Agenda 2019

An inspiring Conference.     In a hundred years from now, this blog will be studied by analysts and students seeking guidance and inspiration or alternatively (and perhaps most likely) the Blog, its content and its author will have been "consigned to the dustbin of history", as Leon Trotsky and Ronald Reagan once said. However, all were written by me on the dates shown but were not sent to Brighton for inclusion in the speech, so the Telegraph will not be able to raise the criticism that they are old text. Ironically, you could argue (and I probably will at some point), that had Kinnock, Blair, Brown and Milliband minor actually used some of the text sent to them as alleged in the media, they might have been rather more successful with their conference speeches and not bored the pants off the assembled delegates. Incidentally, on the subject of delegates, have you noticed how many delegates and visitors are actually at conference? I have never see...

Sky News reporting the "truth"    Faisal Islam: Sky News. Faisal Islam is the Political Editor of Sky News. He is also compteing with Adam Boulton, Sophy Ridge, Dermot Murnaghan, Gillian Joseph, Samantha Simmonds and a few others, for the rather dubious award of being the most biased, and obnoxious "presenter" on SkyNews. His "reports" from Brighton yesterday, covering the Labour Party Conference were riddled with snide remarks targeting members of the Labour party, biased and distorted reports of conference speeches (especially John McDonnell's speech) and carefully selected passers by being solicited for their views and comments on conference debates. Whatever the Sky News agenda actually is, Faisal Islam certainly provides a significant contribution of political bias to it.

   The media and television of today, just "spin machines" for government and the "establishment".         At one time, journalism was held to be a noble and honourable profession. Historically, investigative journalists have exposed corruption, criminal actions, scandals, political intrigue and numerous other offences, and have held individuals, corporations and governments accountable for their actions. I have written elsewhere, how when I was a boy, I always wanted to be a newspaper reporter a Fleet Street journalist, (as they were then know), exposing greed and corruption at all levels within our society. However, today, particularly after recent and current events, I would be ashamed to admit to anyone that I worked in or was in any way, associated with journalism. The media today, particularly over recent months, has become nothing more than a mouthpiece for vested interests in business and or a political tool fo...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/28/labour-biggest-public-housebuilding-drive-since-1970s Labour considers biggest social house building drive since 70s Why hasn't this happened for 35 years? Successive governments over those years, (and even before then), have had an interest in maintaining a "housing shortage". A shortage in the homes for purchase sector, stimulates demand and thereby increases the price level. Government duplicity in promoting schemes and incentives like right to buy, first time buyer grants,buy to rent,"affordable houses" and the rest are nothing more than a gesture for public consumption and do nothing to address the real problem. In the rented sector, the situation is even more chronic. Local councils have by government directive and some by their own volition, abandoned their historic function of providing rented accommodation within their areas. Many council houses have been s...

  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/26/jeremy-corbyn-trident-what-it-takes-to-be-pm        I will not be forced out by my own MP's.           The MP's who are considering staging a "revolt" should also consider that Jeremy Corbyn received over 251,000 votes, or 60% of the votes cast by the membership of the party. In addition to this, around 78,000 people have joined the Labour party since 12th September and many of those, I would suggest, joined because of their support for Jeremy Corbyn. Many Constituency Parties (the CLP's) endorsed Corbyn's nomination on the ballot paper, and of the others who chose to endorse another candidate or not to make any endorsement, many have a significant number of members who do support the new leader. The Parliamentary Labour Party (the PLP) MP's would do well to recognise, whether they like it or not, that there is a new way of doing things in the Labour Party an...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/25/john-mcdonnell-labour-will-match-osborne-and-live-within-our-means  Shadow chancellor says party will vote in favour of Tories’ fiscal charter( but will take radically different approach on cutting deficit) Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell Interesting to note how the Guardian and many people in this "comments" section of this article, leap onto the words "Labour will match Osborne" and yet ignore the remainder. It is like being transported back a few weeks when this "newspaper" together with most of the media and television, would grasp a few words, take them completely out of context then invent their own story in an attempt to discredit and smear Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters. Today, the Guardian continues this smear and discredit campaign, but this time the target of their distortion is John McDonnell. The paper screams the headline, but conspicuously omits the "but will take radica...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homelessness-soars-40-under-tories-6506576           Homelessness soars 40% under the Tories - and charities blame welfare cuts         Criminal outrage. This country desperately requires the construction of 700,000 new homes of which 80% must be social housing. In the 21st Century it is indefensible that people are living in overcrowded conditions, are unable to find accommodation either for rent or purchase, or are homeless on the streets of our town and cities.   Crisis:  UK faces the biggest housing shortage since WWI    It is a moral and social outrage and successive governments should be ashamed of their failures to address this affront civilised society.

