Plot to kidnap Tony Blair's 5 year old son.

[noxlumos]

A "Father's Right's" group allegedly planned to kidnap Leo Blair, 5 year old child of Tony.Whilst apparently they were "only" planning to hold him for a short while, does anyone see how this ludicrously stupid and dangerous idea could have possibly helped their cause?

[WaldoMcFroog]

I honestly thought your question must be a joke until I looked on the BBC, as yes, such an idea is clearly utterly bonkers!

To be fair, given that what is reported is 'Police sources have told the BBC they knew of *suggestions* of a plot (i.e not actually a plot at all) to kidnap Tony Blair's son five-year-old son Leo' (my emphasis) and that no arrests have been made and that the source of the allegations was that bastion of high standards of journalism, The Sun, perhaps we might be tempted to imagine this is a case of some p*ssed bloke in a pub saying something utterly ridiculous before a journo on the lookout for a sensationalist story who then prints it as fact..?

Are we, in fact, talking another 'Posh Spice Kidnap Threat' style piece of journalism?

[WaldoMcFroog]

To clarify my point about 'p*ssed bloke in pub' - I mean an *undercover* journalist. ;-)

[Oneeyedvic]

Got to agree with Waldo - another non story that helps sell The Sun.

[Grunty]

A spokesman has now accepted that the plot existed, but denies that it was anything to do with the mainstream part of the organisation. He says that the publicity could bring about the end of fathers 4 justice.

With some of the stunts that they have done, I have often wondered how they expect to be given the responsibility of being involved with childrens' upbringing.

[stevie_c2it]

�O.K guys anyone got any good ideas for a campaign stunt to give us some publicity?�
�Yeah, I�ve got a good one, how about we kidnap the Prime Ministers son�.?�
�Ha Ha, like it. Whose round is it next?�

As Johnny Rotten once said, �Ever had the feeling you�ve been had?�
I do, all the time.

Shock, horror, someone suggests doing something daft, and its headline news.
The USA actually bombing its ally killing 18 people gets a media shrug.
Is it me?

[WaldoMcFroog]

"A spokesman has now accepted that the plot existed"

Well, not quite - he accepts that the police were investigating some former members of the group, which is not the same thing at all.

The BBC correspondent is reporting the police say, "The plan only got as far as what they called the chattering stage. No real reconnaissance was carried out, no actual kidnap attempt was made, no-one has been arrested, and the police are not convinced those at the centre of the alleged plan had the capability to carry it out."

Sounds more and more like people talking rubbish over a few pints to me, in front of a ringer from the Sun. Obviously, if a genuine plot to kidnap the PMs son, it would be a serious issue, but this thing just doesn't have any dangly bits, from how I read it.

[surfer mike]

Agreed, but even them discussing it as a option shows how barmy some of these guys have become.

[Drusilla]

This sounds like a fabricated story by a journalist with a hangover.
The actions of some 'father's rights groups' does leave them open to such sensational stories however and hopefully the more extreme and publicity seeking element will begin to demonstrate a little more restraint and show more responsibility in the future.
When I see Dad's dressed as super heroes, I'm not inclined to believe them caring and loving people, more pathetic and a bit clingy, or does that viewpoint merely reflect my idea of manly/fatherly behaviour?
My ex husband is a gem by the way.

[Drisgirl]

Hope you all have seen the news.This was not a fabricated non story - this was real.

If it was indeed the 'Fathers for Justice' latest stunt (extremist faction as is being suggested) then they have lost all my sympathy.That little boy could have been scarred for life at 5 yr old.

Cant believe that some wouldnt believe the lengths people have gone to to highlight their 'cause'.

Just to re- iterate it has been confirmed that this story was indeed true.

Sun Reader xxx

[netibiza]

Yes what an utterly sick and ridiculous plot. I also have lost all respect and sympathy for this group. To my mind they don't deserve children if that's how little they think of them.

[stevie_c2it]

It was real cos 'The Sun' said so. Nrrr Nrrr Nrr.

I rest my case, clearly some people are not able to realise they've been 'had' even when others take the time to point it out!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4622880.stm

I re-itterate, this is a 'dumb' non-news story, only belived by gulliable sheep.

Some real news please...

[ianess]

stevie_ c2it.......you are not alone.

[stevie_c2it]

Cheers Ianess, lets hope we find some more! (P.S. How do I make text bold?)
And now over to our BREAKING NEWS story, heard last night in the pub while watching football.

3 Men plotting a variety of criminal acts.

1st Man � �If that referee ever steps out in front of my car, I�ll run him down and make it look like an accident�
2nd Man � �I�ll need to rob a bank if I�m going to pay off my xmas credit card bill�
3rd Man � �I�ll swing for my Mother-in-Law if I have to spend another xmas with her�

Please can some one give me the telephone numbers for �Crime stoppers� and �The Sun� (I know there on the internet, but I�m too lazy to bother checking for myself) so I can report these would-be murderers and bank robbers?

I should think this is far more serious than just a kidnapping don�t you? What do you think, the first four pages of �The Sun� on how I single-handedly foiled these desperate, dangerous criminals?

Can�t wait for the reward money!

BEWARE � all three men were drinking a well known brand of �expensive� lager. I have lost all respect for this brand, as clearly it either attracts or makes criminals of those who drink it. I hope other ABers will join with me in campaigning to have it banned, and will boycott those pubs, clubs and supermarkets that sell it.

Confused? Look up the thread covering non-sequiturs.

[brachiopod]

Nice one, steve-c2it,

Like the point about believing it "it's true 'cos The Scum says so" despite having it pointed out.

Drisgirl, there are enough new laws (to fight terrorism, of course) that means even thinking certain thoughts is an arrestable offence. Doesn't the fact that no-one has been arrested over this "imminent and real plot" suggest that it was little more than idle chatter?

If they were in the advertising industry it would be called brainstorming.

[Toni Blair]

And I thought I'd only hired babysitters!

[Hammond Egg]

Hmmm - now Fathers4Justice has disbanded itself - clearly this isn't a cod conspiracy designed to discredit the group, is it?

[Drisgirl]

Cant believe you stitched me up Stevie.

That was a private joke re the Sun.

Cheers - I am not gonna even justify the running joke we have.

Cheers for standing up for me!!!

[Drisgirl]

Briachiopod- if you have an opinion keep it to yourself and dont bring my personal opinion into it.

Its not compulsory to object in a personal way you know - you can actually make an opinion on your own.Amaziing what puberty brings,

[Drisgirl]

And this comes from the man who couldnt work ot the word last night on AB Sugg - mmmmmm-could it be that it is a distant memory:) Stevie.

I am not a sheep - I watch the news and the little jibe was just a joke.Why do you have to take the urine?

[brachiopod]

I though opinion was a major point of this site - especially in the News topic? And wouldn't that make AB a really interesting site if we all kept our opinions to ourselves?

Perhaps I'm wrong, Drisgirl, but is the question itself not an active encouragement to express one's opinion?

My comments were not meant to be personally insulting, and I'm sorry you took it that way, it was merely an encouragement to think around the issue and not just what the media machine wants you to believe.

As for your going through puberty, well, I honestly don't see what relevance that fact has to this discussion.