Another UN success

Britain got a watered-down statement from the UN Security Council last night calling for an "early resolution" to the crisis of the 15 Navy personnel being held in Iran. Russia blocked UK demands for a tougher resolution insisting on their immediate freedom, good to see the Russians on our side on this one. Iran rejected the statement by the UN so another reason why the UN is a toothless tiger in these things.

Snouts in the trough

Government's Communications Allowance or the £10,000 bung so you can put out more party literature. This is a complete waste of tax payers money, I would hope that David Cameron will come out and say that this will be stopped by the next Conservative government. In my opinion the Conservative MPs should donate the money to charity and embarrass the thieving, grubby Labour MPs.

Beckett’s incompetence

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett under saw one of the worst acts as a minister with the catastrophic introduction the new European Union single payments scheme for farmers the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee “questioned her promotion to foreign secretary”. The words 'catastrophe', 'disaster', 'failure' and 'debacle' appear in the opening paragraphs of an official report it is clear just how bad the government's performance has been,

The lack of accountability in the department and the promotion of Beckett shows the government's contempt not only for accountability but for the farming community. Loyalty above competence seems to be driving principle of the government.

David Furnell a question?

If the "£60,000 for Middle Road improvements is to be welcomed" then why did the Sholing Labour Councillors vote against it?

Miliband spending your money

Blair’s choice as next leader according to Mandy, Miliband is following Blair’s approach to the use of civil servants. Thus believing that the civil service is a branch of the Labour party and so can be used for party political purposes. Guido Fawkes has been highlighting the apparent misuse of the public purse once again by Miliband. Will this have an impact on the leadership election?

Mandy’s weekend

Over the Weekend Peter Mandelson has been telling anyone and everyone that Gordon should not be Prime Minister. Is he behind yesterday’s stories that Blair is saying that Miliband could beat Brown. Or was it a “botched coup” against Gordon by Mandy. Gordon probably still has not forgiven him in the last leadership election in the Labour party. Why is Brown so desperate that he gets the job without a serious fight? Is it Gordon believes that he has divine right to be PM? But does Mandy see a Labour government where he does not have any access to the heart of power any more. Which would not be a bad thing?

Tax Cut Con

After all the cheers from his fellow Labour MPs on Wednesday there’s a massive blow to Gordon Brown and his party from the poll in today’s Daily Telegraph. With the polls continuing to head away from Labour and Brown, the magic rabbit that he had hopped for on Wednesday seems to have failed to arrive.

CON 39% (+1): LAB 31% (-1): LD 15% (-1)

Trial by Jury
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6472755.stm

Trust Schools in Southampton

Cllr Milton in answering my question yesterday said that she will support any school that seeks Trust, Faith or Academy Status.

Labour 1979 or 2007?

Yesterday in Full Council we debated the outsourcing of services in Southampton. What should have been a debate about service improvement and the future of council services instead saw the resurrection of socialist dogma. Cllr Bridle and the rest of the Labour group started with saying that they had a veto on the issue. If they did and they were against the policy why not use it before? And what right does one party have over the other two when all groups are 16?

This was the start to what was some of the most shocking comments Southampton Council chamber has heard for years. Cllr McEwing asked if the officers had done the maths, I am glad she asked this because I was not sure and thought they might have done the proposal on the back of a fag packet. Then came the class warriors as if Arthur Scargill was at the back of the chamber with a whip. Cllr Marsh-Jenks promising a return to the winter of discontent, with strikes and civil disobedience. Good to see that Labour in Southampton support the democratic process.

Several other speakers made statements including Cllr R Williams talking about sustainable communities (obviously a bet to get certain words into the debate). With Cllr Noon speaking it dawned on the rest of the Labour group that they would have to speak. This was a problem as quite a few of them had not read the papers, whoops! Lots of comments that were made in my opinion only made them look foolish in front of a potential business partner. I doubt this was the sole reason but half way through Labour party’s return to 1979 UNISON left. My favourite was about moving jobs to India which was spelled out in the report that this was not possible without the consent of full council, and said in every briefing.

