s2BUetO0U/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/p

Le 17 novembre, le Ministère français de l'immigration a annoncé qu'il renonçait à sa participation à un charter franco-britannique vers l'Afghanistan - Europe / immigration, répression, guerres

divimg alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.15.1/91776?ns=guardianpageName=UK+news%3A+Radical+preacher+sent+back+to+prison+as+judges+rule+on+secret+evidencech=UK+newsc3=The+Guardianc4=Terrorism+-+UK%2CAl-Qaida+%28News%29%2COsama+bin+Laden+%28News%29%2CUK+news%2CJordan+%28News%29%2CWorld+news%2CTerrorism+-+internationalc5=Not+commercially+usefulc6=Alan+Travisc7=2008_12_03c8=1127691c9=articlec10=GUc11=UK+newsc12=UK+security+and+terrorismc13=c14=h2=GU%2FUK+news%2FUK+security+and+terrorism" width="1" height="1" //divpRadical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada yesterday had his bail revoked and was returned to indefinite detention in a maximum security prison pending the outcome of a legal battle over his deportation to Jordan./ppThe Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac), in effect Britain's national security court, ruled that evidence from the security services, heard in secret, had convinced them there was now an increased risk of Qatada absconding./ppQatada, described by a Spanish judge as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, was released on bail in June to live with his family in west London under a 22-hour curfew after the court of appeal ruled it was unsafe to return him to Jordan./ppThe preacher has spent three and half years in maximum security jails since he was first declared a risk to national security in January 2001 on the grounds that he encouraged other extremists to commit acts of terrorism by providing religious sanction for them./ppThe immigration judges said their decision to revoke his bail was based on the evidence they had heard in secret: "The secretary of state relies on information contained in the closed case to justify the revocation of bail." This remains confidential and is only spelled out in a separate "closed" unpublished judgment./ppThe "open" version published yesterday said none of the reasons put forward by the Home Office in the public sessions of the commission's two-day hearing would justify the revocation of his bail. These included the seizure at his home of memory cards, MP3 players, computer discs and videotapes./ppThey also rejected security service arguments that the publication of a message from a senior al-Qaida figure on a website in July, appealing to religious scholars to return to the "battlefield", and the pending government appeal to the House of Lords against the decision not to deport him also increased the risk of him absconding. /ppThe judges said it has been a long-standing assessment of the security services that Qatada, also known as Mohammad Othman, is a senior religious extremist with links to al-Qaida and these factors in themselves did not justify revoking bail./ppBefore the Siac hearing it had been reported that Qatada was trying to flee the country but Mr Justice Mitting, sitting with two other judges, said the cleric's declared interest in renouncing Jordanian citizenship and attempting to go to the country of his birth, Palestine, did not amount to a breach of bail. They said they did not regard as significant the fact he had not formally notified the Home Office of attempts on his behalf to find a third country, other than Jordan, willing to take him. /pp"If the appellant identifies a state or territory willing to receive him, and seeks to put into effect his declared wish to go there, he will be fulfilling the obligation imposed on him by the deportation order to depart the United Kingdom ... We do not, however, see any realistic prospect that either of these two possibilities will be open to him in the near or medium term," they added./ppDuring the hearing Qatada's barrister, Edward Fitzgerald QC, said his lawyer, Gareth Peirce, and writer Victoria Brittain had been involved in the initial attempts to find a country willing to take him./ppThe home secretary, Jacqui Smith, said she was pleased Qatada's bail had been revoked: "He poses a significant threat to our national security and I am pleased that he will be detained pending his deportation, which I'm working hard to secure." /ppQatada was in Belmarsh prison in east London last night but is expected to be moved to Long Lartin maximum security/pdiv style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"ullia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/uksecurity"UK security and terrorism/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/alqaida"Al-Qaida/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/osamabinladen"Osama bin Laden/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/jordan"Jordan/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/terrorism"Global terrorism/a/li/ul/diva href="http://www.guardian.co.uk"guardian.co.uk/a copy; Guardian News Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html"Terms Conditions/a | a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds/1,,1309488,00.html"More Feeds/a pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/8J8zR-8C8Vn-entVEdobV6vGfVs/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/8J8zR-8C8Vn-entVEdobV6vGfVs/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/p

