TFA Northants Branch

Summer Punch Party (as in the drink, not as practised by John Prescott)

You are invited to come and hear John Whittingdale OBE MP and enjoy drinks and live music in the attractive gardens and terrace bar at the Broomhill Hotel, in the Northamptonshire countryside on Friday 10 July 2009, from 7.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.  See map below for directions.

John - the Chairman of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee - is enormously knowledgeable about the media and much else besides. He will talk about freedom of speech and the press and will share some anecdotes about his time working with Margaret Thatcher in No.10 Downing Street.

A sparkling wine punch will be served, together with light refreshments. Two drinks will be included in the ticket price and then there will be a cash bar. Prize draw.

Tickets £15 each (£17.50 for non-Members) if paid for before 30 June. Special Rate for Students under 25 years old: £7.50.

After 30 June: £17 each, (£19.50 for non-Members). Students under 25 years old: £9.50.

Please send cheques, payable to "The Freedom Association", to Vicki Stevens, The Freedom Association, PO Box 3394, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7FN

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The Freedom Association condemns new passenger database

Northamptonshire’s branch of The Freedom Association (TFA) has condemned Government plans to build a computer database of British passengers, saying it is further evidence of the growing surveillance state.

The Sunday Times revealed last month that a Government database is being built to record the names, addresses, telephone numbers, seat reservations, travel itineraries and credit card details of all British nationals travelling in and out of the country, sparking fears among privacy campaigners and opposition MPs that it is a significant step towards a total surveillance society.

The newspaper reported that more than 300 police and immigration officers, and a similar number of technicians based in Wythenshawe, near Manchester, will check travellers’ details against police, MI5, benefit agency and other Government “watch lists”.

TFA Northamptonshire Chairman, Rebecca Harding, said: "It is time our Government ministers and public servants understood that this routine intelligence gathering of law abiding British people is unacceptable and that the surveillance state must be dismantled.  The Freedom Association opposes the growing surveillance state and is taking a leading role in combating this state commissioned intrusion into our lives and highlighting this unacceptable situation. We hope more people will join with us in combating efforts to erode our freedoms, liberty and privacy."

TFA Northamptonshire Committee member, Tony Sharp, explained: "The people of this country have the right to go about their lawful business unmolested by the state. However the Government is determined to put an end to that and use technology to log every place we go, service we use, person we associate with and item we purchase. Northamptonshire residents who travel abroad will be subjected to this needless monitoring.  The House of Lords Constitution Committee recently stated that our country's traditions of privacy and democracy are under threat from pervasive and routine electronic spying and the mass collection of personal."

Download the press release: Download PRESS RELEASE - TFANorthants condemns surveillance database

David Davis to speak at TFA Northants event

 

David Davis MP, who has taken such a courageous stand in defence of individual freedom, will be the guest speaker at TFA Northants Branch's first major event, on the evening of Thursday 26 February 2009.  MORE

Launch of TFA Northants Branch

Rebecca Harding (right) and Lydia Smith are shown here in the Yeoman of England pub, Wootton, Northamptonshire following the meeting to launch the new TFA Northants Branch on 11 September 2008.  The meeting was well attended and a committee has been set up with ambitious plans for local campaigning, social and political events.  Becca Harding, the Branch Chairman, arranged and chaired the meeting and the branch already has strong support from Derek Clark MEP, who attended the meeting, Roger Helmer MEP, Brian Binley MP and Philip Hollobone MP.

The Branch Officers are: Rebecca Harding (Chairman), John Speed (Secretary), Wouter Domhof (Treasurer) and Councillor Tony Sharp (Communications Officer).