Agenda 2019

 The faces of British politics 2015. Take your pick I have not voted for many years, since just before Blair, Mandellson, Campbell and Brown destroyed the Labour Party in fact. From being an active party member, CLP chair, Council Group Leader, PPC, and a number of other posts, I became party less, as no political group matched my views on society or any of the other issues which I considered to be essential. It was not a case of me deserting the Labour party, but more the Labour party deserting me as it lurched off to the ri ght in pursuit of perceived popularity and electoral victory at any price, rather than political belief. I never subscribed to the argument that being in politics was about winning elections at any price rather than campaigning for a fair and democratic society where people were more important than corporations and collective well being was more important than greed and self interest. There is however a political manifesto in thi...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/29/tories-promise-tax-lock-in-latest-move-to-combat-labour Tories promise 'tax lock' in latest move to combat Labour Prime Minister  has seriously lost the plot This must be the most crassly ludicrous, ridiculous, patronising promise, pledge, or undertaking made by any politician (so far) of any party during this election campaign. To even consider that the electorate will accept this nonsense demonstrates that this Prime Minister who is seeking another term in the office, has seriously lost the plot and had his powers of logic and reasoning damaged beyond repair by "sitting in one place for too long". There is absolutely no reaso n to believe that a Chancellor of the Exchequer of any party would commit to a five year period of income tax freezes on all income bands, freezing duties on all goods and services, freezing VAT rates or any of the other fiscal tools when proposing annual their budg...

  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/11565524/Housebuilders-hit-by-Ed-Milibands-rent-control-plans.html Labour's housing plans wipe nearly £200m off value of UK home builders Modest plans wipe £200 million off value of Britain's house builders. How strange it is that a political party's plans to assist potential house buyers and to offer some rent controls as relief to those families renting their homes should cause such alarm and despondency among Britain's house building companies as almost £200 million is wiped off the value of their companies. It seems that the possibility of some controls in the housing sector, no matter how modest, can cause such alarm in "the markets" as they contemplate some reductions in their already inflated "margins". What is not strange however, is the fact that a rabid right wing rag such as "The Telegraph" should place such great emphasis on the drop in sha...

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/a380-celebrates-first-decade-in-flight--but-how-long-will-it-last-10205583.html Aviation history is littered with failures - not just the fatally flawed Comet 1, the hopelessly timed Bristol Brabazon and the terminally unviable Concorde.   (Simon Calder. Travel Correspondent for the Independent) Concord. Murdered by the United States aviation industry   The Concord was not a failure. It was a wonderful aircraft in concept, design and build and was far in advance of anything then on the market. The Concord was, in fact, murdered by the American government and the American aircraft manufacturing lobby led by Boeing. At that time the Boeing SST design and build programme was at least 6 years behind the Aerospatiale BAC joint venture to build a supersonic passenger aircraft. Similarly, the Rolls Royce/SNECMA engines were ahead of the Pratt and Whitney engines for the Boeing aircraft. For these reasons, and...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/27/labour-pledge-stamp-duty-house-purchases-first-time-buyers Labour pledges to abolish stamp duty on house purchases for first-time buyers Labour to cut stamp duty on homes under £300k for first time buyers Help for "first time buyers" and curbs on rent increases. Two measures seeking to attract votes but will do nothing to resolve the problem. For Miliband and all of the other politicians paying lip service to the housing crisis with half baked useless cliches, the message is a simple one. Stop fiddling with the margins and address the fundamental issue. We desperately need more housing in all sectors, but especially in the rented sector be it private or social. The parties sho uld commit to (and deliver) 300,000 new homes with at least 80% for rented accommodation built for local authorities or housing associations. The "right to buy" nonsense should be scrapped and the "cap" on r...

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/25/greeks-view-of-debt-crisis-great-hardship#comment-51044145 Greeks’ view of the debt crisis: ‘What lies ahead is great, great hardship’ Syriza-led coalition government "Three months on from Alexis Tsipras’s victory, hope is ebbing away and support for his party is haemorrhaging" screams the headline. Just goes to show how in the war of propaganda, the Troika, Brussels, European bankers, Angela Merkel, the IMF and no doubt assisted by CIA "advisers", the anti Alexis Tsipras will descend to any depth to discredit the new Greek government, without any consideration of the truth. Perhaps these organistions would prefer a "coup" in Greece and new elections in the hope that the outcome will produce a government more subservient to them than to the Greek people.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/25/election-2015-parties-under-pressure-to-reveal-detail-of-cuts#comment-51043634 Voters want straight answers on where the welfare axe will fall Tories refuse to say exactly what they will cut   Why should the British people trust any politician asking for a "blank cheque"? From the evidence of their actions over previous years, the lies, the deceit, the duplicity of their broken promises, the mutual support to force through divisive and punitive measures in the name of austerity, they have demonstrated contempt for the electorate. Trust? They could not be trusted to run a coconut stall at the local village fete.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-hit-by-stealth-cuts-of-2bn-as-tariffs-received-for-medical-procedures-are-reduced-10204414.html NHS hit by stealth cuts of £2bn Warning bells sound as spending on agency nurses soars In 2014, the South West area NHS Trusts of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset alone, spent £34 million on obtaining Agency nursing from private companies. There is every reason to believe that similar and even greater sums in a number of other NHS Trusts around the country. WHY?

