Managed to stay awake until 10.00pm last night and didn't wake up till 6.00am this morning so body clock adjusting quite quickly. Ten days touring down the East Coast from Toronto to New York (via Washington) is not a fair way to get an overall impression of two huge countries but three quick initial impressions of the holiday were:
Canadians are really polite
Yanks are very parochial
New York is very dirty and noisy
Toronto is a lovely little city and I was really impressed. Their Metro system was clean, efficient and CHEAP, made London Underground look really tatty and overpriced. My mother was offered a seat every time we travelled on it. CN Tower was impressive and the Rogers Stadium (The Skydome) was very good and made the new Wembly Stadium look distinctly third rate. Overall Toronto was very impressive.
When we crossed into the USE our guide told us to change any sterling we had with us at Canadian Banks before we crossed the border since US Banks didn't trust funny money and we might not be able to get British Pounds changed. More or less summed up the Yanks for me, sort of "You all come from England? What part of Texas is that in? They do know about Iraq but most other foreign countries and their geography gets a bit hazy. Went to Arlington National Cemetery and visited the Kennedy Graves, very sad and all but it didn't make me want to weep, but then if I ever visited Dianna's grave I doubt I'd be crying much there either (unless it was over how much it costs to go there, at least its free to see the Kennedy Graves). No doubt he was a great President, tragically cut down young, but he wasn't MY President.
New York was a typical big city to me. Hot, dirty, noisy. Empire State building good, Statue of Liberty bit disappointing, Maceys my daughters favourite place in the world. New York Metro system actually made the London Underground look good, although New York was cheaper. In fact that was the first thing we noticed back in the UK, prices here were the same as New York but obviously in pounds not dollars. So maybe that's the final impression of the Holiday, we came home to rip off Britain!
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Home again
Landed at Heathrow at 6.30am this morning (UK Time) and hopped on a shuttle to Newcastle getting us home just after 11.00am. Piles of post and nearly 1,000 e-mails waited for me. Also my son received his long awaited response from his application to join the Royal Navy as an Engineering Cadet this September.
Some good news and some bad news! Edward passed the three day selection board and was shortlisted for a place, that's the good news! It means he made it through to the final hurdle, beating over 2,000 other youngsters who also applied and so I'm very proud of him for getting this far. The bad news is that there are only 30 places and the Navy lists the people who pass the boards in order of preference and unfortunately despite getting a pass mark Edward was not in the top 30 when all the boards were completed and so will not be getting a place in September. That's the bad news.
Better news is that as he passed the Board they would like him to attend a careers guidance meeting to discuss sponsorship through 6th form (but home based) and then possible university scholarships so all is not lost for a Naval Career.
PS Edward's mum is secretly pleased he didn't get in! Her baby (He's 6 foot tall now) was far to little to be going away to sea!
Some good news and some bad news! Edward passed the three day selection board and was shortlisted for a place, that's the good news! It means he made it through to the final hurdle, beating over 2,000 other youngsters who also applied and so I'm very proud of him for getting this far. The bad news is that there are only 30 places and the Navy lists the people who pass the boards in order of preference and unfortunately despite getting a pass mark Edward was not in the top 30 when all the boards were completed and so will not be getting a place in September. That's the bad news.
Better news is that as he passed the Board they would like him to attend a careers guidance meeting to discuss sponsorship through 6th form (but home based) and then possible university scholarships so all is not lost for a Naval Career.
PS Edward's mum is secretly pleased he didn't get in! Her baby (He's 6 foot tall now) was far to little to be going away to sea!
Monday, 28 July 2008
New York New York
Didn't I do well? No electronic contact of any type for over a week. however I've just had to go on line to confirm our flights home tommorow night and couldn't resist a quick look at the message boards and blogs? Sad or what!
Leave JFK tommorow at 18:15 US East Coast Time so will be landing at the now infamous Terminal 5 at just after 6:00 UK time. Catch all you readers soon with stories of my adventures!
Leave JFK tommorow at 18:15 US East Coast Time so will be landing at the now infamous Terminal 5 at just after 6:00 UK time. Catch all you readers soon with stories of my adventures!
Friday, 18 July 2008
Well I never Knew that!
It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near the cannon on old war ships. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem. The best storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on sixteen.
Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others.
The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called, for reasons unknown, a Monkey. But if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make them of
brass - hence, Brass Monkeys.
Few landlubbers realise that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey.
Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. And all this time, you thought that was just a vulgar expression, didn't you?
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
THEN SEND IT TO COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW
So, Councillor Akers-Belcher is going to set up a committee to investigate the pothole situation in Hartlepool’s roads! Oh good, that problem’s solved then!
The Committee will need several months to complete its work and I couldn’t help thinking of an animated cartoon my children watched when they were young. Babar, King of the Elephants, wants to do something; unfortunately he is fighting bureaucracy which comes up with the classic delaying tactic, set up a Committee!
In the Words of King Babar’s Chancellor,
“We’ll set up a committee to discuss and interact.
Then authorise a study to investigate the facts.
Then summarise the data to find out what we have to do.
We’ll call in all the experts, to hear just what they say.
Get their general agreement and consensus today.
And then we’ll take a survey to get the public point of view.
Then we’ll circulate a memo to all the parties concerned.
Discussing all the options and note what we have learned.
