tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50653942720154874412012-02-16T06:47:22.774ZActive. Feminist. Liberal. Political. Aware.Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.comBlogger2911100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-89695159187204598772011-06-12T21:32:00.003+01:002011-06-12T21:36:58.888+01:00

I may have mentioned, I've moved to a new URLwww.politicalparry.co.ukIn case you fancy catching up on the following;Why I wore a hijab to #slutwalk LondonEd Milliband continues to fail as a Labour leaderSlutwalk London 2010Degrading Women Only in Marking Cancer AwarenessorMore on Moore and So-called Sexualisation of Children

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-10791083020319886382011-06-12T12:26:00.001+01:002011-06-12T12:26:21.143+01:00

The Lib Dems appear to be being circumvented yet again in their attempts to make the coalition more liberal and fair. Following Vince Cable's removal from the Murdoch competition review, where Jeremy Hunt MP took over and approved the Sky News deal, we now see Clegg about to be sidelined by Sir Stephen Bubb's biased review of the NHS competition body. As Lib Dem MP John Pugh observes, "asking

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-71437915919761268332011-06-11T11:58:00.001+01:002011-06-11T11:58:44.361+01:00

We don't see a great deal of ethnic minority in Ashford. So in preparation for the slutwalk I had to go to the town centre and station to catch a train. I probably do not have the body language of someone who wears a hijab regularly, I'm nosy and curious and I tend to meet anyone's eye. Therefore, I was astounded to have people actively looking away as I walked across the car park. I'd turn,

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-87671077049636245592011-06-10T20:32:00.001+01:002011-06-10T20:32:28.999+01:00

This blog can now be found at:www.politicalparry.co.ukPlease have a look!

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-31700483799180710202011-06-08T11:34:00.000+01:002011-06-08T11:35:36.276+01:00

This blog can now be found at: www.politicalparry.co.uk Please have a look! Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-71202532595015908422011-06-07T09:16:00.001+01:002011-06-07T09:16:50.918+01:00

The sexualisation debate is in the news following Cameron's commissioning of The Bailey Review. Jane Fae makes a strong argument against the report in today's Guardian, pointing out the research is not academic, the debate is geared towards blaming women and that we should be geared towards solutions not blame. However, the fundemental flaw I see is surrounding Fae's argument 'this is all about

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-76219146391392490282011-06-07T08:36:00.001+01:002011-06-07T10:51:42.315+01:00

The five pledges Cameron is proposing today with regards to reforming the NHS are simply the rhetoric that he patronised the country with in his election campaign. Not endangering universal coverage means nothing where there are clear signs of postcode lottery with a range of services, including IVF in today's news. With consortia at a 100,000 person level, not every one will contain a hospital,

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-2785268212993286262011-06-07T08:17:00.000+01:002011-06-07T08:19:19.310+01:00

Vince Cable, seen by many as the conscience of the Lib Dems in the coalition, has been exploited and dragged over the coals in a row about Unions and Strikes. The Metro carries an article of little weight reporting the boos this morning, The Evening Standard sought to justify his position yesterday and The Guardian today has decided the article isn't worth commenting on at all. The comments

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-88932135694220238652011-06-06T21:23:00.003+01:002011-06-06T21:39:56.182+01:00

How many phone calls did George Osbourne's office make today? Or perhaps it was Osbourne's attack on the BBC for only reporting the bad news and attacking the government all the time that did it.The leading story on the BBC proclaims "IMF Supports UK Economic Policy". With so many attacks on the economic policy from a variety of esteemed sources, including OECD and the Bank of England, the

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-36597438368129269162011-06-06T18:33:00.000+01:002011-06-06T18:34:26.387+01:00

When a centre-right paper like The Evening Standard mellows down Union's reaction to a left-wing politician, us Liberal Democrats ought to be worried. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-10435169925116501862011-06-06T08:09:00.000+01:002011-06-06T08:13:25.333+01:00

Nato are behaving ignorantly and dangerously in continuing to bait Gadaffi and continuing to strike on Libya. Hague deliberated yesterday on Marr that the rebels, a group Britain refuse to acknowledge as a political party or otherwise, should be preparing for a Gadaffi-free country. The implicit threat is obvious, Nato intend to bomb and bomb and bomb. I have been virulently against the

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-54625731590873087922011-06-05T21:54:00.004+01:002011-06-05T22:34:31.228+01:00

Suzanne Moore, Guardian Columnist, writes an interesting piece on 'Chavs' in this week's Saturday Guardian on Chavs, that, while eloquent, entirely misses the point of the debate.Moore's take is aggressive and snide, and fails to come to any conclusions other than Chavs exist and the other classes don't like them.The UnderclassUsing the ubiquitous Lauren from Catherine Tate as a point of

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-89499094907374306712011-06-03T17:42:00.001+01:002011-06-03T17:42:10.852+01:00

I'm fast discovering the most interesting part about the Evening Standard is the Business Section. Especially for politics. Today's highlight has been a whole page ad taken out by Lloyds TSB to sell themselves as business lenders and advisors. Not only does it mask it's self as an article, it is shamelessly self congratulatory, reiterating their 'compassionate' side, emphasising their

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-84782164491812773952011-06-03T08:42:00.000+01:002011-06-03T08:46:57.074+01:00

