Monday, April 09, 2012
We're on the march with Moysey's army
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Hibbert Scores, we riot!
If Tony Hibbert scores the winner at Wembley our estimates show that this would be the destruction radius :
London, you have been warned.
London, you have been warned.
Wembley Seating Plan for the West Stand
This might be useful for blues trying to work out where their FA Cup Semi Final seats are in the Everton end (West Stand) :
The blocks correspond with the areas either side of the aisles as far as I can tell
Tell me Ma, me Ma...I don't want no tea, no tea.
This is exactly the same title I posted with in 2009. Hope this semi-final lives up to the last one because that was basically a perfect day. Spent a lot of time this morning looking at this :
However the system is spot on, once in you just pick your seats...allocate them to your friends and family (In this case Anne and my mates Mary & Paul) and you are done. I then had to wait a further 25 minutes because I promised another friend I’d complete his (and his 5 mates) ticket order too.
Done now though.
ALL CLEAR OPERATION WEMBLEY EXERCISE, ALL CLEAR OPERATION WEMBLEY EXERCISE.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
FA Cup Semi Final Kick-Off Times
Hopefully the kick-off times for the Merseyside FA Cup Semi final at Wembley will be in keeping with the precedent set over the past 4 years and be at a sensible time. Rumours abound that the Met will insist that the Everton V Liverpool semi final on Saturday the 14th kick off at 12:45.
This would make it incredibly tricky for reds and blues to get down there and one broken down train or car crash on the M6 could mean a half empty ground. The fact that it's a derby shouldn't make any difference. In previous years United V City was at 5pm in 2011, Arsenal V Chelsea in 2009 was at 17:15 so realistically it shouldn't be any different for Evertonians and Liverpudlians.
I know these matches present a tricky problem for the police but it shouldn't be one rule for us and one rule for the rest...hopefully I am blogging un-necessarily and it'll be a nice afternoon kick-off.
Sea Odyssey Giant Spectacular in Liverpool
Just viewing details of the latest event hitting the streets of Liverpool this year. Following in the footsteps of the La Machine giant spider which was brilliant they've recycled the giant girl from the Sultan's Elephant spectacular in London and are having her go on a tour of the city in commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking...should be good if the previous events are anything to go by
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
What's that coming over the hill? Is it the Scousers? Is it the Scousers?
I have to admit I'd genuinely thought our chance to get to Wembley had gone with the original tie but Everton we immense last night. So rare for us to just put a tie to bed in such a dominant maner.
Felt really sorry for David Vaughan but even 2-0 didn't reflect the way the game unfolded :
Hugely proud of the team and the 6000 people who made their way up to back the lads.
So now Wembley against our lovable neighbours...within minutes of the final whistle Everton have said that all season ticket holders are guaranteed a ticket so that is pretty good. Means we can book transport etc and get everything sorted for another Wembley trip. I know people say the days of the friendly derby are over but this could be a fantastic day for the city of Liverpool. Let's hope so.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Cruddas asks foreign businessmen for 250k for access to Cameron
Well that couldn't look any more damning could it. Disgusting is the word for it. The Conservative party treasurer (not some rogue underling or eager young loose cannon fundraiser) telling foreign businessmen, who aren't legally allowed to donate to uk political parties remember, to pay 250k for shady private dinners with David Cameron at 10 Downing Street. Vile, vile, vile party.
Think back to all those snidey jibes about Labour being in the pocket of the unions....well there you have it, the Conservatives are in the pocket of whichever shady businessman has the cash to buy favour.
Let's be clear union donations to the Labour party are from ordinary workers who each opt-in to paying a small donation. Never let the Tories forget this, it's there in black and white on the pages of the Sunday Times. Corruption and cash for access.
Friday, March 23, 2012
The football season enters the home stretch
Interesting the see the opening salvos in the mind games between Man Utd and Man City...have to say first blood to United with Alex Ferguson easily dismissing Patrick Viera's comments about Paul Scholes' return being "desperation". Coming in the wake of Carlos Tevez being welcomed back like the prodigal son it was pretty much a "hoisted by your own petard" moment for City.
Cheap shots were thrown back the other way by Rio Ferdinand by saying that you see loads more City shirts around Manchester since they've had their new owners. City fans will be particularly sensitive to that as they've always seen themdelves as the hometown club with United as the fashionable glory-hunters accesory (much the way Evertonians try to paint liverpool).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/mobile/football/17488481
For Everton our season hinges on that cup replay against Sunderland...you suspect our chance has gone now after the annoyance of the original tie (two penalties waved away, hitting the woodwork, wonder saves from their keeper and a ref buying everything Sunderland did). If we do get through a tie against liverpool on the Hillsboro anniversary will be the superb event for the city.
Cheap shots were thrown back the other way by Rio Ferdinand by saying that you see loads more City shirts around Manchester since they've had their new owners. City fans will be particularly sensitive to that as they've always seen themdelves as the hometown club with United as the fashionable glory-hunters accesory (much the way Evertonians try to paint liverpool).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/mobile/football/17488481
For Everton our season hinges on that cup replay against Sunderland...you suspect our chance has gone now after the annoyance of the original tie (two penalties waved away, hitting the woodwork, wonder saves from their keeper and a ref buying everything Sunderland did). If we do get through a tie against liverpool on the Hillsboro anniversary will be the superb event for the city.
Pray for Muamba
Interesting piece about the spontaneous outpouring of support for Fabrice Muamba and how it manifested itself as prayer
Prayer is natural for footballers
It seems the family are Christians and so regardless of the reasons and what people think of prayer and belief in general it seems to have been spot on. Listened to a very interesting In Our Time podcast on prayer a few weeks ago and they discussed how humans seem to be hard-wired to look to the Divine. I will link to it when I get a chance.
Regardless of all that the signs for Fabrice have been more positive than we could have ever hoped for when we were watching/listening to the events unfolding at Whitehart Lane. Hope he makes a full recovery and my prayers are with him and his family.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
At Goodison Park to see an old friend, follow follow follow
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Funny letter from the taxman. Inland Revenue gets sarcastic
This has been doing the rounds for a while but I thought I'd blog it if only just to have it on file.
Dear Mr Xxxxxxx,
I am writing to you to express our thanks for your more than prompt reply to our latest communication, and also to answer some of the points you raise. I will address them, as ever, in order.
Firstly, I must take issue with your description of our last as a "begging letter." It might perhaps more properly be referred to as a "tax demand." This is how we at the Inland Revenue have always, for reasons of accuracy, traditionally referred to such documents.
Secondly, your frustration at our adding to the "endless stream of crapulent whining and panhandling vomited daily through the letterbox on to the doormat" has been noted. However, whilst I have naturally not seen the other letters to which you refer, I would cautiously suggest that their being from "pauper councils, Lombardy pirate banking houses and pissant gas-mongerers" might indicate that your decision to "file them next to the toilet in case of emergencies" is at best a little ill-advised. In common with my own organisation, it is unlikely that the senders of these letters do see you as a "lackwit bumpkin" or, come to that, a "sodding charity." More likely they see you as a citizen of Great Britain, with a responsibility to contribute to the upkeep of the nation as a whole.
Which brings me to my next point. Whilst there may be some spirit of truth in your assertion that the taxes you pay "go to shore up the canker-blighted, toppling folly that is the Public Services," a moment's rudimentary calculation ought to disabuse you of the notion that the government in any way expects you to "stump up for the whole damned party" yourself. The estimates you provide for the Chancellor's disbursement of the funds levied by taxation, whilst colourful, are, in fairness, a little off the mark. Less than you seem to imagine is spent on "junkets for Bunterish lickspittles" and "dancing whores" whilst far more than you have accounted for is allocated to, for example, "that box-ticking facade of a university system."
A couple of technical points arising from direct queries:
1. The reason we don't simply write "Muggins" on the envelope has to do with the vagaries of the postal system;
2. You can rest assured that "sucking the very marrow of those with nothing else to give" has never been considered as a practice because even if the Personal Allowance didn't render it irrelevant, the sheer medical logistics involved would make it financially unviable.
I trust this has helped. In the meantime, whilst I would not in any way wish to influence your decision one way or the other, I ought to point out that even if you did choose to "give the whole foul jamboree up and go and live in India," you would still owe us the money.
Please send it to us by Friday.
Yours sincerely,
X X Xxx
Customer Relations
Inland Revenue
Dear Mr Xxxxxxx,
I am writing to you to express our thanks for your more than prompt reply to our latest communication, and also to answer some of the points you raise. I will address them, as ever, in order.
Firstly, I must take issue with your description of our last as a "begging letter." It might perhaps more properly be referred to as a "tax demand." This is how we at the Inland Revenue have always, for reasons of accuracy, traditionally referred to such documents.