After this fun half hour it went to a vote and went through.

Burying Bad News?

Sir Michael Lyons' two-and-a-half year inquiry into local government is set to conclude today (good day to bury bad news). In it probably will be the proposal of new council tax bands so that town halls to increase tax. Along with the power to raise supplementary business rates, (by up to four per cent) to support local economic expansion (or drive business out of areas).

In the biggest local government finance report for years Sir Michael Lyons’ also recommends giving councils the right to charge for refuse collection by volume (thus more fly tipping) and renaming council tax benefit as council tax rebate (why not reduce tax in the first place). With Gordon’s Budget today I am sure the message of more tax by Labour is assured.

Letter to Echo

Currently being debated in the House of Lords

Sir,

In reply to Mr Hawksworth’s letter. I accept that the trials are complicated and involve many documents. The real blame is with the CPS who I believe in the case of the Blue Arrow and Maxwell cases over complicated the prosecution. In the Guinness trial the jury resulted in a conviction and the three judge panel resulted in an acquittal.

Conrad Black in the USA is under trial by Jury and the conviction in the Enron case was done by a jury. Thus my argument is more that the juries should be better prepared and the judge should direct the prosecution and defence barristers and solicitors to make the case less complicated so that the jury can understand the case being made.

The issue of trial by jury in my view is important in a free and democratic country. The low convictions rate must also lie with the prosecution barristers and solicitors for not making as good a case as they should that would result in conviction.

We have a government that openly asks for higher rates of conviction I do not accept that it is the government’s position to do this (this you might say is idealist) the legal system should be outside the political remit.

If you were to remove trial by jury then at the same time I believe that the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General should not be political appointees as they do have an influence on appointment of judges.

The cost element is only one issue the Savile enquiry has been going since 1998 and no result near and at a cost of over £140 million; this has no jury and is only feathering the nests of barristers and solicitors’.

I believe that the removal of Jury trial is a political move which is not in the best interest legal system of this country. You can make a case that murder cases are complicated and that they involve many different specialist people thus should they held by a panel?

In conclusion I would trust 12 ordinary citizens of Southampton than a panel appointed by Judges.

Regards

Margaret Thatcher movie planned

The BBC is reporting that a movie in the similar style to The Queen based on the run-up to the 1982 Falklands War. Pathe and BBC Films are making the film. I do hope we don’t have some lefty BBC writer putting their own slant on historical facts.

Pathe have said "The proposed film will be a revealing and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher as she battles to save her career in the 17 days immediately preceding the war".

This should make interesting viewing but who will play the Iron Lady.

Poll Update

The Conservatives have extended their lead over Labour to 10 points, according to the latest poll.

The ICM survey for todays Guardian newspaper found that the Tories are up one point on last month to 41 per cent. Labour remains unchanged on 31 per cent while the Liberal Democrats are down one point on 18 per cent.

David Cameron would have a 15-point lead over Labour under Brown, up two per cent on last month, the poll found.The Tories would get 43 per cent support, Labour 28 and the Lib Dems 18 in a contest between Cameron, Brown and Sir Menzies Campbell.

NHS

Conservatives have launched a three month consultation on plans to transform public health and improve the well-being of the British people. David Cameron has said "back it, build it, and improve it for everyone".Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has signalled that an in-coming Conservative administration would specifically target obesity, sexual health, and alcohol abuse for action and improvement. This would be allowing local directors of public health to determine how funding for public health services would be spent. Independent public health budgets would be established, to ensure they are spent on preventative measures to improve public health without being raided to support hospitals in deficit. And a strengthened Chief Medical Officer's Department would be set up, made more independent of ministers, and able to advise the renamed Secretary of State for Public Health.

In Southampton the NHS Trust made £2.4 million in parking charges – the highest in the country. This is a disgrace especially with the parking problems that are around the hospital with people objecting to the charge and parking in the surrounding streets. I know that Neil Fitzgerald has been looking into this matter and ways to solve it.

