Month: October 2023

Firstly I need to state that I am totally against the violence for which there is no justification. And I recognise that Hamas is a terrorist organisation. However I still maintain a feeling that Israel’s attitude to Gaza and Palestine have been a contributing factor.

Just like many things it gets more complicated the one looks into it.

But firstly I take exception to Bravermans message to the police. Of course the police should step up patrols in Jewish areas to protect them and arrest anyone acting illegally. However to stop people stating support for Palestine is surely over the top.

The situation – Hamas has obviously been planning this for a long time. Is it an attempt by their backers Iran to destabilise the region and prevent Saudi Arabia forming closer ties with Israel? Saudi Arabia and Qatar will find it hard to justify close links with Israel whilst there is conflict with Muslim Palestine, and causing civilian casualties. Israel also seems to have attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon, who expressed support for Hamas attacks.

Whilst I condemn the attacks, the unequivical support given by western leaders (including Starmer) seems rather callous. Statements that Israel must be allowed to defend itself are ok, but when Israel pledges to bomb civilians in Gaza that is pushing ‘defence’ too far. Why the USA is sending an aircraft carrier and a strike force to he area is confusing. What they should be sending is diplomats!

Israel has the right to defend itself is the common mantra of politicians here. Pursueing Hamas into Gaza may be part of that justifiable defence, but killing civilans is not. Is there difference between slitting a throat, and dropping a bomb when the end result is the death of a child?

Will this affect world oil prices and supply? I suppose this depends on the response of the Arab world? If Iran is proven to be involved (although I would suspect a conspiracy theory if suddenly proven as the might of the Israeli spy network knew nothing before the attack). It also depends on the severity of the Israeli response – if seen to be bordering on genocide it is likely that the Arab world will find it hard to ignore. Already Israel has cut electricity and fuel supplies. However Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states have invested heavily in the west in recent years (Saudi sports washing alone runs into £$billions). It will be interesting to note the reactions of China and India. Whatever happens it is likely that the oil price will be volatile over the next few months, which is bad news for us.

Is it naive to be,ieve that a 2 nation solution is unworkable. Only a federal state would be able to bring peace?

I have been amazed at the sympathy for Palestinians amongs folk in the village. Whilst rightly condemning their actions they have all voiced concern at Israels treatment of Palestine. I am sure that the Israelis will wreak massive punishment on the Gaza Strip which will further entrench the violence for years to come. Northern Ireland has not banished it all yet.

The one interesting aspect is hat Israeli Intelligence seems have been nil!.

I personally condemn all violence and stand with Jeremy Corbyn on this.

Tories must be gutted as they were hoping the press would concemtrate on slagging off Labour. Now the headlines are all about Gaza.

So Israel says it is at war with Palestine – Palestinians probably think they have been at war for years. Personally I believe it is a case of ‘you reap what you sow’. Israel has treated Palestine with cruelty and distain for too long. Shooting and arresting children and journalists has inevitably led to conflict. The west cannot escape blame either – it has tolerated apartheid type policies by Israel for too long. Peace talks need to be instigated by the USA (they are the funders of Israel) immediately. Maybe a hindu leader of a nominally christian country could make some sensible comments – not holding my breath here!

Interesting by-election result. Labour overturn large SNP majority, Toties lose deposit along with all the other parties. Labour Party up 24%. Tories down 11%. SNP down 16%. Whilst unlikely to be reproduced in the GE it does look like the SNP will lose their dominance, labour will be resurgent and the tories could be wiped off the electoral map.

Could this be a precursor of what could happen in the north where people may return to Labour. However Starmer will need to up his game next week when the whole of the MSP will be looking for any opportunity to criticise and mock. I believe there are many people who are swaying towards Labour but are not convinced. Now is the time for him to set out policies that make clear what a Labour Government would do in power.

James O’Brien has also just pointed out that most 14 year olds today have no intention of ever smoking! So another policy of no substance. The number of transport projects that was initially published is falling daily (the rest seem to have been planned anyway. OMG they are so useless!

Penny Moraunt had obviously been taking something with her extraordinary rant.

Congratulations Rishi Sunak for announcement about raising the age for smoking. However a little more thought is needed. NZ introduced this policy a while back, and have found a massive increase in vaping. Vaping was originally introduced as a way to stop smoking, not as an alternative! Should the increasing age policy include vapes? I just heard that nicotine is about as dangerous as caffeine.

I just read that Truss will vote against this plan! This is not just about a freedom – everyone pays for the increased use of the NHS.

So it is cancelled with a promise to distribute the £36 billion in hundreds of new schemes across the country. Sounds good, but one which he does not have to deliver! We have seen how spreading aid thinly leads projects to to be susceptable to failure (EU aid to numerous projects in Cornwall. So 13 years of inaction and now they are in danger of being ousted, they have “new” plans! Also the £36 billion would be spent over at least 10 years, so all the named projects cannot proceed immediately.

Interesting listening to the reactions on the radio. The capacity of the railways sounds awful in the north! And as someone in their 40’s stated – no improvement is likely now before he retires! The route to Manchester has been agreed and compulsory purchase largely done. If not high speed why not just put in a freight line? How much has been written off? What damage has been done to us internationally? Stock market rose early but then fell as he talked!

Gary Lineker was suspended from the BBC for comparing a speech to Germany in the 1930’s – This speech was worse in its use of provocative and divisive language.

I believe the true counter to her brand of racism is to open up a full and proper discussion about migration. By her provocative comments she manages to polarise the issue. Those who are rightly appalled by her rhetoric rush to defend migrants and asylum seekers. A better counter would be to debate the pro’s and con’s of migration in the 2020’s. We have an ageing population – many industries are reliant on migrants, the NHS and food producers to name 2 key ones. So how many, What age/gender? What qualification? etc. are the more pertinent questions rather than a diatribe against all immigrants.

She bemoaned the lack of integration into our society and the lack of English spoken. This government has cut funding for English Language courses. The better question would be How do we integrate these valued workers into our society more successfully?

She talked about a hurricane of migrants, a massive distortion of the truth. A better question would be What can we do to help reduce the need for people to flee their countries? Cutting the foreign aid budget was a very short sighted policy. Britain is the world’s second largest exporter of “defence” items. These are openly being used in Yemen and I suspect in many other conflicts. We were in the leading group of countries heading for net zero on climate change but seem to be losing that opportunity.