Secondly, your frustration at our adding to the "endless stream of crapulent whining and panhandling vomited daily through the letterbox on to the doormat" has been noted. However, whilst I have naturally not seen the other letters to which you refer, I would cautiously suggest that their being from "pauper councils, Lombardy pirate banking houses and pissant gas-mongerers" might indicate that your decision to "file them next to the toilet in case of emergencies" is at best a little ill-advised. In common with my own organisation, it is unlikely that the senders of these letters do see you as a "lackwit bumpkin" or, come to that, a "sodding charity." More likely they see you as a citizen of Great Britain, with a responsibility to contribute to the upkeep of the nation as a whole.
Which brings me to my next point. Whilst there may be some spirit of truth in your assertion that the taxes you pay "go to shore up the canker-blighted, toppling folly that is the Public Services," a moment's rudimentary calculation ought to disabuse you of the notion that the government in any way expects you to "stump up for the whole damned party" yourself. The estimates you provide for the Chancellor's disbursement of the funds levied by taxation, whilst colourful, are, in fairness, a little off the mark. Less than you seem to imagine is spent on "junkets for Bunterish lickspittles" and "dancing whores" whilst far more than you have accounted for is allocated to, for example, "that box-ticking facade of a university system."
A couple of technical points arising from direct queries:
1. The reason we don't simply write "Muggins" on the envelope has to do with the vagaries of the postal system;
2. You can rest assured that "sucking the very marrow of those with nothing else to give" has never been considered as a practice because even if the Personal Allowance didn't render it irrelevant, the sheer medical logistics involved would make it financially unviable.
I trust this has helped. In the meantime, whilst I would not in any way wish to influence your decision one way or the other, I ought to point out that even if you did choose to "give the whole foul jamboree up and go and live in India," you would still owe us the money.
Please send it to us by Friday.
Yours sincerely,
X X Xxx
Customer Relations
Inland Revenue
Thoroughly depressing derby
Really thought Everton had a chance there tonight, can see why Moyes played the formation and team he did but really that is an opportunity lost. The Cup is one thing but you should never short-change a derby...it sends out a message to the other lot and leaves you there for the taking.
Depressed....hope it pays off on Saturday but I have to say all I can see tonight doing is stealing our momentum. Ah well, we'll see
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Jupiter and Venus very close
Rebekah Brooks arrested along with her husband Charlie
The blogosphere is having a field day with Charlie Brooks column in the Telegraph today ahead of the Cheltenham Festival "The happiest moment of my year is about three hours before the first race at Cheltenham on Tuesday" says Charlie...unlucky Sir. He was arrested along with Rebekah Brooks as part of the corruption enquiry lead by Lord Leveson
The BBC have put together this useful chart of all the players in this sordid mess.
Media Corruption map
The BBC have put together this useful chart of all the players in this sordid mess.
Media Corruption map
Nice to see David Cameron linked so prominently in there, thick as theives with Brooks and Coulson...terrible, terrible judgement or an arrogance that he can appoint/associate with whoever he like (Emma Harrison anyone?)
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Football schadenfraude: "Jelly and ice cream when Rangers die"
Have to say an apology at the start of this one to any Rangers fans reading, not a piss take more just a saluting of the bonkers inventivness of the Celtic fans schadenfraude over the Rangers administration.
"We're having a party when Rangers die"
onto "Jelly and ice cream when Rangers die" and "pass the parcel when Rangers die" and then "Doing the conga when Rangers die" (presume "Musical statues when Rangers die" is there somewhere) then we have the slightly crazy "Doing the Huddle when Rangers die" and the truly bonkers "Passing wee Andy when Rangers die" and "Lateral movement when Rangers die".
We're doing the huddle when Rangers die
Lateral Movement when Rangers die
Pass the Parcel when Rangers die
We're doing the Conga when Rangers die
The Huns are going bust
"We're having a party when Rangers die"
onto "Jelly and ice cream when Rangers die" and "pass the parcel when Rangers die" and then "Doing the conga when Rangers die" (presume "Musical statues when Rangers die" is there somewhere) then we have the slightly crazy "Doing the Huddle when Rangers die" and the truly bonkers "Passing wee Andy when Rangers die" and "Lateral movement when Rangers die".
We're doing the huddle when Rangers die
Lateral Movement when Rangers die
Pass the Parcel when Rangers die
We're doing the Conga when Rangers die
The Huns are going bust
Friday, March 09, 2012
Lansley refuses to publish the NHS reform Risk Register report.
This really is sinking to a new low in this whole sorry debacle. Now Andrew Lansley is refusing to comply with a court order to release the NHS Reform risk register report. If the bill is nothing to worry about and will benefit the service overall then why not comply with the Freedom of Information request and let us all see it. Pathetic the way he's handled this whole thing.
If he continues to blithely ignore the warnings of virtually every single person involved inthe National Health Service whilst trying to bury reports on his reform bill surely his position is untennable and his bill a write-off. It's actually getting pitiful now.
NHS risk register: Ministers lose Freedom of Information appeal
Ministers have been ordered to publish a risk assessment of the NHS shake-up under Freedom of Information laws.
The Department of Health had appealed against an FOI ruling that the transition risk register, requested by Labour MP John Healey, be published.
But it lost, despite civil servants' warnings that to publish confidential advice could have a "chilling effect".
Mr Healey said the ruling gave "strong legal support to a full and open debate" about NHS plans for England.
"The judgement backs the public's right to know about the risks the government is taking with its NHS plans," he said - accusing the government of having "dragged out" the process for 15 months.
Well done to Andy Burnham and John Healey for fighting tooth and nail on our behalf. Further shame on Quisling Clegg for his pathetic crocodile tears and posturing...you can't public voice concerns about a bill you've voted through parliament at every opportunity.
If he continues to blithely ignore the warnings of virtually every single person involved inthe National Health Service whilst trying to bury reports on his reform bill surely his position is untennable and his bill a write-off. It's actually getting pitiful now.
NHS risk register: Ministers lose Freedom of Information appeal
Ministers have been ordered to publish a risk assessment of the NHS shake-up under Freedom of Information laws.
The Department of Health had appealed against an FOI ruling that the transition risk register, requested by Labour MP John Healey, be published.
But it lost, despite civil servants' warnings that to publish confidential advice could have a "chilling effect".
Mr Healey said the ruling gave "strong legal support to a full and open debate" about NHS plans for England.
"The judgement backs the public's right to know about the risks the government is taking with its NHS plans," he said - accusing the government of having "dragged out" the process for 15 months.
Well done to Andy Burnham and John Healey for fighting tooth and nail on our behalf. Further shame on Quisling Clegg for his pathetic crocodile tears and posturing...you can't public voice concerns about a bill you've voted through parliament at every opportunity.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Yet another Liverpool sunset pic
Get home and rushed upstairs and caught this just as it faded....even as I type this it's gone
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Andrew Lansley runs away from a protester
Not often I post a Daily Mail link but it seems to not being reported on the BBC
Lansley runs away from a protester
What on earth is this rotten bill still doing in parliament, it should be killed off right away. The entire country wants it scrapped. What's particularly galling is the likes of Clegg writing letters about how he doesn't like it....after voting for it at every opportunity.
Lansley runs away from a protester
What on earth is this rotten bill still doing in parliament, it should be killed off right away. The entire country wants it scrapped. What's particularly galling is the likes of Clegg writing letters about how he doesn't like it....after voting for it at every opportunity.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Liverpool bids farewell to HMS Liverpool
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Good win for Waterloo at the rugby today
We are Evertonians...
We are Evertonians, we go the game, that's what we do
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The BBC World Service is 80 today
If it's ever been your lifeline back to home you'll know what a wonderful thing the BBC World Service is. I remember how it was our link back to the football when I went travelling.
It was sitting on top of a roof in Jodphur in India that we heard Wayne Rooney's first goal for Everton against Arsenal. Happy memories of being huddled round that little shortwave radio waiting for the news or the football coverage to start each week.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Angela Merkel gets beer poured on here but takes it in her stride
Have to say Angela Merkel handles this accidental soaking brilliantly :
A sardonic shrug and raising a glass is probably the coolest way possible to deal with that sort of thing. Prost!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Richard Dawkins gets hoisted by his own petard
It is a good'n this
Poor Christopher Hitchens must be spinning in his grave.
Poor Christopher Hitchens must be spinning in his grave.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Rangers go into administration
It really is staggering that the Scottish champions have gone bust. I suppose Celtic can argue that if they had lived beyond their means in the way Rangers had then they might have won more of those titles instead of their arch rivals.
It shows how ridiculous the whole business of football is and how an implosion could be just round the corner.
It also shows how totally uncompetitive the SPL is given that even with the 10 point penalty Rangers are still 9 points clear of 3rd place.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Should I go for mayor of Liverpool
All in all I think the idea of a mayor of Liverpool is a pretty pointless endeavour. Add in a devolution of power plus 130 million pound extra for the city and it's pretty much a no brainer.
