Month: July 2010

Public Finances and other Thoughts Having halted for review all school building not yet signed off to start, the government is now signalling that public sector pensions and employment terms are going to brought closer to the private sector, which pays for them in taxation, gaining no benefit other than the knowledge that civil servants are happy. […]

Back Soon There have been no updates to this Blog since last Saturday. This is because my time has been taken up on another project. I hope to be back later today and normal contributions will return on Wednesday July 7th.

The Royal Navy There is a big case for re-establishing the Royal Navy as our key armed force as well as our deterrent. We have never really been a military power. Our Empire was built on Naval power and this remains the best instrument of defending the United Kingdom’s interests as well as its security. […]

Russia As revelations of the curious deep cover spy ring trickle out, there are plenty of agitated commentators willing to have a go at the Russians, seeing them as up to their old tricks, still a potential enemy. This is arrant nonsense. Russia is not, nor ever has been, our enemy. Russia as been the ally […]

Referendum This Blog is opposed to the referendum on AV and or fewer MPs for a very good reason. It is completely unesessary under our contitution. There has never been any sort of referendum over voting arrangements or franchise details for the House of Commons. These arrangements are initiated by Parliamentary majority and approved by the […]

Credit Crunch on the Horizon Again Clouds are gathering. There is open talk of another credit crunch. Too many banks are either exposed to shakey European sovereign debt, or need to start repaying soon loans given to bail them out or both. Some banks may be at risk. This makes all of them nervous. They stop […]

Afghanistan The Taliban have told the BBC (John Simpson, the world’s top foreign commentator in my view) that they are winning and will not talk to NATO. Allied troops have just suffered their worst month for casualties. Congress has blocked $4 billion of aid because of corruption among Afghan officials. Gen Patraeus hints that he may […]