https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/08/boris-johnsons-remarks-about-saudi-arabia-not-the-governments-view Downing Street has slapped down Boris Johnson for suggesting that Saudi Arabia is abusing Islam and conducting proxy wars in the Middle East I am no big fan of the buffoon (but not such a buffoon as he would have us believe), Johnson. In fact I am not a little fan either, but in fairness, I find that the reaction of Theresa May in "slapping down," Johnson for telling the truth to be hypocritical in the the extreme. Not only hypocritical but very sinister when the United Kingdom government resorts to, " The action or practice of behaving obsequiously in order to gain favour", which is the dictionary definition of "Arse licking" and seeks to pass it off as the "etiquette of diplomatic behaviour". In the case of Saudi Arabia of course there is a very special relationship, and no one is allowed to criticise, in...
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https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/18/buckingham-palace-to-undergo-370m-refurbishment Buckingham Palace to undergo 'essential' £370m refurbishment Children In Need raised a record £46.6m last night (18/11/2016) all donated by viewers and/or fund raising events around the country. The pledging or donations of that money was our choice. The government has pledged £370 million of tax payers (that is us) money to repair and refurbish one house in central London and did not even bother to ask us the question as to whether we agreed with the expenditure. The residents of that house, already receive substantial sums of money from the taxpayers (that is us again), in the form of benefits and "expenses" payments to supplement their already considerable private personal income from various sources, family fortunes and wealth accumulated and passed on over many centuries. The government however is unable or more likely unwilling, to ...
A set of guidelines applied as a "catch all" blanket to suppress comment. It seems that I have upset some "moderators" on the Guardian. Now, whenever I choose to put a comment into the "comments" section against any story, I am met by the phrase "Your comments are currently being pre-moderated (why?)", then when going to the explanations, the Guardian says "....in isolated situations, a particular user may be identified as a risk, based on a pattern of behaviour (e.g. spam, trolling, repeated/frequent borderline abuse), so a temporary filter can be applied....". I have no recollection of offending these "rules" imposed by the faceless moderators of this newspaper, and apart from being critical of the government and certain elements within the Parliamentary Labour Party and of course actively supporting Jeremy Corbyn both in his leadership campaign and now as leader, can only assume that the editorial policy of t...
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/31/palestinian-president-international-criminal-court Palestinian president signs up to join international criminal court Mahmoud Abbas has signed the Rome statute, the ICC’s founding treaty The United States is, according to the State Department, "deeply troubled" by the Palestinian move to join the international criminal court. Likewise, in Israel Netanyahu said, Israel would take unspecified “retaliatory steps”. to maintain their occupation of Palestine and the expansion of their "settlement" building program. It will be interesting to see whether the International Criminal Court will cave in to the blackmail, threats and other intimidation that the United States and Israel frequently employ against any country prepared to support the Palestinians, in order to maintain the subjugation of the Palestinian people by occupation, frequent use of military force and blockade. We must hope and trust that the I...
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/30/un-security-council-rejects-palestinian-statehood-bid UN security council rejects Palestinian statehood bid The UNSC votes against a Palestinian resolution calling for an end to Israeli occupation and for independent Palestine The Americans can, as always, be relied upon to support the Israeli's no matter what the issue may be, for Israel can do no wrong. The Australians, contrary to all public option, press and media coverage, support the Americans and vote against the Palestinian peoples desire for statehood. The United Kingdom, again contrary to large sections of British public opinion, join Rwanda, Nigeria, Lithuania, and South Korea in sitting on the fence and doing nothing. These countries perched on the railings, have abdicated their responsibilities towards Palestine and the possibility of achieving any form of settlement in the region, but have secured for themselves the continuing favour of ...