I wish whoever does decide to run for mayor luck, it'll be a pretty much thankless task in a country who's population seems to have collectively adopted an "iconoclast uber alles" personality.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Where for art thou Everton
Why are Everton simply brilliant against City and Chelsea but so lacking cohesion and belief against Wigan and Bolton?
It really is weird...we've been a joy to watch in these big, big wins recently...everything you love about Moyes' Everton.
And finally, finally
What an abject object lesson in how not to handle a mess....liverpool fc have been a disaster area for weeks. Dalglish's obstinate refusal to acknowledge any wrong by his player has plunge that club deeper and deeper into ignominy.
It finally come to a head on Saturday when a player who'd previously been racially abused by Suarez tried to put in all behind them by offering a handshake and still Suarez tried to play the wounded, wronged party and refused.
Dalglish rallied to defend Suarez yet again and even up until Sunday the likes of Aldridge were still trying to refuse to acknowledge any blame on the part of the liverpool player. Only when negative press began to surface in the New York Times did Fenway Group step and and force apologies.
At last.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Stevie P, oh Stevie P. Oh Stevie P Oh Stevie P
Can't tell you proud I am of Everton today. A supposed top 4 side and we took them to the cleaners. Denis, who we all know is a limited footballer, caused MAYHEM against their weird, lopsided 3-5-2 formation with Cole as a left winger and Luis as a left half.
Everton by comparison knew what they were about from the off, set the tempo and got in amongst them at every turn........the only question remains were the f*ck has that Everton been pre-Christmas....we look so accomplished at the moment. The confidence running throughout the side is like a short in the arm to players like Denis and Donovan. A joy to behold. Went to the game with my Dad today. Pints before in the Black Horse before and after.....days don't get better
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Campaigning in South Liverpool
No-one can ever accuse Liverpool Labour of only turning up in May when we want people to vote for us. We've been traipsing the streets for months contacting residents and letting them know what we are about.
It's about making sure we are doing as much as possible to let people know the problems the city is facing and, more importantly, finding out the problems they facing. It's difficult but that's why we are Labour.
Tom Watson on the NHS and the Drop the Bill campaign
Got this mailshot for MP Tom Watson
Ed Miliband calls really early. Too early. These days I have to set my alarm for 6am in order to be fully awake before he starts chasing me.
Before Ed's calls, I listen to the depressing daily news on the Today programme. Unemployment sky rocketing, the economy flat-lining, more arrests at News International. By the time Ed rings I'm usually ready to explode.
The final straw came at 6.54am last Friday morning.
Interviewed on Today, Clare Gerada, the Chair of the Royal College of GPs, was asked about Lansley's Health Bill. I don't know Clare Gerada, but she was authoritative, calm, thorough, and therefore devastating in her analysis.
As the first coffee of the day was brewing, Clare patiently said the following words:
"I think the essence is this Bill is a burden. It makes no sense. It’s incoherent to anybody other than the lawyers. It won’t deal with the big issues that we have to deal with such as the aging population and dementia. It will result in a very expensive health service and it will also result in a health service that certainly will never match the health service that we have at the moment or at least had 12 months ago."
I couldn't stomach any more of this miserable truth about Cameron, Osborne and Lansley's Britain. I'm sick of starting every day like this. I re-tuned to Smooth Radio.
But re-tuning the radio isn't enough. What makes us Labour is that we don't just look away. We've got to stop them. We've got to stop this Bill. It really will wreck the NHS in a way that hasn't been fully understood. It's a fight that patients can't afford for us to lose.
Cameron is determined to force these measures through. To defeat him, we have to build a coalition against the Bill that has never been seen before.
Sign the Drop the Bill petition here
Ed Miliband calls really early. Too early. These days I have to set my alarm for 6am in order to be fully awake before he starts chasing me.
Before Ed's calls, I listen to the depressing daily news on the Today programme. Unemployment sky rocketing, the economy flat-lining, more arrests at News International. By the time Ed rings I'm usually ready to explode.
The final straw came at 6.54am last Friday morning.
Interviewed on Today, Clare Gerada, the Chair of the Royal College of GPs, was asked about Lansley's Health Bill. I don't know Clare Gerada, but she was authoritative, calm, thorough, and therefore devastating in her analysis.
As the first coffee of the day was brewing, Clare patiently said the following words:
"I think the essence is this Bill is a burden. It makes no sense. It’s incoherent to anybody other than the lawyers. It won’t deal with the big issues that we have to deal with such as the aging population and dementia. It will result in a very expensive health service and it will also result in a health service that certainly will never match the health service that we have at the moment or at least had 12 months ago."
I couldn't stomach any more of this miserable truth about Cameron, Osborne and Lansley's Britain. I'm sick of starting every day like this. I re-tuned to Smooth Radio.
But re-tuning the radio isn't enough. What makes us Labour is that we don't just look away. We've got to stop them. We've got to stop this Bill. It really will wreck the NHS in a way that hasn't been fully understood. It's a fight that patients can't afford for us to lose.
Cameron is determined to force these measures through. To defeat him, we have to build a coalition against the Bill that has never been seen before.
Sign the Drop the Bill petition here
Sunday, February 05, 2012
The 6 Nations catches fire
Have to say the game this afternoon between Ireland and Wales was an absolute classic. It was a joy to watch two brilliant teams go all out for the win
For the record I thought Wales deserved it but the brilliance of the win was tainted somewhat by a really nasty spear-tackle in the second half. I imagine the citing committee will be involved because there was real intent in that and could have done some serious damage.
This was balanced, almost, by a ridiculous decision not to give Wales a try in the first half despite the ball clearly going down and there being no demonstrable evidence that it had been held up.
Anyway classic encounters always have their talking points...both teams deserve immense credit for really getting 6 Nations going for us...a joy to watch
Saturday, February 04, 2012
The 6 Nations is back
Icy Saturdays are meant to be enjoyed in nice warm houses with pints of lovely beer abd the telly on. Waterloo's home game was cancelled so that left us free to do just that. There are few more beautiful trophies in world sport than the Calcutta Cup, it was great to see a young, inexperienced side lift it although really Scotland were the better side.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
A Grand old Team
As hinted at in last night's post it felt like a good night to be a blue from the word go.
City always seem to fall foul of Everton's superior workrate and commitment. Players like Aguero, Villa and Nasri have added real class to go along with the brawn but where is the steel that side will need to win a title? Playing in the African Cup of Nations you might suggest. You can admire their talent but Everton's team spirit counted for more.
Cahill was a warrior, Denis & Donovan gave everything, Heitinga and Hibbert were immense whilst Fellaini and Gibson battled all night. Moyes out-thought Mancini with the inspired decision to bring in Hibbert to help do a job on Dzeko......yeah all in all a great night to be a blue
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
On the way to Goodison
On the train going to the match. Things might actually be looking up for the blues with new blood coming in to freshen up a squad in danger of going stale.
Odd to have games on transfer deadline day but hopefully all our business is done with a midfielder, a striker and a defender all signed up and possibly a big earner off the books (although I can't see Saha going to Spurs).
Nice to have something none-depressing to talk about for once. The win against Fulham seems to have given everyone a boostm
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Monday, January 30, 2012
Tory attitudes to contracts
It seems the Tories simply can't get involved with altering contracts...it would be utterly unthinkable for then to intervene in RBS boss Stephen Hester's bonus. This is definitely a tricky one but the bottom line is that that bank is just not performing.
The interesting point for me is that whilst the Conservatives hold contracts in the financial services sacred they just take it as a given they can totally rip-up the contracts of all those public sector workers and their pensions agreements
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Friday, January 27, 2012
Plant an Oak in the Diamond Jubilee Woods
Have to say I do like this idea, a great way to commemorate a national event
Organisers of a project to create a series of new woods to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee hope to plant one million trees during February.
The Woodland Trust said next month marked the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.
Free tree-planting packs would be available for groups wanting to take part in the project, it added.
The centrepiece of the Trust's plans will be a Diamond Park - a 460-acre site containing 500,000 trees.
The Woodland Trust said next month marked the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.
Free tree-planting packs would be available for groups wanting to take part in the project, it added.
The centrepiece of the Trust's plans will be a Diamond Park - a 460-acre site containing 500,000 trees.
Find out more about it here : The Woodland Trust
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Flashman Cameron calls Dennis Skinner a dinosaur
Oh look, Cameron gets asked a question which irks him and straight away resorts to nasty jibes and insults. It does seem to me that Cameron sees the House of Commons as a bothersome inconvenience distracting him from gala lunches and cosy meetings at Chequers.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Nice bottle of Sheppy's Tremlett's Bitter cider for after dinner
Monday, January 09, 2012
Marc Clattenberg to ref an Everton game
I know we shouldn't condone fans pouring abuse onto officials and opposition players but I do hope Mark Clattenberg gets absolute dogs abuse when he referees Everton once again.
