Spend, Spend, Spend - The Sunday Essay

Well we do live in extraordinary times.  Whether it is the Labour Party turning in on itself and continuing to fail to listen to the electorate whilst continuing to spend money that the country can ill afford on stupid projects - or for that matter bailing out bankers whilst turning it's backs on it's core voters - who have in turned voted in two fascists to represent their region in the European Parliament.

Outside the election of the slime and ever continuing fallout of last week's elections - surely the story of the week has to be of that of Cristiano Ronaldo's impending move from the Corporation to Franco's Children for a world-record £80million.  Just to put it in comparison, another £20million would buy you, Newcastle United, and their over-paid, relegated misfits...

We all thought that with the sale going through of Brazilian superstar Kakà from AC Milan for £59million, that that would be the end of the madness of newly elected and unopposed President Florentino Perez - that he would probably end up buying the likes of David Villa (which he eventually has...for £34million) and possibly the likes of Ashley Cole and Alvaro Arbeloa... though I hope the latter stays at Anfield...

These are supposed to be recessionary times that we live in and yet we are seeing, both in Sporting and economic terms, ridiculous sums of money exchanging hands.  No doubt, the sheikh at Manchester City will be biding their time waiting to make their move on anyone who either Real, or for that matter any of the Big 4 or current European Champions Barcelona decide they do not need... though if they do not need them, then they will probably not make Man City do any better than they did last year...Robinho excluded...

What is remarkable to some, but to me concerning is this.  How is it in these economically hard times can a club such as Real Madrid be able to spend something close to £175million yet they have close on £500million in debt to worry about.  I hear the arguments put forward by the former president Roman Calderon that he was quite frugal in how much he spent each season, but still...

Perez states that shirt sales will fund the deals, which suggest quite a staggering number of replica tops will need to be shifted, though considering the club's fanatical support in Asia, only greater in size to both Liverpool and Manchester United and then it is possible... Only possible...not exactly guaranteed...it better be worth it...for Perez's sake...I do not think it will do...

      

The Iranian Elections…

A message to Ayatollah Khomeini, chief supreme leader of Iran – so like Mandelson an unelected stooge…  I don’t accept this result…and it seems nor does the youth of Iran…your future….you’re the past…

Solidarity with the people of Iran, they are the future…social reform is what they want.

Perhaps the clashes in Tehran we are seeing are the first signs of a critical mass coming together… Khomeini and his fellow backward fascists should heed the warnings…or it could get quite nasty…

Democracy - Chairman Brown Style...

Chairman Brown seems to have had quite a conversion to the democratic system this past week, since only 5% of eligible voters supported him at the elections last week.  Gordon's change of heart regarding democracy strikes a different mark in comparison to avoiding election for leader of his own party and has a lack of a democratic mandate from the electorate... Of course, there is a way to reconnect with the voters...he could always call that general election... 

As of tonight there 20, yes Twenty unelected Lords and Baronesses in Chairman Brown's cabinet.  So much for democratic renewal...

 

To End The Week…

Jon Stewart gives his unique take on the situation in Europe....and makes Nick Griffin look very stupid...

more about "To End The Week…", posted with vodpod

A Quickie...

Morning,

I am feeling somewhat down and generally in the dumps right now, what with  the general feeling within me, that I am probably not going to be getting out of where I am, personally and professionally anytime soon.  Somehow, that has to change...

   

Some Thoughts...

Evening,

I am wondering whether we are able to comprehend what we have been witnesses to in the past week. From Labour getting wiped out at County Council level, all the way to the Fascists getting two MEPs into elected office early on Monday. However major parties try to colour it, it has been an monumental week in British political history.

The other astonishing thing about this week is even Labour shocking performance in both elections that the PLP are still willing to allow Chairman Brown even more time to fuck things up still further for the party. Surely they have to realise that the longer they keep Brown on as leader, the bigger the inevitable defeat will be. Labour have to get rid of Brown now before it becomes terminal..

As for the Tories, well I have to admit, it was quite a good performance by them. It seems that Call Me Dave was able to get the activists and more importantly their supporters out in relatively good numbers. However, I am not convinced that they are going to be the recipients of a convincing majority come any General Election, whenever that will be. What we saw last week was the coming together of a very anti-Labour vote, and not a Pro-Tory vote. Even the Cornish Nationalists, Mebyon Kernow beat Labour in Cornwall. Yes you read that right. Labour finished sixth in Cornwall...and it wasn't much better elsewhere...

The problem that Labour have got now is that those of us on the Left will not be able to forgive them for allowing the fash in by the back door. The government cannot expect us to stand around doing fuck all whilst the slime is allowed to crawl around Westminister doing poxy photo calls. There is the risk of some numbskulls losers seeing those fascist cunts getting attacked by the UAF/AFA - and subsequently start retalitory attacks, but the stakes are too high for us not to do anything. It is going to be a long summer...

Rob :(

Blogging On The iPhone.

Well this is rather entertaining. Just downloaded the 3.0 update and I have to say, it actually feels a lot, lot smoother than any of it's predecessors.

The only shame is that I cannot find any way to write my blog in the style that I do...

Shame...

The Naked Picnic…

Those fine people at Don’t Panic decide to have a picnic in the £87,000 garden of Tory MP Sir Anthony Steen.  Well we did pay for it…anything for some light entertainment in these dark timesHat-Tip to Guido

How Much Longer?

Morning,

So that’s that.  The PLP decided to blow their big chance and have decided that several decades of opposition, (and by that probably not even the official opposition)  to both the Tories and the Lib Dems is what they prefer to have, rather than use this window of opportunity to blow Chairman Brown out of that window.  What is there to lose, things couldn't get worse, at 15% and below UKIP.  How can Wales have gone Tory?  Good grief, only 8% voted Labour in the entire south-east.  YouGov says Labour has to get 20% more to win.  It looks virtually impossible.  That's what realists in the parliamentary ­Labour party said tonight – but everyone else decided that banging their desks was a better idea… They bottled it.

