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
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
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
Monday, January 29, 2007
Gordo’s lies?
Two weeks ago, Gordon Brown announced that he hoped England would win the 2018 football World Cup. Now newspapers have unearthed an essay Mr Brown wrote in 1994, titled "Why Scotland Means the World to Me", where he declared himself a member of the "Tartan Army", and described watching Scotland beat England in 1967. He spoke of "the sheer joy of defeating the English at the game they regard as their own". This makes Mr Brown look posturing and foolish. But who on earth would have known where to find the essay, which appeared in an obscure 13-year-old book about MPs and their football teams called Football and the Commons People (co-edited by Alastair Campbell)?” Oh.
Policing
Southampton got ‘respect status’ and one person turned up to the meeting yet 18 people from the council attended would this money have been better spent on policing and solving crimes. Criminals don’t respect the law so what is this other than a PR exercise, put the money directly into policing and reap the rewards then.
There appears to be many issues that the police have to address but one of the biggest is the way that this government has systematically undermined the work that they do. Many of my constituents have asked for zero tolerance in the city, the police would love to do this but they face two major problems the lack of officers i.e. the cost that this would involve and the lack of cells in the city (yes the current debate about John Reid’s failure to provide prison cells are well documented and I wont go into them now).
The lack of cells to hold people means that the police are restricted in the number of people they can arrest. Can this be a way that policing is undertaken? It surely can’t. If we are to make the city safe from not only crime but the fear of crime then funding has to be forthcoming to the police. Again in the Conservative budget we are making provision for police specials in the city. For too long we have heard about what the council is doing to make the city safe but failing time and time again, the council should facilitate the police and provide the support that they need after all they are the professionals.
If we are to make the city a welcoming city for people to live, work and go out we need to avoid the clunking government initiatives. These attempt to help but are more based around how to get statistic evidence which the government can throw about and tell us how safe a place is and what a wonderful job they are doing. People can make decisions for themselves they don’t need a government especially this one telling them how safe they are.
Southampton got ‘respect status’ and one person turned up to the meeting yet 18 people from the council attended would this money have been better spent on policing and solving crimes. Criminals don’t respect the law so what is this other than a PR exercise, put the money directly into policing and reap the rewards then.
There appears to be many issues that the police have to address but one of the biggest is the way that this government has systematically undermined the work that they do. Many of my constituents have asked for zero tolerance in the city, the police would love to do this but they face two major problems the lack of officers i.e. the cost that this would involve and the lack of cells in the city (yes the current debate about John Reid’s failure to provide prison cells are well documented and I wont go into them now).
The lack of cells to hold people means that the police are restricted in the number of people they can arrest. Can this be a way that policing is undertaken? It surely can’t. If we are to make the city safe from not only crime but the fear of crime then funding has to be forthcoming to the police. Again in the Conservative budget we are making provision for police specials in the city. For too long we have heard about what the council is doing to make the city safe but failing time and time again, the council should facilitate the police and provide the support that they need after all they are the professionals.
If we are to make the city a welcoming city for people to live, work and go out we need to avoid the clunking government initiatives. These attempt to help but are more based around how to get statistic evidence which the government can throw about and tell us how safe a place is and what a wonderful job they are doing. People can make decisions for themselves they don’t need a government especially this one telling them how safe they are.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Tory Tax Commission Calls For £21bn in Tax Cuts
Lord Forsyth's tax report recommends tax cuts of £21bn (BBC) over the course of the next Parliament - apparently to be funded by growth. ConservativeHome publishes the report now - download a pdf here.
This £21bn of relief includes a reduction in the basic income tax rate from 22% to 20% and the lifting of 2.5 million low earners from paying any income tax. The Tax Reform Commission also recommends the abolition of stamp duty on shares (already supported by the Tory Treasury team) and lower business taxation to make the British economy more internationally competitive. If the Commission had its way inheritance tax would also be replaced by a 'capital gains tax on death'.Labour's Ed Balls found the report whilst surfing this afternoon. Apparently it had been premmaturely posted on the Tax Commission website. Mr Balls said that the Tax Commission's prescription would leave a black hole in the public finances:
"The scale of the tax cuts is huge. The problem is there is no indication here at all as to how it will be paid for. David Cameron has denied he would cut public spending. The hole in the finances that this would create is dangerous for the economy."
Journalists are telling me that Labour are genuinely excited by this opportunity to paint David Cameron as at odds with his own Commission. Yesterday Gordon Brown highlighted the Tory leader's alleged unfunded promises.
George Osborne has also reacted:
“The Commission have given us a menu of options that merit serious consideration. Some we will accept, some we will modify and others we may reject. But the framework of our tax policy is now set. Sound Money means that stability will always come first before promises of tax cuts. We will not be promising up front, unfunded tax reductions at the next election. We will, however, rebalance our tax system. Green taxes on pollution will rise to pay for reductions in family taxes. This Report sets out some options for doing that. And we will also embark on a major simplification of business taxes that will pay for a significant reduction in our business tax rates. This report represents a major step in that direction. The battle for a simpler, fairer and more competitive tax system has begun.”
Related link from earlier today: Cameron should embrace Forsyth
This has just appeared on conservativehome - a must read.
Lord Forsyth's tax report recommends tax cuts of £21bn (BBC) over the course of the next Parliament - apparently to be funded by growth. ConservativeHome publishes the report now - download a pdf here.
