Having been a long standing debacle for the last Government it is time for this government to act.
Firstly though we need to consider why so many are willing to risk their lives to come here. Most are not from former outposts of our tarnished empire. Latest reports seem to suggest that our lax security for jobs could be an attraction. Is it time to introduce identity cards? Most of Europe has them, no card, no job? There also needs to be a legal way for legitimate claimants of asylum to do so.
Both actions will be greeted with horror by the right wing, but both seem sensible to me. An ID card could have NHS, Nat.Ins. details, DVLA data. There would need to be strict rules to avoid fraud – but they manage in other countries? Identity theft is a major problem so maybe an element of fingerprint or facial recognion is necessary. I am sure there are many other arguments for and against – time we had them!
Well the news is dominated by Israel, Germany, Brazil.
The Labour Government has at last/least shown some bals in banning arms exports to Israel in the face of U.S. opposition. Well done.
Germany has had state lections in the former East Germany swing to the right. No real surprise there – especially as the German economy is tanking a bit!
Brazil has banned Twitter! Well done but reports of rainforest clearances and murder of indigenous rights workers are of concern.
Meanwhile at home – the race to elect the leader of a party and lead it to oblivion continues. I would say hotting up, but as they are all guilty as charged, as was revealed at the last election there is nothing to report! The candidates firstly have to appeal to the remaining Conservative M.P.s which is difficult. The following table is interesting
May 2023 PCPN = 3581
SurvivedN = 951
Northern Research Group
39 (11%)
5 (5.3%)
Blue Collar Conservatism
155 (43%)
33 (35%)
Onward Levelling Up Taskforce
37 (10%)
11 (12%)
IEA Free Market Forum
58 (16%)
11 (12%)
Conservatives for Canzuk
30 (8.4%)
6 (6.3%)
European Research Group
107 (30%)
24 (25%)
Common Sense Group
30 (8.4%)
8 (8.4%)
Conservative Environment Network
102 (28%)
26 (27%)
Bright Blue
139 (39%)
37 (39%)
Tory Reform Group
13 (3.6%)
6 (6.3%)
0.7% Aid rebels
22 (6.1%)
10 (11%)
Estimated economic left-right position(min, max)
76.2(60.0, 94.0)
76.4(64.0, 92.0)
Unknown
5
0
8
80% of MP’s are also guilty by association with the last lot of charlatons. The MP’sidentifying by being members of the above groups has diminished. Despite 83 ERG group members having lost their seats the candidates all seem to pander to the tunes of the ERG and other right wing nutters! There is a reason, they are taking a calculated risk that they will get through the MP’s vote and then be elected by the facist and racist party membership. This may seem rather harsh but the reality is that this is what they are deep down. They will pretend to be patriots and respect others, but they wish for a return to the past with a white, nominally Christian society where patriarchy rules.
Double standards – I am very sad at the deaths of 6 hostages held by Hamas. However the outpouring of grief from around the world upto, and including, the POTAS id disproportionate. 40000 Palestinians have died, perhaps at least 25% children and the world remains, if not silent, but only mumbling. Every life should be reveered and its loss mourned.
The development of Shanshan may precede activity in the Atlantic as moist air from Africa seeds hurricanes. Since Ernesto there has been a quiet perion in the Caribbean – but things are predicted to change! Hopefully Mar-a-Lago gets a good walloping! No doubt Trump would boast about it! He is just so weird!
But the climate emergency is still being ignored by, well everyone! Record rainfall in the Sahara and still the press are obsessed with the death of a rich fucker in his yacht! Mediterranean ares has less rainfall this summer, India has had floods, 1.3ha of Panatelndestroyed by fire, 100+ die in mexico due to extreme heat. JUST STOP OIL!
Ceo Pavel Durov arrested. My son argued that this was unfair, and I had to plead ignorance about the medium. Then Farage spoke out to condemn the arrest saying “who next – Elon Musk”. Charges include fraud, drug trafficking, organised crime, promotion of terrorism and cyber bullying. I guess the same could be levelled at Musk, Meta, etc. If this is the first attempt to regulate social media then I am in favour. French Courts are independent and the case will be examined in full glare from the press. This would not happen in Russia.