Obviously, Chairman Brown is not Labour’s only problem, however as much as his supporters hate to admit to it, he is their biggest obstacle to recovery and salvation.  Perhaps it is too late as it is, and throwing someone in now, would say more in regards of how panicky the party is rather than keeping the status quo.  However, something fundamental with Brown’s way of working must change, and change quickly – but he has already had 18 months to change his style, and nothing has changed.  Labour’s own share of opinion polls – were already down some four points even before Brown took over the ship.  He should have taken up the idea of the snap election, when he had the chance in the Autumn of 2007 – but he defended not going to the country by saying that he needed time to set out his vision.  Not much has come out…why should people expect that to change now…

  

Helpless...

Evening,

Lots of reasons to be extremely fed up this evening. The Parliamentary Labour Party showed just how gutless they truly are by believing Chairman Brown's ever continuing bollocks. You would not have thought that last night had bought around Labour's worse election results for nigh on 100 years and yet we are expected to tolerate another 12 months of Brown continuing to be Lord Mandelson's puppet. The amount of control that the Prince of Darkness has right now is scary beyond belief - they are heading headlong towards annhilation and Labour MPs just do not have a clue.

It is this cluelessness by the Labour leadership which has allowed two members of the Fascist B*P into office. Indeed, 65 years ago last weekend, when the biggest amphibious operation in history kicked into action to rid Europe of Nazism. And look where we are now, because of the naive nature of the mainstream parties on all sides. Those bastards who voted for the slime might as well have been waiting for those D-Day veterans to come back from Normandy and spit in their face. That is how sickening this is.

And yet Chairman Brown will not apologize for allowing the bastards into power - the cunt pretty much helped them.

British Jobs for British Workers, indeed...

Even More Depressing...

It has just been announced that the fascist cuntish leader of the B*P has won a seat as a MEP - in the North-West of England...

Words fail me. It is late now, and I'm due to be out of bed in little under four hours. I will comment further on this infamous night later today....

Night, Night

Rob :(

Depressing...

It has been confirmed that the B*P have won a seat for the European Parliament - they won a seat in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

They might win another seat in the North-West.

Chairman Brown has a lot to answer for. He must go on this alone.

Utterly depressing.

Pathetic…

No one is fooled, Gordon.  The stage-managed photo-op and ‘discussion’ would not have not looked out of place in North Korea.  I was discussing just how bad thought out this was, with some other people online, this afternoon and they were saying it was a party political broadcast.  It was.  For the Tories…There are also reports coming in from one of the sorting offices, in Manchester, where the B*P are “likely” to get an MP.  Which would mean more airtime for that odious party, and its reptilian leader.  That more than anything, is a reason to boot Chairman Brown out.  He is the one on watch at a time when fascists are probably going to get into power…he should be the one who pays the price… I hope I am wrong…

Brown Booed…

Rather damning…

Guido amongst others are reporting that Chairman Brown is meeting activists in East Ham this afternoon.  No doubt a different sort of welcoming committee will be waiting for him…

He was supposed to be meeting them from 4pm, however this has been moved forward to 3.15pm.  Shows me, that he is running scared of the electorate…oops he never was elected…

Already activists are angry with the e-mail inviting young actvists to the photo call, calling it more spin.  More desperado politics…

The Euro results are announced from 6pm this evening.  Expect Labour to get thumped, probably into fourth place…

Rob :(

Take The Mufflers Off, Please… It’s Over.

Evening,

I have seen enough.

I think that we have reached that critical mass point, where the leader of a democratic country must realise that for all the smugness and showiness that leaders can show, in the end the voters opinions’ matter more than anyone.  That is what we have seen in the local elections this week, and no doubt we will see similar results tomorrow night in the European Elections. 

The booing of Chairman Brown this afternoon, by veterans at the D-Day commemorations in Normandy had the sense of that moment arriving. 

We have seen in recent days, certain ministers resigning for one reason or another, but what we have seen today is the first shows of outright disdain from people towards Brown.  That the shows of anger towards Brown came from the very same people whom 65 years ago, this weekend were on the beaches of Northern France fighting to rid Europe of the horrible fascism, that is threatening to crawl itself back into mainstream politics, should speak volumes to Brown’s handlers.  The sounds were loud and clear…

more about "BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown focused o...", posted with vodpod

As I alluded to last night, the way that Brown has parachuted more and more unelected bastards into cabinet office stinks to high heaven.  One person that I failed to note last night was the Prince Of Darkness.  Oh yes.  Chairman Brown has promoted Mandy to the office of First Secretary of State – in de facto terms, Deputy Prime Minister.  Fucking hell, what a fucking joke of a democracy this country is, when the second most powerful politician in the country is an unelected fucking lord.  And this is from a government who wanted to abolish the House of Lords…hypocrisy of the highest order…

Let it be clear to everyone.  Mandy owns Gordon Brown to a degree greater than any influence he ever had over Tony Blair, even though Blair once said that the New Labour project would be complete, when Labour MPs accepted and liked Mandy.  In one way he is in a far more powerful position as of now than Chairman Brown himself.  The only reason Mandy did not take the title of Deputy PM, is to be blunt that Harman would almost certainly would have walked since that title was, much to her annoyance, denied to her.  The last thing that Chairman Brown would have needed is another stiletto in his back…

It is Mandy’s responsibility that Brown is still in office, as it is known that he personally contacted Blairites within the cabinet to implore them to stay where they were and to publically support Chairman Brown.  Seems like someone disobeyed her orders from her master…

It is reported in one Sunday tabloid that e-mails leaked to the paper in question state that Mandy believed that Brown could never win an General Election.  So why the fuck is he propping him up right now?  He knows, like we do, that he can not hold a candle in comparison to Blair before him.  He knows that Brown as of this moment is a broken man.  See that press conference from last night, which was overshadowed by Flint’s resignation.  He seemed utterly destitute, unable to hide the pain of being seen as what he is.  A failure…the torture that Brown is continuing to endure must surely stop soon…who has the balls to turn that life support off…

Oh and before I forget, Mandy’s new title is First Secretary of State and Lord President of the Council, the Baron Mandelson, of Foy in the county of Herefordshire and Hartlepool in the county of Durham.

