It's been a while since I posted, but I have been as busy as ever.
I've had a busy few weeks this spring, fighting a general election, fighting to hold on to my council seat in Calderdale, dealing with the aftermath of both elections.
The general election, as I posted before, was actually quite a good result. We consolidated our third place, we increased our vote and our share of the vote, again!
This needs to be repeated our vote went up to over 7,000, that is the highest for nearly quarter-of-a-century in the heady days of the old SDP/Liberal Alliance.
It was also the third highest vote since the war, at 15%.
Furthermore, while the Lib Dem vote went up nationally by 1%, ours in Keighley went up by three times that.
All goes to show that with the right message, the right team, and hard work we can be successful.
Oh and in my council seat? Well, we managed to turn a majority of just 53 votes into a whopping 1,200.
My 2,775 was the highest Lib Dem vote on the night, and indeed the highest EVER Lib Dem/Liberal vote in the history of Calderdale.
Wednesday 26 May 2010
Saturday 15 May 2010
Thanks for your support
Sorry not to have posted this before, but having been more successful in the Local Elections than the National ones, anyone who knows Local Government will know that I've been busy...
During my campaign, I've been contacted by over 100 different people. A lot of them were simply lobbying for my support, but a significant number of new people offered help.
That is on top of assistance in innumerable ways from people who were there before. It would be invidious or embarrassing to name them, but there has to be one exception, Judith Brooksbank, my agent.
Named or mostly not, I'd like to thank them one and all.
I'd also like them to take pride in their efforts: still third place, but with over 1,500 more votes and a higher share too. In 2005 I was pleased to have beaten the BNP leader into 4th place. I'm even more pleased to have beaten his deputy (and the National Front and UKIP) by an even bigger margin. Last time it was by 12% to 9%. This time it was 15% to 7%, even when you add all those three together.
Once again, thanks to everyone who helped.
During my campaign, I've been contacted by over 100 different people. A lot of them were simply lobbying for my support, but a significant number of new people offered help.
That is on top of assistance in innumerable ways from people who were there before. It would be invidious or embarrassing to name them, but there has to be one exception, Judith Brooksbank, my agent.
Named or mostly not, I'd like to thank them one and all.
I'd also like them to take pride in their efforts: still third place, but with over 1,500 more votes and a higher share too. In 2005 I was pleased to have beaten the BNP leader into 4th place. I'm even more pleased to have beaten his deputy (and the National Front and UKIP) by an even bigger margin. Last time it was by 12% to 9%. This time it was 15% to 7%, even when you add all those three together.
Once again, thanks to everyone who helped.
Thursday 6 May 2010
The unquenchability of the human spirit
Monday 3 May 2010
Why you shouldn't vote Tory - 2
A Ribble Valley councillor, sent a racially offensive joke on to a fellow councillor and an ex-Tory parliamentary candidate, who then sent it on to a long list of Tories, including the mayor of South Ribble.
The e-mail, as well as being painfully unfunny, ends with another joke (!?!):"IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS YOU WILL RECEIVE 3 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ABSOLUTELY FREE".
Oh no please stop, it's so rib-splittingly comic. Poor old Bernard Manning must be spinning in his grave.
The e-mail, as well as being painfully unfunny, ends with another joke (!?!):"IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS YOU WILL RECEIVE 3 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ABSOLUTELY FREE".
Oh no please stop, it's so rib-splittingly comic. Poor old Bernard Manning must be spinning in his grave.
Sunday 2 May 2010
Happy Birthday Klapka
Why you shouldn't vote Tory - 1
Although I am well aware of the various theories of Just War, especially St. Augustine's, I am a pacifist through and through.
One of the reasons, oh and there are so, so many, why I could not abide the Tories was their cavalier (and I use the word carefully) was their attitude to war and conflict in general.
In 1982, at the height of the Falklands conflict, the submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano.
Although justified in international law, I thought then (and do so now) that it was morally unjustifiable.
Moreover, Mrs Thatcher and the right-wing press headed by Rupert Murdoch's Sun, gloated sickeningly over the loss of life of some 1,000 Argentine sailors.
One of the reasons, oh and there are so, so many, why I could not abide the Tories was their cavalier (and I use the word carefully) was their attitude to war and conflict in general.
In 1982, at the height of the Falklands conflict, the submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano.
Although justified in international law, I thought then (and do so now) that it was morally unjustifiable.
Moreover, Mrs Thatcher and the right-wing press headed by Rupert Murdoch's Sun, gloated sickeningly over the loss of life of some 1,000 Argentine sailors.
Saturday 1 May 2010
Friday 30 April 2010
Giải phóng miền Nam
In 1975, I was due to sit my O'levels and the big political story of the time was the conflict in South East Asia.
Throughout the Spring of the year I remember the Americans being supremely confident of being able to prop up the regime in Viet Nam. Then the regime in South Vietnam seemed to collapse in double quick time, under the onslaught from the North Vietnamese Liberation Forces.
I remeber the quite incredible pictures of people scrabbling to get on to the last helicopters off the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon. Incredibly poignant and shocking at the same time.
Throughout the Spring of the year I remember the Americans being supremely confident of being able to prop up the regime in Viet Nam. Then the regime in South Vietnam seemed to collapse in double quick time, under the onslaught from the North Vietnamese Liberation Forces.
I remeber the quite incredible pictures of people scrabbling to get on to the last helicopters off the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon. Incredibly poignant and shocking at the same time.
Faith and politics
I had the unfortunate pleasure (!) of listening to Nick Griffin on Radio 4 this lunchtime.
He came out with the usual drivel, and bandied about the noxious mix of inaccuracies, falsehoods, and downright lies that characterise him and his so-called political party.
I wanted to challenge him as a soi-disant Christian who believes that"Christianity is the tapestry upon which our country's heritage was woven", where is his Christian charity?
After all, according to the Bible, has not God "made all nations 'of one blood'" (Acts 17:26)?
The man is a whey-faced poltroon, a chiselling charlatan, and a craven coward who uses other peoples' faith as a stick with which to beat them.
He came out with the usual drivel, and bandied about the noxious mix of inaccuracies, falsehoods, and downright lies that characterise him and his so-called political party.
I wanted to challenge him as a soi-disant Christian who believes that"Christianity is the tapestry upon which our country's heritage was woven", where is his Christian charity?
After all, according to the Bible, has not God "made all nations 'of one blood'" (Acts 17:26)?
The man is a whey-faced poltroon, a chiselling charlatan, and a craven coward who uses other peoples' faith as a stick with which to beat them.
Thursday 29 April 2010
Judge gets it right
"The precepts of any one religion... cannot, by force of their religious origins, sound any louder in the general law than the precepts of any other. If they did, those out in the cold would be less than citizens and our constitution would be on the way to a theocracy, which is of necessity autocratic.
The law of a theocracy is dictated without option to the people, not made by their judges and governments. The individual conscience is free to accept such dictated law, but the state, if its people are to be free, has the burdensome duty of thinking for itself".
Lord Justice Laws
The law of a theocracy is dictated without option to the people, not made by their judges and governments. The individual conscience is free to accept such dictated law, but the state, if its people are to be free, has the burdensome duty of thinking for itself".
Lord Justice Laws
Wednesday 28 April 2010
What is it with Tories and gays?
For a party that is supposedly into individual liberty, the Tories seem preternaturally obsessed with peoples' personal lives, especially their sex lives.News that the Tory candidate for Ayrshire North and Arran has got into trouble (again) for saying that he did not "accept that their [gays] behaviour is ‘normal’".
Not bad for a teacher!
This is not the first time this bloke has guffed, a couple of years ago he sang the praises of racist former Rhodesian PM Ian Smith, saying Smith "typified a British hero". He has also said that Enoch Powell's far-right warnings about immigration had "come true".
He was a member of the Young Conservatives in the 1980s, at a time when they used to sport "Hang Mandela" badges.
Even peachier, he is an advocate of nuclear power who believes that people promoting wind farms as a sustainable energy source are only in it for the money. So much for the Big Society.
The Tories... "plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose".
Not bad for a teacher!
This is not the first time this bloke has guffed, a couple of years ago he sang the praises of racist former Rhodesian PM Ian Smith, saying Smith "typified a British hero". He has also said that Enoch Powell's far-right warnings about immigration had "come true".
He was a member of the Young Conservatives in the 1980s, at a time when they used to sport "Hang Mandela" badges.
Even peachier, he is an advocate of nuclear power who believes that people promoting wind farms as a sustainable energy source are only in it for the money. So much for the Big Society.
The Tories... "plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose".
Tuesday 27 April 2010
Betty Boothroyd
Back in 1992, Betty Boothroyd becames the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House of Commons in its 700-year history.
It was (and remains) quite an achievement for a local Yorkshire lass from Dewsbury.
I had the pleasure of hearing her address the Slovak Parliament in September 1996 when I was lecturing at Comenius University.
If I remember correctly, the gist of what she was saying was that government and opposition recognise each other's rights, the government's to govern and the opposition's to oppose.
The quote of her's that I remember was, "Governments must have their way. But, oppositions must have their say".
Happy anniversary Betty.
It was (and remains) quite an achievement for a local Yorkshire lass from Dewsbury.
I had the pleasure of hearing her address the Slovak Parliament in September 1996 when I was lecturing at Comenius University.
If I remember correctly, the gist of what she was saying was that government and opposition recognise each other's rights, the government's to govern and the opposition's to oppose.
The quote of her's that I remember was, "Governments must have their way. But, oppositions must have their say".
Happy anniversary Betty.
Monday 26 April 2010
Guernica!
We are fighting for the essential unity of Spain. We are fighting for the integrity of Spanish soil. We are fighting for the independence of our country and for the right of the Spanish people to determine their own destiny.
In 1937 the Luftwaffe and the Italian Fascists bombed the Basque town of Guernica, causing widespread destruction and civilian deaths during the Spanish Civil War.
The raid killed more than a thousand civilians and was a horrific example of terror bombing and was to presage the targeting of civilians not only in that conflict but in the Second World War.
Ultimately, however, after four long decades, democracy won through.
Viva La Republica.
In 1937 the Luftwaffe and the Italian Fascists bombed the Basque town of Guernica, causing widespread destruction and civilian deaths during the Spanish Civil War.
The raid killed more than a thousand civilians and was a horrific example of terror bombing and was to presage the targeting of civilians not only in that conflict but in the Second World War.
Ultimately, however, after four long decades, democracy won through.
Viva La Republica.
Sunday 25 April 2010
"I've really only got one story - mine"
Just heard of the death of Alan Sillitoe which saddened me a little.
Sillitoe wrote one of my favourite short storie namely The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, and the character of Colin Smith, so beautifully played by Tom Courtenay in the film of the same name.
In a memorable quote Smith says, "Do you know what I'd do if I had the whip hand? I'd get all the coppers, governers, posh whores, army officers, and members of parliament and I'd stick them up against this wall and let them have it 'cause that's what they'd like to do to blokes like us".
After the expenses scandal of so many Tory and Labour MPs last year I'm sure that many folk felt the same.
Ironically Sillitoe couldn't stand the present New Labour government famously saying "I've voted Labour all my life but I couldn't bring myself to do so this time. They are incompetent and want too much control. I abstained instead".
Again, many people feel exactly the same given the betrayal of so many hopes and ideals over the past dozen years.
Sillitoe wrote one of my favourite short storie namely The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, and the character of Colin Smith, so beautifully played by Tom Courtenay in the film of the same name.
In a memorable quote Smith says, "Do you know what I'd do if I had the whip hand? I'd get all the coppers, governers, posh whores, army officers, and members of parliament and I'd stick them up against this wall and let them have it 'cause that's what they'd like to do to blokes like us".
After the expenses scandal of so many Tory and Labour MPs last year I'm sure that many folk felt the same.
Ironically Sillitoe couldn't stand the present New Labour government famously saying "I've voted Labour all my life but I couldn't bring myself to do so this time. They are incompetent and want too much control. I abstained instead".
Again, many people feel exactly the same given the betrayal of so many hopes and ideals over the past dozen years.
Saturday 24 April 2010
Keighley Churches Together
We had a terrific q&a session in Keighley last night.
So firstly, thanks to Churches Together for organising and hosting the event.
Secondly, thanks to all the more than a hundred people who turned up to hear the candidates. The questions were wide-ranging and thought-provoking covering topics such as abortion and euthanasia to the economy and Lib Dem tax policies.
With the announcement that two far-right parties have joined the fray, I am more than glad that they weren't there last night. They are vile and obnoxious and not at all welcome in Keighley or anywhere else.
Especially as yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Blair Peach in 1979.
Peach was a New Zealand-born teacher and a committed anti-racism activist, who died as a result of police action on an Anti-Nazi League march against the racist National Front.
More than thirty years on, no-one has been charged with his murder, although there were at least eleven eyewitnesses.
We want justice.
RIP Blair.
So firstly, thanks to Churches Together for organising and hosting the event.
Secondly, thanks to all the more than a hundred people who turned up to hear the candidates. The questions were wide-ranging and thought-provoking covering topics such as abortion and euthanasia to the economy and Lib Dem tax policies.
With the announcement that two far-right parties have joined the fray, I am more than glad that they weren't there last night. They are vile and obnoxious and not at all welcome in Keighley or anywhere else.
Especially as yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Blair Peach in 1979.
Peach was a New Zealand-born teacher and a committed anti-racism activist, who died as a result of police action on an Anti-Nazi League march against the racist National Front.
More than thirty years on, no-one has been charged with his murder, although there were at least eleven eyewitnesses.
We want justice.
RIP Blair.
Friday 23 April 2010
St George's Day
I love the 23rd of April, St George's Day, Shakespeare's Birthday, and World Book Day (to commemorate Cervantes'passing away).
A veritable triple whammy.
I know there's the whole Julian/Gregorian calendar thing going on, but I'll let it pass.
Anyway hope you can make it to the candidates' debate in Keighley tonight organised by the Churches Together. It promises to be fun.
A veritable triple whammy.
I know there's the whole Julian/Gregorian calendar thing going on, but I'll let it pass.
Anyway hope you can make it to the candidates' debate in Keighley tonight organised by the Churches Together. It promises to be fun.
Tuesday 20 April 2010
Strange Fruit
Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black body swinging in the Southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant South,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh!
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black body swinging in the Southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant South,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh!
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.
Monday 19 April 2010
Alienation not Immigration fuels the BNP
A fascinating, and I believe hugely important, new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) concludes that it is not immigration but alienation and an inability to overcome social challenges such as isolation and low skills which are the main drivers for BNP support.
This is something that I have been saying for a long time, backed by my experiences trudging the streets in the more deprived parts of West Yorkshire.
The finding contradicts the argument that immigration is to "blame" for pushing voters into the arms of the BNP.
If anything, the opposite is true, namely where folk have experience of living with migrants they are LESS likely to vote to the BNP.
It is also axiomatic of a wider political and social truth, the more we have an opportunity of getting to know each other, the more our lives overlap, whether at school, at work, or even at leisure the more we can understand and appreciate each other and realise that there is much more that unites us than divides us, and indeed often learning to celebrate that diversity.
The report can be downloaded from here http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=742
This is something that I have been saying for a long time, backed by my experiences trudging the streets in the more deprived parts of West Yorkshire.
The finding contradicts the argument that immigration is to "blame" for pushing voters into the arms of the BNP.
If anything, the opposite is true, namely where folk have experience of living with migrants they are LESS likely to vote to the BNP.
It is also axiomatic of a wider political and social truth, the more we have an opportunity of getting to know each other, the more our lives overlap, whether at school, at work, or even at leisure the more we can understand and appreciate each other and realise that there is much more that unites us than divides us, and indeed often learning to celebrate that diversity.
The report can be downloaded from here http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=742
Saturday 17 April 2010
The RN recruiting illegally?
One of the more astonishing claims by Dave "Man of the People" Cameron on the TV debate on Thursday, was this gem:
I was in Plymouth recently, and a 40-year-old black man made the point to me. He said, "I came here when I was six, I've served in the Royal Navy for 30 years..."
Now bear with me on the maths, but if this bloke was 40 and had been in the Navy for 30 years, then he would have to have been 10 when he joined, MAX.
Far be it from me to imply that Dave made this encounter up, that would be verging on the libellous!
I can only conclude that this "black man" was a fantasist, and DC was just too polite to point it out, in which case why did he repeat it in front of 10 million people?
I was in Plymouth recently, and a 40-year-old black man made the point to me. He said, "I came here when I was six, I've served in the Royal Navy for 30 years..."
Now bear with me on the maths, but if this bloke was 40 and had been in the Navy for 30 years, then he would have to have been 10 when he joined, MAX.
Far be it from me to imply that Dave made this encounter up, that would be verging on the libellous!