Birmingham City Council has made the decision to outsource one part of their IT department to India. Trade Unions are right to dispute the move, which breaches section 90 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 and would fall under unfair redundancy. The act is shaped to prevent people from being made redundant when their role is to be performed by someone else. However, there appears to be some

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Overtly sexualised videos on the web? How about challenging overtly sexualised images everywhere else? While I'm delighted that there is a campaign to limit sexualised content on the internet, I also think the reason, the message has been lost. We should, bilaterally, be teaching children and young adults what is wrong with sexualised images of people, predominately women. This isn't sexist,

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-89464917431343378522011-06-02T18:33:00.001+01:002011-06-02T18:33:15.983+01:00

Reading Declan Walsh's article on Islamabad in today's Guardian, I am struck by the social system between countries. As he observes, Pakistan's first nuclear explosion signalled 'it's entry into the global nuclear elite'. Yet having big bombs doesn't guarantee your social status alone. There are many analogies, but let's go for the school yard favourite of mine. If a school boy pulls big punches,

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-7085683883896810892011-06-02T08:45:00.000+01:002011-06-02T08:46:32.781+01:00

I'm confused by the Assylum seeking figures in today's news. The Tory Government in the early 1990s processed legislation which effectively criminalised the behaviour of assylum seekers; taking their finger prints and DNA and electronically tagging some. Criminalised, because we in the UK do not allow this sort of treatment of the regular citizen, only of offenders. If we hold this information,

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-37641685523685217912011-06-02T08:25:00.001+01:002011-06-02T08:25:34.818+01:00

Can someone explain to me practicality, moral or otherwise, of allowing one limited company to go bankrupt, but then for the director to simply start another the next day? Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-55590234705460813432011-06-02T08:23:00.001+01:002011-06-02T08:23:39.101+01:00

The first question that came to mind when I heard of Google's superheroics blocking hacking spies, was how did they know these people were senior US Officials? I am simply too cynical to believe Google has a philanthropic approach to spam, and seeks to protect every user from phishing. As modern technology strives to battle governments on democracy, we also see it battle to steal, lie and

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-82276014345591332642011-06-01T18:16:00.000+01:002011-06-01T18:17:03.085+01:00

The economy is in the news again (was there ever a time when it wasn't?). This time it's spending power which is slow, identifying the overall impact on trade, business and employment in the UK. Amidst the doom and gloom in the Standard, who actually use the term 'gloomy forecast', there is some light, you just have to look carefully. It has been observed many times there are more people

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-53398287749716514742011-06-01T08:27:00.001+01:002011-06-01T08:27:47.010+01:00

A rose by any other name, or a waste of time, money and expenses is a better description for coalition decision to appoint not Tsars, but supremos. A supremo for volcanic ash. Will we now get supremo committees to replace quangos? It certainly can't be said that tsars, peers or Mary Portas have aided votes in recent years. And I for one cannot see how any range of adverbs can alter

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-69870502804309139662011-05-31T17:25:00.001+01:002011-05-31T17:25:58.348+01:00

Bring on the salacious details, cry out the public. After all, we've been trained to see gossip as a commercially viable transaction with a variety of positive outcomes. The feeling of elitism of knowing the details of one affair to another is apparently unrivalled as another Tweeter launches titbits of social currency into the world wide web. The value is measured by his Klout, his audience

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-43647588954988654022011-05-31T08:15:00.000+01:002011-05-31T08:17:12.996+01:00

I feel somewhat vindicated by the current situation in Libya. I have been voracious in my insistence Nato and UN should not have gone in to the conflict, and instead should have adopted diplomatic relations. President Zuma has proved me right as he visited Gaddafi this weekend. Gaddafi has agreed to ceasefire. But the rebels have declined. Of course the rebels have declined. They have an

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-30214639228592472532011-05-31T08:05:00.000+01:002011-05-31T08:10:41.652+01:00

The Olympic drama bubbles on over tickets. There was significant success in getting the Olympic park up and running within budget. We're all grateful for that. However, the continuing farce over tickets is a quagmire of issues. The obscure process of applying, having money taken and then finding out what you got is completely illogical. It offends the very British love of queues, is complex

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-61029286292506723242011-05-31T07:59:00.001+01:002011-05-31T07:59:07.557+01:00

Germany's announcement yesterday to close Nuclear reactors was met with a literal cheer in my house yesterday. One of the greatest acheivements in the UK Coalition was the proposal the government would no longer fund Nuclear power. The dangers of the plants are in peoples' minds with the Fukushima crisis in Japan. People with slightly longer memories will recognise the threats Sellarfield and

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-80626258709498063122011-05-31T07:48:00.000+01:002011-05-31T07:50:00.041+01:00

It's hard to avoid the ubiquitous Cheryl Cole; she's in the broadsheets, on Radio 4 and everywhere else you chose to look. In spite of representing the very worst of popular culture, some sort of capitalist dream that is exploited until the world moves on, she is in the forefront of the British public's minds. The question is, what is the purpose in her extravagant media presence in the last

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-60582086066354698702011-05-27T18:45:00.001+01:002011-05-27T18:45:19.488+01:00

May have to abandon the Telegraph too. Why is it, when something in power goes wrong, eg immigration caps, it is the 'coalition' policy. And apparently this is all Clegg's fault, for describing the policy as an 'aspiration'. All successes are reported as Cameron's and the Tory party, and, like The Standard, they cannot resist the urge to stick a boot into the Lib Dems whenever they can.