  http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jill-dando-secret-files-revealed-5437428#ICID=sharebar_twitter Jill Dando secret files revealed: Murder defence team never saw key profiles Jill Dando (9 November 1961 – 26 April 1999)do Who killed Jill Dando and why was she murdered? In the 1990's, Jill Dando prepared a file alleging that 'big name stars' and BBC staff were involved in abuse. The BBC have since denied any knowledge of the file. In view of developments and revelations over recent years, perhaps the BBC should have another look for the file and the police should investigate another line of enquiry.

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/major-medical-journal-lancet-under-attack-for-extremist-hate-propaganda-over-its-coverage-of-the-israelipalestinian-conflict-10199892.html The Lancet under attack for 'extremist hate propaganda' over its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Damage at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, shelled by the Israeli army on July 21, 2014,   An article in the Lancet, deemed to be critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, with some complaining it was “anti-Jewish bigotry”, demonstrates how Jews are protected by law from discrimination,anti semitism and abuse in the media or elsewhere. They occupy a place within society that is probably unique, in terms of laws and restrictions being applied for the protection of a minority, which is not afforded to any other group or religion. By continually playing "the Holocaust card" or numerous variations of it, Tel Aviv and those who unre...

https://youtu.be/b8sV1WTJbs4 Video: “Death to the Arabs” march forces its way through occupied Jerusalem Demonstration was part of the “Tour of the Gates” through the of the Old City. This video is as disgusting as it is disturbing. In many countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Jews are protected by law from discrimination,anti semitism and abuse in the media or elsewhere. They occupy a place within society that is probably unique, in terms of laws and restrictions being applied for the protection of a minority, which is not afforded to any other group or religion. However, this demonstration in occupied East Jerusalem, with the demonstrators chanting "Death to the Arabs" specifically targeted at Palestinians passes unnoticed be the western media and not mentioned by politicians who should be protesting to the Israeli government. Again, a case of "Israel can do no wrong" is the overriding factor in this countries relationship wi...

  http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/22/food-bank-users-uk-low-paid-workers-poverty  More than a million people have used food banks in past year figures showing a 19% rise year-on-year is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’   This story should provoke outrage and shame, that in the first quarter of the 21st Century people are forced to use charities to feed their families.From some of the posts in the comments section however, it is clearly obvious that the policies of this govevernment and the associated propaganda, have suceeded in promoting an atmosphere of demonisation of foodbank users and divisions within our society. The bile and venom of many posters against those, many of whom are working but still qualify for benifits, who rely on food charites, is appaling, spiteful and ill informed. The place of foodbanks in our society is sadly a necessity and will not go away anytime soon. In fact it is clearly obvious that the numbers of our p...