Then submit the mater to a democratic, thorough debate.
It’ll be glorious, glorious, Glorious.
THEN SEND IT TO COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW”
A Committee substitutes talking about a problem for actually doing anything about it. Committees take up resources and cost huge amounts of money. A couple of blokes with shovels and a wheel barrow full of tarmac going round filling in potholes would be more cost effective than any number of committees. I've been trying for months to get some repairs done in an alley way on the Headland, but no luck.
If there is one thing Hartlepool doesn’t need it is more committees!
The Committee will need several months to complete its work and I couldn’t help thinking of an animated cartoon my children watched when they were young. Babar, King of the Elephants, wants to do something; unfortunately he is fighting bureaucracy which comes up with the classic delaying tactic, set up a Committee!
In the Words of King Babar’s Chancellor,
“We’ll set up a committee to discuss and interact.
Then authorise a study to investigate the facts.
Then summarise the data to find out what we have to do.
We’ll call in all the experts, to hear just what they say.
Get their general agreement and consensus today.
And then we’ll take a survey to get the public point of view.
Then we’ll circulate a memo to all the parties concerned.
Discussing all the options and note what we have learned.
Then submit the mater to a democratic, thorough debate.
It’ll be glorious, glorious, Glorious.
THEN SEND IT TO COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW”
A Committee substitutes talking about a problem for actually doing anything about it. Committees take up resources and cost huge amounts of money. A couple of blokes with shovels and a wheel barrow full of tarmac going round filling in potholes would be more cost effective than any number of committees. I've been trying for months to get some repairs done in an alley way on the Headland, but no luck.
If there is one thing Hartlepool doesn’t need it is more committees!
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Pleasant Valley Sunday
Sunday afternoon, had a lazy morning reading the papers (only possible, reading the papers that is, because my sister in law turned up at 9.00am to collect the bag she left here last night and so I thought if I'm up now I might as well go get the papers!). Went down to the Wheelhouse on the Marina for Sunday lunch, £98 for 7 of us so not bad including drinks. The Wheelhouse is Rosie's favourite place, after Starbucks. Rosie thunks Hartlepool would be immeasurably improved by a Starbucks. I pointed out that this time next week we'll be in New York so I'd take her to Sterbucks on 5th Avenue, unfortunately this time next week we'll actually be in Toronto so 5th Avenue will have to wait.
Lots of over lunch teasing of Edward who was actually out with a girl last week. They are just friends, of course, but it didn't stop him going very, very red. Ah the Allison Male curse, babe magnets every one of us!
Arrived back home determined to do some work. The expenses return for Henley has to be submitted before I go to the US and I have several hundred UKIP Enquiry forms to complete and a few hundred stamps to stick onto letters inviting people to the North East Regional Meeting on 26th July. However, the Wheelhouse lunch is now making me very sleepy so I don't think any of these jobs will get done before a nap!
The TV is also calling me, Rosie is watching "East is East" on the DVD, its part of her Sociology Course work for the summer vacation. Edward of course has no course work, or indeed work of any kind so his aim for now is to master Guitar Hero on the Wii.
Lots of over lunch teasing of Edward who was actually out with a girl last week. They are just friends, of course, but it didn't stop him going very, very red. Ah the Allison Male curse, babe magnets every one of us!
Arrived back home determined to do some work. The expenses return for Henley has to be submitted before I go to the US and I have several hundred UKIP Enquiry forms to complete and a few hundred stamps to stick onto letters inviting people to the North East Regional Meeting on 26th July. However, the Wheelhouse lunch is now making me very sleepy so I don't think any of these jobs will get done before a nap!
The TV is also calling me, Rosie is watching "East is East" on the DVD, its part of her Sociology Course work for the summer vacation. Edward of course has no course work, or indeed work of any kind so his aim for now is to master Guitar Hero on the Wii.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Win a Seat Ibiza
Although the current round of Post Office Closures is completed the salami slicing of post office counter services continues ready for further closures in the future.
Should your local Councillor or your MP make mention of their “support” for post offices why not ask him about the latest government scheme to take even more revenue away from the Post Office Counters.
Tax disc renewal forms are now offering free entry to a draw to win a car if you renew online. Obviously this is an attempt to even further reduce Post Office usage by offering an incentive to switch away another service. If you still want to support your local Post Office and renew your tax disc over the counter you can do so but are not automatically entered into the draw. You can however apply, on line, to be entered into the draw separately.
The reason for what is in effect a discount on your tax bill if you go on line is being justified as a green measure. The scheme doesn’t say when all the Post Offices are closed no-one will need to visit them ever again and hence reduce unnecessary journeys but actually offers a Seat Ibiza as the prize due to it being the vehicle with the best combination of safety ratings and CO2 emission.
Save the planet and win a Seat Ibiza. Aren’t we lucky to have such a caring government! Shame the about the Post Offices but you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs!
Friday, 11 July 2008
You must come to Tea!
I have just received a complaint from a regular treader of my blog that I have not added any tit bits for over a week. I must offer my apologies for this laxness but I have been very busy the last few days. I had no sooner finished with the Henley by-Election than I was straight into the last stages of UKIPs selection procedures for MEP Candidates. As a member of the Political Committee this has taken up a great deal of time. I went to London for a meeting on Tuesday and didn't get home until Thursday evening, unfortunately I was expecting to be there and back in a day so didn't have an overnight bag with me! The first thing I did when I got home was have a long hot shower.