This £21bn of relief includes a reduction in the basic income tax rate from 22% to 20% and the lifting of 2.5 million low earners from paying any income tax. The Tax Reform Commission also recommends the abolition of stamp duty on shares (already supported by the Tory Treasury team) and lower business taxation to make the British economy more internationally competitive. If the Commission had its way inheritance tax would also be replaced by a 'capital gains tax on death'.Labour's Ed Balls found the report whilst surfing this afternoon. Apparently it had been premmaturely posted on the Tax Commission website. Mr Balls said that the Tax Commission's prescription would leave a black hole in the public finances:
"The scale of the tax cuts is huge. The problem is there is no indication here at all as to how it will be paid for. David Cameron has denied he would cut public spending. The hole in the finances that this would create is dangerous for the economy."
Journalists are telling me that Labour are genuinely excited by this opportunity to paint David Cameron as at odds with his own Commission. Yesterday Gordon Brown highlighted the Tory leader's alleged unfunded promises.
George Osborne has also reacted:
“The Commission have given us a menu of options that merit serious consideration. Some we will accept, some we will modify and others we may reject. But the framework of our tax policy is now set. Sound Money means that stability will always come first before promises of tax cuts. We will not be promising up front, unfunded tax reductions at the next election. We will, however, rebalance our tax system. Green taxes on pollution will rise to pay for reductions in family taxes. This Report sets out some options for doing that. And we will also embark on a major simplification of business taxes that will pay for a significant reduction in our business tax rates. This report represents a major step in that direction. The battle for a simpler, fairer and more competitive tax system has begun.”
Related link from earlier today: Cameron should embrace Forsyth
Douglas Hurd in Southampton
The former foreign secretary and now Lord, the Rt. Hon. Lord Hurd of Westwell attended a social fundraiser in Southampton earlier this week in which he spoke about his life which has been one of immense public service to Britain.
He spoke about his time when he was political secretary to Edward Heath, both in opposition and in government then being elected and serving in Margaret Thatcher and John Major’s governments.
I will not go into detail about everything he said but will comment on one point that he made which is the most damming about the current government.
This was that there should be no new legislation for two years due to the amount that has been passed since 1997.
Lord Hurd spoke very critically of the way that the current government conducts itself and introduces policy without proper scrutiny and with sofa politics which does not allow for formal records to be kept (as we are seeing in the Blunket diaries this week).
For someone who has served over 30 years in the front line of politics and who has worked in numerous governments such, comments are very damning. The amount of legislation that this government has produced is amazing and the fact that members of parliament have not had time to adequately scrutinise it, means that MPs are failing in their job. This government has ruled by headline and by news story. It has failed to tackle the issues that blight people’s lives. Lord Hurd’s comments about new legislation may seem like a piece of flippancy but it would be welcomed.
The former foreign secretary and now Lord, the Rt. Hon. Lord Hurd of Westwell attended a social fundraiser in Southampton earlier this week in which he spoke about his life which has been one of immense public service to Britain.
He spoke about his time when he was political secretary to Edward Heath, both in opposition and in government then being elected and serving in Margaret Thatcher and John Major’s governments.
I will not go into detail about everything he said but will comment on one point that he made which is the most damming about the current government.
This was that there should be no new legislation for two years due to the amount that has been passed since 1997.
Lord Hurd spoke very critically of the way that the current government conducts itself and introduces policy without proper scrutiny and with sofa politics which does not allow for formal records to be kept (as we are seeing in the Blunket diaries this week).
For someone who has served over 30 years in the front line of politics and who has worked in numerous governments such, comments are very damning. The amount of legislation that this government has produced is amazing and the fact that members of parliament have not had time to adequately scrutinise it, means that MPs are failing in their job. This government has ruled by headline and by news story. It has failed to tackle the issues that blight people’s lives. Lord Hurd’s comments about new legislation may seem like a piece of flippancy but it would be welcomed.
Friends of the earth but not the Conservatives???
Southampton Friends of the Earth coordinator Chris Bluemel, invited me and as far as I am aware other councillors to attend a public meeting on the Climate Change Bill.
I looked at the panel and surprise surprise all the usual suspects, Reverend Ian Johnson is chairing the event and Dr Alan Whitehead MP (of burger gate scandal see http://mattdeansoton.blogspot.com/), Dr Dave Hubble (local Greenpeace Coordinator), Katie Elliot, Parliamentary Campaigner for Friends of the Earth would be the speakers.
As the Conservative spokesman in Southampton on the Environment I wrote to Chris saying how I would be prepared to attend as the Conservative representative and I am sure (but would not like to speak on behalf of her) that Jill Baston, as the city’s Cabinet member for Environment and Liberal Democrat might have an opinion.
So come on Chris, I am coming to the event so I might just ask this question,
Why have you got no one from either the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats?
Southampton Friends of the Earth coordinator Chris Bluemel, invited me and as far as I am aware other councillors to attend a public meeting on the Climate Change Bill.
I looked at the panel and surprise surprise all the usual suspects, Reverend Ian Johnson is chairing the event and Dr Alan Whitehead MP (of burger gate scandal see http://mattdeansoton.blogspot.com/), Dr Dave Hubble (local Greenpeace Coordinator), Katie Elliot, Parliamentary Campaigner for Friends of the Earth would be the speakers.
