putting the eggs in Klaus's basket didn't work out so good - go tell the judge - ooh nevermind!

1. grassroots backlash over EU

David Cameron was facing a backlash today over plans to scrap holding a referendum on the controversial Lisbon Treaty if the Tories win power.

The Tory leader is expected to set out his plans tomorrow after the Czech Constitutional Court finally cleared the treaty, removing the last legal obstacle to ratification.

The country's hardline Euro-sceptic President Vaclav Klaus has yet to sign - but Mr Cameron appeared resigned to the fact that it now was little more than a formality.

'I'm very disappointed about that,' he told London's LBC Radio.

...

Two years ago, Mr Cameron offered a 'cast iron guarantee' that the party would put the treaty - the successor to the abandoned European constitution - to a vote in a referendum.

But he has repeatedly refused to say what he would do if - as now seems almost certain to be the case - the treaty has been fully ratified by the time a Tory government takes office, saying only that he would 'not let matters rest'.

read more @ daily mail


2. more of the same... how did this happen?????

excerpt:

The Conservative leader made his move following a decision from the Czech constitutional court that is likely to lead to the treaty being implemented throughout the European Union within days.

Saying that he was "very disappointed" by the Czech court decision, Cameron implied that, if the treaty does come into force, the Tories will drop their proposal to put it to a referendum.

...

The Eurosceptic MP Richard Shepherd also urged Cameron not to abandon his plans for a referendum. "It's a matter of principle, honour and trust," Shepherd told the London Evening Standard.

"The political class seem indifferent to allowing the people to express their own view on something as profound as the development of Europe."

read more @ guardian


3. oh those judges! sometimes they can be corrupt you know.

The immigration judge who had a 'chilli hot' affair with his illegally-employed Brazilian cleaner has died just a day after he retired.

Mohammed Ilyas Khan, 64, was forced to stand down after a blackmail case revealed he was involved in a love triangle with Roselane Driza, 40, and a woman judge.

The lurid trial, which included allegations of sex videos and drug-taking, led to calls for him to be sacked for bringing the judiciary into disrepute.

The judge, from North London, retired on Saturday and died a day later, it emerged today.

read more @ daily mail