Abu Hamza's New Neighbour is a Minister

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Blunkett's replacement moves in next to radical cleric

The new Work and Pensions Minister John Hutton MP has moved into a house next door to the home of radical cleric Abu Hamza.

The Minister, who replaced David Blunkett recently, bought the home on a quiet residential street on the Acton and Shepherd's Bush border. He represents the Barrow & Furness constituency in parliament and is known as a loyalist to Tony Blair. It is not known whether the estate agent selling the home informed him of who his new neighbour would be.

Hamza currently resides in Belmarsh prison awaiting trial on charges of soliciting murder and stirring up racial hatred. The house is occupied by his wife and family who enjoy good relations with their other neighbours by all accounts.

The US authorities wish to extradite Hamza on terror charges and this week another man was sent to America by the British authorities. According to newspaper reports Hamza's family currently receive £1,000 a week in benefits from the department that Mr. Hutton is now in charge of.

November 16, 2005