Fucking representative of the Labour voter, well what’s left of them…

Rob :(

It Feels Like The End of Thatcher...

Not my words, but the words of Oasis frontman and all round icon Noel Gallagher.

Click the video to see what he is thinking. All to reminiscent of the last days of Conservative rule...

In The Bunker. Can Brown Survive The Meltdown?

Many right-wings bloggers such as Guido and Ian Dale amongst others depict Downing Street as the Bunker outside Berlin towards the end of April 1945, as Hitler stared down the Soviets red barrel towards the end of the Second World War.

One must ask what the feeling will be like in The Bunker in Downing Street this evening. Each time Chairman Brown tried to gain the upper hand over his enemies, both in the Parliamentary Labour Party and elsewhere, someone somewhere was waiting to throw a grenade.

Whether it was James Purnell announcing just as the polls were closing last night that he was jumping ship, or Caroline Flint backtracking on her original support for Chairman Brown last night, by announcing whilst Brown was doing his set-piece press conference that she was resigning from the government. And her resignation in itself has caused for several cans of worms to be opened on two major issues.

There can be no doubt that her suggestion that Chairman Brown led what was a two-tier government of cronies and the rest of the cabinet, whilst treating the likes of herself, Hazel Blears and Jacqui Smith as little more than female window dressing...Now that's a bitch-slap...from the woman who stood up last night and defended him in his hour of need. Was that a premptive move by the sisterhood? I think so!

What has angered me the most about the whole cabinet re-shuffle is who is coming in. Glenys fucking Kinnock is coming in replacing Flint as Europe Minister, no doubt supporting the continuous gravy train that is Brussels. Like the Prince of Darkness before her, she is coming in from Brussels - which makes you wonder why Brown is not able to rely upon any of his elected MPs.

Perhaps he quite likes the thought of having unelected commissars who only report to him and not the electorate.

Oh and did I mention that Labour lost all four county councils that they were defending, to the Tories.

It will only get worse. If yesterday and today was Labour's Hiroshima, Sunday's will be their Nagasaki.

Night, Night

Rob :(

Purnell Walks...

As the polls close, the news is breaking that the Work and Pensions Minister, James Purnell has quit the cabinet. It broke about five minutes ago and what it means is that we now have an open insurrection within the Labour Party.

Game's up, Gordon...

Some Good News...

Afternoon,

Just a message to let you know that following discussions with the consultant at the hospital in Canterbury, I will not be needing a operation to remove a cyst from the right side of my neck - which is rather good. I was never looking forward to going under the knive. Onwards and upwards...

Boris' Untimely Dip...

more about "Boris' Untimely Dip...", posted with vodpod

Could Pity Save Brown?

Morning,

Just been down to my polling station here in Folkestone, a few people there casting there vote – the general perception being that regardless who you vote for the government always gets in.  As if that has always been the case…

There is a viewpoint, not popular though that with Cabinet Ministers resigning en masse in recent days that Labour, or more particularly Chairman Brown, might get some form of a pity vote.  The thinking behind it is that with Labour only expected to get say 15% of the national share of the vote, more Labour voters might feel inclined to go out and support their beleaguered leader.  Saying that though, even if they were to get 18% of the national vote, by historical standards it would be a fucking disaster…

Perhaps if they were to get, say the aforementioned 18%, Downing Street could spin it, rightly or wrongly that it was a better result than was expected.  Would they dare do that, though?  That in itself would say everything…

I will not be posting that much today as I am due to be having a minor op to remove a cyst from my neck this afternoon, hence why I am off work for the rest of the week.  That it coincides with the elections, is a happy coincidence.  I will be able to stay up and listen to Auntie’s coverage of the results later tonight.  Fantastic!

Probably will do some mobile blogging, once I am out of surgery.

Rob :)

The Euro Elections…Predictions…

Firstly, I think I need to say that we will see that the turnout for elections in general will be far higher than what we were thinking some weeks ago.  I believe that we will see in the UK, turnout will be about 43%, though as I said earlier this could be even higher, possibly nudging 50%.  I expect turnout will be highest down here in the South-East, where I can see Labour being blown away completely – thus getting no seats at all down here.  That would cause meltdown in its own right…

As for the national vote, I think the big story won’t just be how low Labour’s vote goes to, but the rise of those parties on the Right (UKIP) and Left (Green), and the sad realisation of Labour’s disaffected working class voters possibly going to the B*P – as a direct consequence of the percieved pandering by Labour towards minorities and one in particular – the big elephant in the room, being ignored by the mainstream parties is, I fear about to make its presence known.  I suspect they could get a seat in the North Of England.  I hope I am wrong.

Here is my prediction of the National Share of the vote…

LAB: 15%    CONS: 27%    LIBS: 17%    UKIP: 16%    GREENS: 13%    B*P 5%    OTHERS: 8%

Though again, I would not be at all surprised if Labour ended up fourth nationally, which would be as bad as it could get for Chairman Brown…

Whatever happens tomorrow and over the weekend, he will be doing very well if he is still Prime Minister by this time next week, and if he is still there by then, then I would expect him to be there by time a General Election comes round…and you think these elections are going to be bad…

 

That Letter In Full…

Dear Gordon,

Over the last 12 years in government, and before, you have made an enormous contribution to this country and to the Labour Party, and this is very widely acknowledged.

However we are writing now because we believe that in the current political situation, you can best serve the Labour Party and the country by stepping down as party leader and prime minister, and so allowing the party to choose a new leader to take us into the next general election.

Yours,

XXXX

If you are a Labour MP and reading this, send your support for the above to signonnow@hotmail.co.uk

You would be doing the country and the party a service…

 

A Bloody And Brutal Ending…

Evening,

So with Smith, Blears and various other ministers walking out on Chairman Brown, the New Labour ship is beginning to take on so much water that it only needs to take one more iceberg and then Brown has to be finished.

