It's now looking like the attempt at removing GB has failed again. Not sure if this is good or bad for the Tories, but it certainly paints Labour again as a divided force. The responses from Alistair Darling, Ed Balls and Mandelson are particularly interesting in their content.
The whole scenario seems to have been a side track to the election, there is a chance it may flare up again come tomorrow morning with the daily papers not doubt making the story their headline. It would present members of the cabinet an opportunity to resign, but it seems unlikely.
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Latest Brown coup attempt
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6977685.ece
I am genuinely surprised at this move by these ex-cabinet ministers. I certainly did not see it coming. With the polls having narrowed one would have imagined the Labour ranks would have stood behind their leadership, especially with a General Election only months away and the campaign all but underway. It shows the serious divisions within the Labour party regarding the direction the country should be taken in. This is not good for the country, and we need a sound united party in government soon. These uncertain times demand certainty over the governance of the nation.
I am genuinely surprised at this move by these ex-cabinet ministers. I certainly did not see it coming. With the polls having narrowed one would have imagined the Labour ranks would have stood behind their leadership, especially with a General Election only months away and the campaign all but underway. It shows the serious divisions within the Labour party regarding the direction the country should be taken in. This is not good for the country, and we need a sound united party in government soon. These uncertain times demand certainty over the governance of the nation.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Iceland, Blair and Bankruptcy
What do all three of these things have in common? Yes, that's right, the Labour Party.
Iceland- http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article6976428.ece
It emerges in that the President of Iceland has vetoed a parliamentary Bill that would have ensured that the £2.3 bn. paid by the UK taxpayer to customers of the failed bank Landsbanki, was reimbursed. The issue will now go to a public referendum but it looks unlikely that the Icelandic public will go against the Presidents decision.Initially this seems unacceptable; why should we all pay for the failings of a foreign bank? The anger would however be more reasonably directed towards Messrs Blair and Brown who failed over there respective tenures to regulate the bank. Talk of financial regulation may seem odd coming from a conservative, however it is financial common sense that the way Landsbanki and others operated was unsustainable in the long term. I am all for deregulation, but deregulation that removes the expensive 'red-tape' and unfathomable tax system, making Britain more business friendly, rather than that which throws caution to the wind for a quick buck.
Blair
I read with amusement that seats to witness Tony Blair's questioning by the Iraq Inquiry are so in demand that they will be allocated by a ballot. It will be quite a sight right enough, lets hope that it won't be a whitewash and that 'phoney Tony' will be further revealed as a treasonous con-man.
Bankruptcy- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6976038.ece
Also from The Times, the story of the Labours financial woes. They are unable to even keep their own ship above water, how ever were the trusted with the nations finances. David Blunkett states that the Tories "have a clear strategy" for destroying Labour after the election, namely by capping donations. This would eliminate the trade union funding of Labour and hopefully drive them into the wilderness. The trade union affiliation worries me, it is an odious partnership that subjugates those who it claims to help. Lets hope Labour dies, or at least something meaningful and true emerges.
Iceland- http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article6976428.ece
It emerges in that the President of Iceland has vetoed a parliamentary Bill that would have ensured that the £2.3 bn. paid by the UK taxpayer to customers of the failed bank Landsbanki, was reimbursed. The issue will now go to a public referendum but it looks unlikely that the Icelandic public will go against the Presidents decision.Initially this seems unacceptable; why should we all pay for the failings of a foreign bank? The anger would however be more reasonably directed towards Messrs Blair and Brown who failed over there respective tenures to regulate the bank. Talk of financial regulation may seem odd coming from a conservative, however it is financial common sense that the way Landsbanki and others operated was unsustainable in the long term. I am all for deregulation, but deregulation that removes the expensive 'red-tape' and unfathomable tax system, making Britain more business friendly, rather than that which throws caution to the wind for a quick buck.
Blair
I read with amusement that seats to witness Tony Blair's questioning by the Iraq Inquiry are so in demand that they will be allocated by a ballot. It will be quite a sight right enough, lets hope that it won't be a whitewash and that 'phoney Tony' will be further revealed as a treasonous con-man.
Bankruptcy- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6976038.ece
Also from The Times, the story of the Labours financial woes. They are unable to even keep their own ship above water, how ever were the trusted with the nations finances. David Blunkett states that the Tories "have a clear strategy" for destroying Labour after the election, namely by capping donations. This would eliminate the trade union funding of Labour and hopefully drive them into the wilderness. The trade union affiliation worries me, it is an odious partnership that subjugates those who it claims to help. Lets hope Labour dies, or at least something meaningful and true emerges.
Monday, 4 January 2010
Labour's 'dodgy dossier' about Tory promises
I'm finding it ironic and really hard to stomach that the Labour party can preach about unfulfillable promises and budgetary 'black holes'. This is from the party that has failed to deliver so much it promised over the past decade, from electoral reform to 'being tough on the causes of crime'. Not to mention the continuous use of credit to finance increased public spending. It is hard to understand how senior Labour members think this smear technique is suitable given their own massive failings.
I think the Labour attitude is summed up by its upcoming legislation over halving the deficit within four years. They seem to feel that legislating will guarantee this outcome. It would no doubt be another failed Labour policy, one which I hope we will not have to experience.
