Spanish Premier Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero arrives in Washington amid speculation that a key US-EU summit planned for May could be postponed thanks to President Obama's decision to skip it. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero arrives in Washington on Wednesday for a 2-day visit to the US in the wake of the announcement that President Barack Obama would not participate in the annual EU/US summit. Spain, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, is scheduled to host the summit with US and EU leaders on May 24-25. The United States said on Tuesday that it was in touch with the Spanish government after it voiced disappointment over Obama's decision to skip the Madrid summit......Reports said Zapatero was not scheduled to meet Obama, but may have a chance to speak with him at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, where the Spanish prime minister is to give a Bible reading.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero arrives in Washington on Wednesday for a 2-day visit to the US in the wake of the announcement that President Barack Obama would not participate in the annual EU/US summit.
Spain, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, is scheduled to host the summit with US and EU leaders on May 24-25.
The United States said on Tuesday that it was in touch with the Spanish government after it voiced disappointment over Obama's decision to skip the Madrid summit.
.....
Reports said Zapatero was not scheduled to meet Obama, but may have a chance to speak with him at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, where the Spanish prime minister is to give a Bible reading.
bold mine
Row over EU summit venue highlights confusion at heart of institutionIn a humiliating blow to the European Union's new leadership, US President Barack Obama has backed out of an EU summit, drawing attention to a messy power struggle on the Continent. It was hoped that the May summit would help to bolster the inaugural EU President's standing - and by extension Europe's - on the world stage. But Mr Obama's cancellation, ostensibly due to an overloaded domestic agenda, has torpedoed that aim. And yesterday summit host Spain said it would most likely postpone the annual gathering following Washington's snub.
In a humiliating blow to the European Union's new leadership, US President Barack Obama has backed out of an EU summit, drawing attention to a messy power struggle on the Continent.
It was hoped that the May summit would help to bolster the inaugural EU President's standing - and by extension Europe's - on the world stage. But Mr Obama's cancellation, ostensibly due to an overloaded domestic agenda, has torpedoed that aim.
And yesterday summit host Spain said it would most likely postpone the annual gathering following Washington's snub.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The US State Department has said that President Barack Obama's decision not to come to an EU summit in Madrid in May is partly due to confusion arising from the Lisbon Treaty. State department spokesman Philip J. Crowley told press in Washington on Tuesday (2 February) that the treaty has made it unclear who the US leader should meet and when. "Up until recently, they [summits] would occur on six-month intervals, as I recall, with one meeting in Europe and one meeting here. And that was part of - the foundation of that was the rotating presidency within the EU. Now you have a new structure regarding not only the rotating EU presidency, you've got an EU Council president, you've got a European Commission president," he said. "We are working through this just as Europeans themselves are working through this: When you have a future EU-US summit meeting, who will host it and where will it be held?" he added. "All of this is kind of being reassessed in light of architectural changes in Europe."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The US State Department has said that President Barack Obama's decision not to come to an EU summit in Madrid in May is partly due to confusion arising from the Lisbon Treaty.
State department spokesman Philip J. Crowley told press in Washington on Tuesday (2 February) that the treaty has made it unclear who the US leader should meet and when.
"Up until recently, they [summits] would occur on six-month intervals, as I recall, with one meeting in Europe and one meeting here. And that was part of - the foundation of that was the rotating presidency within the EU. Now you have a new structure regarding not only the rotating EU presidency, you've got an EU Council president, you've got a European Commission president," he said.
"We are working through this just as Europeans themselves are working through this: When you have a future EU-US summit meeting, who will host it and where will it be held?" he added. "All of this is kind of being reassessed in light of architectural changes in Europe."
