The bizarre and sinister letter sent by Tory MP and whip Chris Heaton-Harris to universities, demanding that they disclose the names of professors teaching Brexit as part of European studies courses – and access to course materials and recorded lectures – has caused outrage.
The letter was widely condemned by academics and public alike – and Heaton-Harris was disowned by Theresa May:
But the prize for the best put-down goes to Dr Ben Witham, Lecturer in International Relations at Leicester’s De Montfort University:
The SKWAWKBOX contacted Heaton-Harris for comment, but he failed to respond and also ‘no commented’ the BBC and others, so he may be regretting his ‘McCarthy Era’ brainwave – or just busy ‘looking for some ice for that burn’.
The Tories’ sense of loss of control, as the narrative escapes them and the ‘Corbyn surge’ continues, seems to be resulting in an increasing totalitarianism. But social media, wit and pithy comment proved an effective take-down today.
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Reblogged this on sdbast.
No one seems to have asked why he was using government resources for what, he now claims, was personal interest. How much did this ‘personal interest ‘ cost the tax payer?
THIS TORY MP IS DOING WHAT HE THINKS IS CORRECT!
THE PROBLEM HE HAS, HIS AGE, THAT BEING, NOT INTELLIGENT ENOUGH BECAUSE OF IT, HENCE HIM NOT BEING ABLE TO EQUATE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG!
THE RIGHT THING HAPPENED, HE WAS DISMISSED FORTHWITH AND TOLD TO CRAWL BACK UNDER HIS STONE!
LESSON LEARNED.
WELL, THAT’S WHAT I THINK!
Like all dying empires, the toerags are becoming more & more desperately authoritarian, day by day.
Carry on like this and things’ll get ugly pretty soon…
According to the Guardian Jo Johnson, “universities minister,” has defended Heaton-Harris saying he was “simply doing research for a book.”
If true he used House of Commons stationery to persuade university vice-chancellors to expend considerable resources to help him with a personal project.
Hardly possible to over-trivialise Angela’s Stupid Shoes compared to this.
What if his motive really was to exert pressure on educators – that would be worthy of suspension at least, no?
I bet he thinks when you press “delete” your incriminating emails are gone forever and that everyone he confides in loves him 😉
Holding my breath in anticipation
Hmmm….A johnson, books, private business on parliamentary time/equipment, eh? Now – Where have I seen that before??
Oh, that’s right…
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/nov/30/boris-johnson-promotes-churchill-factor-book-official-visit-serbia
Yet once again – a toerag came away smelling of roses. I’d breathe if I were you, David. Nothing’ll happen – again. :/
“simply doing research for a book.” Funny that he never mentioned that. I look forward to it coming out. I’ll order a copy from my local branch of The Works!
Very good. However, the whole thing reminds me more of the House Committee on Un-American Activities rather than McCarthy whose notoriety came a few years later.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Un-American_Activities_Committee