POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

Unofficial results suggest that Aung San Suu Kyi has won a seat in the Burmese Parliament and that her party will get 40+ seats. Could be the start of true democracy in the country. What a brave woman, she deserves the success.
Cameron leaps on the bandwagon of Falklands anniversary. When you are in trouble, wrap the flag round yourself! Surely he can't get this wrong?
During a time when it's essential to make all the savings possible the Coalition decides to expand the role of GCHQ by authorising them to monitor all emails, phone calls and internet use to intercept possibly subversive activities. More to this than meets the eye because they have been doing this anyway. Could it be that they simply want to legalise their present activities? Would this mean that evidence gathered in this way will be acceptable in the courts? I have long suspected that this is why such intercept evidence hasn't been used as it would prove that GCHQ has been acting illegally.Thirty years ago an American friend of mine worked at Menwith Hill and told me something of the way they were monitoring everything. If they were doing it then, how much more comprehensive are their capabilities now? Have a look at this LINK He worked for the US NSA, an organisation that officially didn't exist at that time. 'Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you!'

[Stanley]

The latest word from Downing Street is that they are going to 're-connect' with the electorate. Really? It'll be interesting to see what they mean by this. Could they admit what a Horlicks they have made of connection up to now?

[Whyperion]

Its probably treasury driven , to use comms evidence to catch tax evasion ( thats the 20% on the odd jobs not the 23% corporation tax loss on billions of profits generated in UK shifted overseas ).

The daft thing is though , if 'They' know so much how come the terrorists still get through ?

Anyway , tories out of touch , lib-dems out of their minds , labour out of logic and influence. Wales and Scotland have it easy - vote independence parties , in England that just gets extremist no one would really wish to associate with , and I dont see George Galloway wanting to build 'respect' into any kind of serious policy alternatives as that party does not extend much beyond his ego. ( I would have a little more respect for George if he had taken on a safe tory seat - and backed another of his party members in Bradford to prove it was policies and not personalities that were important ).

[Tardis]

Confirmation that the head of Labour's election supremo for West Bradford and the local polling is "on holiday"

[Stanley]

Everyone is trying to be cool about West Bradford, all the usual excuses trotted out about by-elections having no real significance but in reality they are all taking this extremely seriously. It is a wake-up call and far more significant than they admit.
I'm not a fan of Michael Gove but I think he has a good point about the department for education backing out of regulating question setting and goals for 'A' levels and leaving it to the universities. The transition from the school environment to the independent learning structure at university has always been a problem but has been exacerbated by two factors, the cut back in one to one time with lecturers who were able to be more supportive and caring and the leavening effect of the mature students, used to working an eight hour day and supporting their own sky. One of the things that struck me when I was a 'mature' student was the time I spent passing on advice to my younger compatriots. Until they realised that they had to structure their own course and working hours they were lost. Susi's course on essay writing that saved my life was very popular. I think it's perhaps time I posted the Obler Method again!

[Bruff]

Well I suppose if you tinker and tweak for long enough you have a good chance of ending up back where you started. The old Joint Matriculation Board which ran from the early 20th Century to 1992 and which set O and A Levels (and predecessors) in England (originally the North), Wales and Northern Ireland, was originally the Joint Matriculation Board of the Northern Universities, with academics in these Universities administering the syllabus.

Bradford was a disaster for all main parties. One coalition member lost their deposit; the other saw it's total vote fall more than the Opposition's. New Labour got a kicking. Odd seat this one though - in the remarkable landslide 1997 election it was one of only two seats which saw a swing away from New Labour. Two years ago it was one of a handful of seats which saw a swing to New Labour. Strange seat indeed.

Richard Broughton

[Stanley]

Richard, whatever the reasons for the West Bradford result I reckon they might have done us all a favour if they have given the big three pause for thought. I notice that the attacks on George have started again. Do you think someone is a bit afraid of him? In many ways he reminds me of the young Nye Bevan, definitely awkward squad material. It's the piece of grit irritating the oyster that makes the pearl!
What strikes me is the complete absence of any mention of the economy. Mind you, this is probably because there is no good news at all! Remember when Ed Balls was being attacked for suggesting that the economy was flat-lining? Latest figures show he was dead right and the problem is that despite all the efforts of the government there are no signs that it will do any better. Meanwhile in Europe it is slowly dawning that all the efforts to pump money into the economy are not having any significant effect. Indeed, opinion is growing that even more will have to be done and in effect this is counter-productive because debt is being countered by raising money by creating more debt. The big problem is of course lack of growth exacerbated by reduction in disposable incomes as debt reduction programmes take effect, exactly the problem the UK faces. The big question is how long can we all go on like this. There is no light at the end of the tunnel and the train wreck continues in slow motion.
I could almost feel sorry for whoever has to sort this out but in the end it is going to be the electorate that pays for what we can now see is the result of profligate government spending and economic 'management' over the last 30 years. I said in 2008 that the basic problem was that the western economies were living beyond their means and this spending spree had been stoked by the government because a high running economy increased the tax take and gave the illusion of a strong economy. I have yet to see this openly admitted and the truth accepted that the only way out is for expectations to be savagely cut. Instead, this is being done by stealth by reducing disposable incomes. Time to come clean and tell the truth?