In turning down Europe's invite to the upcoming EU-US summit in May, Barack Obama has given Europe a chafing reminder of its own weaknesses. Under the Lisbon Treaty, which was supposed to give the world a single number to call in Europe, the numbers have proliferated, bemoans the press, which quite understands the White House's exasperation. "After being outfaced by China at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen, should Europe resign itself to insignificance in the eyes of the US?" wonders Le Figaro, after Barack Obama sent his excuses for the EU-US summit slated for this May. One thing's for sure, quips the Wall Street Journal: "Things haven't been good recently for Europe's position on the world stage." So no wonder the US is "tired of the wrangling between European leaders, judging from the haughty tone of the American statement about cancelling Obama's attendance at the upcoming EU-US summit," opines the Süddeutsche Zeitung, adding that Washington makes any new bilateral summit contingent on Europeans' sorting out their respective responsibilities.
In turning down Europe's invite to the upcoming EU-US summit in May, Barack Obama has given Europe a chafing reminder of its own weaknesses. Under the Lisbon Treaty, which was supposed to give the world a single number to call in Europe, the numbers have proliferated, bemoans the press, which quite understands the White House's exasperation.
"After being outfaced by China at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen, should Europe resign itself to insignificance in the eyes of the US?" wonders Le Figaro, after Barack Obama sent his excuses for the EU-US summit slated for this May. One thing's for sure, quips the Wall Street Journal: "Things haven't been good recently for Europe's position on the world stage." So no wonder the US is "tired of the wrangling between European leaders, judging from the haughty tone of the American statement about cancelling Obama's attendance at the upcoming EU-US summit," opines the Süddeutsche Zeitung, adding that Washington makes any new bilateral summit contingent on Europeans' sorting out their respective responsibilities.
So no wonder the US is "tired of the wrangling between European leaders...
We have a GDP the equivalent of the USA, we have a population that exceeds it ? The only way the USA has more clout than we do is through a 19th century infatuation with the capacity to blow up countries on the other side of the world. An infatuation that un-failed countries such as Switzerland are pretty wise to avoid.
Can we have some euroepan leaders who respect the EU more than the USA ? keep to the Fen Causeway
National Prayer Breakfast Draws Controversy - NYTimes.com
For more than 50 years, the National Prayer Breakfast has served as a prime networking event in Washington, bringing together the president, members of Congress, foreign diplomats and thousands of religious, business and military leaders for scrambled eggs and supplication.Usually, the annual event passes with little notice. But this year, an ethics group in Washington has asked President Obama and Congressional leaders to stay away from the breakfast, on Thursday. Religious and gay rights groups have organized competing prayer events in 17 cities, and protesters are picketing in Washington and Boston. The objections are focused on the sponsor of the breakfast, a secretive evangelical Christian network called The Fellowship, also known as The Family, and accusations that it has ties to legislation in Uganda that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals.
Usually, the annual event passes with little notice. But this year, an ethics group in Washington has asked President Obama and Congressional leaders to stay away from the breakfast, on Thursday. Religious and gay rights groups have organized competing prayer events in 17 cities, and protesters are picketing in Washington and Boston.
The objections are focused on the sponsor of the breakfast, a secretive evangelical Christian network called The Fellowship, also known as The Family, and accusations that it has ties to legislation in Uganda that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals.
I know Blair participated, no surprise there - but are there other European politicians that are involved in this kind of Christian or even fundamentalsit networking?
It's pretty pathetic. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
Melanie Sloan: Why is President Obama Attending the Family's National Prayer Breakfast?
The one time of year when the Family emerges from the shadows is the annual National Prayer Breakfast, its signature event. This large-scale function serves as a recruiting tool for the group, but is often misconstrued by attendees as an official government event -- a perception reinforced by a presidential address at the breakfast, presidential seals strategically located around the room, and an organizing committee made up of members of Congress. Given the official façade, some attendees have expected at least a nod to other religions, but they are quickly disappointed. "JESUS is there!" reads a breakfast planning document. At past breakfasts, the Family has facilitated meetings between its foreign allies and the president as well as members of Congress, outside the reach of the Department of State and traditional U.S. diplomatic protocol. Past prayer breakfast attendees have included General Eugenio Vides Casanova of El Salvador, later found liable for the torture of thousands of civilians, and General Alvarez Martinez of Honduras, later linked to secret death squads in that country. The Family has been linked to ethically troubled politicians including Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), and former Rep. "Chip" Pickering (R-Miss.). These politicians were all at one time affiliated with the Family- run C Street House, a boarding house on Capitol Hill, which also operates as a church. Residents of C Street honored the organization's penchant for secrecy by taking a pact not to discuss their living situation.
