Author: Richard

The new Great British Energy will be given £8.3 bn of public money with a target of generating 20/30GW of electricity by 2030 (i.e. within this parliament). Much of this is via a tie up with. the Crown Estates (and a significant cash bonus for the Winsors!). The tie up will allow the new company to borrow money outside the fiscal restraints of the Treasury’s self-imposed limits. The company is modelled on EDF (although with a fraction of the financial power). It is hoped that the move will create another £60bn of investment by private companies. Personally I am disappointed at the lack of policy on insulation and household solar panels. However one step at a time! Ed Miliband seems prepared to become a champion of clean energy – let us hope other cabinet appointees show the same enthusiasm for their briefs – no more mass cabinet reshuffles (with subsequent pay offs!). Instead lets have professionals who understand the needs of their Department. In a school would Heads of Department be shuffled, say between, Home Economics, PE, Science, English and Geography? Of course not – but that is what has happened for the last 14 years with the incumberants only interested in their own careers.

Education – talking to my grandson – he stated that Reform won in a mock election in every year group. This made me think! 12-18 year olds are most exposed to porn – is there an Andrew Tate impact? If so there is a very real problem! If the next generation are swayed towards the misongystic, racist bollocks he spouts, and which is then retweeted by Reform MP’s we as a society need to counter this. It has made me think about my time as an educator – did I do enough to get children to think about the society they want to live in?

This should start with the home – what sort of environment do they want to grow up in? What responsibilities and duties does each individual have within it? Then the local area with the same questions of responsibilities and duties but now including a larger sample of perhaps relatives, neighbours but also users of facilities like parks and businesses like shops.

The questions basically become the same as the scale is increased to regional, nation, country and international levels. This would encourage critical thinking, could be neutral (I am sure Reform Brochures could be used in most situations!). I am sure that the vast majority of students would want a society that is empathetic and kind, that rewards hard work and respects the environment and others.

The American election has brought it back to the fore. But it is a strong underlying force in this country. Angela Rayner has been forced to suffer numerous front page assaults that can only be seen as misogonistic. Reform extol Andrew Tate for the most vile comments. Old people still promote the role models they grew up with. Racism and misogyny are evils that are persuasive in our society and everyone should do their best to counter the resurgence that is promoted by the right wing. As a young person I was not aware that women were not allowed a bank account on their own in this country until 1975. Fuck – that is horrendous and ridiculous and just fucking wrong!

Kamala Harris is now going to be subject by horrendous comments on social media (why are people allowed to advocate their lack of intelligence on social media – let alone the hatrid and criminal threats).

I do not get why the right wing promote misogyny? As populist parties they should be encouraging all to vote for them. I suppose there must be woman who want to be dominated and cared for? I just do not get it? With the Garrick Club opening its doors to limited women I was hoping for change. But itbseems that in the face of openess te old in our society retract into orgiastic drems of male dominence!

I suppose I ought to be more interested in their election. However at the moment it seems that Trump is rinsing it! Biden should never had stood for a second term despite a very successful first term. Harris will find it hard as a black woman – as anyone who has left the cities in the USA, beyond the city limits, and often within them, America is a mix of high tec and almost medieval thought processes. If a British politican had been shot in the ear and then claimed some divine intervention the majority of the public would find it fucking hilarious! And as for sticking sanitary towels to ears – what are they thinking!

Of course there are a lot of very nice Americans (just about everyone that I met was basically OK!) – howeverbthe red necks! And then the tech mega rich have been pouring money into Trumps campaign. Definitely time for Europe and the rest of the world to get there act together and create a viable opposition to them. The trouble with X is that it is just too good and easy to use despite Musk attempts to fuck it up!

It seems to me that America is in an even darker place regarding democracy? The Senate, whilst honourable in intention has surely outlasted the 19thb century let alone today. The democrat and republican parties are also too large and unwieldily for any proper scrutiny? And I can see the point of creating a balance, but when the two parties merge in the centre it leaves a gap where people feel unrepresented, a gap which the right wing and Maga have exploited very successfully.

Trump will no doubt be going all out against migrants without an ounce of irony that all americans are migrants (Ok Americans-indians is another discussion). The misogyny of the anti-abortion lobby is, to a liberal minded Western European, ridiculous. Back to the 18th Century! I have also read a few trash American novels, they often talk about a very assertive rich male “owning” a woman! In the novels this is without the violence of domestic abuse but the culture is clear.

