Press release archive for August 2011

In the week that teenagers received their GCSE results, Eric Schmidt has lambasted the UK education system, and I find much to agree with him on.

Students don't need more classes in how to use Microsoft Word or how to search on Google - they can figure that stuff out for themselves. What's important is that every student with an interest in technology should be encouraged to study the science, the mathematics, the engineering that lies behind it.

The UK has a proud past of scientists and technological pioneers - the first computer wasn't built in Silicon Valley, or somewhere in China, but here in Manchester. However, since the early eighties, our education system has failed to live up to our historic record of innovation.

The fact that computer science isn't available as a subject at every single school is simply outrageous. It wasn't an option at ...

Today the Home Secretary has issued a blanket ban on protest marches in response to a planned English Defence League demonstration on September 3rd, Theresa May stated that the restrictions would cover all marches, not just those by the EDL:

"I have given my consent to a ban on all marches in Tower Hamlets and four neighbouring boroughs for a 30-day period" [this ban] "will cover all protest marches by any group".

These undemocratic measures threaten the East London LGBT pride on 24th September as well as planned marches to defend library services and oppose coalition policy and cuts. The Home Secretary has effectively silenced legitimate protests against unpopular coalition policy. Only last December the then Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, said that outlawing anti Government demonstrations "was an option for the authorities". This move would seem to confirm this dangerous position.

The Pirate Party stands in opposition to ...

The country is recovering from the scenes of arson, looting and violence that have shocked us all over the last few days. Thankfully, we have had a night of relative calm. This has been without the use of bullets, the army, water cannon or any of the extreme measures that many have called for recently. We have also seen the best side of the Internet, with communities rapidly organising clean ups through social media.

After two nights of violence on the streets of London the scale of damage to ordinary people's lives and livelihoods is staggering. Our society is in danger of becoming fractured like never before and we need to step back from the brink. It's time for calm.

Today the Pirate Party UK would like to welcome Business Secretary Vince Cable's increased opposition to the web blocking measures (as proposed in the Digital Economy Act) and his positive stance toward reforming the law regarding private copying and exceptions for parody.

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