As the Conservative spokesman in Southampton on the Environment I wrote to Chris saying how I would be prepared to attend as the Conservative representative and I am sure (but would not like to speak on behalf of her) that Jill Baston, as the city’s Cabinet member for Environment and Liberal Democrat might have an opinion.
So come on Chris, I am coming to the event so I might just ask this question,
Why have you got no one from either the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats?
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Schools
Why can the council not run schools properly?
When Labour where ruining the city (they are now in partnership with the Lib Dems ruining the city) they conducted a review of secondary school places. This review predicted the future number of children attending our secondary schools.
The review currently predicted the number of spaces needed for local children to be educated in the city , however they predicted that nearly 800 children would leave the city every day to be educated by Hampshire county council.
If this current review (see earlier postings) succeeds and the Lib Dems and Labour close two schools, what will happen in the future? There is a growing trend for parents to have their children educated outside the city. Will this increase? Or has this been taken into consideration as it was not previously when the last review was undertaken?
Why do so many parents wish their children to be educated out side the city? What is the city attempting to do to improve standards? In all the meetings that I have attended across the city, not once have they mentioned how they intend to improve standards. This is a disgrace and another reason why education boss, Cllr Milton should resign.
Why can the council not run schools properly?
When Labour where ruining the city (they are now in partnership with the Lib Dems ruining the city) they conducted a review of secondary school places. This review predicted the future number of children attending our secondary schools.
The review currently predicted the number of spaces needed for local children to be educated in the city , however they predicted that nearly 800 children would leave the city every day to be educated by Hampshire county council.
If this current review (see earlier postings) succeeds and the Lib Dems and Labour close two schools, what will happen in the future? There is a growing trend for parents to have their children educated outside the city. Will this increase? Or has this been taken into consideration as it was not previously when the last review was undertaken?
Why do so many parents wish their children to be educated out side the city? What is the city attempting to do to improve standards? In all the meetings that I have attended across the city, not once have they mentioned how they intend to improve standards. This is a disgrace and another reason why education boss, Cllr Milton should resign.
Gordon's growth
Gordon's achieves 116% growth.....in UK tax laws
On tax cutter’s blog he has worked out Gordon’s achievement as chancellor
9,841 pages of direct tax law now exist - there were 4,555 on 1 May 1997 - an 116% increase12,763 pages of total tax law now exist - vs 7,013 on Brown becoming Chancellor, an 82% increase
The only reason that the VAT laws have grown slowly is that Gordon's too scared of changing the rules without the EU's permission. The above stats miss out Gordon's bungled tax reforms that he' s since had to repeal, eg the zero rate of corporation tax for small businesses, stamp duty relief for disadvantaged areas, numerous goes at film tax reform etc. All told UK tax law is a mess. Whilst the rest of the developed world seeks to make itself more attractive for investment the self-penned Iron Chancellor rusts the UK economy with pointless complexity.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Rotten Boroughs
Is the rotten borough back? I ask this question as it was a question that was raised when I was having a meal with a couple of friends. The Great Reform Act of 1832 did away with the concept of people being employed by the local politician, thus depending upon a job by the elected incumbent of the seat. This was an issue at the beginning of the 18th century when local landowners and mill owners could put extreme pressure on people to vote for them.
With Gordon Brown’s expansion of the state and the creation of a bureaucracy that has never the like been seen, so has the rotten borough returned. Will people vote against a party or even an MP that provides jobs through the state mechanism, if other political parties would abolish the jobs?
Thus the creation of rotten boroughs has returned? The Government has created a raft of jobs which has created a dependency on the state. Will a person vote against a government which could result in them being sent their P45? The massive increase in the state which is resulting in the over taxation of the people with the overt diversion of money from the south of England to the north has resulted in a state within a state. This is a dangerous very dangerous situation.
Is the rotten borough back? I ask this question as it was a question that was raised when I was having a meal with a couple of friends. The Great Reform Act of 1832 did away with the concept of people being employed by the local politician, thus depending upon a job by the elected incumbent of the seat. This was an issue at the beginning of the 18th century when local landowners and mill owners could put extreme pressure on people to vote for them.
With Gordon Brown’s expansion of the state and the creation of a bureaucracy that has never the like been seen, so has the rotten borough returned. Will people vote against a party or even an MP that provides jobs through the state mechanism, if other political parties would abolish the jobs?
Thus the creation of rotten boroughs has returned? The Government has created a raft of jobs which has created a dependency on the state. Will a person vote against a government which could result in them being sent their P45? The massive increase in the state which is resulting in the over taxation of the people with the overt diversion of money from the south of England to the north has resulted in a state within a state. This is a dangerous very dangerous situation.
