http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-explainer-why-are-we-experiencing-an-ae-crisis-now-9961468.html Why are we experiencing an A&E crisis now? A very busy HNS Since the 1980's, when it became the policy to close hundreds of the smaller hospitals and create super size “centres of excellence” at a few locations around the country with the rather naive assumption that “Bigger is better”, we have had an “A&E crisis”, which has not been limited to the A&E departments but has percolated throughout the hospital system. This A&E crisis, was exacerbated throughout the 1990's with the fallacious proposition, that in order to solve the problem it was essential to introduce more and more layers of management, introduce “targets” to monitor performance of departments and individuals, and to pour money into the system. A fiscal policy which mainly went into financing the expanding bureaucracy rather than improving the standards of care. ...
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-miliband-vows-towield-the-axe-on-public-services-9916560.html Ed Miliband vows to wield the axe on public services to balance books Ed Miliband will cut the budgets of most Whitehall departments A statement of intent, indicating how far away from its traditional supporters and its traditional principles the Labour party has drifted. Miliband seeks to grab power in the "centre ground" as did Blair, and to hell with the ordinary people who historically have relied on the Labour Party and the trade Union movement to provide some alternative and redress from the excesses of Conservative policies and the exploitation by businesses and business interests in this country. The "Centre ground" is populated by Tories, Liberal Democrats, business interests and others, seeking only to perpetuate their own existence by persuading everyone that they are the only ones offering a solution to a problem ...
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/07/champagne-house-of-lords-reform-taxpayer Champagne wars in the Lords as peers say no to a cheaper vintage Since 2010, the Lords has bought in 17,000 bottles of champagne This story adds to the list of things wrong with the people who populate the corridors of the Palace of Westminster. Commons and Lords, filled with people who care only for themselves and retaining their position of privilege in society. Expenses, extortionate salary increases, perks of subsidised food and alcohol and all the other trimmings of Parliamentary life are indicative of a system which is corrupt and which encourages greed and selfishness amongst those who are part of and profit from it. The phrase "Parliamentary privilege" takes on a whole new meaning when abuses and self indulgences such as this are exposed. There is a compelling argument from dissolving the whole rotten structure and starting again from scratch.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-scotland-protests-scottish-independence-referendum-coverage-institutionally-biased-salmond-claims-9732095.html BBC Scotland's referendum coverage 'institutionally biased'. BBC Scotland protests 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 elephant rampaging around the shelves of Royal Doulton or Wedgwood or Royal Albert dinnerware in some exclusive department store, the BBC bounces back on its news programmes (so far) this morning, with all the “too close to call” headlines and interviews with Labour shadow ministers who, with their own agenda for retaining the Union, are given leading questions to be used as a vehicle to trot out the now well worn prophesies of do...
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/12/scottish-referendum-icm-poll-too-close-to-call-union "Vote No" big guns fail to halt "Yes" bandwagon. Vote Yes campaigning. Should the "Better together . Vote No" campaign win the referendum vote next Thursday, it will not be due to winning the economic, social or prosperity arguments. It will the consequence of many people voting as a result of fear. Fear, generated by the "No" campaign, orchestrated by the Westminster political parties, because they have most to loose should the Scottish people decide to become an independent nation. Today, 13th September, the last weekend of campaigning, the "Vote No" camp and its allies in the television and media, together with those sections of business who fear for their own positions in an independent Scotland, have launched the most vicious, vindictive and vociferous assault on the voting yes camp ever seen before in British po...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-independence-ten-days-to-save-the-united-kingdom-as-george-osborne-promises-further-devolution-after-poll-shows-shock-lead-for-yes-camp-9717329.html Ten days to save the United Kingdom after poll shows shock lead for Yes camp Yes or No? The "Vote No" campaign continue with their policy of threat, intimidation and scare mongering, in an attempt to bring about a referendum result which will retain "the Union". Even at this late stage, when all the evidence suggests that their negative campaign is having the opposite effect on peoples voting intentions, it seems that Alastair Darling and those on his side of "Britain is Better Together" are unable to provide any positive reason why the Scottish people should vote anything other than yes. In a bizarre promise from the government, the Scots are given a firm undertaking that if they reject independence, they will be giv...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/scottish-independence-david-cameron-promises-best-of-both-worlds-if-scots-reject-yes-campaign-9380765.html David Cameron promises 'best of both worlds' if Scots reject 'Yes' campaign David Cameron promises more devolution if Scotland votes "No" “Scotland knows it has a good level of devolution already and would have the opportunity for more devolution in the event of a No vote.” As the time of the referendum draws nearer, the "Vote No" campaign seems to be reaching new levels of desperation in their attempts to bribe, blackmail, cajole or otherwise persuade the Scottish people to remain as part of the United Kingdom. Public opinion, certainly as reflected in the opinion polls, seems to be moving in the direction of voting for independence resulting in almost panic responses from the establishments of the major parties and their remaining supporters in the media. With only som...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5c266dd0-9f83-11e3-94f3-00144feab7de.html Standard Life warns on Scots ‘Yes’ vote A rally in support of a yes vote in the Scottish Referendum More threats and bullying from the "Vote No" camp. Politicians, businesses and others determined to blackmail the Sottish people to reject the concept of independence. When organised workers take a stand for a principle, pay or conditions, they are "holding the country to ransom". When businesses and anti independence politicians use blackmail as a weapon, they are trying to preserve the status quo. Pathetic hypocrites.