POLITICS CORNER

[Whyperion]

The EU seem to have come up with their own idea , calling for a one month ceasefire on both sides. (which I suppose will end up with regroup and resupply) If the fundamental remains who has control over what land I am not sure what negotiation will bring , worth a try though.

Trump says dont worry about Putin, immigrants are the problem , which is why Europe has problems (and by implication is irrelevant)

The parties may be willing, but they are not exactly able or ready.

[Whyperion]

Via MSN . GB News (never one to resist a dig to Labour)

Rachel Reeves has spent just two working days at the Treasury's multi-million-pound northern hub since the General Election.

The Chancellor had vowed to use the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) "regularly" and said she "absolutely will" have meetings there during a visit last summer, and urged her Ministers to do the same.

She had also hailed the campus as a "real success story" - but now, the Northern Echo reports that Reeves has spent just two days working at the DEC.

Reeves's first working day in Darlington came on July 11, and the second remains unknown.
And she has since been accused of "ignoring the North" and "failing to capitalise" on the Tories' "incredible legacy" at the site.

Ex-Darlington MP Peter Gibson and Tory councillor Jonathan Dulston both said they were disappointed by the news, while Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has vowed to keep pushing for a "real presence" at the campus.

Gibson said that both Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer had "failed to capitalise on this incredible legacy from the last administration".

"To my mind it just goes to show that Labour simply ignore the North as they always have," he added.

While Dulston said Rishi Sunak was visible "almost every other week" at the DEC when he was Chancellor.

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Given Sunak's lived just around the corner in Richmond that is probably no surprise.

One wonders what the Treasury there is doing.
One of the reports I had to make to the Treasury was expenditure on projects - Budgedted, Forecast, Spent, Committed, a rather complex spreadsheet supposedly derived from the accounting system but in reality a duplicate of it that we checked expenditure lines had been correctly put in by the other accounting staff, including purchase orders and so on. Not helped as part of the contract was performance based and we were arguing about when milestones had actually been reached ( more difficult than say a building project when you can see the steelwork etc),
We also had to forecast the next 8 weeks cash demands out of the bank of england , actually two weeks in advance of that so we got "reserved fund" unfortuately govt payment terms would be 7/14/days or monthly and with the milestones not being fully known in advance the best guess method had to be used. and reality never was achieved. I think copies of all of this went to the Treasury to add it all up, and this is probably what is happening in Darlington . Of Course the treasury does other forecasting and reporting (some copied or requested by Cabinet Office - we actually reported to Office of Deputy Prime Minister as one of the pet projects, fortunately we were not cross cutting across departments as some projects were. Things like theGovernment office for (insert region here) also came along - until they were axed.
I suppose office space is cheaper in Darlington (we had some in Sheffield) and fast internet means it is if you are in the office next door - some of us didnt move from our desk and chair to actually talk to others aside from by memo.

[Stanley]

See THIS report on Trump 'pausing' US aid to Ukraine.....
The US has paused military aid to Ukraine, a White House official confirms to BBC's US partner CBS News. The official says "we are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution". Charles Kupchan, a former director with the US National Security Council under the Obama administration, told the BBC: "What we're seeing here is bold arm twisting coercive diplomacy." "Basically Trump is saying to the Ukrainians, you want US weapons, you want US support, it's time for you to go to the negotiating table with Russia," he said.
With 'friends' like this, who needs enemies?

[Whyperion]

The implication is negiotiation=surrender. Ukraine lost its southern cities because of lack of manpower and Adivka because of lack of weapons.

Simon Jenkins in The Guardian Writes a load of twaddle, 4 mins to read about 80 years of NATO / Soviet Union / Eastern Bloc and if Putin=Hitler (concludes that Putin is not quite as bad thus should not be compared) and looks at FDR and Stalin as Churchill looked on warning of too much soviet control over "buffer states" . Jenkins misses the fall of Berlin Wall and internal liberation of many of the Eastern Bloc and some Soviet States and also concludes that Russia is not interested in the military control of western europe
What we have at present is both the US and Russia consider Western Europe to be irrelevant (and Canada) and those countries should concentrate on ridding themselves of free riding immigrants.
Quite simply overnight once again the US has made every report and analysis of up to the European Summit worthless , and no doubt will change again once Trump addresses Congress tonight.
I said Poland needs to take control of the NATO facilities, and Canada should invade the northern democratic states of the US creating a new union leaving the mired red states to build their everyman confederacy. The US really is a poor, and backward, country , pretending to be something it isnt and the wheels of freedom are coming off