The one time of year when the Family emerges from the shadows is the annual National Prayer Breakfast, its signature event. This large-scale function serves as a recruiting tool for the group, but is often misconstrued by attendees as an official government event -- a perception reinforced by a presidential address at the breakfast, presidential seals strategically located around the room, and an organizing committee made up of members of Congress. Given the official façade, some attendees have expected at least a nod to other religions, but they are quickly disappointed. "JESUS is there!" reads a breakfast planning document.
At past breakfasts, the Family has facilitated meetings between its foreign allies and the president as well as members of Congress, outside the reach of the Department of State and traditional U.S. diplomatic protocol. Past prayer breakfast attendees have included General Eugenio Vides Casanova of El Salvador, later found liable for the torture of thousands of civilians, and General Alvarez Martinez of Honduras, later linked to secret death squads in that country.
The Family has been linked to ethically troubled politicians including Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), and former Rep. "Chip" Pickering (R-Miss.). These politicians were all at one time affiliated with the Family- run C Street House, a boarding house on Capitol Hill, which also operates as a church. Residents of C Street honored the organization's penchant for secrecy by taking a pact not to discuss their living situation.
Well, he's delivering a jab to the English-only movement in the US:
Gracias a los Senadores Klobuchar e Isakson, y permítanme que les hable en castellano, en la lengua en la que por primera vez se rezó al Dios del Evangelio en esta tierra.
My thanks to Senators Klobuchar and Isakson, and allow me to speak to you in Spanish, the language in which for the first time the God of the Gospels was prayed to from this land
His choses bible passage was
Permítanme que les lea un pasaje de la Biblia, del capítulo 24 del Deuteronomio: "No explotarás al jornalero pobre y necesitado, ya sea uno de tus compatriotas, o un extranjero que vive en alguna de las ciudades de tu país. Págale su jornal ese mismo día, antes que se ponga el sol, porque está necesitado, y su vida depende de su jornal".
14 Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. 15 Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.
Tebow was seated on the platform along with the following: The President of the United States, Barack Obama The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen The Prime Minister of Spain and Chairman of the European Union, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero Senator Orrin Hatch and the Key Note Speaker, Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State 3000+ were in attendance and the breakfast was Co-Chaired by Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia.
The President of the United States, Barack Obama The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen The Prime Minister of Spain and Chairman of the European Union, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero Senator Orrin Hatch and the Key Note Speaker, Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State
3000+ were in attendance and the breakfast was Co-Chaired by Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia.
After years of eroding support, Germany's Social Democrats are back in the opposition. But the party is having difficulty charting its course. Party leaders Sigmar Gabriel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier have competing visions for how the SPD should attempt to return to power. They are standing together, the party leader and the parliamentary floor leader, demonstratively close to each other. One of the two men has his hands folded in front of his stomach and the other, with his left hand in the pocket of his trousers, says: "Okay, Sigmar, why don't you begin." It's a Tuesday afternoon in late January, and Social Democratic Party (SPD) Chairman Sigmar Gabriel and SPD floor leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier are standing in a room on the fifth floor of a government building in Berlin, facing a handful of cameras and notebook-wielding reporters. The two SPD leaders are here to give their assessment of the government's Afghanistan strategy, which Chancellor Angela Merkel explained earlier in the day.
After years of eroding support, Germany's Social Democrats are back in the opposition. But the party is having difficulty charting its course. Party leaders Sigmar Gabriel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier have competing visions for how the SPD should attempt to return to power.
They are standing together, the party leader and the parliamentary floor leader, demonstratively close to each other. One of the two men has his hands folded in front of his stomach and the other, with his left hand in the pocket of his trousers, says: "Okay, Sigmar, why don't you begin."