[Whyperion]

Why the great insistance on economic growth , 3 persons employed on £38,000 is better than one on £120,000 for employment and a better spread of
money accross the economy, even though the growth would appear to be that one on the £120,000 and two doing nothing is better ( unless tax rate of persons earnings over £38,000 is a marginal 60% that can be shared as benfits to the non-workers.

[Tardis]

Consumption may not be the answer, especially in terms of paying down debt.

Evidence from everyone apart from the OECD suggests that the economy has managed to evade recession this time.

When the crash destroyed so much of the economy, it does take time for the other bits to grow into the space.

The greatest issue is around the tax receipts at the Treasury. If there isn't enough to pay for the services then even more hard choices are going to have to be faced.

Market watchers expect Greece to apply for a third bail out just after Portugal and Spain admit defeat. EEC politics is perched on a knife edge because of the referendum to come in Ireland.

[Tardis]

Local Election people standing in various wards was issued yesterday. Hopefully on attached file

Note: I couldn't add a txt file which might have made it smaller

[Stanley]

BET published a letter I wrote about Andrew Stephenson's 'From the House' column on the Letter Page. It's been getting some flak lately.... It got some more this week!

Please may I support the recent letters of Robert Oliver and Ken Briscall on the content of Mr Stephenson's column 'From the House'. The title is accurate because that is what we are getting, the party line direct from Westminster larded with occasional non-controversial local topics. What I think of as the 'bleeding obvious' school of political writing.
Some of us have long memories. In 2009 I wrote to this letters page: 'Mr David Foat was quite right was quite right (BET letters April 16th) when he asked Mr Andrew Stephenson if he was ‘Having a laugh’ when he dissembled on the subject of his campaign funding. In May 2009 Lord Greaves gave evidence to the Lords Committee stage of the Political Parties and Elections Bill that he believed that in two and a half years of campaigning approximately £250,000 had been injected into the Pendle campaign from sources emanating from Lord Ashcroft. True they were channelled through a company owned by the Belize peer but the source was still him. Later that month Gordon Prentice’s website reported that Mr Stephenson confirmed that money from this source was being used but disputed the amount quoting figures of around £50,000. Are all these reports mistaken or just some of them? On June 12th 2009 in this paper Mr Stephenson wrote: “If elected, I will act with honesty, integrity, openness and candour at all times.” '
It may be time for our MP to start putting these noble sentiments into practice. Can we have his definitive statement on the Noble Lord's funding? What is his view on Cornish Pasties and illegal storage of petrol in Jerry cans? Does he support the continued use of the discredited PFI wheeze to get current spending off the books? Is he satisfied that his Leader's economic strategy is the best way to promote growth? Does he agree with Mervyn King's advice to go back and read the history of the effects of savage cuts in public services and the acquiescence of the inevitability of a large number of unemployed?
This is what we want to hear our MP's views on, not regurgitated party policy. The voters of West Bradford made this perfectly clear last week. Time for a rethink?
Stanley Challenger Graham.

[Stanley]

Ray says the letter was in all the Leader Series. Good. Time we had a bit of activity!
Boris and Ken publishing their tax details has chucked the cat amongst the pigeons! Not surprising that John Redwood is against it!

[Tardis]

Yes, the whole of the B&E is full of half truths and dividing lines to gain a political advantage. Must be an election or something. Lots of B******t flying around, wonder if folk can actually be bothered to check out the information.

I think Mr Redwood was against it simply from the point of privacy, because just like in America at what point does it stop? Is it entertaining to read about Mit Romney's medical file?

Then at what point can intrusion occur at the individual level?

As to the tax issues of the Mayoral candidates. At least the Cameroons signed a pledge to pay UK taxes as if domiciled here, which negates your letter somewhat. Plus remember that our last MP was spending his "allowances" on his political campaigning, Mr Stephenson does not as that allowance was discontinued because it was so discriminatory for the incumbant.

More interested in the fact that Ken's claims simply backfired, akin to aiming both barrels at his feet.

Nothing legally wrong with avoiding Tax, who wouldn't. The issue is around not allowing others to also avoid the tax.

Some people are more equal than others?

[Wendyf]

My brother has been in the caravan industry for most of his working life, most recently for one of the big manufacturers in the East Riding near Hull. He was telling me that the industry has been dealt a body blow by the introduction of 20% VAT on holiday caravans. (They have previously been 0% rated.) This is a big and successful industry exporting all over the world and employing a lot of people in the area, not only in the manufacture of caravans but also the parts & fittings. Why is the government attacking one of the country's successful industries?

[Tardis]

You should ask about the tax, and the answer you'll probably get back is 'ironing out anomalies'. A bit like the pasty tax

The only way it can be fair and openly transaparent in my opinion, is if the taxes are a flat % on everyone at the same rate. The rich will still pay the most £ into the treasury because the government can't spend %'s

[Stanley]

A friend of mine who was a senior civil servant in Wales warned me about Redwood thirty years ago. He said he should be watched. He knew the man because he had to work under him.

