POLITICS CORNER

[Thomo]

Despite the Stirling efforts of local people to put Barlick well and truly back on the map, there are areas where we become less important, and if necessary where the axe falls first, I believe that we are still regarded by some as being of little importance when compared to the larger towns nearby. When the forthcoming election takes place, the two main contenders for our patch need careful consideration. I am now getting several leaflets a week promoting one of them, these come not from around here, but from the North East, the ones from the other party are local. To go any further with this I would put myself at risk of being accused of something that I am not, but I am concerned about just where one of the candidates loyalties are.

[PanBiker]

Are you basing someones loyalties solely on where political propaganda is printed? If so it is quite a misguided view. There is a legal requirement with all such literature to give details of the promoter, the candidate and where the material was printed. I don't know how you construe allegiance from where something is printed.

I have only received leaflets on behalf of Azhar Ali promoted by Yvonne Tennant both of 33, Carr Road Nelson and printed by Greatledge Malaga House, Pink Bank Lane, Longsight M12 5GH, which by my reckoning is in Manchester.

Andrew Stephensons offerings are promoted by himself or so it says on his foldout, he gives his address as the House of Commons, London SW1 0AA, printed by St Ives PLC, Widow Hill Road , Burnley BB10 2BB.

Other stuff poked through the door from the Tories is promoted by Allan Mabbutt, 4 Mathew Parker Street, London SW1 9HQ, again printed by St Ives PLC, One Tudor St London EC4Y OAH.

There is an election campaign on, why the veiled secrecy about candidates names?

One question I would have for our outgoing MP (pointless now of course) is why has he not mentioned the closure of treatment facilities at our local surgery? He has known about it for the last three months and could have instigated a fightback a lot earlier rather than the two weeks notice given.

[Thomo]

That's it then, I am biased, racist, egocentric and have no idea whatsoever about politics, only my own opinions. Fine, I bow to the superior knowledge of the members and bid you all farewell.

[PanBiker]

All I have done is stated fact very sorry that you cant accept that, other than that I don't know what to say to your reply Peter.

[plaques]

Published by the 'Guardian Newspaper' Promising seven day care to ensure hospitals can open at the weekend. To be honest I thought they were open 24/7 already. But it would appear that to make this new promise they needed to break an old one. Ref:-Reforms to the NHS which saw the government break its promises and enforce a top-down reorganisation were necessary to provide the money needed for a seven-day health service in the future that will reduce mortality rates, Jeremy Hunt has said. SeeLINK.
In most courts of law it is one of the prime objectives of the lawyers to demonstrate that the witness is telling lies. It doesn't matter if the lie is not a prime factor in the case but more to establish the overall integrity of the witness. On this count both Mr Hunt and Mr Cameron have failed miserably.

[Wendyf]

That's it then, I am biased, racist, egocentric and have no idea whatsoever about politics, only my own opinions. Fine, I bow to the superior knowledge of the members and bid you all farewell.

I don't normally get involved on this topic, but Thomo, I really can't see how Ian's reply to your post could elicit this response.

[Stanley]

I agree Wendy, Ian didn't deserve that. I am still puzzling about the reference to 'the North East', also several communications in one week from one party. As for racism, only Peter refereed to that.... One of the things about writing publicly is that you expose your own foibles and characteristics and we all have those.... For instance, apart from the obvious gaps in Andrew Stephenson's public statements I still wonder what proportion of the Tory output is financed by the Noble Lord, Ashworth. He has never come clean about that even though it is common knowledge that it happened during the 2010 campaign and the suspicion is that this continues. I have no such qualms about the Liberal and Labour communications.

[David Whipp]

Peter has emailed me to say that he has severed his connection with One Guy...

[Stanley]

His choice. He was never happy if his view was questioned. I am reminded of a quotation I have on the wall in my kitchen.
'The man who never changes his opinion is like stagnant water and reptiles breed in his mind' (Blake)

[Stanley]

The 2010-2015 Parliament was officially dissolved at midnight. We no longer have members in parliament and now we can exercise our democratic rights and elect people we prefer and trust. Or so the theory goes.... The problem today is of course that we have never had a worse climate for rational choice. There has never been less trust of the system and we are going to see some very strange results and developments. There was a time when we could vote on clear principles but unfortunately these are very thin on the ground. How did we get to this point? Largely due to apathy and lack of interest on the part of the public. We allowed successive governments to be dragged off track by undue influence from the money men and we see the results. Guess who is paying for this now.... Personally I shall search for principles and ethics. I wish you all good luck in your choices. You will need it!

[plaques]

My wife's usual comment on the behavior of MP's is "they are all rouges". Putting that to one side, the recent commons vote relative to the proposed secret ballot for electing the Speaker smacks of underhand maneuverings. When the Leader of the Commons Procedure Committee (Charles Walker) wasn't told anything about the proposed motion, it certainly makes you think if they can do this to one of their most senior members what is their attitude towards the ordinary voter. Are we that gullible and easily hoodwinked that we believe everything they say.

[Tizer]

That's it then, I am biased, racist, egocentric and have no idea whatsoever about politics, only my own opinions. Fine, I bow to the superior knowledge of the members and bid you all farewell.