It's a Tuesday afternoon in late January, and Social Democratic Party (SPD) Chairman Sigmar Gabriel and SPD floor leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier are standing in a room on the fifth floor of a government building in Berlin, facing a handful of cameras and notebook-wielding reporters. The two SPD leaders are here to give their assessment of the government's Afghanistan strategy, which Chancellor Angela Merkel explained earlier in the day.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The huge rise in illegal waste shipments in recent years, Europe's thousands of illegal landfills, particularly in Italy and France, and the poor quality of waste management infrastructure in many member states means that a dedicated European Union agency devoted to waste is required, the commission has concluded. The number of illegal shipments of waste to developing countries has increased dramatically in recent years As much as a fifth of waste shipments that have been inspected in the bloc are illegal, according to a new Brussels report. Calling the increase in waste shipments in the last two decades "dramatic," the document notes that exports of waste paper by the EU15 - the older members of the bloc ahead of the eastern enlargement in 2004 - from 1995 to 2005 increased increased more than five-fold and those of waste plastic, seven-fold. Hazardous waste, the report notes, is often shipped to developing countries with poor waste management facilities, while electrical waste is shipped as second-hand goods. "Illegal dumping of waste continues on a significant scale, many landfill sites are sub standard and in some member states, basic waste infrastructure is still missing. Illegal waste shipments are also a concern," reads the report.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The huge rise in illegal waste shipments in recent years, Europe's thousands of illegal landfills, particularly in Italy and France, and the poor quality of waste management infrastructure in many member states means that a dedicated European Union agency devoted to waste is required, the commission has concluded.
The number of illegal shipments of waste to developing countries has increased dramatically in recent years
As much as a fifth of waste shipments that have been inspected in the bloc are illegal, according to a new Brussels report. Calling the increase in waste shipments in the last two decades "dramatic," the document notes that exports of waste paper by the EU15 - the older members of the bloc ahead of the eastern enlargement in 2004 - from 1995 to 2005 increased increased more than five-fold and those of waste plastic, seven-fold. Hazardous waste, the report notes, is often shipped to developing countries with poor waste management facilities, while electrical waste is shipped as second-hand goods.
"Illegal dumping of waste continues on a significant scale, many landfill sites are sub standard and in some member states, basic waste infrastructure is still missing. Illegal waste shipments are also a concern," reads the report.
Herman Van Rompuy, the new president of the EU, has been accused of having 'delusions of grandeur' over his choice of a summit venue. Mr Van Rompuy has caused consternation in Brussels after he tried to hold his first EU summit, dedicated to greater "economic union", in a palace. After pressure from Europe's capitals, Mr Van Rompuy switched the Brussels summit to another prestigious, but less regal, building hundreds of yards away from the usual office block venue where EU leaders meet.
Mr Van Rompuy has caused consternation in Brussels after he tried to hold his first EU summit, dedicated to greater "economic union", in a palace.
After pressure from Europe's capitals, Mr Van Rompuy switched the Brussels summit to another prestigious, but less regal, building hundreds of yards away from the usual office block venue where EU leaders meet.
Harriet Harman has backed away from a confrontation with religious leaders over who they can employ, making clear that she will not force contentious amendments to the Equality Bill through Parliament. Ministers were astonished on Monday when the Pope said that the Bill violated "natural justice" and urged bishops to fight it. But that attack, along with the strength of opposition in the Lords and the limited time left to get Bills passed before the election, has sapped the Government's enthusiasm to continue the fight. Ms Harman, the Equalities Minister, has been engaged in a long dispute with churches and religious organisations over their exemption from anti-discrimination employment law, and how it affects "non-religious" posts. The dispute led to a government defeat on a key amendment to the Bill last week in the Lords, but it was expected that Ms Harman would reintroduce the measure, or one similar.
Harriet Harman has backed away from a confrontation with religious leaders over who they can employ, making clear that she will not force contentious amendments to the Equality Bill through Parliament.