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-29116007788439589482011-05-27T18:22:00.000+01:002011-05-27T18:23:10.686+01:00

When the forces get no danger pay, the public sector is slashing budgets and the roads full of holes no council can afford to repair, the news that world leaders pledged £12billion to the Arab Springs is rather bitter. The west appear to have moved from marching into countries and enforcing democracy (this is an oxymoron in my opinion), to simply paying for democracy instead. Britain appears

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-70096517264993018872011-05-27T09:03:00.001+01:002011-05-27T09:03:59.738+01:00

As Cameron commits apache helicopters to Libya, you have to wonder whether the economic investment that can be the only reason for this farcical activity is worth it. America didn't think so, with Obama refusing to commit any further military equipment to the fighting in Libya. So why is Cameron so hellbent on spending cash on it? Like the banks, the argument is that the initial investment

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-78526323260354431402011-05-27T08:50:00.000+01:002011-05-27T08:57:35.087+01:00

If in doubt, slow news week, let's churn out some figures on what alcohol consumption costs the NHS. Alternatively, a good story that borders racism about immigration is a good hit. What did we do to deserve both on the same day? While I'm the first to admit I have Obama fatigue, I'm keen enough to notice the huge spreads on these in the papers, fuelling further social discontent as purses

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-42260513207749230502011-05-27T08:43:00.000+01:002011-05-27T08:49:13.876+01:00

Cameron has decisively taken a back step with the economy debate, leaving Osbourne to field questions from Cabinet colleagues following the reduction in growth predictions for the UK. The I paper declares happily 'Osbourne has been forced to fend off doubts about his economic policy' and the words 'jitters' and 'wobble' are used in a pejorative manner regarding the UK financial status. As I

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-11047070329348135012011-05-27T08:30:00.000+01:002011-05-27T08:31:03.511+01:00

When locating an enemy of significant proportions, around whom an entire regime has functioned, try taking a leaf from Serbia's books. Ratko Mladic, thought responsible for thousands of deaths in a massacre in Bosnia, was brought into custody last night. Please note, he was brought into custody. There was no need to crash a chinook into his home, and even though he was armed, he gave himself

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-82518012664432983122011-05-27T08:13:00.000+01:002011-05-27T08:15:22.935+01:00

This is a far more grand title than deserved. I commute. I therefore read tangiable papers made of real pulped tree, allowing me to cast my opinions by Blackberry simultaneously. I adore the I paper but I find it whets my appetite and leaves me wanting. The Independent would be the logical choice, but, as with the Guardian, I find it too leftie without any good debate. I have always

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-72662316167894735042011-05-26T08:43:00.000+01:002011-05-26T08:46:37.050+01:00

Secularism in football is the latest issue on the agenda of the new Scottish Parliament. Following the recent bomb threats to high profile footballers, they need to address the growing issue of religious based abuse. The interesting issue here is that a great deal of the negative behaviour is thought to stem from Facebook and other social networking groups. If we have learnt one thing in the last

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-56588608136678788232011-05-25T18:04:00.001+01:002011-05-25T18:04:57.736+01:00

It seems that the verbose Tory ministers and members with delusions of grandeur just keep saying stupid things. The latest, Eric Pickles, has selected a relatively straight vernacular to criticise economic policies to students (of all people, this section of society have /no/ history of overreacting to news and not reading things properly). Pickles' comments are in perfect time to meet the

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-79626154321497446432011-05-25T17:47:00.002+01:002011-05-25T19:30:52.863+01:00

The Evening Standard is keen to promote the down-to-earth projections of Obama and Cameron at a BBQ.For those with short memories, while Obama generally gets away with the 'common man' persona, Cameron's own forray into this area has met with disastrous results, from hug-a-hoodie to clearing up flytipping, he is a little bit too condescending and rich to get away with it, in my own, admittedly

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-90974937033803523712011-05-25T08:30:00.000+01:002011-05-25T08:31:34.365+01:00

Fascinating how Obama gets so much press coverage yet does so very little. He was all over the Evening Standard and even today's concise I paper gives him a double page spread. The agenda today, and I love the emphasis on the word, as though it is a demand for action, is to be centred around Libya. But no one will mention Wikileaks, Bahrain, Syria, Israel and Palestine, nor will they comment

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-71970540028667128802011-05-24T17:29:00.001+01:002011-05-24T17:29:12.487+01:00

A presumptive Metro poll is trying to assess the public opinion on the potential separation of Scotland and England as the SNP have said they will hold a referendum on. I would imagine many of Metro readers hadn't given it a great deal of thought. But here was their opportunity. The Metro is inclined to imply current devolution is costly, with subsidies for Scotland at £14billion, of which,

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-25376963539015969292011-05-24T08:44:00.000+01:002011-05-24T08:46:25.497+01:00

Syria has been subject to more sanctions by the EU. The German Foreign Minister Westerville commented that '(the murder of civillians) can't be left unanswered by the European Union'. What does this say of the lackadaisical approach by the UN? They were only recently dissuaded from adding Syria to their ranks to replace Libya. The EU is firmly behind sanctions on the abuses, including more

