Category: Politics

James O’Brien Show today discussed a Manchester University report that time spent with children aged 7-11 had little difference on educational achievement, whilst wealth and parents achievement had a greater impact.

You know, the one where the people of Hartlepool supposedly tried, found guilty and hung a poor monkey for being a French spy. It seems that the Conservative Party is relying on their supporters being similarly stupid and ignorant. From Raab possibly facing contempt of court charges, Braverman lying about child grooming gangs (on a day when 20+ white English males were convicted of child grooming, to tje various lies told on TV every morning by patsies doing the studio rounds with rehearsed answers (regardless of the questions.

Personally I am not too sure about him. He seems to be doing a lot of the right things but lacks socialist ideals as a target. I realise he cannot make huge spending commitments as the tories have screwed the economy, but he could make commitments to the public service unions that he will get them back to 2010 parity asap. The Government finds the money for things when it wants too. Public services boost the health of the nation, physically and mentally. There are efficiencies that can be made across the board. e.g. Education – abolish OFSTED (saving £136 million p.a. – but use £30 million to support schools that have problems (80% of schools are good or better – so why waste money inspecting them?). I am sure the same is true of the NHS.

Local elections are looming and the Conservatives are campaigning on small boats and transgender issues – neither of which actually affect anymore than a tiny proportion of voters. So it is like a penalty in football with no goalie. But somehow Labour manage to avoid issues that actually affect all – like rising cost of living, energy bills, rising cost of mortgages and rents. No they chose law and order which, unless you believe the garbage that is the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Express, Sun again affects only a few – readers of those papers will never vote Labour anyway! Starmer is also a sitting target for the Tories due to his time as Director of Public Prosecutions. We know the tories do not respect the law, and will dig out lies about his time.

Have Labour descended into the sewer too? The sentiments about adults sexually attacking children is maybe one to bring up in discussion, but to personally attack Sunak like this is awful. The whole topic of the law and sexual affences needs a huge debate. You are 99% more likely to be fined for entering a bus lane than committing rape. However incompetent the government is (and no one is thinking they have plumbed the depths of Mordor yet!), one expects the Labour Party to be above sleaze and corruption and show not a little morality, but a party where morality is its fundamental foundation.

The Speaker of the HoL has spoken about the need to have experts rather than political appointees and aides. A quick way to do this would be to put a time limit of 5 years on all members, with exceptions to those who had made speeches and contributed to committees (although even these could be put forward for re-election. I am sure something like this would work. I am not sure about Labour’s plan to have elected members. heredutary members should be timed out along with the clergy – unless they have relevant skills to bring. Political appointments should be limited to 20, in proportion to the HoC and having a 60% majority vote by MP’s. Honours for sports people should not give automatic entry to the Lords. Resignation honours lists should not give entry to HoL.

Average house price £1244025. Madness. Where will the actual workers live? In winter it is dead as many are second homes. A totally broken housing market exists in this country – but how can it be solved? Sandbanks – previously the most expensive place to buy in the UK, was built for the rich, Salcombe used to be a proper town with pubs and shops open all the year round and most people working locally. 80% of sales are for 2nd home owners or buy to let.

Actually there does seem to be an answer. Increase top levels of tax – upto 90% for £10million. Hopefully many of these people will then bugger off. House prices at the top end in London and elsewhere will plumet. I guess there would be bit of a recession in London due to investors withdrswung money from the financiql sector. It should not affect much else as the general population will have the same amount of money to spend. But if the rich can no longer afford second homes and their yachts and private jets so be it.

An economy based on betting (foreign exchange and the stock market is unsustainable). These sectors have a place – but it has become too central. Moving to a home based economy does not mean a return to “The Good Life” type scenario!

First some stats – 60% of Americans approve of his indictment; he has a 16 point lead over DeSantis for the Republican nomination for president.

He says he is innocent before even knowing what the charges are – but then he was hardly going to be accused of being a nice human being! No doubt tye rednecked numbskulls will turn up with their tattoos, big bikes and pick-ups.

Basically the further polarisation of the USA continues. The same tactic is being used here by the ERG and the Mail, Express and Telegraph – fortunately none of them are relevant these days. Johnson was deposed before he could inflict further damage and his star is waning. Raab is doomed and Braverman is increasingly looking out of place. Sunak’s reading of opinion polls seems to suggest that he thinks he needs to keep the ERG group on board, especially in the Red Wall Seats, and maybe in the UKIP areas. He alsoseems to realise that culture wars are his only realistic chance.

The Times today has a go at Starmer with an opinion poll which shows that people do not know what he stands for. Whilst he keeps his powder dry, which may be a good tactic for now, he will need to come out and state firm policies. Whilst he is unlikely to face the toxic bombardment that Corbyn (and Foot and Kinnock before him) faced, they are gearing up to undermie labour at every oportunity. The BBC is under intense scrutiny from left and right continually – it has a right wing bias in its management structure and its journalists seem unwilling to pursue government ministers with appropriate zeal. I say appropriate because the party in power should be held to account for the actions – I am sure the same reporters will attack Labour with zeal if they get into power. However Sky News and Channel 5 are doing OK!

Back to Trump – if it all hits off between police and Trump supporters (and I am sure some left wing antagonists will be happy to join in, it is highly unlikely that he will go on air and plead for calm!

PS> Tories did their biggest ever dump of public information notices on the day Parliament closed for Easter – they really are corrupt to the core.

In the world of the Premiership Football League failure results in the sack very quickly – more than half of the teams have sacked their manager this season. In Government gross incompetence and corruption and bullying is rewarded. Variable working conditions to allow for second, third, fourth jobs, generous expenses and no responsibility fo efficiency or even honesty.

Their belief in the stupidity of the British Public gets more fantastic every day. Coach loads of adolescent children being held at the port of Dover (A total fucking nightmare for the teachers in charge – let alone the children!). But Braverman lies and says it is nothing to do with Brexit but bad weather? Does she read the Daily Star? I think even that paper might have too much humour for her (the lettuce and Truss?). Customs officials needing to check every passport since Brexit – of course it has every thing to do with Brexit. So stop lying to us.