LOCKERBIE WHISTLEBLOWERS COMPENSATION WITHHELD In December 2006, whistleblowing former diplomat Patrick Haseldine petitioned Prime Minister Tony Blair, claiming his ECHR Article 10 right to freedom of expression was breached twice by the FCO in 1988. In the petition, Haseldine sought an amount of compensation on a par with the out-of-court settlement made in February 2006 to former Scottish police detective, Shirley McKie (£750,000): We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to compensate and substantially increase the FCO pension of British diplomat, Patrick Haseldine, who was sacked for writing a letter to The Guardian 18 years ago. The full background and justification for this petition are set out in Patrick Haseldines Wikipedia article. We believe that Patrick Haseldine was wrongfully dismissed from HM Diplomatic Service on 2 August 1989, having written a letter that was published in The Guardian newspaper on 7 December 1988. His sacking, and prior suspension for six months for appearing on BBC TVs Question Time on 25 February 1988, clearly constitute interferences with his Article 10 right to freedom of expression. Accordingly, Haseldine should be paid not only ex gratia compensation (on a par with the out-of-court settlement made in February 2006 to former Scottish police detective, Shirley McKie - see her eponymous Wikipedia article) but also a significantly enhanced FCO pension. 100 signatures (minimum) were required for the petition to be eligible for consideration by the Prime Minister Tony Blair. There were 126 signatures by the 22 February 2007 closing date, including: Human rights lawyer Sir Geoffrey Bindman Iain McKie, father of Shirley McKie Peter Preston, former editor of The Guardian Scottish Education Secretary Michael Russell MSP UK Families Flight 103 spokesman Dr Jim Swire Environmentalist Oliver Tickell, editor of The Ecologist Labour MP David Winnick In March 2007, the rules were changed retrospectively (and inexplicably) requiring a minimum of 200 signatures on a petition to the Prime Minister. As a result, no compensation has ever been paid to Patrick Haseldine nor has his meagre FCO pension ever been increased. Friends and benefactors are invited to donate funds to P J Haseldine, Co-op Bank, Sort Code 08-91-04, A/C No 01080113 (International Bank Account Number GB42 CPBK 0891 0401 0801 13, Bank Identification Code CPBK GB22). (https://wikispooks/wiki/Patrick_Haseldine#Freedom_of_expression).
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:05:21 +0000
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