POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

Here's a refreshing change, a non Brexit post on politics.
Yesterday a friend of mine sent me this, it's advertising an exhibition at the British Museum. Do you think they are having a dig at anyone?

[Stanley]

Suggestion, instead of spending time (ours!) on all these political shenanigans why not simply declare that the whole idea of Brexit was a terrible mistake. (All right, La La land but I am allowed to dream....)

[chinatyke]

I can't understand why you want to be ruled by an unelected shambolic outfit in Brussels.

My mother and father fought in a war to stop the Germans gaining control of Europe and you want to hand back power to them. What happened to patriotism?

[Stanley]

We'll just have to differ China. It's a matter of pragmatics not patriotism, we live in a different world and besides, our present politicians couldn't run a booze up in a brewery.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest... Trump reminds me of Jekyll and Hyde. On the one hand he makes more progress with N Korea than any other president since the 60s. On the other, his former attorney and 'fixer' Robert Mueller tells Congress he is a liar, a crook and a cheat. Sort that one out....

[PanBiker]

why you want to be ruled by an unelected shambolic outfit in Brussels.

As usual China you are not on top of the facts about our politics and prefer to regurgitate the dross from the media. Were we the only country to have regular European Parliamentary elections?

As a through and through patriot, you had better get thisen back to Yorkshire and sort us out.

[chinatyke]

[As a through and through patriot, you had better get thisen back to Yorkshire and sort us out.

Ex-patriot...

[Tizer]

I've copied below an article from The Times, 23 Feb 2019, written by Sir Ivor Rogers who was the UK's permanent representative to the EU from November 2013 to January 2017 and is one of those who really knows what the relationship is between the EU and UK and how it works. You'll probably recognise some of the analysis as it's similar to that provided to us earlier by Richard Broughton (Bruff). I had to make the article into 3 files because it was spread over two full newspaper pages. Click on the image below to open it, then click again to enlarge it for reading.

Part 1:

Rogers_brexit_article_1.jpg

Part 2:

Rogers_brexit_article_2.jpg

Part 3:

Rogers_brexit_article_3.jpg

[Big Kev]

Pendle Brexit anyone?

Burnley and Pendle Borough Councils are bidding to become part of a new super ‘Pennine’ unitary authority with Blackburn and Rossendale, which would see the areas quit Lancashire County Council. The four council leaders have written to the Government and their MPs seeking their backing for the big ambitions which would see radical changes at council level. The cross party alliance of leaders say that their ambitious plan would see their areas move from being remembered as the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution to being reborn as the 'Industrial HQ of the Northern Powerhouse'. Each one of the areas have had to make huge savings in recent years which those leaders say are making some of their councils unviable. They argue coming together would improve services and grow the economy as well as ensure they have a financially viable council for the future. They also want the Government back a Pennine Lancashire pilot plan which would work with the private sector to improve transport links and education. If agreed the move would mean there would be a single council for the four areas, which would also take on the responsibilities of the county council, such as education, social health and highways. Burnley Council leader Mark Townsend said: “Burnley has been punching above its weight for a number of years but I know it can do even better. “A Pennine Lancashire council will have the scale and influence to attract the investment needed to sustain services for residents and realise the borough’s economic growth potential. “Burnley needs a strong and unified East Lancashire to take it to the next level. I am excited at the potential benefits this proposal could bring.” Coun. Paul White, leader of Pendle Council, said: “This presents the most exciting opportunity for our area in decades. It would give real strength to the industrial heartland of Pennine Lancashire, and allow us to be a big voice in the Northern Powerhouse, boosting our economy and creating aspiration for future generations. “This gives us the opportunity to work with our neighbours who are similar to us, to get a great deal for our area, but to create a council which is more efficient, future proof and provides better services

Read more at: https://www.pendletoday.co.uk

[Stanley]

