Southampton Elections
Well it is all over : the votes have been counted and results are in.
The Conservatives in Southampton had a fantastic result in Southampton last night in the local elections.
A brief summary is as follows: Conservatives +2 (18) 19,022 votesLabour +2 (18) 15,656 votesLib Dem -4 (12) 11,879 votes
I was returned in Sholing which obviously gave me great pleasure. The turnout was up to 37% (I am sure Mr Heath will say that was down to his waste of taxpayers ' money on planes and buses). It seams Matt Stevens was a bit wrong with his predictions, no great surprise there.
Also Alec Samuels was returned , which was great not just for the Conservatives but also Southampton as he is extremely hard working. It also gave me great pleasure that Matt Dean a good friend was elected. Also Linda Norris and Andy Wells' result in Millbrook and Jane’s in Swaything shows the Conservatives are dealing with local issues and helping local people.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
"Ten years that ruined Britain"
Max Hastings has written an overview of Tony Blair's ten years in office for today's Daily Mail. Five extracts are published below:
Education, education, education?"For all the deceits peddled by examination authorities, our children are costing more to learn less. A third of secondary school pupils have some record of truancy. Most school-leavers are tossed exam certificates without achieving real skills in literacy and numeracy, never mind knowledge. Our great universities have fallen victim to class-war football, with Gordon Brown the foremost government striker. More and more unqualified teenagers from state schools are pushed towards Oxbridge, while private school pupils are deliberately excluded. Excellence drains away. Under-funded British universities, subject to relentless government meddling, slip ever further behind their American counterparts."
Fatter and fatter government"In the workplace, the Government has promoted employee rights at the expense of a crippling impact on productivity, in which Britain slips ever further down on the global scale. Public sector workers have prospered. Indeed, thanks to nice Mr Alan Johnson (when he was Pensions Minister), they are almost the only ones left who can look forward to a decent pension. The economy is now frighteningly dependent on public sector jobs - non-productive ones, funded by the rest of us - to sustain employment."
Whiter than white? "The Blair years have been a boom time for: Ann Summers sex shops (up from 13 to 134 since 1997); free Viagra; CCTV cameras; wind farms; John Prescott; Peter Mandelson; Cherie Blair's lecture income; the prison population; Alastair Campbell; private security guards; sales of illegal drugs; binge-drinking; City salaries; Ken Livingstone; childhood obesity; and grossly incompetent management of the rail system."
Nanny state Britain"The past decade has been a woeful time for personal freedoms. Forget, for a moment, the excesses of government anti-terrorist legislation. There is something mad about any government which persecutes smokers to the point where they will shortly be banned even from private clubs, yet regards marijuana with far less hostility than cigarettes. Labour whipped many more MPs into the House of Commons to ban fox-hunting than ever turn out to debate child cruelty. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has become an enforcement arm of Blairism, intruding its meddling fingers into every corner of our lives."
Uncontrolled immigration"Some might forgive Tony Blair for the catastrophe of Iraq, but will never forgive his abject failure to control immigration. According to official figures - and these, of course, ignore the countless numbers of illegal immigrants - the population of Britain grew by 185,000 in 2005 because of immigration, a trend which means well over a million a decade. Many of the new arrivals not only do not speak our language, but actively reject our values and way of life. They want to come because Britain is famously the softest touch in the world for access, public money and housing. Nobody need agree to anything, least of all loyalty to Queen and country, before being waved through the door. Few Labour ministers care sixpence about the disastrous impact of this influx on social services, housing, race relations and the sense of British nationality."
Read the full article here.
Max Hastings has written an overview of Tony Blair's ten years in office for today's Daily Mail. Five extracts are published below:
Education, education, education?"For all the deceits peddled by examination authorities, our children are costing more to learn less. A third of secondary school pupils have some record of truancy. Most school-leavers are tossed exam certificates without achieving real skills in literacy and numeracy, never mind knowledge. Our great universities have fallen victim to class-war football, with Gordon Brown the foremost government striker. More and more unqualified teenagers from state schools are pushed towards Oxbridge, while private school pupils are deliberately excluded. Excellence drains away. Under-funded British universities, subject to relentless government meddling, slip ever further behind their American counterparts."
Fatter and fatter government"In the workplace, the Government has promoted employee rights at the expense of a crippling impact on productivity, in which Britain slips ever further down on the global scale. Public sector workers have prospered. Indeed, thanks to nice Mr Alan Johnson (when he was Pensions Minister), they are almost the only ones left who can look forward to a decent pension. The economy is now frighteningly dependent on public sector jobs - non-productive ones, funded by the rest of us - to sustain employment."
Whiter than white? "The Blair years have been a boom time for: Ann Summers sex shops (up from 13 to 134 since 1997); free Viagra; CCTV cameras; wind farms; John Prescott; Peter Mandelson; Cherie Blair's lecture income; the prison population; Alastair Campbell; private security guards; sales of illegal drugs; binge-drinking; City salaries; Ken Livingstone; childhood obesity; and grossly incompetent management of the rail system."