  http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/24/hs2-bidding-process-opened-up-chinese-companies HS2 bidding process to be opened up to Chinese companies I am not asupporter of HS2. Having said that, I appreciate that the contract will be very attractive to elements within the conservative party not least of all to Cameron and Osborne who no doubt see substantial opportunities for they and their business and city "friends " to make vast sums of money for themselves and by various backdoor avenues, for the coffers of the Conservative party. As usual for prjoects of this size and nature, the British tax payers, that is you and me, will fork out huge sums, at the latest guesstimate somewhere in excess of £43billion, on the promise of hundreds of jobs for the UK economy and being "good for Britain and British travellers". This may sound all very well, but is of course complete nonsense. The reality is that sometime soon, some currently obscure Chinee...

  http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/09/jeremy-corbyn-interview-leader-strikes-back   Corbyn’s first week as leader was more shambolic than either his supporters or his opponents had anticipated.     No leader has ever won office with a larger mandate       Shambolic? Increase of 58000+ in Labour party membership since the leadership election result was announced, defections to Labour from other parties,wide spread public support for Labour policies on transport, housing, defence spending and other issues (despite what the Independent, Guardian, Sky News and other elements of the media may try to tell you) Conservative government ripped to shreds in the Trade Union Bill debate, (The Parliamentary Labour party may have lost the vote, but there is no shadow of doubt that they won the arguments.), far from being "shambolic" the first 12 days (is that really all it is?) of Jeremy Corbyn leading the Labour Party have been...

  http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/21/entrepreneur-defends-raise-price-daraprim-drug Entrepreneur defends decision to raise price of life-saving drug 50-fold.   The price of the drug Daraprim, which treats a dangerous parasitic infection was raised from $13.50 (£8.72) per pill to $750 (484.68) per pill.   Martin Shkreli at his office in New York. This is what capitalism is all about. Greed, exploitation and selfishness to make the greatest amount of money possible at the expense of all those other people who are not in a position to resist. Some people try to tell us that the class war is over. Tell that to the million and more people reliant on foodbanks, or the hundreds of thousands on zero hours contracts, or the sick waiting for medical appointments due to cuts, or the homeless who will never be able to afford a home of their own or even a rented home , or the disabled forced to into poverty, or working families having th...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/jeremy-corbyn-will-not-spark-defections-from-the-labour-party--just-a-civil-war-10509520.html Jeremy Corbyn will not spark defections from the Labour Party - just a civil war John Rentoul   In his article on Monday 14th September, John Rentoul demonstrated his acute disappointment, pique and frustration that his preference gained little support in the Labour party leadership contest. Today his article, in another thinly veiled criticism of Jeremy Corbyn, argues that the election of Corbyn will not spark defections from the Labour Party, just a civil war. Rentoul goes on to state that “Left-winger's internal opponents do not want to abandon ship for the Lib Dems, but they do want their party back”, conveniently ignoring the simple truism, that in fact the party “belongs” to its members, and not an elitist clique within the Parliamentary Labour Party. Rentoul may well rue the day when Blair was consigned to history...

  British Army 'could stage mutiny under Corbyn', The army could rebel over plans to scrap Trident or pull out of Nato When I was a boy, my friends wanted to fill all sorts of occupations when they grew up. Train driver, soldier, bus conductor, and all the usual (plus some unusual) roles in later life. I on the other hand watched all the films of the time and predomina tely in only one genre. Hold the front page, Deadline midnight, Foreign correspondent and many many others. Young John always wanted to be a newspaper reporter. However, today, particularly after recent and current events, I would be ashamed to admit to anyone that I worked in or was associated with journalism. The media, including television “news” programmes has over recent weeks, has been engaged in the most virulent, malicious and tendentious assault that I have ever seen, and all directed against one man. I understand that “editorial policy” may determine a particular emphasis for th...