[Tripps]

I'd say they all "want watching" . Redwood is not particularly egregious. Take the current candidates for London mayor - a bumbling idiot, a charlatan, and a few makeweight nonentities. Is there a none of the above option? Yes, but then Pans would shout at us for not voting... I do enjoy using the word egregious.

[Whyperion]

Far too many tax anomolies, pity George Galloway didnt stand for London Mayor.

[Stanley]

Quite by chance I came across the 1975 US Senate investigating committee, 'The Church Committee'. See this LINK. They were addressing exactly the same matters that have been raised by the Coalition proposal to widen the scope of supervision over all communications. They came to the conclusion that the intelligence services had been using communications data to the detriment of the US electors. The excuse given for every incursion was that 'it was necessary for national security'. I suspect that the main reason why the government is so opposed to allowing public use of intercept evidence is that if it was public it would be obvious that much of it has been gathered outside the service's remit. In other words some of it will be illegal. The systems already in use, look up ECHELON and MINARET (LINK) were powerful enough to gather this intelligence in the late 1960s, think of what there capabilities are now. There is much more to this initiative than meets the eye.
By the way, the fact that I have mentioned ECHELON and MINARET means that this post will have been flagged up by the worldwide monitoring programmes run by a consortium of English speaking countries including GCHQ in the UK. The truth is that privacy in communications is dead, the only way I know to send a message with absolute security is to write it on paper and send it by hand.
News this morning that Gunter Grass the German poet has been banned from entering Israel because he has published a poem accusing Israel of being a threat to world peace because of its opposition to Iran and its nuclear programmes. Sounds like a reasonable assessment to me...... The fact that Israel is so sensitive about this matter reinforces the point made in the poem.

[Whyperion]

Why are the intelligence services so stupid ? If you have a reasonable amount of evidence that someone is a problem ( however gathered ) , the answer is to attempt to legitimatley get information relating to some other misdemeanor - tax declarations , motoring infringements etc and work to disrupt activities rather than imprision / deport - which will only delay or defer the terrorists intentions. Or you could disrupt their lines of communications - scheduled ASDL outages etc that just happen to be on their line.

[Stanley]

As easy as that eh?

News that Wee Georgie is 'shocked' after getting evidence from the Treasury that many very wealthy people are avoiding vast amounts of tax by using fancy lawyers and accountants to exploit loopholes in the system. Surely he knew this already? This sounds like a defensive ploy to divert criticism of the 'Rich Man's Budget'. He can now say he only got the hard evidence after the budget and of course he will now make further enquiries and address the matter. This of course kicks the tin can further down the road. They must think we are stupid! Perhaps he should read Private Eye!

[Stanley]

Bo Xilai demotion looks like the tip of a very big iceberg. (LINK). China watchers reckon there is a huge power struggle going on in the top echelons of Chinese politics.
The 'Big Society' gets into even more trouble. On one hand donations are encouraged and on the other givers are going to be charged more tax on giving, or rather disallowed some tax advantages. At the same time Ossie has had to admit that the top earners surveyed by HMRC are paying on average less than 10% tax. He has just reduced the top rate in the Rich Man's Budget. Bit of a mess on the whole but it's doing the job, pasty gate and Crudass gate have sunk out of sight. Where is the Opposition?
Meanwhile, the Euro drops against the Pound and less than encouraging employment figures from the US worry the markets.

[Tardis]

If the rich are happy to pay 10% on their non-salaried monies, why can't we all have a flat tax of 10%?

At least then they wouldn't have to employ the army of tax accountants and bankers to find the paths of avoidance.

[Whyperion]

Better to see the reduction in top tax rate as not a reduction from 50% to 45% ( if higher income earners never paid the rate anyway ) and more of a steath tax of the middle rate increase from 40 to 45% thanks to some fiddling with the lower threasholds and rates of allowance withdrawal.

Offset of income due to be taxed to non taxable income if transferred to a charity was encouraged by Blair/Brown and previous tory admins. Seen as being a good thing as less money state had to pay out on health services / childrens services etc.

[Stanley]

I suspect the lights will be burning late in Downing Street tonight as the spin doctors try to find a way of dealing with the multiple problems facing the Coalition. A picture is building of a thoroughly incompetent administration. I'm glad I haven't got the rebuttal job!
I noted Andrew Lansley's comment yesterday that there was no place for tobacco manufacturers in the UK. Apart from the fact that I suspect he has well exceeded his brief in this matter how irresponsible can you get? This is the anti-tobacco lobby gone mad. Apart from anything else, as a pipe smoker, I would like to see some concrete evidence that pipe-smoking is a serious danger to health. It is always lumped in with cigarette smoking (which I know from experience is deadly) and the same sanctions imposed on us poor innocent addicts. This attack smacks more of diversionary tactics than serious policy making. Who does he attack next? The brewers? The car makers? All 'responsible' for death and destruction.