Ministers were astonished on Monday when the Pope said that the Bill violated "natural justice" and urged bishops to fight it. But that attack, along with the strength of opposition in the Lords and the limited time left to get Bills passed before the election, has sapped the Government's enthusiasm to continue the fight.
Ms Harman, the Equalities Minister, has been engaged in a long dispute with churches and religious organisations over their exemption from anti-discrimination employment law, and how it affects "non-religious" posts.
The dispute led to a government defeat on a key amendment to the Bill last week in the Lords, but it was expected that Ms Harman would reintroduce the measure, or one similar.
cowardly scum kowtowing to superstitious bigotry. Does NuLab have any concern with equality at all ? Or is it equality for all unless the minority group affected isn't very powerful ?
JeeeZus H Fecking Kerriyst !!! Why bother ? Why not roll over and invite the Ugandans in ?
Gays ? ach they're expendable. women ? Stockholm syndrome means they don't vote in their own interests. Non-white ? I'm sure the Orange Free church has something to say about them. Better make it legal to be a racist piece of shit as well.
Bloody. NuLab. Cowardly. Scum. keep to the Fen Causeway
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Potential instability in Bosnia and violence in South Caucasus will pose the main threats to EU security in 2010, the US' intelligence chief has said, while depicting the EU's largest neighbour, Russia, as stuck in a Cold War-era mentality. The US' Director of National Intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, put forward his assessment in a testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in Washington on Tuesday (2 February.) The EU police mission in Bosnia: The US highlighted the Balkan country as being the least stable in Europe "Events in the Balkans will again pose the principal challenges to stability in Europe in 2010," he said, singling out separatist tendencies in ethnic Serb enclaves in Bosnia and Kosovo as the key problem. "I remain concerned about Bosnia's future stability. While neither widespread violence nor a formal break-up of the state appears imminent, ethnic agendas still dominate the political process."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Potential instability in Bosnia and violence in South Caucasus will pose the main threats to EU security in 2010, the US' intelligence chief has said, while depicting the EU's largest neighbour, Russia, as stuck in a Cold War-era mentality.
The US' Director of National Intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, put forward his assessment in a testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in Washington on Tuesday (2 February.)
The EU police mission in Bosnia: The US highlighted the Balkan country as being the least stable in Europe
"Events in the Balkans will again pose the principal challenges to stability in Europe in 2010," he said, singling out separatist tendencies in ethnic Serb enclaves in Bosnia and Kosovo as the key problem.
"I remain concerned about Bosnia's future stability. While neither widespread violence nor a formal break-up of the state appears imminent, ethnic agendas still dominate the political process."
This should be European problem and Europe should find a way to deal with it.In legal and democratic way. Every other way will pose a problem. Everything is simple for Americans : just do what we told you to do...They are doing everything from the position of force.There are other ways and Europe should find them.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Bulgaria's EU commissioner designate sailed through a tame parliamentary hearing on Wednesday (3 February), ensuring that the vote on the investiture of the entire European Commission will take place next week. Kristalina Georgieva, a World Bank vice-president, confidently answered questions over three hours on a range of issues to do with humanitarian aid and disaster relief, the portfolio she is to take up once the new commission is approved. Kristalina Georgieva gave an assured performance on Wednesday before MEPs Starting the hearing, which saw questions on how she would deal with the humanitarian situations in Haiti, the Sudan, Burma, the Congo, Afghanistan and Gaza amongst others, she pledged to "strive to be a strong voice for those in dire need."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Bulgaria's EU commissioner designate sailed through a tame parliamentary hearing on Wednesday (3 February), ensuring that the vote on the investiture of the entire European Commission will take place next week.
Kristalina Georgieva, a World Bank vice-president, confidently answered questions over three hours on a range of issues to do with humanitarian aid and disaster relief, the portfolio she is to take up once the new commission is approved.
Kristalina Georgieva gave an assured performance on Wednesday before MEPs
Starting the hearing, which saw questions on how she would deal with the humanitarian situations in Haiti, the Sudan, Burma, the Congo, Afghanistan and Gaza amongst others, she pledged to "strive to be a strong voice for those in dire need."
