Allegations of cover up of historic child abuse involving politicians

I know Ana [what you mean] but it's easy to get carried away on here sometimes and forget where we are.

no thanks Jingl my living dangerously life is behind me.

We don't have to be that careful, roses! We're only discussing what's already out there in the media for goodness sake.

Well said Elegran!

rosesarered live dangerously. Go on.

I say 'allegations' and we will have to wait and see , because yes, the stage we are at with this, it is very early.Hopefully the truth will come out in time.We also have to be careful what we say on a public forum.

Re stashing money away, no that wouldn't be ignored. We would want it back. Different altogether.

Murder under the Commons - the stink would have invaded the chamber by now. We would know about it. No possible cover up there.

Last paragraph in Elegran's post - would it be given quite so much coverage? I doubt it.

And who the fuck said these crimes against children should be be dismissed as "mere foibles"?

I agree about feeling profoundly depressed but I do feel the newspapers arerubbing their hands with glee. They wouldn't print it if they felt people would turn away so it must be selling papers. So who is buying the papers. Several pages on Rolf Harris in my Times. I am delighted the rule of law has been upheld but they don't print pages about many other court cases. One of my pet hates is a bank of books in Asda all with the theme of child abusequite close to the children's section. I stand by what I said.

If evidence appeared that a respected statesman had been cooking the nation's books and stashing away millions in the Bahamas, would we forget it as a mere foible, not worth sullying his name over?

If a murder had been committed in the cellars below Westminster decades ago and evidence came to light now that could convict someone, would we let it pass because it was long ago and it would just be muck-raking?

If others in Government had "lost" the files that cast suspicion on the murderes and fraudsters, probably because they were also involved, would we accept it without an enquiry into who, what, how when, where and why?

I think that's quite an insulting comment Stansgran a try reading my pp for my perspective on why it matters

I think that's a bit extreme, Stansgran.

Not really voyeurism - I for one don't want to know all the details, I just want to know it is all being properly dealt with.

I feel we are being made into a nation of voyeurs.

Nellie crossed posts.

It is right and proper that these old allegations should be properly investigated and any attempts at a cover up thoroughly looked at. If people think they can get away with these crimes because time has passed, what message does that send to potential perpetrators now - you'll probably get away with it, you can "lose" files and no-one will notice, and if you let enough time pass you'll be OK - so, fine, let's just go ahead!

I hope that all the details come to light and are properly dealt with - it is not muck rating or a witch hunt - it is the proper process of the law which protects us all, whatever our position in society.

I won't post the obvious reply!

"Whenim* I have just heard the reporting of Lord Mr Tebbit's statement on the News.

He really did not mince his words there did he. It was quite a statement to make and he did suggest that a cover up might have occurred.

I wonder if that was a straight comment by him or if was he primed to deliver that comment by the government in his role as an "Elder Statesman". We must watch this space.

MiceElf - x posts, great minds etc etc

It's not about rubbing hands in glee, enjoying it all -it's actually not even just about the abuse - it's also about the issues of the rule of law, the inbalance of power in society, the possible corruption of due process by those with great power and the resultant increase in cynicism and distrust in our institutions and the impact that has on democracy. None of that makes me rub my hands with glee and neither do I enjoy it - I actually feel profoundly depressed by it all.

I find it strange that the due processes of the law which require allegations of criminal activity to be investigated by the police, are described as 'muck raking'. I haven't seen anyone 'positively rubbing their hands in glee' just a deep sadness for victims and a desire for the truth to be revealed.

It's almost as though people can't wait to muck rake. Positively rubbing their hands in glee. (Not GN rs of course)

As we did with Stuart Hall, Rolph Harris and others

At the moment it's 'allegations'. We have to wait and see.

I understand why many people believe the past should be left, and focus of police and other agencies on current sexual abuse. I don't agree, because there is so much to learn from what went wrong. If Simon Danczuk had taken this approach to Cyril Smith, the majority of the population would have assumed the allegations against CS were just that. As with JS, we now know that they were serial abusers.

It is horrible to have these trials and investigations dominating the news as they are right now. On a more positive note, I hope it'll help society understand that the sexual abuse of children is much more frequent than any of us would wish it to be.

Anniebach, working in the north west meant the rumours about nw were persistent. My last involvement with it was just before I retired, when I listed to a father describe the abuse he experienced at one of the nw homes, as he wept. Truly awful to listen to, but he really needed to talk and it was the least I could do. He, like other parents I worked with, had been approached by the recent investigation, but felt unable to help the police with their enquiries because he couldn't face formal interviews, or the ridicule he/she would have faced in court.

Enjoy. I'm sure you will.