Dr Crippen is back

Good news one of my favourite bloggers Dr Crippen or NHS Blog Doc is back after a too long absence of three months.

NHS Blog Doctor: Crippen redux

Empty "Vision" of the Big Feartie

According to the Sunday Times the Feartie, after a week to forget, is getting even more flack from Blairites of the New Labour variety as he has failed to set out an inspiring "Vision" for new Labour and and an "empty" conference speech.

Apparently Mr. Blair (remember him?) has disclosed that he is "unhappy" with the direction of the party and concerned about what new Labour stands for.

It also appears that is is not just Blair who is complaining a number of quotes appear from Blair allies complaining of a policy vacuum, being policy free, no vision, no coherent narrative and belittling Blair.

Lord Falconer in particular was scathing about Brown. Having left the cabinet in June he has launched a thinly veiled attack on Brown, warning that an inspiring vision needs to be “spelt out”. He said Brown’s experience and management of crises was not enough to win the next general election.

In addition there are reports that three former Blairite Ministers, Stephen Byers, Alan Milburn and Charles Clarke are "itching" to speak out.

Not all is wonderful in 10 Downing Street at the moment. Never mind Gordon can spend his wakeful times during the night phoning even more Newspaper editors to complain of "bad press". Should keep him busy for awhile.

Tony Blair turns on Gordon Brown as ‘empty’ - Times Online

Big Feartie trails Tories by biggest deficit in 15 Years

The big Feartie will be in more trouble now as his Government goes from bad to worse. he is now presiding over a government with the biggest deficit to the Tories in 15 years. The last time the Tory lead was this high was before Black Wednesday, which says much for his leadership and "Vision".

The Poll from October 10/11 will be a bitter pill for Gordon to swallow after a bad bad week for him.

UPDATE: Must correct this entry. This is not the biggest lead for the Tories(they had a bigger lead as recently as March) but the highest level of support they have had in 15 years. This is probably even better than a big lead as I suspect that Labour still has a few points to fall.

Gordon Brown hit by Tory poll surge - Telegraph

Slapping the Uppity Nats down.

When the SNP came into power in "devolved" Scotland in May after the elections and the humiliation of Labour it was really only a matter of time before the London based Labour Government of the UK decided it needed to slap those uppity Nats down. Now they have a ready-made excuse after Alex Salmond revealed details of a draft copy of a statement by Hilary Benn which pledged £8.1 million to Scottish Farmers.

Apparently a senior Whitehall source is quoted as saying

"A line will be going out from the Scotland Office soon telling all departments to conduct a very careful audit of anything that is to be shared with the Scottish Executive, looking for any information that could be used or manipulated for political purposes by the SNP."

This is mainly because they have been embarrassed by the revelations by Alex Salmond and what the real reasons were for the withdrawal of this pledge.

Similar arguments are also going on about what the permanent secretary to the Scottish Government, Sir John Elvidge, meant when he said

"The CSR ... announced by the UK Government today gives details of the level of funding the Scottish Government and UK Departments will receive over the next three years.

"As we expected, this is a tight settlement, with a lower rate of annual growth than we have experienced since devolution."

Both sides are saying it means different things, one that the government figures were correct and the other that they have been manipulated to get the lowest possible increases to Scotland and then to squeeze them even harder.

It remains to see how this tit-for-tat battle goes. Labour are playing a dangerous game here as any thing they do to upset the SNP government will be seen in a bad light by the majority of Scots at the moment.

It is unlikely anyone will be a real winner, but more than likely the loser will be the regular punter in Scotland.


Scotsman.com News - UK - Whitehall papers to be vetted before being seen by Scottish civil servants as row over payments escalates

A Monument to the Servicemen of Modern Times

Good to see that this monument has finally been finished.

It commemorates the more than 16,000 British Servicemen and auxiliary forces members who have lost their lives since 1948 when the Commonwealth War Graves Commission closed its books.

There are memorials around the world to particular regiments, campaigns and even individuals, but there was no national shrine on home soil.

Money was raised by subscription, from the Lottery and even the government chipped in, but the trustees are still short of £1 million to ensure the memorial is properly maintained.

This is a place for memories and a place to honour those friends and relatives who were sadly taken from us. Growing up in a Service family you were exposed to this on a number of occasions.

The saddest part about the memorial though is that, despite there being 16,000 people remembered here who have given their live in the pursuit of freedom and peace, there is a blank space for a further 15,000 names. In this supposedly advanced World this is a sad reflection on Life at the moment.

A monument at last for the fallen of modern times - Times Online

Old Rebel - Billy Idol

Just a quick post for a Friday. It's been a few years since I took my wife to see Billy, she kind of idolised him in a loving way (something about throwing intimate articles to him on stage was mentioned). I enjoyed the concert as well as the backing vocalists were equally easy on the eye.

This version of Sweet Sixteen is just superb.



Watch and enjoy

Election Bribe by Labour?

According to the Scotsman the UK government was last night accused of playing politics with Scottish farmers' livelihoods as it was revealed plans for an £8.1 million compensation payout for foot-and-mouth disease were mysteriously scrapped after Gordon Brown decided not to call an election.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, revealed Westminster's original foot-and-mouth compensation proposals yesterday. The First Minister issued a draft of Mr Benn's speech which had been given to the Scottish Government on Friday ahead of Mr Benn's statement in the House.

The draft statement contained a paragraph saying Scotland would receive £8.1 million to deal with the foot-and-mouth disaster.

The Environment Secretary was due to say:

"I have also agreed with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury that Scotland should receive £8.1 million and Wales £6.5 million to assist them in countering the impacts of foot-and-mouth on their livestock farmers."

But by Monday, when Mr Benn delivered the statement to MPs, the paragraph had disappeared.

He instead said:

"I am announcing today a package of assistance for the English livestock sector, amounting to £12.5 million. The devolved administrations are proposing to introduce their own schemes."

This looks like a typical piece of Labour sleaze, attempting a bribe for the "non-election" and then dropping it to save a little money, especially if the SNP will look bad.

This is typical of the small minds of Labour who are now seeking their revenge on Scotland for throwing them out of Government. They may see this as a good idea, but in todays climate in Scotland this sort of action will have the opposite effect to what they require to get back in Government.

Scotsman.com News - Politics - Foot-and-mouth payouts for farmers dropped after U-turn on election

Tax rise threat to ‘save as you earn’ schemes

As I expected the Capital Gains Tax change announced in GordonsDarling's first budget will hit Share Option schemes , and yes I do have one!

This was supposed to simplify CGT and hit Private Equity Chiefs, however it looks like it will also hit, not only entrepreneurs and the like, but also savers who at the moment appear to be a dying breed as is normal when it looks like we are going into a recession.

As noted in the depths of the CSR (p146 apparently) the savings ratio in the UK is the lowest it has ever been as noted here.

So what has the Chancellor done he has changed the rules and now the 1.7m savers in share-save schemes will face increased CGT taxes up from 5% to 18% for basic rate Tax Payers and from 10% to 18% for Higher rate tax payers.

According to Labour they are trying to encourage Long Term savings and wider share ownership. Either they are lying about this or they are just incompetent. They just can't work out joined up government.

