Tony Blair better than Michael Foot?

In the General Election of last month, New Labour won "an historic third term" but seem quite quiet about saying so since the election. Well, they probably have good reason to be quiet, because the facts give rise to no real right to celebrate.

In 1983, Michael Foot was deemed to be a failure because he lost the election then gaining Labour only 20.6% of support from eligible voters. In 2005 Tony Blair wins with 21.6%.

How does Tony Blair's "One Per Cent" gain make him any better to run the country than Michael Foot? The answer lies in the fact that in 1983 third party politics was not strong, but in 2005 the Liberal Democrats took a sizeable chunk of votes and that doesn't include "fourth parties" which garnered more votes than ever. The electorate is splitting away from two-party politics, whether we like it or not.

No wonder the grin on Tony Blair's face is weakened. No wonder Jack Straw no longer smiles benignly when on international trips. Their "historic third term" is based only on the vagaries of an electoral map and not on the wholehearted support of the British people.

http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/publications/briefings/election2005.pdf

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1984 twenty-one years late!

George Orwell wrote a nice little book about big brother and various trickeries that a government can get up to. Well it seems that the present Identity Cards Bill will give us a helping hand towards some of those trickeries.

Tony Blair gives the impression of a man handing out Cluedo cards. All very innocent and harmless if you join in. Well, he might think that! I think that Bill Cash, Conservative MP for Stone summed it up. From Hansard -

Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): The hon. Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) referred to principles. Let me give him a principle as expressed by Abraham Lincoln: "Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves."

When the Bill was debated in the previous Parliament, I, my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green) and about nine others marched through the Lobby with clear conviction and certainty to ensure that we registered our protest against the principle of the Bill. Second Reading, of course, is about the principle behind the reasons for producing it. On the previous Second Reading, I produced a copy of a book by George Orwell called "Nineteen Eighty-Four", and directed it to the attention of the Home Secretary. It refers to the "Ministry of Truth", in which, George Orwell says, "Freedom is slavery". That is what lies at the heart of these proposals. [Interruption.] I hear the Minister of State say "Rubbish" from a sedentary position. I heard him generating a certain amount of hot air and rubbish on the subject on the "Today" programme this morning or perhaps yesterday—it was in the past 48 hours.

The fact remains that the Information Commissioner has stated that the Bill has within it the seeds of a surveillance society. In the previous debate, I referred to the fact that he said that it represented a sea change in the relationship between the individual and the state. I have heard the Home Secretary rubbishing the Information Commissioner today. I heard another Labour Member talking about hysterical paranoia. I would like to call their attention to the fact that the Information Commissioner holds a status by Act of Parliament that is no less than that of the Clerk of the House of Commons, in that he cannot be removed from office unless there is an address by both Houses of Parliament. That is a very high status. Those such as the Home Secretary who are wont to describe the measured remarks of the Information Commissioner in such terms seem to be getting dangerously close to fulfilling the axiom of Abraham Lincoln's to which I just referred.
Over the past year or so, we have also noticed that this new Labour Government, in contradiction to what the Prime Minister used to say, have moved increasingly down the route of greater inhibitions on individual freedom. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 is a good example, as it contained a provision that would enable the Government to repeal any Act of Parliament if they declared an emergency.

In 1995, when the Prime Minister was in opposition, he said: "Instead of wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on compulsory ID cards as the Tory right demand, let that money provide thousands more police officers on the beat in our local communities."

So, the Prime Minister is about to eat his words, and waste hundreds of millions of pounds on compulsory ID cards. Cards which the proposed legislation demands we all pay for, businesses pay for scanners, and masses of computer entries all to prove who we are! The benefits supposedly are to cut benefit fraud, under-age drinking, identity fraud, illegal immigration and various criminal activities. Well, if Tony Blair thinks he can outlaw crime and fraud with ID Cards, then he is a very niaive man indeed! As he is not niaive, he must be doing it for the surveillance, which the Information Commissioner so rightly condemns!

http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
http://www.no2id.net/

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Is headhunting corporate adultery?

It occurs to me that those city headhunters, who spend their time eyeing the skills and competencies of executives in major corporations, with a view to enticing them to jump ship and go with a more lucrative, challenging, and status-building job elsewhere, are akin to elicit lovers begging their conquests to leave the marital home.

Does any corporation benefit from the unprepared departure of a highly-prized director? The merry-go-round of pay-offs, severance deals, golden hand-shakes, and bonuses seems to get bigger as each year passes. Has anybody stepped back and thought about the vast sums swishing around from corporation to corporation only because some of the top brass are actively involved in "dating" headhunters?