That derby was by far the worst display of officiating I've ever seen. Too bad to be laughed off, you looked at the decisions he was making and could only conclude he was biased or corrupt. It was simply not possible to come to the conclusions impartially. The FA obviously agree because it's been half a decde before they've let him loose on an Everton game.
If you see Match of the Day and wonder why Evertonians are giving him hell just look back through the highlights and realise just how justified it is.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Huge slab of Deli Fonseca game pie to eat tomorrow
Why no Everton blog posts
You'll notice that the sports updates on here have been few and far between...haven't been making it to the match much recently for one reason or another and to be honest there's just nothing to inspire a post. The premiership in general is pretty dull and Everton are as uninspiring as they've been in ages.
Last night was a case in point, awful, awful game in awful, awful conditions...Everton just look so listless and disparate. They depserately need someone to provide that spark of inspiration. It was nice to see Tim Howard score only the 4th premier league goal by a goalkeeper...adding that to Scheichals for Villa at Goodison a while back than it means I've seen 50% of them.
Walking back enphasised how awful the conditions were, we could barely walk and then the trains were all over the place due to fallen trees etc so by the time we got in it was well past midnight.
I could ramble and rant about the problems in the Everton side but ultimately it's just too depressing at the moment.
Last night was a case in point, awful, awful game in awful, awful conditions...Everton just look so listless and disparate. They depserately need someone to provide that spark of inspiration. It was nice to see Tim Howard score only the 4th premier league goal by a goalkeeper...adding that to Scheichals for Villa at Goodison a while back than it means I've seen 50% of them.
Walking back enphasised how awful the conditions were, we could barely walk and then the trains were all over the place due to fallen trees etc so by the time we got in it was well past midnight.
I could ramble and rant about the problems in the Everton side but ultimately it's just too depressing at the moment.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Conservatives wanted to abandon Liverpool and the devil take the hindmost.
Of course up here we all new this already. The north of England was just an inconvenience to the Tories in the 80s. Think of that bit in the movie version of The Beach were the dying man is making too much noise so the other commune members just put him in another hut. Thatcherites will argue that the heavy industries prevelant in the north were outdated and innefficient and so needed to be removed like Christo's gangrenous leg but what was put in place by way of "post-operative care"? A Garden Festival? Really?
The documents released today show they thought about cutting their losses on the difficult places like Liverpool and put resources into regenerating areas that didn't need it so much but would show results more easily.
they record Geofrey Howe urging the government "not to over commit scarce resources to Liverpool. I fear that Merseyside is going to be much the hardest nut to crack,"
The documents released today show they thought about cutting their losses on the difficult places like Liverpool and put resources into regenerating areas that didn't need it so much but would show results more easily.
they record Geofrey Howe urging the government "not to over commit scarce resources to Liverpool. I fear that Merseyside is going to be much the hardest nut to crack,"
"We do not want to find ourselves concentrating all the limited cash that may have to be made available into Liverpool and having nothing left for possibly more promising areas such as the West Midlands or, even, the North East."
"It would be even more regrettable if some of the brighter ideas for renewing economic activity were to be sown only on relatively stony ground on the banks of the Mersey.
"I cannot help feeling that the option of managed decline is one which we should not forget altogether. We must not expend all our limited resources in trying to make water flow uphill."
I acknowledge that politicians do need to make tough decisions and discuss options but this confirms what we've always suspected...fundamentally and irrefutably the Conservatives will ALWAYS have the core attitude "The devil take the hindmost". This is in their DNA, it's why they get into politics. The welfare state is an anathema to them, they simply cannot understand the impact economic difficulties have on ordinary people. Think back to the "Get on your bike and look for work" quote...deep down they see being unemployed as a lifestyle choice and being poor as your inescapable station in life.
To them the working classes are just consumers and when times are hard you, like Christo in The Beach, are just an inconvenience and need to either shape up and look after yourself because, put simply, they don't see it as their job.
So there you go, that's the party Cameron and Osborne joined as teenagers...when traditionally you are at your most idealistic and want to go out and change the world...they chose that one.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The assault on universalism. Warnings of the conservatives and the welfare state
Brillaint article from the BMJ about the destruction and dismantling of the welfare state
Hope they done mind me re-producing it. Really superb stuff
Christmas is a time to count our blessings, reflecting how they came to be. For people living in England this reflection is more relevant than ever, as the coalition government paves the way for the demise of the welfare state. This statement will be seen by many as reckless scaremongering. The welfare state, not only in Britain but also throughout western Europe, has proved extremely resilient.1 How could any government bring about such a fundamental change?
To answer this question it is necessary to go back to the 1940s, when Sir William Beveridge called for a national fight against the five “giant evils” of want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness.2 His call secured support from across the political spectrum. Although he sat in the House of Commons as a Liberal, his plans were implemented by a Labour government, and continued under successive Conservative ones.3 The reasons for such wide ranging support varied but, for many ordinary people, the fundamental role of the welfare state was to give them security should their world collapse around them.
There were good reasons to seek security. The British people had just emerged from a war that had shown that, regardless of how high they were on the social ladder, they could fall to the bottom in an instant. The death and destruction of war were not the only threats; a serious illness could blight a family’s prospects. People wanted to be sure that they would not be on their own if disaster struck, and they were prepared to ensure this through taxes and insurance contributions. They were, literally, “all in it together,” accepting rationing of food and fuel to guarantee that in the face of austerity, everyone had access to the essentials.
In the 1970s, the philosopher John Rawls developed this concept into what he called a “theory of justice.”4 He argued that a fair society was one designed as if from behind a “veil of ignorance,” meaning that class and social forces were removed from policy making. As he put it, behind the veil, “no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like.” Rawls argued that in such circumstances decision makers would create a society that does not privilege one group over another, as no one can know where they will end up. This uncertainty about the future was a fair approximation of what many people had experienced during the war.
The postwar situation was quite different in the United States, for several reasons. The country emerged from the war with a powerful corporate sector, enriched by military spending, that could shape the political discourse in its own interests. In much of Europe, industry was devastated, and in Germany and the countries it had occupied, many major corporations were tainted by collaboration.5 6 However, a crucial and longstanding difference was the role of race in society. In America, the rich could never fall to the bottom of the ladder, because that position was already taken. African Americans faced persistent and widespread discrimination. There was no veil of ignorance. Europeans knew they could go to bed rich and wake up poor, but a rich (and, by extension, white) American could be confident that they would never wake up black.
The consequences are apparent at all levels of American society today. In household surveys, support for welfare among white Americans is influenced by the race of the poor people who live around them: if their neighbours are white they are more inclined to generosity than if their neighbours are African-American.7 Although inequality is diminishing across ethnic groups (just as it is has risen across classes),8 the legacy of racial division continues to undermine support for social welfare. In states with a high proportion of African Americans, welfare payments are much less generous9 (an illustration of the “inverse care law”).10
Thus, one concern in explaining this American exceptionalism11 is that welfare is not seen as insuring one’s family against catastrophe but rather as a payment to people with whom one has little shared identity. In this way, society becomes divided into “deserving” and “undeserving” groups of the poor.
A second difference is that Americans have been much more likely than Europeans to attribute poverty to laziness rather than misfortune (a form of victim blaming).12 If the rich wish to help the poor they are urged to use philanthropy, encouraged by the tax system and facilitated by a strong religious culture and distrust of the state. However, voluntary giving means that the donors can select the beneficiaries of their largesse, rather than leaving the choice to a democratic system. More than a third of social spending in the US comes from voluntary giving, whereas the comparable figure was less than one tenth in the pre-2004 European Union.13
A third factor is the relative absence of a countervailing discourse, reflecting the absence of a strong left wing or trade union voice. The entrenched dominance of the American two party system stymies the development of left wing political parties, while the geographical dispersion of population during the 19th century constrained the ability of a national trade union movement to organise.8 Industrialised countries with a greater fraction of workers in unions, one indicator of the power of the political left, invest more in social welfare
Understanding where the money comes from is only half the picture of the welfare system. The final main difference between the United States and Europe relates to what the wealthy get back from the state. This is much less in the US than in Europe. In every area the US is less generous; from education, to healthcare, to unemployment benefits. On average, the US invests about $3170 (£2031; €2370) per person less than would be expected if it were a member of the pre-2004 European Union, given its national income (authors’ calculations).14 In other words, the state is not there to help the rich and, in many respects, it is doing less than ever—for example, by disinvesting in public universities.14 15 Thus, the state does not offer a system of mutual security. Instead it provides a basic safety net, albeit an increasingly threadbare one. The advantage of the American system, if you are rich, is that you can pay much less in taxes. Indeed, the low tax/low welfare system is so skewed that a billionaire will pay a much smaller proportion of income in taxes than the poorest paid workers, so that effectively the poor are subsidising the rich.16
By contrast, in Scandinavia, taxes are high but, in return, the rich obtain a comprehensive package of high quality benefits either free or at minimal cost, including child care, healthcare, social care, and university education. There is a clear trade-off: you pay higher taxes but you get more back in return (as well as living in a more harmonious, safer society).17
So for those who wish to destroy the European model of welfare state, the structural weaknesses of social welfare in the United States offer an attractive model. First, create an identifiable group of undeserving poor. Second, create a system in which the rich see little benefit flowing back to them from their taxes. Third, diminish the role of trade unions, portraying them as pursuing the narrow interests of their members rather than, as is actually the case, recognising that high rates of trade union membership have historically benefited the general population.18 19 Finally, as Reagan did when cutting welfare in the 1980s,1 do so in a way that attracts as little attention as possible, putting in place policies whose implications are unclear and whose effects will only be seen in the future. All these strategies can be seen in the UK today.
