This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/19/hugh-muir-diary-surveillance-griffin

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Diary: what the under-scrutiny undercover agent has for breakfast; shreddies Diary: what the under-scrutiny undercover agent has for breakfast; shreddies
(about 14 hours later)
• Many look ahead with apprehension to the 2015 election, for it's going to be a nasty one. And the worry may be particularly acute in the security services, especially in the event of a change of government. For the mix of spying and politics is an explosive one, and we learn that on the arrival of the Blair government in 1997, Special Branch operatives were obliged to undertake a fair amount of file disposal, a process that impinged on the normal working practices. A whole lot of shredding was going on, we are told. All quite hectic apparently. Who knows what they have on the current mob. In any event, one hopes they'll be better prepared.• Many look ahead with apprehension to the 2015 election, for it's going to be a nasty one. And the worry may be particularly acute in the security services, especially in the event of a change of government. For the mix of spying and politics is an explosive one, and we learn that on the arrival of the Blair government in 1997, Special Branch operatives were obliged to undertake a fair amount of file disposal, a process that impinged on the normal working practices. A whole lot of shredding was going on, we are told. All quite hectic apparently. Who knows what they have on the current mob. In any event, one hopes they'll be better prepared.
• But it must be said, there is little sign of that. The Met may at last be fessing up to its monitoring of those who tried to assist Doreen and Neville Lawrence in the aftermath of Stephen's death, but Scotland Yard appears to be taking to the wire its obligation to reply to the freedom of information request submitted by the widow of pioneering black MP Bernie Grant. She wants to know whether either of them were targeted by Special Branch in its undercover operations. One deadline has already been missed. The revised deadline expires on Monday. We're pretty sure from info received that there was a file – quite a fat one too – but did it survive the days of overtime shredding? That's our worry. Oh for a whistleblower with a memory stick.• But it must be said, there is little sign of that. The Met may at last be fessing up to its monitoring of those who tried to assist Doreen and Neville Lawrence in the aftermath of Stephen's death, but Scotland Yard appears to be taking to the wire its obligation to reply to the freedom of information request submitted by the widow of pioneering black MP Bernie Grant. She wants to know whether either of them were targeted by Special Branch in its undercover operations. One deadline has already been missed. The revised deadline expires on Monday. We're pretty sure from info received that there was a file – quite a fat one too – but did it survive the days of overtime shredding? That's our worry. Oh for a whistleblower with a memory stick.
• Yes, many reasons for people of different political persuasions to worry about the 2015 election. Will it mean the exit for the Tories, frustration for Labour, meltdown for the Liberal Democrats. Any, or all, are possible. Add to that the threats to public order. Acidic Labour soothsayer Dan Hodges outlined his position some time ago. "If Ukip break 6% at the next election I'll streak naked down Whitehall in a Nigel Farage mask while singing Land of Hope and Glory," he said. And now, reacting to predictions that the Lib Dems could fall to just 24 seats in 2015 compared with 57 in 2012, Stephen Tall – editor of Liberal Democrat Voice – threatens the same performance. "I'll run naked down Whitehall if that's the result," he says. Many feel both have been quick to make these promises. A little too quick perhaps. Think Brer Rabbit and that briar patch.• Yes, many reasons for people of different political persuasions to worry about the 2015 election. Will it mean the exit for the Tories, frustration for Labour, meltdown for the Liberal Democrats. Any, or all, are possible. Add to that the threats to public order. Acidic Labour soothsayer Dan Hodges outlined his position some time ago. "If Ukip break 6% at the next election I'll streak naked down Whitehall in a Nigel Farage mask while singing Land of Hope and Glory," he said. And now, reacting to predictions that the Lib Dems could fall to just 24 seats in 2015 compared with 57 in 2012, Stephen Tall – editor of Liberal Democrat Voice – threatens the same performance. "I'll run naked down Whitehall if that's the result," he says. Many feel both have been quick to make these promises. A little too quick perhaps. Think Brer Rabbit and that briar patch.
• We have previously questioned the way Nick Griffin, MEP for North West England, uses that special platform afforded to him by the public. When last we spoke of him in those terms it followed tweets he posted claiming that a group of young white sportsmen had been "battered" by 70 Muslims. On investigation by the police, it emerged that there was no 70-strong mob of Muslims; no battering and no further action was warranted. No apology from him either. This time, we address a pretty nasty event. A man walking down a bridal path in Oldham is attacked by two young men with a sprayed acidic substance. Both are Asian. Greater Manchester Police seeks to trace them. Why did they do it? Who knows. They didn't say anything to the victim, other than to ask him to light a cigarette. But Griffin, in an exclusive interview with the Mancunian Matters website – which stands unchallenged – appears to have the jump on the investigation. He apparently told the website, having contacted them for interview, that the "acid attack in Oldham was carried out to send a message to the British government not to intervene in the ongoing civil war in Syria". Explosive if true. Irresponsible if just a fabrication. And news to officers in Greater Manchester. They tell us there is nothing to suggest it was a targeted attack and that there is no known motive. If the Griff knows better, one hope's he'll share his info with the police. • We have previously questioned the way Nick Griffin, MEP for North West England, uses that special platform afforded to him by the public. When last we spoke of him in those terms it followed tweets he posted claiming that a group of young white sportsmen had been "battered" by 70 Muslims. On investigation by the police, it emerged that there was no 70-strong mob of Muslims; no battering and no further action was warranted. No apology from him either. This time, we address a pretty nasty event. A man walking down a bridle path in Oldham is attacked by two young men with a sprayed acidic substance. Both are Asian. Greater Manchester Police seeks to trace them. Why did they do it? Who knows. They didn't say anything to the victim, other than to ask him to light a cigarette. But Griffin, in an exclusive interview with the Mancunian Matters website – which stands unchallenged – appears to have the jump on the investigation. He apparently told the website, having contacted them for interview, that the "acid attack in Oldham was carried out to send a message to the British government not to intervene in the ongoing civil war in Syria". Explosive if true. Irresponsible if just a fabrication. And news to officers in Greater Manchester. They tell us there is nothing to suggest it was a targeted attack and that there is no known motive. If the Griff knows better, one hope's he'll share his info with the police.
• Finally, the madness spreads across the Channel, where we find a six-page special in Paris Match. "Harry & Cressida – the marriage that Kate doesn't want. The prince has chosen: Buck Palace applauds, the 'sister-in-law' disapproves." Even Republicans love the royal soap opera. Like Holby City without the suppositories; Dallas without the oil. • Finally, the madness spreads across the Channel, where we find a six-page special in Paris Match. "Harry & Cressida – the marriage that Kate doesn't want. The prince has chosen: Buck Palace applauds, the 'sister-in-law' disapproves." Even Republicans love the royal soap opera. Like Holby City without the suppositories; Dallas without the oil.
Twitter: @hugh_muirTwitter: @hugh_muir
• This article was amended on 20 September 2013. It originally referred to a bridle path as a bridal path. This has been corrected.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.