Team England? No, we're cycling round the "Regions"!

For all Americans who may be viewing this blog and who think England is England, then WOW! you're in for a shock! And it may shock quite a few in England as well! Here are the facts: England has no status, has no legislative body, has no agency overlooking its financial wellbeing.

All "quangos" and funding agencies have to bend the knee to "regionalisation" in England. It is something the external governors of the European Union foisted on us. So arbitary regions were set up to be ruled over by eager local politicians, business people, and those of known committee loyalities! Non elected or even known!

Cycling comes into this world of strange places. If one wants funding, then it can only be through the regions. Hence no Team England in the Tour of Britain. There is a Team Scotland, Team Wales and Team Ireland (not Northern Ireland curiously?) but England is not allowed to be England! There is a Team Great Britain in the Tour of Britain, which is odd. Does this team represent England only, or has Scotland and Wales been given the chance to support more than one team? Notice how the Tour of Britain site promotes the "regions" with gusto!

It's all very sad and not a little annoying.

http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/images2005/_uploaded_pdfs/RiderList2005PDF.pdf
http://www.sportengland.org/index/get_funding/how_funding_works.htm

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A Londoner in Blair's Kangaroo Court!

In Blairite Britain, free speech and trenchant opinions are fast going to hell in a handbasket! New laws on inciting religious hatred are being brought in which will impinge on satirical comment and comedic opinion. Already on the statute book is a law outlining what elected officials from non-Westminster authorities may be guilty of. It is in the hands of The Standards Board for England, that glorious organisation of Blairite weasel wordsmiths. Their website opens with the line "Confidence in local democracy is a cornerstone of our way of life. It can only be achieved when elected and co-opted members of local authorities are seen to live up to the high standards the public has a right to expect from them. The Standards Board for England is responsible for promoting high ethical standards and investigating allegations that members' behaviour may have fallen short of the required standards."

What are the required standards? Well, only these pointy-heads seem to know! They don't apply to some of the shady characters in Westminster, led by Blair, who's grasp of the truth is somewhat limited! Not much "living up to the high standards the public has a right to expect" there! Blair's Iraq escapade would have the Standards Board on pep pills 24/7 if they were ever charged with enquiring into his misdemeanours!

Now they have it in for the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. His crime? Well, he said to an Evening standard reporter, who was harrassing him bigtime, that he was "like a German war criminal". It may have been offensive, but robust remarks are made in the heat of the moment. Mr.Livingstone apologised later for causing offence.

The whole problem now is the interference of a panel of so called experts who will judge whether Mr.Livingstone should be suspended as Mayor. They should fold their busybodying tent and go and do some proper work. Debate and the electorate should decide Ken's fate or otherwise. It is not up to a court of self-appointed knowalls to pass judgement.

Remember, only 21.6% of eligible voters gave positive support to this deceitful government in May. Wonder when the rest of us will really take notice?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/news/mayor_comments.shtml http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4272895.stm
http://www.standardsboard.co.uk/

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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Business World!

Manpower is a recruitment firm in the UK that has done some interesting research. It seems that in today's job market employers are getting more desperate to find the right recruits! Candidates at interview are increasingly being asked to go that extra mile. One job seeker was told to talk to a teddy bear, while another was asked if he knew how it felt to kill a man! So are companies becoming more wacky in their selection process, or are people so desperate to get a job that they will do whatever it takes? "The labour market is getting tighter," said Mat Jackson of Manpower. "While the average job interview probably retains the same format it did two decades ago, there are strange stories. There are lots of reasons for interviewers to ask a weird question - to see how fast a candidate can think on their feet, to gain insight into their personality, or to gain an idea of their thought processes."

Has anybody considered asking why some bosses can't think on their feet, have poor personalities, or give away little idea of their thought processes?

Another "research" company has been asking employees what they think of their co-workers. An Investors in People survey found 75% of bosses and 80% of staff thought some colleagues were "dead wood" - and the main reason was thought to be laziness. Nearly half of employees added they worked closely with someone who they thought was lazy and not up to the job.

And guess what? Yet another survey, by Sirota Survey Intelligence, came up with problems at the workface! They questioned 3.5 million staff over three years at firms including global giants Shell, Tesco, Microsoft and Dell. The belief that managers hamper staff is deeply ingrained, the report showed. Instead, workers want to know what is expected of them, have competent bosses and better cooperation across the firm.

Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" has a group of young aspirants who seem to think that getting on is a simple case of bad-mouthing the others! Most of them seem to have little understanding of co-operation, loyalty, honesty, or camaraderie! Trump is many times dumbfounded by their actions!

What does all this tell us? Well, I think that quite a lot of companies have bosses that are there by good networking rather than competency and a lot of employees just get by! Doesn't say much for the wellbeing of the country!

What a sad world some people in some businesses exist in!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/apprentice/apprentice.shtml
http://www.sirota.com/pressrelease/1-Obstacles_606_Final.pdf

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Where Next?

- Chavez promoting the cocoa industry!


George Bush slapped down Pat Robertson for his overzealous approach to diplomatic problems, but he has indeed some problems with Venezuela and its president, Hugo Chavez. Snr Chavez has had the temerity to meddle in oil! Touchy subject.

Chavez has launched a regional oil initiative to provide fuel at cheaper prices to fifteen neighbouring Caribbean nations. Sounds fair. He said the region had suffered centuries of imperialism and needed to strike out on its own. Critics say Snr. Chavez is using Venezuela's oil to secure diplomatic influence in the Caribbean. Venezuela is a leading oil supplier to the US and is the world's fifth largest oil exporter.

Relations with Venezuela are tense for the USA. They are suspicious of Chavez. Chavez is a regular critic of the US Administration, and Washington regards Venezuela as a possible source of instability in the region. However, the problem nowadays is that many other countries in the world seem to think that the US is a possible source of instability in the world!

Venezuela has some problems. They should sort these out themselves. If they break international agreements, then let the UN take a stance. But if they want to sell their oil on the open market or in agreement with other countries, should the USA be sending in CIA operatives to try and destabilise the country? No, because we can't live in a world where one big country has an armlock on all the rest!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4636067.stm

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The War on What?

George Bush defiantly claims that he is waging a war on terror. Tony Blair continues to say "Look, I simply say, this is what I believe in" and leaves the listener stunned by his rhetoric! I never thought that the weasel words about truth, democracy, and the rule of law would make me so angry and push my generally conservative views to the limits. But waging war is something that requires both legitimacy and public support. Neither were adequately forthcoming as far as the United Kingdom was concerned! Both Bush and Blair have been economical with the truth, trampled on the real meaning of democracy, and been cavalier in the extreme with regard to the rule of law.

Guantanamo Bay incarcerations, Abu Ghraib photo sessions, over 100,000 Iraqis bombed, shot, or mutilated, and the whole of Iraq disintegrating into civil war! And what is it about? Supposedly it is about bringing democracy to Arabia! Well, fat chance now!

This once great country, the birthplace of a great civilisation of the Mesopotamians, had the misfortune to have oil under its soil! The advent of the automobile and modern industrial needs gave rise to coveting the riches of this land, as well as others (Venezuela next on the list?). The link with terror is flimsy and has been without any real foundation. By all means go after real terrorists, but not give them cause to create more terror!

Tony Blair is not off the hook it seems. Iraq is always bubbling away to haunt him. A legal fight is beginning for an inquiry into the lawfulness of the Iraq conflict. Blair could be forced to give evidence under oath after families of 17 soldiers killed in Iraq began a legal bid on Wednesday to secure an independent inquiry into the lawfulness of the 2003 conflict.

If successful, we might at last get behind the smokescreens and spin to evince the truth!

http://www.mfaw.org.uk/index.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1551276,00.html

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Ebbs and Flows of Belief!

This is from a group agitating for change in the Roman Catholic Church - "We love our family, the Catholic Church. We fully accept the authority of the Pope. We respect his personal integrity as an outstanding spiritual leader. But we are convinced that the Pope and his advisors in Rome are making a serious mistake by dismissing women as priests. We feel obliged in conscience to make our carefully considered reasons known. “All the faithful, both clerical and lay, should be accorded a lawful freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought and freedom of expression” !

In the Anglican Church similar agitation is going on! GRAS, or the Group for Rescinding the Act of Synod, is actively campaigning for women bishops in the Church of England and to give these bishops full weight in crushing the traditionalists!

A lot is stated by these groups as being "catholic" but they really mean "my version of catholic". A sort of pick 'n mix at Woolworths! All this is rather like going to a party and telling the host you are very pleased to be invited but you feel obliged to comment on the fare provided! Why is the cake not chocolate? Why no sandwiches with the crusts cut off?

It does seem that they want a religion created in their own image! "Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus". That is the way of belief for the Faithfull, not innovation and alteration!

http://www.womenpriests.org/index.asp
http://www.gras.org.uk/index.htm

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Bushwhacked Bush!