So America is not our forever Allie, in fact I have reaffirmed my long term belief that Europeans, especially Western Europeans are very much like me! I say me here to stop generalisatoons creeping in. I have been to parts of Spain where no one spoke English (how rude!) and I speak no Spanish but felt “at home”! We have a similar history and have endured religeous fanaticism and political extremism (Nazi’s) but have also similar roots of history. The colonies (and Australia and NZ are subject to this too) have attracted migrants from across the globe (Australia and NZ from a smaller pool?) who have a very different mind set. Many were fleeing religious persecution, some abject poverty, but all will have had a desire for less state control and belief in the individual? America in particular offered migrants land and freedom from government for the most part! Now as society has occupied most of the land and people are sunject to the laws of society, the deep seated beliefs of some americans are being questioned, and they do not like it.

Is the following true? America has been built on the cheap labour of immigrants, often with 2 or 3 jobs each. Cheap labour has undermined the ability of the poor to organise via Unions. Subservient womaen are seen as part of the culture, exemplified in the 1950-80’s by the western of gunslinging heroes. The gun culture of America is an underlying disease that cannot be cured! America has lost, is losing its place of pre-eminence in the world?

And now to be controversial! My dad said that the Chinese would over run the world! Yes he was a Daily Telegraph reader (the excuse was the crossword!). However it is my hope/belief that those of Chinese extraction who are now British Citizens are now assimilated into our society? Have I just revealed to my self what I guess others have known for ages? The fear , expressed to me yesterday, that Britain would be 50% Muslim in 2050 (by someone who will not make it! that far despite reading the Express), is that they will be like the Jews and not give up their religion? I would guess that there are more people commited to their religion that are not Christian in the UK. Personally I do not give a fuck about this until they try to influence decisions made in the UK, for the UK. Like it seems some Jews (not all) are trying to influence decisions this government makes regarding Israel. Israel is an abhorrent state which needs to be brought into modern democracy and the modern world! If a jew or muslim wants to pray to their gods, fine, as long as it has no impact on the rest of us. I would ban all religeous schools (including those supporting capitalism!).

I thought I might calm down with a Labour government. However the behaviour of the oppositin and the defeated has been abhorrent! Atkins should have been suspended for the rest of the day. Badenoch thought she was being clever whilst demeaning herself with patronising bollox, Truss and Farage are in US supporting the election of a president who obviously hates Europe and the UK.

Farage is interesting (sorry on reading this again i realised I had made a huge error in a positive comment about Farage! I am sure some people find cancer interesting! And this is not to decry them , while I dig my hole deeper and deeper!) – will Labour pass a second job rule to stop self promoting prats using public money to glorify their putrid thoughts and souls!. Surely there should be a minimum attendance rule for the HoC (Which would really fuck off Geoffrey Cox0 and also a similar one for the HoL where those appointed to the house have to state which legislation they are prepared to contribute to>. On the HoL – are they ever elected to HoC committees? Seems like a good idea. A minimum attendance record with commensurate pay deductions forbabsence without sick note or authorisation bybthe speaker (whose decisions would be public – i.e. attendance at NATO summit is approved for those participating).

What else – Trump farting big time in USA – BUT it is not over until the fat lady sings! The media are all over him and his thicksick shit supporters (Tess/Farage), but and as harold Wilson is said to have said ‘A week is a long time in politics’ or before him Joseph Chamberlain in 1886 ‘In politics, there is no use in looking beyond the next fortnight.’

So we will wait and see – Musk is pumping money into the Trump camppaign despite his decrying of electric cars.

Musk – am I the only one to think that is is a very clever person, but not clever enough to find competent advisors in whom he has enough trust to tell him when he is wrong! To my mind he acts like a small child who always gets his own way (surely no mother of worth would allow their child to be called X AE A-XII Musk. With 12 children he has shown as little responsibility to relationships as to society.

I think there is another rant/diatribe or even research project comming on here! The relationship between rich and poor has always been one sparked with inequality and violence.

Pondering – do things always have to get worse before they get better? In Europe we could say this is confirmed by the rise and fall of Hitler, in Russia I am not informed enough to say whether the same is for Stalin – in fact can anyone explain why Stalin is still so popular in Russia? And another thought – with Musk money I would arrange visits between all countries, especially Russia, America, China and European and African ones – sorry did I miss out South America and the Pacific nations – but I would pay for young people to visit and share experiences.

But then my next thought is Leeds last night – poverty leads a horrible scar on those who suffer it. Kunt Farage and co have said it is Muslims – the dickheads – it is the inexcorable grind of poverty – the youth fighting may have been Muslim, or white lost souls, or Roma – the issue is not the race but the poverty.