I then went down with a vicious sore throat, felt like I was gargling broken glass, not fun. According to the doctor it was "a virus" so all I could do was sweat it out. I surfaced briefly to visit the Maritime Festival but after a short visit I headed back to the warmth of my bed. My son was there for the full two days in his Sea Cadet Uniform, very damp he was most of the time. I really felt sorry for the organisers of the event and remembered being told a story about Napoleon considering the appointment of a new General. After experience, qualifications, training etc were all taken into account the Emperor only had one question “Is he lucky?”
The “General” in charge of the Hartlepool Maritime festival must obviously fail that vital test. No mater how good her qualifications, experience, the attractions she lined up, the car parking arrangements, the preparations and the contingency planning it all ultimately came down to the weather! One must feel very sorry for her and her team. This event was scheduled to attract 150,000 visitors (according to the event website) in preparation for 1,000,000 plus for the Tall Ships in 2010. We can therefore only hope that in two years time the Tall Ships Weekend will pass Napoleon’s key test.
Some brief discussions on the school closure program with several concerned residents and I must admit to a small amount of amusement a the Labour Party and the hole they dug for themselves. All 23 Labour Councilors felt i was important the public knew where they stood, wonderful, of course there is now a fight going on to see how far some Labour Councillors can distance themselves from their party's position. Interesting that several Labour Councillors now feel it is acceptable to stand ass Labour Candidates, on labour party manifesto's, presumably to get Labour votes, but feel they can then ignore those manifestos once they are elected. Vote for me. I'm Labour, unless of cursed I get offered a Cabinet post with the extra money and then I'm not Labour really I make decisions based only on the cabinet position! Have your cake and eat it more like.
TS Trincomolee had its annual Royal Navy Inspection on Monday, outstanding performance and a burgee recommendation was made by the inspecting officer. A member's seminar on Tuesday about the Tall Ships Organisation resulted in the admission that only £750,000 of private funding has so far come forward for the race, however as this is from ONE North East I felt the definition of "Private" funding was stretching a bit. I unfortunately wasn't at the seminar, I was back in London attending a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Apparently two Councillors go every year, I've been on the Council since 2002 and it was the first time I'd heard about it. Maybe its another of those little jollies the public aren't supposed top know about? Paid all my own expenses I must add, including travel and overnight accommodation, plus £3.50 to get my suite dry cleaned. Very nice experience, cucumber sandwiches were served and at the Palace the tea goes into the cup before the milk.
Missed Planning on Wednesday as it included the Hartlepool 6th Form College application for a new college building. I'm a Governor at the college so it would have been a conflict of interest to have attended. Thursday went to the Central Estate Management Committee Meeting and today (Friday) I'm trying to catch up on paperwork and get a newsletter put together. One piece of good news in my Green Bag was it looks like the Anhydrite Mine is holding up OK for the next 80 years so that will be a relief for those people worried that their homes were going to fall into a hole in the ground. Headland heritage event at the weekend and then week after that I'm going on my holidays! Looking forward to it very much.
So there is a whistle stop tour of the last ten days or so. I haven't spent more than three consecutive nights at home since mid April and so sleeping in my own bed is a bit of a luxury! I've been told its tough at the top! If I ever get there I'll let you know if its true, at the moment I know its tough enough where I am without worrying about those at the top.
I then went down with a vicious sore throat, felt like I was gargling broken glass, not fun. According to the doctor it was "a virus" so all I could do was sweat it out. I surfaced briefly to visit the Maritime Festival but after a short visit I headed back to the warmth of my bed. My son was there for the full two days in his Sea Cadet Uniform, very damp he was most of the time. I really felt sorry for the organisers of the event and remembered being told a story about Napoleon considering the appointment of a new General. After experience, qualifications, training etc were all taken into account the Emperor only had one question “Is he lucky?”
The “General” in charge of the Hartlepool Maritime festival must obviously fail that vital test. No mater how good her qualifications, experience, the attractions she lined up, the car parking arrangements, the preparations and the contingency planning it all ultimately came down to the weather! One must feel very sorry for her and her team. This event was scheduled to attract 150,000 visitors (according to the event website) in preparation for 1,000,000 plus for the Tall Ships in 2010. We can therefore only hope that in two years time the Tall Ships Weekend will pass Napoleon’s key test.
Some brief discussions on the school closure program with several concerned residents and I must admit to a small amount of amusement a the Labour Party and the hole they dug for themselves. All 23 Labour Councilors felt i was important the public knew where they stood, wonderful, of course there is now a fight going on to see how far some Labour Councillors can distance themselves from their party's position. Interesting that several Labour Councillors now feel it is acceptable to stand ass Labour Candidates, on labour party manifesto's, presumably to get Labour votes, but feel they can then ignore those manifestos once they are elected. Vote for me. I'm Labour, unless of cursed I get offered a Cabinet post with the extra money and then I'm not Labour really I make decisions based only on the cabinet position! Have your cake and eat it more like.