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/19/torture-britain-shocking-rendition_n_4472453.html?utm_hp_ref=uk "Government and the Agencies may have become inappropriately involved in some cases of rendition." Ken Clarke's speech at the despatch box yesterday (19th December 2013) was interesting. It seems that he had no idea that the United Kingdom had been engaged with the American's in the rendition of people, or in other words, the state kidnapping of people, in countries around the world for years. Presumably he was also unaware of Britain's role in the torture of such detainees and their illegal detention without trial or representation and usually held Incommunicado. We can assume that now that this illegal and barbaric treatment of people has finally been exposed, the practice will immediately cease and those responsible for such crimes will be held accountable in court. Can we?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/09/uk-government-warns-over-business-israeli-settlements UK government issues warning over doing business with Israeli settlements Palestinian laborers work on a construction site Our government issues "guidelines" to British businesses over the risks involved with their support and trading activities with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories of Palestine. More words and empty rhetoric when what is so clearly required is a complete prohibition of trade with Israel.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/26/mrsa-poultry-east-anglia-infected MRSA found in East Anglia turkeys and chickens destined for stores. Government reassure consumers of low risk to health Within the space of the next few hours, a "spokesperson" for the turkey industry will say (if it has not been said already) on BBC News or Sky or some other media outlet, "Of course, prices will have to go up". There is always a reason for increasing prices of almost everything, particularly at this time of year.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-labour-would-give-tax-rebates-to-firms-that-pay-living-wage-8919252.html Labour would give tax rebates to firms that pay living wage A Labour government would encourage businesses to sign up to "make work pay contracts" Even with the "encouragement" of financial bribes, Miliband's belief in the integrity of firms and businesses is greater than mine. History demonstrates all too clearly that when government offers financial incentives for firms to take specific measures to encourage employment or increase minimum wages and salaries, the majority of companies will invariably find some means of accepting the grants and some means of avoiding or minimising their commitments under the agreement. Perhaps Miliband should be thinking more along the lines of the stick rather than the carrot to encourage firms to pay their workers the "living wage".
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/08/02/nick-clegg-lords-libdems_n_3695603.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Nick Clegg Accused Of 'Prostituting The Lib Dems' Over Lords Appointments Nick Clegg Since "buying" his chair (and position in government) at the cabinet table in Number 10, Nick Clegg has prostituted every principle, value and tradition that the Liberal Democrat party ever had. Those traditional Liberals, such as my Grandfather, would recognise Clegg as the political opportunist that he is, cynical and populist, ready to betray any policy or promise ever made to retain his own personal position. How the rank and file members of the wider Liberal democrat party can stomach this political mercenary is a complete mystery. The open criticism of Clegg has been growing amongst the party "faithful" for some time and not only on the question of House of Lords appointments. His position as party leader seems to be becoming less tenable ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/30/humaneness-badger-cull-judged-noise?commentpage=2 Humaneness of badger cull to be judged on noise of dying animals. "Observation of a shot animal's behaviour and vocalisations is the only method available to determine the degree of pain that may be experienced during the dying process." Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The badger cull could begin any time from 1 June in parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset. There is no such thing as "humaneness" in killing badgers (or any other animal for that matter). Particularly when the "link" between bovine TB and badgers remains questionable in many scientific circles. In addition to this, many scientist and vets who do consider that there is a link, advocate a programme of vaccinations to address the problem rather than a wild-west shooting spree. Whichever camp you agree with, the wholesale killing of badgers ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/19/snow-triple-dip-recession Third slump in four years looms as shoppers stay at home and transport links grind to a halt Snow could put UK in recession | First, it was the fault of "the economic mess that we inherited from the last Labour government", then it was the "effects of the world wide economic slowdown" then the "banks failure to lend" now it is a few inches of snow. We are fortunate in this country when we only have to endure a few inches when other countries have snowfall of many feet, which remains in place for months on end with the associated minus temperatures. Should we ever be faced with a snowfall across the country of 2 or 3 meters, economic disaster and bankruptcy would result in a few days. Triple dip here we come The government would of course, ensure that no blame or criticism could be attached to their economic policies.
http://en.avaaz.org/1170/see-who-voted-for-palestine?utm_source=twitter2_avaaz&utm_medium=social_media&utm_campaign=palestine The UN general assembly has voted overwhelmingly to recognise Palestine 138 countries did what is right, 41 sat on their hands (sometimes, the actions or inaction's of governments bring shame on a nation ) 7 nations voted to betray the Palestinian people yet again and thereby endorse barbarity and aggression by the Israeli's, and 2 nations, Israel and the United States, (well they would wouldn't they) voted to continue with the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, the illegal settlement building on Palestinian land, the illegal blockade of Gaza, and all the other atrocities committed in Palestine by Israel every day. These 9 nations, in voting against UN recognition of Palestine, have ensured that Israel and the United States will become even more isolated over the coming months and Palestinians...