UKIP resignation
The resignation letter from UKIP Leadership candidate, Richard Suchorzewski makes interesting reading:
Dear Chairman,
Please be so good as to accept, and post on UKIP.org, this my letter of resignation from The UK Independence Party. It was a privilege to be elected Chairman of UKIP Wales and work to represent the members in restructuring and introducing an organisational structure for growth. I would like to thank, for their invaluable assistance, John Bufton as Regional Organiser and my hard working and supportive committee and members in Wales. I am pleased to have been able to help turn UKIP Wales around and put in place foundations for growth and success in the National Assembly Elections next May. I was honoured to be elected by the membership to represent them on the NEC, where they believed I had specialist skills and experience to best represent their interests, to the benefit of UKIP and its primary cause. When I stood for the leadership election I did so, on a ticket of Transparency, Integrity and Equality. These standards reflect my inner beliefs, as well as the moral, ethical and Christian principles upon which I have based my whole life. I knew there were significant problems with the Party, and also believed that the moral integrity of a number of people at the top left much to be desired. It was my belief that should I be elected leader these problems could be resolved and the Party then could move forward together, on a firmer footing in probity and strength. Nothing however prepared me for the scurrilous behaviour, defamatory comments and downright dishonesty of some of Nigel Farage's & David Bannerman's staff, supporters and members of the Press Office staff, in which they clearly colluded. I was accused of having associations with the BNP – even when these scoundrels knew that my grandfather was murdered by the Nazis in a concentration camp and my Great Grandfather was discovered hanged by them from a lamp post near his home by my 14 year old Father. Further I am angry that UKIP's leadership were happy to collude in this base and obscene slur, particularly in the light of the fact that I have been 'courting' a young woman from St Lucia for the last 2 years, she herself has been victimised by racial abuse. I was accused of being a homosexual, despite no evidence of this, and my having been happily married for 14 years, a marriage which sadly ended in an amicable divorce and now subsequently I am courting the above mentioned lady. I was accused of having 'run up' a company debt of £4millions in one of my businesses when these accusers knew that I had purchased the company with secured debts, that it had already accrued, amounting to £4millions of losses. My business is in the field of mergers and acquisitions, specialising in the purchase, development and sale of problematic companies. My critics in this area are either commercial illiterates or unarguably dishonest either of which reflects ill on the competence of the new leadership. My local newspaper was contacted by an UKIP official and advised to look into some of these accusations – in order to attempt to taint my unblemished reputation. Even friends within my own local Conservative Party have informed me that they were asked for 'any dirt' they had on me including my political, personal and business affairs. This list shamefully goes on. Despite all of this I was willing to forgive and forget. I called for Party unity behind the new leader Nigel Farage, regardless of how he had gained his new position. I hoped this would in some way result in a change of attitude. Clearly it did NOT. Farage colluded with, and thus endorsed the scurrilous behaviour. He was not prepared for his staff to apologise for the BNP allegations as he felt that the issue 'would go away' – and he tried to justify the concern on the basis that a fellow NEC member David Abbott volunteered his support of my leadership candidacy. (David Abbott is the very man whom Farage and his secretary Douglas Denny introduced and actively supported to the NEC and only turned against when he supported my candidacy.) Farage also claimed concern in that a Mr Andrew Edwards supported my leadership bid on an internet blog that he runs. I am to be tainted by this, even though I have never posted on his site, spoken to, nor communicated with the said person, who I am advised is NOT a member of UKIP. Farage has also claimed that a long term associate of his, Greg Lance-Watkins is a supporter and associate of the BNP, of which I have seen no evidence – yet this seems to besmirch my reputation, as G.L-W . openly supported my candidacy, having stated, based on extensive personal dealings with Nigel Farage that "he was a good performer for UKIP but lacked either the probity or competence to lead UKIP." This logic that UKIP's new leader has adopted if seriously applied, must call into question his own credentials, bearing in mind both his long term association with G.L-W. and that the BNP actually refused to stand against Farage, and supported, his candidacy at the Bromley by-election. Does this make Nigel a BNP supporter? Rather than be magnanimous in victory and help the Party unite, Nigel and his clique overturned a perfectly legitimate democratic vote at the NEC which had elected Geoffrey Kingscott (a most honourable man) as Party Secretary, denying the Party of another person with integrity at the top, and placing his supporter the discredited Douglas Denny in the post. A witch hunt has now commenced, seemingly with the aim to disingenuously massage MEP lists, with the disciplinary hearing of Peter Baker for daring to make public his committee's majority voted opposition to Roger Knapman's morally questionable exploitation and involvement in a Polish Workers import business run by his son. Similarly Dennis Brookes a loyal and devoted supporter and Regional Organiser of UKIP would seem to have been victimised, for having the temerity not to object to his committee's support of my candidacy, and this apparently has contributed to losing him his job. I have no doubt from Nigel's discussion with me, subsequent to the election, that others too will suffer similar fates. On policy issues, Nigel has made statements already, that make it clear to me, we are to become a shadow alternative Tory Party. A pressure group created to persuade the Tories to dump Cameron and change its policy on the EU. I am sorry; I did not leave the real Tory party to join a poor imitation. I believed UKIP was sincere in its endeavour to extricate Britain from the European Union, returning sovereignty to a British Parliament and playing a full independent part in that new Parliament. On financial and transparency issues, I believe a cloud still overhangs the Ashford call centre and various aspects of UKIP accounts. Also the financial dealings and involvement in fraud, (as exposed by the media), of Tom Wise, one of UKIP's MEP's, have not adequately been resolved. Likewise there has been a lack of transparency of others. I have contended that funding mechanisms are too heavily reliant on the EU, as this makes us subservient to the very body from which we wish to disassociate and which we openly accuse of corruption particularly in the area of accounting!. I stood for leader knowing full well that it was a challenge I was unlikely to win. Farage had control of a number of advantages that if abused would guarantee him success. Knowing this, I was more than surprised that he allowed his cronies, supporters and certain staff to openly and reprehensibly lie and rubbish a loyal UKIP member, with elected duties, who devoted the last 2 years of his life, full time, unpaid, to help UKIP progress. Even now in 'victory', Farage appears determined not to change his ways, and because of this I cannot support this Party under his leadership any longer. Reluctantly I am left with no honourable action open to me other than leave, as I am not prepared to give my good name, reputation and integrity in support of Farage and many in his clique. I therefore stand alongside other Party devotees and former NEC members, Anthony Butcher, Gill Chant and others (not to mention the many activists who have already resigned). My heart and my grateful thanks go out to all of those who supported me and the values in which we believed, and those who have committed so much of their lives in their patriotic pursuit of regaining democracy, British Independence and Sovereignty. It does not give me any satisfaction to realise that the old saying "Fish Rots from the Head Down" may have more than a cursory resemblance to UKIP. Please be so good as to convey to the membership my very best wishes and thanks for allowing me to serve them! At the moment I feel honour bound to continue the struggle for liberation from the EU and better Governance outside of UKIP, but would be happy to reconsider my position should there be notable changes within UKIP in the future under very different leadership.