  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/21/saudi-arabia-airstrikes-yemen-military-campaign-end Saudi Arabia declares end to Yemen air strikes after four weeks of bombing People gather near the rubble of houses destroyed by Saudi air strikes   Saudi Arabia ends its month long air camapign.The net result has acheived nothing except the deaths of countless numbers of civilians and even more hostility towards the regime in Riyadh and the ruling family, both in Yemen and amongst the vast majority of Saudi Arabian people. The Saudi government and the royal family however have more than enough of the most up to date western supplied weaponary and aircraft to maintain control within their own borders and now have the addition of the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the cruiser USS Normandy to bolster their defences against the perceived "threat" of Iran. The Yanks are comming! USS Theodore Roosevelt The paranoid mentality of ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/ousted-egyptian-president-mohammed-morsi-jailed-for-20-years-over-the-death-of-protesters-10191546.html Mohamed Morsi: Ousted Egyptian president jailed for 20 years      Mohamed Morsi: Egypt's first freely elected leader Bloody outrageous. The Show trials set up by the Al-Sisi dictatorship claims another victim. The democtatically elected Presisident of Egypt, overthrown in a Coup instigated by Al-Sisi and supported and encouraged by the United States has avoided the death penalty but faces 20 years in prison. The "Democracies" of the world particularly the United States, should hang their heads in shame at this insult to the principle of justice and their part in supporting the growing excesses of the Al-Sisi cabal. This is a bad day for democracy.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/greville-janner-connection-between-dpp-and-lords-qc-son-raises-questions-over-decision-not-to-prosecute-him-over-sex-abuse-allegations-10190005.html   Connection between DPP and Lord's QC son raises questions over decision not to prosecute him over sex abuse allegations Greville Janner and son Daniel Janner As each day passes, the decision not to prosecute Greville Janner in connection with his alledged involvement in over 22 child sex allegations during his time as Labour MP, becomes more extraordinary and bizzare. Greville Janner escapes any conseqences of his alleged child abuse activities dating back over many years, as he is suffering from dementia, a condition which has apparently deteriorated since police searched his home and he first became a suspect. However, right up until December 2013, he was fit enough to attend the House of Lords and claim the associated expenses. It seems that investigation and prosecutio...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-tesco-chairman-john-allan-slams-tory-plan-for-eu-referendum-10187367.html Tesco chairman John Allan slams Tory plan for an EU referendum       I am getting very fed up with "business leaders" or other pundits banging on about what may (or may not) be "Bad for businesses" in a referendum on our membership of the European Union and any subsequent decision about leaving, if that is what the outcome might produce. The only question which should be considered is what is good for the British people, be that remaining as a member or leaving. Politicians of all parties should get away from their obssesions with "business" and concentrate on the best interest people they were elected to represent.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-lib-dem-plan-for-danny-alexander-to-keep-cabinet-post-if-they-forge-another-coalition-with-tories-10187353.html Danny Alexander could retain his Cabinet post in a second coalition government even if he loses his seat in the Scottish Highland Lord Danny of Aviemore? Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has demonstrated over the last 5 years, the performance of a man promoted far above the level of his abilities. He has also been less than impressive during interviews and his dealings with the media generally and until very recently been an obediant puppy for Osborne. According to the latest predictions, Danny Alexander will loose his seat on May 7th. Master and man Hopefully, only the Liberal Democrats can dream up a proposal to elevate this lacklustre failure to the House of Lords in order to retain his "abilities" in a futre coalition with ...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/one-million-britons-using-food-banks-according-to-trussell-trust-10186142.html  Food banks: One million Britons will soon be using them, according to Trussell Trust   The figure of 1 million people relying on food banks is now almost reached. It has arrived rather sooner than many people predicted only months ago and is indicative of a scandal which indicates poverty in this country is increasing no matter what Osborne, the coaltion and the IMF may try to convince us about the economy is improving and that government economic policy is on the right track and that things are getting better. No matter what government statisiics, graphs, fig ures, "finacial organisations" or other experts may try to deceive us with, the reality is that more and more people are falling victim to the pernicious,vindictive and divisive policies of this wretched government and its idealogical campaign against ordinary peopl...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/16/miliband-sturgeon-final-tv-debate-anti-tory-coalition   Miliband tells Sturgeon in final TV debate: I won't do a deal with you      Miliband has been deflected from the real and only issue. The real enemy to working people in this country is not Sturgeon and the SNP. The enemy is Cameron, Osborne, Iain Duncan-Smith,Sourby and the hundred or so other Conservative MP's who have plagued working people in this country with punative and divisive policies aimed particularly at the sick and disabled, the unemplyed (and I include those on zero hour contracts) anyone claiming benifits, and certainly those 1 million people who are reliant on Foodbanks and other charities to feed their families. It is the prime responsibilty and the duty of the Labour party (at least a Labour party that I would recgognise) to oppose with every means at their disposal the pernicious excesses of capitalism and the Con...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/16/miliband-sturgeon-final-tv-debate-anti-tory-coalition Labour leader rejects SNP leader’s offer of an anti-Tory coalition, saying risk to the UK is too great Ed Miliband says that the risks in an Anti Tory coalition "are too great" ! This bacon sandwich munching cartoon chracter is clearly not on the same planet as the benifit claiming people on zero hour contracts, or the disabled who have had their beifits cut,or the people "sanctioned" by the DWP gestapo or the people forced out of their home by bedroom taxes or the thousand of people deserted by the Labour party over the last few decades and the 1 million people plus who are now reliant on foodbanks and other charites. Ed you are wrong. It is the risks of the Tories that are "too great" to the British people that you should be considering. A coaltion, arrangement, understanding call it what you will against t...