Nanny state Britain"The past decade has been a woeful time for personal freedoms. Forget, for a moment, the excesses of government anti-terrorist legislation. There is something mad about any government which persecutes smokers to the point where they will shortly be banned even from private clubs, yet regards marijuana with far less hostility than cigarettes. Labour whipped many more MPs into the House of Commons to ban fox-hunting than ever turn out to debate child cruelty. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has become an enforcement arm of Blairism, intruding its meddling fingers into every corner of our lives."
Uncontrolled immigration"Some might forgive Tony Blair for the catastrophe of Iraq, but will never forgive his abject failure to control immigration. According to official figures - and these, of course, ignore the countless numbers of illegal immigrants - the population of Britain grew by 185,000 in 2005 because of immigration, a trend which means well over a million a decade. Many of the new arrivals not only do not speak our language, but actively reject our values and way of life. They want to come because Britain is famously the softest touch in the world for access, public money and housing. Nobody need agree to anything, least of all loyalty to Queen and country, before being waved through the door. Few Labour ministers care sixpence about the disastrous impact of this influx on social services, housing, race relations and the sense of British nationality."
Read the full article here.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Tough on Crime
Blair has defended the attorney general's role in deciding whether there should be any prosecutions as a result of the cash-for-honours investigation. Thus the man that Tony appointed will judge whether our beloved leader sold peerages for cash. Now that is what I call justice.
A Labour appointed political hack will be totally independent on this matter!
Will he delay his departure until he has made a decision or will he trust his good mate Gordon not to prosecute him?
Blair has defended the attorney general's role in deciding whether there should be any prosecutions as a result of the cash-for-honours investigation. Thus the man that Tony appointed will judge whether our beloved leader sold peerages for cash. Now that is what I call justice.
A Labour appointed political hack will be totally independent on this matter!
Will he delay his departure until he has made a decision or will he trust his good mate Gordon not to prosecute him?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Doorstep Green
This morning was the grand opening of Doorstep Green by the Rt Hon John Denham; he arrived on a train, announced by the town crier. It was an interesting introduction mentioning the pension’s crisis. He was followed by the Mayor, John Slade.
I attended the event with local Conservative Councillor Jeremy Moulton and Shirley Conservative candidate Matthew Dean.
The local action committee has done a wonderful job and spent many hours some of which has been in unpleasant weather to make today such a success and done a fantastic job improving the park. New benches have been installed and a brick path laid.
The event was supported by many of the local residents which shows that community spirit is alive and well is Sholing.
This morning was the grand opening of Doorstep Green by the Rt Hon John Denham; he arrived on a train, announced by the town crier. It was an interesting introduction mentioning the pension’s crisis. He was followed by the Mayor, John Slade.
I attended the event with local Conservative Councillor Jeremy Moulton and Shirley Conservative candidate Matthew Dean.
The local action committee has done a wonderful job and spent many hours some of which has been in unpleasant weather to make today such a success and done a fantastic job improving the park. New benches have been installed and a brick path laid.
The event was supported by many of the local residents which shows that community spirit is alive and well is Sholing.
Friday, April 20, 2007
1984
From the devils kitchen (slightly edited)
Laws that make denying or trivialising the Holocaust a criminal offence punishable by jail sentences will be introduced across the European Union, according to a proposal expecting to win backing from ministers Thursday.Offenders will face up to three years in jail under the proposed legislation, which will also apply to inciting violence against ethnic, religious or national groups.
Well, if we are going to have this illiberal law, then I really do think that trivialising the crimes of the USSR and its hideous leaders would be a really good idea. However, I do not think that this law is a good thing at all.It's not just Holocaust denial that is covered by this either.
The latest draft, seen by the Financial Times, will make it mandatory for all Union member states to punish public incitement “to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin”.They will also have to criminalise “publicly condoning, denying or grossly trivialising crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes” when such statements incite hatred or violence against minorities.
From the devils kitchen (slightly edited)
Laws that make denying or trivialising the Holocaust a criminal offence punishable by jail sentences will be introduced across the European Union, according to a proposal expecting to win backing from ministers Thursday.Offenders will face up to three years in jail under the proposed legislation, which will also apply to inciting violence against ethnic, religious or national groups.
Well, if we are going to have this illiberal law, then I really do think that trivialising the crimes of the USSR and its hideous leaders would be a really good idea. However, I do not think that this law is a good thing at all.It's not just Holocaust denial that is covered by this either.
The latest draft, seen by the Financial Times, will make it mandatory for all Union member states to punish public incitement “to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin”.They will also have to criminalise “publicly condoning, denying or grossly trivialising crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes” when such statements incite hatred or violence against minorities.
Friday, April 13, 2007
More Spin from Labour
"In respect of knife and gun gangs, the laws need to be significantly toughened. There needs to be an intensive police focus on these groups. The ringleaders need to be identified and taken out of circulation; if very young, as some are, put in secure accommodation. The black community - the vast majority of whom in these communities are decent, law-abiding people horrified at what is happening - need to be mobilised in denunciation of this gang culture that is killing innocent young black kids. But we won't stop this by pretending it isn't young black kids doing it."
These comments are made by Tony Blair, he has been ten year’s in power and soon to leave office, yet he has failed to deal with the crime except to see an increase in the ammount.