I don't normally get involved on this topic, but Thomo, I really can't see how Ian's reply to your post could elicit this response.

I agree Wendy. Perhaps Thomo has been stressed out by his recent illnesses.

[Stanley]

P, in a way your good lady is right. The main thing on their mind is retaining their seat and comfortable income. In this they are remiss as the reason they were voted in was to act as representatives of their constituents. Part of this responsibility is to interpret the minutiae of modern politics for their electors. By blindly accepting the often ludicrous claims made by desperate leaders of all parties they are failing in their responsibilities. This could be interpreted as roguery....
An even greater roguery is the wild predictions of Armageddon by Cameron if Labour get power. There is no logical basis for this and suspect statistics lie the £3,028 loss to working families is palpable nonsense. The speed with which Grant Shapps leapt in to support his leader further damages his credibility. Nasty stuff and not helpful to any elector trying to make a rational choice.

[Bruff]

The IFS have come out and described as nonsense the ‘£3000’ bill for families the PM touted as the price of a Labour Government. That’s about as far as they can go without labelling it a lie.

I think it a fact not much appreciated that your MP is your representative in Parliament and acts on your behalf in Parliament. When a PM or Minister refuses to answer a question asked by an MP because I don’t know, they think it’s all quite the lark, they are not being clever. They are in reality being hugely disrespectful to the people of this country and a little childish. The current PM refuses to answer almost all the questions asked of him as any casual observer of PMQs, or last week’s ‘debates’, will appreciate. He does though refuse point blank to answer questions from Mr C Bryant MP because Mr Bryant hasn’t apologised for something or other he said to or about the PM. Which just shows the PM’s huge contempt for the people of the Rhondda.

Being in a marginal I shall vote Labour to ensure the egregious Ms McVey MP is back where she belongs as a third-rate TV journalist on low-rent TV. Was I in a safe Labour or Tory seat I’d probably go Green. Was I in Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland I’d certainly vote SNP and Plaid and very probably SDLP though the only truly socialist party we have in these Islands is Sinn Fein. It’s not so much the socialism though. I’m much more of a committed European federalist.

Richard Broughton

[Tizer]

Richard, it's interesting you should say that about the Green Party, I had perused their manifesto and was wondering why socialists don't vote Green instead of Labour nowadays. The Greens appear to be much more socialist than Labour now.

[Bruff]

First Past The Post works against the Greens (and for that matter UKIP), so principles are sacrificed at the alter of securing the 'least worse'! Had we a more proportional system I would not hesitate to support them and indeed in the London Mayoral elections I did, and in the EU elections I do.

The Greens are though the second popular party of those who will vote this May for the first time, the 18-23 year olds, polling at 27% or thereabouts; Labour are the first on somewhere in the mid-40% area. The Tories are in the teens; UKIP at about 2% (which suggests in 20 years or so, simple demographics will do for their vote!). The poor old Lib Dems too are well down, tuition fees I suspect. Despite this, they (the Greens) will do well to get more than one seat on about a 7% national vote.

The Greens are pushing hard in Liverpool Riverside (lot of students), but I don’t think they’ll take the seat. They are the official opposition on Liverpool Council and to everyone’s amazement grabbed a Wirral Council seat for a Birkenhead ward.

Richard Broughton

[Stanley]

I do enjoy your posts Richard, and not just because you confirm my own prejudices! Perhaps the IFS are indeed 'independent'. Your point about Cameron's contempt (And lack of understanding about the political process) for the questions he is asked is well made. It's noticeable that when he does make a statement it is, with very few exceptions, the product of the Tory presentation department. Our local MP Mr Stephenson has exactly the same technique. This is why I have such a soft spot for the 'Awkward Squad' no matter which party they come from when they ask the pertinent questions and refuse to take a negative or non existent response. Our previous MP Gordon Prentice was such a man. There was no way he would ever be considered for office under Blair.
I also agree with you about the choices in the May election. I am. at heart, a social democrat. I believe that the chief purpose of the political process is to improve the lot of everyone in society and particularly to protect the disadvantaged. It goes without saying that this involves a measure of redistribution of wealth. This is not 'The politics of envy' it is clear recognition of the logical position, that the main capital holders cannot have a secure peaceful society if the majority are not allowed the possibility of a satisfactory life. There is also of course the fact that this majority are the class that adds value, consumes and supports the process of government. This is why the work of those economic historians like Piketty and Stiglitz is so pertinent and important.
This morning I'm looking the Nigerian election result. I am so pleased that the Democratic Process has triumphed. That the outgoing president conceded and that there has been no distortion of the popular vote. This is a very significant step forward for the whole of African politics, it shows what is possible and gives democrats hope.
One last thing. I came across the concept of the 'Cosmopolitan Society' the other day and was impressed by the logical value of the argument that as global mobility increases, narrow arguments about race and religious commitment become less relevant as the proportion of 'non-native' people in the population increases. This is bad news for the extremists and good news for those who value tolerance and belief in the possibility of harmonious living. It makes so much sense and I suspect we shall hear more of this in the years to come.