"I was headhunted, you know!" is a refrain much coveted by senior personnel, as if to confirm the high regard in which this practice is held. But what of those they leave behind? Are they thought about? In some cases the "marriage" may have been difficult, so leaving posed no qualms, I suppose. However, there must be many companies who feel that their future welfare and happiness has been severely traduced by predatory seducers!

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Richard Whiteley

Sometimes one watches the TV news and then a piece comes at the end. This was one such night, Sunday 26th June. "And, we've just received the news that TV presenter Richard Whiteley has died......" and the rest goes into oblivion as the brain thinks "What..not Richard Whiteley!" Then there is a rush of memories, the character of the person comes quickly to mind, "well, I knew he was in hospital", and a host of other feelings of sadness and pleasure competing together, almost at once it seems.

Richard Whiteley appeared to most people as a truly good man. He made viewers of Countdown feel they were watching a programme of happy people. He made the nervous contestant relax, by showing that he was not a pompous personality but an amusing, warm man.

As the tributes flood in to radio and TV stations, the descriptions "without guile", "self-deprecating" and "could walk with kings as well as having the common touch" are some of those that have been used.

We are all individuals in this world with our own unique personality and heart and soul. Richard Whiteley will be remembered as having displayed his personality with his heart and soul. A true Yorkshireman and a truly lovely man.

http://www.thecountdownpage.com/

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Boarding Bullies?

The wonderfully named Commission for Social Care Inspection have sent round a number of worthies to inspect some of the oldest educational establishments in the land to see if anti-social behaviour is going on. Well, they found some odd practices indeed, according to John Clare, of the Daily Telegraph! Naturally, these were given a "spread" in last Saturday's paper which has caused both sadness and curiosity at the same time. Sadness at the apparent bias of the editing of Clare and curiosity concerning the practices!

Having attended one of the "named" schools I find it hard to relate to the descriptions of the "practices". Could it be that Clare has a schoolboy tendency to embellish the truth? Or have the Inspectors been entranced by the tales of the pupils, eager to elaborate on centuries of traditional japes, pranks, and escapades?

The concerning matter here though is that this CSCI is another quango keeping itself going on charging "regulatory fees" for being allowed to enter premises almost at will. Surely a far better way to deal with abuses in schools, care homes, and with the elderly, is to up the criminal sentences that abusers get. I do not think that every establishment falling under the CSCI's beady eyes is suspect, but the present burgeoning quango system tars everyone with the same brush. For the CSCI its all a nice little earner.

Anyone concerned about life in a boarding school should take comfort from British academic Roger Cooper, who was let out of jail in Iran in 1991, after being incarcerated on trumped up spying charges. He said in a memorable quotation to the assembled hacks, "Anyone who has been to an English public school can do 5 years in an Iranian prison." Just about sums it all up, CSCI!

http://www.csci.org.uk/information_for_service_providers/fees/default.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/06/18/nflash18.xml

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Changing Times

It's quite amazing what a democratic vote will do to some folks! For example, the French President seems to be in oblivion as far as the French voters are concerned. He's probably taking the Harold Macmillan approach to trouble - "events, dear boy, events" is how the former PM is supposed to have described the worst thing to befall a politician. This "event" will be sidelined until some other thing gets the French electorate riled.

In the meantime, Nigel Farage MEP of UKIP is full of praise for the present Prime Minister's bold approach. "If you can reform the European Union, Mr Blair, then I may even change my mind, I may even think it's worth us staying a member" he says. This is a refreshing approach to the cause of Euroscepticism. Can Mr. Blair deliver? Some think he should boldly go where no PM has gone before. Others think it's all blarney and bluff. Well, I for one think he should at least try. If he did, he might get the support of other EU countries' beleaguered Eurosceptics, of whom we hear little in the UK as the great and the good "think" they don't exist!

Then we can have a really good free trading, mutually supportive common market, without the "directives" which the bureacratic pointy-heads of the European Commission seem so heartily in favour of. As they seem totally incapable of abiding by any directive to keep the petty cash in order, let alone a substantial budget without sedantory fraudsters taking advantage, a good dose of reform is long overdue!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4122490.stm

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Self Assembly Bed Making

Having bought a super king sized bed of continental proportions, my wife and I spent the whole of Saturday afternoon trying to assemble the thing. That day was the hottest so far of the year, being around 26C, and the single sheet instruction leaflet lived up to expectations! It was horrendously difficult to interpret correctly. Apparently, two people could assemble the bed in half an hour. However, I fail to see how this could possibly be. Even Einstein and Chippendale would have had difficulty!

