Lib Dem Conscience Opposition politicians should never sign pledges in election campaigns, even if it does not look as if they will be in government. Thus the Lib Dems signed up to a pledge to vote against an increase in tuition fees, not least because the party is against fees of any kind. Now they […]
Celebrations in Chile Everything about this extraordinary human drama is remarkable, as it is heartwarming. It is one of the most astonishing feats, first of human survival and then of rescue. What makes it so special is the mobilisation of resources by a small country for a common purpose, aided by the best science, technology […]
Cost of University Education There is something not right here.The generation writing reports and recommending higher tuition fees were the beneficiaries of free higher education. They have managed to screw up the economy, run up the national debt and run out of money. First high profile casualties were the children of the higher earners. Now […]
Afghan Tragedy Such terrible news when a rescue mission goes wrong and worse when friend kills friend. I have heard various officers defending the very sad outcome as a risk inherent in a dangerous mission. There are some questions to answer nevertheless. Two in particular: Why was the mission launched against the advice of local […]
Graduate Tax Apparently this is no longer on the cards. There are certain unavoidable truths. University have to be paid either by the taxpayer or the student. If the decision that all or part should be paid by the student, as the majority do not have the ready cash, either they must be lent the […]
Israel and Middle East Peace Once again this hangs by a thread because of Israeli settlement building. This aggressive policy, without foundation in international law, is condemned by almost every government across the world including all Israel’s allies. It also offends countless Jewish people, integrated into countries in the West. Nobody seems to be able […]
The Taliban, NATO and Afghanistan The sad news of the death in the midst of a rescue attempt of the courageous British aid worker, brings this torturd region back to the top of the news. Soon all those in authority will have to emerge from denial and face reality. The NATO mission has failed. The […]
Alan Johnson As predicted in this blog earlier, neither Ed Balls nor his wife Yvette Cooper made it to Shadow Chancellor. Both have been given decent high profile jobs, but both would have been easy pickings for the Coalition if either had shadowed the Treasury. Alan Johnson, who I thought months ago would be a good […]
Lord Hutton and Public Sector Pensions Lord Hutton’s interim report is welcome, but may cause anxiety among public sector workers. This is hardly to be wondered at since they have all been living in a fantasy world, which many, but not the majority, helped to create. There can be no future system which is based on […]
Falling House Prices The apparently alarming news from the Halifax that in September house prices took a record fall of 3.6%, is in fact a very good thing. While everyone argues about cuts in the part of the economy under the control of politicians, the state sector, there is a real economy rebuilding and reshaping […]