He is in effect admitting he has failed to deal with crime, we all remember his catchphrase tough on crime tough on the causes of crime. Can we expect any better from Gordon probably not as he has tried to micro manage everything, and failed.
Until the government acknowledge that they have let down the police, the criminal justice system, the people of Sholing, Southampton and this country. The needs to have the power to sentence and not give i-pods etc to people who commit crimes then promise not to do it again the better society will be.
"In respect of knife and gun gangs, the laws need to be significantly toughened. There needs to be an intensive police focus on these groups. The ringleaders need to be identified and taken out of circulation; if very young, as some are, put in secure accommodation. The black community - the vast majority of whom in these communities are decent, law-abiding people horrified at what is happening - need to be mobilised in denunciation of this gang culture that is killing innocent young black kids. But we won't stop this by pretending it isn't young black kids doing it."
These comments are made by Tony Blair, he has been ten year’s in power and soon to leave office, yet he has failed to deal with the crime except to see an increase in the ammount.
He is in effect admitting he has failed to deal with crime, we all remember his catchphrase tough on crime tough on the causes of crime. Can we expect any better from Gordon probably not as he has tried to micro manage everything, and failed.
Until the government acknowledge that they have let down the police, the criminal justice system, the people of Sholing, Southampton and this country. The needs to have the power to sentence and not give i-pods etc to people who commit crimes then promise not to do it again the better society will be.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Motorbikes go free
The Conservative group would not charge motorbikes to go across the Itchen Bridge. This matter came to scrutiny yesterday when Labour performed to the audience by doing a U Turn. 5 years ago the Conservative group proposed this for the Bridge and the Labour administration turned it down. Now in coalition with the Liberal’s and looking for votes they say and promise everything. It was only a couple of months ago that they were proposing the closure of Libraries and swimming pools across the city. Now in the image of Blair and Brown they are looking for headlines.
The Conservative group would not charge motorbikes to go across the Itchen Bridge. This matter came to scrutiny yesterday when Labour performed to the audience by doing a U Turn. 5 years ago the Conservative group proposed this for the Bridge and the Labour administration turned it down. Now in coalition with the Liberal’s and looking for votes they say and promise everything. It was only a couple of months ago that they were proposing the closure of Libraries and swimming pools across the city. Now in the image of Blair and Brown they are looking for headlines.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
What an amazing u turn
The government are now saying that armed forces can not do media deals. Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, said: “Their misjudgements have created a situation where we have division inside the Armed Forces, a loss of public sympathy and an undignified public auction going on for the stories of serving personnel.” The whole handling of this situation is appalling.
This is government by tabloid headlines again.
The government are now saying that armed forces can not do media deals. Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, said: “Their misjudgements have created a situation where we have division inside the Armed Forces, a loss of public sympathy and an undignified public auction going on for the stories of serving personnel.” The whole handling of this situation is appalling.
This is government by tabloid headlines again.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Labour call in the big guns
Echo journalism at its best. Just for reference he defected from the Conservatives and joined Labour, the red rosette is a little clue.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/video/video/index.var.3825.0.0.php
Echo journalism at its best. Just for reference he defected from the Conservatives and joined Labour, the red rosette is a little clue.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/video/video/index.var.3825.0.0.php
Planning part II
Planning passed more flats again in Southampton. We are still not getting family housing brought to the panel just more and more flats. You would have thought that the developers might have picked up the thoughts of the panel and the city. This year over 400 flats and less than 20 houses have now been passed.
We also had a few interesting situations, Tesco putting in retrospective planning permission which is quite common by all accounts around the country.
A 71 bed care home plus day centre with 14 car parking spaces turned down. This shows how the policy that limits car parking spaces can wrong. The number of staff, service vehicles etc not being given adequate parking can have a major impact in the surrounding area, also with a day care centre for elderly people how are they expected to get to the centre, bike??? The care home in my opinion is a great idea and BUPA followed the council guidelines but these are at best woeful. The council should address this problem.
We also had the disgusting sight of council bureaucracy trying to force the panel to act as soulless drones rather than as councillors, resulting in people being disadvantaged. Without a proper explanation of the case in detail, we had to make a decision which would disadvantage a neighbour if we passed it, or disadvantage a person who is disabled if we refused it. Yes we have to make difficult decisions, but what was disgusting in this case was there was a solution which the council had not put forward which could help both people. Thankfully we ignored the council advice and asked for it to be deferred so the parties could work out a solution.
Planning passed more flats again in Southampton. We are still not getting family housing brought to the panel just more and more flats. You would have thought that the developers might have picked up the thoughts of the panel and the city. This year over 400 flats and less than 20 houses have now been passed.
We also had a few interesting situations, Tesco putting in retrospective planning permission which is quite common by all accounts around the country.
A 71 bed care home plus day centre with 14 car parking spaces turned down. This shows how the policy that limits car parking spaces can wrong. The number of staff, service vehicles etc not being given adequate parking can have a major impact in the surrounding area, also with a day care centre for elderly people how are they expected to get to the centre, bike??? The care home in my opinion is a great idea and BUPA followed the council guidelines but these are at best woeful. The council should address this problem.