I can only conclude that this "black man" was a fantasist, and DC was just too polite to point it out, in which case why did he repeat it in front of 10 million people?
Friday 16 April 2010
Note to Brons: Six million DID die
Nothing is going to put me off my game, I am in incredibly high spirits after last night's TV debate and Cleggy's bravura performance.
All afternoon people have been coming up to me saying things like "your man did well", "I was going to vote Cameron, but Clegg clinched it last night", "I was really impressed by his [Clegg's] performance, he seemed the most human".
Earlier today, however, another candidate of immigrant stock has joined the race to represent Keighley, one Andrew Brons MEP (German dontcha know, which you would have hoped would have stopped any neo-Nazi sympathies) has declared his hands.
I beat his loony leader five years ago, I intend to beat his sorry racist hide just as decisively this time round.
I'll be honest, I'll need ALL the help I can get, and if you can help (or know anyone who can) in any way that you can, please, please help.
I'll be even more honest. Without financial support from either Big Business, or the Unions, we have funding issues: we have to concentrate on the places where we have a real chance to win. Near here, that means Bradford East. But ALL help EVERYWHERE is more than welcome.
Perhaps the Leaders' Debates might change the electoral landscape, local Lib Dems are indeed receiving unprecedented levels of offers of support, so don't feel shy come and give us a hand.
Thank you in advance.
All afternoon people have been coming up to me saying things like "your man did well", "I was going to vote Cameron, but Clegg clinched it last night", "I was really impressed by his [Clegg's] performance, he seemed the most human".
Earlier today, however, another candidate of immigrant stock has joined the race to represent Keighley, one Andrew Brons MEP (German dontcha know, which you would have hoped would have stopped any neo-Nazi sympathies) has declared his hands.
I beat his loony leader five years ago, I intend to beat his sorry racist hide just as decisively this time round.
I'll be honest, I'll need ALL the help I can get, and if you can help (or know anyone who can) in any way that you can, please, please help.
I'll be even more honest. Without financial support from either Big Business, or the Unions, we have funding issues: we have to concentrate on the places where we have a real chance to win. Near here, that means Bradford East. But ALL help EVERYWHERE is more than welcome.
Perhaps the Leaders' Debates might change the electoral landscape, local Lib Dems are indeed receiving unprecedented levels of offers of support, so don't feel shy come and give us a hand.
Thank you in advance.
Thursday 15 April 2010
UKIP... too crude for words
Wednesday 14 April 2010
Vaisakhi
Tuesday 13 April 2010
to set the darkness echoing...
Monday 12 April 2010
Yom HaShoah
Ghastly news from Hungary on such a sombre day commemorating the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.
Jobbik, the far-right party has gained one-in-six votes in this week-end's Hungarian elections.
Jobbik is described as being "obsessively anti-Jewish", as well as inciting hatred against gays, Gypsies, Slovaks, Romanian, and Serbs.
Jobbik also runs its own paramilitary outfit, the Hungarian Guard, whose emblem is a variant on that used by the murderous Nazi-supporting Arrow Cross.
Nice bunch of people.
As if this wasn't bad enough, news that the retired bishop of Grosseto, Giacomo Babini, has said that he believed a "Zionist attack" was behind the current criticism of the Catholic Church's record on tackling clerical sex abuse.
He is quoted as saying that, "They do not want the church, they are its natural enemies. Deep down, historically speaking, the Jews are God killers".
I'm waiting with bated breath for the Pope to denounce this fool.
Jobbik, the far-right party has gained one-in-six votes in this week-end's Hungarian elections.
Jobbik is described as being "obsessively anti-Jewish", as well as inciting hatred against gays, Gypsies, Slovaks, Romanian, and Serbs.
Jobbik also runs its own paramilitary outfit, the Hungarian Guard, whose emblem is a variant on that used by the murderous Nazi-supporting Arrow Cross.
Nice bunch of people.
As if this wasn't bad enough, news that the retired bishop of Grosseto, Giacomo Babini, has said that he believed a "Zionist attack" was behind the current criticism of the Catholic Church's record on tackling clerical sex abuse.
He is quoted as saying that, "They do not want the church, they are its natural enemies. Deep down, historically speaking, the Jews are God killers".
I'm waiting with bated breath for the Pope to denounce this fool.
Dear friends, known and unknown to me... Yuri Gagarin
Forty-nine years ago the Soviet Union successfully launched a manned spaceship-satellite into orbit around the Earth, and thus began one of the most exciting chapters in human history.
Major Yuri Gagarin became the first human to slip "the surly bonds of Earth" and pilot his ship, Vostok, into the vastness of outer space.
As a child my ambition was to become a cosmonaut and to see this indescribably beautiful blue planet of ours floating through the infinite emptiness of the universe.
Ours is a truly special planet, and the only one we have, which is why preserving it is so vital, and why I have so little patience with all the so-called climate change sceptics.
Lib Dem green and environmental policies have received three green lights by offering "the strongest set of policies on climate change, green taxation, and green living", as reported by the Green Alliance.
Major Yuri Gagarin became the first human to slip "the surly bonds of Earth" and pilot his ship, Vostok, into the vastness of outer space.
As a child my ambition was to become a cosmonaut and to see this indescribably beautiful blue planet of ours floating through the infinite emptiness of the universe.
Ours is a truly special planet, and the only one we have, which is why preserving it is so vital, and why I have so little patience with all the so-called climate change sceptics.
Lib Dem green and environmental policies have received three green lights by offering "the strongest set of policies on climate change, green taxation, and green living", as reported by the Green Alliance.
Saturday 10 April 2010
I married for love... not for £150
I don't know whether to laugh or be insulted by the latest "policy" by Tory Party Central Office.
£150 to get wed.
£150.
One hundred and fifty pounds.
Now depending on where you look, the average wedding cost here in the UK is somewhere between £15,000 and £25,000.
That's right, the average LOWER budget for a wedding is £15,000.
So £150 is 1% of the cost of the wedding.
When we got wed, we were very careful with costs, spending a fifth of that amount, but I'm sure we spent more than £150 on flowers alone.
Do the Tories think bribing folk with £150 to get wed will do the trick?
I admit they're talking about £150/year, but that's still not enough to buy most people their local daily paper.
The Tories are out of touch with life in Britain, they insult not just married couples, but all those who'd like to marry.
They insult love.
£150 to get wed.
£150.
One hundred and fifty pounds.
Now depending on where you look, the average wedding cost here in the UK is somewhere between £15,000 and £25,000.
That's right, the average LOWER budget for a wedding is £15,000.
So £150 is 1% of the cost of the wedding.
When we got wed, we were very careful with costs, spending a fifth of that amount, but I'm sure we spent more than £150 on flowers alone.
Do the Tories think bribing folk with £150 to get wed will do the trick?
I admit they're talking about £150/year, but that's still not enough to buy most people their local daily paper.
The Tories are out of touch with life in Britain, they insult not just married couples, but all those who'd like to marry.
They insult love.
The Beatles Split - 40 years ago
"Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe".
I was nobbut a bairn when the greatest band in the world broke up forty years ago, but the above lyrics put me in mind of the now ex-Labour candidate in Moray.
Silly, silly, silly boy.
Of course, he was rude, offensive, and stupid, and deserved to be reprimanded, and dare I say removed from post.
But given that he had apparently posted some of these comments back in December, how come they only came to light now?
More importantly, who has been trawling the interweb to make even more political capital out of these potty-mouthed infantile remarks?
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe".
I was nobbut a bairn when the greatest band in the world broke up forty years ago, but the above lyrics put me in mind of the now ex-Labour candidate in Moray.
Silly, silly, silly boy.
Of course, he was rude, offensive, and stupid, and deserved to be reprimanded, and dare I say removed from post.
But given that he had apparently posted some of these comments back in December, how come they only came to light now?
More importantly, who has been trawling the interweb to make even more political capital out of these potty-mouthed infantile remarks?
Thursday 8 April 2010
Gladstone and Irish Home Rule
In the early 1990s I taught politics at what was Liverpool Poly. I loved it, a great bunch of colleagues, fantastic students, and a senior management seemingly out of synch with both.
The Further and Higher Education Acts 1992 allowed the thirty-five polytechnics to become universities.
One of the issues for most institutions was what to do about a name. For a few it was relatively straightforward: Huddersfield Polytechnic, Portsmouth Polytechnic, and Wolverhampton Polytechnic all dropped the Poly suffix and became Universities.
In a few more, the insert Metroploitan was added, as in Leeds, London, and Manchester, clunky but doable.
Yet others decided to go with names of the great and good, Anglia Ruskin, De Montfort, and Oxford Brookes.
Now this practice is very common in North America (Yale, Harvard, McGill, etc.), Europe (Charles, Comenius, Palacký), and Asia (Chulalongkorn, Sun Yat-sen, Kim Il-sung University), but not so in Britain.
We had Heriot-Watt, Brunel, and Royal Holloway but all had been named after people long dead.
The problem of what to call Liverpool Poly exercised many people, The Liverpool Echo ran a competition and if I remember came up with Atlantic University, North West University, and Everton University as we already had a Liverpool University.
The Students' Union came up with Rigsby University in honour of the character from Rising Damp played by Leonard Rossiter who was born in Liverpool.
The management came up with (Sir) (John) Moores University. We were offended at the idea of naming our institution after a living person whose multi-million pound fortune had been built on gambling, as founder of Littlewoods Pools.
Yours truly, came up with Gladstone University in honour of the great Liberal and four-time Prime Minister who was born in Liverpool, and who introduced the first Irish Home Rule Bill on this day in 1886.
The management ignored my suggestion.
The Further and Higher Education Acts 1992 allowed the thirty-five polytechnics to become universities.
One of the issues for most institutions was what to do about a name. For a few it was relatively straightforward: Huddersfield Polytechnic, Portsmouth Polytechnic, and Wolverhampton Polytechnic all dropped the Poly suffix and became Universities.
In a few more, the insert Metroploitan was added, as in Leeds, London, and Manchester, clunky but doable.
Yet others decided to go with names of the great and good, Anglia Ruskin, De Montfort, and Oxford Brookes.
Now this practice is very common in North America (Yale, Harvard, McGill, etc.), Europe (Charles, Comenius, Palacký), and Asia (Chulalongkorn, Sun Yat-sen, Kim Il-sung University), but not so in Britain.
We had Heriot-Watt, Brunel, and Royal Holloway but all had been named after people long dead.
The problem of what to call Liverpool Poly exercised many people, The Liverpool Echo ran a competition and if I remember came up with Atlantic University, North West University, and Everton University as we already had a Liverpool University.
The Students' Union came up with Rigsby University in honour of the character from Rising Damp played by Leonard Rossiter who was born in Liverpool.
The management came up with (Sir) (John) Moores University. We were offended at the idea of naming our institution after a living person whose multi-million pound fortune had been built on gambling, as founder of Littlewoods Pools.
Yours truly, came up with Gladstone University in honour of the great Liberal and four-time Prime Minister who was born in Liverpool, and who introduced the first Irish Home Rule Bill on this day in 1886.
The management ignored my suggestion.
Tuesday 6 April 2010
The Siege of Sarajevo
When I was a teenager, I used to love travelling in the old Yugoslavia. You had mountains, beaches, lakes, plains, and forests and great cities like Mostar.
The food, schnitzel and kebabs; sweet baklava and Turkish coffee; rakia and šljivovica.
The music of Ivo Pogorelić, Esma Redžepova, and Goran Bregović. The cinema of Dušan Makavejev, and Emir Kusturica. The literature of Ivo Andrić, and Danilo Kiš.
Most of all however, I loved its multi-ethnicity, multi-linguality, and multi-culturality. I loved the fact that an Albanian could marry a Motenegrin, live in Belgrade, go to see a play by a Croat playwright, support Partizan Belgrade, ski in Slovenia and summer in Dalmatia.
Unfortunately, the perverse and reactionary forces of nationalism bubbled over in the late 1980s and eventually led to the collapse of the old Yugoslavia.
The point is that when it did all begin to go wrong there were not enough of us standing up to say how dreadful it all was, and what a pack of lies was being told.
Instead we let commentators and politicians, talk nonsense about how there had been centuries-long enmities, how ethnic, linguistic, and religious hatreds was all that the peoples of the Balkans knew. We let people with their own personal and political agendas set the dismemberment policies, and what had been genuine economic and political grievances were expressed solely through the language of chauvinism, xenophobia, and revanchism.
The ultimate and inevitable conclusion of that logic of hatred was the four-year-long Siege of Sarajevo, which started 18 years ago today. It began with the murder of Suada Dilberović and Olga Sučić on a bridge and ended with 10,000 killed or missing, including 1,500 children, and 56,000 wounded, including 15,000 children.
At the risk of offending you dear reader, we must be forever alert to the siren voices of division and dissemblance, fanaticism and falsehood, and remind ourselves and others, that there is much more that unites us than separates us, whether in Keighley, Yorkshire, Britain, Europe, or the World at large.
The food, schnitzel and kebabs; sweet baklava and Turkish coffee; rakia and šljivovica.
The music of Ivo Pogorelić, Esma Redžepova, and Goran Bregović. The cinema of Dušan Makavejev, and Emir Kusturica. The literature of Ivo Andrić, and Danilo Kiš.
Most of all however, I loved its multi-ethnicity, multi-linguality, and multi-culturality. I loved the fact that an Albanian could marry a Motenegrin, live in Belgrade, go to see a play by a Croat playwright, support Partizan Belgrade, ski in Slovenia and summer in Dalmatia.
Unfortunately, the perverse and reactionary forces of nationalism bubbled over in the late 1980s and eventually led to the collapse of the old Yugoslavia.
The point is that when it did all begin to go wrong there were not enough of us standing up to say how dreadful it all was, and what a pack of lies was being told.
Instead we let commentators and politicians, talk nonsense about how there had been centuries-long enmities, how ethnic, linguistic, and religious hatreds was all that the peoples of the Balkans knew. We let people with their own personal and political agendas set the dismemberment policies, and what had been genuine economic and political grievances were expressed solely through the language of chauvinism, xenophobia, and revanchism.
The ultimate and inevitable conclusion of that logic of hatred was the four-year-long Siege of Sarajevo, which started 18 years ago today. It began with the murder of Suada Dilberović and Olga Sučić on a bridge and ended with 10,000 killed or missing, including 1,500 children, and 56,000 wounded, including 15,000 children.
At the risk of offending you dear reader, we must be forever alert to the siren voices of division and dissemblance, fanaticism and falsehood, and remind ourselves and others, that there is much more that unites us than separates us, whether in Keighley, Yorkshire, Britain, Europe, or the World at large.
Monday 5 April 2010
Il nous faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace!
Dare, dare again, always dare!
The words spoken by Georges Danton in the National Assembly in 1792, as good a motto for a political party as any.
The character was brilliantly portrayed by Gérard Depardieu in Andrzej Wajda's eponymous film of the 1980s. Although his nemesis Robespierre was equally brilliantly fleshed out by Wojciech Pszoniak.
The film drew parallels between the Reign of Terror and the then situation in Poland, in which Lech Wałęsa and the Solidarity movement were struggling against the military government of General Jaruzelski.
Well worth borrowing the dvd out of the library.
The words spoken by Georges Danton in the National Assembly in 1792, as good a motto for a political party as any.
The character was brilliantly portrayed by Gérard Depardieu in Andrzej Wajda's eponymous film of the 1980s. Although his nemesis Robespierre was equally brilliantly fleshed out by Wojciech Pszoniak.
The film drew parallels between the Reign of Terror and the then situation in Poland, in which Lech Wałęsa and the Solidarity movement were struggling against the military government of General Jaruzelski.
Well worth borrowing the dvd out of the library.
Violence begets only violence
I was shocked and horrified to read that the leader of a political party had been threatened with violence and even death by some members of his own party.
That it was in this country was doubly worse, and then it transpired that this was a story about the BNP, and it all made sense.
After all a party based on hatred, violence, and intimidation, many of whose leaders have criminal convictions, and whose current leader came to power in a "palace coup" can expect little in the way of loyalty.
Worse than this, has been the BNP's threatening of my friend Dominic Carman the Lib Dem candidate for Barking, East London.
I wish Dominic all the very best, and remind him that I trounced Griffin decisively in the 2005 general election in Keighley.
Despite all their bluff and bluster and their hatred and vileness the overwhelming majority of the electorate see through their lies, and will do so again.
That it was in this country was doubly worse, and then it transpired that this was a story about the BNP, and it all made sense.
After all a party based on hatred, violence, and intimidation, many of whose leaders have criminal convictions, and whose current leader came to power in a "palace coup" can expect little in the way of loyalty.
Worse than this, has been the BNP's threatening of my friend Dominic Carman the Lib Dem candidate for Barking, East London.
I wish Dominic all the very best, and remind him that I trounced Griffin decisively in the 2005 general election in Keighley.