George Bush must be wondering why it is so difficult to get a deal in Baghdad. After all, don't those Iraqis want democracy? Don't they care about freedom?

Whoever is advising the President have sure kept him from the truth! The trouble is Bush and his pals felt they could kill a few birds with a couple of good-sized stones! Go after the tyrant Saddam Hussein and give Iraq a new sense of freedom and at the same time do a deal on the oil. Everybody wins!

This little idea failed to take into account Arab sensibilities and Kurdish dreams. Now, with the battle hardly won and the hearts and minds turning to anger, George Bush telephones a Shi'ite leader to press him to give concessions to the Sunnis, who are holding back on signing up to a new constitution. Well, what does Bush expect the Shia to do? He wants them to cave in to their former oppressors! The Sunnis are complaining that they will be kept from getting their rightful amount of oil money. Also, they are against federalism.

The streets are full of marching protesters. Back in the USA, Bush has a divided public, with protesting relatives of fallen soldiers camped near his Texas ranch. What Donald Rumsfeld thought would be a walkover is turning into a nightmare.

The only prayer Bush has is to accept that the Iraqis must deal with their own problems. Anymore phone chats to placement pals will only up the temperature in an already overheated Iraq! Oh, and the oil? Let the Iraqis sell it on the open market like any other commodity! Free trade should be the thing, not backroom deals!

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No Pulpit Politics!

Pat Robertson, another "religious" person with a benevolent looking persona but actually being rather hateful to people he dislikes or considers sinful, has delivered a bizarre opinion that the President of Venezuela should be assassinated! The US State Department said the comments were "inappropriate" and did not reflect the policy of the US.

Robertson is probably over-hyping what the US would like to do, but won't, obviously. But where does Pat Robertson get his oddball thinking from? Not from the Gospels, that's for sure!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4178608.stm

http://www.patrobertson.com/

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It Can Only Get Better?

When New Labour came to power in 1997, Tony Blair proclaimed that "things could only get better"! After the lacklustre ending of the John Major government, with sleaze and squabbling at the heart of the Tory Party, Blair's benign overtures to the country seemed to fit well with most people.

Now eight years on, Faded and Jaded Labour has outdone the previous government with jobs for the boys and girls, knighthoods for party donors, and all manner of squalid deals and dodgy policies! These policies usually have some "researcher" or "consultant" offering Blair a reason for doing something. 24 hour licencing of pubs and other premises that sell alcohol is one policy in question.

The Government thinks it is OK to do, to offer 24 hour licenses. So they get in the researchers! One odd-ball outfit is the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC) which is run by a certain Dr. Peter Marsh. His "research" was highlighted in the Mail on Sunday as being of dubious quality. But the telling thing was that when the Mail on Sunday caught up with the good doctor he was actually in a pub and inebriated! He apparently became aggressive, shouting four-letter words! When challenged on his behaviour, he said "It was justifiable belligerence. It's a bit much, having you guys and the photographers turning up." He is pictured in the Mail on Sunday as if he is well plastered!

The question surely must be is whether we want these "researchers" giving their advice to a government that is not that hot on original thought!

http://www.sirc.org/

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Social_Issues_Research_Centre

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On being English in England!

The BBC has over recent years been quite at ease describing the Scots/Scottish as such or the Welsh or the Irish. Even Cornish people get a mention, without any BBC "sense of guilt". However, when the BBC comes to discuss English matters they seem to think that describing anyone or anything as English is tantamout to being "racist". Presenters immediately correct themselves or others if the description English is used. The English have been air-brushed from the land!

So this is an urgent request to the people of England! If anyone has noted or can recall examples of anti-English bias made by the BBC in the recent past could they give details of the instance. We are particularly interested in examples where programme hosts have joked they cannot say the word "English", have been dismissive or insulting of England or the English, or any instance (programmes and perpetrators needed) where (in your opinion) you as an Englishman/woman felt that the BBC was being openly biased, rude or unfair to the English people. We will be submitting a list of complaints to the News side of the BBC, highlighting the marginalisation of English politics, culture and general absence of English orientated reporting.

Any further examples of anti-English behaviour by the BBC should be sent to the English Democrats http://www.englandsparty.com/ and sent to either the Chairman or Vice Chairman. Many thanks!

http://www.englishdemocrats.org.uk/

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Blair in Barbados

Tony Blair decided to go on holiday to Barbados, but fearing that half the world may want to cause him harm or upset his eqilibrium, he told Downing Street not to say where he was. The press were dutifully bound not to tell tales but most reported yesterday his vacation as a hide-and-seek episode.

