Agenda 2019

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/10/scottish-independence-cameron-referendum_n_2655567.html?utm_hp_ref=uk#comments  Cameron Insists Scotland 'Better Off In Britain' Cameron drew on Olympic glory to suggest  breaking up the union would be damaging to Britain What a strangely warped view of reality this Cameron person actually has.  At the last general election (to the Westminster government), the Conservative party won 1 seat with 16% of the vote and yet formed a government, aided and abetted by the Liberal Democrats (who incidentally won only 11 seats with just 18% of the vote), to govern Scotland from London for the next 5 years. Historically, it has invariably been the case that the government in London does not have popular support north of the border and there is a perceptible growth in the feeling amongst Scottish people that they are not adequately or properly  represented in government of the United Kingdom, which perhaps ex...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9859681/Hospital-sued-over-children-left-neglected-and-dying-on-wards.html  Hospital sued over children left neglected and dying on wards   L-R Sean Turner, Jack Casey, Luke Jenkins.    Photo: Turner family, Athena, Jay Williams  This is appalling and totally unacceptable. It is  the result of the betrayal of our NHS  by successive governments since the 1980's. It is indicative  of a philosophy, which places the pursuit of targets and cost cutting, above all other objectives, including medical necessity. It is the outcome of years of neglect and believing that the solution to all resulting problems is the introduction of yet another layer of management, the closure of wards, and yet another reorganisation of the service. With the last few days, the R obert Francis QC  report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, has delivered a scathing indictment of...

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/08/european-union-budget-cut_n_2646201.html?utm_hp_ref=uk   Tory Right Hail Cameron As PM Delivers Historic EU Budget Cut  MEP's may still veto the bill Hang on a minute. The EU Budget is cut, but the net contribution by the UK to the European coffers is increased, so the British tax payer contributes even more money to Brussels. If this is a "victory" let us all be thankful that Cameron did not suffer a "humiliating defeat".

  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/mid-staffs-inquiry-how-a-10year-coverup-was-uncovered-8484075.html        "They were failed by a system which ignored the warning signs and put corporate self-interest and cost control ahead of patients and safety.” Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust Report A scathing indictment of a system and culture which, sadly, is not limited to Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust. Already we have the statement that another eight hospitals in 5 other NHS Trusts are to be investigated as a matter of urgency. There are without doubt other hospitals which should be subjected to scrutiny, and their performance and shortcomings exposed. Of course this is not to say that all hospitals in all Trusts are providing inadequate or incompetent standards of service for their patients. There are some, perhaps many hospitals where the standards of care are beyond reproach, From my own ...

  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/05/gay-marriage-mps-vote-in-favour_n_2621431.html?1360091772&utm_hp_ref=uk MPs Vote In Favour Of Gay Marriage, As Debate Exposes Deep Tory Divisions    The prime minister, who did not attend the debate despite being the driving force behind the Bill,      said in a statement that allowing gay people to marry would "make our society stronger".   This "story" has dominated the news media and television for weeks if not months. From all the available evidence it would appear that the vast majority of the gay and lesbian community have no great support for these proposals, and are content with the present civil partnership measures, and the vast majority of heterosexuals have the same view. It seems that the only passionate interest in "Gay Marriage" lies in the Chambers and corridors of the Houses of Parliament and in the councils of the Church. Now that this "debate" seems to...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/ios-investigation-hs2--the-hidden-cost-to-britains-wildlife-8478609.html New rail line threatens 350 unique habitats, 50 irreplaceable ancient woods, 30 river corridors, 24 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and hundreds of other important areas. Is this really progress? Route finalised.   £33 billion on a project which will not even start for another 4 years at the earliest, and will not be complete until 2032 at the earliest. In addition the effect on communities, regions and wildlife sites will be disastrous. If there is £33 billion "in the kitty", infrastructure projects NOW will have an immediate effect on the economy and on un employment with some housing, hospitals and road programmes. The current rolling stock and track system may well be in need of upgrading, but the HS2 project announcement  for public consumption rather than a serious intention to tackle the current economic problems of the c...

  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/03/fears-future-lamb-farming  Farmers say they are paid so little for their meat that many will be forced out of the industry. Traditional Sunday roast.  Despite the price drop, shoppers are still paying anything between £8 and £12 a kilo for the meat. The glaring disjunction has prompted farmers to warn that shoppers are being ripped off by what they call "the great lamb robbery". Who is making all the money? A 3lb leg of lamb in Morrisons is priced at £12.24 (£9.00 per kilo). Perhaps the supermarkets are ripping off their customers again, whilst at the same time screwing the producers into oblivion, again. The average weight of a whole lamb actually in the shop, would be in the region of 18.15 kilo (40 lb), so if the producer is now only receiving £3.20 per kilo instead of £4.40 last year, where is the other £5.80?