Despite all their bluff and bluster and their hatred and vileness the overwhelming majority of the electorate see through their lies, and will do so again.
Sunday 4 April 2010
AWB... No not the Average White Band
For many people Eugène Terre'Blanche was the rather sinisterly comical but also hateful central figure in Nick Broomfield's twenty-year documentary The Leader, His Driver, and the Driver's Wife.
While I fervently hope that the trial of the two people arrested for his alleged murder brings out the truth of what happened, and that justice prevails, I can't help but recall with a shudder what a horrible organisation the AWB were.
All full of bile, venom, and vanity.
What the bigots of apartheid and separatists of the AWB showed was how wrong they actually were. And how the dignity and the strength of the black, coloured, and Indian majority shone through in the new Rainbow Nation.
There is still a long road to travel for South Africa, but with plenty of hard work and love... truth, justice, and reconciliation will triumph.
While I fervently hope that the trial of the two people arrested for his alleged murder brings out the truth of what happened, and that justice prevails, I can't help but recall with a shudder what a horrible organisation the AWB were.
All full of bile, venom, and vanity.
What the bigots of apartheid and separatists of the AWB showed was how wrong they actually were. And how the dignity and the strength of the black, coloured, and Indian majority shone through in the new Rainbow Nation.
There is still a long road to travel for South Africa, but with plenty of hard work and love... truth, justice, and reconciliation will triumph.
Cameron's Tories: Stripey Leopards or Spotted Tigers?
I do not take pleasure in pointing out how the Nu-Tories "talk the talk" but rarely if ever "walk the walk".
I genuinely want them to have become de-toxified. I want them to have shaken off the shameful shackles of Thatcherism, and the poisonous politics of class-hatred.
As a liberal I believe that there should be a multiplicity of political philosophies competing for our attention and indeed votes.
The Tories however are not there yet, and one might argue will never get there.
The comments by Chris Grayling that B&Bs should have the "right" to turn away gay couples, because of their "faith" is offensive, illegal, stupid, and just wrong.
If you want to give these "rights" to homophobes running B&Bs, why not extend them to other businesses like furniture stores because gays might cuddle up on their sofas.
This dim-witted comment should send out a very strong message to any gay person who may have been thinking of voting Tory... Don't!
Cameron's Tories are, "Soft And Dull-Eyed Fools" more like Paper Tigers than lions worthy of leading the country.
I genuinely want them to have become de-toxified. I want them to have shaken off the shameful shackles of Thatcherism, and the poisonous politics of class-hatred.
As a liberal I believe that there should be a multiplicity of political philosophies competing for our attention and indeed votes.
The Tories however are not there yet, and one might argue will never get there.
The comments by Chris Grayling that B&Bs should have the "right" to turn away gay couples, because of their "faith" is offensive, illegal, stupid, and just wrong.
If you want to give these "rights" to homophobes running B&Bs, why not extend them to other businesses like furniture stores because gays might cuddle up on their sofas.
This dim-witted comment should send out a very strong message to any gay person who may have been thinking of voting Tory... Don't!
Cameron's Tories are, "Soft And Dull-Eyed Fools" more like Paper Tigers than lions worthy of leading the country.
"I've Been to the Mountaintop"... King
Today is the anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shot in 1968 in Memphis Tennessee, he was just 39 years old.
King, and his espousal of non-violence, was one of most important influences in my formative political philosophy.
The previous evening he had given the famously prophetic speech comparing his struggle to lead the Civil Rights movement with that of Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt:
"We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!"
King, and his espousal of non-violence, was one of most important influences in my formative political philosophy.
The previous evening he had given the famously prophetic speech comparing his struggle to lead the Civil Rights movement with that of Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt:
"We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!"
Saturday 3 April 2010
Are UKIP bonkers, or just thick?
This from the website of UKIP's Yorkshire MEP, Godfrey Bloom: "Foreign MEPs, i.e. the vast majority, like the EU Commissioners, over half of whom are communists..."
Note to ALL 13 UKIP MEPs, there are 736 Members of the European Parliament, of whom 72 represent the UK.
736-72 = 654
Therefore, the vast majority of MEPs (representing the other 26 countries of the EU) are by definition going to be "foreign".
As yet, there's no crime in being "foreign".
It puts me in mind of that wonderful Not the Nine O'Clock News sketch where a police constable is reproved for repeatedly arresting one Mr Vincent Kodogo for such offences as "wearing a loud tie in a built up area", "smelling of foreign food" and "possession of curly black hair and thick lips".
Note to ALL 13 UKIP MEPs, there are 736 Members of the European Parliament, of whom 72 represent the UK.
736-72 = 654
Therefore, the vast majority of MEPs (representing the other 26 countries of the EU) are by definition going to be "foreign".
As yet, there's no crime in being "foreign".
It puts me in mind of that wonderful Not the Nine O'Clock News sketch where a police constable is reproved for repeatedly arresting one Mr Vincent Kodogo for such offences as "wearing a loud tie in a built up area", "smelling of foreign food" and "possession of curly black hair and thick lips".
Happy Birthday Tony Benn
Today one of the most remarkable politicians of our age turns an incredible 85.
Despite being in different parties, and disagreeing with some of his policies, notably his assessment of the EEC (now EU), I have never doubted Tony Benn's sincerity and his willingness to engage in debate.
He is a principled and passionate person who has never been afraid to argue his cause. The progressive elements of British politics have been much enriched and strengthened by his contribution, dedication, and effort.
There is one quote that I believe best sums him up, and indeed should be at the forefront of any true democrat:If one meets a powerful person... ask them five questions: "What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?" If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.
(Speech to the House of Commons, 22 March 2001)
From one progressive to another, many happy returns Tony.
Despite being in different parties, and disagreeing with some of his policies, notably his assessment of the EEC (now EU), I have never doubted Tony Benn's sincerity and his willingness to engage in debate.
He is a principled and passionate person who has never been afraid to argue his cause. The progressive elements of British politics have been much enriched and strengthened by his contribution, dedication, and effort.
There is one quote that I believe best sums him up, and indeed should be at the forefront of any true democrat:If one meets a powerful person... ask them five questions: "What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?" If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.
(Speech to the House of Commons, 22 March 2001)
From one progressive to another, many happy returns Tony.
Friday 2 April 2010
Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb
Three cheers for that wonderfully pink, sweetly delicious, fragrantly sublime produce grown up and down the 'West Yorkshire Triangle' of Leeds, Bradford, and Wakefield.
I refer of course to rhubarb.
Earlier tonight I made a lovely rhubarb and apple crumble, even if I do say so myself.
Even more wonderfully Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb is Britain's latest addition to the EU protected names list.
Three cheers for Yorkshire, and three cheers for Europe.
I refer of course to rhubarb.
Earlier tonight I made a lovely rhubarb and apple crumble, even if I do say so myself.
Even more wonderfully Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb is Britain's latest addition to the EU protected names list.
Three cheers for Yorkshire, and three cheers for Europe.
Thursday 1 April 2010
Simon Singh wins libel court battle
Good news from the High Court, where the science writer Simon Singh has won his court of appeal battle for the right to rely on the defence of fair comment in a libel action.
Dr Singh had been accused of libel by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) over an op-ed piece he wrote in the Guardian in April 2008.
All he suggested was that there was a lack of evidence for the claims SOME chiropractors make on treating some childhood conditions like colic and asthma.
This sort of bullying behaviour by big organisations and wealthy individuals shows them all too willing to use Britain's draconian libel laws to stifle free speech, and the decision, although welcome, does not go far enough.
Dr Singh had been accused of libel by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) over an op-ed piece he wrote in the Guardian in April 2008.
All he suggested was that there was a lack of evidence for the claims SOME chiropractors make on treating some childhood conditions like colic and asthma.
This sort of bullying behaviour by big organisations and wealthy individuals shows them all too willing to use Britain's draconian libel laws to stifle free speech, and the decision, although welcome, does not go far enough.
After the poetry... passion and politics
I know those of you reading the last few postings have been thinking "Aye, Aye, Fekri's being all Fotherington-Thomas with his 'hullo clouds, hullo sky' offerings, but where's the politics?"
Well, gentle readers, I hesitate to jar your gentle nerves, but may I remind you that it is exactly twenty years ago since we had the great "Anti-Poll Tax" demo in London.
The tax was a fixed payment for all adults to the local council. It was unpopular, regressive, and ultimately punitive.
It had the beneficial effect of leading to the downfall of then PM, Mrs. Thatcher in the November, but because of the huge campaign of non-registration, it seriously affected the Census in 1991 (with some 1 million adults missing) and more importantly that same number becoming effectively disenfranchised in the 1992 General Election.
So despite the myth, it wasn't "The Sun what won it" in 1992. In fact, it was Kenneth Baker, William Waldegrave, Lord Rothschild, and the Dept. of the Environment with their 1986 Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" which set in train the chain of events that led to the ghastly Tories remaining in office a further five miserable years when they should have been kicked out.
So if you're thinking of voting for the Tories just for a change, "Woe, woe, and thrice woe!" as Senna the Soothsayer used to say in Up Pompeii!
Well, gentle readers, I hesitate to jar your gentle nerves, but may I remind you that it is exactly twenty years ago since we had the great "Anti-Poll Tax" demo in London.
The tax was a fixed payment for all adults to the local council. It was unpopular, regressive, and ultimately punitive.
It had the beneficial effect of leading to the downfall of then PM, Mrs. Thatcher in the November, but because of the huge campaign of non-registration, it seriously affected the Census in 1991 (with some 1 million adults missing) and more importantly that same number becoming effectively disenfranchised in the 1992 General Election.
So despite the myth, it wasn't "The Sun what won it" in 1992. In fact, it was Kenneth Baker, William Waldegrave, Lord Rothschild, and the Dept. of the Environment with their 1986 Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" which set in train the chain of events that led to the ghastly Tories remaining in office a further five miserable years when they should have been kicked out.
So if you're thinking of voting for the Tories just for a change, "Woe, woe, and thrice woe!" as Senna the Soothsayer used to say in Up Pompeii!
Je n'aimais qu'un seul être et je le perds deux fois!
The line above is spoken by Roxane towards the end of the play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand and translates as "I loved but once, yet twice I lose my love!"
It's a beautiful play full of charm, derring-do, and panache but ultimately about unrequieted love which although seemingly downbeat is reaaly quite life-affirming.
It's a beautiful play full of charm, derring-do, and panache but ultimately about unrequieted love which although seemingly downbeat is reaaly quite life-affirming.
Kniha smíchu a zapomnění
When I lectured at Palacký University in Olomouc in the 1990s, I co-taught a class in translation with my good friend Václav Řeřicha.
One of the authors we used to study was Milan Kundera, whose birthday it is today, mostly his short stories from Laughable Loves (Směšné lásky).
However, I had come to Kundera in my late-teens through his book the Joke and after that I devoured everything he had written.
I suppose my favourite is the Book of Laughter and Forgetting wherein he describes a famous/infamous Czechoslovak photograph from February 1948, where Vlado Clementis (Foreign Minister) stood next to Klement Gottwald (Prime Minister).
It was snowing and cold, and Gottwald was bareheaded, in an act of generosity, Clementis took off his fur hat and gave it to Gottwald to wear.
A few years later, Clementis was charged with treason and hanged.
The propaganda section erased him (along with Karel Hájek) from the photograph.Ever since, Gottwald has been alone on the balcony. Where Clementis stood, there is only the balcony... Nothing remains of Clementis but the fur hat on Gottwald's head.
This all too brief vignette underlines the motif of forgetting, and I suppose acts as a warning to us all, lest we forget.
One of the authors we used to study was Milan Kundera, whose birthday it is today, mostly his short stories from Laughable Loves (Směšné lásky).
However, I had come to Kundera in my late-teens through his book the Joke and after that I devoured everything he had written.
I suppose my favourite is the Book of Laughter and Forgetting wherein he describes a famous/infamous Czechoslovak photograph from February 1948, where Vlado Clementis (Foreign Minister) stood next to Klement Gottwald (Prime Minister).
It was snowing and cold, and Gottwald was bareheaded, in an act of generosity, Clementis took off his fur hat and gave it to Gottwald to wear.
A few years later, Clementis was charged with treason and hanged.
The propaganda section erased him (along with Karel Hájek) from the photograph.Ever since, Gottwald has been alone on the balcony. Where Clementis stood, there is only the balcony... Nothing remains of Clementis but the fur hat on Gottwald's head.
This all too brief vignette underlines the motif of forgetting, and I suppose acts as a warning to us all, lest we forget.
Wednesday 31 March 2010
Blair calls Cameron "vacuous"
Cogito, ergo sum... I think therefore I am
It's a beautiful day AND the day that Rene Descartes was born.
Descartes was part of that glorious group of philosophers who re-vitalised European thinking in the 17th century, these included Spinoza, Leibniz, Hobbes, Hume, Locke, and of course Rousseau.
Having studied them all at uni, I realised that I was a child of the Enlightenment and rationality, indeed it is that very rationality that underpins my political philosophy and makes me a Liberal.
In fact it is another phrase of Descartes' that best sums up my worldview
Dubium sapientiae initium... Doubt is the origin of wisdom.
Indeed, it leads to my belief that politics should be evidence-based rather than pure dogma.
Descartes was part of that glorious group of philosophers who re-vitalised European thinking in the 17th century, these included Spinoza, Leibniz, Hobbes, Hume, Locke, and of course Rousseau.
Having studied them all at uni, I realised that I was a child of the Enlightenment and rationality, indeed it is that very rationality that underpins my political philosophy and makes me a Liberal.
In fact it is another phrase of Descartes' that best sums up my worldview
Dubium sapientiae initium... Doubt is the origin of wisdom.
Indeed, it leads to my belief that politics should be evidence-based rather than pure dogma.
Tuesday 30 March 2010
II pleut doucement sur la ville... Arthur Rimbaud
Il pleure dans mon coeur
Comme il pleut sur la ville;
Quelle est cette langueur
Qui pénètre mon coeur?
The beautiful quatrain above is by Paul Verlaine, who along with Arthur Rimbaud, Charles Baudelaire, and Stéphane Mallarmé are my favourite 19th century French poets.
Rimbaud was probably the most gifted of the four, but Verlaine was fascinating, he joined the Garde nationale, becoming a Communard and later head of the press bureau, and managed to escape the street fighting of the Semaine Sanglante.
His doomed love affair with Rimbaud and their trip to Britain really earned them the soubriquet of "The Damned Poets".
Comme il pleut sur la ville;
Quelle est cette langueur
Qui pénètre mon coeur?
The beautiful quatrain above is by Paul Verlaine, who along with Arthur Rimbaud, Charles Baudelaire, and Stéphane Mallarmé are my favourite 19th century French poets.
Rimbaud was probably the most gifted of the four, but Verlaine was fascinating, he joined the Garde nationale, becoming a Communard and later head of the press bureau, and managed to escape the street fighting of the Semaine Sanglante.
His doomed love affair with Rimbaud and their trip to Britain really earned them the soubriquet of "The Damned Poets".
II pleut doucement sur la ville... Arthur Rimbaud
Il pleure dans mon coeur
Comme il pleut sur la ville;
Quelle est cette langueur
Qui pénètre mon coeur?
The beautiful quatrain above is by Paul Verlaine, who along with Arthur Rimbaud, Charles Baudelaire, and Stéphane Mallarmé are my favourite 19th century French poets.
Rimbaud was probably the most gifted of the four, but Verlaine was fascinating, he joined the Garde nationale, becoming a Communard and later head of the press bureau, and managed to escape the street fighting of the Semaine Sanglante.
Monday 29 March 2010
Gwladys
Today is Passover and so hag same'ah to all my Jewish friends.
Also interstingly it is also the feast day of St Gwladys, whose main church is at Bargoed where Doris Hare (who played Mabel, Stan Butler's mum, in On the Buses) was born.
I've liked the name Gwladys ever since I came across it in a Jeeves and Wooster story about an artist called Gwladys Pendleton or Pendlebury, with whom Bertie falls in love, and of course it all comes to naught.
I remember Jeeves being very dismissive of the name, saying that it was not a particularly attractive one, being on a par with Kathryn and Ethyl, all of which came about because of the writings of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
I believe that Jeeves had a thing about the semi-vowels w and y.
Mind you, I've always liked Welsh girls' names like Rhiannon, Morwenna, Branwen, Angharad, and of course Myfanwy (Nye Bevan's beloved youngest sister).
Also interstingly it is also the feast day of St Gwladys, whose main church is at Bargoed where Doris Hare (who played Mabel, Stan Butler's mum, in On the Buses) was born.
I've liked the name Gwladys ever since I came across it in a Jeeves and Wooster story about an artist called Gwladys Pendleton or Pendlebury, with whom Bertie falls in love, and of course it all comes to naught.
