Category: Politics

I just listened to idiot Neil Oliver. Over 45 million have had a jab and 33 million boosters. All the science shows it to be safe. But forget the science – are you leading a normal life? In this country we seem to be on top of Covid at the moment. Hopefully we can avoid another lockdown. China is interesting because their vaccination rate is much lower and their vaccine may not be as effective if reports of deaths are to be confirmed. There is no doubt in my mind that the first lockdown was absolutely essential, the second was a result of Johnson’s incompetence. The vaccine has prevented further lockdowns.

For my age group it has to be a total no brainer. For middle aged people I would suggest it depends on their job and proximity to those at risk. For younger and children I suspect (with no medical knowledge) that they may have gained natural immunity and unless there is another pandemic would let them get a dose!

I would hope that NHS staff and Care Home staff get a jab as the elderly and infirm are more likely to be at risk from this and flu.

So the government is to give more powers to the police to prevent protests, it also wants to stop strikes. There is am alternative, take action to increase public sector pay and stop policies which harm society and the environment. With nothing to protest about there would be no protests.

It is odd how papers and organisations that ask if they support or disagree with strikes and protests never ask whether it is fair that CEO’s of FTSE100 companies should have a 44% pay rise?

I will start with the shit – Thames Water has been pumping raw sewage from an overflow pipe at Amply St,Peter non-stop since 20th December. Southern Water Pumped shit onto 83 beaches last year. Braverman spouts shit at a holocaust survivor. Johnson paid £4445 for a meal in NY on a Government Credit Card. Tory donor Clipper Logistics were paid £11 million for PPE and are now to be paid £4.5 million to destroy it. Davros is inundated with private jets bring the rich and privileged to their annual talking shop. The Russians are hitting Ukraine with more missiles so Nato countries are providing more tanks. Will this war continue for years? Israel continues to harass Palestine at all levels. Iran continues to execute people for not agreeing with their authoritarian and bigoted regime.

Well Starmer was useless in PMQ’s. I appreciate he is playing the long game and keeping his powder dry, but really he could do better. It is amusing to see how the Tory rags do not know what to do though! There is a limit to how often they attack Harry and Meghan. On strikes they know that the NHS workers deserve a large pay rise and have public sympathy; they know the NHS has been underfunded and that it is the fault of 12 years of Tory ineptitude (being kind), corruption (being honest) or maybe part of a bigger plan to privatise the NHS fully (probable). They do not like Sunak but he leads their party and seems to be playing to the tune of 55Tufton Street and the ERG. They seem not to trust Farage (rightly) and yearn for Johnson (who was brilliant for newspaper sales!) – one states that Johnson is doing a deal with Sunak to get a safe seat. There are not many of those left nowadays! It seems highly probable that Johnson would use his seat at the next election as he has been a shit MP for his constituency.

Strikes and wages and taxes. With inflation at 10% (falling) prices are going up. With inflation the BoE raises interest rates and cost of housing goes up. The obvious answer is to raise tax on the wealthy which this Government cannot do as it relies on extreme right wing elements for support. Tax revenues from petrol will also fall as electric cars become more common. One area which could yield profit for the government is a tax on property. I bought my house for £180000 in 2001 (figures approx.!) yet it is now worth circa £400000. Why should I be able to make £220000 profit. Inflation has been low in that period so either increase Council Tax or death duties would seem fair?

The other alternative is to increase VAT on luxury items – this would need to be carefully constructed to avoid extra tax on quality items rather than luxury. I am thinking white goods – a quality product may cost 10 times a cheap one but last 20x longer. The same is true of some clothing. But a 30% VAT on say cars above £40000 would yield lots and not impact sales. Introducing tax on aviation fuel would also seem sensible (with discounts for those carriers who provide travel of more than 5 million miles).

And what happened to the Robin Hood Tax? on City transactions?

The TUC have discussed a joint day of action by Public Sector Workers. The Governments response is to introduce new laws to limit strikes. Richard Draw – MP for the toffs on the right has suggested calling in the Army. To do what? Shoot strikers? There are not enough in the armed forces to man any of the public services safely! The debate will galvanise the old duffers who vote tory and maybe white van driver, but the thinking public support decent pay rises for all. Those not in unions or where unions are impracticable are regretting their lack of power. Why are energy costs more than double those in Europe? Why are average rents so much higher here? (UK-£1200; France £800; Germany £700; Spain £600). Food inflation is 9%. CEO wage rises are average of 45%.

Vacancies in NHS and Education will increase without significant wage rises as the baby boomers retire. The governments hidden (not very well) agenda is to privatise much of the NHS despite the comparisons between USA and UK being eye watering.

Great talk by Mhairi Black regarding Parliament as a toxic place to work. Surely only the traditionalists and foggies can support it. Firstly it should be based in Northern England if not moved around. It should have a minimum of a 3 day 12am -4pm full attendance set up for National issues. OK I am thinking this through! Most of the time watching Parliament TV the chamber is empty. So maybe fiscal/national issues could be timetable for one day. The committee system could be expanded and used to report back on full attendance day/s. The argument against the EU was that EMP’s were not known or available for surgeries. These surgeries should be a requirement of the job (Johnson and others please note). The Speaker should ensure efficiency in the calling of debates so that not all MP’s are required at haphazard moments. The present building and situation is not fit for purpose. Electronic voting is a must.

If City bankers, etc. need to contact MP’s they would have to open offices in Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford or Manchester! A purpose built Parliament with office and secretarial space, suitable committee rooms, Ministerial suites so that Ministers could communicate with Whitehall or wherever! I am sure that the Parliamentary timetable could be arranged to enable a usual 3 day week with 1 for surgeries.

The main stream press treat the NHS as a private entity (that’s what they hope). It is Govt. run (badly)by largely unqualified people. Health Trusts are offering fast track operations at a cost, thus putting the poor further away from the operations they need.

Corrupt to the core. Whilst the right wing are plotting against Sunak to push their own rabid anti-mjgrant and racist policies. The Brexit bonfire they are looking for may well ignite more than they can cope with!

Starmer has said there will be no great spend if Labour win the next election. This may be prudent but the economy is stagnant and needs a boost.After World War 2 plans were already in place to create the NHS, introduce a new education system, build new towns, create National Parks, build many council houses. Renew city centres. Not all were fantastically successful but the vision and energy was there. Is it asking too much for the same vision and energy from Labour? The NHS needs restructuring and re-energising, as does education. The climate crisis is affecting wildlife and the environment and will. need drastic reforms of countryside laws including agriculture and the estates of the mega wealthy. Our energy sector has the potential to increase on the 26.8% of electricity sourced from wind last year and increase solar production whilst reducing consumption with insolation. The rail network needs renationalising as does water – but these will have to wait, although failed franchises on the railways can be required without compensation and targets for the water industry could do the same.

Still the greatest problem for any government. Costs are still rising, renting is increasing whilst home ownership falls (half a million less than 10 years ago). Is it cynical to ask who makes money from this situation?

Dinner should be an important part of the school. day – not something consumed on the hoof. It should be planned, chosen, sourced, environmentally and socially assessed, priced, prepared, cooked, served, assessed for nutrition, washed up too! An educational and social experience