Sky News have been reporting this evening that there is a e-mail circulating Labour circles calling on Brown to go, and there is supposedly some sort of script on how any leadership election could take HALF the time it could to elect Harriet Harman as Deputy Leader two years back.  I cannot believe it would take only 23 days…what about the Deputy Leader contest itself?

Then whoever is unlucky enough to win, will have to explain to the electorate why another unelected Labour leader should have a year or so of trying to save the party from annihilation at any General Election.   

I do have one thought though about tomorrow elections.  If the B*P do win any seats in the European Parliament, Gordon Brown will be remembered by those of us on the Left, as the Prime Minister who allowed the Fascists gain power.  There is also a real prospect of the slime gaining control of Stoke City Council.  Very scary thought, that…

I expect voter turnout will be relatively big, possibly in excess of 40%, with some predicting a even bigger turnout.  Use your vote wisely, crush the bastards!

Rob :)

A Quiet Insurrection…

Afternoon,

I use that term above, rather loosely following some news which has not been that widely reported over the past few days, that being that whilst Chairman Brown says that he is '”getting on with the job”, election strategists for both Alan Johnson and Ed Miliband have been put on stand-by for a possible leadership election kick-off for the weekend of the 16th June. 

The thinking behind it has to be that with Labour almost certain to get pummelled at the upcoming Euro and Local elections, where in some polls, they might be trailing in third behind the Tories and UKIP at the very best – and according to a poll for the Sunday Telegraph, they are trailing both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats for the first time for 22 years. 

When that is the case, people need to start getting their finger out and prepared to pull the lever.

A Stressful Week

Afternoon,

The last week has been stressful for myself in more ways than one, and the constant pressure that I am putting on myself is beginning to ebb away all the confidence that I have found in recent months as a result of the weight loss achievements that I have accomplished. I am starting to worry that for all the hard work that I have put in to get myself to the weight that I am, that sooner rather than later I will begin piling it all back on.

I don't know about you, but when you put weight on, you can actually feel yourself doing just that. Obviously, with my constant gym work amongst other things that is not happening, but still when you're as down as I have felt in recent days then you think strangely! I think that our brain reacts differently dependent on how we feel physically, mentally as well as emotionally - if work and life in general is getting to you then it is going to have an effect, ditto if it is the opposite.

As for today, after watching "Drag Me To Hell" at the cinema in Ashford yesterday evening, with some of the lovelies from work, I am currently on a bus heading back into Folkestone after getting a few more Superdry tops and some Calvin Klein Boxers and Pringle socks (the last two items at the behest of Mother Dear! - still any excuse...!).

Once back in town, I've got my hair appointment at Carter & Co, probably having some more blonde put into my locks, before heading home and ordering some 501s in from the States online. So dirt cheap to buy Levis that way, even after the postage comes into play, you're still paying a tenner less than you would in Debenhams.

It would be criminal not to take advantage of the exchange rate, which is in our favour right now!

Speak laters,

Rob :(

Mes Que Un Club

Barcelona, like Liverpool is just a football club, not the multinational conglomerate that the Dirty Mancs have become. 

For that reason alone, I think that Barca should win tonight, probably in some classic.

I think it’ll be 3-2 Barca.  Expect Thierry Henry to score at least once tonight. 

And expect a red card or two…

Still Here!

Don't want you to think that I have gone! Have been taking time to digest the latest madness that is going on regarding so many things!

I'll be giving my thoughts hopefully just before the Dirty Mancs get thumped by Barça!

What If Gordon Presses The Neutralise Button?

A thought came into my head about ten seconds after I posted the previous post. Probably because of what I wrote about Chairman Brown in regards of the lack of control that he has on events.

There is an argument in my mind for him to make a move in regards of a cabinet reshuffle BEFORE the elections on June 4th. One thing that Gordon needs to show to the electorate before that day is that he is in control of events, or for that matter have a grasp on them, because right now he does not.

In my opinion, the wolves are circleling around the Prime Minister, in a way probably not too dissimilar to the last days of the Thatcher regime - ministers are briefing the lobby against each other for their own benefit, and that is Btown's fault for not having the cojones to stand up to them.

There has always been a grain of thought in the Parliamentary Labour Party, that the best thing that Brown could have done last summer was to sack David Milliband when he pretty much laid his cards on the table and declared war on Chairman Brown.

If Brown had quashed the rebellion there and then, ministers would be more reticent to criticize the Prime Minister - as there is a precendent to follow, that is no longer the case.

Brown needs to get control of the media narrative. A cabinet purge, is probably the only way he can. For now.

Who Will Fall Into The Trapdoor?

Afternoon,

Bob Bob is watching the Survival Sunday coverage on Sky Sports, whilst keeping an eye on Big Sami’s Hurrah at Anfield.  He does not start, Don Rafa wants to be sewing second up before letting the great Finn have his ovation…

Think there’ll be tears at Villa Park and the Boleyn Ground as I think the Magpies and ‘Boro will go down…but I have been wrong on this before now…

We Need A General Election, Now!

Good Evening,

Up until now, it has only been those on the right of the political spectrum, the likes of the Scum and the Daily Rant who have been calling on Chairman Brown to finally give the British people the election that they have not been allowed to have – even though Brown was not elected in the first place.  With The Telegraph almost seemingly joining in the chorus demanding a vote immediately, there has to be questions about just how much longer can Gordon get away with it, without going to the country.  For all the failings of the Conservative government, at least Major went to the country within 18 months of being elected leader, in the aftermath of the Wicked Witch’s departure.

The ever-continuing sleaze allegations is threatening to make the current parliament almost senile in being able to adopt any laws and legislature as MPs are going to be more concerned at being found stealing honey from the jar.  Admittedly, there is the worry and distinct fear that if we were to go to the polls now or even in three months, then the likelihood of a parliament which could be held up as being responsible, for what would be some serious reform, would be negligible as it would have been voted through people’s genuine anger over the whole affair.