I am unequivacle in my disgust at the decision to jail them for 4/5 years

I am also minded of the massacre by Hamas in Israel! When reasonable discourse is prevented or hidden – then the result is an excessive response. So just as I recognise the angst behind the actions of Hamas I also recognise the lack of proper discussion and action regarding the climate crisis. For the law to act with such venom is surely beyond the concepts of a democratic society.. This is further compounded by the fact that violent criminals are being released early from prison to make room for peaceful protestors. I have already posted that I believe that Just Stop Oil could be more creative, but I do not criticise the need for direct action. I am a long time supporter of GREENPEACE. Also yesterday saw the publication of a criticism of governmment ministers in the Covid crisis (deaths approx. 230000).

It also raises concerns regarding the judiciary – we have seen what the politicalisation of law in America results in (and we might have some horror stories in the future?). The law was created by the Tory Government, and thisbjudge obviously is a petrol head with a lack of empathy and concern for the planet! Obviously the law has to be obeyed or face the consequences.

Interesting phone in on James O’Brien – driving whilst using a mobile phone and causing an accident resulting in death will cost the economy over a million, and the perpurtrator will possibly get 6 months suspended. This judgement reeks of a vindictive past government! On the positive – Lammy has restored the UK contribution to the UN in Gaza. (UNWRA). A small gesture but an important one – I do wonder what the role of Starmers wife being a Jew is having on him? I do not mean this in any malicious way but there is an impact of a close family tie?

Also the main reason for Just Stop Oil is the publicity for the cause – a success there. And predictably the Mail, Telegraph and Express continue to demean their readers with horrific propaganda. Amusingly those readers are visibly uncomfortable when presented with facts!

Interesting visit to the supermarket where I was told on entry that it was cash only! It reiterates how vulnerable we are to a cyber attack? I think they had a similar event in Ireland a while back which lasted weeks? People shopping using IOU’s and honesty box’s.

So the reaal work starts today with The King’s Speech where Labour will outline plans for new legislation. All ver positive – no diatribes about Rwanda and other failed Tory policies. The Daily Express leads with an article about boat people – who actually gives a fuck any more. We know Labour will come up with sensible policies in time – proposals for asylum visas to allow legal entry until processed seems practical and sensible and also allows management. Presumably this type of policy needs collaboration with our European neighbours, which may occur at the meeting at Blenheim Palace of 45 European leaders at the meeting Of the European Political Community. Whilst this is “yet another summit” it does allow European leaders to open up channels of communication (something Sunak should have considered when spurning D Day opportunities). This is needed ever more importantly as America seems to be headed for a period of Trump induced isolation and revisionism. Europe remains a very diverse political landscape despite some gains by the right.

What I will be hoping for are some real moves on climate change. Arguments about China’s coal power stations are irrelevant, especially as China invests heavily in wind and solar. Therewillbe announcements regarding housing and planning regulations. This will result in a right wing frenzy as the NIMBY element smacks in! I am in two minds regarding this – with the population likely to fall in next 50 years is there an argument for high quality radical temporary homes which can be expanded of dismantled relartively easily? Does evryone need their own outdoor space – a radical rethink needed before Barrat Homes build thousands of rabbit hutches in the countryside. The aspect of communting to work also needs consideration. Tory landlord MP’s voted down control of rents and minimum quality standards – can these be re-aired?

The prison situation needs urgent attention, but plans seem to be afoot as Labour has been planning for the takeover day for a year! Two more huge budgetry problems are Councils who have seen budgets cut at the expense of services as their responsibilities for care have increased. Universities also need urgent attention. Maybe a parental tax for university students? Parents are happy to pay £50000 per year for Eton, etc. but then get Oxbridge and others free! This is fraught with difficulties as I know having Tams going through University having just divorced – but doable!

Oh and then there is the water industry shit shower! I know Labour want to attract foreign investment (even home grown investment would be good -as a report decried the lack of investment in tec firms in the UK), but maybe those set to lose heavily (as they should) could be offered percentage holding in the companies that could pay out theoretically in the future? Mean time, interesting artical which suggested Londoners could/should be charged for covering gardens with concrete. Waffle style driveways and even side roads would allow infiltration and stop the subsidence that is already affecting London? I read something about London’s water table a while back which suggested that tower blocks may be facing problems as the water table reduces/

BUT I am still mega positive – the future is bright despite Trump