Category: Politics

Sir Chris Hohn pays himself £570 million, a figure he justifies by being a huge philanthropist (He has given £4 billion to his children charity and is the major donor to extinction rebellion). Whilst I agree with. his choice of charities “Why should he have that choice?”.

You leave a club because you can change rules to make it easier for you to compete against the club. Then get upset at the club not letting you have free access to facilities without payment. FMB – nobs.

This could be a big month for Sunak to survive. He faces challenges, mainly from within. On migrants he believes the public wants a crackdown, but the dilemma is that essential NHS services are dependent upon them. Asylum seekers are a soft target but the press is running out of steam. The right wing hate his budget yet cannot offer a viable alternative. MP’s concerned about their seats are looking for local projects and refusing the whip. Police are being told to clamp down on demonstrations that block roads, but also to cut down on crime. Which is fine until they realise the court system is broken and that prisons will fill up. Education has received a temporary bailout but strikes are in the pipeline.

On strikes Sunak wants to take a strong line, but even with the MSP backing there is a lot of public opinion in favour of the strikes. And with cold weather peoples heating bills will soar. It seems inevitable that voters will turn against the government. Many MP’s are apparently looking to jump ship before it hits the rocks!

Foreign policy for the UK is a bit of a joke really. Sunak is telling the Chinese off – I bet they are scared.

The DWP is encouraging people to work more despite the fact that they lose 55% of any increase in income. Why not tax the rich at this rate? Or more. I have never understood the RW argument that lower taxes = more investment. We have some of the lowest taxes for companies over the last 12 years but investment and the economy has plummeted? I think the rich just take the money and run! Pictures of that Mone woman on a yacht exemplify this. If I had the money I would run a photo version of the Byline Times! Just photo’s with a comment! Or in some cases a list of MP’s who voted against (as in the law about landlords having to provide habitable rental properties).

Johnson got rid of competent members of the Conservative Cabinet and replaced them with incompetent Brexit lackeys. Truss added a few more and Sunak shuffled the weak pack. Ministers attack labour at every opportunity and yet have no credible policies on improving life in Britain. The underfunded Police Force is accused of being too woke whilst having to cope with the mental problems of people forced out of health care by the underfunded NHS (again the blame is on woke). Problems for those in blue are mounting as poverty hits the poorest areas.

Planning rules that have been loosened are now in disarray. Expensive housing of debatable quality going up on Greenfield and even green belt sites requiring motor transport as bus services are shrinking (and too expensive). An idea, provide people like me (single retired) with a £50000 (or maybe £20000 per bedroom released) incentive to downsize. Councils could do the same? This sounds generous but it would take this much for me to even consider it. Result would be more 3 or 4 bed houses available. Some could become shared rents so it would help the housing market. Most of the money would be invested thus providing the money for investment/growth so beloved of the right wing! water companies have stated that the lack of planning rules is not allowing them to function properly – hence sewage releases (I am not sure that this is a get out clause as they are guilty of under investment too).

Transport is in chaos – 30% of Trans-Pennine trains were cancelled or curtailed over half term. There is no proper train service at Manchester Airport.

Onshore wind turbines could be functioning this time next year with government help thus slashing fuel bills. Make it easier for small scale hydro schemes to produce electricity for the grid. Time has come to think local not global.

First – childcare. UK comes 23rd in list of selected wealthy countries for child care costs for a couple. More expensive than Slovenia, Spain and Slovakia and infinitely more expensive than Estonia. Does to matter that a couple on a low income would need to spend 30% of their income on childcare (and up to 50% on fuel) before rent/mortgage and food.

The numbers are increasing and the Government does nothing. Well apart from derailing any hope of a settlement for rail workers.

The ERG and other bombastic morons are fixated on Brexit and the supposed conspiracy. And Braverman is stating that she will bring down migration (which is at a record high, largely due to Ukranians and Hong Kong agreed migrants. The one area that could be cut is foreign students – paying £18.500+ each. The vast majority of whom will return to their own countries at the end of their courses. Impact on the UK economy will be massive, especially in localised areas like Sunderland.

Will the government announce plans to cut subsidies in the HoC and the free parking? Moving tax thresholds will hit middle income people who need to pay rising mortgage costs. Raising top rate of tax to 50p would raise a couple of billion. Imposing tax on aviation fuel would raise quite a lot. Cuts in public spending will be counter productive in the long run. A windfall tax on banks would be good. However all these are tinkering and putting patches on. What we desperately need is a trade deal with Europe. Leaving the EU has meant an increase in paperwork and more barriers.

We will all be annoyed by 5pm. Not annoyed even next morning (Friday now) but

It was a bit here, and a bit there, give a bit and take a bit. Not a lot to get angry about, and not a lot to get angry about. The right wing are devastated which must be a good thing! he did sound Luke warm on energy efficiency and green power which is better than Truss. But energy efficiency spending in 2 years – why wait? Why not onshore wind farms now?

My take on the statement was one of, we know what we need to do but are afraid to go the whole hog, due to the IEA supported/supporting MP’s like Redwood and Sleaze-Dogg. Clever tactic of using delayed implementation of policies hoping people will forget by the time they happen. It also inhibits future (possibly Labour) governments who would need unpick policies – a bit like BREXIT.

Whilst the Daily Fail keeps “Culture Wars” on the front page, The Torygraphy says Russian missiles hit Poland. It actually appears to have been Ukrainian missiles that were to blame. However the Russian barrage of missiles that the Ukranians were trying to shoot down are the true cause. Shoddy journalism does not help anyone. One has to have sympathy with the Ukrainians who are facing a continental winter without power. It seems that Putin has realised that he cannot beat the Ukraine on the battlefield so is taking out the infrastructure.

It seems likely that NATO may respond by stationing anti-missile batteries along borders with Russia. Meanwhile Xi Jingpin and Modi have cooled their relationships with Russia.

Elsewhere – a toddler does in a mould invested damp flat – MP’s who voted against a law making landlords responsible for this sort of thing should be outed and vilified. I hope this issue is raised at PMQ’s. What else could come up? Eustace talking about the awful trade deal done with Australia (but Labour is not really to confront Brexit). Inflation at over 11% would seem a certainty. Food inflation is particularly concerning. NHS waiting list of 7 million+ has impact on employment (unemployment is rising). Oh basically questions could be about anything this government has its finger in – it is all fucked up. Zac Goldsmith has criticised climate deniers for their stupidity (that means several members of the Cabinet).

Local Authorities face a £10+billion shortfall over the next 3 years – council tax would have to rise by at least 20% to cope with that! Closing libraries and swimming pools will create problems in the future. Health Care is largely down to LA’s and with some hospitals talking of 30% bed blockage there really is a problem. Yet again I ask where does all the money go?

Sperm counts down by over 50% across the globe. No explanations given.

Nice article in the G today about Jeff Bezos and his charitable donation – why does he not just pay tax and proper wages?

Bullying – we know about Braverman and Williamson – Raab is the next whom it seems will be investigated. can questions be raised about the severance pay to Cabinet members dismissed for misconduct or general uselessness!

The left in Britain needs to be careful. What appears to be a huge led in the polls is not due to their success, but to the abject failure of 12 years of Tory rule. Starmer needs to get off the fence on Europe and pay. The message on energy is good and positive. We need more of that. Brexit is now being widely acknowledged as an economic disaster, and should be called out as such by the Labour Party. Greater prominence needs to be given to other Shadow Cabinet Members to move away from the infatuation with party leaders.