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/17/business-leaders-alex-salmond-currency-union?commentpage=1 Business leaders attack Alex Salmond Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling Vote No. The "Vote No" campaign propaganda is getting nasty and it is getting personal. Last nights media coverage with contributions from Danny Alexander, Alastair Darling and the rest, was full of comments and snide remarks aimed directly at Alex Salmond on a personal level. "If Salmond gets his way", "Salmond hasn't got a plan" and "Salmond making empty and angry speeches", were amongst the more moderate comments from some Westminster politicians and those "business leaders" who each have their own agenda's advocating a "No" vote in the referendum. In every political campaign associated with elections or even referenda, there comes a point when one side or the other resort to the tactic of "personalising...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/wythenshawe-byelection-labour-hold-seat-as-ukip-surge-from-fifth-to-second-place-9127405.html Wythenshawe by-election: Labour hold seat as Ukip surge from fifth to second place Labour Party candidate Mike Kane, tops the poll.. There is only one statistic that the political parties should be concerned about. From a total electorate of more than 85,000 people eligible to vote, the turn out was only 28% and of those, the "winning" candidate received 0nly 13,261 votes. Since 1945, it has usually been the case that the turn out for a by election has been significantly higher than 30%, averaging around 48% although in recent years, the number of people voting at any form of election for Westminster, has been rapidly declining. The "major parties" (and UKIP) should be asking themselves questions as to why, in these times of austerity, only 23,000 people actually bother to go to the polling stations to cast their ...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-osborne-accused-of-bullying-scottish-people-into-no-vote-for-independence-9124423.html George Osborne accused of 'bullying' Scottish people into 'No' vote for independence Chancellor George Osborne Osborne is not the first, nor will he be the last of the "main political parties" politicians to resort to threats and bullying in an attempt to bring about a "No" vote. An independent Scotland may well be in the best interests of the Scottish people, but for the "establishment"in Westminster, it would not be a good move. It has nothing to do with the retention or otherwise of the Pound as a common currency. It has even less to do with "employment opportunities" as Darling has suggested in the past. or any of the other spurious reasons trotted out by the "Vote No" lobby. The hierarchy of the main political parties are vehemently opposed to independen...
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/independence-white-paper-should-scare-scots-1-3255313 An independent Scotland may well be in the best interests of the Scottish people, but for the "establishment2 in Westminster, it would not be a good move. Alex Salmond On Thursday 18 th September this year, the Scottish people will go to the polls to vote in the referendum as to whether Scotland should be an independent country. Upon that vote, lies the future of some 5.5 million people, many of whom have been seeking an independent Scotland for hundreds of years. Between now and the date of the referendum, we in Britain, may expect an increasing level of publicity from the “Yes” and the “No” camps seeking to persuade people how to cast their preference. Many “facts” (some of them mischievous and some only partly true) will be placed before the public in Britain in the hope that many Brits with Scottish friends or relatives will be ...
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/08/mps-pay-rise-embarrass-party-leaders MPs are to get an inflation-busting 11% pay rise MPs will be paid an annual salary of £74,000 from 2015 An 11% pay rise for MP's. In these times of austerity, and following George Osborne's "Autumn Statement" last week, it is beyond belief that our elected representatives can receive a pay increase of £7,600.00 (or 11%) while the vast majority of people in the country see their incomes fall in real terms with salaries frozen or at best limited to a 1% increase for another year. Before anyone (if such people actually exists in these times), leaps to the defence of our "Honourable members" with the feeble argument that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, is independent and MP's have no say in the decision to award this extra salary, these supporters of our "hard working" poorly paid representatives, should consider a few simple f...
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/commentisfree/2013/jul/28/government-bold-act-housing-crisis-hutton?guni=Keyword:news-grid%20main-3%20%28comment%29%20Pickable%20with%20editable%20override:Pickable%20with%20editable%20override:Position1:anchor%20image Political cowardice stops us from solving our wretched housing crisis New homes are good for the economy, but the government has given no significant stimulus to social housing. For as long as the building of social housing remains as some sort of anathema to the political mainstream, and is derided as being only for scroungers and benefit cheats by elements of the press and some sections of society, then the housing crisis will deepen and become another cause of social unrest. There is no political will, nor it seems, is there any political advantage to be gained by addressing the housing problem. Our politicians are satisfied with wringing their hands and saying how awful the problem is and th...
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/12/tory-leadership-challenge-contenders-_n_2860721.html?utm_hp_ref=uk&utm_hp_ref=uk Tory Leadership Challenge Hots Up Theresa May: 4/1 Boris Johnson: 5/1 Michael Gove: 9/1 Philip Hammond: 10/1 Adam Afriyie: 25/1 Liam Fox: 33/1 What a motley collection of miscreants and malcontents, all apparently bidding for the position of Conservative Party leader and potential Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Not being a member or supporter of the Tory party, (or of the Labour party anymore), I suppose that I should not have an axe to grind one way or another, but as this person may at some time become the "leader" of the country, I do have more than a passing interest. If this is really the best that Torries have to offer, we shall just have to live in hope that there is a figure, a "dark horse" lurking in the shadows of Central Office, p...