Why, oh why, do the people who write these instructions think we are all on the same wavelength as them. Surely somebody could save us from their Catch-22 thinking?

The bed, by the way, is fantastic!

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Vive La difference?

The European Union is fast becoming a hotbed of standoffs, grumpiness, and lack of fraternity. The French people voted Non to the Constitution, followed swiftly by a Nee from the Dutch. Rather than understand the reasons for voting No, the leaders of the European project go into a sulk and start finding people to blame other than themselves.

This should be a time of reflection and trying to find a solution that the people of the 25 countries that make up the European Union can relate to. Instead, the French President seems to think that he, and possibly the German Chancellor, should dictate how Europe is run. Well, monsieur, that is not the case now!

It is rather like a couple of businessmen forming a company to make a product. The product sells reasonably well and the company expands. New directors and staff are taken on. But the founders don't want the new directors having any real say, or even having meaningful votes. In fact, they would prefer them to be very much in the background. The last thing they would want is for their precious company to be taken in another direction, or for themselves to be voted off the board!

If Tony Blair means what he says, then he has a chance to guide the European Union to some kind of modern success. It is quite right that the funding of the Union is put on the table for discussion. The Common Agricultural Policy is an anachronism, designed to prop up the wasteful, spendthrift legacy that has befallen the French farming community by the absurd inheritance laws of the Napoleonic Code.

Tony Blair's real opportunity is finding a way that the French can keep their way of life with the so-called "social model", and leading Europe to a more flexible, entrepreneurial, less bureaucratic union. When the French Referendum is analysed, what are we to make of it? "It was a pro-European no," said one young man. "We are not against Europe - we just want a different kind of Europe." Precisely, but are you thinking what we are thinking?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4592691.stm

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My Cherie amour, lovely as a summer day?

Cherie Blair, wife of the Prime Minister and working mother of some legal ability, is castigated by the chattering classes for a talk in Washington where she apparently received £30,000 as the fee. Mrs. Blair was promoting her book about spouses of Prime Ministers and their lives in Downing Street. A gaggle of self-righteous commentators, ranging from Tories washed clean from sleaze, to liberal-minded types like Polly Toynbee, who can scratch as well as the best of them, have come out claiming this talk is totally out of order!

Ms. Toynbee says "There is no climate of shame about fabulously undeserved income". Nice words easily written. People like Ms. Toynbee can parrot these sentiments with ease but have themselves contributed little to British society.

Mrs. Blair has done nothing immoral. "The Labourer is worthy of his (her) hire". Biblically, Mrs. Blair has only given a talk for which she got paid and the audience were of the opinion that they got their money's worth! Should be end of story!

The present culture of seeing corruption in others is getting out of hand. Whilst I have loads of opinions against Mr. Blair's dodgy political views, and have commented on some of the Blairs' antics in bringing odd personal advisors into Downing Street, this activity of giving talks in public for a fee is not corrupting at all. Petty jealousy comes to mind! We should have a society based on respect, honour and integrity. Instead we are getting one of trying to find the mote in others' eyes. By this I mean judging their souls rather than their hearts and minds!

Link to Ms. Toynbee in the Guardian
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/comment/0,9236,1501535,00.html
Link to Guardian about the Book!
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/cherie/comment/0,12713,938465,00.html

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Insidious standards of New Labour!

New Labour's relentless need for law-making to keep the traditional views of the British in check by exposing them to more "Political Correctness" remains unabated!

The Standards Board, an outfit for those who have nothing better to do, is the top of the list when it comes to meddlesome matties! This is what they are after, with regard to local councillors.

Behaviour covered by the Code of Conduct
a. unlawfully discriminating against someone
b. failing to treat people with respect
c. doing something to prevent those who work for the authority from being unbiased
d. revealing information that was given to them in confidence, or stopping someone getting information they are entitled to by law
e. damaging the reputation of their office or authority
f. using their position improperly, to their own or someone else's advantage or disadvantage
g. misusing their authority's resources
h. allowing their authority's resources to be misused for the activities of a registered political party
i. failing to report another member's misconduct to us
j. failing to register financial or other interests
k. failing to reveal a personal interest at a meeting;
l. taking part in a meeting or making a decision where they have an interest that is so significant m. that it is likely to affect their judgement
n. failing to register any gifts or hospitality that they have received in their role as a member worth over £25

Some of this makes sense but why does a group of interferers have to get involved. Whatever happened to civic honour? I have highlighted the ridiculous parts in italics.