Yours Sincerely, Richard Suchorzewski UKIP Wales Chairman
(resigned 5th Oct 2006) NEC Member (resigned 5th Oct 2006).
The resignation letter from UKIP Leadership candidate, Richard Suchorzewski makes interesting reading:
Dear Chairman,
Please be so good as to accept, and post on UKIP.org, this my letter of resignation from The UK Independence Party. It was a privilege to be elected Chairman of UKIP Wales and work to represent the members in restructuring and introducing an organisational structure for growth. I would like to thank, for their invaluable assistance, John Bufton as Regional Organiser and my hard working and supportive committee and members in Wales. I am pleased to have been able to help turn UKIP Wales around and put in place foundations for growth and success in the National Assembly Elections next May. I was honoured to be elected by the membership to represent them on the NEC, where they believed I had specialist skills and experience to best represent their interests, to the benefit of UKIP and its primary cause. When I stood for the leadership election I did so, on a ticket of Transparency, Integrity and Equality. These standards reflect my inner beliefs, as well as the moral, ethical and Christian principles upon which I have based my whole life. I knew there were significant problems with the Party, and also believed that the moral integrity of a number of people at the top left much to be desired. It was my belief that should I be elected leader these problems could be resolved and the Party then could move forward together, on a firmer footing in probity and strength. Nothing however prepared me for the scurrilous behaviour, defamatory comments and downright dishonesty of some of Nigel Farage's & David Bannerman's staff, supporters and members of the Press Office staff, in which they clearly colluded. I was accused of having associations with the BNP – even when these scoundrels knew that my grandfather was murdered by the Nazis in a concentration camp and my Great Grandfather was discovered hanged by them from a lamp post near his home by my 14 year old Father. Further I am angry that UKIP's leadership were happy to collude in this base and obscene slur, particularly in the light of the fact that I have been 'courting' a young woman from St Lucia for the last 2 years, she herself has been victimised by racial abuse. I was accused of being a homosexual, despite no evidence of this, and my having been happily married for 14 years, a marriage which sadly ended in an amicable divorce and now subsequently I am courting the above mentioned lady. I was accused of having 'run up' a company debt of £4millions in one of my businesses when these accusers knew that I had purchased the company with secured debts, that it had already accrued, amounting to £4millions of losses. My business is in the field of mergers and acquisitions, specialising in the purchase, development and sale of problematic companies. My critics in this area are either commercial illiterates or unarguably dishonest either of which reflects ill on the competence of the new leadership. My local newspaper was contacted by an UKIP official and advised to look into some of these accusations – in order to attempt to taint my unblemished reputation. Even friends within my own local Conservative Party have informed me that they were asked for 'any dirt' they had on me including my political, personal and business affairs. This list shamefully goes on. Despite all of this I was willing to forgive and forget. I called for Party unity behind the new leader Nigel Farage, regardless of how he had gained his new position. I hoped this would in some way result in a change of attitude. Clearly it did NOT. Farage colluded with, and thus endorsed the scurrilous behaviour. He was not prepared for his staff to apologise for the BNP allegations as he felt that the issue 'would go away' – and he tried to justify the concern on the basis that a fellow NEC member David Abbott volunteered his support of my leadership candidacy. (David Abbott is the very man whom Farage and his secretary Douglas Denny introduced and actively supported to the NEC and only turned against when he supported my candidacy.) Farage also claimed concern in that a Mr Andrew Edwards supported my leadership bid on an internet blog that he runs. I am to be tainted by this, even though I have never posted on his site, spoken to, nor communicated with the said person, who I am advised is NOT a member of UKIP. Farage has also claimed that a long term associate of his, Greg Lance-Watkins is a supporter and associate of the BNP, of which I have seen no evidence – yet this seems to besmirch my reputation, as G.L-W . openly supported my candidacy, having stated, based on extensive personal dealings with Nigel Farage that "he was a good performer for UKIP but lacked either the probity or competence to lead UKIP." This logic that UKIP's new leader has adopted if seriously applied, must call into question his own credentials, bearing in mind both his long term association with G.L-W. and that the BNP actually refused to stand against Farage, and supported, his candidacy at the Bromley by-election. Does this make Nigel a BNP supporter? Rather than be magnanimous in victory and help the Party unite, Nigel and his clique overturned a perfectly legitimate democratic vote at the NEC which had elected Geoffrey Kingscott (a most honourable man) as Party Secretary, denying the Party of another person with integrity at the top, and placing his supporter the discredited Douglas Denny in the post. A witch hunt has now commenced, seemingly with the aim to disingenuously massage MEP lists, with the disciplinary hearing of Peter Baker for daring to make public his committee's majority voted opposition to Roger Knapman's morally questionable exploitation and involvement in a Polish Workers import business run by his son. Similarly Dennis Brookes a loyal and devoted supporter and Regional Organiser of UKIP would seem to have been victimised, for having the temerity not to object to his committee's support of my candidacy, and this apparently has contributed to losing him his job. I have no doubt from Nigel's discussion with me, subsequent to the election, that others too will suffer similar fates. On policy issues, Nigel has made statements already, that make it clear to me, we are to become a shadow