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-79491877716654643632011-05-24T08:30:00.000+01:002011-05-24T08:39:43.837+01:00

The Big Society was relaunched by Cameron yesterday, a white paper enshrining a lot of the principles we have been hearing about. Reforming Third Sector Giving The proposals for Charitable Giving are really interesting. Online advertising on Government sites (no information yet on whether this will accrue pin money), cash machine donations and round-a-pound promotions. However, a lot of people

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The Guardian has the story so I can legitimately discuss Ryan Giggs's affair with some Big Brother sleb called Imogen. The truth is, the details, salacious or otherwise, hold little attraction for me. Nor, I would hazard a guess, for the majority. The interest is in the sanctions. As I commented this morning, the battle between the courts and modernity has been the most engaging - Twitter is

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-91993054111969408042011-05-23T08:15:00.000+01:002011-05-23T08:17:14.174+01:00

Rather like being in one's car, people have the approach to Twitter that if they pick their nose, no one will see. The threats over a certain footballer from lawyers have attempted to counter this threat, by demanding information about each tweeter who mentioned him. The response has been a resounding delight, his name on twitter is now being spoken once a second. What I adore about what is

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-34203046663465550782011-05-23T08:04:00.001+01:002011-05-23T08:04:17.174+01:00

The visit of Obama is fast approaching with little more than disdain from me. From his simpering and obsequious interview with Marr yesterday to his 'agenda' for a UK visit, I am seeing him more and more as a facade for the same old politics. He simply uses a different vernacular. Omnipotence I would imagine he identifies with modern Doctor Who images of a 'lonely god', the idea that he is

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-89566301179832051652011-05-21T22:59:00.003+01:002011-05-21T23:24:45.601+01:00

Ed Miliband makes another speech on the Saturday which means the top of the newsreels, saying something of little consequence and seemingly with no meaning whatsoeverEven the BBC could not make head nor tail of his comments, entitling their article; "Miliband urges Labour to inspire with national mission"And where exactly is this mission going?Miliband witters on about social divide, potentially

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-55651444667142484642011-05-21T22:31:00.005+01:002011-05-21T22:53:04.140+01:00

Watching Kate Middleton wander down the isle in the much awaited dress, I was struck by how curvy she looked. I found this quite odd, given that she is normally the 21st century ideological stick insect. However, the figure she presented was reinforced by a dress designed to accentuate curves. That's when it struck me, just how derogatory and insulting the modern wedding dress has become, even

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-13009109312547936382011-05-21T13:56:00.003+01:002011-05-21T14:13:41.896+01:00

Justification of arming British Police forces grows stronger every day. This week, it is arming British Transport Police on the Tube. The justification, it seems, is the threat of a Mumbai-style terrorism attack. We could of course, nod sagely and accept the carrying of guns by our police on such spurious arguments, because, they know best. And I do think the police resolve some terrorism threats

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-23342493067001292552011-05-20T19:10:00.002+01:002011-05-21T13:25:42.355+01:00

There is a limit to my appetite for public humiliation of others, and I feel my appetite is somewhat smaller than the majority. The trial by publicity is a loathesome concept to anyone with a moral sense of justice, with media prosecuting many people on a regular basis before they are entitled to their right enshrined in law, to a trial by their peers. The high profile issue of Strauss-Khan, he

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-19667298886792150092011-05-20T08:38:00.000+01:002011-05-20T08:39:55.478+01:00

The coalition has made poor leaders of the three political parties. Clegg is reported today as saying 'he will not ask Lib Dem MPs and Peers to support health reforms unless they are substantially changed. I would suggest the ineffectiveness of the Whips office in Lib Dem Land indicates it wouldn't matter when Clegg said, his MPs would disregard it. And this is not because it is Clegg, but

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-12494595468997062742011-05-20T08:26:00.000+01:002011-05-20T08:27:05.169+01:00

Cameron shaking the Prince of Bahrain yesterday will anger human rights activists across the UK. Salman is seeking to repair his country's reputation as one of the unstable in the Arab Spring. Like Syria and Yemen, the protestors being killed for demanding democracy did not, apparently, require NATO intervention. One can only assume from the PM's spokesman's comment '...the situation in

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-46261611076062833002011-05-19T23:06:00.006+01:002011-05-19T23:39:14.687+01:00

Ken Clarke's blusterings on rape this week have been a fixation of the liberal (sometimes) intelligentsia in the new media. Ken Clarke's comments came under scrutiny because he allegedly stated that some offences of rape was less serious than others. In fact, my learned friend @neilmonnery put up a rather good blog article on the reactionary responses to headline news. In short, the reaction was

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-90176959178611517512011-05-19T15:43:00.003+01:002011-05-20T21:55:32.312+01:00

(I've got a migraine and news consumption has been low so I thought I'd shoot this out there) Vegetarianism. The principle (as I understand it from friends who choose this way of life) is that it is wrong to eat animals, whether because of moral grounds, theological grounds, tastes or some other idiopathic reason. Herbivorism if you please, which, as referred to in the Wikipedia link, is the

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-74172631082424119932011-05-18T16:22:00.001+01:002011-05-18T16:22:33.579+01:00