As normal with one of Gordon'sLabour's tax changes it is the poorest who are hit hardest.

According to ifs ProShare, whose members include many FTSE-100 companies, the CGT changes were ill considered and would hit some savers hard.

“While the Treasury may have sound reasons for simplifying CGT, it would appear the consequences for employees saving through employee share plans had not been fully assessed. These apparently unintended consequences contradict the government’s stated commitment to encouraging long-term saving and to its support for wider share ownership,” it said.

So another "hidden" tax from Gordon. As they said it's all in the Detail.

FT.com / In depth - Tax rise threat to ‘save as you earn’ schemes

Don't Kick A dying Dog - End the Phoney War

Brown drops his Bottle

Perhaps now is the time to lay off the kicking of the Feartie. He is obviously in his death throes as a politician and we should be merciful to him in his remaining days as Prime Minister.

Whatever else happens it is likely that Gordon will now just be a spent force as Leader of the Labour party and Britain. He has been made to look like a fool in Parliament and to millions of people around the world. I suspect he will quietly say he will be going before the next election and then do a Macavity.

The problem for Gordon is that he will not be respected here or in the rest of the World. I can just see him at the next EU meeting taking out his red pen when they are discussing the EU "treaty". He will be challenged by all and sundry and they will know that he will back down as he does not have courage of his convictions. Even worse will happen when/if we are in conflict with other countries like Iran, who would you like standing up for you, it certainly wouldn't be Brown.

It is unlikely that anyone in the Labour party will have the guts to challenge Brown at the moment but they should realise that the longer he is around the worse it will get for them. Perhaps Maggie should pop round and speak to him again about what happens when you lose the support/respect of your colleagues.

So I wonder how long this phoney war will last, Labour are a dying force with Gordon at the helm, they have to look at the options ahead, which after recent events, are pretty thin and come up with someone who still retains the remnants of respect in Britain. Until they do this the battle to be the next Prime Minister will not start.

Mind you I could always be wrong because it's well known that It taks a lang spune ti sup wi a Fifer.

Cheap and Nasty knock-offs.

The Telegraph has an article entitled "Darling's tax hike demolishes business builders" and starts out with a joke about Aberdeen which I was surprised they knew about as it's north of Watford.

The joke is

In Aberdeen you can tell when it's freezing: lawyers resort to sticking their hands in their own pockets.

It continues

No need for that, in Westminster, where Alistair Darling, the Aberdeen-educated lawyer, stuck his hands in the Tories' pockets, pulled out some policies, and claimed them for himself.

Do I need to say much more! I do hear the Sun has headline tomorrow of "Stop Thief"

Darling's tax hike demolishes business builders - Telegraph

Another Feartie cock-up

It appears the Tax Credit system is causing unnecessary distress and hardship to the poorest families it was designed to help.

That's probably an understatement, I know of more than a few families who no longer claim for Tax Credit' because of the number of problems they have had with the system. Maybe this was Broon's idea of saving money for the government, another part of his "Vision" for Britain.

In case you had forgotten Tax Creditswere introduced in 2003 as part of a drive by then-Chancellor Brown to reduce poverty, but has been dogged with problems, not least because of its built-in requirement to claim back many of its payments.

As well as this it has cost the Tax Payer about 2bn because of poor administration and overpayment of some 6bn.

According to the Parliamentary Ombudsman more than a quarter of all complaints received from the public were about the tax credit system, run by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - UK - Watchdog attacks "harsh" tax credit system

EU treaty same as Constitution

This article in the Scotsman will not leave Feartie Broon much room to move after his answer to questions about why there would not be a Referendum on the "new" EU Treaty yesterday.

The Parliament's all-party European Scrutiny Committee concluded in a report that the effect of the entire new treaty was "substantially equivalent" to that of the Constitution.

The Conservatives' Europe spokesman Mark Francois said in view of the committee's conclusions, Brown was "morally bound" to offer Britons a referendum.

But Europe Minister Jim Murphy insisted that the new treaty was "significantly different to the old constitutional treaty in intent, form and substance" and that the version Britain would sign up to was even further from the old Constitution.

So when Gordon takes out his "red pen" to compare them he will find his work has already been done for him and they are virtually the same. He will then have to as a "conviction" politician honour the Labour Party manifesto which, in 2005, promised the voters a Referendum.

I have no doubt though that Gordon using his own special "moral compass" will find a new direction to move that will not allow us to have the promised Referendum.

Never mind perhaps it was just a "Vision" when Blair promised us the Referendum.

Just in case you wondered 9 out of the 16 members of the Committee were LAbour MP's.

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - UK - UK report says new EU treaty same as Constitution

Football-mad drivers bid for "WE57 HAM" plate

I wonder if the esteemed Blogger and West Ham supporter Iain Dale will be bidding for this registration plate for his nice Audi Convertible. I suspect it may go for around 40,000 pounds, cheap to any fervent supporter.

However Iain may be more interested in the following after West Ham losing their last two games Lot 835: "LOS 3R", which has a reserve price of 900 pounds.

Apparently the top 10 prices for Football related registrations sold by the DVLA is as follows:

1 - AR53 NAL (36,000 pounds)

2 - V1 LLA (35,000 pounds)

3 - ALB 10N (19,000 pounds)

4 - DER 8Y (14,500 pounds)

5 - S41 NTS (11,500 pounds)

6 - PRE 570N (9,400 pounds)

7 - 1 WBA (8,400 pounds)

8 - W1 GAN (7,700 pounds)

9 - EVR 70N (6,400 pounds)

10 - S9 URS (4,600 pounds)

Why this item should be in the Scotsman I have no idea.

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Odd - Football-mad drivers bid for "WE57 HAM" plate

A Senior Moment

A group of young students were on a bus discussing the burden placed on society by the older generation of pensioners. One of the pensioners took great exception to some of the comments and stated that he thought it was impossible for some of the older generation to understand todays younger generation and vice-versa. Things had changed so much during the years between their ages. As he was explaining the student interrupted him.

"You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one," the student said, loud enough for all his friends and most of the other passengers to hear.

"The young people of today grew up with colour high definition digital television, high quality music on CD's and MP3 players, jet travel, space travel, trains that have never travelled faster, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed processing and ..."

The pensioner interrupted him and said "You're right, son. We didn't have those things to enjoy and marvel at when we were young.......so we invented them. What are you doing for the next generation?"

The applause was resounding...

Hat tip to WhichEndBites

Whichendbites: A SENIOR MOMENT

Third of RAF bomber squadrons 'to be culled'

Dad in his Bomber Days

Stunning isn't it when our Services are as stretched as they have ever been since the Korean war here we are seeing the Labour Government of the Man of Courage, being savaged due to their inadequate financial management.

According to the Telegraph and a number of other papers a third of Britain's frontline RAF bomber squadrons could be disbanded under proposals to save money in the defence budget. This is despite a month ago the Chief of the Air Staff Sir Glenn Torpy saying the RAF

was as lean as it can get.

The Telegraph continues

But Air Force chiefs have been told the priority now is to divert all resources into the current conflicts, leading to cuts elsewhere.