alternative Tory Party. A pressure group created to persuade the Tories to dump Cameron and change its policy on the EU. I am sorry; I did not leave the real Tory party to join a poor imitation. I believed UKIP was sincere in its endeavour to extricate Britain from the European Union, returning sovereignty to a British Parliament and playing a full independent part in that new Parliament. On financial and transparency issues, I believe a cloud still overhangs the Ashford call centre and various aspects of UKIP accounts. Also the financial dealings and involvement in fraud, (as exposed by the media), of Tom Wise, one of UKIP's MEP's, have not adequately been resolved. Likewise there has been a lack of transparency of others. I have contended that funding mechanisms are too heavily reliant on the EU, as this makes us subservient to the very body from which we wish to disassociate and which we openly accuse of corruption particularly in the area of accounting!. I stood for leader knowing full well that it was a challenge I was unlikely to win. Farage had control of a number of advantages that if abused would guarantee him success. Knowing this, I was more than surprised that he allowed his cronies, supporters and certain staff to openly and reprehensibly lie and rubbish a loyal UKIP member, with elected duties, who devoted the last 2 years of his life, full time, unpaid, to help UKIP progress. Even now in 'victory', Farage appears determined not to change his ways, and because of this I cannot support this Party under his leadership any longer. Reluctantly I am left with no honourable action open to me other than leave, as I am not prepared to give my good name, reputation and integrity in support of Farage and many in his clique. I therefore stand alongside other Party devotees and former NEC members, Anthony Butcher, Gill Chant and others (not to mention the many activists who have already resigned). My heart and my grateful thanks go out to all of those who supported me and the values in which we believed, and those who have committed so much of their lives in their patriotic pursuit of regaining democracy, British Independence and Sovereignty. It does not give me any satisfaction to realise that the old saying "Fish Rots from the Head Down" may have more than a cursory resemblance to UKIP. Please be so good as to convey to the membership my very best wishes and thanks for allowing me to serve them! At the moment I feel honour bound to continue the struggle for liberation from the EU and better Governance outside of UKIP, but would be happy to reconsider my position should there be notable changes within UKIP in the future under very different leadership.
Yours Sincerely, Richard Suchorzewski UKIP Wales Chairman
(resigned 5th Oct 2006) NEC Member (resigned 5th Oct 2006).
Monday, September 18, 2006
Conference season is upon us
It is interesting that in the conference season only the Conservatives are happy with their leader and the opinion polls (The Independent gave us a four point lead over the weekend). The Lib Dem conference starts this week and already they are looking to give their leader a bloody nose. Labour are debating which of their prospective leaders is most likely to lose the next General Election. It really looks like its going to be an interesting few weeks!
It is interesting that in the conference season only the Conservatives are happy with their leader and the opinion polls (The Independent gave us a four point lead over the weekend). The Lib Dem conference starts this week and already they are looking to give their leader a bloody nose. Labour are debating which of their prospective leaders is most likely to lose the next General Election. It really looks like its going to be an interesting few weeks!
The school review part 2
The second review of secondary education is under way in the city. The first review was a complete shambles. Cllr Adrian Johnson and I tabled a motion of no confidence in Cllr Ann Milton at the July council meeting and asked for her resignation. She did not resign despite a majority of Councillors calling for her to go.I attended the first meeting last week at Milbrook School. The school faces closure like Grove Park and Woolston schools.
The school review is being conducted due to the excessive number of surplus school places that exist in the city according to the Council. The argument that they are putting across is that the high number of vacant places in the schools means that if we reduce the number of schools we can spend more money on teaching and the children and less on overheads, such as heating and lighting part empty buildings. I do not accept this premise. There are advantages of a local school and smaller class sizes and I support this premise a lot more.The school review also shows the lack of long term planning by the Council, the Labour run Council put three schools through PFI (Private Finance Initiative) and thus they will not be included in the secondary school review. The meeting I attended in Millbrook highlighted the way that the Council wishes to take the school review. Cllr Milton read her script (in the first review she said nothing and then claimed she was gagged due to local elections even though they did not start until April). Then came the plans for what they wish to do and from this it became apparent that it was a fait accompli. This is not just about secondary education it is to create learning campuses combining secondary and primary schools on the same site (do we really want children from 5-16 all on one site??).What Cllr Milton forgot to say on the review of secondary education is that some of that money comes from Government grants that would otherwise be spent on primary schools in the City (is this why we are getting learning campuses). The Council is also banking on large sums of money from the Government in 2010. It's not guaranteed that this money will materialise and it's likely that it will be conditional on Private Finance Initiative arrangements.But this causes problems for Woolston which is a good local school which serves a diverse community and is popular with parents, staff and the community; it can not be a leaning campus as the site is too small.Schools have a diverse function and should be kept open if parents wish this. Grove Park has excellent sports facilities that would be lost if the school is closed.
