Agenda 2019

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/end-disability-benefits-fiasco-ministers-told-9550115.html End disability benefits ‘fiasco’, ministers told       Another of Iain Duncan-Smith's "reforms", this time  the personal independence payment (PIP), causing distress to vulnerable people.  An ill conceived scheme being managed by an inept DWP, resulting in delays and chaos. Iain Duncan-Smith. DWP Minister It is a disgrace and scandal for which IDS and his dogmatic obsession with "welfare reform" is completely responsible. The ATOS connection: The committee also accused Atos, one of the companies carrying out the assessments, of supplying “incorrect and potentially misleading” information when bidding for the work. In a tender document in 2012 it stated it had “contractual agreements” with 56 NHS hospitals, 25 private hospitals and more than 650 physiotherapy centres – a claim which turned out “not to be true”, the committee s...

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/19/poverty-hits-twice-as-many-british-households Poverty hits twice as many British households as 30 years ago   33% of households endure below-par living standards – defined as going without three or more "basic necessities of life", such as being able to adequately feed and clothe themselves and their children, and to heat and insure their homes. In the early 1980s, the comparable figure was 14%.   Poverty has doubled in the past 30 years. Since 1984 in fact. A date which holds sinister connotations in the minds of many. Since 1984, a succession of Prime Ministers, have presided over a visible decline in living standards for people in this country, whilst at the same time the fortunes, profits and power of a number of corporations and a few individuals have increased beyond levels only imaginable 30 years ago. This transformation of society in the United kingdom has been brought about and propagated by t...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-crisis-exclusive-us-rules-out-military-action-until-pm-nouri-almaliki-stands-down-9547311.html US rules out military action until PM Nouri al-Maliki stands down Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Nouri al-Maliki was practically installed by the United States as Prime Minister of Iraq following the overthrow of Saddam Husein. In 2006, following close U.S. involvement in the selection of a new prime minister, al-Maliki's name arose from the four that had been interviewed by the CIA.  United States Ambassador to Iraq said that "AL-Maliki's reputation is as someone who is independent of Iran." As Saddam was installed, supported and then removed by the United States, so al-Maliki suffers the same fate. Once you have served your purpose, the United States has no qualms in removing or dumping you. British politicians should take note. The "Special Relationship" is a myth

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rabbithutch-britain-growing-health-concerns-as-uk-sets-record-for-smallest-properties-in-europe-9544450.html     Rabbit-hutch Britain: Growing health concerns as UK sets record for smallest properties in Europe Northfield House. Peckham   I was brought up in a flat in Peckham, in fact,  in the block shown shown here.  Northfield house, Peckham Park Road , London SE 15. One of the 2 bedroom flats, was recently advertised for sale at £275,000, which no one around at that time would have believed to be possible. Not only the price, but the fact that a Council flat was for sale in the open market. That was in the days before the "Parker Morris" standards, but the flat was just adequate for mum, dad and the young John Yates. Progress decreed that from 1967 these "Parker Morris" space standards would become mandatory for all housing built in new towns, and be extended to all council housing in 1...

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/18/nurses-debate-10-fee-to-visit-gp Nurses debate £10 fee to visit GP Patients would pay to see their GP   This is an appalling proposition. Only recently, 31st March this year, a Labour peer, a former Labour minister in fact made a similar proposal, but  suggested a tax of £10 to be collected monthly in conjunction with the Council tax. At the time, I wrote, "Imposing a monthly levy for everyone to use the NHS. A proposal from a former Labour Minister, who now sits in the house of Lords. This dinosaur from the House of dinosaurs should feel ashamed of his Guardian article, but clearly will feel no remorse as he reaches for his pen to complete another House of Lords.expenses claim . Warner, a appointee of Blair, (now there's a surprise) now works with the right wing think tank "Reform" and has co-authored a report that says "dramatic action is needed". It makes no mention, at least none reported,...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Porthole-Suites/641756039249302  We have just returned from a week in the Porthole Suites in St Aubin Jersey. The Porthole Suites was our first serious adventure into the world of "self catering" holidays albeit that with all the available first class restaurants to be found in the small village of St Aubin, you probably only need to produce breakfast and even then the usual "Full English" or if you prefer a "Continental, is only a two minute walk away. This post is not an advert for Porthole Suites, but an honest comment that the facilities are first class and the prices are very reasonable. This is a new venture, only opened in May of this year following a complete restructure and re invention of the previous Porthole Cottage, a delightful Bed and Breakfast where we stayed 4 times last year (2013). The new building with its 10 self catering suites is a credit to the owner. If you have ever visited or ...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-crisis-us-urgently-deploys-hundreds-of-armed-troops-9542131.html US urgently deploys hundreds of armed troops    Secretary John Kerry.   The U.S. is urgently deploying several hundred armed troops in and around Iraq and considering sending an additional contingent of special forces soldiers as Baghdad struggles to repel a rampant insurgency. Tulsa World. America sends hundreds of troops into Iraq to protect the US embassy and to "safeguard American personnel and other interests in Baghdad". This deployment, not withstanding Whitehouse assertions to the contrary , may be seen as a precursor to an even greater involvement of American military personnel in defiance of domestic public opinion. It is not without precedent in American military history, as US involvement in Viet Nam began with the deployment of "military advisers" to prop up a failing administration in Saigon, leading to a f...