The tabloid press, much of it owned by multi-millionaires, is at the forefront of the first approach. Each day they fill their pages with accounts of people “milking the system.” By constant repetition they create new forms of word association, constructing a cultural underclass. “Welfare” is invariably associated with “scroungers.”20 “Bogus” invariably describes “asylum seekers.”21 They accept that there is a group of deserving poor, whose situation has arisen from “genuine misfortune” (which seemingly excludes refugees caught up in wars), but when these groups appear in their pages it is because they have been let down by the state, which is devoting its efforts to the undeserving. And as a growing body of research shows, this continuous diet of hate does make a difference.22 23 24
Such vilification of the undeserving poor is not new. What is changing in the United Kingdom is the progressive exclusion of the middle classes from the welfare state through incremental erosion of universal benefits. The logic is appealing, but highly divisive: Why should the state pay for those who can afford to pay for themselves? Why should “ordinary working people” pay for “middle class benefits”? The economic crisis has given the government a once in a lifetime opportunity. As Naomi Klein has described in many different situations, those opposed to the welfare state never waste a good crisis.25 The deficit must be reduced, and so, one by one, benefits are removed and groups are pitted against each other, as the interests of the middle class in the welfare state wither away.
The first cut was to universal child benefit. This has been paid to all mothers, regardless of family income. It recognised the importance of children to society as a whole, not just to an individual family. It was also cheap, simple to administer, and free from anomalies. The government will now restrict child benefits to anyone in a family where one person is a higher rate tax payer. The problems were apparent from the start. A family with four children and two wage earners, each earning just below the higher rate tax threshold, would earn a total of up to £84 950 per year, supplemented by child benefit of £3146. A similar sized family in which only one parent worked but earned just over the tax threshold, at £42 475, would get nothing. If that parent was a widower, they would lose a further £5077 Widowed Parent’s Allowance, which is linked to child benefit, resulting in an 18% drop in income. Only a saint would avoid asking why they pay their taxes at all in such circumstances.
The next thing to go was affordable university education. This was more difficult. The government first had to make the case that a university education was mainly a personal benefit, rather than a societal one. Graduates could expect higher incomes, on average, so they should pay for the privilege. The contribution they would make to society, as doctors, teachers, social workers, or in myriad other ways counted for nothing. The government argued that publicly funded education was unaffordable, yet the new system will be more expensive than what it replaced.26 But this is viewed as a price worth paying to remove a universal benefit. Moreover, students faced with years of personal debt know that some of their fees are being used to provide bursaries for poorer students. It is easy to see how, as they struggle to pay back their debt, this generation may also ask why they are paying taxes.
These recent assaults on universal programmes are just the start. Ministers have made it clear that they see railways, which since privatisation have required much greater public subsidies, as “rich man’s toy”.27 We are fed statistics showing that those who travel by train tend to earn above average income, so fares must rise above inflation. Of course, the reason (we are told) that the privatised railways are by far the most expensive in Europe is not because their shareholders are making excessive profits from what is in effect a state guaranteed monopoly but rather because of restrictive practices by trade unions, an argument that helps to erode support for them even further. Why should the ordinary commuter pay taxes to support this undeserving workforce as well as ever increasing fares?
The Mirrlees Review on the tax system, commissioned by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, has highlighted what it sees as an anomaly, whereby many of life’s necessities, such as food, as well as things that make life a bit more civilised, such as books, are free from value added tax. It argues that this universal policy should be redressed and, if it causes hardship, then the poor (although it admittedly does not preface this with “undeserving” but by now most readers will get the message) should receive subsidies to help them.28 Once again, the ordinary shopper will ask why they should be paying taxes.
The direction of travel should now be clear. More and more, the middle classes will ask why they are paying into a system that gives them little back. The idea that the state is an insurance system, from which they can benefit if they are in need, is steadily eroded. Even the word “insurance” will be taken out in chancellor George Osborne’s plans to merge national insurance with taxation. There will be ever greater reductions in the funding, and inevitably the quality, of those remaining services used by the middle classes, such as primary and secondary education and healthcare, persuading them that they would be better off seeking private options. Public services will become like public hospitals in the United States, a service for the poor. As Richard Titmuss famously said, a “service for the poor” inevitably becomes “a poor service,” as the vocal and politically active middle class abandon the system.29 The ground rules are already being laid in healthcare, as the health secretary has sought to weaken his responsibility for a comprehensive health system. At some stage in the future any vestigial safeguards could disappear and commissioning consortiums, by then funded from personalised budgets, would become, in effect, insurance companies, with all sorts of ways to limit whom they enrol and what they cover.
Who benefits from this progressive degradation of the welfare state? Obviously not the lower classes. But nor do the middle classes, as the new, complex, and individualised systems are more expensive than what existed previously, often of poorer quality, and invariably far more complicated. The real beneficiaries are the very rich, who no longer have to pay for services they never used anyway.
Will the British people allow the welfare state to be dismantled? Not yet. But the situation could easily change. The experience of the United States shows how easily people can be persuaded to vote against their own economic interests.24 By visualising the stark reality of the future that may lie ahead of us we may be forced to challenge our own complacency. In this way, we can only try to emulate the “spirit of Christmas yet to come” in Dickens’ Christmas Carol and hope that we will have the same happy result.30
Hope they done mind me re-producing it. Really superb stuff
Christmas is a time to count our blessings, reflecting how they came to be. For people living in England this reflection is more relevant than ever, as the coalition government paves the way for the demise of the welfare state. This statement will be seen by many as reckless scaremongering. The welfare state, not only in Britain but also throughout western Europe, has proved extremely resilient.1 How could any government bring about such a fundamental change?
To answer this question it is necessary to go back to the 1940s, when Sir William Beveridge called for a national fight against the five “giant evils” of want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness.2 His call secured support from across the political spectrum. Although he sat in the House of Commons as a Liberal, his plans were implemented by a Labour government, and continued under successive Conservative ones.3 The reasons for such wide ranging support varied but, for many ordinary people, the fundamental role of the welfare state was to give them security should their world collapse around them.
There were good reasons to seek security. The British people had just emerged from a war that had shown that, regardless of how high they were on the social ladder, they could fall to the bottom in an instant. The death and destruction of war were not the only threats; a serious illness could blight a family’s prospects. People wanted to be sure that they would not be on their own if disaster struck, and they were prepared to ensure this through taxes and insurance contributions. They were, literally, “all in it together,” accepting rationing of food and fuel to guarantee that in the face of austerity, everyone had access to the essentials.
In the 1970s, the philosopher John Rawls developed this concept into what he called a “theory of justice.”4 He argued that a fair society was one designed as if from behind a “veil of ignorance,” meaning that class and social forces were removed from policy making. As he put it, behind the veil, “no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like.” Rawls argued that in such circumstances decision makers would create a society that does not privilege one group over another, as no one can know where they will end up. This uncertainty about the future was a fair approximation of what many people had experienced during the war.
The postwar situation was quite different in the United States, for several reasons. The country emerged from the war with a powerful corporate sector, enriched by military spending, that could shape the political discourse in its own interests. In much of Europe, industry was devastated, and in Germany and the countries it had occupied, many major corporations were tainted by collaboration.5 6 However, a crucial and longstanding difference was the role of race in society. In America, the rich could never fall to the bottom of the ladder, because that position was already taken. African Americans faced persistent and widespread discrimination. There was no veil of ignorance. Europeans knew they could go to bed rich and wake up poor, but a rich (and, by extension, white) American could be confident that they would never wake up black.
The consequences are apparent at all levels of American society today. In household surveys, support for welfare among white Americans is influenced by the race of the poor people who live around them: if their neighbours are white they are more inclined to generosity than if their neighbours are African-American.7 Although inequality is diminishing across ethnic groups (just as it is has risen across classes),8 the legacy of racial division continues to undermine support for social welfare. In states with a high proportion of African Americans, welfare payments are much less generous9 (an illustration of the “inverse care law”).10
Thus, one concern in explaining this American exceptionalism11 is that welfare is not seen as insuring one’s family against catastrophe but rather as a payment to people with whom one has little shared identity. In this way, society becomes divided into “deserving” and “undeserving” groups of the poor.