Sounds to me like the same sort of bullshit they fed us to justify Brexit.... As for citing 'The Northern Powerhouse'.... not a lot of evidence for its existence. Funny how they tell us that bigger and bigger administrative units are 'more efficient' when history tells us the exact opposite. I'd rather see proper funding of local councils and more power and responsibilities devolved to them from Preston...... But to qualify for more funding these days you need to be a white elephant like a nuclear plant or a new railway.....
Later..... The National Audit office has issued two scathing reports, one on the outsourcing of army recruiting to Capita (4 years late and three times over budget) which has been an expensive disaster and the other on the miserable failure of the Probation Services outsourced by our old friend Failing Grayling. See THIS for a BBC report on the fiasco and note that apart from the increase in re-offending prisoners the 'cost saving' measures have cost the taxpayer almost £500million extra.

[Tizer]

Thanks to Ian's advice I've now edited my last post and used attachments so that the images for the Brexit article by Sir Ivor Rogers come up large with one click.

Dominic Raab was promoting the `WTO rules option' again this morning. You've only got to look at Part 1 of the Rogers article to see why that's no use.

[PanBiker]

They zoom to full native if you click again Tiz.

[Tizer]

So they do! Thanks once again - I've edited my instructions in the post (though probably everyone else knows what to do with them anyway - I'm usually behind the curve! )

[plaques]

Burnley and Pendle Borough Councils are bidding to become part of a new super ‘Pennine’ unitary authority with Blackburn and Rossendale,

I can't remember all the detail but something like this was proposed in John Prescott's time. North of England Devolution. Link.. In all events it came to nothing. I think that the main objection was that it would be collecting together some of the poorest areas in Lancashire under one authority making it more visible for possible subsidies and grants. This isn't quite the same as a 'Northern Powerhouse'. This latest proposal will be hit on the head for the same reason. Its far easier to let these areas die a natural death through neglect rather than to try and keep them alive. Cynical I know but that's how I see it.

[Tripps]

My younger son and have a longstanding sort of joke about the purpose of 'administrators'. I have found that their main purpose is to split up, and then, after a varying time interval depending on circumstances re-combine their assets. Each process is accompanied by erudite cost benefit analyses - both equally convincing. They are always essential, and 'will lead to savings, and improved efficiency'.

It usually isn't, and usually doesn't. It keeps the administrators busy, and employed.

[Tizer]

I wonder if those shooting galleries that put up as targets pictures of Trump or Begum have tried doing one of Grayling, it would probably be more popular!
`Government pays Eurotunnel £33m over Brexit ferry case' LINK

[Stanley]

I saw that as well Tiz. My opinion of Grayling is well known so I won't bore you with his history but the man is a walking disaster area! His charmed life and Teflon Coating may save him again because the last thing May wants at this juncture is to sack yet another minister, she wants to keep attention on Labour's problems, not hers.
I see he was 'not available for comment' yesterday......
Nobody is giving any facts or talking directly about it but stray comments in the turmoil indicate that those in the know are convinced that any preparations for Brexit are in chaos and won't be ready for March 29th.
It's like a very bad 'B' movie......
{If the costs of Grayling's incompetence and stupidity over the last 9 years was added up it would make a handy contribution to the areas that are desperate for funding.....}

[Tizer]

...the last thing May wants at this juncture is to sack yet another minister, she wants to keep attention on Labour's problems, not hers.

...and, sadly, Labour seem to be doing their best to help her.

Here we are, just about to jump off the Brexit cliff, and the two big political parties are disintegrating before our very eyes.

[Stanley]

Very true Tiz. Brexit has brought all the hidden tensions to the surface and who knows, the end result may be an improvement. However, if there is it will be at a very high price. I really do believe that we could be going to see a 'no deal' exit and a blood bath as the effects of that impinge on the voters.
Never forget who started this hare running......

[Tizer]

Never forget who started this hare running......

