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 | My thoughts |
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Welcome to my blog. Here you can view my thoughts and comments on what's going on around us, both locally and nationally.
Monday, 08 March, 2010
| More sadness |
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It has come to my attention that the bodies of five more soldiers from The Rifles are being repatriated on Thursday. One young Rifleman is from Bournemouth. Apparently, all were killed in recent operations. The regiment has now lost 51 young men, with more than 150 very badly wounded. It is a terrible toll, especially for the families. Our leaders say the cause is honourable and an end - although no one can state exactly when - is in sight. That end, we are told, is when the Afghans can take over their own security. I listened to an interesting programme on Radio 4 the other day about 27 Afghans who were being trained to be helicopter pilots. Only one had dropped out, which is remarkable when you consider that learning to fly helicopters is not an easy task. Two of the young men were interviewed and I was struck by how determined they are to go back home and do their bit for a new Afghanistan. Let's hope that these patriotic young flyers will be joined by thousands of others in the years ahead, thereby ensuring that the huge sacrifices our young men and women are making are worthwhile.
| 'Truth blackout' |
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There is growing unease - and rightly so - at Labour's intention to gag news of the war in Afghanistan once an election date has been set. We survived two world wars without gagging the Press and I'm quite sure we can do it again with Afghanistan. What sticks in the gullet is Brown's electioneering at the expense of our troops. No sooner has he finished giving half truths to the Iraq inquiry than he's out there, strutting his stuff only weeks before a general election. And no sooner has he done so, he is ordering a news blackout during the election campaign itself. It seems he wants it both ways. I have to ask, what is he frightened of? Is it the growing number of casualties, the lack of kit, the worry that serving soldiers might speak their mind, or what. Or, is Brown just plain frightened? I suspect the latter, and to avoid any mishaps on the way potential embarrassments are being silenced. This is another damning indictment on Brown and Labour.
| Balance the books sooner |
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Two esteemed and highly respected bodies are urging for early cuts to protect the country's economy. The comments by the Institute of Directors and Confederation of British Industry are in direct conflict with this government's policy, but then they would be. Labour is living in dreamland which will turn into a nightmare when interest rates rise, as they surely will.
| It was predictable |
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As hundreds of thousands of civil servants across the country begin a 48 hour strike, I cannot help but think this is pay back time for Brown's incompetence. The problem is that the public sector is now so bloated that the government cannot afford to meet their contracts. Inevitably, changes have to be made and walk outs like this one are the result. I fear many more will follow in the months ahead as reality sinks in. And, of course, as always, it is the innocent users of various public services who will suffer.
Sunday, 07 March, 2010
| No tax on food |
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Were I to be elected, I would oppose any suggestion to put VAT on food vehemently. It would inevitably hit the poorest families hardest. The Sunday Telegraph says that civil servants, aware of the sensitivity of such an idea, are trying to keep this discussion low key. Obviously, not low enough! Labour has put this country in the most appalling mess, but we can climb out of the hole they've created without resorting to taxing food. Lower all taxes, I say, and fast. This would stimulate the economy, restore confidence in the pound and reassure voters that the Conservatives believe you are best placed to spend your money, not the State.
| Too near an election, Brown |
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I think that the Prime Minister's visit to Afghanistan a day after his appearance at the Iraq inquiry is ill-advised. It comes across as a cheap, political stunt, which will not serve Mr Brown well. Soldiers are not stupid and in my experience they are far more politically aware than many of the public. With only weeks to go before a general election, Mr Brown should refrain from using our brave men and women as political pawns. My only comfort is that these pawns have brains, can vote and have seen for themselves the way this Labour government has treated them.
Saturday, 06 March, 2010
| NHS on the edge |
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A worrying report in today's Daily Telegraph warns of catastrophic ward closures right across the NHS after the general election. The paper discloses that some health authorities have not responded to calls to explain how they are going to reorganise their services in the light of expected cuts due to the recession. Certainly, locally we have had a taste of what Labour is up to to avoid blood on the carpet prior to an election. Allegedly, the Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, has saved 200 jobs at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) in Dorchester following a recent visit. Before his visit, the hospital said it had no alternative but to cut jobs to rebalance its budget which is more than £7 million in the red. However, following a meeting between Mr Burnham, Mr Knight and some Labour card-carrying members of DCH board, the chief executive was told the Department of Health would not pay the redundancy money. Then, to make matters worse, the hospital called in management consultants - at an estimated cost of £400,000 - to find a way forward. In the meantime, the hospital is being propped up with monies from the Primary Care Trust. No one wants to see redundancies, but it is probable they may well occur after the general election. What's happened is a political stitch up which is most disingenuous. It would seem that Labour will do anything to keep power. Regrettably, the cost will come after the election and Labour, if then in Opposition, will be baying from the back benches how Conservative pledges to maintain the NHS were nothing more than rhetoric. Mark my words.