For instance, what on earth does "failing to treat people with respect" mean? Rudeness will soon be stamped on, as in all parts of society. But democratic debate is robust and forthright at times. Do we need a nanny to help us here? Receiving gifts or hospitality over £25. What, councillors can't have meals out where someone pays, without informing teacher? No expensive dining here, please!

This outfit has a fairly Orwellian remit. From their website -

Investigations Department
The Investigations Department follows up allegations of misconduct by members of local authorities made to The Standards Board for England under the Local Government Act 2000. The Investigations team aims to contribute to the improvement of standards of conduct within local authorities, with good quality, robust investigations playing a key role in supporting public confidence in local democracy as it adopts the new ethical framework.

What a country New Labour is turning us into!

http://www.standardsboard.co.uk/

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Blake's Jerusalem in the demolition yard?

Each day brings new nonsensical utterings from the jobsworths and pointy-heads that seem to have shoe-horned themselves into the very positions where they can cause most offence to the average citizen. The latest drivel from the "Politically Correct" brigade, or the politically absurd as it should be, is the assertion that crosses in crematoria can offend non-Christians. So take them down.

Pontius Pilate had doubts, but not so the PC leaders. They are in the vanguard of dispoiling the cultural and religious heritage of this country, in order to placate a few who may feel upset. The vast majority of people they claim to represent have no desire whatsoever to meddle in this way.

Down on the English Riviera, Torbay Council have decided to remove a 5ft cross from the crematorium chapel. Alan Faulkner, executive member for environmental services, says, "We live in a diverse multi-faith society...." and proceeds to explain it away. No wonder it provoked an outcry!

I would be interested to know if there are any politically correct elders in Islamabad campaigning vigorously for the rights of Christians in Pakistan not to be offended by words, deeds, and laws!

Torbay Council link and the jolly Mr.Faulkner!

http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/council/councillors-committees/your-councillors.htm
http://212.104.136.164/councillors/councillor_info.asp?14

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Supermarket seduction

I went into a supermarket to buy a few things. I noticed an offer for soft drinks. "Buy any two for £2". So I chose two different flavours and went to the check-out. Being a bit wary of supermarket tactics, I checked the bill. Wow! the two packs of drinks came to over £3. I queried the check-out assistant. "Oh!" she said, "You picked the wrong ones. It's only the six-packs that are on offer." Then, rather churlishly, she added "Do you want them?" Well, I had momentarily thought I would take them and not bother, but this remark made me change my mind. "No I don't," I said, and then took a junior manager to the offending section where I had made my erroneous choice based on rather sly shelf positioning! I accepted a refund.

My thoughts here are on the seemingly deliberate, but not illegal, attempts to deceive the customers, by all supermarkets, by positioning offers so close to ordinary prices that customers are no better placed than some hapless fly becoming entrapped in a spider's web. On this occasion a few 6-packs were placed next to far more 4-packs. The offer sign was over the two types. The 6-packs sold out, but the sign was allowed to remain. I got caught, and I don't feel I am that stupid, as I read the notice (but not that well!).

How many people get caught in the same way. Buy two for the price of one, etc. (Known as BOGOFs - Buy One Get One Free!). This gimmick is similar to the BOGOF but it is two for £2, meaning there is a till refund. But if you pick the wrong ones, then no till refund. It would be interesting to see the computer records of supermarkets to see how many customers fall foul of the confusing shelf labels!

This link is to Corporate Watch. I don't agree with all the views, but this kind of site grows when supermarkets lose touch with their customers! Much of it, in my opinion, is due to lack of positive training for the staff and constant price juggling to give the customer the feeling of price cutting.

http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=217

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Only halfway there!

Yesterday Henry Allingham became 109 years young and is the proud holder of the title "Oldest Man in Britain". That it should go to Henry is fate handing a special recognition to a remarkable man!

Yesterday, I was only 55 years young but this birthday I passed the point where I was half Henry's age. If I have felt old for my age, being reminded of Henry's active life and still active mind, abilities, and sense of being, has encouraged me to feel very good about life.

So, I am on the next 54 years, which will prove exciting, interesting, and challenging. Being the father of a 3-year old and 2-year old, I could end up yet as a grandfather!

Happy Birthday Henry!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4613587.stm

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Man of Straw?

Jack Straw comes to the House of Commons today to declare that it is pointless having a referendum in the UK. After all, the French and the Dutch have well and truly scuppered the European Constitution. It would be silly to have the British vote No (which is what they all think in the New Labour hierachy) - No to something that is already a dead duck!

