Theresa May and the Police Federation

She's quite right. But - my goodness it's taken decades for the Tories or anyone else to address this issue. What is happening here is what happened to the TUs in the 80s, closed shop banned etc, but the police have been been exempt from any scrutiny since. And as for the Police Federation receiving public money in shedloads, that was and is disgraceful. A recipe for bullying and shady dealing.

Supremely ironic after all these decades of the Tories insisting the police could do no wrong. Just goes to show - things can change in unexpected ways.
Police have really shot themselves in the foot over the Andrew Mitchell affair.

It's a long time since any politician, of any persuasion, impressed me. She's a brave woman. Well done TM for socking it to them.

Yes Jess they have. And I remember the derogatory comments about about Andrew Mitchell here on GN at the time, as people jumped on the bandwagon.

Well said Theresa, there's a very unhealthy culture in the police today.

I suspect there is more than the public will ever get to know about the Mitchell case.
I was on a school governing body with heTM in the 80s. She was always non partisan then. I think she is a strong woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. I am sorry she is not fighting in my corner!

I thought Theresa May was brilliant and boy did she tell it straight.

As one of the delegates said "It was like being told off by the head mistress"

I laughed watching yesterdays Daily Politics. They had a conservative and a policeman talking about it. The policeman was blubbing on about how horrible she had been to the poor lambs at the conference, quite nasty she was to us guv. The Conservative said, not like you then, yesterday you tweeted Theresa May is a 'FUCK WIT'. Shut him up.

My husband was a bobby and there was very little respect for the federation from the rank and file. I am glad they are going to have their accounts looked at. I am glad it is recognised they have become so political and I hope it gets back to a union that looks after the rank and file and becomes a respected union.

Yes 'Plebgate' epitomised the Union of today and it was obvious what had happened but it took a man having to defend himself to get to the truth. The police force and officers involved in the corruption deserve what they are getting because they totally lost the plot.

Aka. I agree, people did jump on the bandwagon over 'Plebgate' because they wanted to bring down a Tory, the politics of hate and the guilty by media trial crap.

From the horses wife . well said, the collusion and lies that have been rearranged by the police are legendary since Hillsborough.

I hae me doubts about all the statistics punted by our present government, but have had no bad experiences to tell

I feel sadness that I have to agree with everything that Teresa May said to the Police federation. Sad because my father was a policeman, as was my brother and numerous uncles and cousins. My dad would be turning in his grave at what went on with the so called Plebgate business ( hate that expression). The Federation misquoted, mangled and lied about the whole business and ironically Mitchell probably was arrogant and rude and dismissive, but is now the injured party . The Federation have long been bullies and need to be knocked into the 21st century. By golly, Teresa May is a strong woman, and showed that she had more balls strength than all the previous male Home Secretaries

When groups of workers..whoever they are.. are pushed into a corner by bosses or governments (whichever they are) it creates the climate for fear to develop and when you are afraid you behave differently. Have a positive working partnership with those who manage you and you do not create a need for unions or protective bodies who then go on the defensive.

Two sides to every confrontation. We want a strong police force and I am not sure public humiliation, even if based on absolute fact of wrong doing, is the best way to do it.

It is good for TM and the government in accumulating gold stars. Don't forget she is in it for herself too!

You are assuming she's in it for herself, as you put it, pen. It's equally possible that she actually cares and means what she says and became a politician in order to do something she believes in. One doesn't always have to be cynical.

Besides which, she has not publicly humiliated the police force, only the federation. I bet the chaps and chappesses on the ground are pleased with her speech.

No, I've never voted Tory.

thatbags she is a political career woman so she is going to think of the impact of what she does!

I did say 'too' . I do think she is a strong politician and is driven by her deep held beliefs. She may well be a very pleasant person. I did not know her well enough but she was polite and fair when I knew her.

I agree that the regulatory boards need to be accountable and that there have been too many poor decisions/actions by the police Federation but I think the high level fightback by the government over the Mitchell case is a sign of an untold story!

I just think it is naive to think she did not also engineer a bit of personal kudos for herself in the 'internal politics' of the Tory party.

Penstemmon

The Police Federation has evolved over a good many years into the political , self serving bunch they are today. This is not a political point scoring exercise, it is stating the facts.

There are simply times when the politics of a subject can 'cloud' reasoned thought. Theresa May spoke the truth and nothing more.

It is far easier for a politician to agree with, give money to, promise the earth to a union like the Police Federation. She took the hard road of saying it as it is and that is something many ministers who held her post before should have done, irrespective of the colour of their party.

They went too far this time and opened themselves up to scrutiny and it was a long time overdue.

I think it must be harder to be firm and forthright with the PF than with some other organisations and I suspect TM thought long and hard before saying what she did.

Am I the only one who is worried that our police are so inept they can't even stitch up one MP without getting found out?

I have a friend who lives in AM's constituency and has had dealing with him and thinks he is very good.

OK, pen, I accept all your comments. Next question: so what if she uses her good sense and strength of character to further her career? I would too. Who wouldn't? There's nothing wrong with trying to further one's career success by taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves.

And I for one am jolly glad she thinks of the implications of what she says. So many politicians don't but just jump of whatever band wagon (or the current party line) is fashionable. She stuck her neck out. Good for her.

She stuck her neck out about the extradition of Abu Hamza to the US for a proper trial on terrorism charges too. Again I say, well done her.

Wish we had a 'like' button but in its absence agree with you bags

I agree thatbags that she is a very effective politician and has held her ground and fought for what she believes in. Can't knock it! Of course she will have a game plan for her future career , that's OK too. She would be a refreshing change from grey suits..sadly (for me) she does not share enough of my political views!!!

I don't think she shares many of my political views either, but if she's going to talk sense and take effective action about things that matter....

Well, time will tell.

I'm really pleased that Plebgate happened - as TM made clear that was only the latest in a long line of disgraceful behaviour by serving police officers but it was only when it happened to AM - one of their own - that the government eventually took it seriously. Thatcher bought off the police because of the miners and over time, they began to believe they were invincible. How can we ever forgive Hillsborough and a whole litany of deaths in custody, Ian Tomlinson etc and further back the Guildford4 and Birmingham 6. Well done TM / if only the rest of you cabinet colleagues had half your guts. I can't think of another minister who could have made that speech and sounded so scarey!!

Nonnie LOL

So, the newly elected Chairman of the Federation was voted in by the toss of a coin as they couldn't agree! Says it all really ......

aka let us not forget that Mitchell never denied swearing at the police, only denied the pleb word not the f word.