TS Trincomolee had its annual Royal Navy Inspection on Monday, outstanding performance and a burgee recommendation was made by the inspecting officer. A member's seminar on Tuesday about the Tall Ships Organisation resulted in the admission that only £750,000 of private funding has so far come forward for the race, however as this is from ONE North East I felt the definition of "Private" funding was stretching a bit. I unfortunately wasn't at the seminar, I was back in London attending a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Apparently two Councillors go every year, I've been on the Council since 2002 and it was the first time I'd heard about it. Maybe its another of those little jollies the public aren't supposed top know about? Paid all my own expenses I must add, including travel and overnight accommodation, plus £3.50 to get my suite dry cleaned. Very nice experience, cucumber sandwiches were served and at the Palace the tea goes into the cup before the milk.
Missed Planning on Wednesday as it included the Hartlepool 6th Form College application for a new college building. I'm a Governor at the college so it would have been a conflict of interest to have attended. Thursday went to the Central Estate Management Committee Meeting and today (Friday) I'm trying to catch up on paperwork and get a newsletter put together. One piece of good news in my Green Bag was it looks like the Anhydrite Mine is holding up OK for the next 80 years so that will be a relief for those people worried that their homes were going to fall into a hole in the ground. Headland heritage event at the weekend and then week after that I'm going on my holidays! Looking forward to it very much.
So there is a whistle stop tour of the last ten days or so. I haven't spent more than three consecutive nights at home since mid April and so sleeping in my own bed is a bit of a luxury! I've been told its tough at the top! If I ever get there I'll let you know if its true, at the moment I know its tough enough where I am without worrying about those at the top.
Friday, 4 July 2008
Prom Time
It's "Prom" time again and this year its the turn of son and heir Edward to trip off into the night. In my day we never had a prom! I do remember having a rather drunken evening at the Carlton Club to celebrate the end of A Levels but not a "prom" with stretch limos and girls in evening gowns. My son Ed (picture below) went through agonies about what to wear, even buying the hat specially from the USA (via e-bay of course), he had his hair done (big girlie I thought, I never had streaks or highlights in my hair, and now a days I don't have enough hair to bother with that sort of thing! So maybe I'm just jealous).
We had a long serious father/son talk before he left and after the night was done I picked him up from Judges Hotel in Yarm no worse for his experiences. I then dropped him at an "after prom party" in Norton and the dirty stoppie out didn't come home until almost lunchtime the next day. Ah the wonders of youth!
All in all I'm very proud of him. He worked hard for his GCSE's and is now awaiting his results. What the future holds in the next couple of years depends very much on these results, but no matter what happens I will always be proud of him!
And now for something completely different......a picture of Rosie in her party frock. It only seems like 5 minutes since I was changing their nappies and now look at her and Ed, all growed up but still my little boy and girl
We had a long serious father/son talk before he left and after the night was done I picked him up from Judges Hotel in Yarm no worse for his experiences. I then dropped him at an "after prom party" in Norton and the dirty stoppie out didn't come home until almost lunchtime the next day. Ah the wonders of youth!
All in all I'm very proud of him. He worked hard for his GCSE's and is now awaiting his results. What the future holds in the next couple of years depends very much on these results, but no matter what happens I will always be proud of him!
And now for something completely different......a picture of Rosie in her party frock. It only seems like 5 minutes since I was changing their nappies and now look at her and Ed, all growed up but still my little boy and girl
John Lewis List lives on
Hartlepool MP Mr Iain Wright was reportedly one of the 172 MPs who voted to keep the generous expenses allowances for MPs known as the "John Lewis List"
This name came about as it is reported that MPs can use this to buy themselves anything they like from the John Lewis Department Store Catalogue.
As the leading political comment site www.politicalbetting.com so aptly put it...........
"For if there’s one thing more than anything else that has undermined the reputation of the house (of Commons) in recent months it was been the continual drip-drip of media allegations about the misuse of the allowances and the lack of proper scrutiny. For these individuals to support the continuation of aspects of the system, against the recommendation of the committee, is breathtaking."
Not the first time Mr Wright MP has taken my breath away.... for example, his ability to twist and turn over the Hospital issue has been a wonder to behold
This name came about as it is reported that MPs can use this to buy themselves anything they like from the John Lewis Department Store Catalogue.
As the leading political comment site www.politicalbetting.com so aptly put it...........
"For if there’s one thing more than anything else that has undermined the reputation of the house (of Commons) in recent months it was been the continual drip-drip of media allegations about the misuse of the allowances and the lack of proper scrutiny. For these individuals to support the continuation of aspects of the system, against the recommendation of the committee, is breathtaking."
Not the first time Mr Wright MP has taken my breath away.... for example, his ability to twist and turn over the Hospital issue has been a wonder to behold
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Happy Birthday Derek Allison
Not only was the NHS 60 on 30/06/2008 there were several other birthdays that day,
1470 - Charles VIII, King of France
1942 - Robert Ballard, explorer/geologist/author/discoverer (Titanic in 1985)
1966 - "Iron" Mike Tyson, NY, youngest heavyweight boxing champ (1986-90)
but most important it was also my father's Birthday. So happy birthday Derek Allison. Many happy returns of the day.
1470 - Charles VIII, King of France
1942 - Robert Ballard, explorer/geologist/author/discoverer (Titanic in 1985)
1966 - "Iron" Mike Tyson, NY, youngest heavyweight boxing champ (1986-90)
but most important it was also my father's Birthday. So happy birthday Derek Allison. Many happy returns of the day.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Happy Birthday to the NHS
The Labour Party has been out in force celebrating the 60th Birthday of their supposed greatest achievement, the National Health Service.