We also had the disgusting sight of council bureaucracy trying to force the panel to act as soulless drones rather than as councillors, resulting in people being disadvantaged. Without a proper explanation of the case in detail, we had to make a decision which would disadvantage a neighbour if we passed it, or disadvantage a person who is disabled if we refused it. Yes we have to make difficult decisions, but what was disgusting in this case was there was a solution which the council had not put forward which could help both people. Thankfully we ignored the council advice and asked for it to be deferred so the parties could work out a solution.
Another Initiative
David Davis spoke yesterday in reply to the governments latest attempt to deal with extremism,
"It took seven years to deal with Abu Hamza. Seven years in which the Government constantly offered excuse after excuse about not having sufficient laws to deal with him. Eventually he was convicted under eleven counts using legislation almost 150 years old. After initially dithering, the authorities were eventually embarrassed into taking action against those who incited hatred during the Muslim cartoon protests - again using existing legislation. It is long past time the Government stopped talking and started to show some resolution. They should use the laws we already have – including the offences of incitement to commit murder and racial hatred – to actually deal with those who preach hate. The laws we already have to combat extremists could be effective - if only the Government had the guts to use them.”
David Davis spoke yesterday in reply to the governments latest attempt to deal with extremism,
"It took seven years to deal with Abu Hamza. Seven years in which the Government constantly offered excuse after excuse about not having sufficient laws to deal with him. Eventually he was convicted under eleven counts using legislation almost 150 years old. After initially dithering, the authorities were eventually embarrassed into taking action against those who incited hatred during the Muslim cartoon protests - again using existing legislation. It is long past time the Government stopped talking and started to show some resolution. They should use the laws we already have – including the offences of incitement to commit murder and racial hatred – to actually deal with those who preach hate. The laws we already have to combat extremists could be effective - if only the Government had the guts to use them.”
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Where is my Pension Gordon?
Gordon Brown's £5bn tax on pension funds in 1997 and subsequent years has meant that many people have lost pensions. This has taken ten years to become an issue, (if you are of a conspiracy mind you will say the papers have been saving this one).
Ed Balls has been forced to retract claims that the CBI had fully supported the chancellor's pensions policy this has been one of the worst spin jobs in recent years with the CBI fighting there corner and proving that Ed was lying. The accountants Grant Thornton say that the tax rise has so far has cost Britons with private pensions £60 billion, or £3,000 each. The analysis predicts that it will have cost pensioners £200 billion by 2017, or £10,000 per person. Yet Gordon’s silence is deafening.
Gordon Brown's £5bn tax on pension funds in 1997 and subsequent years has meant that many people have lost pensions. This has taken ten years to become an issue, (if you are of a conspiracy mind you will say the papers have been saving this one).
Ed Balls has been forced to retract claims that the CBI had fully supported the chancellor's pensions policy this has been one of the worst spin jobs in recent years with the CBI fighting there corner and proving that Ed was lying. The accountants Grant Thornton say that the tax rise has so far has cost Britons with private pensions £60 billion, or £3,000 each. The analysis predicts that it will have cost pensioners £200 billion by 2017, or £10,000 per person. Yet Gordon’s silence is deafening.
Local Democracy
The Conservative group in Southampton have made an election commitment that we will allow the people to decide on whether Southampton should have one of the regional casino’s.
The issue over regeneration, and that this is the only option is what many people find unacceptable. There must be other ways for regeneration. Southampton already has three casinos, to build another which has larger jackpots etc would create an unfair market place. Thus many questions still remain unanswered including what provision for those with gambling addictions.
With such an important matter facing people a proper debate is needed very much like the one Cllr Peter Baillie called for and the people of Southampton should be given a choice.
The Conservative group in Southampton have made an election commitment that we will allow the people to decide on whether Southampton should have one of the regional casino’s.
The issue over regeneration, and that this is the only option is what many people find unacceptable. There must be other ways for regeneration. Southampton already has three casinos, to build another which has larger jackpots etc would create an unfair market place. Thus many questions still remain unanswered including what provision for those with gambling addictions.
With such an important matter facing people a proper debate is needed very much like the one Cllr Peter Baillie called for and the people of Southampton should be given a choice.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Planning tomorrow
So far this year planning has approved over 300 flats and 16 houses. On the agenda tomorrow we have 179 more flats plus a 71 bed unit and 50 sheltered flats. We also have 15 houses to decide upon.
This follows the housing debate last week when a senior officer indicated that of the 16,200 homes Southampton has to provide over the next fifteen years, they have identified the sites for 12,000 but will not tell elected members what the percentage is for flats.
So far this year planning has approved over 300 flats and 16 houses. On the agenda tomorrow we have 179 more flats plus a 71 bed unit and 50 sheltered flats. We also have 15 houses to decide upon.
This follows the housing debate last week when a senior officer indicated that of the 16,200 homes Southampton has to provide over the next fifteen years, they have identified the sites for 12,000 but will not tell elected members what the percentage is for flats.
Friday, March 30, 2007
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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?
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?
Monday, March 26, 2007
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?
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?
Friday, March 23, 2007
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)
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)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
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.
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
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
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
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.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, March 19, 2007
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.
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 HainAlan 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.
Friday, March 16, 2007
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.
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.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
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?
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?
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?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, March 12, 2007
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.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Friday, March 09, 2007
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.").