| Disingenuous - Labour |
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It's no surprise to me that the word 'disingenuous' is being used more and more to refer to Gordon Brown and Labour. Now the military has stepped in following Mr Brown's evidence at the Iraq inquiry. The former chief of the defence staff, General Lord Guthrie, accused the Prime Minister of being 'disingenuous' after he told the inquiry that 'I gave them everything they asked for'. As I understand it, those giving evidence are not doing so under oath, which is a shame. Instead, we are getting more Labour spin, which the people of this country are tired of, as are the armed services.
| Free speech |
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I defend the Dutch politician's right to speak his mind. I don't agree with all that Geert Wilders has to say, but I shall fight to preserve his right to say it. Let's face it, Christianity has taken a bashing from virtually everyone over the years, but we don't threaten to kill those who do. We are all entitled to our views and Mr Wilders has never once, to my knowledge, incited violence against Muslims. He has simply warned us that 'Islamism and democracy are incompatible'. For speaking his mind, Mr Wilders has needed protection for the past six years. This is not democracy, for which millions died, and it's about time we stood up and were counted.
| Labour's hypocrisy |
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So, Unite, which threatened to bring British Airways to its knees, thereby causing chaos to tens of thousands of passengers, is funding Labour to the tune of £11 million. Money on this scale comes with conditions and this is where Labour lives hopelessly in the past. And I wonder how many of Unite's members genuinely want to fund Labour? Lord Ashcroft may not be everyone's cup of tea, but at least his support is 100 per cent democratic. It is clear now why Gordon Brown and his bought government have been so listless over this threatened BA strike action. Labour, as always, is dancing to the tune of their masters.
Friday, 05 March, 2010
| Petrol tax |
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More madness from the EU. This time they want to impose a tax on petrol, which we are told could cost us £3 billion. This when we are already one, if not the, most heavily taxed nations regarding petrol in Europe. I am not sure when this EU madness will end, but end it will, as sure as eggs are eggs. If the collapse of the Greek economy has not rung every alarm bell dangling from democracy's spire, then Heaven help us!
| Faith crushed |
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The Equality Minister - sounds so sinister, it's hard to believe that such a person actually exists - has realised, apparently, that if her wish for every sexual orientation to be treated equally are fulfilled, she could see the churches being sued in court. The reason is that her mad rush to undermine basic religious beliefs would force clergy to hold homosexual weddings in church, which clearly is against the wishes of both the Church of England and the Roman Catholic church. I am not sure where this arrogance comes from, but I find it breathtaking that Harriet Harman feels the need to impose her views on such ancient and respected organisations which have committed no crime other than to follow their religion. This arrogance is frightening, as those with faith find their beliefs belittled by New Labour, this failed, so-called third way which has brought our country to her knees.
Wednesday, 03 March, 2010
| Politics free |
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Our shadow Education Secretary, the very able Michael Gove MP, wants to take politics out of education. Congratulations, Michael, but can we take politics out of virtually everything? It would then work so much better. Labour's socialist tentacles have slithered into virtually every walk of our lives and I want them out. And I don't want them replaced with ours, so it was with some relief that I read Mr Gove's comments in today's Daily Telegraph. It is our job, as politicians, to listen to the people of this country and to secure their future as best we can by running the country efficiently and wisely. It is the job of professionals, individuals, businesses, teachers, parents, et al, to run their lives within this structure. We must learn to trust people again, and truly hand power and decision-making back to the grass roots. Conservatism is about inspiration, courage, team spirit and leadership. It must be up to people of our nation to grab these opportunities with both hands and make the most of their lives without this heavy reliance on the State. That's Labour's way, and it's dark, depressing and in the end doomed to fail. The human spirit can never be dulled, as Russia's emergence from Communism has proved, for example. You can try and crush it, buy it or imprison it, but in the end the human spirit will always emerge victorious. Socialism has never learnt this.
Tuesday, 02 March, 2010
| Boom to very bust |
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As the pound slumps at the prospect of a hung parliament, our economic prospects slump too. For as the pound falls, the cost of our debt grows. The consequences are we need to borrow more to stay afloat - the government has to borrow one pound for every four it spends - which means our debt gets larger and larger. Millions of people are still to be clobbered by this recession when interest rates rise, as they surely will. And that's when the pain is really going to be felt across the country, with individuals, families and businesses struggling to stay afloat or going bust. A change is desperately needed for this country, for without one we are sunk.
Monday, 01 March, 2010
| Back on the beat, or else! |
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The 'clunking fist' is back, this time swinging at the police themselves. Gordon Brown has told officers to get back on the beat or forces will be 'named and shamed'. How tired the police, indeed, all of us are at being told what to do by this government. This observation after 13 years in power. And let's not forget why many officers are not on the streets: Labour's love of form-filling. The nanny State cannot micro manage the country, nor should it. It is up to Chief Constables, chief executives and other senior managers to run their own operations. If they can't, they are replaced. It really is as simple as that. Let's take the politics out and leave the professionals to get on with it.
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