Under the Comprehensive Spending Review proposals, plans are also in place to keep the ageing Tornado F3 fighters in service for another seven years because the Saudi Arabian purchase of 75 brand new Eurofighter Typhoons will mean the RAF will not get any new fighters for an estimated two years.

Much defence funding has also been tied up in major projects such as the two new aircraft carriers, leading to less money being available elsewhere.

So it also seems we are not to get Eurofighter Typhoons as they have all been promised to Saudi Arabia, this is just sheer lunacy.

In addition the Navy will not miss out in swingeing cuts as it could lose all four of its Type 22 frigates and a destroyer.

After Gordon's cheap Political Trick last week when visiting Iraq, this is just what our Armed forces need to hear as they fight on our behalf.

One of the bases which will be affected will probably be Lossiemouth where my father served his final years in the RAF. The loss of anymore squadrons from this area may bring even further problems to this area that has relied on the RAF as a major employment generator for many years.


Third of RAF bomber squadrons 'to be culled' - Telegraph

Warm glow spreads through Scotch Whisky

Great to see the resurgence of Whisky that is going on in Scotland. This is due to the greater demand for our products in countries such as China, India and Brazil, with exports up to over 2.5bn last year setting a record high.

This is not only good news to the distillers but also good news to many of the supporting industries. Scottish Farmers are benefiting from doubled prices for Malting Barley, Coopersmiths are doing better, packaging firms are getting a slice of the increase and even CalMac are benefiting from increased demand for capacity.

In addition we also have a "Consultation" by the UK Government for tighter definitions of Scotch Whisky in UK Law. This would then lead onto possible use of the names in international trade agreements, Islay and Speyside would be in the same category as Champagne, Parma ham, Rioja and Roquefort cheese with protection from European trade law.

Scotch whisky has been defined for many years and is protected by law, but the new laws, which could be in place by spring 2008, will prevent foreign spirits using geographic areas in Scotland.

FT.com / Companies / Consumer industries - Warm glow spreads through Scotch whisky

Scotland’s nationalists can afford to relax

An interesting article in the Financial Times, from Harry Reid former editor of the Herald, saying that Scotland's nationalists can afford to Relax.

I have to agree with his starting paragraph when he says:

Serenity is not a word often associated with politics, particularly nationalist politics. But since the Scottish National party won its dramatic victory in the Scottish parliamentary elections five months ago, Scotland has been a serene place. Less fractious, more relaxed.

Scotland seems to be happy to be ruled by a party that genuinely has Scotland foremost in it's mind rather than always having to look to London for oversight. It has also been helped by a good degree of consensual help by most of the parties during the start of what could have been a difficult time for the Scottish Parliament, in this they have been helped by the fact that the Scottish Labour party is in disarray and disbelief that Scots should have turned their back on them. Happily this has meant them not being much of a force in Parliament during the first, possibly rocky, months.

Harry also continues with what has undoubtedly been the strongest part of the SNP government, that they have realised that we need no more legislation. He says:

The secret of the governing party’s success so far is that it has concentrated on effective administration rather than legislation. Scotland, like the UK as a whole, had suffered a surfeit of legislation from Labour, some of it ill thought-out and ill drafted. This was a particular problem in Scotland, where there is no second chamber to refine and improve poorly considered and rushed legislation. Even the SNP’s enemies concede that the loss of the imperative to legislate has had a benign effect.

The one blot on the landscape, is that which is at the heart of the SNP, Independence, I don't think that Scotland is quite ready for it. It needs a few more years of decent government from all parties before the country as a whole has the confidence to go it alone. It needs confidence that it has the people, the energy (in more ways than one) , the Businesses and in addition the belief that we will not lose out if we go it alone.

There are also a few rumblings that things may not be so easy for the SNP over the next few months. These have culminated in the vote against the SNP's record on implementing its manifesto. By 70 votes to 48, MSPs voted to recognise that the SNP was elected on the basis of promises it failed to keep and called on ministers to make a statement on why its pre-election promises are no longer government policy. It will also likely have to deal with receiving much less of a rise in spending from the Labour Government when the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) is announced next week, a rise of less than 2% is expected contrasted with rises of above 5% in the past 3 years. This may be balanced against the gaining of 900m pounds not spent in previous years that will be released to Scotland.

These will be problems that the SNP has to face over the Winter, but if they continue as they have started then they will probably rise over these setbacks. There is also the point that none of the other major parties are really ready to force the point at Holyrood at the moment as they are unlikely to achieve anything by forcing setbacks on the SNP apart from a backlash from the public who voted for a change of government.

You might wonder why a Conservative voter is looking at the SNP and saying your doing well and bring on Independence. I do as well, sometimes, but I am foremost Scottish and then Conservative, I believe that Scotland is strong enough to run itself. It has unique challenges and options that are not now best served by a Central Government in London. What the SNP has shown is that different parties and people can work together to get what is best for Scotland and this must remain the most important thing that a Scottish Government must do.


FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - Scotland’s nationalists can afford to relax

Marr Bottles the Big Feartie interview

Just watched Andrew Marr and the full interview with the Big Feartie Brown. Atrocious journalism, he never challenged him properly once and let him blather on about change and competency rather than attacking the issue. Brown himself was just as poor, faltering and nervous and full of what HE had done. Truly the politics of I.

Now wonder the Big Feartie chose him to do this interview. Any serious journalist given this chance would have forgotten his own prejudices and been on the attack from the word go.

Anyhow that will be the last we will see of Brown for a while, he will be doing his "Macavity" the cat act again until as late as possible next week. Maybe he even won't turn up for some of those important announcements in Parliament that he was due to make next week. The ones like Iraq and the CSR that were so important next week, Flunkies can do these for him and take the flack. I have a feeling PMQ's on Wednesday might be slightly interesting and embarrassing for him.

Worst Blow in 25 years to a Prime Minister

Over at the Coffeehouse Fraser Nelson is reporting that Adam Boulton has thrown his dummy out the window at Brown as follows.

One of the worst blows to a serving prime minister that I can remember in quarter of a century of covering politics."

He blames the debacle on Brown's advisers. "

If I was giving him any advice tonight it would be ‘sack the lot of them’”.

And he's hiding away while Ming and Cameron are taking questions.

"It's not leadership as most people will understand it."

As Fraser Nelson says

This is just a nuclear bomb.

The Big Feartie - Wee Sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie

Wee Sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie

To a Mouse


WEE, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi’ murd’ring pattle!

I’m truly sorry man’s dominion,
Has broken nature’s social union,
An’ justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An’ fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
’S a sma’ request;
I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,
An’ never miss’t!

Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin!
It’s silly wa’s the win’s are strewin!
An’ naething, now, to big a new ane,
O’ foggage green!
An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin,
Baith snell an’ keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste,
An’ weary winter comin fast,
An’ cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell—
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro’ thy cell.

That wee bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble,
Has cost thee mony a weary nibble!
Now thou’s turn’d out, for a’ thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter’s sleety dribble,
An’ cranreuch cauld!

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft agley,
An’lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!

Still thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me
The present only toucheth thee:
But, Och! I backward cast my e’e.
On prospects drear!
An’ forward, tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’ fear!