Rather surprisingly, the Roman Catholic Bishops in the US who conducted a survey into clergy sexual abuse were able to deduce that the abuse was not caused by homosexuality. Now repeat that line with a huge dose of sarcasm. They also observed, shockingly, that it was neither celibacy nor male dominance either. One does wonder how much this cost. Their conclusion was that main causes

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-34128084569631968372011-05-18T16:02:00.001+01:002011-05-18T16:02:49.210+01:00

Nothing like a good misleading headline on racism to finish the day off. Courtesy of the Evening Standard. Especially when it has a statistic to throw people: UK Ethnic Population Rises 40% Well, in fact, that figure is relative. There has been an increase by forty per cent. Not, as the title implies, that UK population is now comprised of 40% people of an ethnic origin. The figure is in

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-31447765123982818172011-05-18T12:14:00.005+01:002011-05-18T20:08:56.548+01:00

While Clegg dickers over NHS reforms, proposing to challenge the competition body, it appears the Tories are busy railroading other non-coalition agreement issues through. We have the NHS and an attempt by Clegg to challenge the developments, but many feel his proposals will fall on deaf ears and that they are not addressing the entirity of the comments made at the Lib Dem conference earlier this

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-425366899948275872011-05-18T07:53:00.001+01:002011-05-18T07:53:42.385+01:00

I heard this story on BBC Radio 4 this morning and thought it was an April fool. Apparently Police are attacking the Conservatives because the Conservative government in 1994 stopped Unions securing a pay rise. Police are reported in The Metro as saying they 'are being treated like cattle' and the Police Federation actually say 'the government... Hate the police service'. I don't know which

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-89872166086906870592011-05-17T18:22:00.000+01:002011-05-17T18:23:01.916+01:00

I would like to get on a constitutional reform soapbox now and I make no apologies. Clegg announced proposals today in Parliament to change to an elected House of Lords, amid speculation that he would be facing revolt by peers. The peers who are against the move are quoted in the I paper as saying: "'the supremacy and authority' of the Commons would 'inevitably be challenged' by an elected

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-9715174038874437682011-05-17T08:30:00.001+01:002011-05-17T19:16:34.156+01:00

The superinjunction takes another turn. Apparently superinjunctions are fine if blackmail is a component of the privacy issue.There are several issues with this. Firstly, blackmail is a criminal offence. Such an offence should be dealt with by the police and the CPS, not a rich man's playground. Again, we see a civil issue being hushed up, where as Joe Bloggs would have to go to the police who

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-44906269573214356532011-05-17T08:23:00.001+01:002011-05-17T19:15:13.715+01:00

There is apparently a darker side to the proposed vote-winning military covenant from the Conservatives.Labour have accused the Tories of bringing out the proposal to hide a second wave of severe cuts to the Ministry of Defence. The MoD have unveiled a further 3 month consultation to chop resources.Given that the issues of body armour for troops have yet to be resolved, the covenant proposals,

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-64720070025028187092011-05-16T18:09:00.003+01:002011-05-16T19:01:26.907+01:00

The much anticipated speech by Cameron today highlighted he has very little intention of reforming the NHS bill. In addition to this we have significant failures to upkeep the Green Deal with nuclear energy funding and targets under scrutiny and a significant reduction in Lib Dem attention to House of Lords reform. If it weren't for the paternity leave proposals, I would be questioning the Lib

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-16519258409191014082011-05-16T09:19:00.001+01:002011-05-16T09:19:49.253+01:00

It is reading distinctly as if the media is reluctant to report fighting in Gaza and Israel, preferring to focus on the media term 'Arab Spring'. Since the Christmas a few years ago where tensions between Israelis and Palestinians were whetted by rocket attacks, they are rarely commented on, yet the battle has been quietly waging. Obama was noted for his desire to improve relations in the two

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-39260427819397228242011-05-16T09:03:00.002+01:002011-05-16T11:26:30.659+01:00

Death is topic of the day it seems, with a variety of information published on the subject. When Will I Die? First we have proposed sale of a blood test that could tell you how long you'll live. A snip at £435, we could all gain an apparent insight into our mortality. This will identify how fast the body is aging. I think I'd rather not know. The 'guess my age' game could be outruled by medical

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-79156229686941551692011-05-15T21:42:00.004+01:002011-05-15T22:45:48.269+01:00

There are better ways to celebrate a wedding anniversary.When we got married, we hadnt thought about the principles of anniversaries. As my colleague put it to my husband, "It's like a whole other valentines day, mate".Not that I expect ubiquitous hegemonic excuses for romance.However, I do not expect a five hour intensive course in amateur plumbing either!Kitchen tap was leaking. A glance told

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-41561747888577824722011-05-15T10:49:00.003+01:002011-05-15T10:57:31.764+01:00

In a move that appeared from nowhere, Cameron has practically guaranteed his next election with the Military Covenant proposals.The duty of care for military personnel wounded in action has been an issue the RBLI and Help for Heroes have campaigned on for years.It is a favourite bugbear of the tabloids, who embrace a dedication to troops fighting and the rightful entitlement to care in the event

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-15494640535046280502011-05-14T16:16:00.004+01:002011-05-14T16:56:10.484+01:00

Is the death of a man on television a significant milestone for the 21st Century?A man took his dying breaths on the BBC this week, which could be considered a revolutionary step forward for media development, although a much more macabre one than Big Brother.The "viddy screen" is a huge social and cultural element of our lives, whether you watch while on Twitter or are a regular soap digestor,