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
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.
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.
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..
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..
Monday, March 05, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, March 02, 2007
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.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Support for DenhamIn 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.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Further delay in a housing policy for Southampton
A policy for Southampton on family housing has been further delayed. The shambles that is in place continues. As I have posted in the past, at full council in January the Conservatives asked for a policy to be put in place with immediate effect, to protect family housing in the city. The Labour and Liberal parties rejected this and asked for a debate.
This was to have started today, a month and a half since the meeting. You can not accuse them of being slow! This has now been delayed. Thus family housing is still under threat. Yesterday in planning, 28 more flats were passed to be built in the city and no houses. This follows the 251 flats and 16 houses passed at the end of January.
The need to have a policy for the city which provides for family housing of all types at the same time offering a mix of developments so people have a choice is imperative to the city.
The need to address the parking question is also imperative. The council has an inflexible policy on how many spaces can be provided per development. Officers have failed to acknowledge new government guidelines which allow flexibility in relation to the number of spaces that are provided. This should be applied with immediate affect so developers can put in more spaces. Developers often say that they wish to put more spaces in but are told by officers that it will be turned down.
This was to have started today, a month and a half since the meeting. You can not accuse them of being slow! This has now been delayed. Thus family housing is still under threat. Yesterday in planning, 28 more flats were passed to be built in the city and no houses. This follows the 251 flats and 16 houses passed at the end of January.
The need to have a policy for the city which provides for family housing of all types at the same time offering a mix of developments so people have a choice is imperative to the city.
The need to address the parking question is also imperative. The council has an inflexible policy on how many spaces can be provided per development. Officers have failed to acknowledge new government guidelines which allow flexibility in relation to the number of spaces that are provided. This should be applied with immediate affect so developers can put in more spaces. Developers often say that they wish to put more spaces in but are told by officers that it will be turned down.
The return of the loony left in Education.
The Labour run Brighton and Hove council has decided to allocate school places by lottery. I can not think of a worse way to allocate children in education.
The conservatives believe every school should be a good school. Not a lottery.
In Southampton we are seeing the consequences of a failed Labour and Liberal Council on the young today.
Southampton is in the bottom quartile for GCSE’s in the country. This is unacceptable. The class war is still alive within education; the then Labour council in Southampton did not like the concept of specialist status schools which was a way for schools to obtain extra funding. This resulted in the loss of £50,000.00 per school. Later on, when they realised their folly, they belatedly allowed schools to apply for the funding.
The use of education by the left to continue their class war is a disgrace and is at the detriment of the children themselves.
The use of education by the left to continue their class war is a disgrace and is at the detriment of the children themselves.
There is an idea that Schools should not be under the jurisdiction of LEA’s. Politicians should not be interfering, especially with their politically motivated agendas. Schools I believe should be run by the schools themselves. The head teacher and governors should direct the school - thus accountability.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Border Police
David Cameron has announced today that the Conservatives under the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens would undertake a working group into the creation of a border police.
David Cameron said in his speech that "Right now, our society is not properly defended against the drug dealers, people smugglers, gun importers and terrorists who find it all too easy to bypass the current system.
No single organisation is responsible for performing this vital task.
Instead we have at least six separate agencies, including Revenue and Customs, the Immigration Service, the security services, harbour police, Soca (Serious and Organised Crime Agency), and the Metropolitan Police."
I believe that it is the duty of the government to protect the borders of the state and this government has failed in this.
David Cameron has announced today that the Conservatives under the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens would undertake a working group into the creation of a border police.
David Cameron said in his speech that "Right now, our society is not properly defended against the drug dealers, people smugglers, gun importers and terrorists who find it all too easy to bypass the current system.
No single organisation is responsible for performing this vital task.
Instead we have at least six separate agencies, including Revenue and Customs, the Immigration Service, the security services, harbour police, Soca (Serious and Organised Crime Agency), and the Metropolitan Police."
I believe that it is the duty of the government to protect the borders of the state and this government has failed in this.
Friday, February 23, 2007
The Audit Commission has published its report on Council performance.
Of those improving strongly -
42% are Tory,
33% Labour,
17% No Overall Control
0% are Lib Dem.
In Southampton we are still a three star compared to the Conservative run Hampshire which is four star, and which also has lower council tax.
My personal view of the CPA which claims ‘is about helping local councils improve services for their communities' is about what government wants not what local residents wish to see the council do. The amount of time that the council puts in to this and the money that is spent would be better spent on the city.
In Southampton we are still a three star compared to the Conservative run Hampshire which is four star, and which also has lower council tax.
My personal view of the CPA which claims ‘is about helping local councils improve services for their communities' is about what government wants not what local residents wish to see the council do. The amount of time that the council puts in to this and the money that is spent would be better spent on the city.
Southampton improved in the Environment sector but went backwards in Benefits and Culture according to the CPA. We are told Education is improving yet Southampton is in the bottom quarter year on year, which is totally unacceptable.
Roy Perry a Hampshire County Councillor has done a very interesting analysis on Council tax and services that Hampshire provide.
Roy Perry a Hampshire County Councillor has done a very interesting analysis on Council tax and services that Hampshire provide.