Yes, we can say that Cameron and the Tories flicked the switch to set off the hare but a lot more people had a hand in preparing the track and stadium for this event. The deeper cause is populism. Earlier politicians with poor policies and, of course, the credit crunch bankers and greedy CEOs stoked the fires of populism.

[Stanley]

Agreed Tiz as to root causes but it was Cameron who opened the flood gate in an effort to placate his hard right.
I heard a vox pop in Rees Mogg's constituency yesterday and one lady said she thought that 'posh boys' shouldn't be allowed into Parliament as they thought they knew better than anyone else. Bit sweeping but I think I know what she was getting at. It got me to thinking and I realised that when Jacob talks about 'vassalage' he betrays the fact that he doesn't understand that 85% of the voters are in permanent vassalage to his class, the hedge fund owners, financiers and many large concerns. They impose vassalage on the poorer classes by restricting their wages, cutting back benefits of all sorts including what used to be employment conditions and membership of the EU with human rights is an advantage to them.
All this loose talk about 'softening attitudes' is I think, mistaken. The situation and the likely outcome is still up in the air. Meanwhile, May is very quiet for once......

"Gerard Batten, describes Islam as “a death cult” and has appointed the anti-Muslim activist Tommy Robinson as an adviser."
I plucked this quotation out of the news to illustrate what is happening in UKIP. They have see membership rise by 50% in the last year and the fear is that they are becoming a party of the Far Right.
The government announces funding of £1.6Billion over 7 years into under developed towns. My only comment is that this is window dressing. How does it compare with the funding that has been taken off councils in the last 9 years? James Brokenshire argues vehemently that this is 'different money'. He's failed to convince me....

[Tripps]

I heard a long interview on Radio 5 this morning with Emma Barnett asking the questions. I didn't know who was being interviewed. I do know that she was almost unbearable to listen to. Lots of long replies which weren't answers to the questions, interspersed with 'let me finish' - typical of modern media savvy politicians.

I now know it was (Mother) Andrea Ledsom. I recall she was the under bidder in the Tory leadership competition. Awful though Mrs May - is I think we've had a lucky escape.

[Stanley]

I couldn't agree more David! Have you read what Private Eye has said about her prior career and her dodgy associations to hedge funds?
See my comment in 'what attracted' on political statements.... The government says "we are going to look at....." means political speak for the can is being kicked down the road. This applies to all pressing matters that require spending our money unless it is high profile and very expensive (Or cleaning up after Grayling.....).
Later. Reports of Andrew Mitchell and Dame Margaret Hodge slamming the government for putting back the date of implementation of registers of ownership of concerns based in Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man by 3 years and withdrawing the Financial Bill with no notice. High time this anonymity which is an aid to tax avoidance and money-laundering was stopped. Just how powerful is the lobby that is evidently protecting them? Any connection to Tory Party funding? The whole business stinks.

[Stanley]

Sayeeda Hussain Warsi, Baroness Warsi repeats the quotation I put up yesterday in respect of Islamaphobia in the Tory Party. She is of course a former Chair of the party. She says that the Tories must deal with their own mess before attacking anyone else on their shortcomings.
Cressida Dick states that there is obviously a link between under-funding and the increase in knife crime.

[PanBiker]

I think it is worth mentioning for Barlick and Pendle area members that Pendle District Council are taking part in a voter ID scheme trial for the May elections. All electors wishing to vote at a polling station will be required to produce photo ID to claim their ballot.

There is a list of acceptable ID documents on the link below. If non of these are available you will be able to obtain a Voter ID card from the Council via their website, details of this are not available yet but it will require a passport type photograph which apparently can be taken at the Council Offices.

Pendle Borough Council - Voter ID

This will not affect postal voters.

I think the earlier folk are made aware of this the better.

[Stanley]

Good reminder, I saw the news the other day somewhere. Of course only problem for anyone here who hasn't got a photograph is that the council office has closed because of the cuts.... I suppose the kiosk at the Co-op will do?