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-57589042594412753692011-05-13T17:38:00.001+01:002011-05-13T17:38:28.177+01:00

I blogged earlier on how atrocious it was that Cameron has commanded the Met to run an inquiry into the ubiquitous Maddie McCann when there are millions of cases not getting a third of investment. The Standard identifies the furore caused by Cameron's decision, and I was struck by the poignance in comparision of Mrs Blanco's case. Mrs Blanco's son fell to his death at a party after an

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-78729173482315592812011-05-13T09:05:00.001+01:002011-05-13T18:13:44.310+01:00

I adore feminism as a philosophy and as a campaign. My understanding of how my life has been marred and controlled as a woman was an epiphany.Therefore I seek to educate people in this area to understand that women are not defined by the roles they have and that equality should be the central goal for the sexes.However, I find others in the field often champion the cause and surreptitiously

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-90038968522055881052011-05-13T08:46:00.001+01:002011-05-13T18:16:25.071+01:00

David Willets MP is in further trouble this morning for opening his mouth again.It seems he is providing press with badly briefed rhetoric from within Westminster which is providing fantastic u-turns.First there was the Conservative ideal that rich students could continue to buy into the education system.Now we have proposals of competitive sales in Uni education completely turned on it's head.

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-22280836635755699092011-05-13T08:38:00.001+01:002011-05-13T19:26:16.179+01:00

It appears we still need to demonise the legacy of bin Laden, with American reports of his obsession with 9/11.How lucky, then, that the day after this story was leaked, Al Queda bombed a military base in Pakistan.However, this will do little to mitigate growing tensions between the US and Pakistan.The story came after yesterday's papers went to bed, but the news papers still have the sensational

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-2592051677757322782011-05-13T08:29:00.001+01:002011-05-13T18:12:19.995+01:00

Want to ensure police take the disappearance of your daughter seriously?Employ a PR officer.Yesterday's Standard revealed the McCanns were appealing to Cameron to get Scotland Yard on board.While I appreciate it must be a distressing situation for any family to go through, one wonders why Cameron does not invest the Met in any other of the millions of missing persons enquiries.However, it clearly

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-64965882777561309912011-05-12T23:52:00.001+01:002011-05-13T19:24:31.262+01:00

Chris Blackhurst argues in the Evening Standard that those pesky Lib Dems are attempting to divide and disrupt parliamentary proceedings and slow down addressing the financial deficit.I would imagine he considers the cuts, the redundancies, the reductions in services and the hikes in fares not swift enough. Clearly not a Labour columnist then.His concern is chiefly with political infighting

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-19445931722937553072011-05-12T08:39:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:51:13.865+01:00

It appears Labour are right about the Tory-led government embracing Thatcher's legacy. As loathe as I am to say it. Proposals on Employment Law will do severe damage to the genuinely good work the Labour Government acheived in Employment Law in the last decade. As a previous Union Rep, I'm very aware of the necessity of redundancy legislation, dismissal and equality. When you are faced with

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-90153788384461296612011-05-12T08:23:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:51:14.723+01:00

I'm a great admirer of David Laws. This makes my opinion subjective. The suspension of him seems unfair. However, I know if it were a Tory or Labour MP then I would be more vociferous in my opinion. If an MP makes claims illegitimately for expenses it does not just hurt the MP, it hurts the whole parliamentary reputation. Rather like the legal defence of duress, only threat of death or GBH is

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-3644585529557893902011-05-11T19:44:00.004+01:002011-05-11T20:15:37.994+01:00

Clegg is trying to show a stern hand - by using a Tory Line.Cameron recently used the term "muscular liberal" in his much aggravating speech on Multiculturalism. It was his way of reconciling the Right and Left opinions on immigration, terrorism and the EU. It was also a one dimensional, patronising and insulting comment to make as he bordered on racism, failed to address any issues and paid lip

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-34191777568741310232011-05-11T18:59:00.002+01:002011-05-11T19:43:41.280+01:00

On the spot fines will be targeted at "Boy Racers" says Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond.The great middle class myth of Boy Racers, a stereotype guaranteed to win votes via urban myth, where, one would believe, that this plague upon us is likely to end in some "Tell Laura I love Her" hyperreal disaster.I'm not saying there are not large groups of people who meet up in vastly decorated vehicles

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-62722496339209112822011-05-11T08:36:00.000+01:002011-05-11T08:39:39.822+01:00

The dilemma over Twitter, famous people and privacy is becoming a tangled mess. Cameron is quoted yesterday as saying it is down to Parliament to make law on privacy, not judges. Uh, I'm sorry sir, but judges form a third of British executive and unless you wish to stamp out centuries of stare decisis (the term defining the precedent rule layed down in the court) then you will be rocking the very

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-89696133179887943272011-05-10T17:31:00.001+01:002011-05-10T18:28:48.444+01:00

Quietly quietly, tucked in a side column in the i paper, is a note to the beginnings of action on Syria.'An EU statement said it was banning the shipment to Syria of "arms and equiptment that could be used for internal oppression"'. This is a significant step towards sanctions being taken against another country in the Arab League.Along with this, the EU is applying minerva injunctions and

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-65323902426884305362011-05-10T08:12:00.001+01:002011-05-10T18:26:36.699+01:00