I remember Jeeves being very dismissive of the name, saying that it was not a particularly attractive one, being on a par with Kathryn and Ethyl, all of which came about because of the writings of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
I believe that Jeeves had a thing about the semi-vowels w and y.
Mind you, I've always liked Welsh girls' names like Rhiannon, Morwenna, Branwen, Angharad, and of course Myfanwy (Nye Bevan's beloved youngest sister).
Sunday 28 March 2010
The Tories: The singer's changed but the song remains the same!
Project Cameron would have us believe that the Tories have become detoxified... some hope.
Analysis of the record of 25 Tory members of the European Parliament this year shows they voted against, or abstained, eight times on issues relating to sexual equality, family-friendly working hours, maternity leave, and reproductive health, often in clear defiance of official Tory Party policy.
Some detoxification!
Analysis of the record of 25 Tory members of the European Parliament this year shows they voted against, or abstained, eight times on issues relating to sexual equality, family-friendly working hours, maternity leave, and reproductive health, often in clear defiance of official Tory Party policy.
Some detoxification!
Friday 26 March 2010
I Sing the Body Electric
I believe that the vital difference between the philosophy of Liberalism and that of Conservatism is an essential and unshakeable belief in the goodness and commonality of human beings.
Ours is a philosophy of boundless optimism and joyous celebration of the human spirit, forever seeking the soaring heights rather than a gloomy, despondent, and dare I say misanthropic view of our fellow men and women.
Few lines sum it up better than a quartet from Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass":
Comrade of raftsmen and coalmen, comrade of all who shake hands and welcome to drink and meat,
A learner with the simplest, a teacher of the thoughtfullest,
A novice beginning yet experient of myriads of seasons,
Of every hue and caste am I, of every rank and religion.
Ours is a philosophy of boundless optimism and joyous celebration of the human spirit, forever seeking the soaring heights rather than a gloomy, despondent, and dare I say misanthropic view of our fellow men and women.
Few lines sum it up better than a quartet from Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass":
Comrade of raftsmen and coalmen, comrade of all who shake hands and welcome to drink and meat,
A learner with the simplest, a teacher of the thoughtfullest,
A novice beginning yet experient of myriads of seasons,
Of every hue and caste am I, of every rank and religion.
Tuesday 23 March 2010
Concert for the Young at Heart
Just back from a fantastic FREE concert at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax, it was brilliant.
The acts were magnificent, ranging from some littlies to some older citizens, and all ages in between, all-singing all-dancing giving their all. From the Irving Berlin numbers to Michael Jackson's Thriller, via Oklahoma and Lennon & McCartney.
A big thankyou to all who took part, front of house, performers, the MC, and the backroom boys and girls.
When certain people tell you that we are living in a "Broken Britain" tell them that they are talking rot.
The overwhelming majority of people, are good the overwhelming majority of the time doing their best by their friends, family, and community.
Yes there is such a thing as society, and we should celebrate it.
The acts were magnificent, ranging from some littlies to some older citizens, and all ages in between, all-singing all-dancing giving their all. From the Irving Berlin numbers to Michael Jackson's Thriller, via Oklahoma and Lennon & McCartney.
A big thankyou to all who took part, front of house, performers, the MC, and the backroom boys and girls.
When certain people tell you that we are living in a "Broken Britain" tell them that they are talking rot.
The overwhelming majority of people, are good the overwhelming majority of the time doing their best by their friends, family, and community.
Yes there is such a thing as society, and we should celebrate it.
Sunday 21 March 2010
Sharpeville fifty years on
I couldn't really let today pass without a mention of Sharpeville in South Africa.
Half-a-century ago and a world away in apartheid South Africa, every black person had to carry passbooks.
This physical everyday shackle of oppression listed the person's name, birthplace, and "tribal" affiliation, contained their picture and serial number, showed whether they had paid their taxes or been arrested, and unless it was signed monthly by their employer, the African could be herded with the other unemployed into a "native reservation".
All Africans had to carry them about their person at all times, and they could (and were) checked at any time by the notoriously unforgiving police, and heaven help you if you didn't have it or there was something amiss.
You could be hauled off to jail, without a word of warning to your family, and fined or imprisoned.
For more than a century blacks had endured this vile system and then following the Gandhian precepts of non-violent action, a mass campaign of non-compliance was started where people were urged to turn up at police stations without their passbooks and demand to be arrested.
At Sharpeville police station, a determined crowd of more than 20,000 Africans gathered demanding to be arrested. The twenty police officers present barricaded themselves inside and sent for reinforcements, hundreds of whom duly arrived, supported by armoured cars, and aircraft buzzing the crowd to try and scatter it.
When that failed, the police began firing with revolvers, rifles, and Sten guns. In two awful minutes, hundreds of blacks lay dead or wounded, many shot in the back.
It is fair to say that the events of that day hastened South Africa's march to pariah state in the world community shunned by almost everyone. And although there were many setbacks along the way, thirty years later and much bloodshed apartheid was defeated and the struggle for freedom by the black majority achieved.
Maatla ke a rona!
Half-a-century ago and a world away in apartheid South Africa, every black person had to carry passbooks.
This physical everyday shackle of oppression listed the person's name, birthplace, and "tribal" affiliation, contained their picture and serial number, showed whether they had paid their taxes or been arrested, and unless it was signed monthly by their employer, the African could be herded with the other unemployed into a "native reservation".
All Africans had to carry them about their person at all times, and they could (and were) checked at any time by the notoriously unforgiving police, and heaven help you if you didn't have it or there was something amiss.
You could be hauled off to jail, without a word of warning to your family, and fined or imprisoned.
For more than a century blacks had endured this vile system and then following the Gandhian precepts of non-violent action, a mass campaign of non-compliance was started where people were urged to turn up at police stations without their passbooks and demand to be arrested.
At Sharpeville police station, a determined crowd of more than 20,000 Africans gathered demanding to be arrested. The twenty police officers present barricaded themselves inside and sent for reinforcements, hundreds of whom duly arrived, supported by armoured cars, and aircraft buzzing the crowd to try and scatter it.
When that failed, the police began firing with revolvers, rifles, and Sten guns. In two awful minutes, hundreds of blacks lay dead or wounded, many shot in the back.
It is fair to say that the events of that day hastened South Africa's march to pariah state in the world community shunned by almost everyone. And although there were many setbacks along the way, thirty years later and much bloodshed apartheid was defeated and the struggle for freedom by the black majority achieved.
Maatla ke a rona!
omnia vincit amor...
According to Virgil "love conquers all" this a propos of today being World Poetry Day.
And my favourite (today at least) lines of English poetry?"
My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
And my favourite (today at least) lines of English poetry?"
My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Saturday 20 March 2010
نوروز مبارك Happy New Year
Later on today, in five hours exactly, I shall be celebrating the Iranian New Year with my family.
It is a very special occasion marking the first day of Spring and a new beginning both chronologically and dare I say spiritually.
Nowruz, as it is called in Persian, literally means New Day and is celebrated across Iran, Afghanistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, much of West and Central Asia and of course worldwide among the Iranian, Afghan, and Kurdish diaspora, as well as Zoroastrian and Baha'i communities.
It is an ancient festival going back some three thousand years and is really is a most joyous festival.
So Happy New Year one and all and sad sal beh az in salha.
It is a very special occasion marking the first day of Spring and a new beginning both chronologically and dare I say spiritually.
Nowruz, as it is called in Persian, literally means New Day and is celebrated across Iran, Afghanistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, much of West and Central Asia and of course worldwide among the Iranian, Afghan, and Kurdish diaspora, as well as Zoroastrian and Baha'i communities.
It is an ancient festival going back some three thousand years and is really is a most joyous festival.
So Happy New Year one and all and sad sal beh az in salha.
Friday 19 March 2010
Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms... Groucho Marx
I don't know whether to be angry or bloody angry about the crassly stupid comments made by US General John Sheehan.
This eejit, who rather than blaming tens of thousands of Bosnian Serb forces for the massacre of 8,000 male civilians in Srebrenica, chose to focus his condemnation on unionisation and gays in the Dutch military.
Srebrenica is a stain on the conscience of post-war Europe, the EU's response to the break-up of Yugoslavia was woefully inadequate, and the Dutch forces "guarding" the safe area were understrength, but for General Sheehan to blame gays is ridiculous and he should apologise for his offensive remarks.
This eejit, who rather than blaming tens of thousands of Bosnian Serb forces for the massacre of 8,000 male civilians in Srebrenica, chose to focus his condemnation on unionisation and gays in the Dutch military.
Srebrenica is a stain on the conscience of post-war Europe, the EU's response to the break-up of Yugoslavia was woefully inadequate, and the Dutch forces "guarding" the safe area were understrength, but for General Sheehan to blame gays is ridiculous and he should apologise for his offensive remarks.
Wednesday 17 March 2010
Happy St Pat's
Obviously being married to an Anglo-Irish woman, I couldn't let today go past without a mention of St Patrick's.
However, you'll be pleased to know that I've not been going over the top with the wearing of the green and the shamrocks everywhere, but I did have a quiet glass of Guinness and a little Bushmills.
Happy St Pat's everyone.
However, you'll be pleased to know that I've not been going over the top with the wearing of the green and the shamrocks everywhere, but I did have a quiet glass of Guinness and a little Bushmills.
Happy St Pat's everyone.
Tuesday 16 March 2010
Parkinson's Law works everywhere... Mikhail Gorbachev
More than half-a-centurty ago The Economist published an essay Cyril Northcote Parkinson that coined the adage "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion".
From this he developed a mathematical equation which described the rate that bureaucracies expand over time. The prime example he used to support and illustrate this "law" was the number of employees at the Colonial Office while Britain's overseas empire declined. Parkinson explained this growth by two forces, first was that an "official wants to multiply subordinates, not rivals" and second "officials make work for each other".
His humorous, but nevertheless valid, point was that the numbers employed in a bureaucracy rises by 5%-7% per year "irrespective of any variation in the amount of work (if any) to be done".
All of which brings me neatly to a report by the Commons Public Administration Committee said the number of ministers had doubled during the past century.
In 1900, when we ran a global empire, there were just 60, today there are 119.
Despite devolved government for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the privatisation of many parts of government.
Many appointments are based more on political reward rather than the need to fill the position, and their number should be cut "by as much as a third".
We have the ludicrous situation where civil servants are left "making work" for some junior ministers, because they had so little work to do.
This is absurd.
That is why we Lib Dems have called for a a 30% cut in the number of Welsh MPs, 28% in Northern Ireland, 20% in England, and 14% in Scotland.
From this he developed a mathematical equation which described the rate that bureaucracies expand over time. The prime example he used to support and illustrate this "law" was the number of employees at the Colonial Office while Britain's overseas empire declined. Parkinson explained this growth by two forces, first was that an "official wants to multiply subordinates, not rivals" and second "officials make work for each other".
His humorous, but nevertheless valid, point was that the numbers employed in a bureaucracy rises by 5%-7% per year "irrespective of any variation in the amount of work (if any) to be done".
All of which brings me neatly to a report by the Commons Public Administration Committee said the number of ministers had doubled during the past century.
In 1900, when we ran a global empire, there were just 60, today there are 119.
Despite devolved government for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the privatisation of many parts of government.
Many appointments are based more on political reward rather than the need to fill the position, and their number should be cut "by as much as a third".
We have the ludicrous situation where civil servants are left "making work" for some junior ministers, because they had so little work to do.
This is absurd.
That is why we Lib Dems have called for a a 30% cut in the number of Welsh MPs, 28% in Northern Ireland, 20% in England, and 14% in Scotland.
Sunday 14 March 2010
Mrs Thatcher... the architect of so many of our current troubles
Like many Lib Dems, and indeed people across Keighley and Ilkley, and in fact up and down the country I agree wholeheartedly with Claire Rayner's comments above.
Far be it for me to rebuke my leader for his comments earlier this week in the Spectator magazine, wherein he extolled Mrs Thatcher. But he was talking rot. He mistakes her dogma for principle, her obduracy for strength, and her lack of compassion for resolve.
Claire goes on to say that "She [Mrs. Thatcher] made it good to be greedy, good to neglect the poor, and she denied there was such a thing as society".
People who say they admire Mrs Thatcher and her Tories remind me of all those appeasers who used to say things like, "Say what you will about Mussolini, but at least he made the trains run on time", it's both crass and factually inaccurate.
She was the person at the head of a government who devastated this country economically, politically, and socially. Nick only has to look at his own city of Sheffield and the plight of the steelworkers in the 1980s.
As for the miners... to unleash the full force of the state on a section of society, a trade union, and communities up and down the country was unconscionable. Where there should have been compassion there was instead belligerance, instead of wisdom there was vengeance, instead of magnanimity there was the crowing of the yahoo.
I say this to Nick and the leadership, the Tories cannot be trusted, they are ideologically our antithesis, politically our enemies, and morally bereft of any saving graces.
The last thing that Britain needs, even with all the restraining influences that we Lib Dems may be able to bring upon them, would be a Tory government of any shape or form.
Far be it for me to rebuke my leader for his comments earlier this week in the Spectator magazine, wherein he extolled Mrs Thatcher. But he was talking rot. He mistakes her dogma for principle, her obduracy for strength, and her lack of compassion for resolve.
Claire goes on to say that "She [Mrs. Thatcher] made it good to be greedy, good to neglect the poor, and she denied there was such a thing as society".
People who say they admire Mrs Thatcher and her Tories remind me of all those appeasers who used to say things like, "Say what you will about Mussolini, but at least he made the trains run on time", it's both crass and factually inaccurate.
She was the person at the head of a government who devastated this country economically, politically, and socially. Nick only has to look at his own city of Sheffield and the plight of the steelworkers in the 1980s.
As for the miners... to unleash the full force of the state on a section of society, a trade union, and communities up and down the country was unconscionable. Where there should have been compassion there was instead belligerance, instead of wisdom there was vengeance, instead of magnanimity there was the crowing of the yahoo.
I say this to Nick and the leadership, the Tories cannot be trusted, they are ideologically our antithesis, politically our enemies, and morally bereft of any saving graces.
The last thing that Britain needs, even with all the restraining influences that we Lib Dems may be able to bring upon them, would be a Tory government of any shape or form.
Saturday 13 March 2010
A bit of fun for the week-end
Douglas Carswell, the Tory MP for Harwich, has claimed that the Conservatives are the party of the Levellers!
The Levellers (not the band) were an important faction before and during the English Civil War of the mid-17th century. I studied them, and others, in my degree, and going back over my notes I can't see anything that links them with the tiniest thread within modern Tory political philosophy.
Their manifesto, the "Agreement of the People" was inherently republican and democratic. Just the sort of thing to be supported by the present Tory front-bench!
The Levellers (not the band) were an important faction before and during the English Civil War of the mid-17th century. I studied them, and others, in my degree, and going back over my notes I can't see anything that links them with the tiniest thread within modern Tory political philosophy.
Their manifesto, the "Agreement of the People" was inherently republican and democratic. Just the sort of thing to be supported by the present Tory front-bench!
Friday 12 March 2010
Prince Phillip... the best argument for a Republic
Over the years you think there's little to shock you about the Royal Family, and then along comes Prince Phillip...
Yesterday at a parade in Exeter meeting cadets the following exchange apparently took place.
HRH PP: Hello what do you do then, in your day job?
Cdt ER: I work in a club.
HRH PP: Is it a strip club?
Cdt ER: Er... no.
HRH PP: Probably too cold for that anyway.
To her credit the young cadet laughed it off, but should she have had to?
Why does an octogenarian think it is alright to make sexually suggestive remarks to a young woman?
Yesterday at a parade in Exeter meeting cadets the following exchange apparently took place.
HRH PP: Hello what do you do then, in your day job?
Cdt ER: I work in a club.
HRH PP: Is it a strip club?
Cdt ER: Er... no.
HRH PP: Probably too cold for that anyway.
To her credit the young cadet laughed it off, but should she have had to?
Why does an octogenarian think it is alright to make sexually suggestive remarks to a young woman?
Thursday 11 March 2010
David Cameron... "much more conservative" than the image he projects
Great story in today's Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/with-friends-like-these-tory-leaders-ally-puts-his-foot-in-it-1919447.html) confirming what many of us have said for a long time, namely that David "Tony Blair lite" Cameron is much more conservative by nature than he acts, or than he is forced to be by political expediency.
The man will say and do anything to get into power, and once in the mask will slip and it'll be back to the horribly divided, damaged, and destructive Britain of the 1980s.
The ghost of Thatcher lives on... Oh hold on, she's not yet dead... sorry!
The man will say and do anything to get into power, and once in the mask will slip and it'll be back to the horribly divided, damaged, and destructive Britain of the 1980s.
The ghost of Thatcher lives on... Oh hold on, she's not yet dead... sorry!