I agree a kneejerk reactionary vote isn't desirable, but it is inevitable that some people will be inclined to take their vote and use it as a protest against the current parliament and dare I say it, the system in general.  It is after all - the system, that in the words of several MPs is in desperate need of repair.  Some people however have argued that such a reactionary vote, might keep MPs on their toes, and that would not a bad thing – they would not be in a position to argue whether or not the seats that they represent were genuinely marginal seats or was it because people were angry about expenses?  Over to you, Gordon…

How The Americans See Duck-Gate...

Yes, it is official.

The situation at Westminister is so embarassing for this country, that even the Americans after the fiasco regarding hanging chads can afford to have a dig at us...

In the 1970s, Britain was seen by the world as 'The Sick Man Of Europe'. Times seem not to have changed much in the last 30 years....

with thanks to politicalbetting.com

I Get A Visit!

Afternoon,

I have just finished having an conversation on the doorstep with Tom McNeice who is the Liberal Democrats hopeful for the Folkestone North-East seat at the upcoming County Council elections on the 4th June – it was very good of Tom to take some time out from what is probably going to be a hectic last few weeks of electioneering. 

I won’t get into the general gist of the conversation that I had with Tom, but let’s just say this, it was along the same stream as the e-mail that I sent him last night.  Conclusions, are I think I have a rider!

I’ll probably post again in a few hours, once I have watched the rest of the rugby on Sky. 

Off topic, a massive congratulations to Gillingham FC, who have got themselves promoted to League One this afternoon after a last-minute winner at Wembley against Shrewsbury!  It will be Elland Road, St Mary’s and Carrow Road, rather than Gigg Lane and the Pirelli Stadium next season…

Stormy Waters Ahead...

As I head to the swimming pool for a bank holiday dip, with the clouds gathering Folkestone, producing the first rain-drops for a few weeks, I wonder just what the upcoming weeks will bring to an already damaged nation.

Whatever it is will continue to cast questions over Chairman Brown is able to lead the government and indeed the country, through what is remaining of the recession.

As further revelations are revealed in the Telegraph this morning, this time alleging that certain cabinet members used tax-payers money to pay accountants for their own private use, surely now more than any other time since he came into office, his authority has to be questioned...

Just who is running the country right now? Chairman Brown or the Barclay brothers? Because right now, the country is in need of some leadership, and they are not getting any...

Amusing…but true…

Why Should I Vote?

Something different for tonight’s posting.

The following is a e-mail which I have sent to the Liberal Democrats hopeful for my area at the upcoming County Council elections.

As soon as I have his response, it will be up here!

Tom,

I'm a disaffected person of an age where recession and depression are words that I thought were of a time before me.  I am of a political persuasion that in a previous time before now, would have me heading towards the polling station and voting Labour - those on my father's side of the family were members of the NUM at the time of the miners' strike, whereas my Uncle, before he joined the Marines, took part in the Seafarers' strike of the late eighties. 
As a teenager, I went to boarding school and saw with my own eyes the class system in

all its warts and all - the way middle-class parents are able to manipulate the system for their own means to the detriment to everyone else is disgusting and puts those of us unfortunate to have come from a different world at such a massive disadvantage. 

This continued after I left school, being left to fend for myself and pay for my college education myself, and because of the school I went to (I went to boarding school, purely because of my speech and language problems) having had no qualifications - meaning getting a job was nigh on impossible. 

So yes, I have had a difficult upbringing, as has most young people from this part of the world.  You no doubt know, that this area that you are wanting to represent includes parts of which are in the lowest 10% per GDP in the country, and yet it is astonishingly in one of the Tories' safest seats. 

Such a contradiction in terms, I think we would both agree!

I have been in the past tempted to vote for the Liberal Democrats in the past, like his fellow Welshmen Lloyd George, my father is a Liberal, of the old-school kind, I find, whereas my views can be describe as Pinko-Liberal.  You can guess the mantra. 

• Pro Gay Marriage and solidarity for those persecuted, whatever their creed or colour at the hands of fascists.
• Pro Europe, however anti-federalist.
• Internationalism, and support for fellow workers throughout the world
• Anti Capitalist, and I admit I could not help but have a wry smile at those anarchists smashing the RBS building during those G20 protests.

What this message is about however is not about me.

It is why I should vote for yourselves on June 4th.  Unlike 75% of the eligible electorate, I have every intention of voting that day, either in a protest vote (i.e spoilt my ballot paper, as my sister intends to) or I hope for a party or someone who I can say to myself I can look back and say, yes I can support him or her.

It is said that people around the country did not vote for Labour in 1997, they voted for Tony Blair - I think it is time that we cut the personality politics once and for all.  It is not like it has done us any good in the intervening 12 years.

Note, that I have not mentioned the sickening scandal involving MPs expenses.  I think that there are some who have done some serious and criminal things.  Obviously, I cannot expect you to comment on that for obvious reasons - it is clear that Labour will get more than a bloodied nose, and so they should.  The Chickens are coming home to roost, something that your man Mr Cable has been saying would happen, for more than I can remember.

I look forward to your response,

I do hope it will not be the bog-standard response…

I’m going to watch the rest of HIGYFY now.

Night, Night

Rob

Another Night At The Collisseum.,.

Just finished watching Question Time as well as reading the various blogs online, and the general consensus amongst us was that if the mood of those in the audience in the genteel city of Salisbury is anything to go by, then we could see some very nasty flashpoints between now and the General Election, whenever that will be.

There seems to be a feeling in the country that some members need to do some serious time at Her Majesty's Pleasure and with good reason. William Hague on the aforementioned Question Time described some expense claims as bordering on fraud. That is an understatement, young Willie. What we are seeing is the uncovering of an awful lot of dirty underwear.

Do members not realize yet what is going on in the country? The country is going through a recession and with people losing their homes and jobs, the likelihood of extremist parties getting a seismic breakthrough was very possible. In the light of the avalanche of sleaze and fraud allegations which is submerging parliament, the chances of a Fascist MEP getting elected at the forthcoming European elections is more likely than not - I would suggest somewhere in the North Of England as being at greatest danger of the slime getting a seat.