[Tizer]

Not surprisingly, we're hearing a lot about the SNP and Plaid Cymru which is a good thing, not just for people in Scotland and Wales but for England too because it makes us `think outside the box' and encourages us to try and get away from the old Tory-Labour confrontation. If there were SNP and Plaid Cymru candidates in some of the English constituencies we might have got a surprise in this election! Perhaps we need an ENP, an English National Party to match them. UKIP don't qualify, they're just a right-wing party for those who don't want to go quite as far as voting for the BNP; the Green Party are held back by the word `Green' which puts off all those who equate `green' with namy-pamby thinking or who are involved in business and industry and feel that a Green party would shut them down the day after they won the election.

It's curious to think where the Lib Dems fit into the picture today. Perhaps their biggest problem is that people always think if you don't want the Tories in you vote Labour and if you don't want Labour you vote Tory. Could an English National Party avoid that trap or will we be forever caught in between Tory and Labour?

As the differences between Tory and Labour grow narrower perhaps there will be a chance for another party to grab the opportunity. A bit like plate tectonics - the old continents collide but a new one emerges elsewhere.

[Stanley]

I agree on the benefits of greater exposure and new thinking. Problem with the word 'national' in a political context is that it is a poisoned well. 'Empire' suffered from the same problem in the inter war years.

[plaques]

It is common currency to be up-beat about the state of the economy and encourage confidence for future investments but sometimes there has to be a reality check into what is really happening. This report by the ONSProductivy.. The only reason that output is being maintained is down to the total hours being worked plus a downward pressure on wages. Unless investment is made to increase the overall efficiency of manufacture we could reach a point where wages alone will not compete against foreign firms. Surprisingly in recent times it was the Conservative party that demonstrated that by supporting more efficient manufacture, remember Nisan in Sunderland, that revived the motor industry. Of course it would never do to be seen to be promoting this sort of socialism in the present campaigns. This was one of the things Mrs Thatcher got right.

[Tizer]

More trouble at mill...
US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris: "China is building artificial land by pumping sand on to live coral reefs - some of them submerged - and paving over them with concrete. China has now created over 4sq/km (1.5 sq miles) of artificial landmass," he said. "China is creating a great wall of sand with dredges and bulldozers over the course of months." He said that considering China's "pattern of provocative actions towards smaller claimant states" in the South China Sea, the scope of the building raised "serious questions about Chinese intentions"...In recent months images have emerged of Chinese construction on reefs in the Spratly Islands to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use, including an air strip.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32126840

[Stanley]

P. Quite right and the result of de-skilling the workforce over many years by inadequate education , the introduction of automated processes and the neglect of old fashioned apprentice training. Not fashionable to mention this but Marx identified this as a mistake in Das Kapital and this was in the mid 19th century. The problem is of course that 'The Market' demands the most accurate and efficient production methods and this is a bored youth on a low wage minding a computer controlled milling machine that even changes it's own tools and work-pieces. A skilled person sat at a bench building a proper watch doesn't cut it The chairman of General Motors made a perceptive remark 50 years ago, asked about robots on the production like he said that they were fine but they didn't buy motor cars.
There is a further advantage for 'The Market' in having a large pool of relatively unskilled workers, they can be used to dilute labour and keep wages down. Zero Hours contracts are a further refinement of this. I can remember the debates over fifty years ago about the benefits and disadvantages of 'automation'. The general conclusion was that it was a good thing as it meant more leisure for hard pressed workers. It didn't work like that. The workers with leverage got overtime, the others got unemployment. Go figure and factor in the effects of computerisation and the revolution this has spawned.
When Cameron and Osborne trumpet the blessing of increased employment they do not differentiate between those jobs which give a living wage and the ones that don't. This low wage economy is the reason why Government benefits for those in work are rising and are the biggest cause of out of control borrowing to finance this deficiency. In effect it's a subsidy to manufacturing industry which gives the illusory effect that economic activity is healthy and increasing. It is these low paid workers who are the main driver for domestic consumption, they spend their money, it circulates and the multiplier effect kicks in. In the end this is the only way out of the present impasse.
( I do go on don't I....)

[Stanley]

I happened to catch the SNP party political broadcast last night. Possibly the best of the genre I have ever seen. Easy to watch, concentrated on issues and didn't include any promotion or denigration of personalities. A model for other parties to copy!
If I could vote for Nicola Sturgeon I would be in there like a shot!

[Tizer]

Am I correct in thinking the SNP is more strongly socialist than is the Labour Party?

[plaques]

I see that the Torygraph Newspaper appear to be making allegations against Nicola Sturgeon that are totally untrue. Inquiry.. This is typical Tory mischief, inventing something that never happened and presenting it as fact. I can only think that the underlying intent is to cause friction between the SNP and Labour that will result in more column inches diverting attention away from the Austerity party. Meanwhile, the Torygraph will melt into the background blaming the French for the so called misunderstanding. It comes as no surprise that these supernatural revelations come at Easter when everyone subject to the inquiry will be 'unavailable'. So its back to the old 'No Smoke without Fire' for the party faithful.