Wednesday 10 March 2010
"I'm an Atheist...thank God".
That was one of Dave Allen's sayings. The great Dave Allen who passed away five years back today.
He was one of the most astute observers of human nature, given to point out the absurdities and hypocricies of everyday life especially in religion and and sex.
But all in a gentle and wry way that was actually very thought-provoking. I loved his TV shows and managed to see him perform live once.
To quote him again "Goodnight, thank you, and may your God go with you".
He was one of the most astute observers of human nature, given to point out the absurdities and hypocricies of everyday life especially in religion and and sex.
But all in a gentle and wry way that was actually very thought-provoking. I loved his TV shows and managed to see him perform live once.
To quote him again "Goodnight, thank you, and may your God go with you".
Tuesday 9 March 2010
"It started with Iraq... But [the Lib Dems] have become the natural home for left-liberal Cookites"
Astonishing article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/09/labour-lib-dems-left-cookites) in today's Guardian by John Kampfner (former editor of the New Statesman) charting how massive a disappointment the Labour government of the last dozen years has been and how for anyone of a vaguely left/left-of-centre persuasion the Lib Dems are the NATURAL choice.
Monday 8 March 2010
Happy International Women's Day
Today is the centenary celebration of International Women's Day, and around the world, it is celebrated to mark the economic, political, and social achievements of women.
This year the theme is equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all, and the ICRC is drawing attention to the hardship displaced women endure.
The displacement of populations is one of the gravest consequences of today's wars. It affects women in so many dreadful ways, but far from being helpless victims, women are resourceful, resilient, and courageous in the face of hardship.
Since 2005, the TUC has asked for IWD to be designated a public holiday, and I'd like to support that call.
This year the theme is equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all, and the ICRC is drawing attention to the hardship displaced women endure.
The displacement of populations is one of the gravest consequences of today's wars. It affects women in so many dreadful ways, but far from being helpless victims, women are resourceful, resilient, and courageous in the face of hardship.
Since 2005, the TUC has asked for IWD to be designated a public holiday, and I'd like to support that call.
Sunday 7 March 2010
Red Hot Chili Peppers eat your heart out!
Just back from a family event in Manchester, and shattered.
My eldest is in a band, and they had managed to pass an audition last month to get to the regional finals.
While of course they were the best act there, unfortunately they didn't make the cut to get through to the national finals.
Nil desperandum, we all went off to Chinatown in Manchester and had a great Sìchuānese meal.
My eldest is in a band, and they had managed to pass an audition last month to get to the regional finals.
While of course they were the best act there, unfortunately they didn't make the cut to get through to the national finals.
Nil desperandum, we all went off to Chinatown in Manchester and had a great Sìchuānese meal.
Friday 5 March 2010
Freedom is always the freedom of dissenters - Rosa Luxemburg
UKIP - "To lose one MEP may be regarded as a misfortune; but to lose four..."
News from the wilder shores of sensibilty that ANOTHER UKIP MEP has left the party.
UKIP has a track record of butter-fingeredness towards its MEPs, in the last European Parliament it started with a dozen and finished with nine after two expulsions and a flounce-out by Robert Kilroy-Silk, to form the even madder (though not ironically named Veritas). Now, only a few months into a new European Parliament they've lost another MEP.
I suppose it should come as no surprise, given that the party's founder Alan Sked resigned the leadership and left the party, saying it was "doomed to remain on the political fringes".
Hear, Hear!
UKIP has a track record of butter-fingeredness towards its MEPs, in the last European Parliament it started with a dozen and finished with nine after two expulsions and a flounce-out by Robert Kilroy-Silk, to form the even madder (though not ironically named Veritas). Now, only a few months into a new European Parliament they've lost another MEP.
I suppose it should come as no surprise, given that the party's founder Alan Sked resigned the leadership and left the party, saying it was "doomed to remain on the political fringes".
Hear, Hear!
Thursday 4 March 2010
Tory education plans fundamentally flawed
The Tories’ apparent commitment to a Pupil Premium is totally meaningless unless extra money is put in. Without this money, many schools will see their budgets cut.
This will be even more devastating at a time when public spending will be squeezed, especially as the Tories are already targeting the Education budget for cuts.
It is nonsense to give "freedoms" to some schools, but deny them to others. The Tories' plans to simply rely on the market, without any accountability or local oversight will fail and will have little impact in the vast majority of schools.
Worse still, both the Labour and Tory obsession with academies will mean an eventual end to state education as we know it and a fragmentation that will lead to chaos.
We must enure every child gets an excellent education, not just a lucky few.
This will be even more devastating at a time when public spending will be squeezed, especially as the Tories are already targeting the Education budget for cuts.
It is nonsense to give "freedoms" to some schools, but deny them to others. The Tories' plans to simply rely on the market, without any accountability or local oversight will fail and will have little impact in the vast majority of schools.
Worse still, both the Labour and Tory obsession with academies will mean an eventual end to state education as we know it and a fragmentation that will lead to chaos.
We must enure every child gets an excellent education, not just a lucky few.
Wednesday 3 March 2010
Michael Foot - A man of integrity and honesty
I was devastated to hear of the death of Michael Foot earlier today.
The man was a giant of a figure for those of us in the peace movement and his opposition to nuclear weapons never wavered.
He was a brilliant orator, and an even better author and journalist.
One of my most prized possessions is a signed copy of two volume life of Nye Bevan.
Although I profoundly disagreed with his position on the "Common Market", I respected him on so many different things that I believe one of the most principled and progressive voices on the radical left can genuinely be mourned by almost everyone in the country.
At a time before parliament was televised his speeches made great reading. I thought he was the best person to take over the Labour leadership in 1976 when Harold Wilson stood down.
His leadership of the party came at a particularly difficult time, not helped by the egos of people like David Owen, and although Foot could be particularly cruel to us Liberals. I still retained a fondness for him borne out by the fact that he refused right to the end of taking ANY sort of honour and indeed joining the unelected Second Chamber.
I remember his last speech in the House, when he spoke about the situation in Yugoslavia. He was one of the few to bunk the myth that the Serbs and the Croats had been at each others' throats since time immemorial.
"I do not believe, that the Yugoslav problem represents a recrudescence or revival of what has happened in the area before. Most of the Balkan countries before the Second and the First World Wars were rebelling against foreign imperialism, against outside Governments that tried to impose their will on them. The Austrian Government was the most hated of all; Turkey was another. The people of the Balkans sometimes combined against them.
On top of all the human tragedies taking place in the area we must number the tragedy of the fact that Croats and Serbs have begun fighting each other at all. It is not as if they have often fought before or have just been waiting for a chance to start fighting each other. At times they combined to resist Austrian and then German imperialism, not to mention Turkish imperialism".
He was a Republican, an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society, and a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association, we are all that little bit diminished today.
The man was a giant of a figure for those of us in the peace movement and his opposition to nuclear weapons never wavered.
He was a brilliant orator, and an even better author and journalist.
One of my most prized possessions is a signed copy of two volume life of Nye Bevan.
Although I profoundly disagreed with his position on the "Common Market", I respected him on so many different things that I believe one of the most principled and progressive voices on the radical left can genuinely be mourned by almost everyone in the country.
At a time before parliament was televised his speeches made great reading. I thought he was the best person to take over the Labour leadership in 1976 when Harold Wilson stood down.
His leadership of the party came at a particularly difficult time, not helped by the egos of people like David Owen, and although Foot could be particularly cruel to us Liberals. I still retained a fondness for him borne out by the fact that he refused right to the end of taking ANY sort of honour and indeed joining the unelected Second Chamber.
I remember his last speech in the House, when he spoke about the situation in Yugoslavia. He was one of the few to bunk the myth that the Serbs and the Croats had been at each others' throats since time immemorial.
"I do not believe, that the Yugoslav problem represents a recrudescence or revival of what has happened in the area before. Most of the Balkan countries before the Second and the First World Wars were rebelling against foreign imperialism, against outside Governments that tried to impose their will on them. The Austrian Government was the most hated of all; Turkey was another. The people of the Balkans sometimes combined against them.
On top of all the human tragedies taking place in the area we must number the tragedy of the fact that Croats and Serbs have begun fighting each other at all. It is not as if they have often fought before or have just been waiting for a chance to start fighting each other. At times they combined to resist Austrian and then German imperialism, not to mention Turkish imperialism".
He was a Republican, an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society, and a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association, we are all that little bit diminished today.
Tuesday 2 March 2010
Lord Cashcroft runs the Tories like a "Banana Republic"
My favourite phrase of yesterday's was Chris Huhne likening the Tories to a Banana Republic.
A definition I liked is a "small country, esp. in Central America, that is politically unstable and has an economy dominated by foreign interest, usually dependent on one export, such as bananas".
Spooky isn't it?
The term was originally coined for Honduras in the last century which by happy co-incidence is neighbour to Belize (formerly British Honduras), where Lord Cashcroft resides. Belize's largest employer? Bananas!
The serious point, however, is how much all this money sloshing about in Tory coffers distorts and damages our political life. Given the preponderance of this "loose" money the question has to be asked, "How much are the Tories receiving in Keighley and Ilkley".
A definition I liked is a "small country, esp. in Central America, that is politically unstable and has an economy dominated by foreign interest, usually dependent on one export, such as bananas".
Spooky isn't it?
The term was originally coined for Honduras in the last century which by happy co-incidence is neighbour to Belize (formerly British Honduras), where Lord Cashcroft resides. Belize's largest employer? Bananas!
The serious point, however, is how much all this money sloshing about in Tory coffers distorts and damages our political life. Given the preponderance of this "loose" money the question has to be asked, "How much are the Tories receiving in Keighley and Ilkley".
Monday 1 March 2010
Ashcroft: Non-Dom All-Dim
So Lord Ashcroft owns up after ten years - mind that - surprise, surprise, he is a non-domiciled tax-payer.
The Tories, who were bleating about patriotism but yesterday, are only too happy to take money from someone (actually a law-maker in the Upper House) who loves Britain so much, that he can't be bothered to shoulder his share.
Ashcroft is willing to put in money in marginals like Keighley, to swing the elections but not pay his fair taxes.He's agreed to change his status if the Tories win. How big of him!
Surely another reason to keep well away from the Tories.
It may well be legal, but it sure as hell ain't cricket.
The Tories, who were bleating about patriotism but yesterday, are only too happy to take money from someone (actually a law-maker in the Upper House) who loves Britain so much, that he can't be bothered to shoulder his share.
Ashcroft is willing to put in money in marginals like Keighley, to swing the elections but not pay his fair taxes.He's agreed to change his status if the Tories win. How big of him!
Surely another reason to keep well away from the Tories.
It may well be legal, but it sure as hell ain't cricket.
Dydd Gwŷl Dewi Sant hapus
Bura na mano, Holi hai!
One of the phrases you'll hear in India (were you to be there today) is "it's all right it's Holi".
I must admit the festival of Holi is one of my favourites as it celebrates good harvests and fertility of the land.
Folk go around in high spirits and basically use it as an excuse to shed their inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever.
Teenagers go around flirting and misbehaving in the streets, adults extend the hand of peace, and everyone chases everyone else around, throwing brightly coloured gulal and water over each other.
Then promptly at noon, the fever subsides and everyone heads to home to have a wash and feast on sweets and other goodies, and an exhausted and contented hush falls over the land.
To all my Indian friends, Happy Holi.
I must admit the festival of Holi is one of my favourites as it celebrates good harvests and fertility of the land.
Folk go around in high spirits and basically use it as an excuse to shed their inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever.
Teenagers go around flirting and misbehaving in the streets, adults extend the hand of peace, and everyone chases everyone else around, throwing brightly coloured gulal and water over each other.
Then promptly at noon, the fever subsides and everyone heads to home to have a wash and feast on sweets and other goodies, and an exhausted and contented hush falls over the land.
To all my Indian friends, Happy Holi.
Sunday 28 February 2010
A shameful episode in American history
During the 1950s and the Red Scare period in the States, the country began to turn in on itself and looked for conspiracies where none existed, fearing the rise of a Fifth Column it sought the Enemy Within. Into this dreadful paranoia rode the "Red Baiting" self-appointed saviour Senator Joe McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
A film that beautifully portrays an aspect of that era, namely the blacklisting of writers, actors, and artists, is The Front, starring Woody Allen and Zero Mostel whose birthday it would have been today.
Zero Mostel was a fantastic actor who was in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Waiting for Godot, and of course The Producers.
The Front explores the important issue of what is best for the country versus individual freedom, which is pertinent given the recent case of Binyam Mohamed. The film has classic quotes like, "To be a spy on the side of freedom is an honour" and implies that true patriots are willing to spy on their friends.
It does have a "happy ending" though, and shows that even an amoral character can see through the vileness of groups like HUAC.
What it reminds us however, is that the awful noise of ignorance can sometimes be deafening.
A film that beautifully portrays an aspect of that era, namely the blacklisting of writers, actors, and artists, is The Front, starring Woody Allen and Zero Mostel whose birthday it would have been today.
Zero Mostel was a fantastic actor who was in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Waiting for Godot, and of course The Producers.
The Front explores the important issue of what is best for the country versus individual freedom, which is pertinent given the recent case of Binyam Mohamed. The film has classic quotes like, "To be a spy on the side of freedom is an honour" and implies that true patriots are willing to spy on their friends.
It does have a "happy ending" though, and shows that even an amoral character can see through the vileness of groups like HUAC.
What it reminds us however, is that the awful noise of ignorance can sometimes be deafening.
Saturday 27 February 2010
Happy Birthday Paddy
As an executive member of Union of Liberal Students I went to Liberal Assembly in Margate hundreds of years ago.At a fringe meeting about something or other, I heard an extremely articulate young man who was the PPC for some West Country constituency, and thought he'll go far.
His slightly militaristic bearing was a tad anomalous given the peacenik mood of everyone else present, as was his dress sense, cords and brogues.
Well gentle reader, you won't be surprised to hear that that young (!) man was none other than Jeremy John Durham Ashdown aka Paddy, whose birthday it is today.
I think that he was the right leader to lead us after the disastrous "fling" with the SDP and helped steady the ship.
So thanks Paddy and many happy returns.
His slightly militaristic bearing was a tad anomalous given the peacenik mood of everyone else present, as was his dress sense, cords and brogues.
Well gentle reader, you won't be surprised to hear that that young (!) man was none other than Jeremy John Durham Ashdown aka Paddy, whose birthday it is today.
I think that he was the right leader to lead us after the disastrous "fling" with the SDP and helped steady the ship.
So thanks Paddy and many happy returns.
Thursday 25 February 2010
John Arlott and The Little Master
Yesterday, Sachin Tendulkar became the first man to hit 200 in a One Day International yesterday, and it made me think of the great John Arlott whose birthday it would have been today.
The man's mellifulous tones were the sound of summer when I was growing up. He had a wonderfully poetic phraseology and had marvellous gift for evoking magical moments in cricket.
The pleasure of watching Test Match cricket, with the sound turned off and the radio on was inestimable.
In the 1940s, he went to South Africa and condemned the apartheid policy. When filling in an immigration form, which required him to declare his race, he wrote "human".
He was a humanitarian and great Liberal standing as a parliamentary candidate for Epping in 1955 and 1959.
The man's mellifulous tones were the sound of summer when I was growing up. He had a wonderfully poetic phraseology and had marvellous gift for evoking magical moments in cricket.
The pleasure of watching Test Match cricket, with the sound turned off and the radio on was inestimable.
In the 1940s, he went to South Africa and condemned the apartheid policy. When filling in an immigration form, which required him to declare his race, he wrote "human".
He was a humanitarian and great Liberal standing as a parliamentary candidate for Epping in 1955 and 1959.
Tuesday 23 February 2010
23-F - El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!
Thirty years ago today, I was glued to the TV watching the Nine O'clock News on the Beeb reporting the attempted coup in Spain.
Later, on Newsnight, Peter Snow described the earlier events when a group of armed Guardia Civil stormed the Cortes, their leader, Antonio Tejero, waving a pistol about and telling 350 MPs to sit down.
One of three MPs to openly defy the gun-wielding goons, Santiago Carrillo (leader of the Communists) just sat in his chair smoking a cigarette.
The whole event was over by dawn the following morning when the plotters realised they had no support, after King Juan Carlos had gone on air to denounce the coup and urging the maintenance of law and the continuance of the democratically elected government.
But it showed how fragile a bloom democracy was, and how with the help of other Western European countries (later, through the European Union) it could be nurtured and strengthened.
Oh and Tejero? He got 15 years.
El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido! The people united will never be defeated!
Later, on Newsnight, Peter Snow described the earlier events when a group of armed Guardia Civil stormed the Cortes, their leader, Antonio Tejero, waving a pistol about and telling 350 MPs to sit down.