What a prat we have for a Prime Minister! Once on the island, he decided he would attend a memorial service yesterday to mark the contribution of Barbadians to the Second World War. Today a Number 10 spokeswoman said: "Since the prime minister arrived in Barbados, the Barbados Legion asked the prime minister to attend a memorial service yesterday evening to mark the contribution of Barbadians to the war. The prime minister accepted the invitation to attend. As this was a public event, his protection team accept the location of his holiday will be reported."

So much for not being seen in public! It was a very good thing for him to attend, but his thought processes leave a lot to be desired! The country is sadly too often at the mercy of his topsy-turvy thinking.

It is not only the Prime Minister that needs a holiday. Faded and Jaded Labour needs a permanent vacation!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4173170.stm

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Christian Fundamentalists?

From Jerry Falwell's lips! "I had a student ask me, "Could the savior you believe in save Osama bin Laden?" Of course, we know the blood of Jesus Christ can save him, and then he must be executed." And this rich vein! "We visit prisoners on death row, and some of them are saved, but we believe their sentences should be carried out because they have a debt to society." Jerry Falwell's view on state killing! Doesn't sound very Christian does it? These views are peddled around the USA in total defiance of the Gospel and it is little wonder there is hatred, revenge, envy, mistrust, and fear in the world today!

Understanding the fundamentals of anything is to appreciate the deep-rooted basic nature of the subject in hand. It is certainly not a perverted (literally meaning "turned through") knowledge of a subject. By describing campaigning zealots, who attach to themselves a veneer of Christian doctrines, as "fundamentalists" gives them a status which belittles the true message of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Jerry Falwell is a man with a benign image but has a fairly crude message. This is the man who thought the Teletubbies could corrupt minors! Falwell is always on fine form when attacking militant Islam. His views are that the disaster of 9/11 was something that "God gave to the US because it is what we deserve". This was said to the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club" soon after the terrible event. "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve," he continued to prattle!

Falwell has continued to blame all manner of "enemies" by saying that liberal civil liberties groups, feminists, homosexuals and abortion rights supporters bear partial responsibility for the 9/11 terrorist attacks because their actions have turned God's anger against America.

What I never cease to wonder about these people is that they never think that they may be the problem! "Born-again" Christians think they have a ticket to Heaven, they've paid their dues so where are the best seats in the arena! Doesn't matter what garbage they spout in the meantime, who they offend, who they make cry! No, they're born again!!!!

Christian Life is based on Faith, Hope, and Charity. Charity (meaning love with physical support/aid attached) is the greatest of all. For many of these zealots Charity takes a back seat. As for Hope, well that would be too weak! After all, they know God's will, He helped to bomb America!

If I were a Muslim, I may well begin a paranoia about the "Christian Right" and develop a case for pre-emptive strikes! Much of the Gospel is lost on Falwell!

John 16 tells us this - "You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when those who kill you will think that by doing this they are serving God. People will do these things to you because they have not known either the Father or me. But I have told you this, so that when the time comes for them to do these things, you will remember what I told you. "I did not tell you these things at the beginning, for I was with you." "

Faith is the bedrock, Hope is the mainstay, and Charity is the heart of Christian Life!

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Toranado Update! St.Agatha's Church, Sparkbrook

A T4 graded tornado reaching a speed of 135mph ripped through Birmingham especially Kings Heath, Moseley, Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook. Homes and businesses were destroyed - many local people were probably uninsured. The famous Ladypool Road was closed for over a week. St Barnabas' church lost its roof and is closed pending repairs. St Agatha's suffered some roof damage and damage to the recently restored tower but is very much open for worship. If it hadn't been for the recent restoration the damage may have been much much worse. Unfortunately the neighbouring Ladypool School suffered even more damage.

News pictures
http://www.saintagathas.org.uk/news.shtml

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Turbulent Priests?

The Episcopal Church in the USA is at it again! Another Bishop is asserting his new liberal ascendancy views on a priest that does not find favour with the changed doctrines. The Episcopal Church, the American part of the Anglican Communion, has jumped through several hoops in recent times to come up with a revised set of beliefs and an altered understanding of the sacraments. Those that are unable to accept these novelties are chased down until they eventually leave.

