Its very rare that I find myself in agreement with a Tory but I don in this case

[la gran siete]

From an article on the Financial Times website, FT.com, today:

Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, came under fire from MPs yesterday as she signalled her support for outlawing prostitution. Her comments came after a government-commissioned poll by Ipsos-Mori, in which 58 per cent of people said they would support legislation making it illegal to pay for sex if it helped stop the trafficking of women and children into the UK.
But there was a backlash yesterday from politicians who said that criminalising prostitution would not solve the problems but could push them further underground.

Anthony Steen, Conservative MP and chairman of the All Party Group on Trafficking of Women and Children, said he was "stunned'' by Ms Harman's comments. "Whacking a criminal label on prostitution certainly won't solve our trafficking problems in Britain today,'' he said. "If the government forces through legislation to make buying sex illegal in the UK, it will force trafficking underground or on to the internet. This is much more ominous and will make the victims of trafficking invisible," Mr Steen added.

Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat equalities spokeswoman, also said that outlawing prostitution was no solution. "The statute book is littered with offences relating to prostitution, some of which are rarely used," Ms Featherstone said. "We should be gunning directly for pimps, traffickers and drug dealers with better-resourced policing."
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such an outrageous attack on personal freedoms which needs to be challenged in all four corners of the country, in my view

Puritan Harman is obviously following where her predecessor Claire Short left off. Why not ban fun altogether whilst she is at it

[krish]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

Puritan Harman is obviously following where her equally stupid predecessor Claire Short left off. Why not ban fun altogether whilst she is at it

Harman's got no political principles or ideology (she's not that bright to have any anyway), she's just going for the typical NL populist vote .... i.e. legislation by DM editorial
- which alway backfires these days

Short, however, was a genuine feminist back in the day when she was trying to ban page 3

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by krish

Harman's got no political principles or ideology (she's not that bright to have any anyway), she's just going for the typical NL populist vote .... i.e. legislation by DM editorial
- which alway backfires these days

Short, however, was a genuine feminist back in the day when she was trying to ban page 3

Mmm hope you are right.If nothing else it gets the silly sow in the papers.

[Ian J]

I also disagree with Harriett Harman but for completely different reasons to you. Prostitution has been around for rather a long time and if the "sex immigrants" were done away with there would still be a plentiful supply of British women to take over.

If she thinks that the sex traffickers would stop just because it was now illegal Ms Harman must be living in cloud cuckoo land.

Although I disagree strongly with Ms Harman I wouldn't like anyone to think that I agreed with LGS as although I agree with his proposals I disagree with his reasoning as it is too hedonistic for me

[johntheexpat]

Originally Posted by Ian J

.... and if the "sex immigrants" were done away with there would still be a plentiful supply of British women to take over.

Perhaps she just wants to keep the jobs British? Now that would be a DM editorial policy. Show all these Johnny Foreigner tarts the door because they are driving our English Roses off the streets.

[Mr Incredible]

In a modern western society, is prostitution a confirmation that society has failed in its duty to protect the vulnerable and the needy? I'm not suggesting it be made illegal, but is it the case that as a society we should be finding ways to give people a greater choice of lifestyles to avoid having to sell their bodies to survive?

[Sonic67]

The second oldest profession trying to ban the oldest profession. It's been around for thousands of years and it won't be swept away now. I wouldn't want to see girls on my street corner but I don't have a problem if it's happening in a 'massage parlour'.

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by Sonic67

The second oldest profession trying to ban the oldest profession.

And ironically you get screwed by both.

[Guardo Bosque]

Throughly naive and an utter waste of tax payers money should the legislation be passed.

I'd wager that if prostitution was to be made illegal we'd see a considerable rise in sexual attacks on women.

What the government should be pursuing is safer working environments for prostitutes.

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by Guardo Bosque

What the government should be pursuing is safer working environments for prostitutes.

.... as a first step to providing a wealthier society in which people don't have to make that awful choice.

[Squiffy]

Originally Posted by Mr Incredible

In a modern western society, is prostitution a confirmation that society has failed in its duty to protect the vulnerable and the needy? I'm not suggesting it be made illegal, but is it the case that as a society we should be finding ways to give people a greater choice of lifestyles to avoid having to sell their bodies to survive?

What more choice do they need? Everyone has the opportunities to make what they want of their lives.

Some friends of us have an "escort" living in their street, who works from home. She has a very nice house, an expensive car and enjoys several holidays every year.

From all accounts, I don't believe she is either vulnerable or needy. Why should her lifestyle choice be looked down upon when it seems to be serving her well?

[Mr Incredible]

Because if they could earn as much doing something else they would. No woman wants to sell their body if there is an alternative.

[LFC_SL]

At the risk of criticism, putting aside policies, I cannot stand that woman regardless

[Mr Incredible]

No criticisms from me!

[Sonic67]

Originally Posted by Mr Incredible

Because if they could earn as much doing something else they would. No woman wants to sell their body if there is an alternative.

I don't think there are many jobs going that have hours to suit, no qualifications needed, can work from home and can pay at what can be a high hourly rate.