The first two verses just seem so appropriate. Apologies to Robert Burns for tarring his name with Gordon Brown

£200 extra on council taxpayers to fund NHS

According to the Telegraph Mr Brown will try and do another trick like his 10p tax rate mess from the last budget where he gives a little with one hand and sneaks more away with the other but tries to hide it in the fine print.

The Chancellor will apparently announce above inflation rises in spending for the NHS and Education.

The big BUT is that as there is no money in the coffers and growth rates are down, that the money will instead be found by raising the take on Council taxes. Reaction to this from various groups below is unlikely to help Brown if he goes for an early election.

The planned council tax rises - expected to be buried in the small-print of the CSR - will anger many voters.

Town hall chiefs reacted angrily, accusing Mr Brown of plotting a back-door tax rise to

"raise as much locally as legally possible"

to fund a generous health and education giveaway.

Nick Skellett, the leader of Surrey county council said:

"It is an appalling and dishonest strategy to keep income tax at fixed levels and raise huge sums through council tax."

Eric Pickles, the Tory local government spokesman, said:

"Council tax is starting to become unbearable. Gordon Brown is using smoke and mirrors which is shameful. But, I think people will recognise what is going on. Mr Brown has already fooled them before in this way."

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, said:

"Council tax is a particularly regressive and hated tax which has already put a massive squeeze on household incomes."

The assumed council tax increases in the CSR determine how much central government gives to local authorities in terms of an annual financial grant.

The higher the rise in council tax, the lower the central grant.

The problem is that Brown has emptied the coffers, not just for the now but for the foreseeable future.

£200 on council tax to pay for NHS - Telegraph

No Honours Blair

Apparently Tony Blair is giving up his right to a resignation honours list, the first former Prime Minister to do so.


No wonder, almost all the people who paid for one with a backhander, have now got one, and Tony (Who) Blair has slipped right off the celebrity list, so no-one is toadying up to him any longer to get a reward.

There is also the two other points

1. The honours would have had to have been vetted by an Independent Body, the House of Lords Appointments Commission. What fun they would have had rejecting a few of the more suspect honourees!
2. The fact that receiving an honour now from Tony Blair would be more like getting a formal acknowledgment that you were toadying briber of the lowest sort.

Tony Blair refuses to produce an honours list - Telegraph

Old Age Bankruptcy

The story in the Independent that

Pensioners have become so laden with debt that the number filing for bankruptcy has increased eight-fold in five years. Campaigners are blaming the worrying rise on a combination of cheap credit, soaring living costs and the complicated benefits system.

Nearly 8,000 people aged 65 or over took the ultimate financial sanction last year and sought bankruptcy – up from 900 in 2002. The figure is just one of a series of statistics this week showing the growing financial burden and consequences of an ageing population.

is a shocking reflection on todays society.

According to Joe Harris, the leader of the National Pensioners Convention.

"Many older people feel the whole process of having to parade their poverty in order to get a little bit extra to live on is demeaning."

This is a sad state of affairs.

Number of pensioners going bankrupt rises by 700% in five years - Independent Online Edition > This Britain

A Declining Institution

I continue to be in the declining and unfashionable relationship called marriage. Roughly since Labour came in 4% less people are married.

Contrast that with the rise in unmarried couples living together which is the fastest-growing family unit in the UK. In the same 10 years that marriages declined 4%, cohabitation by unmarried couple increased by 65%. In addition lone parents have increased by 8% in the same period.

Now this may just reflect changing ideas on marriage but apparently it also has had another effect on the children of cohabiting families. It was found that 17-year-olds were most likely to be in education if their parents were married and they were not in step-families. A total of 69 per cent of boys and 78 per cent of girls at that age would be in education if they were in a traditional family unit.

So why don't people get married. The obvious answer is that changing ideas have changed our society, but also we have the stupidity of being penalised by the government for being married by an unjust Tax system.

The Tories have proposed bringing back the transferable married couples tax allowance, worth around £20-a-week, this would be aimed at making it easier for one parent to stay at home to look after children or elderly relatives. If applied to all married couples, it would cost £3.2bn a year.

This would be money well spent if the traditional family unit does help ensure everyone gets a good education and redresses an unfair penalty on married couples.

Number of unmarried couples rises by 65% - Independent Online Edition > This Britain

Programming Balls

Over at the Devils Kitchen ( A right good Sweary Fest in case you didn't already know), The Devil had delivered his idea of the best Quote of the Day from the Tory Conference via Caroline Hunt

Quote of the Day from Dizzy.

"Sometimes I have to adjust my balls because they hang to the left and I worry they might be ideologically unsound."

But being Dizzy, he doesn't have to do it himself, he has written a script to do it; it'll be something like this, I imagine.

1. IF {balls}=[align: left] GOTO 3 ELSE GOTO 2


2. IF TIME ELAPSED=30 GOTO 1


3. MOVE {right_hand} TO {balls} GOTO 4


4. CUP {balls} WITH {right_hand} GOTO 5


5. MOVE {balls} + SHIFT {right_leg [surrepticiously]} GOTO 6


6. LOCK {balls}=[align: right] GOTO 7


7. SOUND={"GRUNT" [contentedly]} GOTO 8


8. IF TIME ELAPSED=30 GOTO 1

There then follows a number of examples of Ball Programming in a number of languages until my attempt as follows:

Meanwhile, self-confessed "old-timer" Fitaloon decided that what was really needed was a Cobol programme.

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. ConservativeBalls.
AUTHOR. Fitaloon

DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 BallsPosition.
03 BallSide PIC X(5).
88 Balls-correct value "Right".
88 Balls-Incorrect Value "Left"
01 Ballstoright
03 Ballsright pic x(5) value "Right".


PROCEDURE DIVISION.
Begin.
DISPLAY "Enter Balls Position Left or Right".
ACCEPT BallsPosition.
If Balls-incorrect
move Ballstoright to Ballsposition.
Display "Balls in correct Position".
STOP RUN.

Ah, geek humour...

First Cobol programme I have attempted in some years (too many to remember).

I have a feeling my older attempts may have been rather better as they kept me gainfully employed for about 15 years.

The Devil's Kitchen: Tory Conference Quote To End All Quotes

Inheritance Tax takes blame

The Conservaties have bounced back to level with Brown according to an ICM poll in the Guardian which gives each party 38% of the poll.

According to Brown's spinners this is entirely due to the Tory announcement on inheritance tax and the promise that only millionaires would have to pay death duties.

Now if only life was this easy, you offer someone a tax cut and they immediately are your bosom buddy for life. If this was the case Gordon would have everyone voting for him as he has handed out so many (empty) promises over the years.

Gordon will now be faced with the quandary of how to back out of an election that he has been spinning and preparing for with the least damage.

He will have to settle for the remainder of the 2 1/2 years that Labour have and face the polls in 2010, possibly even resigning before the next election, if the polls look bad, stating he has finished the job he started, and wants to pass the reins to younger blood.

His problem is that his courage has failed him again like after the loss of John Smith and during the "phoney" war with Tony Blair.

