Agenda 2019

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/southern-rail-train-cancellations-privatisation-nationalisation-government-transport-secretary-a7220051.html#commentsDiv Private rail firm Southern will be boosted by a further £20 million of public money Another compelling argument, if more were needed, to take back the railways into public ownership. There is no justification for the British people continue to pump £ billions into the coffers of the rail companies and the pockets of their shareholders. Another £20 million subsidy

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/800000-people-lifted-out-offuel-poverty--by-redefining-it-8976232.html   800,000 people ‘lifted’ out of fuel poverty – by redefining it The UK is second only to Estonia among European countries for the number of people struggling to pay their energy bills When the statistics show a figure that is not acceptable, or embarrassing, governments (of all political positions) have a very simple solution. The answer to the problem is "move the goal posts" and in this way, the offending information can be manipulated to reflect the picture as the incumbent government would prefer it to be rather than what it actually is. The natural extension of this, is that when your new calculation becomes problematic, it is always possible to revert to the previous calculation and choose whichever figure is the most acceptable. The classic example of this subterfuge is the way in which RPI and CPI are interchangeable for governm...

  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/30/cameron-clegg-energy-bills-cut_n_4365665.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Cameron And Clegg Vow Energy Bills Cut Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg              Cynical duplicitous rhetoric, straight from the propaganda machine of the energy industry cartel. Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber are playing catch up and are loosing. To offer the bribe of a 96 pence per week cut in energy bills, in the expectation that people will tug their forelocks and be diffidently grateful for such generosity,  smacks of desperation in their frantic efforts to stem the growing resentment and criticism of energy company excesses. Add to this, the patronising insult of a taxpayer funded gift of £1000 to home buyers to spend on "energy saving measure" completely dismisses those who live in rented accommodation both in the private and social housing sectors, where much of the housing stock stands damp and cold and...

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/nov/29/government-energy-firms-freeze-prices-green-cuts   No 10 blames possible misunderstanding but sources confirm companies have been pressured to hold prices David Cameron denied that he had asked companies to hold prices until 2015.   The ConDem coalition government hold out the begging bowl and crawl off to the energy companies for a crumb of relief from the constant price hikes of the energy cartel. To make their errand even more snivellingly derisive, they plead that any future price hikes should be delayed until after the next election in 2015. After that date presumably, the status quo can be restored and the cartel can resume its exploitation of the consumer. A government  without the backbone to do what is right and tell the industry that no price increases will be allowed and that their excess profits will be subject to scrutiny and taxation. All political parties must accept the reality that the ext...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/after-power-furore-now-focus-turns-to-aboveinflation-rises-in-water-bills-8918351.html After power furore, now focus turns to above-inflation rises in water bills The water companies Another of the privatised industries which, according to the pro privatisation propaganda from government at the time "will drive prices down and increase efficiency through increased competition". That fairy tale has been used and repeated frequently over the years for the justification of privatising, not only water but also energy and most recently for Royal Mail. It now seems that the criticisms of privatisation made at the time and the predictions of profiteering and general misconduct by the new companies were and are, more than justified. The wheels are falling off the privatisation wagon and the government are unwilling or perhaps unable to ...

  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/30/david-cameron-inquiry-competition-energy-industry   Cameron calls for immediate inquiry into competition in energy industry David Cameron at PMQ's   Inquiries, reports, debates, select committees etc etc.More prevarication and side stepping of the real issues, by intent and design rather than accident. There is a principle in English law of "res ipsa loquitur" which, when used in the context of the current situation, could be interpreted as an argument for "cut the hot air, rhetoric and the endless chatter, and do what everyone, (except the energy companies and their political co conspirators) knows to be the only solution". Either the energy companies must be controlled by new, effective and legally enforceable legislation, or they must be returned to public ownership. There is no other option so there is nothing to discuss.

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/all-in-it-together-energy-chiefs-feel-heat-from-mps-8911466.html Representatives from Big Six accused of behaving like a 'chorus line acting in concert' as they attempt to justify recent price hikes Energy company bosses at Commons select Committee   The energy companies treat their customers with contempt because nobody is prepared, or able, to stop them. Consumers are unable to take on the companies because energy is a basic need and no matter how often people "switch" suppliers, the end result is ever increasing domestic charges. The political parties are unwilling to legislate to prevent such excesses and in many cases are more likely to actively support the energy companies position in the name of "free markets and competition". The notion of "self regulation" in the supply of energy would be as effective in this market as it has been in any of the other areas where the fox ha...

              http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/david-cameron-under-fire-for-reaction-to-british-gas-fuel-bill-hike-for-almost-8-million-customers-8885944.html David Cameron under fire for reaction to British Gas fuel bill hike for almost 8 million customers Cameron "regrets" this latest piece of energy company extortion, and along with other members of the ConDem coalition clique, advises British Gas customer to switch suppliers. Conveniently, Cameron and his other accomplices fail to mention that switching to another member of the power company cartel, has little if any, real benefit as they all fix their prices to ensure that they all have a "piece of the cake". The fallacy, trotted out by all of the power companies, is that the wholesale prices from their suppliers are increasing and that they have to pass on that increase in order to remain competitive. Perhaps SSE, Br...

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/17/british-gas-_n_4113572.html?utm_hp_ref=uk British Gas Hikes Prices Up By More Than 10%, Adding £120 To Annual Bills This morning, British Gas crawl out of the woodwork, and announce price hikes of 10% for gas and 9% for electricity. The increases are effective from the 23rd of next month The second of the cartel members leap onto the wagon with their parasitic greed prompted justifications for stealing even more money from their customers. The government of course says nothing and does nothing. How much longer will public tolerance put up with these thieves taking money from families, and governments so in the pockets of the industry that they allow such outrageous behaviour to go unchallenged?

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/10/ed-miliband-sse-energy-price-rise   Energy price rise sparks new political row over power bills   Another member of the energy companies cartel, announces price increases way above the level of inflation, which will undoubtedly increase their already obscene levels of profits at the expense of the consumer. This news comes just weeks after a report in the “Guardian” warning consumers that “Energy firms expected to increase prices by 8%” and reported on this Blog on September 21st under the heading of “The energy suppliers cartel prepare to announce big price increases, again.” Even more evidence, if more were actually needed, that these predominately, but not exclusively, foreign owned energy companies, selling the wholesale energy product to themselves through a myriad of murky subsidiaries and associated companies, (each making substantial profits during the process), are out...

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/sep/20/energy-firms-increase-prices Energy firms expected to increase prices by 8%     The energy company cartel preparing everyone for their usual autumn round of extortionate price increases. This time they find another "reason" for ripping off the consumer by blaming "increased cost of environmental levies" as justification. Not content with "selling" energy to themselves through a myriad of different companies with the same ultimate "owner" (thinking that we have not noticed) and then blaming their suppliers for price increases, they now resort to a nebulous concept of environmental levies to defend their avarice. Privatisation may have been good for the companies,and ultimately for the institutional shareholders, but for the consumer it has been an unmitigated disaster. There is little point in following the advice of government ministers (who have their own agenda on this issue) and ...