In America there has been a specific law for over 2 centuries which forbids anyone but the government negotiating with foreign powers. It is a crime with a possible sentence of up to 5 years for individuals to break the so called Logan’s Law (Logan was a minor American politician who seems to have messed up talks with France).
It may be time to introduce such a law in the UK, because it appears that one N. Farage, not even a MP at the moment and the head of the 6th largest party in Parliament, has been in talks with El Salvador.
Having heard “good things” about the appallingly brutal and cruel prison system in El Salvador, Nigel has decided that it would be just the place to send any and all foreign criminals in British jails.
This is, of course, a policy that could not possibly work, sending British prisoners abroad to be tortured in inhumane conditions is a disgusting idea, no judge would allow it, it breaks every human right act we have passed, it is abhorrent.
It is also obvious that “talks with El Salvador” is a euphemism for a mad idea that is going nowhere. I would guess that El Salvador’s government has more to do than talk to an unelected citizen of a very minor political party in the UK, who may lose a by-election to a bin. It would not bother holding “talks” with the Lib Dems or the Tories let alone “Nigel from Clacton on line 3, minister”.
But then it is not a serious proposal only a PR stunt in the middle of a by-election, designed to appeal to the kind of people who salivate over the idea of drowning babies in the channel, invading France and burning down hotels.
Which is why the Logan Act sounds so encouraging to me. It stops publicity stunts, it preserves the dignity and reputation of the state, it stops foreign governments manipulating and interfering in UK politics, it prevents the undermining of our foreign policy by our own citizens and it prevents petty politicians claiming to be a power on the world stage.
Remember this kind of PR stunt is not a joke, it is actually dangerous and damaging. Priti Patel was fired by Theresa May for having unofficial talks with the Israeli government and she was International Development Secretary at the time.
Government’s take these things seriously even if Reform doesn’t and that means there is now a danger of other countries not taking the UK seriously, if they think they have a back door to a rival power centre.
So maybe it is time for a British Logan Act?
It is the flag waving, patriotic thing for Global Britain to do.
From Jonty Bloom Media Ltd
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
Jonty - the idea of the law is a good one but it is clearly not enforced in the US.
You have unelected Trump sycophants doing “deals” with Russia, Iran, Israel et al without any congressional oversight. If that can be fixed fine, otherwise it is a pipe dream.
In the world Trump is dragging us into Laws must include enforcement that cannot be ignored.
Wouldn’t the first to the scaffold under such legislation be the Lady Patel, for her autonomous talks with Israel ?