Category: Politics

Britain will soon have 2 new “news channels’ from the likes of Fox News. Those who criticise the BBC should be careful what they wish for. At least with the BBC any perceived bias from left or right is fiercely debated. This will not happen with news channels promoted by the like of Murdoch and Discovery. These channels will have no duty to the public, they will be free to peddle the false news of the kind that propelled Trump to his Presidency. The British public have shown themselves equally mall-able to false news, so could we be seeing the development of yet more media promoting populism.

Populism – what an oxymoronic word? Let us all vote for less tax – until we need the NHS, or other services. More tax would be sensible at the moment – especially the rich who have made billions due to share rises in lock down. Unfortunately the centre left and right is too liberal to demand constraints on this pernicious influence on our democracy.

I guess I need to say something! The guy is an idiot! But worse he is now causing deaths due to his irrational rants. Twitter has taken his feed down – probably to ensure they are not prosecuted for encouraging insurrection. Could it happen here?

I know its only 4 days since last statistical post, but the figures are horrendous, and its 13 days since idiot Johnson let people meet for Xmas! Although the figures are 6 days behind.

Against my basic instinct of the freedom of the individual I think there is a duty for all citizens to do so. I have discussed this with a friend but my view has modified. We all have a duty to keep each other safe. I am concerned at the governments lazier fair attitude, mixing the 2 injections surely cannot be sensible, given that certain tests have still not been completed.

And why is the government not preparing to administer the vaccine much faster? I know the supplies are not there yet, but pharmacists have said they could inoculate 1.3 million per week. And I am aware of shortages of glass vials and needles – but fail to believe these cannot be solved in weeks.

And the government says it will encourage more fines for non-compliance with laws – will they empower more people to administer fines. Locally there are still people not wearing a mask in the shop – I do not expect the police to be outside all the time, but an intelligent timing of an infrequent visit would probably have the desired effect of ensuring compliance.

EDUCATION

Winnie the Pooh would have more idea of what to do than the DofE! My view. There are certain standards needed by employers regarding Maths and English. Therefore a basic levels certificate needs to be available. Whether this is by a shortish test in the summer, or by teacher assessment (I prefer the former), could be decided. A Levels could be reduced to one exam per subject. As numbers are lower an exam could still take place. Surely a skills based exam could be devised that identified ability rather than memory or coaching!

But why has there not been a plan B being developed for months? Is Williamson actually a dormouse?

Makes me think of the government as animals. Williamson a dormouse, Gove a short-eared owl (looks more intelligent than he is), Johnson a cuckoo (leaves others to do the real work whilst sounding good!), doormat Hancock is like a sad looking dog who gets blamed for everything maybe Eeyore? Priti Patel a hyena living on the bones of the less fortunate – spiteful. Other suggestions welcome.

Will ministers stop talking up the end of the pandemic. We all know it will be months before anything major changes. with large numbers of people refusing to have the vaccine, Covid sceptics and right wing tory ‘freedom wallah’ nothing much will change for a long time.

With schools in disarray, the knock on impact on the economy will be huge.

Changing the times for the second dose of vaccine might make logistical sense but will not aid the take up by the sceptical.

At the very least he should now do what he should have done from the start and set up a cross-party committee to deal with the crisis. This should be composed of experts and not defined by politics or the chumocracy. Its meetings should be reported in full and dissenting voices acknowledged. Only total openness will get the situation under control.

And Brexit – already some lorries being turned away for incomplete paperwork. Do people really think private enterprise is more efficient and will sort it out! Just like test and trace!! And whether it is the French or Europeans fault no longer matters – it has to be dealt with! To my cost I have found that the emotions of a parting of ways are still virulent after 20 odd years! So they are likely to make it difficult at every opportunity, and why not! We chose to leave, and must face the consequences. Will French fishermen act to project their livelihoods – probably. Whilst successive governments seem to have suppressed the unions in the UK, protest seems alive and well on the continent.

Someone should have bought the cabinet an atlas for Xmas! Shop local is a growing trend, and supported by brexiteers, so far so good; but then they tell us we can have great deals with the USA and Japan – please look at a map. Distance equals pollution – simple. We do not want deals with far away countries, just the closest.

Scotland wants to be able to determine its own future. How is that different to Brexit?

What with Covid and Brexit politics seems to have neglected some fundamentally important issues.

Labour should abstain from the vote. They did not make the deal, and were not included in any discussions. It is Johnsons deal, he wanted the glory for himself, let him deal with it. I can understand why some labour MP’s in remain areas might want to back it, it is probably better than no deal; and they do not wish to be seen as not backing Brexit.

But I say let the Nasty Party argue with itself. Personally I am a bit relieved that we have a deal, but its not in my name! The toffs from Eton et al have their prey, lets watch them squabble over the diminishing bones. I always thought that the Nasty Party was about dividing up a bigger cake so the working class would be relatively better off than a smaller cake divide on more socialist terms. How does this argument work with a cake that is diminishing, and the toffs are doing their upmost to avoid taxation!