DATELINE TOONTOWN. President-elect Bam Bam has announced a slate of Cabinet appointments, declaring that "this new generation of leadership" will mix a few popular characters from the past along with "many less familiar faces who are getting their first opportunity in a leading role." At a press conference, the President-elect explained that the new appointees were put through a rigorous examination of their public and private lives, and that all were found to have "rock-solid reputations." He praised his new team, calling them "a bedrock for change." The most anticipated announcement of the day was the confirmation of Wilma Rockham Flintstone as his selection for the next Secretary of State. Here's the complete rundown of all the appointments announced over the past week: Secretary of State - Wilma Rockham Flintstone This appointment shows how close the ties between family and party are in Toontown. Bam Bam used to party with the Flintstone's daughter, Pebbles, and his father, Barney Rubble, worked with Wilma's husband, Fred, in the excavation business. Most analysts are wondering what the appointment means for Fred Flintstone. Fred, who first uttered the words "hit the ground running", is still very popular around the world; and he likes the attention. But he has a big mouth. Bam Bam said today that "Wilma Flintstone is an American of tremendous stature" and that he has "complete confidence in her character and judgement." He cited her experience in dealing with domestic affairs, which has prepared her for "her new role in protecting the nation's interests abroad." Treasury Secretary - Richie Rich Rich, who has fallen on hard times lately, beat out Top Cat for the appointment. Reportedly, President-elect Bam Bam never felt comfortable around such a street-smart character. He thought that Rich's recent misfortunes, which have moved him back to the middle-class, might stir sympathy for the plight of the average American. Also, Rich really does need the job. Dept of Homeland Security -- Yosemite Sam With his hot-temper and first-hand knowledge of the southwestern border states, Yosemite Sam promises to bring "straight-talk" to immigration policy in America. He is not expected to duck from any aspect of this tough issue in the media or in Congress. However, many analysts think that because Sam's likely to come out with all his guns a-blazing, he is also a likely candidate for an early exit from the Bam-Bam administration. Attorney General -- Huckleberry Hound With considerable experience as a small-town Sheriff, this homely, homespun character with a Southern drawl is expected to restore the department's reputation as an honest defender of justice. President-elect Bam Bam said that he appreciated Huckleberry Hound's true-blue nature but added: "he is as sly as a dog." Supposedly, Ricochet Rabbit was also under consideration. Secretary of Education -- Mister Peabody The bespectacled inventor of the Wayback Machine, Peabody originated the phrase "no child left behind" during his time-travelling expeditions with young Sherman. Peabody has agreed to re-invent American education for the 21st Century. Many think he is capable of doing this single-handedly, if he's allowed to do so by teachers, parents and bureaucrats. Secretary of Defense -- Baba Looey Longtime deputy secretary to Quick Draw McGraw (aka El Kabong), Looey has been demonstrating his considerable brain-power behind the scenes in Toontown for decades. Now Looey is the first Mexican-born burro to hold a senior-level cabinet post. Unfortunately, the generals are already complaining about having to answer to another person with a funny name. Secretary of Labor -- Hardy Har Har Worked for years under Lippy the Lion and LBJ, Har Har is known to be rather down-in-the-mouth and pessimistic. This made him a good choice for a Labor Department, which