If he had had some courage he would have announced the election today before the polls came out that make it obvious he will lose much or all of his majority in Parliament. Having had his courage fail him again all excuses will be null and void apart from the fact he might lose his majority.

Cameron bounces back | Special Reports | Guardian Unlimited Politics

Free Burma

Free Burma! - International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October 2007

Free Burma

Benedict says No Election

Benedict Brogan in the Daily Mail says there will be no election this year. He has spoken to the Labour spinners and they are indicating:

• Brown Central is convinced that George Osborne has given them all the ammunition they need for a protracted demolition campaign centred on the "fantasy" costings behind his tax cut proposals. Some are even seeing it as a Black Wednesday moment that will prove to be as disastrous for the credibility of the Cameron/Osborne generation as 1992 was for John Major and his lot.(Hmm from the figures seen so far anyone could be right, but it will not be a major factor)
  
• Labour polling in its key marginals has produced mixed results, and not the clear evidence of a big win some MPs suggested last week. (This will be key)
  
• I understand the CSR has been decoupled from an election announcement. Alistair Darling has been told he can go ahead, probably Monday, regardless of what Mr Brown does. The CSR no longer means there will automatically be an election. (Who Cares)
  
• Mr Brown's advisers believe that there is not enough time between now and November1/8 to persuade the public that Mr Osborne's inheritance tax giveaway is not what it's cracked up to be.(If they can't do it now no-one will believe them)
  
• They also believe that once they get past the initial "he's bottled out" jeering, politics will return to normal and within months the public will have forgotten the excitement we have been living through in Bournemouth and Blackpool. (They may be right but people will be reminded, whenever he has another Macavity Moment)
  
• Mr Brown has been keeping a keen eye on events elsewhere, no least the spread of foot and mouth, the political situation in Scotland, and the evidence that suggests the public is not clamouring for a contest. (Grasping at straws here, though the Scotland situation will be worrying Brown)
  

Reading through this we get the message, Brown has bottled it, the polls are against him, he knows he will struggle in a straight fight against Cameron for top billing and fears a top three entry in the charts for shortest reign as a Prime Minister or a loss of Prestige as Blair's majority is lost. Courage is not his middle name.

Brown will choose the easy option and wait as long as possible, he has already had to wait ten years to finally get where he wanted, why lose it all now.


Benedict Brogan's political blog

We or I

That is the choice you may face in a few weeks time if Cyclops (I) can make a decision to go to the country, I still believe he won't as his "courage" will fail him.

We or I, the belief of whether it us, the public, who have the major role in a democracy or we want to be ruled by someone who believes he knows what is best for us and ploughs on regardless of anyone else. Democracy versus Totalitarianism

We just have to look at the party conferences over the past fortnight, The Labour Conference was all about I, There was only person who mattered and only one speech that was worth reporting on. Brown was centre stage and no-one was going to share it with him. he was the Lord and Master and woe betide anyone who thought different or who might upstage him. Then came the speech, all about how he had made the world good and he would make it better for all of us, as he knew best. He was the star and there was no one else in the firmament.

Contrast that with the Tory conference where there were any number of good speeches from David Cameron's cabinet with IDS particularly playing a blinder and Hague, as always, standing out. Then we had Cameron's speech that promised that we would be involved, that the government needed our help and that we mattered to it. Promises would be kept and Covenant's
Honoured

What a difference!

We just had to see Brown's response to the speech. He had not listened to it, He was apparently to busy governing us to bother with anything so unimportant, but he thought we would like to know.

So when or if the decision comes, think about it, who do you want to govern, We or I?

Dear Cyclops

Image from Getty Images.

Lost Moral Compass

Brown loses grip

Lost Moral Compass, no reward for finding. Please return to Gordon Brown, last seen heading Middle-Eastwards. Courage is also reported as ready to desert as well. Conviction has well and truly been squashed.

Promises forgotten and Covenants broken a specialty.

Bob Ainsworth Stuffed by Paxo

Bob Ainworth, Labour MP for Coventry North East and Minister for State (Armed Forces) Ministry of Defence has just been Paxoed on Newsnight, asked some simple addition questions on how many soldiers were returning from Iraq he had no answers apart from fudging the issue.

It was painful and embarrassing to watch this poor man squirm for his leaders who have left him out to dry whilst Des Browne his boss fights the SNP instead of doing his proper job, and Gordon spins his way cynically towards an election.

It now appears that of the 1000 troops due back from Iraq, 500 have never got there, 270 were already back before Cyclops arrived and so only 230 will actually be returning.

These are the approx figures but may have to be changed as it all becomes as clear as the muddied waters of the Labour Cesspit of lies.

Update: Just trying to remember if Mr Ainsworth said that the 500 who will not go to Iraq will be "redeployed". In these days that means they will not be in Blighty(or Germany where they are apparently based) for Xmas but will be going to Afghanistan. This is quite likely as 500 troops ready to go to Iraq are the ideal candidates for deployment to Afghanistan. Waiting for the Newsnight report to be available online.

Brown spins in for Baghdad visit

I see not satisfied with leaking details of possible planned troop cuts in Iraq, Mr (I don't spin Brown) has arrived in Iraq to deflect good news from the Tory conference.

Amazing coincidence he should have planned such a visit during this time.

Using our armed forces in this way is as low as it gets. After all the cuts and the shoddy treatment he has forced on the armed forces let us hope that the soldiers on the ground welcome him in a suitable manner.

THIS IS A DISGRACE. He should be hung as a traitor to this country.

As you might note I am a tad angry!

BBC NEWS | UK | Brown flies in for Baghdad visit

Plan to cut Basra troops by 2,000

I see Mr Brown's tame poodle, Nick Robinson has been given the nod by him to release news that he is considering cutting the number of British Troops in Southern Iraq by 2000 just in time for the 10 o'clock news tonight.

Apparently the BBC reveals that a final decision has not been made yet, though it may be part of an announcement on Iraq expected to MP's next week.

Amazing this news should come out today while the Tory Conference is ongoing, particularly as some good reviews of speeches today have caught the government off-guard.

This sort of leaking of information on Troop Movements and Strengths would have been considered as Treason in many times of war. It is certainly not democracy in action.

BBC NEWS | UK | Plan to cut Basra troops by 2,000

Higher tobacco age limit in force

Amazing a piece of Government legislation I am fully behind!

The new law making the sales of cigarettes to under 18's illegal is now in force and seems to have already started to work.

According to my 14 year old this law has had an immediate effect as there were only about 10 pupils in the "smokie" (down bog alley in my old school) at his school today rather than the normal 30-40. Seems like this has had an immediate impact on sales. It also make it easier for shopkeepers to say no to school kids who claimed they were 16.

BBC NEWS | UK | Higher tobacco age limit in force

Re-re-re-rebuttal and Treasury spin

Benedict Brogan has an interesting article on the Tory announcement of Taxes on non-doms (I assume this is not a comment on their sexual preferences) and how it has been costed. Apparently Labour has gone into "berserk" mode spraying out allegations and trotting out the usual "black hole" stories. This of course is to be expected with any tax changes to be proposed by the Tories, particularly those that catch Labour off guard and exposed after their promises to sort this out.