The Lib Dems are keen to sell off Millbrook School to allow the playing fields to be developed for housing. The same is this true of Grove Park. This would mean a big cheque for the Council but a terrible loss of green space for local children. At the meeting Councillor Milton poured fuel on suspicions by refusing to rule out housing development, should the land be sold off. Quite sensibly people asked the question, if more houses are going to be built, where are the new children going to go to school?
In Woolston a development of over 1500 homes has been passed (although I did vote against this).
The second review of secondary education is under way in the city. The first review was a complete shambles. Cllr Adrian Johnson and I tabled a motion of no confidence in Cllr Ann Milton at the July council meeting and asked for her resignation. She did not resign despite a majority of Councillors calling for her to go.I attended the first meeting last week at Milbrook School. The school faces closure like Grove Park and Woolston schools.
The school review is being conducted due to the excessive number of surplus school places that exist in the city according to the Council. The argument that they are putting across is that the high number of vacant places in the schools means that if we reduce the number of schools we can spend more money on teaching and the children and less on overheads, such as heating and lighting part empty buildings. I do not accept this premise. There are advantages of a local school and smaller class sizes and I support this premise a lot more.The school review also shows the lack of long term planning by the Council, the Labour run Council put three schools through PFI (Private Finance Initiative) and thus they will not be included in the secondary school review. The meeting I attended in Millbrook highlighted the way that the Council wishes to take the school review. Cllr Milton read her script (in the first review she said nothing and then claimed she was gagged due to local elections even though they did not start until April). Then came the plans for what they wish to do and from this it became apparent that it was a fait accompli. This is not just about secondary education it is to create learning campuses combining secondary and primary schools on the same site (do we really want children from 5-16 all on one site??).What Cllr Milton forgot to say on the review of secondary education is that some of that money comes from Government grants that would otherwise be spent on primary schools in the City (is this why we are getting learning campuses). The Council is also banking on large sums of money from the Government in 2010. It's not guaranteed that this money will materialise and it's likely that it will be conditional on Private Finance Initiative arrangements.But this causes problems for Woolston which is a good local school which serves a diverse community and is popular with parents, staff and the community; it can not be a leaning campus as the site is too small.Schools have a diverse function and should be kept open if parents wish this. Grove Park has excellent sports facilities that would be lost if the school is closed.
The Lib Dems are keen to sell off Millbrook School to allow the playing fields to be developed for housing. The same is this true of Grove Park. This would mean a big cheque for the Council but a terrible loss of green space for local children. At the meeting Councillor Milton poured fuel on suspicions by refusing to rule out housing development, should the land be sold off. Quite sensibly people asked the question, if more houses are going to be built, where are the new children going to go to school?
In Woolston a development of over 1500 homes has been passed (although I did vote against this).
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Let's Recycle More in Sholing!
If you would like a compost bin please contact me and I will arrange for a bin to be delivered to you.
On the Southampton City Council web site they give suggestions as to how to reduce the amount of waste that you produce. I have also added the link for Christmas collections.
http://www.southampton.gov.uk/environment/Recycling-and-rubbish/default.asp
The city's household waste recycling centre is on the other side of Itchen Bridge (only Southampton Council would charge people to drive to remove there waste!!!). It is open in the summer between 8am - 7pm and in the winter between 8am - 4.30pm.
The address is: Town Depot, Albert Road North, Southampton, SO14 5AT.
If you would like a compost bin please contact me and I will arrange for a bin to be delivered to you.
On the Southampton City Council web site they give suggestions as to how to reduce the amount of waste that you produce. I have also added the link for Christmas collections.
http://www.southampton.gov.uk/environment/Recycling-and-rubbish/default.asp
The city's household waste recycling centre is on the other side of Itchen Bridge (only Southampton Council would charge people to drive to remove there waste!!!). It is open in the summer between 8am - 7pm and in the winter between 8am - 4.30pm.
The address is: Town Depot, Albert Road North, Southampton, SO14 5AT.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Tony and Cherie's Pension
Cherie cops another £3 grand- "Tony Blair's wife Cherie Booth has been paid £3,000 of taxpayers' money to present a TV series about teaching children "rights and responsibilities". The three-part series - Human Rights with Cherie Booth QC - will be broadcast on Teachers' TV, a Government-funded channel aimed at school staff." (Guardian 8.9.06)
From http://www.burningourmoney.blogspot.com/
Cherie cops another £3 grand- "Tony Blair's wife Cherie Booth has been paid £3,000 of taxpayers' money to present a TV series about teaching children "rights and responsibilities". The three-part series - Human Rights with Cherie Booth QC - will be broadcast on Teachers' TV, a Government-funded channel aimed at school staff." (Guardian 8.9.06)
From http://www.burningourmoney.blogspot.com/
Tony's resignation
Will Tony Blair resign at conference this year or sometime next year? He won't want to go when everybody is expecting it (conference) or on the back of bad news (the next local elections).