Education Education Education

This afternoon we had the Adrian Vinson show otherwise known as cabinet. This afternoon Cllr Milton put up for consultation what was to happen to the two new schools in the East and West of the city. Then ratified what was going to happen.

From this many questions remain unanswered.

Why did the cabinet member not wish to submit a bid? Would the concept of the LEA being rejected by an outside body to run the new schools, result in the other schools questioning the ability of the LEA to run them?

What is the cabinet member going to base her selection on? There are the government guidelines to follow on selection but how will cllr Milton choose between a Trust school, a Faith school and an Academy?

Once Cllr Milton has made her decision will she allow other schools in the city to go down this route? Thus if a school becomes a trust school will the neighbouring schools be allowed to seek Trust school status?

What will happen to staff and children? Probably the most important, if a selection process was to start in schools will staff wish to stay there. In an academy staff will no longer be employed by the LEA thus what happens to the staff?

This is one of the most serious issues facing the city and the only member of the Labour party to attend was Richard Harris who stood down as a councillor last year. Why did no Labour councillors attend? Do they not take this matter serious?

Will Gordon make it 100 tax rises?

The rusty Chancellor in his last budget will over see the increase in more tax rises. Gordon has managed in his previous budgets to raise 99 taxes so will he be able to stop himself to raise tax once more to reach 100.

For a complete break down you can visit Jeremy Moulton.

Whitehead for Hain

Alan Whitehead has come out in support of perma tan Peter Hain for Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. Hain supports Brown for Leader, does Mr Whitehead? Self-confessed Kinnockite, an enthusiastic supporter of British entry into the European single currency someone everything hates.

Party Funding

Sir Hayden Phillips published his report on political finances yesterday. This has kept the political parties poles apart on the funding of parties. Despite the revelations of Labour selling peerages, the idea of state funding to me is wrong.

The Labour Party emerged as the biggest obstacle after Sir Hayden yesterday proposed a limit of around £50,000 from individuals or organisations, thus pushing the argument for increased state funding. The problem is trade unions if they were limited to a £50,000 donation this would affect the funding of the Labour party. The conservatives have said they would agree to a £50,000 donation per organisation, business.

I do not believe the state should solely fund political parties.

Trident

Whitehead and Denham supported the government last night. They tried to take the position of sitting on the fence and not have to make a decision. The amendment which in Southampton they peddled as there idea and not Jon Trickett MP was not heard. Thus they fell in line with the government.

The motion to begin planning for a new generation of submarines to carry the weapons was passed by 409 votes to 161, a majority of 248 with 87 Labour MPs rebelling.

SSP

Last night Capita held a presentation on what they proposed if they were selected to be approved bidder. There were two interesting things one was who turned up and two what capita proposed. First only one member of the Labour party turned up while the Conservatives and Liberals had 9 and 8 respectively. If we have to make a decision on this next Wednesday are Labour not prepared to listen or are have they made up there minds.

Capita did a good sales job. They were what you expected professional and with a good knowledge of what is needed in Southampton Council after years of underinvestment. The opportunity to find out what they proposed outside the papers was just as valuable.

On a side not I did meet the person from Capita who implemented the much hatred congestion charge in London under Ken.

Lords reform

The House of Lords has voted for a fully appointed chamber, setting the scene for a parliamentary battle over reform with MPs. Last week the House of Commons voted for a 100% elected. This will pose what could be a problem for future parliaments would the incoming Labour leader delay reform or force it through using the Parliament Acts?

Denham and Whitehead to rebel

Southampton's local MP’s are to rebel against the protection of the UK. John Denham and Alan Whitehead are supporting the amendment tabled by Jon Trickett, which calls for more consideration of "the strategic case, costs and design" and a further Commons vote before a final decision is taken. Are Denham and Whitehead going back to their old Socialist roots?