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One thing Russia always wanted to do was to split the West- divide Europe against itself (Brexit, etc), and cleave US from Europe. It has succeeded.
America First = all the worlds resources are ours ( by implication Russia might end up worse off as US economically invades ) ( we may think Trump is a Stooge for Putin, what if it is the other way round ? )

[Whyperion]

Reeves suggests that Defence Spending = Growth. Problem is its expensive ( see Covid Profiting , thats nothing compared with Kit suppliers upwards ). And you cannot eat a bomb - there is no "income" to balance the expenditure - and you use up resources - skilled labour, metal, whatever.

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it has been suggested that Trump Tariifs on Imports from Canada are to economically undermine Canada.
Interesting
The next G7 Leaders' Summit is scheduled to take place from June 15 to June 17, 2025, in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada2. This summit will mark the 50th anniversary of the G7, and Canada holds the presidency for this year
(The G7 (Group of Seven) is an intergovernmental organization made up of the following countries: Canada France Germany Italy Japan United Kingdom United States
The European Union is also represented at the G7 meeting )

Donald Trump is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025. This will be his first such address since beginning his second term as President. The speech is expected to focus on his administration's agenda, including topics like immigration, trade policy, and government efficiency. He may also discuss recent tariffs and his efforts to reduce federal spending and staff. The theme of the speech is reportedly "the renewal of the American Dream"

[Stanley]

See THIS
In the first few minutes of President Donald Trump's address to Congress, US Representative Al Green (Democrat-TX) was removed from the chamber after shouting at the president. US & Canada. 03:00
Well done that man!

[Whyperion]

Bernie Sanders response to Congress address

some on housing applies to UK.


Wonder what Reeves is plotting - the attack on already trivial benefits will decrease economic growth-

[Tizer]

I'm surprised we haven't heard anything on this from our own politicians and security services...
[Scroll down to the paragraph beginning `The halt of American cyber operations against Russia...']
`Hegseth orders pause in US cyber-offensive against Russia' LINK

[Tripps]

Closer to home - but just as important -taking a strategic long term view is this latest video from Raja Miah.
He publishes and analyses a letter from the Editor of the Oldham Evening Chronicle first published in 1854. I've never seent he like - and it may be a turning point in the whole affair. Fast forward to about 9 minutes for the start.

There are serious implications for the whole of Greater Manchester and indeed the Labour Party., and the whole nation. The editor says he will not copy it to the Council Leader since he is afraid of the consequences to him and his family.


Raja Miah 5 March 2025


The big meeting is tomorrow early evening - clear your diaries.

[Stanley]

I watched some of the link David but found the man's delivery very difficult to follow because of the long pauses.... Some fault of mine no doubt.
I'm sure you will give us a report on the next meeting. You are right, it is very important stuff!
World Politics is dominated by THIS man.....
US President Donald Trump has issued what he called a "last warning" to Hamas to release the hostages being held in Gaza. "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say," Trump said in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform. It comes just hours after the White House confirmed it is holding direct talks with Hamas over the hostages. Washington has until now avoided direct engagement with the group, and there is a longstanding US policy against having direct contact with entities it lists as terrorist organisations.
I fear there is no limit to what Trump will do to attract attention. Sooner or later all this is going to come back and bite him in arse! Trouble is we will all have to pay for the fall out.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on Ukraine....
The US is "destroying" the established world order, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK has claimed. Valerii Zaluzhnyi said the White House had "questioned the unity of the Western world" and was "taking more and more steps towards" Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The comments come as the US puts pressure on Ukraine to make concessions ahead of any peace talks, and after a public clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his US counterpart Donald Trump. Zelensky has since said he is "ready to work" under Trump's "strong leadership", an apparent cooling in tensions welcomed by Trump - and which comes after the US paused military aid to Kyiv.
The man is right. Trump's disruptive actions are causing harm and costing lives across the world and damaging the foundations laid by agreements made at the end of WW2.