A second difference is that Americans have been much more likely than Europeans to attribute poverty to laziness rather than misfortune (a form of victim blaming).12 If the rich wish to help the poor they are urged to use philanthropy, encouraged by the tax system and facilitated by a strong religious culture and distrust of the state. However, voluntary giving means that the donors can select the beneficiaries of their largesse, rather than leaving the choice to a democratic system. More than a third of social spending in the US comes from voluntary giving, whereas the comparable figure was less than one tenth in the pre-2004 European Union.13
A third factor is the relative absence of a countervailing discourse, reflecting the absence of a strong left wing or trade union voice. The entrenched dominance of the American two party system stymies the development of left wing political parties, while the geographical dispersion of population during the 19th century constrained the ability of a national trade union movement to organise.8 Industrialised countries with a greater fraction of workers in unions, one indicator of the power of the political left, invest more in social welfare
Understanding where the money comes from is only half the picture of the welfare system. The final main difference between the United States and Europe relates to what the wealthy get back from the state. This is much less in the US than in Europe. In every area the US is less generous; from education, to healthcare, to unemployment benefits. On average, the US invests about $3170 (£2031; €2370) per person less than would be expected if it were a member of the pre-2004 European Union, given its national income (authors’ calculations).14 In other words, the state is not there to help the rich and, in many respects, it is doing less than ever—for example, by disinvesting in public universities.14 15 Thus, the state does not offer a system of mutual security. Instead it provides a basic safety net, albeit an increasingly threadbare one. The advantage of the American system, if you are rich, is that you can pay much less in taxes. Indeed, the low tax/low welfare system is so skewed that a billionaire will pay a much smaller proportion of income in taxes than the poorest paid workers, so that effectively the poor are subsidising the rich.16
By contrast, in Scandinavia, taxes are high but, in return, the rich obtain a comprehensive package of high quality benefits either free or at minimal cost, including child care, healthcare, social care, and university education. There is a clear trade-off: you pay higher taxes but you get more back in return (as well as living in a more harmonious, safer society).17
So for those who wish to destroy the European model of welfare state, the structural weaknesses of social welfare in the United States offer an attractive model. First, create an identifiable group of undeserving poor. Second, create a system in which the rich see little benefit flowing back to them from their taxes. Third, diminish the role of trade unions, portraying them as pursuing the narrow interests of their members rather than, as is actually the case, recognising that high rates of trade union membership have historically benefited the general population.18 19 Finally, as Reagan did when cutting welfare in the 1980s,1 do so in a way that attracts as little attention as possible, putting in place policies whose implications are unclear and whose effects will only be seen in the future. All these strategies can be seen in the UK today.
The tabloid press, much of it owned by multi-millionaires, is at the forefront of the first approach. Each day they fill their pages with accounts of people “milking the system.” By constant repetition they create new forms of word association, constructing a cultural underclass. “Welfare” is invariably associated with “scroungers.”20 “Bogus” invariably describes “asylum seekers.”21 They accept that there is a group of deserving poor, whose situation has arisen from “genuine misfortune” (which seemingly excludes refugees caught up in wars), but when these groups appear in their pages it is because they have been let down by the state, which is devoting its efforts to the undeserving. And as a growing body of research shows, this continuous diet of hate does make a difference.22 23 24
Such vilification of the undeserving poor is not new. What is changing in the United Kingdom is the progressive exclusion of the middle classes from the welfare state through incremental erosion of universal benefits. The logic is appealing, but highly divisive: Why should the state pay for those who can afford to pay for themselves? Why should “ordinary working people” pay for “middle class benefits”? The economic crisis has given the government a once in a lifetime opportunity. As Naomi Klein has described in many different situations, those opposed to the welfare state never waste a good crisis.25 The deficit must be reduced, and so, one by one, benefits are removed and groups are pitted against each other, as the interests of the middle class in the welfare state wither away.
The first cut was to universal child benefit. This has been paid to all mothers, regardless of family income. It recognised the importance of children to society as a whole, not just to an individual family. It was also cheap, simple to administer, and free from anomalies. The government will now restrict child benefits to anyone in a family where one person is a higher rate tax payer. The problems were apparent from the start. A family with four children and two wage earners, each earning just below the higher rate tax threshold, would earn a total of up to £84 950 per year, supplemented by child benefit of £3146. A similar sized family in which only one parent worked but earned just over the tax threshold, at £42 475, would get nothing. If that parent was a widower, they would lose a further £5077 Widowed Parent’s Allowance, which is linked to child benefit, resulting in an 18% drop in income. Only a saint would avoid asking why they pay their taxes at all in such circumstances.
The next thing to go was affordable university education. This was more difficult. The government first had to make the case that a university education was mainly a personal benefit, rather than a societal one. Graduates could expect higher incomes, on average, so they should pay for the privilege. The contribution they would make to society, as doctors, teachers, social workers, or in myriad other ways counted for nothing. The government argued that publicly funded education was unaffordable, yet the new system will be more expensive than what it replaced.26 But this is viewed as a price worth paying to remove a universal benefit. Moreover, students faced with years of personal debt know that some of their fees are being used to provide bursaries for poorer students. It is easy to see how, as they struggle to pay back their debt, this generation may also ask why they are paying taxes.
These recent assaults on universal programmes are just the start. Ministers have made it clear that they see railways, which since privatisation have required much greater public subsidies, as “rich man’s toy”.27 We are fed statistics showing that those who travel by train tend to earn above average income, so fares must rise above inflation. Of course, the reason (we are told) that the privatised railways are by far the most expensive in Europe is not because their shareholders are making excessive profits from what is in effect a state guaranteed monopoly but rather because of restrictive practices by trade unions, an argument that helps to erode support for them even further. Why should the ordinary commuter pay taxes to support this undeserving workforce as well as ever increasing fares?
The Mirrlees Review on the tax system, commissioned by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, has highlighted what it sees as an anomaly, whereby many of life’s necessities, such as food, as well as things that make life a bit more civilised, such as books, are free from value added tax. It argues that this universal policy should be redressed and, if it causes hardship, then the poor (although it admittedly does not preface this with “undeserving” but by now most readers will get the message) should receive subsidies to help them.28 Once again, the ordinary shopper will ask why they should be paying taxes.
The direction of travel should now be clear. More and more, the middle classes will ask why they are paying into a system that gives them little back. The idea that the state is an insurance system, from which they can benefit if they are in need, is steadily eroded. Even the word “insurance” will be taken out in chancellor George Osborne’s plans to merge national insurance with taxation. There will be ever greater reductions in the funding, and inevitably the quality, of those remaining services used by the middle classes, such as primary and secondary education and healthcare, persuading them that they would be better off seeking private options. Public services will become like public hospitals in the United States, a service for the poor. As Richard Titmuss famously said, a “service for the poor” inevitably becomes “a poor service,” as the vocal and politically active middle class abandon the system.29 The ground rules are already being laid in healthcare, as the health secretary has sought to weaken his responsibility for a comprehensive health system. At some stage in the future any vestigial safeguards could disappear and commissioning consortiums, by then funded from personalised budgets, would become, in effect, insurance companies, with all sorts of ways to limit whom they enrol and what they cover.
Who benefits from this progressive degradation of the welfare state? Obviously not the lower classes. But nor do the middle classes, as the new, complex, and individualised systems are more expensive than what existed previously, often of poorer quality, and invariably far more complicated. The real beneficiaries are the very rich, who no longer have to pay for services they never used anyway.
Will the British people allow the welfare state to be dismantled? Not yet. But the situation could easily change. The experience of the United States shows how easily people can be persuaded to vote against their own economic interests.24 By visualising the stark reality of the future that may lie ahead of us we may be forced to challenge our own complacency. In this way, we can only try to emulate the “spirit of Christmas yet to come” in Dickens’ Christmas Carol and hope that we will have the same happy result.30
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Liverpool Football Club statement on Luis Suarez...and Rosa Parks
Liverpool Football Club have issued a statement about Luis Suarez
Liverpool Football Club and the Montgomery City Bus Company are is very surprised and disappointed with the decision of the Football Association commission to find Luis Suarez and James F. Blake guilty of the charges against them.
"We look forward to the publication of the commission's judgment. We will study the detailed reasons of the commission once they become available, but reserve our right to appeal or take any other course of action we feel appropriate with regards to this situation.
"We find it extraordinary that Luis and James can be found guilty on the word of Patrica Evra and Rosa Parks alone when no-one else on the Bus - including Parks's own colleagues and all the other passengers whilst a journey was underway.
"LFC and the bus company consider racism in any form to be unacceptable - without compromise. It is our strong held belief, having gone over the facts of the case, that James F. Blake did not commit any racist act. It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular bus driver was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations.
"It is key to note that Rosa Parks himself in his written statement in this case said: "I don't think that James F. Blake is racist." The FA in their opening remarks accepted that James F. Blake was not racist.
"James himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was probably Irish or something.