One of three MPs to openly defy the gun-wielding goons, Santiago Carrillo (leader of the Communists) just sat in his chair smoking a cigarette.
The whole event was over by dawn the following morning when the plotters realised they had no support, after King Juan Carlos had gone on air to denounce the coup and urging the maintenance of law and the continuance of the democratically elected government.
But it showed how fragile a bloom democracy was, and how with the help of other Western European countries (later, through the European Union) it could be nurtured and strengthened.
Oh and Tejero? He got 15 years.
El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido! The people united will never be defeated!
Friday 19 February 2010
The Government must not pander to homophobia and ignorance
The Government’s decision to allow faith schools to teach sex education "in a way that reflects the school’s religious character", is an unwelcome and undesirable turn of events.
Labour has already given an opt-out from sex and relationship education up to age 15. This move will further dilute the information that all young people should be entitled to, before they reach the age of consent.
State-funded schools must not put their own spin on sex and relationship education.
The Government must not pander to homophobia or to those who want young people kept in ignorance.
Labour has already given an opt-out from sex and relationship education up to age 15. This move will further dilute the information that all young people should be entitled to, before they reach the age of consent.
State-funded schools must not put their own spin on sex and relationship education.
The Government must not pander to homophobia or to those who want young people kept in ignorance.
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Dort wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen
Heliocentrism vs. Geocentrism
Nowadays, when we hear of religious intolerance, most folk tend to think of Islam, forgetting that Christianity and Judaism among others have not had a terribly glorious past (or present) in their acceptance of heterodoxy.
On this day in 1600, the astronomer Giordano Bruno, was burned at the stake by the Inquisition after being found guilty of heresy.
Inspired by Copernicus, he argued for an infinite universe, with our sun as merely one of an infinite number of independent heavenly bodies. Something that we now take for granted.
Science offers us as much awe and wonderment as any religion ever can, as the espousal of the heliocentric cosmology shows.
It is the lot of humankind to forever be seeking answers to “unknowable” questions, which is why immutable dogma and superstition will always lose out to science and enlightenment.
On this day in 1600, the astronomer Giordano Bruno, was burned at the stake by the Inquisition after being found guilty of heresy.
Inspired by Copernicus, he argued for an infinite universe, with our sun as merely one of an infinite number of independent heavenly bodies. Something that we now take for granted.
Science offers us as much awe and wonderment as any religion ever can, as the espousal of the heliocentric cosmology shows.
It is the lot of humankind to forever be seeking answers to “unknowable” questions, which is why immutable dogma and superstition will always lose out to science and enlightenment.
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Tories out of touch with the real world
The Tories have recently claimed that more than half of all girls in deprived areas fall pregnant before their 18th birthday.
The claim is at best inept and at worst, totally bonkers.
The Tories are so out of touch with family life in Britain that they believe over half of teenage girls in the poorest areas fall pregnant, our town and cities are more like The Wire, and that folk will get married for a few extra quid.
If they really believe Britain is like this, it’s amazing that Tory MPs can pluck up the courage to leave their mansions.
"They should lower their drawbridges, spend less time tending their moats and duck houses, and join the rest of us in the real world", so said Danny Alexander, and I totally agree with him.
The claim is at best inept and at worst, totally bonkers.
The Tories are so out of touch with family life in Britain that they believe over half of teenage girls in the poorest areas fall pregnant, our town and cities are more like The Wire, and that folk will get married for a few extra quid.
If they really believe Britain is like this, it’s amazing that Tory MPs can pluck up the courage to leave their mansions.
"They should lower their drawbridges, spend less time tending their moats and duck houses, and join the rest of us in the real world", so said Danny Alexander, and I totally agree with him.
Monday 15 February 2010
Gong Hei Fat Choi
Happy Chinese New Year, year of the Metal Tiger.
We're off to Chinatown in Manchester for lunch later today for some dim sum. Yum Yum!
Another thing to commemorate today is the formal use of the term The Labour Party on this day in 1906 by MPs of the Labour Representation Committee.
An interesting footnote was the election of Keir Hardie, as Chairman of the PLP, by one vote over David Shackleton, "The Lancashire Giant".
We're off to Chinatown in Manchester for lunch later today for some dim sum. Yum Yum!
Another thing to commemorate today is the formal use of the term The Labour Party on this day in 1906 by MPs of the Labour Representation Committee.
An interesting footnote was the election of Keir Hardie, as Chairman of the PLP, by one vote over David Shackleton, "The Lancashire Giant".
Sunday 14 February 2010
The BNP the long slide to oblivion
In his early stand-up routines Woody Allen had a skit which went something along the lines of, "We were married by a Reform rabbi in Long Island. A VERY Reform rabbi. A Nazi".
Which brings me to the BNP and their constitution on which they are voting today. Apparently it is to vote to lift the ban on membership on "non-indigenous Caucasians".
They have lined up a sadly-deluded Sikh "Uncle Tom" by the name of Rajinder Singh "the honour of becoming the first ethnic minority member".
Of course, there is the entryist option as practiced by the Militant tendency and the Labour party in the 1970s and early 1980s, namely that thousands of people from various ethnic minorities apply to join en masse and then take over the BNP from within.
Better yet, for that same thousands to apply for jobs with the BNP here and especially in Brussels and when refused to take them to employment and industrial tribunals.
A bit of mischief-making in politics can only help show how odious and ultimately ridiculous the British Nazi Party is.
Which brings me to the BNP and their constitution on which they are voting today. Apparently it is to vote to lift the ban on membership on "non-indigenous Caucasians".
They have lined up a sadly-deluded Sikh "Uncle Tom" by the name of Rajinder Singh "the honour of becoming the first ethnic minority member".
Of course, there is the entryist option as practiced by the Militant tendency and the Labour party in the 1970s and early 1980s, namely that thousands of people from various ethnic minorities apply to join en masse and then take over the BNP from within.
Better yet, for that same thousands to apply for jobs with the BNP here and especially in Brussels and when refused to take them to employment and industrial tribunals.
A bit of mischief-making in politics can only help show how odious and ultimately ridiculous the British Nazi Party is.
Saturday 13 February 2010
Greece, Liberty, and Democracy
One of my favourite films is "Z" directed by Costa Gavras, starring Yves Montand, Jean-Louis Trintignant, and Irene Papas based on the book of the same name by Vassilis Vassilikos.
It tells the story of the toppling of the democratic government in Greece. A liberal politician (Montand) is murdered at an anti-nuclear demo, the right- wing military and the police try to cover up the murder and their complicity in it.
It is powerful, tense, and riveting... beautifully acted, deftly directed, with a haunting soundtrack by Mikis Theodorakis.
Which brings me to the problems in Greece today and the EU's response.
Whilst many commentators are gloating over the situation and have recommended leaving Greece to sink. I'd like to remind folk who may have forgotten that it was not that long ago when Greece was under the yoke of a military dictatorship.
It was joining the European Union (then EEC) that helped to nurture, nourish, and nurse that fragile flower, democracy, in the land that gave us the word and indeed the concept.
So when Europhobes say they want us to withdraw from the EU complaining that they were duped and only wanted to join an economic market, I say that only shows the paucity of their imagination.
In fact the idea of an ever-closer union is not only exciting and attractive but vital to our national and international interests and the greater cause of freedom in an ever-globalised world.
To finish with a quote from the film, "The military banned long hair; mini-skirts; Sophocles; Tolstoy; Euripedes; smashing glasses after drinking toasts; strikes; Aristophanes; Ionesco; Sartre; The Beatles; Albee; Pinter; freedom of the press; sociology; Beckett; Dostoyevsky; Gorky; modern music; popular music; the new mathematics; and the letter "Z", which in ancient Greek means 'He is alive!'".
It tells the story of the toppling of the democratic government in Greece. A liberal politician (Montand) is murdered at an anti-nuclear demo, the right- wing military and the police try to cover up the murder and their complicity in it.
It is powerful, tense, and riveting... beautifully acted, deftly directed, with a haunting soundtrack by Mikis Theodorakis.
Which brings me to the problems in Greece today and the EU's response.
Whilst many commentators are gloating over the situation and have recommended leaving Greece to sink. I'd like to remind folk who may have forgotten that it was not that long ago when Greece was under the yoke of a military dictatorship.
It was joining the European Union (then EEC) that helped to nurture, nourish, and nurse that fragile flower, democracy, in the land that gave us the word and indeed the concept.
So when Europhobes say they want us to withdraw from the EU complaining that they were duped and only wanted to join an economic market, I say that only shows the paucity of their imagination.
In fact the idea of an ever-closer union is not only exciting and attractive but vital to our national and international interests and the greater cause of freedom in an ever-globalised world.
To finish with a quote from the film, "The military banned long hair; mini-skirts; Sophocles; Tolstoy; Euripedes; smashing glasses after drinking toasts; strikes; Aristophanes; Ionesco; Sartre; The Beatles; Albee; Pinter; freedom of the press; sociology; Beckett; Dostoyevsky; Gorky; modern music; popular music; the new mathematics; and the letter "Z", which in ancient Greek means 'He is alive!'".
Friday 12 February 2010
Red Hand Day
Today is Red Hand Day, which seeks to draw attention to the fates of child soldiers, children who are forced to serve as soldiers in wars and armed conflicts.
The aim is to call for action against this vile practice, and to support children who suffer from this awful child abuse.
Children have been used as soldiers in armed conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, SE Asia, and Latin America.Some quarter of a million children are being brutalised in this fashion across the globe.
The main focus of the work done by more than a hundred organisations inluding UNICEF, MSF, AI, the Red Cross & Red Crescent is to disarm, demobilise, and re-integrate these often-traumatised children.More power to their elbow.
The aim is to call for action against this vile practice, and to support children who suffer from this awful child abuse.
Children have been used as soldiers in armed conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, SE Asia, and Latin America.Some quarter of a million children are being brutalised in this fashion across the globe.
The main focus of the work done by more than a hundred organisations inluding UNICEF, MSF, AI, the Red Cross & Red Crescent is to disarm, demobilise, and re-integrate these often-traumatised children.More power to their elbow.
Thursday 11 February 2010
Auntie and Mandela
There's an "ad" running at present on the Beeb showing a series of vignettes with various people glued to their telly/radio watching/listening transfixed as the relevant commentary intones things like, President Kennedy being shot, Man on the moon, etc., the tagline being, “where were you when you heard the news”.
Well twenty years ago today I was in Manchester watching the box, waiting for the release of Nelson Mandela, it was running about an hour late.
When it did happen, it still seemed very surreal, but utterly awe-inspiring. After nearly three decades in prison, the man whom most people acknowledge (we hope) as the Father of the Nation was freed at last, and armed guards escorted him to a crowd of many thousands.
It was a great day, and great coverage from Auntie!
I for one do not see any benefit to be gained from the (virtually) daily outpouring of bile against the Beeb from the right-wing press, for were the BBC to go, we would stand to lose so much more!
Well twenty years ago today I was in Manchester watching the box, waiting for the release of Nelson Mandela, it was running about an hour late.
When it did happen, it still seemed very surreal, but utterly awe-inspiring. After nearly three decades in prison, the man whom most people acknowledge (we hope) as the Father of the Nation was freed at last, and armed guards escorted him to a crowd of many thousands.
It was a great day, and great coverage from Auntie!
I for one do not see any benefit to be gained from the (virtually) daily outpouring of bile against the Beeb from the right-wing press, for were the BBC to go, we would stand to lose so much more!
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Hold your Hour
Today is the anniversary of the birth of one of my favourite authors, Brendan Behan.
I first came across his work when at university, a friend gave me a copy of Borstal Boy, and a few weeks later I went to see a student production of The Hostage.
Both works are incredibly individual and I would urge anyone reading this to read both and if you get a chance to see the latter or indeed his other play The Quare Fellow.
The Hostage was written in Gaelic and Behan himself translated it into English. It shows the detention, in a teeming Dublin house of ill repute, of a craftless cockney British conscript seized by the IRA as a hostage pending the scheduled execution in Belfast of an unseen IRA volunteer.
The hostage falls in love with the maid who promises not to forget him. In the end, the hostage dies accidentally during a bungled Gardai raid, shot by the police.
The main themes of the play are innocence and power, the arbitrary nature of authority, and the human cost of war.
I first came across his work when at university, a friend gave me a copy of Borstal Boy, and a few weeks later I went to see a student production of The Hostage.
Both works are incredibly individual and I would urge anyone reading this to read both and if you get a chance to see the latter or indeed his other play The Quare Fellow.
The Hostage was written in Gaelic and Behan himself translated it into English. It shows the detention, in a teeming Dublin house of ill repute, of a craftless cockney British conscript seized by the IRA as a hostage pending the scheduled execution in Belfast of an unseen IRA volunteer.
The hostage falls in love with the maid who promises not to forget him. In the end, the hostage dies accidentally during a bungled Gardai raid, shot by the police.
The main themes of the play are innocence and power, the arbitrary nature of authority, and the human cost of war.
Monday 8 February 2010
£63bn PFI bill for the NHS
The NHS is facing a £63bn bill for PFI hospitals which are only worth a fraction of that.
The NHS still owes £58bn on more than a hundred PFI contracts over the next three decades, and will have to pay back more than £7bn in PFI payments over the next Parliament alone (2010-2015).
This is the disastrous reality of Labour’s managemant of the NHS. We’re in one of the most difficult financial periods in the NHS’s history and this Government’s legacy will be a mountain of debt. Despite the huge sums of money we owe for these hospitals, many will never end up in public hands. Hospitals all over the country are mortgaged to the hilt and there are serious concerns that these repayments will lead to cuts in vital services.
We need a new approach to public services in this country. By setting up an infrastructure bank we Lib Dems will ensure that key projects get access to the funding they need to revitalise our economy.
We Lib Dems will change how the NHS works so that patients come first and money goes further.
The NHS still owes £58bn on more than a hundred PFI contracts over the next three decades, and will have to pay back more than £7bn in PFI payments over the next Parliament alone (2010-2015).
This is the disastrous reality of Labour’s managemant of the NHS. We’re in one of the most difficult financial periods in the NHS’s history and this Government’s legacy will be a mountain of debt. Despite the huge sums of money we owe for these hospitals, many will never end up in public hands. Hospitals all over the country are mortgaged to the hilt and there are serious concerns that these repayments will lead to cuts in vital services.
We need a new approach to public services in this country. By setting up an infrastructure bank we Lib Dems will ensure that key projects get access to the funding they need to revitalise our economy.
We Lib Dems will change how the NHS works so that patients come first and money goes further.
Saturday 6 February 2010
Britain not "broken" - Tories wrong again
In this week's Economist there are two powerful pieces, "It has become fashionable to say that British society is in a mess and getting worse. It isn’t" and "Crime, family break-up, drunks and drugs: the Conservatives, and apparently plenty of voters, think that Britain has a “broken society”. Does the claim stand up?" that well and truly scotch the Tories' dangerously seductive narrative of "Broken Britain" and go on to argue that in fact it could be a calamitous misdiagnosis of the state of affairs.
They go on to conclude that, "Britain has a crunched economy, an out-of-control deficit and plenty of social problems; but it is not 'broken'".
Lib Dems like me concur wholeheartedly.
They go on to conclude that, "Britain has a crunched economy, an out-of-control deficit and plenty of social problems; but it is not 'broken'".
Lib Dems like me concur wholeheartedly.
Friday 5 February 2010
BoJo - More Rigoletto than Feste
In my previous post, I said that Boris Johnson was acting the Court Jester at the Court of King Cameron.
I should clarify and say that I had in mind Rigoletto (although I am no way suggesting that he is capable of hiring an assassin to murder his master), rather than Feste in Twelfth Night, a jester "wise enough to play the fool".
Of course my favourite court jester was the film of the same name starring Danny Kaye: The chalice from the palace have the pellet with the poison? No, the pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle.
I should clarify and say that I had in mind Rigoletto (although I am no way suggesting that he is capable of hiring an assassin to murder his master), rather than Feste in Twelfth Night, a jester "wise enough to play the fool".
Of course my favourite court jester was the film of the same name starring Danny Kaye: The chalice from the palace have the pellet with the poison? No, the pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle.
BoJo - More Rigoletto than Feste
In my previous post, I said that Boris Johnson was acting the Court Jester at the Court of King Cameron.
I should clarify and say that I had in mind Rigoletto (although I am no way suggesting that he is capable of hiring an assassin to murder his master), rather than Feste in Twelfth Night, a jester "wise enough to play the fool".
Tories: Soft on Crime - Soft in the head
As a sitting magistrate, I generally do not like to comment on "Crime and Punishment" issues.
I do not want in anyway to compromise (or give the impression) my impartiality and independence.