The public are getting very restless, we have seen the anger of a mainly middle-class audience tonight. Just imagine how those of the population who live in the poorest areas of the country are feeling right now. It can be argued that they would be excused to kick off right now - it is those who live in the poorest 10% of the country who would be the targets of the benefit cheat adverts and yet the very same people who have been accused of stealing taxpayers and have supported the government's hardline on those who are on benefits, are fiddling the system for their own wanton greed.

The French know how to get their politicians to listen.

Perhaps we should take a leaf out of their game-book.

Night, Night.

The Nadir Gets Ever Deeper…

Evening,

After a lot of thinking, I think tonight’s title is about right – following the past 72 hours of what seems to be constant blood-letting on the behalf of the Commons and the Party Leaders of all the main political parties.  Question is though, just how much more of this do we have to take, until it all calms down. 

With news coming out tonight that Dr Ian Gibson, the Labour MP for Norwich North and someone who I would have thought would know better, having announced that he is prepared to stand down as a MP at the next election, it seems that pretty much anyone could be next for the Telegraph treatment.  I have just switched over to BBC1 to watch they are calling a ‘special edition’ of Question Time from Salisbury – it will probably be the programme’s biggest watched edition for some years such is the anger that there is tonight in the country.  Ed Balls was supposed to representing Labour tonight.  He isn’t.  Leaving it to Ben Bradshaw, that is what I call a public execution in all but name…revealing that William Hague has already mentioned the word ‘Fraud’ to describe some of the expense claims…mmm.

I do wonder what on earth is going to come out next…

What's On Top...

Afternoon,

Hope you have noticed the new header which I have quickly done on Photoshop this afternoon. Thought that we needed to make the website that little bit more individualistic as more and more people get online and pen their own thoughts.

Have had a day off today away from work and am now beginning to update my CV as I have seen some position, both in my current place of work and outside town - so am wanting to get that updated.

I do intend to do a much more fuller post later this evening in light of the weeks events in Parliament. Question Time is on at 9pm tonight which includes Hague and Balls, if he hasn't pulled out for some unknown reason.

The Labour government is beginning to have the feel of the last days of the Saddam government - with countless Baghdad Bobs saying everything is fine with the world. I do wonder whether their truly believe that nonsense? When is Chairman Brown going to sack Blears? Sounds like he's running scared...

Something? Someone? Somehow...

Evening,

Living at home, you would think would replace the brutally obvious void of not having the joy of sharing your life with someone, whether that is a girlfriend, wife or soulmate.

Let me be frank with you on this. It does not - in fact it shows the inadequence that there is my life. See when you are at home, there is me, my sister and my mother. Three singletons, I think in the case of my mother and sister, destined to remain single for life after their treatment at the hands of my father whilst I was at school.

I do not want to grow old lonely, as that is probably going to end with me ending my life early - sad as that might be. Obviously, if you have such an hectic lifestyle, then being single is probably not a bad call to make - however, the longer I stay at home and with my work situation changing, so I am with a lot more people of my generation - the true realisation of my own inadequencies are beginning to show in all of its colours.

What it is showing to me is that sooner, rather than later I am going to have to make a big call on where I am going to take myself, whether that is to get a flat in town whilst still working where I am, which would make things bearable - however knowing that my family will always be there to make my life hell, like it is now - or to leave everything.

The latter option was the preferred option of mine, when I had to go back home, when my former housemate had
to go return to her hometown for personal reasons - my own plan was to move to the Isle of Wight, however with so little time this was not a realistic option sadly.

This option is hopefully going to become open again in the next six to eighteen months for various reasons, and I am beginning to think of ways to make this as a easy decision to make as possible.

It might be the case that I have to launch my "Scorched Earth" option. In essence it when I become as much of a shithead/cunt/wanker as possible to everyone - at home and at work.

Everytime I have used this option, it has worked without fail. And frankly, with the way I have been treated by some people in recent years, it's probably the very least they deserve.

At least then it would not be a bug-bear to leave this shit-tip of a town.

Every cloud...

Night, Night

Rob :(

Incitement To Disobey…

Evening,

Well today has been fun hasn’t it!

Speaker Martin went to the Commons, all expected to resign with a semblance of grace and dignity.  That he did not.  What he did do was to go against the grain of MPs and the people of this country.  Questions must be asked what has he got left to do.  The integrity of the Speaker’s chair is at stake and yet we have seen scenes today which are truly without precedence. 

"We all know that it's the tradition the Speaker speaks to the whole house but I also want to say to the men and women of the United Kingdom that we have let you down very badly indeed and to the extent that I have contributed to that situation I'm profoundly sorry,"

Wise words, indeed.  But whether you like it or not – Parliament as a institution will not be able to start even recovering without a change in leadership.  A general election will only do something.  It will get rid, hopefully of those members who have had their figures caught in the pie, but a radical shift in the culture that Parliament works in, would have far more fundamental positives.

One prominent Conservative grandee suggested during the debate that the “condition of the house today is rather like the condition of the country at the time of the Norway debate”.  That is the sort of situation that Parliament is in right now.  What is topping Chairman Brown from cutting Martin loose and lead him to be fed to the wolves?

The speaker’s comments followed on Call Me Dave calling for the dissolution of Parliament ahead of a possible General Election, probably for early July.  More discerning for Chairman Brown, Cameron also urged the general public, including Labour and Lib Dem supporters, to join in and start their own petitions or write to local and national newspapers. "Through the power of our collective pressure, we can force Gordon Brown to act," he said. 

A sizeable majority of voters say Chairman Brown has handled the crisis over MPs' expenses badly and most believe David Cameron has dealt with it well, a Guardian/ICM poll reveals today.