EU's football team

The EU can’t even organise a football match. In a game between an EU all stars and Manchester United three of the players representing the EU are Brazilian. Is there not 11 good enough players in the EU to represent them?

Trident

Julian Lewis New Forest East MP and shadow defence minister makes a very cogent case for why Britain need’s to have a nuclear deterrent read more here replacing trident

The Great Global Warming Swindle

I watched The Great Global Warming Swindle and my conclusion was that statements at both extremes of the global change debate exist. The need for rational argument is needed. The position that Chris Huhne has taken i.e. its fact thus to argue against or question means you in hoc with the petrol chemical industry is absurd.

I am not a climate scientist, but I can see that the sun has a big impact on the earth's temperature. Yet for the last 100 years we have been using vast amounts of coal, oil and gas, releasing substantial amounts of CO2 to the atmosphere/environment. This must be having an impact on the health and climate of the world.

Cameron’s position on jet fuel seems entirely rational given that we already have very high taxes on car fuel. If we accept that there is some purpose to having taxes on car fuel to discourage car use, then it seems illogical to have no similar tax on jet fuel.

Censorship by Lib Dems

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne (who lives in London) tried to ban Channel 4 last week from showing The Great Global Warming Swindle is being reported on Iain Dales blog. Mr Huhne appears not to be very liberal in his views. There is a lot being said on climate change at the present time. But to stop debate as you don’t like what is being said either shows you don’t have an argument or you are incapable of discussing the matter. Which one are you Mr Huhne

Foreign Language

The government have gone half way into the reintroduction of foreign languages in schools. In 2002 the government stopped the compulsory teaching of foreign languages to 14-16 year olds. If someone learns a foreign language from 7 till they are 14 they will probably continue studying foreign languages as a GCSE. Ergo why not reinstate foreign language study as a compulsory subject if it is that important children should learn languages from the age of 7.

Nirj against London embassy

On Conservative home the story of how the EU is opening a London branch for you to pop in and find out why they can’t sign off their accounts. Good for Nirj and the other 11 Conservative MEP’s pointing out this further waste of our money.

Al’s coming over

Al Gore loser in the 2000 presidential election and now Oscar winner with ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is coming to address the conservative Shadow Cabinet. This will not be popular in Washington among many in the Republican Party, especially Senator John McCain. What this shows is Cameron is not going to a puppet to America and that he is independent enough to put Britain first.

Another Poll, Another lead

The Sunday Mirror puts the Conservatives 11 points clear of the Labour party in today’s poll. The poll conducted by ICM has the Conservatives on 40% and Labour on 29%. This is the third poll by my counting that has the Conservatives on the 40% mark.

The poll also has implications as to who will be the next leader of the Labour Party. Many MP’s with small majorities will be anxious as well. The growing support of the Conservatives could see them lose at the next General Election. I am sure they will look at election calculus to see if they still have a seat every time a new poll comes out. This could have ramifications in the leadership election as they will be looking for a leader which will allow them to retain their seat.

Prescott fails again.

Some will remember the flagship scheme that neanderthal John Prescott had. To build affordable homes for £60,000. The good news is the houses are ready and up for sale.

The bad news is that they are on the market for £175,000. Prescott has managed to fail again. In the Mail on Sunday the builder ‘Crest Nicholson’ says that the homes were never going to be £60,000 homes but was the part of spin by the government. Does that really come as a surprise to anyone?

Open Source Politics

George Osborne said last night that a ‘Conservative government would create a level playing field for open source software in the UK, in a move which could save taxpayers more than £600 million a year’. This is a good move in my opinion and should be extended to local government as well. Local authorities spend vast sums of money on IT. In 2004 Southampton city council was still operating on Windows 95 years after it was no longer supported.

As Guido says the Tories are the Google party ("Do no evil") to New Labour's Microsoft party ("Evil Corp.").

Visit by Charles Hendry

Yesterday Charles Hendry the Shadow Minister for Industry and Enterprise visited Southampton. During the visit he attended The Sholing Technical College and met with many of the girls, including the four who won the ‘The great Egg race’ see clip from the echo.