However, figures put out by the Tory Shadow Home Secretary alleging that violent crime had risen sharply under Labour, and their subsequent rebuttal by Sir Michael Scholar (chair of the UK Statistics Authority), I feel, needs a comment.
I don't mind when politicians get it wrong, we all do, but by giving an exaggerated picture of the "growth" of violent crime up and down the country, they are playing fast and loose with the public's feeling of security and safety, and indeed wrongly worsening their perception of "broken Britain", for party political gain.
Which brings me to a story about BoJo (Mayor of London, Court Jester to the Court of King Cameron) wanting to cut the number of police officers by 500-ish in the capital, despite him campaigning for election on making crime-fighting his top priority.
This would be the first major cut in police numbers in London since policing was devolved a decade ago.
You simply cannot have the wannabe Tory Home Secretary stoking up people's fears about violent crime on the one hand, and the most powerful elected Tory reducing police numbers on the other.
They are a shambles, and should not be allowed to to ru(i)n the country after the next general election.
I do not want in anyway to compromise (or give the impression) my impartiality and independence.
However, figures put out by the Tory Shadow Home Secretary alleging that violent crime had risen sharply under Labour, and their subsequent rebuttal by Sir Michael Scholar (chair of the UK Statistics Authority), I feel, needs a comment.
I don't mind when politicians get it wrong, we all do, but by giving an exaggerated picture of the "growth" of violent crime up and down the country, they are playing fast and loose with the public's feeling of security and safety, and indeed wrongly worsening their perception of "broken Britain", for party political gain.
Which brings me to a story about BoJo (Mayor of London, Court Jester to the Court of King Cameron) wanting to cut the number of police officers by 500-ish in the capital, despite him campaigning for election on making crime-fighting his top priority.
This would be the first major cut in police numbers in London since policing was devolved a decade ago.
You simply cannot have the wannabe Tory Home Secretary stoking up people's fears about violent crime on the one hand, and the most powerful elected Tory reducing police numbers on the other.
They are a shambles, and should not be allowed to to ru(i)n the country after the next general election.
Thursday 4 February 2010
Spending cuts should be based on economic indicators, not Tory dogma
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has produced a report today saying that there is still massive uncertainty over the outlook for the British economy.
It is critical that the Government has a plan to tackle the public finances which is flexible enough to adapt to the changing economic situation.
The IFS rightly points out that cutting spending further this year would be extremely dangerous given the weakness of the economy.
Not surprisingly, the Tories are now desperately trying to play down their desire to do just that.
When, and by how much, public spending needs to be cut must be based on economic indicators, not Tory political dogma.
It is critical that the Government has a plan to tackle the public finances which is flexible enough to adapt to the changing economic situation.
The IFS rightly points out that cutting spending further this year would be extremely dangerous given the weakness of the economy.
Not surprisingly, the Tories are now desperately trying to play down their desire to do just that.
When, and by how much, public spending needs to be cut must be based on economic indicators, not Tory political dogma.
Não se muda já como soía
And if there had been more of the world, They would have reached it.
So wrote Luís de Camões in the 16th century in the Lusiads, an epic poem celebrating the voyages of Vasco de Gama in Homeric fashion.
The Lusiads are Portugal's national epic, much in the way as Virgil's Aeneid, Ferdowi's Shahnameh, or indeed Homer's Odyssey
So wrote Luís de Camões in the 16th century in the Lusiads, an epic poem celebrating the voyages of Vasco de Gama in Homeric fashion.
The Lusiads are Portugal's national epic, much in the way as Virgil's Aeneid, Ferdowi's Shahnameh, or indeed Homer's Odyssey
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Blowin' in the wind...
It is fifty years now since PM Harold Macmillan, at a speech in Cape Town, said, “The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact”.
This speech at the time, and since, has always been used as an example of the pragmatic attitude of the "modern" Conservative party.
For me however, the key phrase is "Whether we like it or not", of course, we like it!
Amandla!
This speech at the time, and since, has always been used as an example of the pragmatic attitude of the "modern" Conservative party.
For me however, the key phrase is "Whether we like it or not", of course, we like it!
Amandla!
Tuesday 2 February 2010
The Hills Report on Equality in Britain
I really am at a loss as to explain how the Tories are going to fix this "Broken Britain" they keep banging on about.But then again, I'm not alone, it seems that they don't either.
They vacillate between Senna the Soothsayer in Up Pompeii ("Woe, Woe, and thrice Woe") and Private Frazer in Dad's Army ("We're doomed") to merrily chanting "Here we go gathering cuts in May, On a cold and frosty morning".
As we know when you have cuts in the public sector, unless done sensitively, and not swingeingly, it is those at the bottom end of society who disproportionately suffer most.
The Hills report "An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK" shows that the richest 10% are more than 100 times as wealthy as the poorest 10%.
Are the Tories going to set this right? Are they heck as like. They started the trend with Mrs Thatcher.
Lib Dem policies of raising the tax threshold to £10k, and the "mansion tax" on properties over £2m will benefit four million poorer people and pensioners.
What do the Tories propose? A tax cut for the RICHEST 3,000.
Get your priorities right, eh?
They vacillate between Senna the Soothsayer in Up Pompeii ("Woe, Woe, and thrice Woe") and Private Frazer in Dad's Army ("We're doomed") to merrily chanting "Here we go gathering cuts in May, On a cold and frosty morning".
As we know when you have cuts in the public sector, unless done sensitively, and not swingeingly, it is those at the bottom end of society who disproportionately suffer most.
The Hills report "An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK" shows that the richest 10% are more than 100 times as wealthy as the poorest 10%.
Are the Tories going to set this right? Are they heck as like. They started the trend with Mrs Thatcher.
Lib Dem policies of raising the tax threshold to £10k, and the "mansion tax" on properties over £2m will benefit four million poorer people and pensioners.
What do the Tories propose? A tax cut for the RICHEST 3,000.
Get your priorities right, eh?
Monday 1 February 2010
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Today marks the day when slavery was officially abolished in the United States.
President Lincoln was concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation would be seen as a temporary war measure and so the amendment was a means of guaranteeing the permanent abolition of slavery.
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
The US has been, is, and can be capable of achieving great things in the name of freedom, but when it gets it wrong...
Today we should celebrate!
President Lincoln was concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation would be seen as a temporary war measure and so the amendment was a means of guaranteeing the permanent abolition of slavery.
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
The US has been, is, and can be capable of achieving great things in the name of freedom, but when it gets it wrong...
Today we should celebrate!
Sunday 31 January 2010
Is Cameron really Winnie the Pooh?
A. A. Milne who created all the creatures of Hundred Acre Wood, seems to have been a prescient political commentator.
In The House at Pooh Corner written in 1928, we read the following exchange.
"I've got a sort of idea", said Pooh at last, "but I don't suppose it's a very good one".
"I don't suppose it is either", said Eeyore.
Now all you have to do is replace Pooh with Cameron and Eeyore with the British electorate, and you'll see what I mean.
The poor man is desperately caught between saying what he thinks he needs to to get elected, and needing to say what he must to keep the rabid-right in his own party happy.
Actually, I've got it he's Edward Scissorhands good-looking misunderstood boy who has to "cut, cut, cut" despite himself.
In The House at Pooh Corner written in 1928, we read the following exchange.
"I've got a sort of idea", said Pooh at last, "but I don't suppose it's a very good one".
"I don't suppose it is either", said Eeyore.
Now all you have to do is replace Pooh with Cameron and Eeyore with the British electorate, and you'll see what I mean.
The poor man is desperately caught between saying what he thinks he needs to to get elected, and needing to say what he must to keep the rabid-right in his own party happy.
Actually, I've got it he's Edward Scissorhands good-looking misunderstood boy who has to "cut, cut, cut" despite himself.
Saturday 30 January 2010
Avogadro - 10:23
Earlier today, I had intended to join a demonstration outside our local Boots in Leeds to protest at their sale of homeopathic products.
Recently, Boots gave evidence to Parliament that they did not believe that homeopathy actually works, but were selling it because their customers "believe" it works.
This is unethical at best and exploitative at worst, all for the sake of profits that even old John Boot would baulk at, shame on you Boots.
Avogadro - 10:23
Earlier today, I had intended to join a demonstration outside our local Boots in Leeds to protest at their sale of homeopathic products.
Recently, Boots gave evidence to Parliament that they did not believe that homeopathy actually works, but were selling it because their customers "believe" it works.
This is unethical at best and exploitative at worst, all for the sake of profits that even old John Boot would baulk at, shame on you Boots.
Recently, Boots gave evidence to Parliament that they did not believe that homeopathy actually works, but were selling it because their customers "believe" it works.
This is unethical at best and exploitative at worst, all for the sake of profits that even old John Boot would baulk at, shame on you Boots.
"The light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere"
The above words were spoken by Jawaharlal Nehru on the occasion of the assassination of the Mahatma, Gandhi on this day back in 1948.
I am a follower of Gandhi's principle of ahimsa or non-violence which is a belief in, and strategy for social change.
This does not mean simply a passive acceptance of oppression, rather we put great emphasis on information, education, and persuasion, as well as civil disobedience and direct action to attain lasting change.
I am a follower of Gandhi's principle of ahimsa or non-violence which is a belief in, and strategy for social change.
This does not mean simply a passive acceptance of oppression, rather we put great emphasis on information, education, and persuasion, as well as civil disobedience and direct action to attain lasting change.
Friday 29 January 2010
Lady with the Little Dog
Late last night/early this morning I waxed (rather too) lyrical about a Russian painting by Savrasov.
This afternoon, on the BBC iPlayer I caught up with a Woman's Hour dramatisation of an Anton Chekhov short story called Lady with the Little Dog, jolly fine adaptation it was too.
It reminded me of the film version that I'd seen in the early 1970s on the BBC2's World Cinema season. The film, dama s sobachkoy, was a delightful and poignant portrayal of a doomed love affair between two people already married, which reminded me so much of David Lean's Brief Encounter.
Much of my love for and knowlege of cinema was sparked in many ways by that series. I felt that the BBC lived up to its Reithian ideals of to "inform, educate, and entertain".
I strongly, passionately believe in the BBC both TV and, probably even more so, radio, which is why I am aghast at the constant attacks on it by the Tories and the rest of the "right-wing goon squad".
I am under no illusion that the given half a chance, they would carve up the BBC and sell of the more "profitable" bits to the likes of their chums including News Corp(se) and one Rupert Murdoch Esq.
This corporation who maintain a myriad of subsidiaries in low-tax havens like the Cayman Islands, the Netherlands Antilles, and the British Virgin Islands, simply to avoid paying its dues in a civilised society.
As far back as the 1990s, The Economist magazine was reporting that they were probably paying only one-fifth/one-sixth of the taxes they should worldwide, and NONE in Britain. Matters have not improved!
The BBC is part of the cultural fabric of this country having given so much to enrich us (as well as some duffers Kilroy, Dog Borstal, Kilroy...).
What has Murdoch given us? Oh yes, Page 3 of the Sun.
This afternoon, on the BBC iPlayer I caught up with a Woman's Hour dramatisation of an Anton Chekhov short story called Lady with the Little Dog, jolly fine adaptation it was too.
It reminded me of the film version that I'd seen in the early 1970s on the BBC2's World Cinema season. The film, dama s sobachkoy, was a delightful and poignant portrayal of a doomed love affair between two people already married, which reminded me so much of David Lean's Brief Encounter.
Much of my love for and knowlege of cinema was sparked in many ways by that series. I felt that the BBC lived up to its Reithian ideals of to "inform, educate, and entertain".
I strongly, passionately believe in the BBC both TV and, probably even more so, radio, which is why I am aghast at the constant attacks on it by the Tories and the rest of the "right-wing goon squad".
I am under no illusion that the given half a chance, they would carve up the BBC and sell of the more "profitable" bits to the likes of their chums including News Corp(se) and one Rupert Murdoch Esq.
This corporation who maintain a myriad of subsidiaries in low-tax havens like the Cayman Islands, the Netherlands Antilles, and the British Virgin Islands, simply to avoid paying its dues in a civilised society.
As far back as the 1990s, The Economist magazine was reporting that they were probably paying only one-fifth/one-sixth of the taxes they should worldwide, and NONE in Britain. Matters have not improved!
The BBC is part of the cultural fabric of this country having given so much to enrich us (as well as some duffers Kilroy, Dog Borstal, Kilroy...).
What has Murdoch given us? Oh yes, Page 3 of the Sun.
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
It was me at my wretched keyboard!
I know, it's gone half past three and I just can't go to sleep, so I've come down to make myself a cup of tea and hopefully relax and go back to bed.
I'm teaching tomorrow.
The lines above (the first three) are from The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe, and are possibly some of the most famous lines in American poetry.
There was a brilliant parody in an early Simpsons episode.
Actually I've got rather a soft spot for members of the corvidae family.
One of my favourite paintings is one by Alexei Savrasov called Грачи прилетели or The Rooks Have Come Back. It shows a rather horribly bleak wintry snow-laden landscape with what looks like dozens of carrion crows ready to pick at some dead thing.
In fact, in Russian literature and poetry their return indicates that they are to make their nests in the birch trees, and so heralding spring.
Which all goes to show how we can all misinterpret signs whether literary, cultural or indeed economic.
So now that the figures show that we are starting to come out of recession, only a fool (or indeed a Tory) would suggest we should make cuts in the public sector straight away.
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
It was me at my wretched keyboard!
I know, it's gone half past three and I just can't go to sleep, so I've come down to make myself a cup of tea and hopefully relax and go back to bed.
I'm teaching tomorrow.
The lines above (the first three) are from The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe, and are possibly some of the most famous lines in American poetry.
There was a brilliant parody in an early Simpsons episode.
Actually I've got rather a soft spot for members of the corvidae family.
One of my favourite paintings is one by Alexei Savrasov called Грачи прилетели or The Rooks Have Come Back. It shows a rather horribly bleak wintry snow-laden landscape with what looks like dozens of carrion crows ready to pick at some dead thing.
In fact, in Russian literature and poetry their return indicates that they are to make their nests in the birch trees, and so heralding spring.
Which all goes to show how we can all misinterpret signs whether literary, cultural or indeed economic.
So now that the figures show that we are starting to come out of recession, only a fool (or indeed a Tory) would suggest we should make cuts in the public sector straight away.
Thursday 28 January 2010
Richest 10% now 100 times better off than poorest!
Does any more actually need to be said about the greatest failure of this LABOUR government? I don't think so!
But don't be fooled into thinking the Tories would be any better, after all their only tax promise to date is to slash tax for the richest 3,000.
Disraeli must be spinning in his grave, wondering why he bothered writing Sybil, or The Two Nations.
But don't be fooled into thinking the Tories would be any better, after all their only tax promise to date is to slash tax for the richest 3,000.
Disraeli must be spinning in his grave, wondering why he bothered writing Sybil, or The Two Nations.
Wednesday 27 January 2010
Holocaust Memorial Day - We value a free, tolerant, and democratic society
Later on today I and my family shall be part of a torch-lit procession in commemoration of the Holocaust, the event is entitled Peace, Hope, and Light.
This is one of the most important days of the year as far as I am concerned, both the horrors of the Holocaust and its legacy should never be forgotten.
Although other genocides have been committed whether in Armenia, or Rwanda, or even in Darfur, nevertheless the systematic and legalised attempt at the extermination of the Jews and the Roma stands as a low watermark in human atrocity.
I can only concur wholeheartedly with a statement of commitment issued by the United Nations in 2004, which said:
* We recognise that the Holocaust shook the foundations of modern civilisation. Its unprecedented character and horror will always hold universal meaning.
* We believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our collective memory. We honour the survivors still with us, and reaffirm our shared goals of mutual understanding and justice.
* We must ensure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences. We vow to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and of all genocide.
* We value the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives to protect or rescue victims, as a touchstone of the human capacity for good in the face of evil.
* We recognise that humanity is still scarred by the belief that race, religion, disability, or sexuality make some people's lives worth less than others'. Genocide, antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination still continue. We have a shared responsibility to fight these evils.
* We pledge to strengthen our efforts to promote education and research about the Holocaust and other genocide. We shall do our utmost to make sure that the lessons of such events are fully learnt.
* We shall continue to encourage Holocaust remembrance by holding an annual Holocaust Memorial Day. We condemn the evils of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. We value a free, tolerant, and democratic society.
This is one of the most important days of the year as far as I am concerned, both the horrors of the Holocaust and its legacy should never be forgotten.
Although other genocides have been committed whether in Armenia, or Rwanda, or even in Darfur, nevertheless the systematic and legalised attempt at the extermination of the Jews and the Roma stands as a low watermark in human atrocity.
I can only concur wholeheartedly with a statement of commitment issued by the United Nations in 2004, which said:
* We recognise that the Holocaust shook the foundations of modern civilisation. Its unprecedented character and horror will always hold universal meaning.