Unfortunately the NHS was a Tory idea, pushed by Winston Churchill and backed by Liberals (the real Liberals that is NOT the Liberal Democrats who are a totally different group). Papers coming to light now after over 50 years show the NHS was opposed by Labour and denounced as a right-wing plot”. Ernest Bevin even denounced it as a “social ambulance scheme”. It was only when public opinion swung behind it that Labour backed down and introduced it after winning power in 1945.
So nothing changes in the Labour Party. Even 60 years ago they were looking for any passing bandwagon and jumping on board, stealing the ideas of other parties and claiming them as their own. Just look at
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
All quiet on the blogger front
Hello everyone, sorry its been a bit quiet on the blog front recently but its been fairly hectic in the Henley Campaign Office and blogging has had to go down my priority list for a while. Last night we were all at a well attended UKIP Public meeting in Henley Town Hall. A panel of speakers addressed issues relating to the Henley by-election, the European Union and the state to politics in the UK and around the world. The meeting was opened by Steve Radford from the Liberal Party who spoke on the importance of free trade as opposed to the protectionism preferred by the European Union. Nigel Farage then spoke on the Lisbon Treaty and the importance of the Irish NO Vote. The final speaker was the Henley UKIP by-election Candidate, Chris Adams, who shared his campaign experiences and talked about issued being raised on the doorstep.
The UK Independence Party then continued with a proud tradition of throwing open the floor to the public to ask anything they liked. There are no planted questions, no set pieces and no subject is taboo. The session opened with an impassioned plea from the floor for UKIP to disband! It is not an unreasonable assumption that the question was being put by a disgruntled Tory. Nigel Farage explained that UKIP’s aim was to get this country out of the European Union. In order to do that we needed to fight elections against every pro-EU Party and that included the Tories. The questioner denied the Tories were Pro-EU but accepted it was Heath who took us in and every Tory Prime Minster from then on allowed the power of the EU to grow, up to and including the last Tory Prime Minister, John Major who signed the Maastricht Treaty. The current Tory Leader, David Cameron, is now on record as saying the Tories will not repeal the Lisbon Treaty should they win power at the next election. The feeling of the meeting was definitely that any Tory who felt the Conservatives were in any way really Euro-Sceptic was in fact fooling themselves. The Tory Grass roots might not want further integration but the Conservative Leadership was 100% united with Labour and the Lib-Dems in supporting the EU Project.
Questions then covered “What do Lib-Dems actually stand for?” (Answer of course whatever they think you want to hear in order to get your vote) through to the state road network in Henley (Answer, terrible!). Chris Adams, UKIP Candidate for the Henley by-election wrapped up the meeting at 9.00pm and about forty of us retired the Argyle public House in Henley to relax and unwind after a very successful day’s campaigning.
The UK Independence Party then continued with a proud tradition of throwing open the floor to the public to ask anything they liked. There are no planted questions, no set pieces and no subject is taboo. The session opened with an impassioned plea from the floor for UKIP to disband! It is not an unreasonable assumption that the question was being put by a disgruntled Tory. Nigel Farage explained that UKIP’s aim was to get this country out of the European Union. In order to do that we needed to fight elections against every pro-EU Party and that included the Tories. The questioner denied the Tories were Pro-EU but accepted it was Heath who took us in and every Tory Prime Minster from then on allowed the power of the EU to grow, up to and including the last Tory Prime Minister, John Major who signed the Maastricht Treaty. The current Tory Leader, David Cameron, is now on record as saying the Tories will not repeal the Lisbon Treaty should they win power at the next election. The feeling of the meeting was definitely that any Tory who felt the Conservatives were in any way really Euro-Sceptic was in fact fooling themselves. The Tory Grass roots might not want further integration but the Conservative Leadership was 100% united with Labour and the Lib-Dems in supporting the EU Project.
Questions then covered “What do Lib-Dems actually stand for?” (Answer of course whatever they think you want to hear in order to get your vote) through to the state road network in Henley (Answer, terrible!). Chris Adams, UKIP Candidate for the Henley by-election wrapped up the meeting at 9.00pm and about forty of us retired the Argyle public House in Henley to relax and unwind after a very successful day’s campaigning.
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Maths Teachers and real numbers
I read in the press yesterday that the government has announced its intention to have a specialised maths teacher in every primary school within 5 years. Fantastic you might say. Proves this government is serious about Education, Education, Education. Alternatively you might question why such a vital subject isn't already being taught by specialist teachers.
In actual fact it displays the complete and utter inability of this government to carry out basic maths themselves, probably as a result of politicians no longer having to live in the real world. A Specialist maths teacher in every school will need an additional 3,000 teachers every year for the next 5 years in order to hit the target. That is ADDITIONAL maths teachers, without replacing any who leave (mind you according to figures I have seen there are currently only 200 specialist maths teachers in primary schools in the whole country).
According to the Training and Development Agency for Schools only about 2,000 maths teachers were likely to be trained this year (2008), with even fewer next year. Secondary schools across England and Wales have advertised 1,650 vacancies for maths teachers already this year. That leaves the government quite a bit short of its pledged maths teacher in every primary school. In fact the current output of qualified maths teachers will be hard pressed just to keep up with the numbers leaving the profession or moving into the Private Education Sector.
