Category: Politics

It will be at least Wednesday before journalists get back to reporting important events again. Harry and Megan will FO back to the states leaving the Daily Mail with empty pages to fill (who will they find to hate next)? I am fairly sure the tugging of forelocks will soon be forgotten as winter and debts mount. The £ continues to fall despite Truss saying bankers bonus’ will be uncapped. How is Sterling falling against the Euro when countries like Germany have much greater energy crises than we do – Oh, it is because they are seen to have a competent government and the EU!

The pound remains low. Truss says she will destroy legislation that is designed to protect the public – diet guidelines, Health and Safety, employment, environment, culture – in the belief that it will stimulate the economy.

So the Govt is going to spaff £billions up the wall to protect energy company profits. This only justifiable if they are made responsible for insulation and green energy projects.

In the short term we may have to use more coal, oil and gas; but the longer term (2 years or more) must mean using less and increasing renewables. Nuclear power probably has a place in the future, but will take 10-15 years to be of significance. So solar panels on every suitable house, heat exchange where appropriate, onshore wind turbines by motorways (who can claim they are an eyesore there?) and insulation. Battery storage is advancing but alternatives like Dinorwig or smaller versions could all contribute. Wind turbines on electric pylons should be feasible. Could old water mills be used for local housing or even street lighting? strategically we do not need 5 or 6 big power stations and reliance on the national grid. The regional names of one power companies are a joke. Break them up into smaller hubs with more regional emphasis.

Wind power is cheaper than fossil fuels so why is it priced the same?

Climate deniers and the ignorant will mention China and Poland, etc. as reasons for not going green. Some people are paedophiles – that does not justify not having laws against it (Although Andrew Windsor might disagree). We should be world leaders in wind technology and wave power. Make the power companies invest in these areas.

No football. Papers full of boring crap about someone I did not know – I recognised her face from stamps, coins and bank notes. Government, having spent at least 6 weeks doing FA, will now spend another 2 weeks preening their egos on TV. Meanwhile inflation rise, the pound falls, industries close and are unable to export. Broken Britain is going rusty.

So we will soon have a new King – Charles the 3rd? Are we really going to put up with this archaic crap for much longer? The only justification is tourism!

as Home Secretary. I wonder what is going on with the tories. Many wish Boris was still bungling, but many are also worried that we are being led on the road to fascism. Rumours of 14 MP’s putting letters into 1922 Committee to show lack of confidence in Truss. Majority of MP’s did not vote for her. How long before a vote of no confidence and another election with Johnson getting elected?

Pound goes into free fall due to the governments ineptitude in managing the economy. National debt has grown, inflation is growing, corruption rife, “teddy bear companies” (those immune to performance penalties) payout record dividends, exports fall due to Brexit despite fall of £, public services such as health, education, teetering on edge. Strikes increasing.

We are well aware that the Tories would relish a return to serfdom where wages are low, stakes illegal, life expectancy for the peasants falls; whilst they reap the rewards of increased dividends and all the comforts of modern living. A Tory landlord and Lord also sent out details of food banks with a demand for increased rent (all fucking heart these bastards).

Meanwhile their followers have been chirping on about how life was great in the 1950’s with no central heating, rationing, polio, TB, etc. (They fail to talk about the free NHS with dental care and a more egalitarian society).

Like everything the situation is complex. Governments across Europe need to ensure there no deaths from the cold this winter – our government seems concerned than just about everyone else. Short term fixes are expensive with no return, just as the Covid lockdown was. In the medium term fuels prices need to come down. The main way this will happen is less use, and the capitalist way of doing this is higher prices. Higher prices hit industries and the poor. So there is a fine balance to be met. The first price hike can probably be tolerated by the middle to high income families, and will result in behavioural change. These changes will have a devastating impact of the hospitality sector like pubs and restaurants.

Government should not be about appeasing a small section of society. It should also take a long term view. Yes the energy crisis needs short term expensive measures to prevent deaths this winter. But the solution is inextricably bound to the climate crisis. Dealing with the second will solve the first.

Figures quoted by tories that solving the sewage crisis are misleading the public as usual. There is no excuse for the present levels of pollution. The money is available and action needs to be taken now. I have heard quotes of up to £200 billion. Ridiculous as ever – there will be, for the conceivable future situations of high rainfall where old sewage systems have to pump out sewage. However this is happening on an unacceptable level, and if shares in water companies drop because of legislation – so be it. If CE’s leave – well good riddance as they are only doing the financial aspect of their jobs.

Ukraine – peace is not a word I have heard. Just driving the Russians out of Ukraine otherwise the bully Putin wins. Life is not simple or fair. If it was Brexit would have been overturned due to corruption, Johnson and cronies would be in prison. Ultimately there will have to be a compromise if millions more are not to die or be displaced.

Strikes – it is very clearly a them or us situation. Yes Andy, I am sure there are some archaic practices that the union will happily negotiate on (once a sensible offer is on the table) – was the crossing an area border from the Daily Mail? What are estimates of cost of this? wage differentials between rich and poor are ridiculous – and dangerous.

Education – Academies are now beginning to coalesce – “Economies of scale” – just like under the end County structure, except that we now have read teachers on upto £150000. Can anyone explain how this is more efficient. Churchill School has 10X the number of ancillary staff and secretaries than 30 years ago. How will it cope with rising costs and a decent pay rise for teachers (maybe it should be a set amount, rather than a percentage!).

EU – I am not sure that slagging Germany off for relying on Russian gas is fair – I am 100% certain that the government of the last 12 years would have done the same or worse. We did after all destroy or gas storage facilities. Yes the EU has many faults, and we are now out. But this means we should be negotiating a return in the areas that we are reasonably happy with. The Brexit campaign was funded by those wishing to avoid future tax regulations. Those who campaigned against migration and lack of control over our governance have been shat upon – it was never about this. Therefore there is a desperate need to negotiate new trade deals and stuff with the EU. Even NZ think exporting to the UK is ridiculous.

Why is no one talking about solutions to the cost of housing? 772000 second homes receiving allowances?