The "Liberation" flagship of the Condor Ferries fleet Condor Liberation On a lighter note, but certainly not lighter for any passengers or people intending to be passengers on Condor Liberation over the next few weeks, “Liberation”, the (almost) new £50million flagship of the Condor Ferries fleet has broken down, again. A series of faults and accidents has plagued this ship since her maiden voyage in April of this year. The latest on the list is damage to the exhaust system which required "complex" repairs. The net result is that Fridays sailings were cancelled, weekend services were disrupted (and there was a protest at Poole ferry terminal which resulted in the police being called) Tuesdays service is cancelled and Mondays service leaves Poole at 03:00 for two crossings in the day, finally retuning to Poole at 01:30 !! The sailings for Tuesday onward are “to be advised”. This ship is clearly jinxed and should be either sold on to a...

  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/20/ed-vulliamy-jeremy-corbyn-observer-editorial  Our pessimistic take on Corbyn let our readers down ( Ed Vulliamy .writing for the Guardian) Jeremy Corbyn in his first PMQ's  (Photograph: Reuters)   beerhoi74.says in the comments section to this article: "I hope Corbyn is just a blip and we can return to the centre soon" That is the problem. It would not be a "return to the centre". It would be a return to the same old policies from the same old people who, with a few exceptions like minimum wage and child benefits, have done nothing for working people and their families or the sick or the disabled or pensioners in this country through successive Labour governments for decades. It would be a return to "top down" politics where "policies", many of which neither the membership of the party or just as importantly the public, agree with or support (that is why we lost two success...

  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11876087/Chuka-Umunna-suggests-Jeremy-Corbyns-victory-could-lead-to-riots.html?fb_ref=Default Chuka Umunna suggests Jeremy Corbyn's victory could lead to riots Chuka Umunna and Jeremy Corbyn   Is Chukka Umunna a liar, or a hypocrite or is the Telegraph being mischievous again? Back at the beginning of September the member for Streatham said ""We must all work with Jeremy Corbyn", going on to say that we must "not make the mistake of giving the impression that electability requires the party to ditch its principles". Hardly the words of a man who see's his leader as paving the way for violence and uprisings on the streets of the cities and towns around the United Kingdom. The telegraph uses the old tactic of creating a threat, ( which is not there) and then mobilising (or at least attempting to) public opinion to resist. much in the same way as the  press in Nazi Germany generated ...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sir-malcolm-rifkind-helped-hire-head-of-parliamentary-watchdog-that-cleared-him-over-cashforaccess-allegations-10508789.html Sir Malcolm Rifkind helped hire head of parliamentary watchdog that cleared him over 'cash-for-access' allegations Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Jack Straw   What a remarkable co-incidence. Rifkind appointed head of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards , who has now cleared him and Straw of breaking rules on paid lobbying,(despite the evidence against both of these MP's being recorded for television). In another remarkable twist to this story, Rifkind states that "he had forgotten the name of the person he had recommended" for the appointment. You may detect a degree of skepticism in this entry.

  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/18/vince-cable-calls-for-labour-and-lib-dem-centre-left-mps-to-unite Vince Cable calls for Labour and Lib Dem centre-left MPs to unite      Those were the days. Vince Cable leaving No.10     The Liberal Democrats sniffing around because they can scent a slight possibility of getting their cars, perks, increased salaries and a seat at the table again. History tells us that this bunch of hypocrites are interested only in the illusion of" power" granted to them when the got into bed with the Tories to prostitute their principles for "position". Cable and his chums will say and do anything to regain the lost kudos of office. There may well be some in the PLP who would feel more at home with Cable and his cronies, but would they actually have the nerve to publically admit it? Incidentally, where is Farron and what does he say about his colleague's suggestion? The Liberal Democrats s...