However the big question is right at the end of the article when Benedict says he has in his inbox a press release from Labour Party Press Office, , in which Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, claims:

"Today George Osborne made a £3.5 billion tax commitment. Treasury analysis shows it is impossible for him to raise the money he needs to pay for this commitment from his proposals on residence and domicile. Initial costings by the Treasury show that George Osborne's proposal would raise a maximum of £650m, leaving George Osborne at least £2.9 billion short. So George Osborne cannot afford the promises he is making. He cannot afford to cut inheritance tax."

Benedict then goes onto say

The italics are mine, but I look forward to hearing from the Treasury tomorrow why exactly its civil servants and this Government department are doing party political work to undermine another political party's conference.

All taxpayers will be waiting with bated breath to see how Mr Darling spins this one. I assume he will say something along the lines that we have already looked at this and rejected it etc etc.

Benedict Brogan's political blog

Snap election 'will cause chaos'

Apparently the AEA chief executive John Turner told Scotland on Sunday he had directly warned the Government and was 'fearful' of an administrative crisis should Brown press ahead with a general election as early as November.

Concerns centre on the problematic postal voting system, which continues to place election officers under a huge burden. The AEA has called on the Government to change the law to extend the time limit between the dissolution of parliament and an election by at least another five working days to 22 days.

The AEA is also warning that some people will be unable to vote or to receive a postal vote because the new electoral roll is not published until December 1.

There was also concern that anti-fraud laws introduced in England and Wales in May would not come into force in Scotland until next year. The laws, introduced after a High Court judge ruled that the vote-rigging in Birmingham's 2004 elections would have "shamed a banana republic", aim to make postal voting more secure by making electors provide their signature and date of birth.

I assume that Douglas Alexander will not be in charge of the printing of Ballot Papers if there is an election as he made a bit of a cock-up of it last time as well as losing the election for Labour.

Scotsman.com News - Snap election 'will cause chaos'

Immigration - Stirring by the Independent

I see the Independent on Sunday is trying to stir up a race row for the Tory party by saying that an interview made by Sayeeda Warsi, the shadow community cohesion minister, threatens to fuel the already highly charged debate about immigration by arguing that it has been "out of control".

Now I wonder who has stirred up the immigration debate recently with his "British Jobs for British Workers" and other trite sayings designed to appeal to the likely BNP voter.

Looking more closely at Sayeeda's apparent interview with the Independent on Sundays "journalists" we see her saying such controversial things as

"What this country has a problem with is not people of different kinds coming into this country and making a contribution, but the problem that nobody knows who is coming in, who is going out – the fact that we don't have a border police; we don't have proper checks; we don't have any idea how many people are here, who are unaccounted for," she says. "It's that lack of control and not knowing that makes people feel uneasy, not the fact that somebody of a different colour or a different religion or a different origin is coming into our country.The control of immigration impacts upon a cohesive Britain."

Apparently these views are "somewhat surprising"

as she is the daughter of immigrants herself. Her father is a former Labour-supporting mill-worker from Pakistan who, after making a fortune in the bed and mattress trade, switched his allegiance to the Tories. The lawyer, 36, who is married with a nine-year-old daughter, devoted her early career to improving race relations helping to launch Operation Black Vote in Yorkshire and sitting on various racial justice committees. So her analysis of race relations on the eve of the Tory conference cannot be dismissed as a right-wing rant.

Why should the views be surprising,. It is not racist, it is just that we carry on being silent on immigration, as it is one of those subjects that mustn't be discussed in a sensible way in these evermore sensitive days.

Each time Sayeeda Warsi makes a point in the article it is prefixed by the "journalists" view with the usual prejudicial language that attempts to destroy any sensible argument on the immigration issue.

This is the sort of "journalism" that causes people to vote for BNP rather than look for solutions within the mainstream parties as it stifles reasoned comment and debate that might sort out the problem in a sensible way.

Immigration... Immigration... Immigration: Cameron hoped to ignore it. But now it's back with a vengeance - Independent Online Edition > UK Politics

DEFRA staff to be made Redundant

In the usual show of joined up Government displayed by Gordon and his Labour Party I see that amongst those being made redundant due to cuts imposed by Gordon are members of DEFRA who are currently on secondment in Animal Health, where annual leave has already been canceled in October, as they work to contain foot and mouth and bluetongue disease.

The unions are not exactly pleased with this either, Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said:

"Making people compulsorily redundant at the same time as the department is working around the clock to contain the foot and mouth and bluetongue disease outbreaks is ridiculous and unnecessary.

"This move to compulsory redundancies raises fears that more could follow in greater numbers.

"With a civil service-wide ballot for industrial action beginning at the end of the week, the time is now for the government to intervene and offer guarantees on redundancies, pay and privatisation."

(image courtesy of the The Spine)

First compulsory civil service redundancies announced | Whitehall | Guardian Unlimited Politics

Vital Therapy Centre For Soldiers - Appeal

This is a disgrace.

The head of the army Sir Richard Dannatt is having to appeal for funds for Headley Court rehabilitation centre near Ashtead, Surrey.

What do they need this money for.
Just simple facilities that should be available to our returning wounded soldiers.

The Help for Heroes appeal is to build a full-size rehabilitation pool and re-equip the antiquated gym at the centre, where currently 180 servicemen and women are being treated as in-patients.

At present, severely disabled service personnel, many of them amputees, endure a two-and a half-hour round trip to a public pool for vital cardiovascular exercise.

Once there, they must swim alongside the paying public in what is often a very private form of therapy.

The public should not have to be asked to fund this sort of centre, it should be adequately funded by the government as part of their Covenant to our Armed Services. It is their duty to support the armed forces particularly when they have been injured during the course of their service.

Only last week I blogged on another appeal by Sir Richard for the people of this country and in particular the government to get behind our soldiers.

It is time this government accepted it responsibility and Honoured the Covenant.

To make a donation, visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk. You can also email info@helpforheroes. org.uk, or call 0845 673 1760.


Army chief launches £5m appeal to fund vital therapy centre for injured troops | the Daily Mail

The Tory of Kirkcaldy

Tim Luckhurst professor of journalism and former editor of the Scotsman points out that if Gordon Brown had been born in Kent rather than Kirkcaldy he would must likely have been a Tory.

In the article he points out that

Gordon's family were very much part of Kirkcaldy's aristocracy something his father's job would have guaranteed if Mrs Brown had not been the privately educated beneficiary of modest legacies. The family had a lot more than their neighbours.

He also had access to the network of connections that link the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Labour party. There are parts of Scotland where the established church's influence on the establishment party is more important than the C of E's cameo as the Tory party at prayer. The difference is that Scotland's establishment party is Labour and it privileges its own to undeniable effect. The reputation for nepotism that damaged it in last May's contest with the SNP is no invention.

Tim also explains why the Gordon may appeal so much the the Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre

Brown was about as fortunate as a politically ambitious young Scot could be. Forget Eton and Oxford. He had the right family, the right school, the right university and, of course, the left opinions. It is easy to understand why he appeals so powerfully to that brilliant interpreter of English middle-class prejudices, Paul Dacre. The Daily Mail chief perceives in the prime minister commitment to the values his newspaper cherishes most dearly - the values of an establishment rooted in middle-class conservatism.