must figure out how to put Americans back to work -- no laughing matter, indeed. Secretary of Energy -- vacant. There has been little speculation on the names under consideration for running the Energy Department, although the Drudge Report is saying that Bart Simpson's name has come up more than once. Secretary of Commerce -- Magilla Gorilla Citing years of experience in Mister Peebles' Pet Store, Magilla Gorilla is familiar with the struggles of small-town shopowners, a vanishing breed in an era where people are busily stampeding through Wal-Marts. President-elect Bam Bam is encouraging his new Secretary of Commerce to throw his weight around. Secretary of Veterans Affairs -- General Flap One of the pitifully few African-Americans living in Toontown, Lt. Flap distinguished himself in the war working with Beetle Bailey, starting in 1961, and now he finally receives this overdue promotion to a top job. In a town that worries more about equal representation of cats and dogs, this is progress. Secretary of Transportation -- Motormouse or Penelope Pitstop. One of the few appointments left undecided, the next Secretary of Transportation will either be the quiet but very quick Motormouse or the wealthy heiress, Ms. Pitstop, who has escaped many a predicament in her melodramatic career. Neither is expected to play a major role in the next administration. Secretary of Health and Human Services -- Olive Oyl Known for her good heart but lacking much on-the-job experience, Olive must tackle day-to-day management of a large department that could suffer brutal cutbacks. She is said to be focusing on childhood obesity and she's considering the possibility of banning wimpy burgers. It will also be important that she distance herself from her husband, known for the rap song "I Yam What I Yam" and violent rages induced by his vegetarian diet. Secretary of the Environment -- Chilly Willy or Wally Gator. This one is still a toss-up. The choice is between directing attention to the thawing Artic or the storm-tossed Louisiana swamp. Bam Bam is probably leaning towards Chilly Willy because of growing concern over global warming, along with a secret preference for Klondike bars. Secretary of Agriculture -- Porky Pig This ageless character comes out of retirement for one last spin on the world's stage. He comes from farm country so it will be interesting to see if he can be strong enough to roll back huge f-f-farm s-s-subs-s-s-idies. National Security Advisor -- Johnny Quest After a promising start to his career, Quest has finally achieved the senior-level position that many thought would come much earlier. He not only knows each region's hot spots but he's lived in each of them and found ways to survive on his own. Whether that qualifies him for the politically charged environment of Toontown remains to be seen. Many believe there is a role in national security for veteran Clutch Cargo but lips are sealed on this one. There is also talk that Yakky Doodle will be the next press secretary. Finally, Uncle Scrooge is said to be close to accepting a role as President-elect Bam-Bam's top economic adviser. The sage skinflint, Scrooge is dusting off his own post-war recovery plan, titled "Voodoo Hoodoo", and he's updating it to cope with today's credit crisis. Stay tuned for more news as it happens from Toontown. Thanks to Toonopedia.com for providing background information on all these characters....br style="clear: both;"/ a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=fdb5eafc9fb7c8e064a92acde30b78b4p=1"img alt="" style="border: 0;" border="0" src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?s=fdb5eafc9fb7c8e064a92acde30b78b4p=1"//a img src="http://www.pheedo.com/feeds/tracker.php?i=fdb5eafc9fb7c8e064a92acde30b78b4" style="display: none;" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