Charles also met with a local post office master and heard how the closure of post offices is affecting the community and how they are struggling to survive today. One thing I learnt was that one of the new business areas for them has been the rise of e-bay which has seen more people use post offices. Yet the pressure for them to close will further erode communities.

Charles was also invited to NXP in Millbrook which was a step into the future with what is possible not just in the next generation but the one after that and even further than that. What was really good was it was not on a power point demonstration but with actual models that worked.

It was good to see and show the positives of Southampton to a vistor and to show the city has a lot to offer in the future.

We fished the day with a visit to the university where Charles spoke and took questions from an audience of mixed political views with many Labour and socialists attending and agreeing with what Charles had to say.

Another poll, Another Lead

A poll in the times today puts the Conservatives 8 points ahead of Labour. This would be further stretched if Gordon was leader with a poll of 29% cent compared to 42% for the Conservatives. While if David Miliband was to stand the difference is 28% to 48% although this would obviously change.

Lord Levy

Ruth Turner is emerges is the source of the fabled email to Blair’s chief of staff, Jonathan Powell. In the Guardian today it is alleged that Lord Levy asked her to change her evidence to the police in there enquiry into loans for peerages.

The police tried to get an injunction against the Guardian but the judge ruled because printing had already begun.

PR Disaster

Mark Littlewood, who is Head of Press for the Liberal Democrats is the person who said that the idea that PR would not be a deal breaker. Iain Dale reports he is not the most popular person on many Lib Dem blogs at the moment. Oh well..

Deal or no Deal

The Lib Dem conference in Harrogate has just finished with an open invitation from Ming Campbell to Gordon Brown for a deal if a hung parliament happens at the next General Election. In his speech his five criteria did not include PR, and a senior source said this would not be deal breaker. The Orange Bookers will be seething with what Ming has said I suspect.

Not only couldn’t he referee a Telford V Faraday game, now he is doing 1st class rugby and still annoying people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/gloucester/6381971.stm

Sholing Community Action Forum

Last night it was the Sholing Community Action Forum AGM. This is one of only eight in the city that is left. Due to local election boundaries the forum covers more than just my ward, thus many issues that are brought up are not ward related issues.

After the reports and the new election of officers which I presided over we had a variety of speakers. City patrol, how the police control room works, police community support officers and Sgt Allan Dineley spoke at what they did.

The major issue is that law and order has broken down. The police are undermined by the lack of power, which the offenders know. The issuing of asbos has failed Home Office figures show that 49 per cent of the flagship orders are violated.

Sgt Dineley spoke at great length about how he and his officers attempt to keep law and order and in one case have had one person in front of court six times. Yet he is still able to violate the orders against him with what appears to be impunity.

Thus respite for communities is all that is achieved through the various government initiatives. The real issue of criminal or anti social behaviour is simply moved from one area to another area.

There is currently a section 30 order in place in Shooters Hill this will run out soon, they can apply for an extension (which they should get). Yet the problem has been moved onto Kathleen Road and the parade of shops in Alfriston Gardens. The problem is not being addressed.

We also got told by the about the 101 number which “confused everyone” and people did not know which number to call. If people are in doubt they should call 999 was the message that came across.

Support for Denham

In the Guardian today Peter Kilfoyle has come out in favour of John Denham to stand against Gordon Brown.

It would be interesting if John did stand against Gordon Brown as the only major issue that Mr Denham has voted against of Labour's is the going to war with Iraq. But he did vote against an investigation into Iraq.

He also voted for the closure of post offices in Sholing and the rest of Itchen, the introduction of ID cards and the introduction of top-up fees. All Labour polices thus is there really that much difference between John Denham and Gordon Brown?

On political betting he is given odds of 149/1. Brown, meanwhile, has eased a touch to 0.29/1.

What this does show is the strength of Gordon's position at the moment as no one is willing to challange him.