This might explain why a Labour Prime Minister is stealing all the Tories policies rather than making some up for themselves.

Tim Luckhurst: The Tory of Kirkcaldy | Special Reports | Guardian Unlimited Politics

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

This song has haunted me for over 25 years since I first heard it song by the writer Eric Bogle a Scot living in Australia.
Listen in some peace and quiet and reflect



YouTube - Eric Bogle - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Lancet condemns Brown's deep-clean proposals.

I see the Lancet has dissed Labour's deep clean proposals and a new "dress" code as yet more examples of their pandering to populism rather than listening to evidence.

Gordon Brown announced new plans to "deep clean" hospitals in his speech to the conference on Monday. Last week, the health secretary, Alan Johnson, said a new dress code would advise doctors against wearing long-sleeved coats and ties.

The Lancet, in a highly critical editorial,says that government-sponsored research had found little evidence to support wearing short sleeves.

"Disinfection of high-touch surfaces is what is needed, more so than removing visible dirt,"

it said.

"The public wants clean wards and crisp uniforms, but politicians must stop pandering to populism about hospital cleanliness and listen to the evidence.

"Brown also plans to double the number of hospital matrons, to check on ward cleaning and accost doctors wearing long sleeves. They would be better employed making sure doctors, nurses and visitors wash their hands properly, the proven way to stop hospital-acquired infections."

Another piece of Brown's Conference speech has been exposed as spin rather than fact.

Gordon Brown a "Conviction" Politician!

Lancet condemns hospital deep-clean proposals | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

Alex Salmond to Unseat Gordon Brown?

Brown shows what he would like to do with Alex Salmond's testicles

I see Mr Dale is suggesting that there are serious discussions ongoing within the SNP about putting Alex Salmond against the Clunker in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath if a general election is called soon.

Whilst I can see Iain's point about it being not a good idea for Alex as it would demean his role as Scotland's First Minister I think it would definitely be fun to watch this one play out.

With the best will in the world it is unlikely that Alex could overturn Gordon's majority of over 18,000 but if he did it would present Labour with a bigger problem than when they voted in Michael Foot.

Nothing is certain in Politics and there is in my opinion a strong swing in Scotland against the Labour Party and Gordon Brown in particular.

Iain Dale's Diary: Alex Salmond to Unseat Gordon Brown?

Commando

Just finished watching the second part of this series on The Royal Marines training. Well worth viewing.

ITV describes it as follows

In Commando: On the front line, director Chris Terrill provides an insight into the making of a Royal Marine Commando and, for the first time, follows the recruits onto the front line in Afghanistan

I was lucky enough to visit the RM training base at Lympstone last year along with my kids whilst they were filming some of this series.

You can also catch up with the series here.

Labour MPs in Scotland want to keep their Jobs

Despite all the predictions about a general election in October or maybe November or maybe not, it seems that Labour MP's in Scotland do not want to have their trotters removed from the Westminster trough.

They have been polled and are against an election this year by margin of 2-to-1 despite the polls that show Labour doing well after Clunkers speech in Bournemouth.

Their worries, as told to the BBC, appear to be to be with the weather rather than any thought they might lose their seats, of course the fact they just got beaten in Scotland by the SNP has nothing to do with it.

Apparently Jim Devine was one of those against the election saying

"I remember the last October election in 1974. It is cold, it is dark, we are liable to have a foot of snow from Aberdeen to Aberystwyth. This is not the time for an election. What's the rush? We only had an election two years ago. I think he should wait at least until next May."

My arse, in Scotland at least, I am in no doubt Labour would get the kicking they deserve losing seats to all parties.

This may well be one of the major reasons that Gordon is having to think hard about the possible election.

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Scots MPs 'against snap election'

Austin Mitchell's WeBLOG :: Conference: Beta-Gamma

Austin Mitchell's WeBLOG, as he calls it, is normally good fun and tends to poke New Labour in the eye, this morning's entry is especially fun as it pokes fun at the Conference. Despite this Austin thinks the speech by Gordon was very good. A quick extract from today give a flavour of what you can expect.

The unions supinely gave up their power. They didn’t trouble the leader with votes. Conference was castrated. No bookshop. No ideas. Everything passed to the Policy Forum. Which is useless. Ruthless management of the old Stalinist style without the Blair charm.
Irrelevant The election was an elephant in the room. No minister talked about it. Everyone wanted it. Whatever Gordon decrees they’ll agree with . He’s deeply cautious. But with a strong streak of political cunning. So the song should be “Things can only get worse”. “I let my golden chances pass me by” will be the grumbling refrain if he fluffs this.

Another extract for your amusement.

When is a Constitution not a constitution? When it`s a European Constitution. Then it`s Speak no Constitution. See no Constitution. Hear no Constitution. Even though it`s more like a Constitution than, say, elephant droppings.

David Millipede says it`s elephant droppings. No need to vote on them. Just sniff.

Balls. Elephant Balls. Other governments are saying this is the essence of the Giscard Constitution. The Commission has got all it wanted. Read the proposals and see that the “Reform Treaty” is 90% of the Monster Treaty. They`re trying to fool us. Again. We promised a referendum. Let`s have it. Otherwise we`re locked in the Euro-Jail.

Of course I should like him as he represents Great Grimsby where I was born many years ago, fortunately I escaped very shortly afterwards to a better and greater place.

Austin Mitchell's WeBLOG :: Conference: Beta-Gamma

Middle class 'should choose worst schools' - Telegraph

According to Jim Knight, Minister of State (Schools and Learners) , Middle Class parents should send their kids to the worst school in the neighbourhood as the children's "privileged" and "supportive" background mean that they could succeed whatever school they go to.

What utter crap. So decent parents who bother to get off their backsides and work to provide for their families should then do the opposite of what common sense tells them and enroll their children in a school that will not give them the start they require in life.

It's like saying let's go to the market and pick the rotten food and allow someone else to get the nice food just in case they can't afford the crap.

According to Mr Knight

"I believe children from backgrounds like mine, within reason, stand a reasonable chance in whatever school."

So that's OK then they have a "reasonable" chance. I'm sorry, but for my kids, I want better than a reasonable chance. Schooling should not be a lottery.

Of course I'm sure that the rest of his mates in the Labour Government will fall into line with his thinking. Tony (where are you now) Blair obviously having picked a mediocrce school rather than sending his children to the local comprehensive.

Middle class 'should choose worst schools' - Telegraph

Gordon Brown and his ‘rehash’ speech - Times Online

Why anyone should be surprised that Brown has rehashed something as simple as a speech is beyond me. He had consistently rehashed announcements of Funding Increases as new money when it has already been announced previously.

Chris Grayling commenting on the story said:

“We all know Gordon Brown’s announcements are reheated, and now his language seems reheated too. This destroys the myth that we are seeing a Prime Minister who has given up spin. Far from being the genuine article, he is just a copycat prime minister rehashing old material from US politicians.”

Gordon Brown and his ‘rehash’ speech - Times Online

Brown's booty

Brown Grasps Invisible woman

Interesting to see that Yvonne Roberts in the Guardian's Comment is Free has a go at women who see Gordon Brown as their Messiah and are apparently rushing to vote for him.