divimg alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.15.1/57980?ns=guardianpageName=Politics%3A+Gordon+Brown+to+crack+down+on+benefit+cheats+in+Queen%27s+speechch=Politicsc3=guardian.co.ukc4=Queen%27s+speech%2CPolitics%2CUK+news%2CWelfare+%28Politics%29%2CSociety%2CSocial+exclusion+%28Society%29c5=Society+Weekly%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CSocial+Care+Societyc6=Patrick+Wintourc7=2008_12_02c8=1127455c9=articlec10=GUc11=Politicsc12=Queen%27s+speechc13=c14=h2=GU%2FPolitics%2FQueen%27s+speech" width="1" height="1" //divpGordon Brown has returned to New Labour's so-called "respect agenda" with proposals that all benefit cheats will lose access to benefits for a month, and also find themselves subject to lie detector tests. /ppThe "one strike and your out" proposals forms part of a tough commentary on the Queen's speech released today by the Cabinet Office./ppFresh proposals are also to be launched to give the public clearer information on how criminals were sentenced in local courts, while communities are to be given a bigger role in deciding what form of community punishment local criminals should be forced to undertake. /ppThe government also highlighted a pilot covering 25 local councils administering housing benefit to 500,000 claimants, saying "voice risk analysis technology" will be used to test whether a claimant is providing false information. The government first introduced the technology in Harrow in north London last year, but now says it plans to make the technology available nationwide. In the first three months Harrow council saved £300,000, suggesting levels of benefit fraud may be higher than government estimates. /ppMinisters are taking the action even though benefit fraud is now officially at the lowest level ever recorded, down 66% since 2001. /ppThe government currently withdraws benefit for at least 13 weeks to anyone found making a fraudulent benefit claim twice in five years, but said it intends to harden this process by punishing first-time benefit fraud with four weeks' withdrawal. The action will be taken against those that suffer an administrative penalty and those found guilty in court. /ppThe Department of Work and Pensions applies civil penalties where the fraud is worth less than £2,000./ppMinisters also announced plans to make claimants for employment support allowance (ESA), the new incapacity benefit, commit themselves to complete an action plan designed to make them "work ready" in return for benefit. /ppa href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/dec/02/welfare-trade-unions"Lone parents with children aged between one and seven are also to be required for the first time/a as a condition of benefit to make themselves work ready by attending regular interviews with employment staff, drawing up an action plan and making themselves available to take skills, health or drug courses. /pp The proposals in a new government report were put forward by Professor Paul Gregg, who said today he did not expect the proposals to come into force until the recession had ended. About 300,000 ESA claimants will be deemed to be too mentally or physical unfit to prepare for work. Gregg also proposed that a clearer sanctions regime is introduced since at present different sanctions apply according to the benefit claimed. /ppIn other proposals the Cabinet Office paper suggests the power of public servants to use force may be strengthened. It argues that "the public looks to healthcare professionals, neighbourhood wardens and teachers to deal with unacceptable behaviour in public places. If they are not able to fulfil that role because they are not sure the law is on their side, or because they do not see it as part of their job. that sends the wrong message about what we as a society are prepared to tolerate."/ppIt also suggests most family intervention projects will reach 20,000 families with the most severe difficulties./ppThe paper also proposes an alcohol code limiting "all you can drink" promotions, and setting conditions on premises in particular local trouble hotspots. Lap dancing clubs will be reclassified as sex establishments so local councils have greater scope to close them. Ministers are also to look at preventing the clustering of betting shops. /ppThe paper draws heavily on the work of Louise Casey, the former "respect tsar", now working in the Home Office, Liam Byrne, the former immigration minister now co-ordinating much government policy from the Cabinet Office, and Hazel Blears, the communities secretary and a strong advocate of community empowerment. /ppThe paper tries to put the emphasis on fair rules in the context of the credit crunch. It says: "As everyone enters difficult economic times, with families working harder, household budgets coming under pressure, and more demand being placed on public resources, fair rules will become more important. /pp"If people perceive that not everyone is treated equally, that some get preferential treatment, that people who break the rules get away with it, respect for rules is undermined."/pdiv style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"ullia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/queensspeech"Queen's speech/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/welfare"Welfare/a/lilia href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/socialexclusion"Social exclusion/a/li/ul/diva href="http://www.guardian.co.uk"guardian.co.uk/a copy; Guardian News Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html"Terms Conditions/a | a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds/1,,1309488,00.html"More Feeds/a pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/teiQ5qmkgdRPB1rEz6tU2ZcaO0Y/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/teiQ5qmkgdRPB1rEz6tU2ZcaO0Y/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/p

Sir Paul Stephenson's decision to review the police handling of the Damian Green investigation puts the Commons Speaker, Michael Martin, in an even more awkward position as he prepares his statement defending the action of the Commons authorities in allowing the raid on the immigration spokesman's office.

Radical preacher Abu Qatada is returned to jail after an immigration panel rules he breached the terms of his bail.

Les images des télés nous rappellent la dure réalité des pays d'émigration que sont la R.D. Congo et la Thaïlande - Global / immigration, guerres