I think the Labour attitude is summed up by its upcoming legislation over halving the deficit within four years. They seem to feel that legislating will guarantee this outcome. It would no doubt be another failed Labour policy, one which I hope we will not have to experience.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Issues of the day
Cameron kicks off GE campaign
Yesterday David Cameron kicked off the 2010 Westminster election campaign, with GB today following suit. This audacious move is a rather clever trick, one which i believe could increase the chances of a March election. My reasoning is this: the public will weary of a campaign (and the subsequent news coverage) that lasts for some four months. A weary public is not something which will benefit anyone, especially with the current apathy towards politics and politicians. An extended campaign however would be seen to be the fault of GB, the calling of an election being his prerogative.
So, my bet is on a March election. However if the economy improves markedly, I think we shall see another Labour budget and a May election. The crux is the performance of the economy.
Terrorism
The situation regarding radical Islamic terrorism has become more publicised once again following the attempted bombing of a Detroit bound flight on Christmas day. The media frenzy now centers on Yemen and Somalia. Admittedly these are becoming hotbeds for Islamic fundamentalism, and the actions being taken to support the relevant counter-terrorist organisations are the correct ones, we must not forget the home grown terrorist threat. The majority of recent terrorists and would-be terrorists have hailed from within our own shores. While training may occur elsewhere in the world, it is here where the extremist message is being spread. It is also here where measures to prevent terrorism must begin. The profiling of airline passengers is a key line of defence, as demonstrated by Israel's El Al airline, which has avoided thus far all threats against it by targeting security towards the groups most likely to perpetrate terrorism. This however is treating the symptom; extremism has to be extinguished where it is being taught. We shall have to, as a society, look more closely at the centers of Islam and determine where it is that extremism is breeding. We cannot allow political correctness and the fear of offending someone to get in the way of counter-terrorism. It could be your life on the line if we do not take swift and tough action.
'Tory cuts vs. Labour spending'
This preposterous notion that spending can go on is bordering on insanity. What kind of deficit will it take for GB to realise we are bankrupt? Over-taxing the wealth creators to pay for unnecessary spending is not sound economics. There is a fundamental issue here however. Does increased year-on-year spending radically improve the recipient organisation? There have admittedly been improvements in the health service over the past thirteen years, however it is hard to argue that these modest improvements are justified by the vast sums injected. It seems that within Labour there is an attitude that more money, means improvement. If the structure and management of the service had been improved sufficiently then perhaps the extra money would have had wide ranging benefit. The investment seems though to have centered on middle management that is both out of touch and unnecessary. And in recession with cuts inevitably on the way, it is most likely these middle managers who will be protected. The lower paid front line staff, the vital operatives, will most likely be the sacrificial lambs. So think about what Labour investment really means, research what it has led to, and you'll realise as I have that this odious government has got to go.
Yesterday David Cameron kicked off the 2010 Westminster election campaign, with GB today following suit. This audacious move is a rather clever trick, one which i believe could increase the chances of a March election. My reasoning is this: the public will weary of a campaign (and the subsequent news coverage) that lasts for some four months. A weary public is not something which will benefit anyone, especially with the current apathy towards politics and politicians. An extended campaign however would be seen to be the fault of GB, the calling of an election being his prerogative.
So, my bet is on a March election. However if the economy improves markedly, I think we shall see another Labour budget and a May election. The crux is the performance of the economy.
Terrorism
The situation regarding radical Islamic terrorism has become more publicised once again following the attempted bombing of a Detroit bound flight on Christmas day. The media frenzy now centers on Yemen and Somalia. Admittedly these are becoming hotbeds for Islamic fundamentalism, and the actions being taken to support the relevant counter-terrorist organisations are the correct ones, we must not forget the home grown terrorist threat. The majority of recent terrorists and would-be terrorists have hailed from within our own shores. While training may occur elsewhere in the world, it is here where the extremist message is being spread. It is also here where measures to prevent terrorism must begin. The profiling of airline passengers is a key line of defence, as demonstrated by Israel's El Al airline, which has avoided thus far all threats against it by targeting security towards the groups most likely to perpetrate terrorism. This however is treating the symptom; extremism has to be extinguished where it is being taught. We shall have to, as a society, look more closely at the centers of Islam and determine where it is that extremism is breeding. We cannot allow political correctness and the fear of offending someone to get in the way of counter-terrorism. It could be your life on the line if we do not take swift and tough action.
'Tory cuts vs. Labour spending'
This preposterous notion that spending can go on is bordering on insanity. What kind of deficit will it take for GB to realise we are bankrupt? Over-taxing the wealth creators to pay for unnecessary spending is not sound economics. There is a fundamental issue here however. Does increased year-on-year spending radically improve the recipient organisation? There have admittedly been improvements in the health service over the past thirteen years, however it is hard to argue that these modest improvements are justified by the vast sums injected. It seems that within Labour there is an attitude that more money, means improvement. If the structure and management of the service had been improved sufficiently then perhaps the extra money would have had wide ranging benefit. The investment seems though to have centered on middle management that is both out of touch and unnecessary. And in recession with cuts inevitably on the way, it is most likely these middle managers who will be protected. The lower paid front line staff, the vital operatives, will most likely be the sacrificial lambs. So think about what Labour investment really means, research what it has led to, and you'll realise as I have that this odious government has got to go.
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