Month: July 2025

The phrase “an enigma wrapped in a riddle” is a variation of a famous quote by Winston Churchill, originally referring to the Soviet Union. It now applies to the USA. How is anyone meant to understand a country where its largest and richest city has chosen Zohran Mamdani as its democratic candidate for mayor, whilst at the same time Trump has had his tax bill approved by Congress which includes 4.5tn in tax cuts but will also add $4 tn to the deficit? We will wait and see what ensues with the election in November for mayor. Already the uber rich are talking about moving out of New York; like they did in the UK – but evidence of an exodus is not apparent – no surge in million £ house properties. Mamdani is an avowed socialist who believes in taxing the rich, reducing wealth differentials and that billionaires should not exist! I truly hope he wins with a landslide of votes.

Meanwhile in the UK we are about to witness the formation of a new party of the left formed by Zara Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn. Unfortunately I am not sure that Britain is ready for a major swing to the left. With the BBC showcasing Reform at every opportunity (despite one of their few MP’s being suspended for financial misconduct), and the RW press going overboard at anything considered socialist or woke – or at times reasonable! any new party will struggle to be heard. The Green Party rarely gets invited to QT, And Jeremy Corbyn is unlikely to be invited any time before Antarctica melts!

However it would make a major case for Proportional Representation. Why should we be forced to chose the least objectional option when electing MP’s. 10269051 people voted for Corbyn in 2019, but Starmer only got 9,708,716 last time (with a huge majority of MP’s. I could argue that Corbyns policies were more popular than Starmers, and thatbhe was done over by the RWMeia, Johnsons charisma and a lack of support within the Labour Party. Before endorsing a Corbyn Party I would say that he did not have the graitas of world leader (but so what), he was I also believe a little naive regarding the might of the Jewish bloc, and also regarding NI.

PS. I have now picked a total of 500g of baby tomatoes – so sweet!

So the RW papers deemed it necessary?practical to keep the bombardment of civilians in Gaza off the front pages, whilst the death of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother hogged the headlines. Don’t get me wrong, the death of Jota was sad but just not front page headline grabbing (back pages and in depth there too). The death of thousands of Palestinians must not be moved off the front pages. Similarly Ukraine.

It is sad that the news outlets are driven by what the public seems to want rather than what intelligent people need to be informed about? Social media was flooded with the Jota story and the chasers of the populist customer resulted in the headline grabbing. Investigation also showed that 550 drones attacked Kviv last night.

Meanwhile Cooper inserted two Neo-nazi groups in the order to proscribe Palestinian Action, thus ensuring it passed through Parliament. Thus appeasing the Israeli friendly MP’s.. The police continue to investigate the Glastonbury affair! Quite what they are investigating is beyond me? What was said is recorded both by the BBC ad multiple MOB’s. Will the CPS give the RW media their pound of flesh and increase their sales to the gammon fraternity? If the chants had been about Russia there would be no discussion.

having an opinion! Specifically the Welfare Bill. With 4 million claimants there obviously needs to be some action? The working age population is 37.5 million. So nearly 10% are claiming sickness benefits? As benfits are by no means generous it says something is wrong with the economic structure of wages and the economy. the unemployed ratio is 4.6%. 75.1% of people in the UK aged 16 to 64 are currently in employment. 

So 20% of the population 16-64 are not employed. Of these There are obviously students in that number, 4.7% in higher education, but it beggars belief that 10% of the population is too sick to work! Let me do the figures again. 75.1% in work; 4.6% unemployed but looking for work; 4.7% students; 10% on sick which leaves about 6% choosing not to work or claim benefits (although most will be parents getting child benefit. We are also told that there is a labour shortage in the UK and thus have to have inward migration.

So my conclusion is that many, millions of people do not think that coping with their medical problems is enough to justify the poor pay offered? The right wing also seem to be paranoid about working from home! Maybe more employers could offer flexi-time? If the minimum wage was hiked up – how many more would be employed? Should there be a maximum wage, based on the minimum in a business? This would prevent price inflation, but ensure that companies can remain solvent and profitable?

It would seem that something needs to be done, and just cutting, already low benefits is too simplistic and not a sufficient policy to cure the problem.

Whilst revelling in statistics …… 1 in 32 children are born via UVF treatment? Basically one in every class. Here I am radical or obnoxious depending on your opinion. Would adoption be a better solution – about 50% of the child abuse uses (blamed solely and wrongly on Pakistani men) are related to girls and boys in care. Just sayin’ – I am ignorant of this issue!

Continuing with stats. BR rose in the UK last year. up 0.6%. There is a geographical difference across the UK. West Midlands had highest increase 3.4%; and London up 1.8%. There was also a 14% increase in births to/by ??? men over 60! Women aged 35-40 experienced the largest rise whilst women aged under 20 decreased by 4.6%. The other stat that I hope will not be abused is that 39.5% of births had at least one parent born outside the UK. This is absolutely positive but will add fuel to the hyperbole of the right wing. At this point I woulld like to say that I am not patriotic or nationalist – 2 terms that deserve to be condemned to the wastes of ? Glastonbury?

Not an unusual state for me to be in. The Chief rabbi has said that the anti-jewish comments at Glastonbury were a national shame. From what I have seen the chants were about the IDF, not Jews. I do not consider myself anti-semitic, but if wishing for the death of the IDF as a fightighting force, then I guess I am! The Chief Rabbi needs to be careful – equating the IDF with Jews will agravate the growth of anti-semetism in the wider society. The narrative that Israel is protecting its borders has long passed – members of the Israeli cabinet have called for genocide and the death of all male Palestinians.

I wonder how many Germans actually hated or even felt any animosity to the jews? The public is easily swayed and develop a herd mentality. We have seen it with Brexit and now with Reform. Nationalism takes a putrid form when mobilised – it becomes racist and homophobic, anti-semetic and misogynist. It does not follow logic or factual realities – just the instinct of the bully and the lowest common denominator. The comments of Eavis was correct in condemning hate speech but also emphasising the love, peace and goodwill aspects of the festival. The BBC will continue to be castigated by all sides. Unfortunately it has lost any moral superiority with the blatent political appointment leaders during the Johnson era and later.

I am reminded of Edmund Burkes quote The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Is what the IDF are doing to Palestinians in Gaza and on the West Bank EVIL? Can there even be doubt on this? And yet not only Netanyahu and Trump are supporting their blatent discrimination, but members of our government to, upto and including Keir Starmer.