  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/15/lib-dems-only-alternative-coalition-snp-or-ukip-nick-clegg#comment-50468320 Lib Dems are only alternative to 'coalition of grievance', says Nick Clegg  Party leader says Liberal Democrats would offer conscience and stability in coalition after 7 May     . He has said his party is the only stable choice at the election.     The comments of a man desparate to retain the position and priviledges he has enjoyed over the last five years. The ministerial car, the inflated salary, the title of "Deputy" Prime minister, the expenses, the seat at the cabinet table and the perceived kudos would all be lost unless Clegg can weasle his way into another coalition with whoever would be prepared to take him. He is one of those people who would be prepared to prostitute themselves and every principle they may once have held in exchange for their perception of power. The problem of course is that Clegg was...

  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/14/tory-election-manifesto-right-to-buy-housing-association-properties#comment-50412507 David Cameron: "The dream of the property owning democracy is alive, and that the Conservatives “are the party of working people, offering you security at every stage of your life”.   The "right to buy" policies of Thatcher some 30 years ago is one of the root causes of the present housing crisis in this country. The fundemental problem of the present crisis is not a matter of being able to buy, but more importantly it is a matter of having sufficient homes for purchase or rent available in the "market". However, zero hour contracts and an overall decline in wages and salaries ability to purchase is a major factor. The sooner that political parties of all persuasions are prepared to ditch their hypocritical cynicism and tackle the problem rather than seek to gain electoral advantage with vague promises and soundbi...

A nice ship, but a shame about the onboard organisation Condor Liberation.                         Condor Libertion, the new (well almost new) addition to the Condor fleet, is a fine ship, bigger than Vitesse and Express operating out of Weymouth, which it replaces and with a larger vehile capacity. The lounges provide panoramic views from comfortable seating and with even more comforts in the "Traveller plus" and "Club" lounges. There I am afriad, all praise finishes. There may have been reasons for the chaos on the crossing of 10th April 2015. For example, the Liberation collided with the docking peir in Guernsey on her maiden voyage out of Poole on the 27th March and was taken out of service for over a week for repairs to the hull. Then, upon returning to service, she deloped and engine fault with a further fault on the forward engine control unit which apparently has to be replaced with a unit being...

Holiday Inn Express. Poole. Holiday Inn Express. Poole As frequent travellers to Jersey in the Channel Islands,we have often used the Holiday Inn as a nightly stop over for the early morning ferry service. More so now as the Condor Ferry organisation has left Weymouth and now operates only from Poole.Having booked accommodation some months previously, we arrived on Thursday (9the April) afternoon to cathch the Condor Liberation the next morning. (Now there is another story). As a member of the IHG Club, the usual formalities had already been completed and all we needed to do was to sign the registration documentation. The first suprise was that I was presented with another bill for an extra £5 for "car parking" overnight. In all my experience of Holiday Inn visits, I have never been charged to park the car! The £5 cost is neither here nor there as it is the principle which is important, particularly as the reason for this new charge is that "the landowner has in...

The massacre at Deir Yassin.    The Palestinian village of Deir Yassin was attacked on the 9th April 1948 by Jewish terrorists (Israel did not exist until the declaration of 14th May 1948) of the Irgun and Lehi terrorist groups supported by a Palmach mortar unit of the Haganah, another Jewish terrorist organisation. Around 170 Palestinian civilians, including women and children, were killed, with the survivors being loaded on trucks and driven off for a “victory” parade.     These terrorist groups were subsequently absorbed into the Israeli Defence Forces and have continued their programmes of terrorism, aggression and ethnic cleansing against the people in the occupied lands of Palestine ever since and the world turns a blind eye. Deir Yassin (closed to the public) in the green trees to the right of the water tower “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/06/nick-clegg-george-osborne-is-a-very-dangerous-man Nick Clegg: George Osborne is a very dangerous man Clegg sees the light?   It is not a case of Clegg seeing the light, because he always knew that this was the reality. He just wanted the ministerial car, the additional salary, the personal kudos, the seat at the cabinet table and all the other perks of a "coalition honey pot". The real reason for this sudden revelation is that Clegg wants everyone to forget what a lying, duplicitous hypocrite he actually is, who prostituted himself and the party he leads in exchange for the "privileges" of office. Two words sum up Clegg and should be his epitaph. Tuition fees.

http://news.sky.com/story/1458906/tories-pledge-1980s-style-housing-revolution   Conservatives promise to get half a million first-time buyers onto the property ladder every year.  Another political party, today it is the Conservatives turn, promising to get 500,000 "First time buyers" onto the housing ladder every year. Again the emphasis of out of touch politicians in centered on the "First time buyer" in the hope of attracting votes in exchange for vague promises. No mention is made of those who for what ever reason are unable to even contemplate buying their own home or those who for whatever reason may choose not to buy, but to rent. George Osborne "hard at work" The political bankruptcy of the politicians who pay lip service to the provision of housing while cynically seeking to attract votes is staggering. As I said yesterday when commenting on Miliband's latest offering, "nowhere near enough" an...