The super-injunction, tool of the rich and famous, so special you can't even mention it exists.I prefer law that is tangiable and definable. Recent debacles over peoples' sex lives don't interest me beyond Fleet Street bar gossip, but I do take the freedom of the press seriously.As Maxwell Mosely goes to the ECHR, we are presented with a conundrum. If press have to notify before publication, then

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-23331865917802772342011-05-10T08:02:00.003+01:002011-05-10T18:24:26.304+01:00

NHS reforms are tipping the press headline scales again, as more and more proposals and rejections are outlined.In this morning's i paper, Health Secretary Lansley is referred to as saying that he understood the conflicts of interest with GP Consortia and Doctors from hospital both commissioning and providing.What he, and the press, seem to have missed is that GP Consortia will always be in a

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-80043367416643723512011-05-10T07:51:00.002+01:002011-05-10T18:22:06.568+01:00

One could suggest this is capitalism gone mad. The Pugin architectural marvel that is Westminster is to be hired out by the evening.Perhaps they could hold stag and hen do's, children's birthday parties and waxing fundraisers in the chambers?Certainly with proposals to retail Commons souveneirs (Speaker's costume anyone?) and eateries, the House of Commons looks to be exploited by marketing and

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-17942509245990958682011-05-09T18:47:00.002+01:002011-05-09T18:55:10.272+01:00

Slut Walks. Nothing like inspiring a "marmite" response. As Rosamund Urwin puts it in today's Evening Standard, do women, "in the name of protecting rape victims... attempt to turn a sexual slur into a badge of honour", really fully consider the implications of what they are doing? As I commented previously, it seems rather like sticking a plaster on a broken leg. Calling women sluts will not

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-66971713346288836152011-05-09T17:25:00.000+01:002011-05-09T17:26:02.245+01:00

I'm delighted with the turn of events from Saturday through to today on the Lib Dems' response to election castigation. In this morning's I paper, the (now ubiquitous) image of Clegg and Osbourne on Marr's sofa looking different ways was presented over an article that simply synopsified the NHS reforms with added lip service from Clegg. Phrases such as 'make a stand' and 'hardball' are simply

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-28310101490621043112011-05-09T08:00:00.001+01:002011-05-09T08:00:37.286+01:00

The Metro shows Pakistani Protestors burning great pictures of Barrack Obama entitled 'The World's Greatest Terrorist'. But in true reporting style, there is no story with the picture, just a precis of the communication disaster deployed by the US. So why do Pakistanis consider Obama to be a terrorist? Is it perhaps because his troops spread fear, you never know when they are going to attack

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-90314822902631681862011-05-09T07:47:00.000+01:002011-05-09T07:48:00.422+01:00

The Metro takes a leaf out of The Daily Mail's copy and actively seeks to further ostracise obese people today. The headline 'obesity spreads among fat friends' is intended to share the fear of the 'disease' of obesity. The press is forever guilty of post-modern representation of disease, and obesity is just another example. Presented as 'women are more likely' (gender discrimination anyone

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-80475305357123617352011-05-08T21:33:00.002+01:002011-05-08T21:48:11.145+01:00

Will Egypt be forced to embrace secularism in light of their democratic uprising? Is one of the inevitable results of a social liberal democracy, embracing freedom of citizens, democratic voting rights and transparency of government a move towards secularisation? As Egypt, still a storming nation under millitary rule following citizens' successful uprising this year, dissolve into religious

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-70024919055591047432011-05-07T20:30:00.004+01:002011-05-07T20:44:09.471+01:00

The Slut Walk has bounced into the world of the internet as the latest outrage at perceptions of guilty victims in rape cases. The premise that women are "asking for it" is once again being challenged by a rising youth population in America, a genuine civil liberty protest movement challenging ubiquitous concepts around rape and responsibility. I do not like the name. But the principle is sound.

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-2961030643838858352011-05-07T19:35:00.004+01:002011-05-07T20:28:52.213+01:00

Nadine Dorries MP, she who is the devil incarnate to the Twitterazzi Liberal Intelligentsia, this week proposed a return to heterodoxical sex education. In line with the standard conservative approach to hegemony, Nadine Dorries suggests that girls should be taught the right to say no as a core and integral part of their education. The Feminist PerspectiveAs Jane Martinson observes in The

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-59560685529950165002011-05-07T13:35:00.004+01:002011-05-07T14:02:29.395+01:00

Courtesy of @Chrisjenkinson I thought I would add my comments to his post on Political Phrases I'd Rather Not Hear.His political phrase in question is "We’re making tough decisions" As Chris observes, the truth of the statement is; We’re cutting project X because the country’s deficit is comparable to Greece’s. Because we’re cutting X, which Greece’s politicians didn’t do, we aren’t being bailed

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-24719218908848252602011-05-06T20:37:00.002+01:002011-05-06T22:14:18.184+01:00

There was clearly a misunderstanding in the sheer weight of public loathing towards the Lib Dems in the UK.The Lib Dems believed, some would say correctly, that their huge investment in community engagement, the time and energy they volunteer in making their wards and boroughs a better place, would mean the public could see beyond the politics and see the real people.Grassroots has saved the Lib

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-79633774750583196372011-05-05T12:44:00.002+01:002011-05-05T14:48:58.783+01:00