"He has driven buses with black passengers and mixed with their families whilst serving with the Army and was part of a bus company with a proud multi-cultural profile, many of whom became good friends.
"It seems incredible to us that a driver of mixed heritage should be accused and found guilty in the way he has based on the evidence presented. We do not recognise the way in which James F. Blake has been characterised.
"It appears to us that the FA were determined to bring charges against James F. Blake, even before interviewing him at the beginning of November. Nothing we have heard in the course of the hearing has changed our view that James F. Blake is innocent of the charges brought against him and we will provide James with whatever support he now needs to clear his name.
"We would also like to know when the FA intend to charge Rosa Parks with making abusive remarks to an opponent after he admitted himself in his evidence to insulting James F. Blake in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. James, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult."
Liverpool Football Club and the Montgomery City Bus Company are is very surprised and disappointed with the decision of the Football Association commission to find Luis Suarez and James F. Blake guilty of the charges against them.
"We look forward to the publication of the commission's judgment. We will study the detailed reasons of the commission once they become available, but reserve our right to appeal or take any other course of action we feel appropriate with regards to this situation.
"We find it extraordinary that Luis and James can be found guilty on the word of Patrica Evra and Rosa Parks alone when no-one else on the Bus - including Parks's own colleagues and all the other passengers whilst a journey was underway.
"LFC and the bus company consider racism in any form to be unacceptable - without compromise. It is our strong held belief, having gone over the facts of the case, that James F. Blake did not commit any racist act. It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular bus driver was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations.
"It is key to note that Rosa Parks himself in his written statement in this case said: "I don't think that James F. Blake is racist." The FA in their opening remarks accepted that James F. Blake was not racist.
"James himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was probably Irish or something.
"He has driven buses with black passengers and mixed with their families whilst serving with the Army and was part of a bus company with a proud multi-cultural profile, many of whom became good friends.
"It seems incredible to us that a driver of mixed heritage should be accused and found guilty in the way he has based on the evidence presented. We do not recognise the way in which James F. Blake has been characterised.
"It appears to us that the FA were determined to bring charges against James F. Blake, even before interviewing him at the beginning of November. Nothing we have heard in the course of the hearing has changed our view that James F. Blake is innocent of the charges brought against him and we will provide James with whatever support he now needs to clear his name.
"We would also like to know when the FA intend to charge Rosa Parks with making abusive remarks to an opponent after he admitted himself in his evidence to insulting James F. Blake in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. James, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult."
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
New Banksy street art found in Rumford Street, Liverpool
Interesting to hear there's a new Banksy effort for us all to look at in Liverpool.
This one is in a car park in Rumford Street
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
So far so good
Thanking Saint Bernadette, Saint Benet, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Nicholas, Saint George, Saint Edward the Confessor, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Sebastian, Saint John of God, Saint Peregrine, Saint Anthony, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Our Lady of Lourdes and the Good Lord himself plus anyone else you care to mention tonight. Had a lot on my mind recently buts so far so good. Good bless the NHS
Monday, December 12, 2011
UK isolates itself from it's major trading partners
The tories have outdone themselves this time. Somehow they think they've vetoed a major treaty that's actually gone ahead anyway leaving us basically out in the cold.
Our neighbours have gone ahead and done everything without us so all Cameron has achieved is to drive a wedge between us and Europe for no other reason than to appease his own party's xenophobic Tea-Party element. The French and Germans won't forget his selfish obstinance and breathtaking arrogance in a hurry.
So half his coalition site aghast at the line he's taken, the Scot, Welsh and Northern Irish are livid given that they had no say in this stupid pointless stand and for what? Well the Daily Mail are happy and that's all that seems to matter to them.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
In honour of today's public sector strikes. Altogether now...
Soyuz nerushimy respublik svobodnykh
Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'!
Da zdravstvuyet sozdanny volley narodov
Yediny, moguchy Sovetsky Soyuz!
Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'!
Da zdravstvuyet sozdanny volley narodov
Yediny, moguchy Sovetsky Soyuz!
Slav'sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye,
Druzhby narodov nadyozhny oplot!
Partiya Lenina - sila narodnaya
Nas k torzhestvu kommunizma vedyot!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
George Osborne's autumn statement "We balls it up"
It is quite depressing when it turns out the people in charge aren't cleverer and don't have any secret knowledge you aren't party to. For months it's been massively obvious that the Conservative's austerity policies are a millstone holding the economy back. It now turns out that there will be over 700 thousand public sector workers losing their jobs now and for what? Well it would seem for nothing..."It's hurting but it's not working".
So tomorrow if you see a picket line remember to beep and wave, they are just ordinary people looking after what is rightfully theirs. You won't be alone, there is broad public support for the strikes, a BBC survey revealed this.
Don't let the rich and privileged elite play divide and conquer with the ordinary people of this country.
Monday, November 28, 2011
My Tram Experience woman arrested
Get in! Great news (if true) that that vile racist in the my tram experience video has been arrested.
There are few things in life worse than a racist. Great to see that the masses have ganged up on that particular cretin.
I love it when the like of her and the EDL and the BNP get rejected. It's like the good people all standing up and saying "We aren't all petty bullies".
Sunday, November 27, 2011
RIP Gary Speed
Such horrifying, tragic news today. So utterly sad to see someone so familiar and so bright & talented take their own lives. It's really knocked me for 6 today and I don't suppose I can write anything eloquent enough to do the tragedy justice....it was heart breaking listening to Robbie Savage choking up talking about him on 606 today but you have to say he did his mate proud.
This is one of the best pieces I have read about the the whole thing and says things better than I ever could:
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
WTF? Conservative students burn an effigy of Barak Obama
I know the Conservatives are a pretty paltry ever-dwindling bunch in Scotland but was this attempt to gain some cheap publicity or a way of finishing themselves off permanently?
"An effigy of US President Barack Obama was burned over the weekend by members of the Conservative student association at St Andrews University.
The incident is understood to have taken place on Friday evening on the town's East Sands beach.
One of those who attended told the BBC that members of the association had "no input" and were "surprised" to discover Obama was on the bonfire.
The St Andrews Conservative Association apologised for any offence caused."
How utterly KKKish? What were they thinking. Apparently the same Conservative society has burned effigies of Gordon Brown and Nelson Mandela in the past and one of the chairman of the university's Labour society.
Suppose it'll go down a storm with all those Tea Party weirdos the right seem to look up to so much.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Everton return to winning ways
Thank God, I know that was a nightmarish run of games but it was so good to get 3 points under our belt again after so long
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Has Martin Johnson really quit over 2 few drinks in Queenstown
It's difficult to have any faith in the RFU at the moment...they've been abominable over the last year and today Martin Johnson has quit as England manager deepening the crisis.
Basically as far as I can see if no-one had been there to photograph the England players in that Queenstown bar he'd still been in a job. The furore over that night out is amazing and the RFU's inability to control the agenda on it is pretty lame.
What did the players actually do on this "tour of shame"? Aside from Tindall doing something slightly silly they are guilty of posing for a few pictures as far as I can tell. The media have been whipping this up into a scandal ever since....this is the same media who were mortified when the England footy team exiled itself in a remote location in South Africa.
Both teams are probably guilty of not lifting a world cup they were never really had a hope of winning.
So 3 years of hard work for England down the drain, we came within a game of doing a Grand Slam last season and yet the media have focused on one night-out and made the manager's job untenable.
Theresa May minutes away from losing her job?
Have to say she's a very lucky woman after just delegated a huge problem of immigration security and queueing at airports. If the minutes of her meeting with Brodie Clark could prove he'd told her about the relaxation of finger print checks she'd be out wouldn't she? I mean all the other home secretaries were told, would she not have been?
Saturday, October 29, 2011
The only shirt to wear today
Don't worry though, I have my pink Everton shirt on underneath. Come on you Blues
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Great Merseyside derby picture on the cover of The Times sport
Monday, September 26, 2011
Ed Balls tells it like it is while Rory Weal steals the show
Top speech by Ed Balls (if a little troubled in the delivery possibly because of Ed's stutter). He outlined the problem and gave Labour's answer. Solutions that could get the economy moving again but are getting ignored due to Osborne and Cameron's arrogance.
Ed Balls urges VAT cuts for growth
Just before that I saw Rory Weal speak at the Labour Party Conference and was so proud to be part of the same party.Rory Weal at the Labour Party Conference & Standing ovation for Rory Weal
Also heard Maria Eagles' speech mocking the transport ministers road sign review ("No Left Turn" being central). Tremendous
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Hurrah for the Victoria and Albert Museum
Went for a meeting at the V&A today, wonderful place and lovely, lovely people (we work with the people running their shop). On our way out we got to nose round the Sacred objects exhibits which, as a Catholic, was so special.
Unfortunately this was the only picture I got.
REM split
Sad to hear REM have split as they were one of my favourite bands of all time.