Labour's showing is its worst in a Guardian/ICM poll since July 2008, and it is also the Tories' worst performance in the poll this year. But the findings demonstrate that most voters are still more concerned about the economy and other issues and regard the crisis besetting Westminster as a second-order issue.  How long will that last, not long I suspect…

And still it gets worse for Labour with reports tonight, saying that Labour’s Chief Whip’s own expenses are going to come under scrutiny in tomorrow’s Telegraph.  It has been Nick Brown’s own decisions to suspend those MPs who have been caught with their fingers in the till…

I’m off to watch 24.

Speak tomorrow.

Rob :(

Does This Have A Ending?

Evening,

We are heading towards what is promising to be an explosive and symbolic week in British Political history, with reports coming out this evening that Speaker Martin is going to be doing the decent (and probably, the only thing that he could do now) and resign from his post – and possibly triggering a by-election in his Glasgow constituency.  He is expected to speak to the Commons sometime tomorrow, and it is expected then, that the inevitable will come a-pass.  Just what Chairman Brown needs like now, like a bullet to the head…now that’s not a bad idea.

Although nothing shocking has come out in the press today, you cannot help but feel that there is an awful long way to go in this, particularly when you consider that individual police forces are fielding calls from disgruntled members of the public reporting their own MP in for expense fiddling – this has happened in more than one case, as far as I am aware.  That must be of concern to Gordon, he is going to be facing meltdown before the Euro elections, potentially.  As mentioned earlier today Labour are now in equal second place with UKIP ahead of the elections in a fortnight…

What also must be worrying Brown, in fact it is probably causing him sleepless nights, right now is the realisation that several of his cabinet are up to their neck in the brown stuff as it is an open secret that certain cabinet ministers have been, shall we say, saving for a rainy day.  Just like those third-world dictators who would take the IMF’s money for their gold-plated palaces, just instead it’s our money that they are sponging off.  The Cunts.

So where do we stand right now?  With at least one Minister of State already gone, two influential MPs suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party, as well as the resignation of an aide of Call Me Dave, we have a situation of unparalleled precedence.  The Speaker of The Commons, is more or les certain to fall on his sword within 24 hours, the Prime Minister’s own position must be in question, particularly if any of his cabinet are caught fiddling on a similar scale as those previous unknown MPs who have been caught with their fingers in the till.  What will be interesting is if Mr Martin decides he has nothing to lose and decides to go out all guns blazing.  That could be fatal for Brown and for Labour…perhaps Mr Martin knows something that we don’t…but The Telegraph does…

Intriguing thought, that.  Whatever happens next, one thing is sure.  Brown is still not in control…

Rob :(

Some Memories...

Afternoon,

Got into a conversation yesterday online, with a fellow trancer about the great tracks that we have had the joy of listening to over the past decade and a half, and there has been some real special ones out there.

The thought of listening to For An Angel whilst being at college takes me back to those days of halcyonic freedom and youth - mention that track, as I'm listening to that on the iPhone now whilst having found my copy of the very first 'Euphoria' album.

Pure joy and heaven!

Rob :)

Knifing The Voice....

Morning, Just!

The news this morning that the leader of the Liberal Democrats has called on the Commons Speaker to resign, does not come as much of a surprise to me. Michael Martin's position in my opinion has been untenable ever since his dressing down of Kate Hoey, the veteran Labour MP for Vauxhall in the chamber on Monday.

The way that Speaker Martin has dealt with the expenses scandal has been on a par with Chairman Brown. Why is it that he has not bought Scotland Yard to investigate the fraud accusations against certain MPs. What is there to hide?

Of course, Chairman Brown's behaviour in this has been nothing but woeful in itself. It seems that the collective brain within the Labour Party has lost its marbles in the past week. Something that is shown and agreed with in the two polls released today.

Level with UKIP? Fucking hell...

Rob :(

What Happens Next?

Afternoon,

After watching the Dirty Mancs win the title this afternoon, my immediate attention is going to be on what else the Telegraph have got on our elected representatives this evening…

The rumour is that Chairman Brown is to be interviewed on Monday – it would be seventeen days until the Euro elections – also worth pointing out that it is written in the stature books, that an incumbent Prime Minister has to call a potential General Election within a minimum timeframe of seventeen days ahead of the presumptive date of the vote…

Originally, Brown was supposed to be interviewed tomorrow on the Andrew Marr show, on Pravda…perhaps he has a very important announcement to make…

One Rule For One…One For Another

One question comes to mind this evening.  Why is it that Shahid Malik has to resign his post due to contradictions in the ministerial code of conduct and not Hazel Blears?

I for one am staggered to see what is different in what both have done…

…For One Night

I’m forgetting all the sleaze and criminal activities that our elected representatives have been indulging in, and am instead going to watch the Hillsborough Memorial Match which is on ITV4 – involving some of the greatest players ever to have played for the Redmen and being coached by, in my opinion, this country’s greatest footballer…

The likes of Shearer and Sheringham are going to be in the same team as the likes of Joe Calzaghe and those players from Everton and Nottingham Forest who were playing in 1989.

Justice will be done.

Do As We Say…Not As We Do….

Morning,

I cannot help but think that the above tagline pretty much sums up where we are in the expenses scandal this morning, after even more lurid allegations were released by the Telegraph last night.  Out of the nine MPs that the Telegraph said were going to named and shamed last night, only five of them have been up to now, been named.  Leaving the best (in the worse sense) to last, I can only presume…

The most recent allegations which have been release include as I mentioned last night, Fabian Hamilton, the aforementioned MP for Leeds North-East, who was accused by the Telegraph of continuing to claim on a mortgage for his constituency home, even though at the time, his main home was named as a property owned by their now-deceased mother, who had a property in London. 

He spent thousands of pounds decorating and furnishing the “second home” where his wife and children lived in Leeds, before “flipping” his designation to a new London flat, which he then also did up at the taxpayer’s expense.

When he was challenged by the newspaper, the backbench MP said he had made a genuine mistake, but could not be certain whether or not he had also over-claimed for previous years.