Well, is it? According to Christopher Booker in the Sunday Telegraph, the wily weasels of the European Commission have something up their sleeves! He says -

"It is also true that, under the Vienna Convention, the treaty cannot come into force unless all 25 signatories ratify. But so long as the "No" countries are not more than five, the matter will simply be referred again to the European Council, under Declaration 30 attached to the treaty, to decide what happens next. If by chance more than five countries say "No", indeed we shall then be in uncharted waters. The treaty does not allow for such a ridiculous possibility. But we are not there yet."

So, Jack Straw, your reasoning may be defective. What if only four countries say No and the rest are in favour? The Council of Ministers go into a huddle, think awhile, and come up with a plan. Why not have more opt-outs and opt-ins? Sounds good! So the European Constitution ends up like the European Monetary Union. Some in, some out. Those out don't get all the goodies, but heck, they can sure flex their muscles!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/06/05/nbook05.xml

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Foxy, Cunning, or just plain Devious?

So the Hunting Act, 2004 is being looked at by the police for their health and safety. Gloucestershire and Devon & Cornwall constabularies have released a document, under the Freedom of Information Act, which outlines police concerns about implementing the Act. "Police officers will not routinely be deployed to hunt meetings". They will only be deployed "after a detailed risk assessment". Sounds like they are coming up with excuses why they won't be patrolling the countryside.

New Labour got quite excercised by the issue of hunting. They frothed at the mouth, keen to get at their prey. Tony Blair, the architect of New Labour spun a web better than any. He let them have parliamentary time. Employed the Parliament Act to bulldoze it through. Thought that was his way to help to ban hunting. All the while not actually shifting himself to vote the bill in. Very Foxy! If the policing goes pear-shaped, "not my fault, gov!", as Parliament had pushed the law through! If the police get heavy-handed, "not my fault, gov!", well, he never voted for it!

As I say, very foxy, or is it cunning - or just plain devious?

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Jerry Springer - The Opera

I'm always wary of campaigning to stop people doing things. I'm not really in favour of shouting the odds outside theatres, giving the world the view that Christians are oddballs.

Christian Voice complains that Jerry Springer - The Opera is coming to Birmingham. Well, I'm in the camp that says "You don't have to go". Midlanders can make up their own minds. On their website, Christian Voice claims that "The Enemies of God are all having their say!" That could be so, but I'm not emphatically so sure. My feeling is that they would be better placed trying to win over people by being more Christ-like rather than emulating the antics of the crowd shouting for Barabbas.

The lost sheep are not going to be rounded up by a mixed pack of terriers, rottweillers, and bloodhounds!
http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/

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No Bibles Please - We're Offended!

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has come out of the laundry room claiming to put Politically Correct hospitality in its biblical place. No Bibles in the lockers please, as this might cause offence. To whom I may ask! Surely not to any right-minded Moslem or Jew. If I was incapacitated, lying in a state of ailment, I certainly would not be offended by the Quran or The Tanakh being in the locker by my bedside.

If I were an atheist or agnostic, I would be thinking that the books could have no effect on me at all. Would anyone else be offended? I doubt it!

The bigwigs from Leicester's three main hospitals were apparently considering moving the holy book from patients' bedsides because it may cause offence. To cap it all they allege it may be responsible for spreading the superbug MRSA.

God sent ten plagues on Egypt because Pharaoh wouldn't release the Hebrews. He might send three plagues on the Leicester hospitals because the bigwigs won't release the bibles! And it won't be MRSA!

The logic of this crazed reasoning is that only a crazed religious fundamentalist would go hollering to matron to complain!
http://www.gideons.org/

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It was Nee! Were we surprised?

Well the Dutch did vote Nee, and the European Union bigwigs come onto the TV screens to express their appreciation of democracy but, with a menacingly undemocratic undertone, imply that the dullards of negativity, as they see the victors of the Nee vote, are in need of some kind of re-education. Surely, it is the likes of Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the Commission, and Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, the current president of the European Union, who need a period of re-education - in democracy!

Jean-Claude Juncker declares that "this is a dangerous position to be in" but seems to have no response to the voters' concerns! It appears that only a dirigist approach is how these "leaders" can operate. Do as we say or else! The people of Europe are expecting much more now and this result implies so far, but no further (political integration). We want to be heard!

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Is it N€€ Today?

The Dutch are voting today in their referendum. Looks like a no is coming up. Jan Peter Balkenende, the Prime Minister, is hoping for Ya but he has been so bad at communicating his views that the Dutch have taken to believing they can really have a say.

The Euro is proving a difficult currency with regard to prices, immigration is seemingly out of control, and the Dutch Government is losing its way in the Brussels bureaucracy. Yes, it will be Nee!

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