I have attached what he sent out
Our political aim as a Conservative authority is to be in the top Quartile of counties for Service and the bottom quartile for council tax
We were 6th from bottom in the Council tax of all counties (37) and 5th from bottom for comparable counties with Combined Fire Authorities (21 in total)
So the objective of top quartile for service and bottom quartile for tax level was again achieved
Hampshire has the lowest Council Tax of any County in the South East ( the region that gets the worst deal from Gordon Brown)
To give you some useful statistics for 2007/08
In Hampshire the average Council Tax (HCC,+ District+ Police and Fire) for a BAND D property is £1,301.72
In Southampton the comparable figure is £1,316.25
(think how much more expensive it is to provide services over a vast rural area)
(think how much more expensive it is to provide services over a vast rural area)
In Test Valley that figure is (using an average for 1,270.46)
In Eastleigh (Lib Dem) that figure is £1311.00 (ie above average)
For Test Valley the Band D District Council tax excluding parishes is £108.45 i.e. 2nd lowest in the County
In Eastleigh (Lib Dem) that figure is £1311.00 (ie above average)
For Test Valley the Band D District Council tax excluding parishes is £108.45 i.e. 2nd lowest in the County
Basingstoke is the lowest at £96.75, Test Valley 2nd lowest Eastleigh is the 3rd lowest on that list at £114.22 but goes up significantly when they add in their town tax in the centre of Eastleigh + the Parishes- then it goes up to £173.94 whereas the comparable figure in Test Valley is £133.40
On the District list including parish and town council average Test Valley Council Tax is the 3 lowest- only Fareham and Basingstroke are lower. Eastleigh is 6th highest
i.e. for a Band D property Test Valley is £40 a year cheaper than Lib Dem Eastleigh- for Bands G and H the saving is significantly greater. I will try to get those figures
(source Hampshire County Treasurer)
Funding of political parties.
UKIP look to have a few problems over funding. The Electoral commission are to investigate the discrepancies in their financial accounts. This could lead them to have to hand back over £367,697.00 in donations which are deemed to be unacceptable.
This follows on from enquires into the Lib Dems money donated by Michael Brown, and Labours cash for peerages row.
UKIP look to have a few problems over funding. The Electoral commission are to investigate the discrepancies in their financial accounts. This could lead them to have to hand back over £367,697.00 in donations which are deemed to be unacceptable.
This follows on from enquires into the Lib Dems money donated by Michael Brown, and Labours cash for peerages row.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Congestion Charging
I am personally against congestion charging as I believe that it hits the most vulnerable in society. We currently pay according to the News of the World to the Treasury since Labour came to power the following….Parking Fines - doubled to £1.2 billionSpeeding Fines - up eightfold to £120 million paVAT on fuel - up from £4.3 billion to £6.8 billionFuel tax - up from £19.4 billion to £25.2 billionRoad tax - up from £4.5 billion to £5.5 billion
Yet in Sholing we have not seen an increase in the maintance of the roads or pavements. In some cases they are a disgrace. To charge motorists to use roads is not the right policy as quite often they have no other option. To say that people should travel at less busy times does not help the teacher or nurse whose shift starts at a certain time.
The Labour councillors in Sholing voted against the traffic calming measures in Middle Road. They also have overseen the cut in real terms of the road maintance budget. To introduce new charges on moterists is unfair and unjust I am looking forward to Tony’s email about road pricing tomorrow.
I am personally against congestion charging as I believe that it hits the most vulnerable in society. We currently pay according to the News of the World to the Treasury since Labour came to power the following….Parking Fines - doubled to £1.2 billionSpeeding Fines - up eightfold to £120 million paVAT on fuel - up from £4.3 billion to £6.8 billionFuel tax - up from £19.4 billion to £25.2 billionRoad tax - up from £4.5 billion to £5.5 billion
Yet in Sholing we have not seen an increase in the maintance of the roads or pavements. In some cases they are a disgrace. To charge motorists to use roads is not the right policy as quite often they have no other option. To say that people should travel at less busy times does not help the teacher or nurse whose shift starts at a certain time.
The Labour councillors in Sholing voted against the traffic calming measures in Middle Road. They also have overseen the cut in real terms of the road maintance budget. To introduce new charges on moterists is unfair and unjust I am looking forward to Tony’s email about road pricing tomorrow.
John Prescott
Prescott the worst example of a deputy Prime Minister any country can have has managed to get an over run in his office by 30% so you and I have managed to pay for his office to the tune of £2.6 million. In the last year he has lost his job, failed to keep his trousers up or his hands off his secretaries and we pay for this.
Prescott the worst example of a deputy Prime Minister any country can have has managed to get an over run in his office by 30% so you and I have managed to pay for his office to the tune of £2.6 million. In the last year he has lost his job, failed to keep his trousers up or his hands off his secretaries and we pay for this.
Opinion polls
Not one for going into opinion polls that much. As they are quite often wrong (1992) and often misleading. They also have the affect of dog whistling for politicians but the latest one in the guardian makes for interesting reading. David Cameron's been given a 13 point lead over Labour when asked how they would vote if Gordon Brown were Prime Minister. This is a further two point lead over Tony Blair as leader.