This government, in common with local government, is great at thinking up policies, announcing targets and writing press releases that say how wonderful they are. Unfortunately they are totally unable to deliver on their pledges because in the real world announcing a target doesn't actually mean that the target will be instantly met. Politics needs people who have actually had to achieve something rather than the current bunch who think all they have to do to make something true is to announce i to the press. Captain Piccard of the USS Enterprise might be able to "make it so" with a wave of his hand but that also isn't actually real life, despite what many "Trekkies" might want to believe.
PS The government also announced (again) its commitment to offshore wind power. Try applying some maths skills to the targets for turbine construction and then factor In the restrictions of having to physically construct, site and commission the turbines! The government's program is already several hundred turbines behind schedule!
In actual fact it displays the complete and utter inability of this government to carry out basic maths themselves, probably as a result of politicians no longer having to live in the real world. A Specialist maths teacher in every school will need an additional 3,000 teachers every year for the next 5 years in order to hit the target. That is ADDITIONAL maths teachers, without replacing any who leave (mind you according to figures I have seen there are currently only 200 specialist maths teachers in primary schools in the whole country).
According to the Training and Development Agency for Schools only about 2,000 maths teachers were likely to be trained this year (2008), with even fewer next year. Secondary schools across England and Wales have advertised 1,650 vacancies for maths teachers already this year. That leaves the government quite a bit short of its pledged maths teacher in every primary school. In fact the current output of qualified maths teachers will be hard pressed just to keep up with the numbers leaving the profession or moving into the Private Education Sector.
This government, in common with local government, is great at thinking up policies, announcing targets and writing press releases that say how wonderful they are. Unfortunately they are totally unable to deliver on their pledges because in the real world announcing a target doesn't actually mean that the target will be instantly met. Politics needs people who have actually had to achieve something rather than the current bunch who think all they have to do to make something true is to announce i to the press. Captain Piccard of the USS Enterprise might be able to "make it so" with a wave of his hand but that also isn't actually real life, despite what many "Trekkies" might want to believe.
PS The government also announced (again) its commitment to offshore wind power. Try applying some maths skills to the targets for turbine construction and then factor In the restrictions of having to physically construct, site and commission the turbines! The government's program is already several hundred turbines behind schedule!
Saturday, 14 June 2008
East Midlands Fire Control centre in Castle Donington
Divide and conquer has always been a good motto to follow. As a Hartlepool Councilor I do trend to focus on Hartlepool issues but as the UKIP National Campaign Director I also get to see quite close up what is going on in other parts of the UK. Without doubt there are many local issues that are being repeated all over the country. Refuse collection is a good example. Almost every local council is dealing with this issue on a local level but actually it is a national problem. I have already commented on this Blog about Lord Darzi and his review of health provision in the East Midlands and how his review there is a mirror of the Hartlepool Review. Another East Midlands which mirrors North East Concerns caught my eye recently, namely the regionalisation of fire and rescue centres. According to press reports the East Midlands control centre in Castle Donington is ready to "fire away" as the first of nine Regional Control Centres being established across the country. The new centre will co-ordinate the fire services across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. The Chairman of East Midlands Fire and Rescue Control Centre Ltd praises the new centre (well he would wouldn't he) as being able to "offer a new and critical resilience in fire and rescue emergency services". I'm not sure what that means but it sounds good.
I am all in favour of local decisions being made locally and I am against big brother centralising government (like the EU!) but we must guard against parochialism and becoming so focused on local issues that we miss the big picture. Health Reviews, Regionalisation of Fire and Rescue Services, local Education and schools provision all need to be seen in a wider context. Don't let the politicians pull people so far down into the weeds that they might be looking after their own tiny bit but letting the big picture be lost.
I am all in favour of local decisions being made locally and I am against big brother centralising government (like the EU!) but we must guard against parochialism and becoming so focused on local issues that we miss the big picture. Health Reviews, Regionalisation of Fire and Rescue Services, local Education and schools provision all need to be seen in a wider context. Don't let the politicians pull people so far down into the weeds that they might be looking after their own tiny bit but letting the big picture be lost.
Multi-Area Agreements (MAAs)
Few people outside local government will be familiar with MAAs. However, Multi-Area Agreements (MAAs) have been quietly developing for some time and the Tees Valley MAA will be one of the first in the country.
The Mayor has approved MAA’s for regeneration, housing and transport. Control of these will pass to a Board consisting of 11 members. The five Tees Valley Local Authorities will get one seat each. The other six go to private sector representatives. This makes a majority of the Board appointed rather than elected. Hartlepool’s sole representative will be appointed by the Mayor from his cabinet. A majority of unaccountable and unelected interests on such a powerful body must be a worry to anyone who still clings to the belief that they live in a democracy.
Hartlepool’s Housing, transport and regeneration policies will now be set by a majority of individuals who are totally unaccountable to Hartlepool voters. This must ring alarm bells for anyone who remembers how badly Hartlepool suffered under the control of Cleveland Country. The Tees Valley MAA could turn out to be worse. MAAs came about because the Regional Assembly concept was rejected by the North East electorate and so another way was needed to remove the troublesome ability of voters to influence who makes decisions that affect their lives. As the Lib/Lab/Con are now effectively just separate branches of the same Party this means the One Party State is almost upon us anyway so British Democracy R.I.P.