Fascinating how ABC are pulling Jamie Oliver's show in America on challenging youth obidiency due to it being poorly received!Even though his virulent loathing of Turkey Twizzlers was well documented in the UK, his programmes haven't addressed the issues of youth obesity.It seems in Britain we are simply more polite, nodding and agreeing to health advice, while all along simply shovelling more

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-53381040623142897722011-05-04T21:46:00.001+01:002011-05-04T21:46:12.591+01:00

Al Queda was nice and neat. For an instant gratification audience as we have all become. Now their figurehead, the equivilant of Caeser's Eagle, has been killed (whether fairly or not), the West, and predominately America with their pedestal black-and-white politics, will struggle to sculpt another nefarious character. The Western World with their hyperreal wars are fixated on establishing a

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-57154069822420835432011-05-04T17:35:00.001+01:002011-05-04T17:35:20.453+01:00

What can we turn a debate on cheerleaders into? A reason not to vote to retain First Past the Post is a good start. Cameron declared vociferously to Humpreys on Radio 4 yesterday that America uses the outdated voting system to elect it's senators. And it is these senators that condone a court laying precedent that a cheerleader 'forgoes her constitutional right to free speech'. Just wow. Or

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-20193376876496118152011-05-03T21:27:00.002+01:002011-05-03T21:54:00.679+01:00

There are some very astute points made by Armando Iannucci in today's Evening Standard. 'AV is only as complicated as making toast' was my particular favourite. He, quite rightly, denounces exaggerations made by each side, saying politics has dissolved into 'flinging custard pies at each other'. In spite of his witty criticism, he still believes people should vote Yes on Thursday. Social

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-73840837638051157812011-05-03T20:42:00.004+01:002011-05-03T21:19:08.369+01:00

Sheltered Housing UK Secretary Anne Ludlow will be undertaking a tremendous fundraising challenge next week in the name of residents in Sheltered Housing.On 12 May, I am setting out on a sponsored walk from the Valley of the Rocks in Devon to the Golden Cap in Dorset, the highest point on the south coast of Britain. (Terrain gradient ranging from ‘moderate’ to ‘severe/strenuous’.) I am

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-28555914492630480792011-05-03T13:19:00.001+01:002011-05-03T13:44:08.120+01:00

Most left wing commentaries consider firstly the demonstrations of joy in America distasteful, and the killing of Obama not a delight but one form of resolution.As Geoffrey Robinson comments in the i paper, Bin Laden should have been put on trial.Even I, in my cynicism, listened to Obama's speech and wondered if the American version of mission accomplished was intended to be death. When he

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-85340499227832034242011-05-03T08:02:00.003+01:002011-05-03T20:37:52.208+01:00

A lot of people are predicting the end of Ed Milliband if the referendum on the alternative vote falls on Thursday.It should be noted that out of the three main political parties, only Cameron has got his house in order.Clegg is regarded by the discontented in the yellow camp of being a poor leader, due to his and his whips' inabiity to get a solid line from his party, on AV or anything else. The

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-33721164256467349612011-05-03T07:51:00.003+01:002011-05-03T20:38:57.721+01:00

The planned protest in London for a Living Wage was somewhat hidden in the shadows of the death of Bin Laden.This is a great shame.The issues surrounding wages continue to perpetuate as the decline in the pound continues.Now I'm not an economist, but I recognise that my jasmine tea has gone from 80p to £1.20 in the last year. What is the price rise for Londoners?The official definition of poverty

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-6051095062614504112011-05-02T10:59:00.005+01:002011-05-02T12:18:36.843+01:00

Obama has leapt to the forefront of World Politics through the death of Osama Bin Laden.The "decade of terrorism", with it's own media title in true hyperreal form, has successfully projected one man to a plateau of the antithesis of sainthood through digital communications.A Brief Global TerrorismThe Americans are good at projecting a hyperreal status to current affairs, as Neil Gaiman observed

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-42170962272597864602011-04-28T09:04:00.002+01:002011-04-28T23:12:48.089+01:00

We, or certainly I, complain about personal politics in the UK, but it is nothing compared to the day of lunacy in the US.Casting aspertions, Donald Trump appears to have launched his presidential bid by attacking Obama for potentially not being born in the US.His argument has been on a subtle nuance in the US Constitution that he must be born in the country.Such a detrimental argument has helped

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-9749016747351674362011-04-27T21:17:00.002+01:002011-04-27T21:31:04.426+01:00

Ian Birrel seeks to defend Libya in The Evening Standard this evening, and by the same measure, justify any potential activity in Syria. This is my rebuttal. He states; 'opponents must answer why they would have accepted rivers of blood flowing down the streets of Benghazi' My initial response is that we have readily accepted rivers of blood in so many other nations, what makes Libya so different

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065394272015487441.post-18740792012319882222011-04-27T12:04:00.002+01:002011-04-27T21:37:36.062+01:00

Protestors at the Royal Wedding?Really? Or just an interesting ploy to further cast #ukuncut as baddies to the middle classes?Afterall, they attacked Fortnum and Mason with no regard for the tradition and esteem of the store.What the majority of people forget, however, is that UKuncut are anti tax evasion, whether legal or not.They could seek to protest about the cost of the Royal Wedding, but it

Curious?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14220141774833587152noreply@blogger.com0