All this is a far cry from the position in the Anglican Communion of "two integrities" and "impaired communion". This was put forward as a way of accommodating difference of belief whilst trying to stay together in love and fellowship.

The Right Reverend Edwin M Leidel, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan, is scrambling to explain his controversial deposition of a priest. The priest in question is Father Eugene Geromel (pictured here). Since the 1990’s, Father Geromel and his congregation, Saint Bartholomew’s Church, Swartz Creek, have been very vocal in their protest against Bishop Leidel’s endorsement of same-sex marriages within his diocese even though same-sex marriages are not permitted by the Canons of the Episcopal Church USA. The parish of Saint Bartholomew’s has argued that Bishop Leidel has abandoned the clear meaning of Holy Scripture in this matter of moral behaviour.

The Bishop has now defrocked the priest! So much for Christian charity! The Episcopal Church is fast resembling the Synagogue of the Libertines, which caused Stephen, the first martyr, much trouble! It is a bit rich for the Bishop to denounce a priest when he himself traduces the Church's own canons!

More on this -
http://www.forwardinfaith.com/artman/publish/article_255.shtml
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/SAINTS/STSTEVN.HTM
http://apostolicity.blogspot.com/

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It's A Crazy World!

Last Monday, at the Magistrates Court in Ormskirk, Lancashire, a convicted arsonist, who has a penchant for setting cars alight, escaped a court order banning her from carrying matches or a cigarette lighter because she had a "human right" to smoke and a ban would have infringed her rights! She was banned from carrying lighter fuel, however! Small comfort for those who are fearful for their cars' safety.

The 23-year old woman's solicitor, in pleading her case in front of the magistrates, successfully argued that her civil liberty would be curtailed. "There are human rights issues. This lady is a smoker. Is she not allowed to smoke in a public place?"

Human rights seem to be cast a bit wide these days in England! It all goes to make the law an ass and those involved with the criminal justice system look decidedly stupid. Let's hope the woman isn't too careless when she next lights up in a public place! A dropped match might cause any amount of damage.

But the craziest thing here is that an arsonist is a bit like an alcoholic. If she sees a nice car in need of a good roasting, having matches on her person will ably assist the temptation! And what about the car owner's "human rights"? Someone should test those in Ormskirk Magistrates Court!

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We're All Mates Now!

In Australia, the Prime Minister, John Howard, has put his foot down over the ban within Parliament's buildings of the use of the word "Mate". After a complaint from a civil servant about informality, guards were told to address everyone as "sir" or "madam".
But the Prime Minister said barring the classic Australian greeting was "absurd and ridiculous". Other politicians were equally dismissive of the drive for gentility. "It's pomposity gone mad," said former Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke, praising the term's flexibility and "nice neutrality". And one of Mr Howard's Liberal Party colleagues, backbencher Bob Baldwin said "I have never seen anything so criminal in all my life. It's part of the Australian vernacular. It's a term of endearment and of mateship."

Well, we all know Australians have used the term "Mate" for a long time! In England, it's more of a challenge! Nowadays, if one walks into a shop, the greeting is more than likely to be "you alright, mate?" which comes across a bit like "what do you want?". The use of "sir" or "madam" is quite quickly leaving our vernacular!

Tony Hancock had an Australian lodger in his fictional abode (the great Bill Kerr) who, by calling Hancock "Tub" and generally being familiar, reduced Hancock to using "mate" as a term of abuse!! Also, Sid James, often used the word as a leveller against Hancock's perceived pomposity! Here is a classic line!

Hancock: I believe the postman has called, go and fetch the letters in.
Sid: You go and get them, what do you think I am? A lackey or something?
Hancock: Until such time as you can pay for your room and board, yes. If you don't like it you can load up your barrow and leave.
Sid: Just wait mate, just wait. One good night at the Dogs and I'm gone.

"Can I help you, sir?" "No thanks, mate, I'm just looking!" Wow, it's catching!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4164808.stm

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A Local Labour Boob!

Down in Portsmouth, a town in which I have three hundred years and more of genealogical connections going back from 1880 to the 1500s, a Labour candidate that could have been, is sitting on the sidelines because of a mix-up by his party.