The veil issue has shown its face in French politics once again, after radical anti-capitalist fringe party the NPA revealed that one of its candidates (pictured) in forthcoming regional elections wears an Islamic headscarf.A candidate for a radical French anti-capitalist party in the forthcoming regional elections wears a headscarf as a token of her Islamic faith, something that has raised eyebrows in this rigidly secular society. All the more so because the NPA (New Anti-capitalist Party), led by Trotskyist postman Olivier Besancenot, is a party that generates headlines for its extreme left wing position on issues including militant secularism. Scarf-wearing Ilham Moussaid (pictured), a student and a party treasurer, is NPA candidate for the regional council of Vaucluse in southern France, Besancenot confirmed to French daily Le Figaro.
A candidate for a radical French anti-capitalist party in the forthcoming regional elections wears a headscarf as a token of her Islamic faith, something that has raised eyebrows in this rigidly secular society.
All the more so because the NPA (New Anti-capitalist Party), led by Trotskyist postman Olivier Besancenot, is a party that generates headlines for its extreme left wing position on issues including militant secularism.
Scarf-wearing Ilham Moussaid (pictured), a student and a party treasurer, is NPA candidate for the regional council of Vaucluse in southern France, Besancenot confirmed to French daily Le Figaro.
One of Denmark's major unions is warning the EU against draconian wage demands on Greece.Denmark's Union of Public Employees (FOA) is warning the European Union of the effect on future Danish EU referenda if the Union demands that Greece should cut its public employee wages. "It is totally unacceptable for the European Union to meddle in wage developments," says FOA Chairman Dennis Kristensen, under whose umbrella most of Denmark's public employees are organised.
Denmark's Union of Public Employees (FOA) is warning the European Union of the effect on future Danish EU referenda if the Union demands that Greece should cut its public employee wages.
"It is totally unacceptable for the European Union to meddle in wage developments," says FOA Chairman Dennis Kristensen, under whose umbrella most of Denmark's public employees are organised.
Tony Blair and his closest advisers have used their evidence to the Iraq inquiry to smear those criticising the decision to taken Britain to war, according to one of the former Prime Minister's most senior diplomats. In an interview with The Independent, Sir Christopher Meyer, the former ambassador in Washington, said he regarded it as a "badge of honour" that he had faced criticism during the inquiry from Mr Blair, his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, and his director of communications, Alastair Campbell. He added that turning on opposition was the "modus operandi" of the Blair administration.
Tony Blair and his closest advisers have used their evidence to the Iraq inquiry to smear those criticising the decision to taken Britain to war, according to one of the former Prime Minister's most senior diplomats.
In an interview with The Independent, Sir Christopher Meyer, the former ambassador in Washington, said he regarded it as a "badge of honour" that he had faced criticism during the inquiry from Mr Blair, his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, and his director of communications, Alastair Campbell. He added that turning on opposition was the "modus operandi" of the Blair administration.
Bush will face the Hague before the UK spits up blair. keep to the Fen Causeway
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling has been accused of misleading the public in his use of crime statistics.The Tories have said data shows a big rise in violent crime during Labour's time in government - but the way the figures were compiled changed in 2002. Now the chairman of the UK Statistics Authority has told Mr Grayling his statements are "likely to damage public trust in official statistics". Mr Grayling has denied "airbrushing" the statistics to suit his cause. He had to defend his position on Wednesday after Conservatives sent the figures to activists in constituencies throughout England and Wales in an effort to demonstrate the government's failure on law and order.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling has been accused of misleading the public in his use of crime statistics.
The Tories have said data shows a big rise in violent crime during Labour's time in government - but the way the figures were compiled changed in 2002.
Now the chairman of the UK Statistics Authority has told Mr Grayling his statements are "likely to damage public trust in official statistics".
Mr Grayling has denied "airbrushing" the statistics to suit his cause.
He had to defend his position on Wednesday after Conservatives sent the figures to activists in constituencies throughout England and Wales in an effort to demonstrate the government's failure on law and order.