This will raise the question of does Gordon become leader as many back benchers will start to feel twitchy especially those in marginal constituencies. If they start to see an opinion poll curve that gives the conservatives a greater lead with Gordon Brown as leader will they still support him?
The poll puts the Conservatives on 42%, Labour on 29% and the Lib Dems on 17%.
oh happy Birthday Gordon
Not one for going into opinion polls that much. As they are quite often wrong (1992) and often misleading. They also have the affect of dog whistling for politicians but the latest one in the guardian makes for interesting reading. David Cameron's been given a 13 point lead over Labour when asked how they would vote if Gordon Brown were Prime Minister. This is a further two point lead over Tony Blair as leader.
This will raise the question of does Gordon become leader as many back benchers will start to feel twitchy especially those in marginal constituencies. If they start to see an opinion poll curve that gives the conservatives a greater lead with Gordon Brown as leader will they still support him?
The poll puts the Conservatives on 42%, Labour on 29% and the Lib Dems on 17%.
oh happy Birthday Gordon
Monday, February 19, 2007
Money for Sholing
Speeding Traffic Along Middle Road
For the past three years I have been working hard to persuade the city council to tackle the problem of speeding traffic along Middle Road. I have secured £60,000 in funding for this in this years Budget. I believe that reducing speeding along Middle Road is a top priority, especially because of the number of school children that use the road.
Despite repeated calls from both local residents and myself, the Labour backed Lib Dem Council has done nothing to resolve the matter.
I am very interested in your views as what sort of scheme you feel would be most appropriate. I want to make sure that a local solution can be found that is supported by local people. I would therefore be very grateful if you would let me know what you think by either emailing me or calling me.
Speeding Traffic Along Middle Road
For the past three years I have been working hard to persuade the city council to tackle the problem of speeding traffic along Middle Road. I have secured £60,000 in funding for this in this years Budget. I believe that reducing speeding along Middle Road is a top priority, especially because of the number of school children that use the road.
Despite repeated calls from both local residents and myself, the Labour backed Lib Dem Council has done nothing to resolve the matter.
I am very interested in your views as what sort of scheme you feel would be most appropriate. I want to make sure that a local solution can be found that is supported by local people. I would therefore be very grateful if you would let me know what you think by either emailing me or calling me.
Budget Update
On Wedensday afternoon the City Council set its budget for the coming year.
Some of the key concessions achieved by the Conservatives were:
1. Keeping the weekly bin collection.
2. Preventing the introduction of night time car parking charges.
3. Keeping Cobbett Road Library open.
4. Preventing planned cuts to vital children's social services.
In SHOLING we got an aditional £60,000 for traffic calming in Middle Road.
We were also able to presuade the Council to reduce the council tax increase from 3.5% to 3.3%.These things were funded by bureaucracy savings.During the budget debate
Labour Councillors were exposed over their U-Turn on providing free buses across Hampshire for pensioners and over their plans to close Oaklands swimming pool.
On Wedensday afternoon the City Council set its budget for the coming year.
Some of the key concessions achieved by the Conservatives were:
1. Keeping the weekly bin collection.
2. Preventing the introduction of night time car parking charges.
3. Keeping Cobbett Road Library open.
4. Preventing planned cuts to vital children's social services.
In SHOLING we got an aditional £60,000 for traffic calming in Middle Road.
We were also able to presuade the Council to reduce the council tax increase from 3.5% to 3.3%.These things were funded by bureaucracy savings.During the budget debate
Labour Councillors were exposed over their U-Turn on providing free buses across Hampshire for pensioners and over their plans to close Oaklands swimming pool.
More spin from Labour
This is a letter in response to the work of fiction in Saturday's Daily Echo.
Dear Sir,
I write in response to Mr Furness' letter. My claim was and still is that the Labour group on the City Council have said they will provide free bus travel across Hampshire to Southampton pensioners in the forthcoming year. Last Wednesday in the Council budget setting meeting, Labour failed to honour this pledge. Hence my claim that their policy is merely spin and hot air .Mr Furness may wish to sit down with his Labour colleagues and ask them why they promise things but fail to deliver them.
This is a letter in response to the work of fiction in Saturday's Daily Echo.
Dear Sir,
I write in response to Mr Furness' letter. My claim was and still is that the Labour group on the City Council have said they will provide free bus travel across Hampshire to Southampton pensioners in the forthcoming year. Last Wednesday in the Council budget setting meeting, Labour failed to honour this pledge. Hence my claim that their policy is merely spin and hot air .Mr Furness may wish to sit down with his Labour colleagues and ask them why they promise things but fail to deliver them.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Reid again uses headlines to make knee-jerk policies
i read this morning about how John Reid was going to register paedophiles online, which i thought was another knee-jerk reaction to bad policy while reading thelastboyscout blog he sort of summed it up better than me so here is what he has to say.
Doesn't John Reid learn anything?He has been in the lucky position of not having his department rediculed for nearly a week, so he feels obliged to present another half-baked, off the cuff, opportunistic policy idea.Last week, at the time of the Birmingham terror raids, captain chaos John Reid opportunistically used the situation to call for the increase in the amount of times suspects can be detained.