Andrew Silvester, who lost his seat in Paulsgrove last year, was due to stand for the party for the Drayton and Farlington seat on September 1. But a fax from regional party headquarters to prove he was an official Labour candidate did not come through in time – meaning he cannot take part in the poll. Although the officials at Labour's regional HQ in Reading say they faxed the documents through, they did not appear at the other end. Nobody bothered to check the application had been received – and the discovery was only made at 4pm on Thursday as the deadline for nominations passed. Mr Silvester's campaign manager, former Labour councillor John McIntyre, said: 'We have been coming third in that ward forever, but we apologise to the Labour party members in that area because they will not have a Labour candidate to vote for.'

Well, well!! This now gives the voters of Drayton & Farlington an opportunity to assess the English Democrats. Three candidates are to contest the vacant ward by-election. They are David Knight (English Democrats Putting England First), Stephen Wemyss (The Conservative Party) and Patrick Whittle (Liberal Democrats).

Labour won't be coming third this time, but given a chance the English Democrats could come first, thereby setting Portsmouth alight with fresh ideas and a new direction.

New Labour is fast spinning itself nationally into Faded & Jaded Labour! The English Democrats offer the people of England a fresh start by putting them first!

http://www.englishdemocrats.org.uk/

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Sir Ian Blair - You're Fired!

The death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the young Brazilian shot by police on a London tube train, is indeed proving a tragedy. Leaked documents from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) suggest that the Metropolitan Police have been rather lax in their version of events and appallingly slack in their policing methods. We will have to wait for the IPCC to conclude their deliberations but this evidence flies in the face of what Sir Ian Blair, the Police Commissioner, said happened at the time. Either he decided to spin the facts or he was just making it up as he went along. He certainly was not told the real facts and didn't tell us either!

The problem here is mind-numbingly awful! A man is killed because the police, in a jumpy reaction to terrible events, appear not to have proper procedures in place.

Here is the scenario!

1. Police have block of flats under surveiilance. They think they have identified "terrorists".
2. They don't seem to know who really lives in ALL the flats.
3. A young man leaves flats, officer reacts (but then has a pee so can't take video evidence!).
4. Same young man walks normally to bus stop to take bus to Stockwell Tube Station.
5. He walks normally into the station, picks up a free paper, and gets on train.
6. Officers then pump seven bullets into him and he is DEAD!

What are we to make of all this? So far, the police communication of "evidence", from the first officer through to the "shooters" appears to be a version of Chinese Whispers! What we all want to know is what sort of systems are in place to keep our streets safe? They appear disastrously defective! The officer having the pee will surely have a lot on his mind! His description of Menezes was very seriously wrong. Another troubling matter is the information given to the press by police officers in the heat of the moment. In this case, it all seems to be wrong. Menezes was doomed from the moment he left the flat!

Sir Ian Blair will come under pressure. Forget any questions at length. Do as Donald Trump or Alan Sugar would say "Ian Blair. You're Fired!"

ITN NEWS link - excellent piece!
http://www.itn.co.uk/news/312121.html

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Flying the Flag?

<< The Devon Flag flies high!!


If one is American then flying the flag is as natural as eating apple pie or driving the freeway. It's part of the culture. Most American homes fly a flag in one way or another, even if it just hangs from a window. In England, however, it is a different matter. Pointyheads from the local council have always decided that this is something they decide on, and in some councils where "foreign" ideas hold sway, a householder can expect a knock on the door from a clipboard-carrying character who points out that it is "against the law"!

In some areas the Union Flag is deemed racist, in others the English flag is seen as devisive. I would say "Evil to him who evil thinks" which is the motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Pense" of King Edward III. Patriotism is not the same as naked aggressive nationalism, which these sorry busybodies confuse with ease.

The new Devon flag came in for some flak! Regional flags like those in Devon, devised by BBC Devon Online users, and Cornwall's flag of St Piran, are classed as advertising and need planning consent. Advertising what exactly? A regional version of British Airways? Let's get all this nonsense put aside and let's be proud of our heritage!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/community_life/features/devon_flag_ban.shtml

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BBC - Where's Yorkshire?

The BBC has gone totally towards accepting the "regions" of England. Lincolnshire is conveniently cut in two, with the larger part described as being in the Midlands (well, "East Midlands"!) and the northern part is tacked on to Yorkshire! And what of Yorkshire? As with other organisations, Yorkshire is split between North, South and West Yorkshire. The BBC sticks to "The Humber" which was Humberside and there is an area now called "East Yorkshire". For those wanting details of the true Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Ridings Society has all the facts!

