Category: Politics

Whilst I still condemn the killing of innocent Israeli’s by Hamas, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Israeli Government is set on removing Palestinians from they region. Whether this is by death or deportation is apparently irrelevant to the Israeli’s. International sanctions need to be applied – especially by America. I wonder if our government will be open and disclose what armaments are being provided from the UK to the Israeli’s.

There can be no move to a solution whilst the present Israeli government is in charge. The same probably goes for Hamas with the proviso that any Palestinian would be hard pressed to condemn them!

What seems to be missing from the horror that is the current Government policy regarding asylum seekers is/are the personal stories of the actual people involved. The horrors that have led to people risking their lives to escape persecution and seek a safe future. A future where this government basically imprison them and throw away the key – how long does it take to process legitamete seekers? But that belies the the motive of the government – they do not want to identify those who are legitimate. Pandaring to the right wing media and the lobotomised minority in this country they want to paint all foreigners alike.

There is a global problem with refugees due to wars and environmental conflicts such as those caused by climate change. However shipping a few hundred people to Rwanda seems a rather obscure policy! Running away from COP28 is typical of this government. We are aware of the £300 million spent so far, and the hours of government time? If only they put the same effort into dealing with the NHS and the economic crisis!

The climate of earth is in a perilous situation. The Governments representative has boarded a plane to get back for a vote in the House of Commons. Everybody knows that the vote about deporting a few people to Rwanda is a do or die moment for the Prime Minister. His priorities are clear – self preservation before the health of the Planet.

Sunak may find some home truths today. Firstly the Covid Inquiry is likely to be uncomfortable for hi. Accusations that he put money before lives may not stick but will make life somewhat difficult. The saying about mud sticking rings true. If he can weather this storm he will then find out what the conservative party will do regarding his Rwandan scheme. With the right wing pushing for total withdrawal from international treaties ad the centrist part of the party thinkinging the whole scheme is batshit crazy. If either wing refuse to back him it will make his position tenous to say the least.

This government goes from the ridiculous and incompetent to the farcical and unbelievable. It would be funny if many of their actions were not so evil and immoral. The latest news is that the Rwanda scheme has a budget of approx £300 million. That is approximately £1 million per migrant! Sunak pretends that there is no alternative – 10 minutes with a GCSE student would give him workable alternatives.

Firstly set up a safe way for asylum seekers to get here. Secondly process them fairly and quickly. Thirdly set up a return policy that again is fair. All this would be way cheaper than the present situation. It would also be ethical and respect human rights and the individual people involved.

Sunak seems to be trying to dismantle British Democracy. My understanding of democracy in this country was that there is a balance between the legislature and the legal system. Brexit was about taking back sovereignty. we now have an unelected PM introducing legislation which has not been put before the public in a manifesto or general election, and which seeks to circumvate both the judiciary and international law. Indeed this government has a track record of trying to give powers directly to Ministers and avoiding scrutiny in Parliament. This is in no way democratic. If the PM wishes to overall the Supreme Court he should have to call a general election, not push legislation through Parliament. Hopefully the HoL will reject his legislation. His press conference was forthright – he will effectively ban asylum seekers, deny access to courts, allow ministers to selectively disregard international law.

We have already seen hundreds of people arrested and prosecuted for ‘slow walking’ demonstrations against the climate polluters. Legislation to give Ministers the power to basically ban strikes has been drafted. This government needs to go before it totally damages our country irrevocably.

You cannot be serious – Rwanda has told the UK that it will pull out of the refugee agreement if the UK government pull out of international treaties. How did Rwanda come to make a fool out of the UK government? More at 11am from Sunak this morning.

Meanwhile Johnson is talking at the Covid Inquiry. Clearly uncomfortable he is having to deny remembering things on a rather regular basis. Today he will have to face ‘Partygate’ accusations. Interestingly he has been stopped from leading arguments onto safer ground by careful questioning.

Sunak – press conference (selected press only) – states that e will change the law to ensure that deportations can take place. So he will spend hours and millions to solve a minor problem which is essentially a result of Conservative policies anyway, whilst doing nothing about the NHS where millions are waiting for treatments.

There is a growing sense that this government is consciously trashing the UK. WHETHER it is to screw Labour when they take over, or just for financial gain for themselves remains to be seen. The latest immigration policy makes no sense economically and is morally oh so wrong. Workers whom we desperately need, will have to pay large amounts to come here, then have to pay for any NHS treatment they need, will not be allowed to bring partners or children. Hospitality centres like restaurants will have to guarantee wages of £38.700 – a hike of £12.500 so we will see them close. As migrants have been proven too be net contributors to the economy, this will take a significant hit. Universities which suffered from a loss of EU funding and tried to replace it with foreign students will close courses. Society will be depleted. At the same time the Telegraph was running an article condemning those who cut their hours and put work to live ahead of live to work.

It fits in with the scenario explained by James O’Bien today “a company boss takes an employee outside to show them his new Ferrari “If you work hard and graft for the next year ” he says -” I can buy another one!”

Starmer will have upset a lot of people with his comments about Thatcher. How many will not vote Labour because of this is likely to be few. Of more importance is that he is not inspiring the non-voter to make the effort. His speech this afternoon is likely to emphasise the chaos that is the UK today. He will emphasise that there is no money to make huge changes. Whilst this may all be true there is te need for hope – I am not sure that starmer can deliver that energising magic touch. If all he can offer is the same old austerity without societal change he is not going to inspire. He will bang on about growing the economy when what he should be doing is promising a more equal society where all can feel that they have opportunities, where the inequalities given to the entitled few are diminished.

The election is likely to be fought (by the MSP at least) on migration and culture wars. So on migration can he broadcast the FACTS that migration is necessary due to the policies of this government and its Brexit obsession. Keep the focus on their failures and plans for future improvements. The Rwanda plans that involve circumventing international law must be met by total condemnation – and putting into context Asylum seekers are a tiny percentage of total migration.

To what extent are we, in the UK, complicit in the massacre of innocents being undertaken by Israel? I am not religious but respectbthe right of others to believe in whatever mumbo-jumbo they like. However when a country embarks on an act of cruelty and genocide surely we should be exerting whatever influence we have to bring about a cessation. The acts that Hamas executed were horrendous and cannot be condoned, howver it is disingenious to believe that they should be considered in isolation from history – even recent history. Recently 3 Israelis were killed in an attack in Jerusalem – they were in all probabliity innocent victims, just like the thousands of Gazan residents slaughtered by the Isreali military machine. This slaughter will ensure that no Israeli can ever be consired safe, nor in all probability any Jewish person, wherever in the world. The killing must stop, and then negotiations that could lead to peaceful co-existance.

The Daily Mail leads with an attempt to create outrage at Muslim children who may have joined peace marches during school time (where these school time peace marches are taking place I am not aware of! No doubt we will be implored to support Sunak as he tries to take us out of international treaties that protect our rights as world citizens. Is it a concerted plot by the right wing zealots to undermine the basic tennants that hold our society together. They should beware that the wealth, which hey covert so dearly, is not examined too carefully. The gated mansions that guarantee them seclusion from the teeming masses of society can dissolve like an early morning mist. In this country we have for too long been enamoured by the ruling classes. Perpetuation a myth of sovereignty since Norman times, those with off shore tax avoidance schemes should beware!

The Covid Inquiry is interesting, but with no sanctions at its disposal, little more than that. The Great Liar is taking the oath next week – surely an oxymoron? He will admit to mistakes but claim that he was overall brilliant. History will prove the opposite!