Agenda 2019

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/23/the-guardian-view-on-the-labour-leadership-wanted-tolerance-and-compromise The Guardian view on the Labour leadership.  Wanted: Tolerance and compromise. Editorial. I read this article twice. The first time, I thought that I had picked up a piece which had strayed into the pages of the Guardian, as if by accident from another newspaper. Only upon the second reading did I realise, with a growing sense of incredulity, that this was in fact a Guardian article and moreover, one written under the heading of, ""Editorial": The Guardian view on the Labour leadership: wanted – tolerance and compromise ". I found the "Editorial" to be a little puzzling, because here they are, calling for , "a collective effort to work together or even merely to coexist tolerantly, based on compromise and mutual respect" when, for the past 12 months or so, the Guardian has been in the v...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-results-live-jeremy-corbyn-owen-smith-poll-incompetent-working-class-voters-a7326486.html Poll for The Independent shows a major disconnect between traditional Labour voters and new Corbyn supporters (well what would you expect from the "Independent")        Labour supporters are still backing Jeremy Corbyn in droves The result of the Labour Party leadership election has not yet even been declared (the time is 06:50 Saturday 24th September), and already the "Independent" is preparing the ground for the next round of the, "We must get rid of Corbyn", smear and vilification campaign. The rest of the anti Corbyn media and television cabal will no doubt wade in with their duplicitous distortions over the next few hours and days (provided of course that at around 11:45 this morning Corbyn is actually declared to have won the ballot) to carry on the deceitful crusade that they have...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/22/corbyn-v-smith-labour-leader-voting-system-democratic-car-crash Corbyn v Smith for Labour's next leader, but being a winner is not enough.  Says Anne Perkins. Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith The Guardian continues on its compulsive campaign to undermine and remove Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour party leadership. In this self appointed role as the "Champion of the Parliamentary Labour Party", the Guardian will, and does, use any tool available to it or any argument, no matter how tenuous such argument may be, as the media mouthpiece for any disaffected MP with their own agenda, or for individuals who seek to erode support for the Corbyn leadership. The tool for tod ay’s assault is the "Opinion" section of the newspaper, where the editorial staff and the proprietor can shelter behind the shield of denial that the "Opinion" as printed is that of the writer, not necessarily of the paper. A v...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/corbyn-labour-leadership-rebel-mps-a7202641.html Labour MPs plan for Corbyn victory  and plot how to confront an emboldened leader Even for the "Independent", the number and use of unnamed anonymous "sources" in this article is quite astonishing. However, amongst all the usual speculative delusion, there is one factor which causes concern to anyone who believes in the Labour Party, its principles and in he democratic process of the Labour movement. It is abundantly clear that elements within the Parliamentary Labour Party, are even now, planning another coup in the event that Jeremy Corbyn should emerge as winner in the current ballot. The failed coup of earlier this year, has now descended into a sham leadership election, because the conspirators still fail to accept the democratic decision of the Labour party membership and cling to ...

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/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.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...

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...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/labour-unveils-5bn-plan-to-build-150000-new-homes-funded-by-help-to-buy-isa-scheme-10155240.html Labour plan to build 150,000 new homes.   plan to build 150,000 homes by 2020   150,000. No where near enough. The shortage of housing in this country has been an outrage for decades. Families and young people, face the prospect of years living in overcrowded or inadequate conditions as builders and speculators grow rich on providing a few homes at inflated prices while receiving government (tax payers) cash incentives, for building a small number of "low cost" housing. In the rented sector, social housing is practically non existent and in the private market, rental prices are on an ever increasing spiral. In conditions where people have no alternatives for a home, they have no option but to pay the inflated price. Political parties have made capital from this situation ove...

  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/26/tory-backbench-rebellion-defeats-hagues-attempt-to-unseat-speaker-john-bercow#comment-49539278 Tory backbench rebellion defeats Hague's attempt to unseat Speaker Hague attempted to oust Speaker Bercow   He was a grubby little runt when he addressed the Tory Party Conference as a self opinionated and conceited 16 year old in 1977. Now, he is a follicly challenged self opinionated and conceited 55 year old, who has clearly, at various times during his political career, been promoted to positions far above his mental and intellectual capability. This latest cringe worthy intrigue instigated as an attempt to oust Speaker Bercow, was described as a "grubby, squalid and nauseous plot", which seems a very adequate description. A fitting end to a wretched 26 year period of ineptitude in the House of Commons for this baseball capped Yorkshire man. He has now gone and the House of Commons might be a better p...

  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/03/30/tuition-fees-labour_n_5059468.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Tuition Fees Could be Slashed Under Ed Miliband's Labour Ed Miliband at the East Manchester Academy   Again, given an opportunity, the Labour party generally and Miliband in particular, choose the wrong option. Historically, Labour, (or at least the Labour party which I once belonged to) have been opposed to the concept of tuition fees and paying for education as it creates the iniquity of only "the rich" being able to afford university places and perpetuates a society where money is infinitely more important than ability. The Bullingdon Club   The "New Labour" of Blair and Brown, to their eternal shame, introduced the idea of tuition fees, and the Tory dominated ConDem coalition with the enthusiastic support of Clegg and his band of duplicitous rouges, pushed through legislation to hike the fees, (notwithstanding their pre election vo...