I particularly like the declaration for all Yorkshire people -

The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity

"I, (your name), being a resident of the [West/North/East] Riding of Yorkshire [or City of York] declare;that Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York, with these Boundaries of 1124 years standing;that the address of all places in these Ridings is Yorkshire;that all persons born therein or resident therein and loyal to the Ridings are Yorkshire-men and women;that any person or corporate body which deliberately ignores or denies the aforementioned shall forfeit all claim to Yorkshire status.

The Society is an organisation all good folk of Yorkshire should consider joining. In 19 years time, in 2024, Yorkshire will be 900 years old! Something well worth celebrating! Let's celebrate the real Yorkshire and not a hacked about one.

http://www.yorkshire-ridings.org.uk/

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Abu Ghraib - an image problem!

<< Donald Rumsfeld checks out who checks in at Abu Ghraib


We're back to the US Government having qualms over telling the truth. Now it is trying to stop fresh images of prisoner abuse in Iraq being made public, claiming they will aid the insurgency. This is a bit rich. It is tantamount to saying that the insurgents may have a justification for, at least, complaining about the abuse. Court papers show that the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Richard Myers, argues that releasing the pictures will give ammunition to the insurgents.

The question any judge should ask is, "What did General Myers know and when did he know it?". A lot is being hidden and the truth will out eventually.

Iraq has proved a rotten egg for the United States and the United Kingdom. Tony Blair has more of the egg on his face today. Lord Goldsmith, the worthy Attorney-General, said war with Iraq was legal. E-mails sent by a key Tony Blair aide about the legality of invading Iraq are to remain secret, it has been claimed. Downing Street is aiming to keep them under wraps.

What all this says is that we have a set of governments that are preaching democracy to the Arabs but all the while abusing the truth and spinning the facts. No wonder Arabs think we are meddling unnecessarily in their affairs!

http://www.antiwar.com/news/?articleid=2444
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4150008.stm

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Flying Farce!

British Airways has another August dispute on its hands. The present trouble is due to Gate Gourmet, the suppliers of the in-flight food, summarily sacking around 600 workers. They needed to do this to "save the company" apparently. Interesting that Gate Gourmet's website is currently seeking to employ quite a few "chiefs". Have they got it right by sacking the "indians"?

BA is embroiled in all this because the baggage handlers at Heathrow came out in sympathy. May not be legal under current laws, but what's new? Rod Eddington, Chief Executive of BA, said "It is a matter of huge disappointment that we have become embroiled in an issue which is not a dispute with British Airways and disrupted thousands of people who were about to take their hard-earned summer holidays." Sounds like it's nothing to do with him. Well, BA did a deal with Gate Gourmet over the meals, didn't they? What price did they pay?

The trouble with all this is that state-owned mindsets still operate with the Heathrow workforce. The directors who bought into BAA (formerly British Airports Authority) and British Airways (formerly the state owned British Airways) have not yet got into the new century by having a workforce that is at ease with itself. Until they all get into a "win-win" situation, BA will being crying crodile tears every August from now on!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4142408.stm
http://www.gategourmet.com/797.asp

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Hopalong Blair's Outlaw's Law!

<<< JAPANESE-AMERICAN INTERNEES OF WW2 LOOKING OUT FROM THEIR CAMP!

Tony Blair is at it again! Policy on the hoof. No wonder the opposition parties are carefully scrutinising his words and those of his hapless ministers. The now non-grinning Hazel Blears is championing new definitions for "ethnic minorities". She should know that being British is about an understanding of shared cultural and social behaviours. It is not about racial or religious background. The British are the people that live in the British Isles. We don't speak "British", we don't have a "Britishland"! It is a wonderful concept of combining cultures and groups into a wider geo-political unit. Ms Blears is barking up the wrong tree!

These remarks have naturally caused offence in certain quarters. If Blair wants to stop Islamic extremism he needs to think before he or his ministers speak. The latest wheeze against terrorism is the idea of secret terror courts, where "specially vetted" judges (what of the notion of "His Honour"?), who can be trusted to keep secrets, will hear police and MI5/6 evidence. Suspects will be detained for much longer than the present two weeks.

Unless there is real scrutiny here and a proper recognition of due process, Blair's knee-jerk type of solution will end in possible miscarriages of justice.

In 1942, the United States rounded up all Japanese-Americans, even those that were 4th and 5th generation and had no understanding or appreciation of Japan. Virtually none of them sympathised with the Japanese aggression. They were interned in camps! Today, people are being rounded up and sent to Guantanamo Bay. Some are guilty, some are not. However, due process of law has passed them by!