The Mayor has approved MAA’s for regeneration, housing and transport. Control of these will pass to a Board consisting of 11 members. The five Tees Valley Local Authorities will get one seat each. The other six go to private sector representatives. This makes a majority of the Board appointed rather than elected. Hartlepool’s sole representative will be appointed by the Mayor from his cabinet. A majority of unaccountable and unelected interests on such a powerful body must be a worry to anyone who still clings to the belief that they live in a democracy.
Hartlepool’s Housing, transport and regeneration policies will now be set by a majority of individuals who are totally unaccountable to Hartlepool voters. This must ring alarm bells for anyone who remembers how badly Hartlepool suffered under the control of Cleveland Country. The Tees Valley MAA could turn out to be worse. MAAs came about because the Regional Assembly concept was rejected by the North East electorate and so another way was needed to remove the troublesome ability of voters to influence who makes decisions that affect their lives. As the Lib/Lab/Con are now effectively just separate branches of the same Party this means the One Party State is almost upon us anyway so British Democracy R.I.P.
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Nine meals from Anarchy
Apparently this is the phrase used by the head of the Countryside Agency, a quango set up by Tony Blair, to describe the true state of the food supply in the UK.
The claim was dismissed by most people when he first made it but it is now reportedly being taken more and more seriously. As oil prices reach another record high, and show every sign of going even higher, the reliance this country has on road transport is becoming glaringly obvious. Everything moves by road! Imagine if the oil supply was badly disrupted and the petrol stopped flowing even for a few days. The shopping trips to the out of town supermarkets would become impossible, perishable foods would spoil in the lorries when their refrigeration plants stopped working and in these days of “just in time” deliveries it wouldn’t be long before the supermarket shelves were empty. It is estimated that most homes would run out of food after just three days or nine meals. Bread and Milk would be gone even sooner than that!
If your children are crying they are hungry and your next door neighbour has a vegetable plot in his back garden then surely he can’t begrudge you a few potatoes or a turnip or two to keep you going can he? Unfortunately of course it is a small minority that now grow their own food so it’s not just you looking with covetous eyes at your neighbour’s veggies. Once people start to get hungry than law and order would be the next to go. This was exactly what happened in New Orleans in the USA after the hurricane. When aid was slow in reaching people and they got hungry then looting started and fights broke out over scraps of food!
Never happen here of course. Not in a civilised country like ours!
The claim was dismissed by most people when he first made it but it is now reportedly being taken more and more seriously. As oil prices reach another record high, and show every sign of going even higher, the reliance this country has on road transport is becoming glaringly obvious. Everything moves by road! Imagine if the oil supply was badly disrupted and the petrol stopped flowing even for a few days. The shopping trips to the out of town supermarkets would become impossible, perishable foods would spoil in the lorries when their refrigeration plants stopped working and in these days of “just in time” deliveries it wouldn’t be long before the supermarket shelves were empty. It is estimated that most homes would run out of food after just three days or nine meals. Bread and Milk would be gone even sooner than that!
If your children are crying they are hungry and your next door neighbour has a vegetable plot in his back garden then surely he can’t begrudge you a few potatoes or a turnip or two to keep you going can he? Unfortunately of course it is a small minority that now grow their own food so it’s not just you looking with covetous eyes at your neighbour’s veggies. Once people start to get hungry than law and order would be the next to go. This was exactly what happened in New Orleans in the USA after the hurricane. When aid was slow in reaching people and they got hungry then looting started and fights broke out over scraps of food!
Never happen here of course. Not in a civilised country like ours!
From Evidence to Excellence
As a keen follower of the adventures of Lord Darzi I often read his blog about what he is doing around the UK. This week he was in Kettering to launch the East Midlands Strategic Health Review, entitled catchily “From Evidence to Excellence”
This vision for world class healthcare across the East Midlands region aims “to save lives improve standards and put safety first. Top of the agenda are strategies for improving the quality of care and ensuring patients are seen quickly and in a convenient location. The document also outlines steps to encourage local people to lead healthy lives. The vision also heralds an increased investment in staffing and midwifery-led services.”
Nothing there anyone could object to! But we have all heard it before. The phrase “midwifery-led services” of course is shorthand for “No Doctors” and “investment in staffing” opens the door for more managers because the missing word there is “clinical” since “investment in clinical staffing” is a far cry from “investment in staffing”
The whole process is designed to give an appearance of local consultation and involvement but in my opinion Darzi is making decisions based on orders from above sand these decisions are not influenced one iota by local consultation. As the economy slides further into recession and the hidden PFI Debt starts to take bigger and bigger chunks of NHS Spending then the real agenda will emerge. Which is of course keeping Labour in power by spend, spend, spend policies that bring short term gain but which fairly shortly are going to inflict long term pain on all of us. (Except the politicians who caused it of course, they will have their own nests well feathered against a rainy day!)
This vision for world class healthcare across the East Midlands region aims “to save lives improve standards and put safety first. Top of the agenda are strategies for improving the quality of care and ensuring patients are seen quickly and in a convenient location. The document also outlines steps to encourage local people to lead healthy lives. The vision also heralds an increased investment in staffing and midwifery-led services.”