  http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/18/alex-salmond-reignites-row-with-nick-robinson-over-bias-bbc-scottish-independence#comments Alex Salmond reignites row with Nick Robinson over ‘bias’ Alex Salmond is interviewed by Nick Robinson I am not a member of the SNP.Neither am I a supporter of that party.Mowever, I am able to recogise and comment on bias when I see it. Far from being a "sore loser" Alex Salmond is absolutely right in complaining of BBC bias during the referendum campaign. I reproduce in full, an article taken from my Blog, "New Agenda" and dated 15th September 2014. Headed: BBC bias in Scottish referendum. Notwithstanding yesterdays protest, which was given only passing acknowledgement on the BBC news programmes incidentally, the BBC reverts today, to its now accepted role as “The Union's Champion” and official propaganda tool for the "Vote No" campaign. About as subtle as an e...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11870739/Jeremy-Corbyn-and-Diane-Abbott-were-lovers.html?fb_ref=Default Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott were lovers (says the Telegraph) Then          Now   Unnamed "sources", unattributed comments, anonymous smears and the "Telegraph" pours out the slime with its usual relish for a 40 year old whisper with which to add another smear to their anti Corbyn agenda. What make the Telegraph so obnoxious and reprehensible is their obvious delectation for peddling lies, distortion and insult on anyone who they oppose or are afraid of. Their "journalists" too wallow in this cesspit of excrement, having prostituted themselves and their profession on the altar of duplicity. The Telegraph joins the others of the gutter press and exhibits all that is despicable about the media in this country today.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-mps-send-texts-to-lib-dem-leader-tim-farron-after-deeply-distressing-jeremy-corbyn-victory-10505885.html Labour MPs send texts to Lib Dem leader Tim Farron after 'deeply distressing' Jeremy Corbyn victory(says the Independent) Tim Farron getting excited If this story is true (and we must always treat what we read in the "Independent" as probable lies or inneundo and treat the comments with a degree of contempt), then this is the best and most welcome news that this "newspaper" has published for some time. Rather than have these faceless and nameless MP's (again the Independent uses unnamed and unattributable sources for their own biased agenda), behaving like spoilt brats sulking in the corner muttering threats, better to have them "cross the floor" to join the other bunch of hypocrites in the Liberal Democrats, or better still have them all deselected and thrown ou...

     Sky News maintains its policy of inviting only right wing biggots onto the nightly  paper review slots   Motormouth Malone filling the SkyNews sofa and leaving very little room on the upholstery for sickly Stig, yet still managing to join him in pouring out stupid bile and fatuous comment. This time the target of their imbecilic banter was Jeremy Corbyn, his refusal to join in the singing of the National Anthem and the fact that the top button of his shirt was exposed.They spent practically the whole of the allocated time slots for the paper review, competing with each other for the dubious "honour" of who could spurt out the most nasty, insulting or unpleasant comment.  The Paper review section on Sky News would be better of without this pair of dullards, as would viewers.

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyns-vow-to-fight-tory-poverty-deniers-undermined-by-symbolic-blunders-10502739.html Jeremy Corbyn remains silent during national anthem at commemoration service Three hypocrites and a rspectful man. The arrogant bastards of the right wing press are getting murdered in the social media where the general consensus of opinion is that Corbyn's "respectful silence during the anthem" is more indicative of someone refusing to be hypocritical, rather than pander to the whims and certain hostility of a biased press. The comments and criticism that they are getting on Facebook, Twitter and other social media  is both accurate and is certainly justified

  http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/if-jeremy-corbyn-ignores-the-rightwing-press-he-will-be-exterminated-10502313.html If Jeremy Corbyn ignores the right-wing press, he will be exterminated (says the Independent's Matthew Norman)   Jeremy Corbyn What conceited bastards the "right wing press" actually are. To assume that they alone have some devine right to smear, lie, distort and generaly discredit anyone they take a dislike to (for whatever reason) and then demand that their "victims" respond to the bilious out pourings is arrogant in the extreme. Thank God for the internet and social media. In the new real world of communication, the "right wing press" are loosing their arguments and their credibility as their dwin dling circulations and readership, is being overwhelmed by the millions of users on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and many others who are burying these media rags and their endless spite. How they must envy the...