And I thought that, that in itself was bad enough…oh no, it gets far worse than that…

For those of you at the back who are not aware who Mr Morley was/is, he is the former agriculture minister – and it seems that he will be remembered as someone who will (hopefully) do some serious jail time, I don’t know about you but this would be seen in the real world as theft.

And to that extent - Lawyers last night said that the claims could constitute a criminal offence under the 2006 Fraud Act and the 1968 Theft Act.

The paper says that it is the most serious revelation to come out so far, but I cannot help but think that there is still something out there, waiting to thrown in.  

In other developments, this morning it has also been revealed that John Maples, the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, declared that a room in his private members’ club in Pall Mall, London, was his main home. This allowed him to spend money on his family’s Oxfordshire home.

Stephen Crabb, a Conservative MP, claimed his “main home” was a room in a flat rented by another MP, after buying a new house for his family in Wales and claiming £9,300 in stamp duty. He had previously “flipped” his second home to the family house from another London flat that was sold for a profit after more than £8,000 in taxpayer-funded refurbishments.  Mr Crabb was in the spotlight last week for crucifying Chairman Brown during PMQs.  The video has subsequently gone viral…I am not going to post it, as I don’t want to give the oik anymore publicity…

More than 20 MPs have said they will pay back claims totalling nearly £130,000, amid public anger after days of revelations from leaked receipts.  This follows the Parliamentary Labour Party chairman Tony Lloyd writing to all the party's MPs, urging them to publish their expenses themselves instead of waiting for House of Commons authorities to release them.  Hmmm…as if that’s going to calm the public’s anger about their theft…

Seriously, what would happen to a member of the public, if they tried to pull off any of the tricks that our elected leaders have been able to wrangle off the public purse.  Any chance of making room for 647 prison places?

In related news, that no confidence motion in House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin is to be tabled by a Conservative backbencher.  Douglas Carswell, who has written an appalling book with that Conservative Maverick, Daniel Hannah (him of Brown Humiliation fame) is to make the move following a furore over Mr Martin's handling of leaks of MPs' expenses. 

What must be of concern to Chairman Brown is that there are several Labour MPs who are going to back this motion, and it has been reported this morning that although Nick Clegg has said publically that he will not call on the Speaker to go, he has said to his MPs, that he would have no problems with any of them doing it for him.  That is very ominous for Mr Martin, and considering the furore regarding his own expense claims, could we see something happening to him?  Shame really, I always have enjoyed the way he pisses off the Daily Fascist…

Today is also Tax Freedom Day, the day that we begin working for ourselves and not for the state…actually that’s a pretty depressing thought…

Rob :(

Need A Mortgage…Even If You Live With Your Mother???

Sky are reporting that Labour MP Fabian Hamilton over-claimed for a Mortgage for his family house in Leeds, even though he was living with his mother at her London house.

Hamilton, who came into Parliament in the aftermath of Labour’s landslide victory in 1997, is said to have attempted to justify his arrangement by saying that he spent the majority of his time in the house owned by his mother, a retired judge, until her death in 2005.

He spent thousands of taxpayer’s money decorating and furnishing the “second home” where his wife and children lived in Leeds, before “flipping” his designation to a new London flat, which he then also did up at the taxpayer’s expense.

On his official website, Mr Hamilton said that he wanted to expose the “widespread misunderstanding concerning MPs’ expenses” by detailing his own claims.  The image on the right hand-side of this blog is his expenses that he has claimed.  I think you will agree that it beggars belief.

 They do say that it’s the quieter ones, that you need to keep an eye on….

The Grand Finalé

Evening,

There is real anticipation within political circles, that we are about to see the final load of MPs expenses released in the Telegraph, with Westminster Couples in the firing line…Cooper/Balls and from the infamous Wintertons come to mind…I have the Telegraph website up and am awaiting to see what is there, imminently…

Sky are reporting that the Daily Telegraph will be:

“reporting on some of the most serious abuses of expense code – disclosures will relate to Nine Conservative and Labour MPs…”

I am intrigued to see what the Telegraph mean by that as well as what they have got on those mentioned above – obviously Cooper and Balls have already been exonerated in front of a Parliamentary Standards committee, just last year – whereas the Wintertons have always been seen as having a dubious past.  I have to recall Mrs Winterton’s remarks following the Cockles Pickers Disaster on Morecambe Bay…

The Telegraph continues…

“In one case, an MP representing a northern constituency “repaid” part of a substantial over-claim on his mortgage by submitting receipts for household items he had previously purchased”

Whoever that MP is, is probably in their last year as a MP…

These new allegations come thick on the news that Phil Hope, a junior Health Minister, announced that he would repay £41,709 for furniture and fittings claimed on his second home and Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, promised to return nearly £1,500 he had paid to an interior designer to work on his flat.  

So far, more than £100,000 has been returned by 20 MPs from four parties as a direct result of the investigation.  That’s like putting crumbs back into the biscuit barrel, after stealing the cookies…

Some people need to do some jail time for their misdeeds…

Further updates as it breaks…

Rob :)

 

 

Some Other Thoughts...

On the iPhone and listening to the radio whilst on the laptop, in offline mode I cannot help but think that the juicier claims are going to be revealed towards the end of the week. Tom Bradby on ITN has pretty much confirmed this to be the case - inclinating that two Labour ministers, could well be in the crosshairs of the public, when their expenses are released into the public domain...

Chairman Brown appeared for interview with the media outlets just before 10pm to coincide with the late-night news schedules. Almost certainly because of Call Me Dave's earlier press conference - and not inspire of it. Another example of Brown not being able to control and lead events and being forced into decisions because of Cameron being able to continue to take the intiative.

Chairman Brown is ever being made to try and play catch up again, and we are left with the unedifying scene of the Prime Minister trying to talk himself up, trying not to look as if he has been behind the curve on the issue all along.

Really it seems to me that every time he opens his mouth he just make things worse and worse for Labour...

I cannot help but conclude that Brown seems destined to be out of office sooner than he would like. Particularly if these two ministers who are reportedly going to be nailed by the Telegraph on Thursday are done for....

Unless he uses his nuclear option...