Tony Blair, a funny kind of lawyer, is quick to cobble a law together. Having let the genie out of the bottle with inept control of militant islamists, immigration policy, and school agendas, he seems blythe to the fact that Muslims ARE upset in the present situation. He acts as if they have no legitimate grievances. There is no excuse for criminal mass killing by terrorists, but there is a justification for addressing grievances and injustice.

Where's the Road Map going?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4133564.stm

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Robin Cook - Stimulating Politician

The death of Robin Cook came as a great shock. Sudden death is always something of a blow to the system. The brain slightly disengages on hearing the news. Now, with 24 hour rolling news, it is a subject that is reported literally minutes after the event.

So one heard of the brilliant political animal, the loner in Parliament, the incisive mind, and passion for horse racing. John McCririck, pictured here with Robin Cook, has spoken of Cook's love of the sport of kings. McCririck would not be seen anywhere with a prissy prickly stuffed shirt as a companion, and his comments have laid to rest any suggestion that Robin Cook was not fun. McCririck said "He was so intellectually stimulating and your brain came alive when you were with him." Great tribute indeed! Any politician who can go to the races, then look through a huge tome on the Scott Report in just two hours, and then make mincemeat of the Government as was, will earn the respect of his peers. Robin Cook did that!

Now it has also been said that Robin Cook decided against standing as a leadership candidate after John Smith died. Frank Dobson MP confirmed today that Cook felt he was not telegenic enough. Interesting that! Robin Cook once said that he thought Tony Blair got a high out of taking political events to the wire. If Cook was intellectually stimulating, then Blair would have had little impact on the stimuli.

Blair was elected leader on the fact that he looked good. I think we all know now that that is a very weak premise for leadership ability. If Robin Cook had been leader would we be in Iraq now? Would we be having ID cards? Would fox hunting be banned? Would Alistair Campbell have bossed the Prime Minister around? Would the sleazy business men have got through the door of Number 10? Would Peter Mandelson being oiling the works in Brussels? Who knows?

Robin Cook never made Prime Minister and maybe we should all reflect on whether it's looks or ability we want in political leadership!

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Good Grades? Well Executed!

The United States has a wonderful sense of instant friendliness and family bonding. Visits to people are open and welcoming. But just like all countries in the world, there are downsides. The one downside I feel infects this American ability to promote relationships is their attitude to punishment and justice.

There has never been in the United States proper civilised justice. From the Salem witch trials, to the lynchings of the South, the farce of the OJ Simpson trial (more box office than courtroom justice!) to the shame of Guantanomo Bay! Justice is always battling hard against Revenge.

A jury in the US state of Virginia has decided that a man with learning difficulties on death row is intelligent enough to be executed. This just shows the minds of the legislators and jurists! Pondering over the minutiae of execution methods and who is suitable for the sentence. A far cry from the Sermon on the Mount! What if the Disciples had discussed this in the way it is in the USA? America is a "religious" country but not necessarily a Christian one.

Most death row inmates are people with mentally retarding problems. Most Americans have an ostrich-like approach to the subject. They want a religion that makes one happy, gives status, and raises money for charitable causes. They are decidly uncomfortable when asked direct questions about the "wretched" in society.

Daryl Atkins has just passed the test. His IQ is good enough for him to be put to sleep! A bit like a sick dog at the vets. I know he did wrong and a prison sentence is correct! But killing does no good and has no effect on future crimes by others. It only serves to give a "feelgood factor" to "ordinary Americans"!

Pontius Pilate had doubts about execution! A pity the jury in Virginia held such rigid views!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4126154.stm
http://www.internationaljusticeproject.org/retardationDatkins.cfm

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Mr.Pastry and Mr.Bolton!

So George Bush has won the day and John Bolton has been appointed American Ambassador to the United Nations. All this despite the grumblings and groanings of the senate. It might be a short-lived appointment, though, if those senators decide to revisit the issue!

All the time Mr.Bush has been extolling the virtues of Mr.Bolton I couldn't help thinking that I had seen this guy somewhere before. Yes, I got it! He looked the very image of Richard Hearn's character Mr.Pastry. From what has be written and told about Mr.Bolton, he would appear quite a tough cookie. Not one that would come naturally as a slapstick comedian!

George Bush appeared today with Mr.Bolton, grinning like the cat that got the cream! No pantomine this, but it would have been nice if the journalists had shouted "He's behind you!" "Where" goes Bush. "Behind you!" If only. Would have brought back childhood memories of Mr.Pastry - truly!

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