  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/14/labours-angela-eagle-condemns-draconian-trade-union-bill Labour's Angela Eagle condemns 'draconian' trade union bill The Labour Front Bench.   I watched the debate on BBC Parliament channel yesterday (14th September 2015) and heard some very good speeches from the Labour benches both front and back. Alan Johnson (who I have been critical of in the past) made a particularly fine speech likening interventions from the governments benches to comments made by "Teletubbies" and suggesting that crayons and paper for drawing be provided in a room adjacent to the chamber. Angels Eagle's response to government Business Secretary Sajid Javid's unconvincing comments opening the debate, was superb as the front bench team of Jeremy Corbyn's new shadow cabinet ripped into a pathetic government proposal for "Trade Union reform", with vigorous speeches and interventions from the Labo...

Dermot Murnaghan has learned very little from previous gaffes. Dermot Murnaghan Sky News must have been running a crash course in bias and smear for thieir newscasters since Jeremy Corbyn was included on the ballot paper. The latest specimin to crawl out from bhind the scenery in the Sky News studio is Dermot Murnaghan, who after his awful bias and hysteria on his Sunday programme yesterday, returned today to pour bile and aggressive interview techniques on anyone not saying what Murnaghan wanted them to say. Today the target was the composition of Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet. Having been thwarted in his "number of women in the cabinet" jibes as the total exceeded 50% , Murnaghan switched his bile to "Ah but none of the women have the top jobs". Even that is wrong, but that did not deter Murnaghan from pressing the point. He used the "top jobs" snipe at least 10 times and must have said "Ah Yes, But" at least as many times. St...

BBC and Sky become more biased and more scurillous by the minute. Jane Secker Victoria Derbyshire  When I went to bed last night, Sky News, BBC News and doubtless many other stations, were bleating on about the lack of women in Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow cabinet. I got up this morning at my usual early time, and those same channels were still hysterically screaming about the lack of women, but now had been joined by the usual suspects in the press. A few hours ago, it was announced that the Shadow cabinet will have over 50% women members. I have just turned off the television in disgust at the scurillous, biased, distorted and hysterically hpocritical reporting which continues on television. Victoria Derbyshire on BBC News Channel and Jane Secker on Sky (and no doubt others) are now hysterically questioning every guest on the programme and shouting out in mock indignation that there may be over 50% but none of the women have the top jobs! (and even that slur ...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/dont-mistake-the-freshfaced-enthusiasm-that-jeremy-corbyn-has-inspired-for-a-new-politics-10499227.html Don’t mistake the fresh-faced enthusiasm that Jeremy Corbyn has inspired for a 'new politics'   This is not a movement – it is a sense of frustration looking for people to betray it     John Rentoul: a "Labour-leaning journalist" with slavish admiration for Tony Blair       John Rentoul really is a spiteful and vindictive individual, and bad looser which seems to be typical of those sharing his side of the Labour party. Moreover he is wrong. By venting his spleen against Jeremy Corbyn, who after all gained a stunning victory with 59.5% of the votes cast from all sectors of the party in the leadership election, (a figure which Blair came no way near to achieving) Rentoul reveals his acute disappointment, pique and frustration that his preference gained little support. Th...

 A threat to National Security? Micheal Fallon The patronising smirk of Preti Patel     The Conservatives wasting no time (even if they do waste everything else) in putting out the bile and smear on our new leader. The hysterical, scaremonger rhetoric pouring out of Central Office and obviously written by some demented troll in the back room, is repeated parrot fashion by Priti Patel and Michael Fallon and the press and television news stations lap it up as a cat would lap cream. Did anyone notice that the first few lines of the interview with Fallon were repeat ed on every news programme from 5pm onward and on Sky News (the same 10 second clip was show 4 times in the space of three minutes) and the smirking Patel filled our screens with her patronising manner as she repeated the party line. The BBC news channels and Sky news certainly were quick to accept government instructions and play their part in the smearing and vilificatio...