So it came as no surprise this morning that following the imprisonment of three men yesterday for the planning of a horrific sex attack over the internet, that he has used this judgement to grab another headline.
This time the Home Secretary has said that he wants to make paedophiles put online identity details, such as email addresses, and chatroom nicknames, on the Sex Offenders Register.Now, this would be a step in the right direction, if the whole idea wasn't fatally flawed.In fact, it doesn;t just have one flaw, but many.
For a start, it's John Reid's idea so it's destined to fail.
It would also be practically impossible tomonitor, as it possible to create a new net id within seconds.Besides how on earth does he hope to keep a track of paedophiles over the internet, when he can't even keep track of them when they do sign the sex offenders register.Take my advice John, sort out the problems of the Home Office first, before you start coming up with even more flawed initiatives.
i read this morning about how John Reid was going to register paedophiles online, which i thought was another knee-jerk reaction to bad policy while reading thelastboyscout blog he sort of summed it up better than me so here is what he has to say.
Doesn't John Reid learn anything?He has been in the lucky position of not having his department rediculed for nearly a week, so he feels obliged to present another half-baked, off the cuff, opportunistic policy idea.Last week, at the time of the Birmingham terror raids, captain chaos John Reid opportunistically used the situation to call for the increase in the amount of times suspects can be detained.
So it came as no surprise this morning that following the imprisonment of three men yesterday for the planning of a horrific sex attack over the internet, that he has used this judgement to grab another headline.
This time the Home Secretary has said that he wants to make paedophiles put online identity details, such as email addresses, and chatroom nicknames, on the Sex Offenders Register.Now, this would be a step in the right direction, if the whole idea wasn't fatally flawed.In fact, it doesn;t just have one flaw, but many.
For a start, it's John Reid's idea so it's destined to fail.
It would also be practically impossible tomonitor, as it possible to create a new net id within seconds.Besides how on earth does he hope to keep a track of paedophiles over the internet, when he can't even keep track of them when they do sign the sex offenders register.Take my advice John, sort out the problems of the Home Office first, before you start coming up with even more flawed initiatives.
Letter to the Echo
An in my my view which i have submitted to the Southampton Echo
Much has been written about housing in the city and the overdevelopment of Southampton with the lack of suitable family housing in the city. Last month the Conservative Group put an amendment in full council which called for the protection of family housing.
At Full Council the Labour and Liberals did not support this instead called for a debate about family housing (which is commendable but for the last 6 years flat development has been running at over 80% in Southampton, action would be better). In the January planning meeting last week 251 flats were put through with 16 houses. This is not sustainable development. What we are seeing is the city changed from houses to flats.
Southampton has much to offer and has many different communities but with no current plan and no policy about what sort of developments are to take place in the city. Southampton has become a patchwork of developments. Family housing needs protecting in the city, this does not stop all development but it has to fit in with a policy that is city wide.
Southampton council has failed its residents as the council has no coherent planning policy. Developers are able to go with their ideas which are quite right if the council is not willing to put a policy in place.
We have no environmental policy in place which would cut CO2 emissions from new developments, and no policy to increase the recycling of heat, water and composting. Southampton sadly lags behind many other local authorities in this area.
The impact of the motor car on new developments is seen across the city. We have guidelines from the government that say that developers have to provide x number of spaces per development when the reality is people have cars and this places a burden on neighbourhoods. A parking enquiry was held over two years ago by the transport panel to look into this matter and nothing has come from it. This council in its current format is creating problems. A realistic approach to developments with car parking provision is required.
An in my my view which i have submitted to the Southampton Echo
Much has been written about housing in the city and the overdevelopment of Southampton with the lack of suitable family housing in the city. Last month the Conservative Group put an amendment in full council which called for the protection of family housing.
At Full Council the Labour and Liberals did not support this instead called for a debate about family housing (which is commendable but for the last 6 years flat development has been running at over 80% in Southampton, action would be better). In the January planning meeting last week 251 flats were put through with 16 houses. This is not sustainable development. What we are seeing is the city changed from houses to flats.
Southampton has much to offer and has many different communities but with no current plan and no policy about what sort of developments are to take place in the city. Southampton has become a patchwork of developments. Family housing needs protecting in the city, this does not stop all development but it has to fit in with a policy that is city wide.
Southampton council has failed its residents as the council has no coherent planning policy. Developers are able to go with their ideas which are quite right if the council is not willing to put a policy in place.
We have no environmental policy in place which would cut CO2 emissions from new developments, and no policy to increase the recycling of heat, water and composting. Southampton sadly lags behind many other local authorities in this area.
The impact of the motor car on new developments is seen across the city. We have guidelines from the government that say that developers have to provide x number of spaces per development when the reality is people have cars and this places a burden on neighbourhoods. A parking enquiry was held over two years ago by the transport panel to look into this matter and nothing has come from it. This council in its current format is creating problems. A realistic approach to developments with car parking provision is required.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
No to ID cards
David Davis has written to Sir Gus O'Donnell giving formal notice that an incoming Conservative Government would scrap the Government's ID card project and asking what provision, if any, has been made in the relevant contractual arrangements to protect the Government - and public funds - against the costs that would be incurred as a result of early cancellation of the scheme. This can only be good news.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