[Whyperion]

JD Vance, the vice-president, has floated the idea that America could reconsider its military presence in Germany, tying continued American defence commitments to Berlin’s stance on free speech.
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington last month, he said: “Germany’s entire defence is subsidised by the American taxpayer. There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is going to stand for that if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet?

As an upshot from that it is being wafted that some, or all US Troops could deploy to Hungary.

As a thought , was not a reason for the US having presence in (West) Germany something to do with both a presumed Soviet Threat, and still the idea that Germany should not be too re-armed after fears of WW2 Nazi thoughts possibly floating about with desires on controlling Europe and beyond.

[Stanley]

THIS BBC report of shenanigans inthe Reform Party is head of the UK political news this morning.....
Updated 2 hours ago
Reform UK says it has suspended MP Rupert Lowe and referred him to police, alleging he made "threats of physical violence" against party chairman Zia Yusuf. In a statement with chief whip Lee Anderson, Yusuf also said the party had received allegations of bullying in Lowe's parliamentary and constituency offices. The party has appointed a lawyer to conduct an investigation into allegations of "workplace bullying" made by two female employees, he added. Writing on social media platform X, Lowe said, external the party's allegations were "untrue and false" and he was "disappointed, but not surprised" to read them. He added there was "zero credible evidence" against him and he was "seeking legal advice immediately".
You'd think they had better things to do.....

[PanBiker]

Well there's only four of them now, good.

[Tripps]

No coverage on the loyal BBC but Derek Hatton (Degsy to his chums) has finally been brought to book. It only took thirty years. and he will probab;y still get away with it. Neil Kinnock wasn't his biggest fan. Nice that he is still alive to observe it all. I wonder what he thinks about there not being a single Labour declared Councillor on Pendle Council. I've just watched all this clip. My goodness - things were different then. It's almost as if he actually fervently believed his own words. That would never catch on these days. Watch Dennis Skinner pretending he's not really there.

[Stanley]

Thanks for that David, what a splendid video! I remember the speech and the times.....
I tripped over another sort of video this morning, it was a short piece about the root of Elon Musk's far right stance. It was about his parents leaving Canada to go to Apartheid South Africa because they agreed with the racist principles that ruled there. Shocking stuff......
We live in very dangerous times.....

[Stanley]

I saw THIS.....
4 hours ago
Under-performing civil servants could be incentivised to leave their jobs under new government plans, while top staff will have their pay linked to their performance. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said they will "fundamentally reshape" the service as its state is currently not "match-fit" for what the country needs. The plans are part of wider reforms expected to be set out next week and will go alongside what officials call the prime minister's "intervention" on Thursday. A union has accused the government of delivering a "soundbite, not a credible plan for change", describing the plans as "retreading of failed narratives".
I agree with the union statement. Why haven't sensible management policies like this been standard practice?

[Whyperion]

In the Govt departments I have worked in generally I have found civil servants to be dutiful and work a good number of hours they are present in the building, as much as private companies. Likewise in the customer facing roles over the phone when I have spoken to them for various assistence. There is a bit of a late Friday afternoon wind-down to get the days work in order and hopefully not to start on a new project.
There is in Govt replication of work on reports to Cabinet, PM, DPM, Minister, cross-cutting team head in terms of financials spent and estimates along with contract evaluation and implementation of new systems for new things MPs/Govt come up with. There are of course weekly reviews, task reviews , annual reviews - though sometimes churn of people to other departments happens before those come up . Dont forget a lot (depends if you include the arms length agency ones ) field civil servants - in agriculture, environment (waterways) highways and so on where some of the problem is insufficient numbers to do an effective job for the sectors they are working in.

[Tizer]

Two BBC headlines side by side this morning...
`European leaders back 'realistic' Arab plan for Gaza' LINK1
`US and Israel reject Arab alternative to Trump's Gaza plan' LINK2

The best plan of all would probably be for Trump to translocate all the Israelis to the USA and for him to build them a paradise on one of the US coastal regions. Then the Palestinians could live in the former Israel while Gaza was cleared of debris and munitions and rebuilt. I think it's what people call a `win-win' solution. [Of course it would never happen, owing to something called `religion'.]

[PanBiker]

I suggested the same a while ago Peter, perfect solution, the Palestinians would get their homeland back and the Israelis would get to live in a comparable climate with their mates. The USA is massive and an odd desert for a new nation would not be missed. Trump could sign an Executive Order to waive immigration rules for their friends surely?