* We believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our collective memory. We honour the survivors still with us, and reaffirm our shared goals of mutual understanding and justice.
* We must ensure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences. We vow to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and of all genocide.
* We value the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives to protect or rescue victims, as a touchstone of the human capacity for good in the face of evil.
* We recognise that humanity is still scarred by the belief that race, religion, disability, or sexuality make some people's lives worth less than others'. Genocide, antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination still continue. We have a shared responsibility to fight these evils.
* We pledge to strengthen our efforts to promote education and research about the Holocaust and other genocide. We shall do our utmost to make sure that the lessons of such events are fully learnt.
* We shall continue to encourage Holocaust remembrance by holding an annual Holocaust Memorial Day. We condemn the evils of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. We value a free, tolerant, and democratic society.
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Labour has run out of ideas on child poverty
Figures released by the New Policy Institute show an increase in the number of children living in severe poverty since 2005.
It is clear that Labour has failed to tackle child poverty with its over-complex tax and benefit tricks.
We Lib Dems will invest more in education to give every child a fair start and break the link between poverty and low grades.
As for the Tories', they have huge gaping holes in their policies on poverty.
A hodge-podge of tax cuts for millionaires and tax bribes for marriage would do nothing to tackle severe poverty when most of these families are not even in work, let alone in a position to inherit more than £1m from their relatives.
It is clear that Labour has failed to tackle child poverty with its over-complex tax and benefit tricks.
We Lib Dems will invest more in education to give every child a fair start and break the link between poverty and low grades.
As for the Tories', they have huge gaping holes in their policies on poverty.
A hodge-podge of tax cuts for millionaires and tax bribes for marriage would do nothing to tackle severe poverty when most of these families are not even in work, let alone in a position to inherit more than £1m from their relatives.
3,070,621 - Maggie's Millions revisited
In 1982, when the Tories were in government unemployment went above 3 million for the first time since the Great Depression, that was one-in-eight.
I was at university in the North and saw at first hand the devastation that their economic and social policies wrought, and how they ripped out the heart out of so many communities with reckless abandon.
So it was interesting to read a poll saying that so so many people still do not trust David Cameron and his "Toff Street Kids" cabinet, seeing the Tories as the party of the upper classes.
The same poll in the Guardian showed the Lib Dem vote at 21%, and Labour at 29%, clearly showing that more and more folk are seeing us as the party of fairness and social justice.
I suppose that if you want to end the stale and corrupt two-party politics at Westminster, then voting for we Lib Dems is not only the best thing to do, it is the ONLY thing to do.
I was at university in the North and saw at first hand the devastation that their economic and social policies wrought, and how they ripped out the heart out of so many communities with reckless abandon.
So it was interesting to read a poll saying that so so many people still do not trust David Cameron and his "Toff Street Kids" cabinet, seeing the Tories as the party of the upper classes.
The same poll in the Guardian showed the Lib Dem vote at 21%, and Labour at 29%, clearly showing that more and more folk are seeing us as the party of fairness and social justice.
I suppose that if you want to end the stale and corrupt two-party politics at Westminster, then voting for we Lib Dems is not only the best thing to do, it is the ONLY thing to do.
Monday 25 January 2010
Burns Supper 2
Just finished off the last of the haggis, and it was delicious.
I actually had made some cock-a-leekie soup earlier tonight, but our Lib Dem Group meeting took a little longer than I'd anticipated and so I was later back than I thought.
Anyway, a nice glass of Talisker to finish, and I'm off to bed.
Happy Burns Night one and all!
I actually had made some cock-a-leekie soup earlier tonight, but our Lib Dem Group meeting took a little longer than I'd anticipated and so I was later back than I thought.
Anyway, a nice glass of Talisker to finish, and I'm off to bed.
Happy Burns Night one and all!
Scots Wha Hae and Burns Night
Sunday 24 January 2010
Trade Unions, the Labour Movement, and the War on Iraq
I've been a member of a trade union since my first job leaving university, primarily the old Transport and General Workers' Union, then the NASUWT, and again the T&G (now Unite).
So it was galling to hear Bob Crowe of the RMT saying on Any Questions that all the main parties had supported the war in Iraq.
He was wrong!
Alone among the main parties we Lib Dems came out firmly against what we saw as an illegal, ill-judged, and ill-founded invasion.
Many of us thought the government wrong about the existence of weapons of mass destruction, but few thought that it was a cynical war about regime change.
It now seems that there were many people in the FCO who had grave concerns about the legality of the war, and not simply a few voices in the wilderness.
So we await the ever-unravelling veil of semi-truths and downright lies to expose the duplicitous face of the Blair Government of the time.
So it was galling to hear Bob Crowe of the RMT saying on Any Questions that all the main parties had supported the war in Iraq.
He was wrong!
Alone among the main parties we Lib Dems came out firmly against what we saw as an illegal, ill-judged, and ill-founded invasion.
Many of us thought the government wrong about the existence of weapons of mass destruction, but few thought that it was a cynical war about regime change.
It now seems that there were many people in the FCO who had grave concerns about the legality of the war, and not simply a few voices in the wilderness.
So we await the ever-unravelling veil of semi-truths and downright lies to expose the duplicitous face of the Blair Government of the time.
Saturday 23 January 2010
Cameron the new Blair Lite
When politicians start invoking morality alarm bells should start ringing, especially when they talk of "broken societies" and "social recession" as David Cameron did yesterday.
He was speaking of the horrific attacks on two little boys by two other youngsters, and of course it brought to mind Tony Blair's comments nearly twenty years ago of Britain being in a "moral vacuum", and look where that led us.
An illegal, unjustified, and ultimately devastating war in Iraq because of a sense of moral superiority.
I am afraid that should Cameron be successful in becoming PM he would resort to the same "moral certainties" that Blair used to justify his more dubious decisions.
This is not in anyway to condone or minimise the traumatic attack carried out in Doncaster last year, but rather to eschew impotent hand-wringing or seeking vengeful retribution.
In fact, to reverse what the last Tory PM John Major said, namely that we should condemn less and try to understand more, and having understood take steps to see such, thankfully rare, behaviour does not occur again.
He was speaking of the horrific attacks on two little boys by two other youngsters, and of course it brought to mind Tony Blair's comments nearly twenty years ago of Britain being in a "moral vacuum", and look where that led us.
An illegal, unjustified, and ultimately devastating war in Iraq because of a sense of moral superiority.
I am afraid that should Cameron be successful in becoming PM he would resort to the same "moral certainties" that Blair used to justify his more dubious decisions.
This is not in anyway to condone or minimise the traumatic attack carried out in Doncaster last year, but rather to eschew impotent hand-wringing or seeking vengeful retribution.
In fact, to reverse what the last Tory PM John Major said, namely that we should condemn less and try to understand more, and having understood take steps to see such, thankfully rare, behaviour does not occur again.
Friday 22 January 2010
A Change Has Come
It is almost impossible to remember the euphoria last year when Barack Obama was inaugurated as the first person of colour to be inaugurated as President of the United States, but euphoric it was.
The media are a fickle bunch, last year he could do no wrong and this year well he can do right. The main thing that seems to have upset them is his health care proposals.
It's difficult for us on this side of the pond to appreciate why the topic is so toxic.
An important fact to bear in mind is that of the nigh on forty million people without insurance and ready access to healthcare an overwhelming majority are from the lower socio-economic classes and disproportionately of Black and Hispanic ethnicities.
However, in the words of the immortal Sam Cooke (whose birthday it is today) A Change Is Gonna Come.
There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will.
Gaining power is hard, but doing the right thing with that power is harder still.
What was that about campaigning in poetry, but governing in prose?
I think he's doing good.
The media are a fickle bunch, last year he could do no wrong and this year well he can do right. The main thing that seems to have upset them is his health care proposals.
It's difficult for us on this side of the pond to appreciate why the topic is so toxic.
An important fact to bear in mind is that of the nigh on forty million people without insurance and ready access to healthcare an overwhelming majority are from the lower socio-economic classes and disproportionately of Black and Hispanic ethnicities.
However, in the words of the immortal Sam Cooke (whose birthday it is today) A Change Is Gonna Come.
There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will.
Gaining power is hard, but doing the right thing with that power is harder still.
What was that about campaigning in poetry, but governing in prose?
I think he's doing good.
Pensioners and the Cold Weather
One of the consequences of the recent inclement climatic conditions is that up to 5,600 pensioners in Keighley and Ilkley will miss out on Cold Weather Payments.
Nationally, up to 1.7m pensioners will be going colder than they need to.
Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by far too many pensioners.
It is a scandal that pensioners on the breadline are missing out on these payments, worth an estimated £42.5m.
Fuel prices are at an all time high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poverty pension.
The government has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need.
They should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash.
If elected for Keighley and Ilkley I shall make this issue a high priority.
Nationally, up to 1.7m pensioners will be going colder than they need to.
Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by far too many pensioners.
It is a scandal that pensioners on the breadline are missing out on these payments, worth an estimated £42.5m.
Fuel prices are at an all time high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poverty pension.
The government has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need.
They should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash.
If elected for Keighley and Ilkley I shall make this issue a high priority.
Thursday 21 January 2010
Monday 18 January 2010
Martin Luther King Day and Jacob Bronowski
On Friday, I wrote that it was Martin Luther King's actual birthday, however, today all across the US they officially observe it as a public holiday.
Nearly a year on since the inauguration of President Obama, I think that it is fair to say that one of the reasons I did not support Senator John McCain's bid for the presidency, (Reaganomics, hardline anti-Soviet Union, pro Nicaraguan Contras, etc.) was that in 1983 he was one of some twenty senators who opposed the creation of a federal holiday celebrating Dr King.
To be fair he did go on to say that he had been wrong, but that was more than a quarter-of-a-century later.
Anyway, the other name you will have noticed in the header is that of the late Dr. Jacob Bronowski, one of my all-time heroes, who would have been 102 today.
He was a scientist, a humanitarian, and a great chess player. As an official observer of the after-effects of the Nuclear Holocausts in Japan, he tried to better understand the nature of violence.I first saw him on the telly in the BBC series The Ascent of Man in 1973.
In one episode "Knowledge or Certainty", he is standing by a pond in Auschwitz, where he had lost many family members during the Nazi era.
He then says some of the most profound words ever uttered:
Into this pond were flushed the ashes of some four million people... It was done by arrogance. It was done by dogma. It was done by ignorance. When people believe that they have absolute knowledge, with no test in reality, this is how they behave... [in the words of] Oliver Cromwell, "I beseech you in the bowels of Christ: Think it possible you may be mistaken".
You can watch it yourselves at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd3lanJHduQ
Nearly a year on since the inauguration of President Obama, I think that it is fair to say that one of the reasons I did not support Senator John McCain's bid for the presidency, (Reaganomics, hardline anti-Soviet Union, pro Nicaraguan Contras, etc.) was that in 1983 he was one of some twenty senators who opposed the creation of a federal holiday celebrating Dr King.
To be fair he did go on to say that he had been wrong, but that was more than a quarter-of-a-century later.
Anyway, the other name you will have noticed in the header is that of the late Dr. Jacob Bronowski, one of my all-time heroes, who would have been 102 today.
He was a scientist, a humanitarian, and a great chess player. As an official observer of the after-effects of the Nuclear Holocausts in Japan, he tried to better understand the nature of violence.I first saw him on the telly in the BBC series The Ascent of Man in 1973.
In one episode "Knowledge or Certainty", he is standing by a pond in Auschwitz, where he had lost many family members during the Nazi era.
He then says some of the most profound words ever uttered:
Into this pond were flushed the ashes of some four million people... It was done by arrogance. It was done by dogma. It was done by ignorance. When people believe that they have absolute knowledge, with no test in reality, this is how they behave... [in the words of] Oliver Cromwell, "I beseech you in the bowels of Christ: Think it possible you may be mistaken".
You can watch it yourselves at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd3lanJHduQ
Sunday 17 January 2010
En un lugar de la Mancha...
One of the most evocative, opening lines of any book ever written.
No need to tell you that it is those of Don Quixote. It is one of my favourite books and tells you as much about the "human condition" as any of Shakespeare's plays.
The full quote goes:
En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no hace mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor.
In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.
No need to tell you that it is those of Don Quixote. It is one of my favourite books and tells you as much about the "human condition" as any of Shakespeare's plays.
The full quote goes:
En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no hace mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor.
In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.
Saturday 16 January 2010
Is there anyone more vile than Rupert Murdoch?
Just watched a TV ad commendably asking people to donate to the Haiti appeal.
Harrowing pictures of the aftermath of the earthquake physical damage and bewildered injured people. Then along comes the Sun logo and the voiceover asks you to donate.
My outrage and fury were sparked by small print that appeared on the TV screen that said of each pound donated, 61p would go to the fund and 39p to administration.
39p?
Has Murdoch no shame?
His multi-billion pound empire is going to make money out of people's misery on one side of the Atlantic and people's generosity and open-handedness on the other.
I call on the Sun's editor, Dominic Mohan, to withdraw the ad, apologise publicly for his boss's venal greed, and make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund immediately.
It's the least he can do.
If I was David Cameron, and thank heavens I'm not, I'd think long and hard before accepting the support of a man, a paper, a company that has absolutely no moral compunctions.
Harrowing pictures of the aftermath of the earthquake physical damage and bewildered injured people. Then along comes the Sun logo and the voiceover asks you to donate.
My outrage and fury were sparked by small print that appeared on the TV screen that said of each pound donated, 61p would go to the fund and 39p to administration.
39p?
Has Murdoch no shame?
His multi-billion pound empire is going to make money out of people's misery on one side of the Atlantic and people's generosity and open-handedness on the other.
I call on the Sun's editor, Dominic Mohan, to withdraw the ad, apologise publicly for his boss's venal greed, and make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund immediately.
It's the least he can do.
If I was David Cameron, and thank heavens I'm not, I'd think long and hard before accepting the support of a man, a paper, a company that has absolutely no moral compunctions.
Haiti
I don't think I can add much just to say that everyone should think of donating as much as they can to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal (https://www.donate.bt.com/dec_form_haiti.html).
It has been truly terrible to see the pictures coming out of P-au-P, so I was astonished by the staggeringly insensitive comments first made by Pat Robertson and the Rush Limbaugh.
The former (who tried to run for President in 1998) claimed that Haiti had sworn a "pact to the Devil" to be liberated from France, so all Haitians were "cursed" and the earthquake was their punishment from God.
What a hateful and mean little man.
Possibly a hundred thousand dead and the same number injured and this "man of the cloth" conjures up a vengeful Old Testament Jehovah to justify his own warped and perverse prejudices?
Limbaugh is just a loud-mouthed spiteful buffoon who saw in the earthquake an"opportunity" for the Obama administration and advised Americans not to donate to Haitian relief, because they "already give" and "it’s called the income tax".
Thank heavens that these two are in no way representative of the vast majority of generous and open-hearted Americans.
Haiti has endured much and will survive even this catastrophe. After all she was only the second independent country in the New World, the first post-colonial black-led state in the world, and the only country who gained her independence because of a successful slave rebellion, read C. L. R. James cracking book, The Black Jacobins.
She survived and eventually ousted that horrible dynastic dictatorship Papa and Baby Doc and their murderous thugs the Tonton Macoutes, and no less than four hurricanes in 2008.
After the immediate disaster relief, the long-term solution for Haiti must include a programme of reforestation, building up the country's infrastructure, and massive investment in health and education.
It has been truly terrible to see the pictures coming out of P-au-P, so I was astonished by the staggeringly insensitive comments first made by Pat Robertson and the Rush Limbaugh.
The former (who tried to run for President in 1998) claimed that Haiti had sworn a "pact to the Devil" to be liberated from France, so all Haitians were "cursed" and the earthquake was their punishment from God.
What a hateful and mean little man.
Possibly a hundred thousand dead and the same number injured and this "man of the cloth" conjures up a vengeful Old Testament Jehovah to justify his own warped and perverse prejudices?
Limbaugh is just a loud-mouthed spiteful buffoon who saw in the earthquake an"opportunity" for the Obama administration and advised Americans not to donate to Haitian relief, because they "already give" and "it’s called the income tax".
Thank heavens that these two are in no way representative of the vast majority of generous and open-hearted Americans.
Haiti has endured much and will survive even this catastrophe. After all she was only the second independent country in the New World, the first post-colonial black-led state in the world, and the only country who gained her independence because of a successful slave rebellion, read C. L. R. James cracking book, The Black Jacobins.
She survived and eventually ousted that horrible dynastic dictatorship Papa and Baby Doc and their murderous thugs the Tonton Macoutes, and no less than four hurricanes in 2008.
After the immediate disaster relief, the long-term solution for Haiti must include a programme of reforestation, building up the country's infrastructure, and massive investment in health and education.
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