As she says

Women voters are said not to like "confrontational politics" but this kind of cross-party camaraderie, cosying up to very strange bedfellows, makes for a creepy kind of osmosis that seems the opposite of democracy. A brief trip to Bournemouth felt like attending a sales convention for moderately successful piece of kitchen equipment whose chief attraction is that anyone can use it.

Well said. His appeal is based on drivel dressed up as policies, mostly stolen from others and dressed up as new. Indeed many of the items he spoke about in his speech were mere pipe dreams with no policy or money to back them up.

Brown called himself a "conviction" Politician, all I can say he is he should be convicted for complicity in the Iraq War, for stealing our Pension Money and for funding his Publicity Machine from Public Money amongst a raft of other charges.

As a final point Yvonne says

Perhaps, if a general election is called, Brown will produce the miracle cure for all these ills that he's been storing at the back of his Downing Street cupboard for precisely this, his special moment. Somehow I doubt it. He's a man committed to redistribution - but of the timid kind. So what precisely are these "traditional values" to which Mr Brown appeals? And why are some women so easily conned?

Some good questions that need answering and some food for thought for us all.


Brown's booty

3000 Troops Home By Christmas - Or Maybe Not

(Image courtesy of Rogue Gunner)

According to "informed defence" sources the Herald reports that 3,000 troops will be coming home from Iraq before Christmas.

I wonder if they have spoken to the opposing forces in Basra who now appear to be starting on all out war in the city and the surrounding areas. According to the Independent

A surge in violence in Basra has raised the prospect of British troops having to go back into the city if the security situation deteriorates further.
British forces, who withdrew from their last remaining base in Basra City earlier this month, remain officially in charge of security in the area and UK commanders have said that they are ready to step back in if necessary with a battlegroup, the Royal Welsh with Challenger tanks, on standby for such an eventuality.

Perhaps the withdrawal of troops from Iraq is more to do with saving money at the MOD who are being forced by the government to give troops a £140 rebate on their Council tax bills for a six month tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.

By withdrawing early they might be able to save some of this. This rebate by the government of £140 was of course announced by them as if it was NEW money but as often occurs with Labour it is in fact OLD money just being redirected.

The money for this rebate will have to be taken from the MOD budget which is already in short supply supplying our troops with the essentials like ammunition, helicopters, clothing, armour and the likes along with other sundry items like decent housing.

Of course if you actually look at the troops who are based in Iraq and Afghanistan you'll find that few will actually get the rebate as they don't pay council tax, as such, as they don't own/rent property in the UK.

All in all another piece of Labour Spin to cover up their inadequacies.


3000 Troops Could Start Coming Home From Iraq By Christmas (from The Herald )

Effective consultation

Currently The Cabinet Office is reviewing the Government’s consultation policy. The Cabinet Office is seeking views from the widest possible range of organisations and individuals on how the Government can improve its consultation processes and would be grateful for your responses.
This consultation is just coming to the end of it's 12 week consultation period and judging by the comments available is getting a bit of panning. Not surprising considering some of the recent consultations.

It seems that consultations are not exactly what is happening. Those that do happen are poorly advertised and communicated and the results of the consultations appear to be ignored if they don't agree with what is being consulted on. Typical of some of the comments is the one below.

What is the point of stakeholder consultation? The HSE engaged consultants last year (at enormous expense) to conduct a review of gas safety. Numerous stakeholders were invited to attend and almost every recommendation has been ignored to date. Rather than implement the changes necessary and reduce regulatory burdens as it promised, it has decided to try and implement competition for CORGI instead. So unfortunately stakeholder participation only works when they you have identical views to those conducting it, otherwise your opinion (and the consultants views) will be ignored.

Recent controversial consultations have included

Planned Closure of District General Hospitals.

Nuclear Consultation: Here and here

Effective consultation: asking the right questions, asking the right people, listening to the answers : Department of Health - Consultations

Darling - Heads should Roll

I assume that since he seems to think that if Leaders of a Company should be sacked for poor performance then the same could be said of Cabinet Ministers who aren't capable of doing their jobs.

According to Reuters

Both key measures of Britain's public finances swung into deficit in August, recording their worst readings for that month since records began as corporation tax receipts fell sharply.

The Office for National Statistics said the public sector posted a net cash requirement of more than 5 billion pounds last month. That exceeded forecasts for a reading of 3.4 billion and was the biggest August deficit since monthly records began in 1984.

The government's preferred accruals-based measure of borrowing -- which is less volatile than the cash measure -- was more than 9 billion pounds. This exceeded forecasts for a reading of 6.0 billion pounds and was the highest for a month of August since records for that measure began in 1993.

Or perhaps he expects his predecessor to carry the can for this?

Labour's crass Hypocrisy at its best.

Darling hints that heads should roll over banking crisis - Independent Online Edition > UK Politics

Consultation Brown Style

Brown explains Consultation

This is taken straight from the blog of Barry Monk who is trying to save Bedford Hospital.

Update: looks like the source of this is Dr Rays Focal Spot. More details and comments on it there.

If it is true it is just yet another example of the control freak that is Gordon Brown. I shudder to think what his next subject for his Citizens Juries will be. We have already seen the farce of the Nuclear Power "Consultation" which has had the likes of Greenpeace up in arms.

Remember it is the NHS that Gordon Brown wants to make a key part of his Election Plans (October 25th?)

A medical friend has just sent me this:

Yesterday evening I had an insight into the workings of Nulabours "consultation" process on the planned closure of NHS District General Hospitals and replacement with dumbed down polyclinics.

A few weeks ago invitations to attend a public consultation were sent to consultants at our Trust. We were only given one day to reply for the meeting a few days later even though we have to give 6 weeks notice of leave because of "choose and book".

Obviously this meant that most of us could not attend but one consultant did take up the invitation.

The location of the meeting was kept secret until three days before the event and when this consultant was eventually told the location and turned up in Birmingham it turned out that medical staff were outnumbered 2:1 by laypeople specifically chosen by an agency to attend the event. The media were present and had obviously been invited to publicise the event.

The delegates were split up into groups and each allocated an electronic voting device. A "minder" was allocated to each group.

Then the stars of the show arrived: Gordon Brown, Alan Johnson and Ara Darzi.

There followed a rapid succession of questions from the podium on which the delegates were asked to vote. The minder was available to suggest the best answer if there was any doubt.

Strangely, almost all the votes were 2:1 in favour of Nulabour's policy. Even the question: "Would you prefer gynaecological surgery to be carried out in your GP practice even if it meant the closure of your DGH facility?" was answered with 2:1 in favour.

Following the "consultation" the medical delegates were told to leave but the other 2/3 of the audience were kept back and each given an envelope. My colleague was intrigued by this and managed to catch one of the "chosen ones" and ask about the contents. Each envelope contained £75 in cash!

So now the consultation is over and the results indicate there is overwhelming public and doctor support for closing down the DGHs. I can only say that the way the voting was done makes the "Blue Peter" voting fraud seem like, well, "Blue Peter".

So now you know how it works

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