[Tripps]

The Labour MP for Bradford West Naz Shah, made the same suggestion (before she was an MP) a while back. It didn't end well for her.

Relocate Israel

[Whyperion]

I suggested the same a while ago Peter, perfect solution, the Palestinians would get their homeland back and the Israelis would get to live in a comparable climate with their mates. The USA is massive and an odd desert for a new nation would not be missed. Trump could sign an Executive Order to waive immigration rules for their friends surely?

I would possibly add Jerusalem (and Mount Moriah) to be an international independent nation - a bit like Vatican City, to maintain its historic status. The problem is Islam, but both major religions see their heritage from the promise to Abram to have larger generational descendants, and genetics show both Palestinians and Israelies have significantly the same DNA.


Elsewhere - Canada's ruling Liberal Party prepares for General Election by first choosing its new leader, one time Governer of the Bank of England , Mark Carney, who becomes the present Prime Minister of Canada (if he is smart he might just pull strings to get a King Charles visit in first) . He gave a masterful speech , which was almost echoing Jeremy Corbyn in a "for the many, not the few" in sentiment. Liberal / Centre-Left Socialist is not what I would have expected of a free market proponent, but he says markets thrive and serve when they are appropriately regulated and reminds Canada that healthcare is a right , not a business. Quite simply Canada is showing a way against Trump and leading in beyond its real resource (given half the country is frozen) I think they might like 240 000 spare Ukrainians now too.

[Stanley]

Big problem is of course The Israelis or to be more accurate, The Jewish nation, are hell bent on having control of the whole of what used to be called Palestine. They won't become amenable to any suggestions until they gain that end. This is why they have started destabilising the West Bank.

THIS caught my attention this morning.
Mark Carney wins race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada's prime minister and Liberal Party leader - he will be sworn in as PM in the coming days. In his acceptance speech, the former head of the UK's and Canada's central banks says his nation faces "dark, dark days, brought on by a country we can no longer trust". In a message to US President Donald Trump, Carney pledges to keep retaliatory tariffs on US goods until "Americans show us respect". Earlier, outgoing PM Justin Trudeau said Canada was facing "an existential threat from our neighbour" in reference to Trump's tariffs and threats to make Canada "the 51st state". Carney, who easily won the leadership race against three rivals, will lead the Liberals into the next general election - it must be held by 20 October but could be triggered later this month
Now what we need to see is him elected in a coming General Election.
I always liked Mark Carney when he was governor of the BofE. He talks common sense fluently!

[Whyperion]

US Doesn't need Canadian Lumber. It is quite happy , like Brazil , to deforest its land . Anyone Worried?

Segregation in the U.S. Army was not directly outlawed by Congress, but it was effectively ended through Executive Order 9981, issued by President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1948. This order abolished racial discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces and mandated equality of treatment and opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin
Pity congress never followed this through as Trump is effectively reversing this. Remember the Battle of Bamber Bridge. However I think the idea is to train an army (and bring back Slavery for employers ?) to oppress the people of the US. By climbing into bed with Putin , Trump also allows Russian control/destabilisation of Africa and plunder of its mineral wealth.


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Apparently I thought its a bit quiet from Labour in the UK. It is. They have taken a view not to make instant comments about the breakneck speed of US announcements, tweets and so on. This might actually be wise

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on the latest pronouncements from Downing Street that bode ill for the benefits system.
Sir Keir Starmer has called the current benefits system "unsustainable", "indefensible" and "unfair", and said the government could not shrug its "shoulders and look away". Addressing Labour MPs on Monday evening, the prime minister said the current welfare system was "the worst of all worlds", discouraging people from working while producing a "spiralling bill". The comments come as Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall prepares to set out changes to the welfare system and cut the benefits bill in the coming weeks.
We are allowed to be wise before the event and 15 years ago many of us were saying that the Cameron/Osborne policy of Austerity was wrong as it reduced the amount of money circulating in the economy and thus would adversely impact growth. What we are seeing here is the natural and regrettable consequence of that policy. In addition the damage to the economy was compounded by leaving the EU which further handicapped us.
We should never forget these facts and recognise the roots of our problems.