At last a topic that I am well qualified to speak about. Education sold its soul, or had it abducted by the small minded accountancy driven ideology of the Thatcher years. If it cannot be measured then it must be worthless resulted in the fatuous league tables that destroyed many a good teacher and school. No I was not one (at least not until the bastards finally drove me to retirement12 years ago. But I digress. Latest figures show that expulsions are rising across the country, especially in deprived areas (and also in strong Brexit supporting areas!).
I just do not understand! Yet again. Sandford Stores sells around £100000 a year? Why? I smoked for 50 years – to start with it was cool, then rolling tobacco became kind of therapeutic. But what is cool or therapeutic about a vape? To do it in public as I saw at a fpptball match just identifies the person as a knob! those who convert to a vape instead of tobacco have my full support – but the evidence is that it is becoming a trendy thing to do? Are some stronger in nicotine than others? Gaulloise were cool for a while, and then Sobraine? and then Consulate menthol before I got the rolling habit. But what is cool about a vape???
I thought of more professional terms like the Sunday Surmise, or the Sunday Sermon, or even the Weekend Wankfest. But a stumble through events seems most appropriate!
Firstly I have made a strawberry sponge – the test will be in the eating! Basically a sponge recipe with home made strawberry jam in the middle topped with stewed strawberries and lemon. I might add double cream for complete decadence! and then sprinkle some nuts on top! Pickled onions – first 2kg done, and pickled garlic up next. Baguettes – Millie is doing her bit at the moment, so this evening or tomorrow morning. My baguettes with herbs went down well, next time I will try with some flaked chilli, or even homegrown chillies. Tomatoes are very slow at the moment – not enough sun? I still have breakfast of raspberries when I go down to water the greenhouse, and have left the mulberries for Martin who is coming tomorrow. Apple harvest also looks good this year.
Well enough about me, int he News. First off, the sinking of the super yacht. This is very disturbing! Mainly because of the absurd amount of publicity it has received. He was said by a friend to be a lovely unassuming and grounded person. So unassuming and grounded that he owned a million £ boat with worlds largest mast. Not exactly bashful then! The drowning of his daughter aged 18 is obviously very sad – but as I did not know her, no more sad than the deaths of desperate people travelling across borders all over the world. It is a fucked up world!
Then Kate Allsop – front page again as she let her 15 year old son go inter railing. I had no idea who she was or that her family has close connections with Diana’s – did this help her get a job on TV? So basically a rich and connect mum lets her privileged son, aged 15 go inter railing with a 16 year old mate. Let us leave aside the rich and privileged bit (I am fairly certain he will have stayed in hotels rather than roughing it on park/railway station benches around Europe. Personally I think tat if he was mature enough I have no problem. I would not have been happy if it had been my son at 15, but like me he took a while to mature (and others seem to regress like Donald Trump! – is he even let out alone?). However I would have been happy for either of my daughters (Maz will say different, but she had to teach me to be cool – and I did put her on a train from Weston-super-Mare to Newhaven alone and aged about 12! Tams at 18 went to Africa with a pal and without the financial or societal backup. One of my memorable moments. Tams would use my credit card to buy clothes and always paid me back. I was a tad surprised when she told me she had just put £££ on it which was for a flight for her and Sofia to South Africa and the Buzzbus and a safari! So I back Kate Allsop all the way.
I just received this months copy of the Byline Times and want to give it a shout of approval. Yes it is an echo chamber for my views, but I challenge anyone to provide me of any wrong facts that are in the paper.. And no I do not fully agree with all analysis – e.g. Sonia Purnell’s analysis of the riots was I believe too simplistic.
I try to articulate my thoughts on topics, but sometimes I read or hear something which says what I think so clearly that I just have to post it! So here it is
I also must say that I am in awe of this capable young woman, and I am also aware of the abuse she has suffered from internet low life. I have 2 daughters 1 son, 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson and 1 step grandson so I am extremely pleased to see an independent, comprehensive educated young woman creating a wonderful role model.