I believe that his relationship with Gordon Brown has broken down and leaving Gordon enough to time to bed in is not one of his concerns. He doesn't care about Gordon Brown being elected in a general election, especially with all the Labour members trying to remove him. It would enhance his position historically if Labour was not re-elected. Thus his legacy is, Labour could only be elected with his leadership.
Will Tony Blair resign at conference this year or sometime next year? He won't want to go when everybody is expecting it (conference) or on the back of bad news (the next local elections).
I believe that his relationship with Gordon Brown has broken down and leaving Gordon enough to time to bed in is not one of his concerns. He doesn't care about Gordon Brown being elected in a general election, especially with all the Labour members trying to remove him. It would enhance his position historically if Labour was not re-elected. Thus his legacy is, Labour could only be elected with his leadership.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
How many Polish people are in our city?
On my friend Matt Dean's blog he has a good posting about the number of Polish people that might be in Southampton, along with some other intereting views.
On my friend Matt Dean's blog he has a good posting about the number of Polish people that might be in Southampton, along with some other intereting views.
Good to see John Reid continues to waste our money
Yorkshire police wasted £1m on unwanted merger plan- "A YORKSHIRE chief constable claims the Government's aborted attempts to create a White Rose regional super force...cost to all four forces in excess of £1m... the region's police chiefs were planning to form a powerful conglomerate to bill Home Secretary John Reid for wasted police time." (Yorkshire Post 25.7.06)Welsh police wasted £1m on unwanted merger plan- "Ian Roberts, chair of the north Wales authority, which opposed the merger, said ministers would be billed for costs such as staff and legal advice. "This exercise in futility has cost £375,000 in north Wales alone and across Wales as a whole the bill is likely to be in excess of £1m. It is not right that the council taxpayers of north Wales should be expected to pick up the financial pieces of the merger mayhem that was imposed on our force and the police authority." (BBC Wales 21.7.06)Kent police wasted £243,445 on unwanted merger plan- "Kent Police said it has written to John Reid setting out why it should be reimbursed £243,445 it spent on the scheme... "in view of the fact that we did not have a choice as to whether to compile the business cases we are obliged to recover the substantial costs incurred"... the "incredibly short timescales" in which the force had to respond affected day-to-day policing... staff had "no opportunity to plan effectively and mitigate the impact on the organisation and key individuals... senior police officers and staff diverted from policing Kent and Medway to attend Home Office and regional meetings." (Yorkshire Post 29.7.06)Sussex police wasted £1m on unwanted merger plan- "The ditched plans to merge Sussex and Surrey have cost the Sussex force £1 million. Sussex MP Nick Herbert...said: "It was a serious mistake to embark on forced mergers which were expensive and would have reduced local accountability." (This is Hertfordshire 19.07.06)Unwanted police merger total for week- £3,243,445 (and counting)
Yorkshire police wasted £1m on unwanted merger plan- "A YORKSHIRE chief constable claims the Government's aborted attempts to create a White Rose regional super force...cost to all four forces in excess of £1m... the region's police chiefs were planning to form a powerful conglomerate to bill Home Secretary John Reid for wasted police time." (Yorkshire Post 25.7.06)Welsh police wasted £1m on unwanted merger plan- "Ian Roberts, chair of the north Wales authority, which opposed the merger, said ministers would be billed for costs such as staff and legal advice. "This exercise in futility has cost £375,000 in north Wales alone and across Wales as a whole the bill is likely to be in excess of £1m. It is not right that the council taxpayers of north Wales should be expected to pick up the financial pieces of the merger mayhem that was imposed on our force and the police authority." (BBC Wales 21.7.06)Kent police wasted £243,445 on unwanted merger plan- "Kent Police said it has written to John Reid setting out why it should be reimbursed £243,445 it spent on the scheme... "in view of the fact that we did not have a choice as to whether to compile the business cases we are obliged to recover the substantial costs incurred"... the "incredibly short timescales" in which the force had to respond affected day-to-day policing... staff had "no opportunity to plan effectively and mitigate the impact on the organisation and key individuals... senior police officers and staff diverted from policing Kent and Medway to attend Home Office and regional meetings." (Yorkshire Post 29.7.06)Sussex police wasted £1m on unwanted merger plan- "The ditched plans to merge Sussex and Surrey have cost the Sussex force £1 million. Sussex MP Nick Herbert...said: "It was a serious mistake to embark on forced mergers which were expensive and would have reduced local accountability." (This is Hertfordshire 19.07.06)Unwanted police merger total for week- £3,243,445 (and counting)
Full Council update
Last week at full council the motion for the resignation of Cllr Milton was passed.
Waiting for her resignation, I must admit that I am not holding my breath.
The full council decision is not binding democracy is such that with the lib dem and Labour pact the Liberals can do what they wish and they can not be removed by the will of the Council.
Last week at full council the motion for the resignation of Cllr Milton was passed.
Waiting for her resignation, I must admit that I am not holding my breath.
The full council decision is not binding democracy is such that with the lib dem and Labour pact the Liberals can do what they wish and they can not be removed by the will of the Council.
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