Nothing there anyone could object to! But we have all heard it before. The phrase “midwifery-led services” of course is shorthand for “No Doctors” and “investment in staffing” opens the door for more managers because the missing word there is “clinical” since “investment in clinical staffing” is a far cry from “investment in staffing”
The whole process is designed to give an appearance of local consultation and involvement but in my opinion Darzi is making decisions based on orders from above sand these decisions are not influenced one iota by local consultation. As the economy slides further into recession and the hidden PFI Debt starts to take bigger and bigger chunks of NHS Spending then the real agenda will emerge. Which is of course keeping Labour in power by spend, spend, spend policies that bring short term gain but which fairly shortly are going to inflict long term pain on all of us. (Except the politicians who caused it of course, they will have their own nests well feathered against a rainy day!)
Friday, 6 June 2008
Turkeys do not vote for Christmas
On Tuesday 3rd June 2008 in the House of Commons a debate was held on a subject close to the heart of our Honorable Members of Parliament. The Pay and Responsibilities of those who govern us was under discussion.
A contribution by Peter Lilley MP actually argued that MP’s pay should reflect their responsibilities. In his words….
“If people receive more responsibilities, they get higher pay. If they move to a post with fewer responsibilities, they expect to receive lower pay. The same should be true of Parliament. If, as is contemplated under the Bill that deals with the European constitutional treaty, this House hands over more of its powers to European institutions, MPs' remuneration should reflect that diminution of their responsibilities.”
The whole speech runs to several pages and so I’m not going to reproduce it all here. Needless to say the issue is important because Parliament is considering transferring another significant slice of its powers on energy, foreign policy, immigration and several other areas to European institutions under the Lisbon treaty. A substantial transfer of powers has already occurred under previous treaties and when the Treaty of Lisbon is ratified the course will be set so that in fifteen to twenty years British MPs will have similar responsibilities to today’s County Councilors.
To give the last words to Peter Lilley MP
“Those who support the transfer of power from here (British Parliament in Westminster) to supranational institutions should logically accept that our pay should reflect the diminution of our responsibilities. But, strangely, all the Euro-enthusiasts whom I asked to sponsor the Bill declined to do so without explaining why. Too many Members are happy to avert their eyes from what is happening, so long as they retain the prestige and emoluments that were appropriate to a fully sovereign Parliament. Turkeys do not vote for Christmas.
If any Labour Members oppose the Bill, I hope that they will come out and object to it here and now, rather than trying to dispose of it by subterfuge one Friday morning. I look forward to hearing them argue for having their cake and eating it. I doubt that they would convince many of their constituents that, unlike any in other occupation, MPs' pay should be divorced from their responsibilities.”
A contribution by Peter Lilley MP actually argued that MP’s pay should reflect their responsibilities. In his words….
“If people receive more responsibilities, they get higher pay. If they move to a post with fewer responsibilities, they expect to receive lower pay. The same should be true of Parliament. If, as is contemplated under the Bill that deals with the European constitutional treaty, this House hands over more of its powers to European institutions, MPs' remuneration should reflect that diminution of their responsibilities.”
The whole speech runs to several pages and so I’m not going to reproduce it all here. Needless to say the issue is important because Parliament is considering transferring another significant slice of its powers on energy, foreign policy, immigration and several other areas to European institutions under the Lisbon treaty. A substantial transfer of powers has already occurred under previous treaties and when the Treaty of Lisbon is ratified the course will be set so that in fifteen to twenty years British MPs will have similar responsibilities to today’s County Councilors.
To give the last words to Peter Lilley MP
“Those who support the transfer of power from here (British Parliament in Westminster) to supranational institutions should logically accept that our pay should reflect the diminution of our responsibilities. But, strangely, all the Euro-enthusiasts whom I asked to sponsor the Bill declined to do so without explaining why. Too many Members are happy to avert their eyes from what is happening, so long as they retain the prestige and emoluments that were appropriate to a fully sovereign Parliament. Turkeys do not vote for Christmas.
If any Labour Members oppose the Bill, I hope that they will come out and object to it here and now, rather than trying to dispose of it by subterfuge one Friday morning. I look forward to hearing them argue for having their cake and eating it. I doubt that they would convince many of their constituents that, unlike any in other occupation, MPs' pay should be divorced from their responsibilities.”
He who pays the piper calls the tune
David Miliband has reportedly announced that a wide range of NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) all fully supported the Bill to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. It has now been disclosed (much to their intense annoyance) that the EU provide funding for a wide range of these NGOs including NSPCC, One World Action, Action Aid, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth and many more.
It is important to know that the EU will only fund activities that 'further the aims of the EU Agenda'. While this may well be quite reasonable (why, indeed, should they fund those that are not supporters of their aims) it is quite unreasonable that this funding should be kept secret.
It is important that we are aware of the implicit pressure placed on these NGOs to support the EU Agenda if they wish to continue to receive this funding.
'He who pays the piper calls the tune'.
It is important to know that the EU will only fund activities that 'further the aims of the EU Agenda'. While this may well be quite reasonable (why, indeed, should they fund those that are not supporters of their aims) it is quite unreasonable that this funding should be kept secret.
It is important that we are aware of the implicit pressure placed on these NGOs to support the EU Agenda if they wish to continue to receive this funding.
'He who pays the piper calls the tune'.
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