I have to admit their newer stuff largely passed me by but their older stuff is as good and as fresh as ever. This was from their Life's Rich Pageant album from back in 1986.
I have to admit their newer stuff largely passed me by but their older stuff is as good and as fresh as ever. This was from their Life's Rich Pageant album from back in 1986.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A nice night a Goodison Park
Well I say nice, it wasn't a classic but always good to progress. Frustrating in parts but with impressive performances from Drenthe, Velios and Fellaini and lovely goals from the Divine Afro and Phil Neville (superstar, got more medals than Steve Gerrard).
Everton had all the ball in the first half but created nothing then it's fair to say West Brom bossed the second half until the last 15 minutes when the Toffees got going.
Roysten Drenthe in particular looked to be enjoying himself once Everton started playing and the space opened up.
Fenerbahce's Women and children only football match in Turkey
Thought this was a brilliant thing. After they were put under threat of playing games behind closed doors Turkish side Fenerbahce came up with the superb idea of maintaining support for the team by banning men and only allowing women and children into the match.
41,000 women and children turned up for the match against Manisaspor in Istanbul so I think it can be judged a success. Wonder how many of those women had never been the match before?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Liverpool Seamen Gates
I know a lot of people have worked long and hard to bring them home to Liverpool
Radio 5live pro-coalition bias?
Radio 5live Breakfast interview a coalition minister :
"So Deputy Prime minister it's been a tough year for you hasn't it"
"So, Mr Lansley, what would you say to people who are worried about you policy"
"So Mr Cameron are you doing a brilliant job or a very brilliant job"
"Tell me about your kids"
They get a Labour MP on it's :
"Doesn't this alledged in-fighting and back-biting prove you aren't fit for goverment"
"Did Gordon Brown's temp get in the way of goverment"
"This new book proves you were all at it doesn't it"
"Was Ed Balls constantly plotting against his colleagues"
"Scandal, scandal, scandal"
I have always listened to 5live and, let's face it as a sports addict, I always will. I remember getting a call of a radio listeners survey and having a choice of "Up to an hour", "One to two hours" "Over two hours" and worked out I listened to about 6 hours of radio a day. I do like the current crop of presenters but I think they need to have a look at themselves in how they treat the respective parties.
This morning is a case in point...their presenter just gave endless open forums for Nick Clegg to rattle off the party line (eg "When we came into government we had a deficit bigger than Ireland, bigger than Italy", then went on to chat about his kids...Once the interview was over Rachel and John Pienaar got together to wax lyrical about how brave Clegg is and generally saluted his indefatigablility. Earlier Tim Farron had been asked about Vince Cable attack on the Tories as "ideological descendants of those who sent children up chimneys" and was allowed get away with saying that he was actually talking about "Red tape". Compare that to recent grillings Andy Burnham and Ed Balls were subjected to in the wake of Alistair Darling's book.
I switched over to the Today Show on Radio4 and Clegg tried the same "When we came into government we had a deficit bigger than Ireland, bigger than Italy" line and was immediately taken apart. Our economy is much bigger than those countries and Italy is currently getting downgraded because of lack of growth not it's structural deficit.
I wouldn't say this is an institutional problem throughout the BBC (although I'm sure some of you will put me right) but there is a real pro-Coalition bias at 5live and it needs sorting out.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Still obsessing about the colour of Everton's socks
Great result though, you'd have to chalk it down as "Resilient". We battered them in the first half but looked totally leaden in the second (faced with some pretty un-ambitious, time wasting opposition).
Great to see the new boys chip in with goals. Velios and Drenthe took theirs really well and Denis looked lively too.
Given Lancashire winning, Everton's result, Waterloo winning away at Penrith plus England beating Georgia and Peterborough getting 3 points too you can't really complain at that.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Another McGough Moliere, this time Tartuffe
Off to see Tartuffe at the Liverpool Playhouse tonight. Hope it's as much fun as the last Roger McGough Moliere adaptation. The Hypochondriac was brilliant fun so hoping it's another good'n.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Join Labour's NHS Campaign
Around 7000 cancer sufferers who have done the right thing and have paid into the system, may lose as much as £94 per week
Click below to call on David Cameron to stop this before it is too latehttp://www.campaignengineroom.org.uk/frontline-nhs/questionnaire/message
Click below to call on David Cameron to stop this before it is too latehttp://www.campaignengineroom.org.uk/frontline-nhs/questionnaire/message
Ed Miliband on the offensive
Nice to see Ed Miliband MP, going on the offensive again. Stinging George Osborne with a good quip about his lurid past yesterday (A bit undignified but given Cameron's style and Osborne's awful joke at the GQ Awards who can argue with it) and today he has written to David Cameron demanding that he returns to the House of Commons to correct inaccurate statistics that the Cameron used at PMQs. Put simply David Cameron is far to cavalier in the House of Commons...he seems to think it's all beneath him. Arrogantly dismissive whenever anyone calls him to account. Not good enough and we need to pin him on it.
The letter from Ed Miliband MP to David Cameron is below:
Dear Prime Minister,
Yesterday, in response to me at Prime Minister’s Questions, you said that “since the election there are 500,000 more jobs in the private sector. There are more people—300,000 more people—in work than there were a year ago” (Hansard, 14 September 2011, column 1028).
This answer is inaccurate. Between June 2010 and June 2011 the Office of National Statistics has confirmed that private sector employment increased by only 264,000 and that net employment increased by just 24,000. The only way it is possible to claim 500,000 extra private sector jobs is by including jobs created between 1 April and 30 June 2010 – but of course this includes time when Labour was still in office, which is not “since the election” at all.
You also said, after I correctly pointed out that the UK has grown more slowly in the last year than any other EU country apart from Portugal and Romania, that “this year, Britain is growing faster than America” (Hansard, 14 September 2011, column 1029). In fact, the UK has grown by 0.7 per cent over the last year to the end of Q2 2011, the latest period for which figures are available, while the USA grew by 1.5 per cent over the same period.
Everyone in public life has a responsibility to ensure we rebuild and maintain trust in politics and politicians. Ensuring accuracy in our answers in the House of Commons is central to that, a responsibility underlined in the Ministerial Code.
Furthermore, the British people will want to be assured that the decisions you take, which have such profound consequences for families and young people, are being based on properly researched data and empirical evidence.
As such, I trust you will return to the House and correct the record at the earliest opportunity.
Yours,
Ed Miliband MP
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Friday, September 09, 2011
Rugby World Cup time, how do you face the Haka
Ah the age old question, doesthe Haka give the all Blacks the psychological edge? How do you face it? How do you avoid being culturally disrespectful without being meek?
The Cockerill model is the one for me but eventually that will lead to an all out brawl
Personally I think it'd be interesting to see how Wayne Rooney would face it...or even Duncan Ferguson.
The Cockerill model is the one for me but eventually that will lead to an all out brawl
Personally I think it'd be interesting to see how Wayne Rooney would face it...or even Duncan Ferguson.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
The Tories have killed the economy?
Staggering data from a report in the Daily Mail today (never one to forego a scaremongering story). They have mapped the current economic mess onto previous crashes to show how long it took to recover each time.
As you can see this current crash is on course to be the longest in history...what is pretty obvious from the graph is that we were on target to come out of the mess and recovering strongly until the current stagnation happened under the Tories. For everyone who still clings to the notion that Labour messed up and the Tories are merely taking restorative measures this has to be a wake-up call surely. This is not due to a royal wedding or a few days of snow...this a stagnant economy and it's exactly what Alistair Darling was trying to avoid with stimulus and tax cuts, it's exactly what Ed Balls has been talking about for month.
Join the Labour Party
Through the miracle of Blogger scheduling at the time this post is published I will be out campaigning for the Labour Party. I do not claim to be Mr Socialism, I am not out every night, I don't know the words to The Internationale, I've only been a member for 18 months...one thing I do know is that I am absolutely loving it.
By no means are Labour perfect, there are lots in our recent history we should be regretfull about but there is also tonnes we should be massively proud of. Just 'cause the media have it in for New Labour doesn't mean we should be ashamed to shout about the acheivement. Being from a working class family in Liverpool throws the political spectrum into sharp relief and we only have to think back to the 80s as a portant of what the Tories are trying to achieve this time round. Think back to the way school and hospitals were then and look around now. Are Labour guilty of just not being perfect? Personally I think we seem frightened to stand by our record and the things New Labour put in place, fair enough there were mess-ups and things we got wrong but so far this Coalition is just a littany of broken promises and misery from a team of empty vessels. Any objection people raise to their policies is blithely dismissed and mocked, it's be easy to stomach if they actually had a mandate!
In my time in the party it's been brilliant. My Constituency Labour Party has been welcoming and full of great people...it's been a pleasure to work with them and the outstanding victories in the May council elections were a privelige to be part of. I am not saying all local Labour parties are all like this but you really should give it a go. Be part of the fightback.
By no means are Labour perfect, there are lots in our recent history we should be regretfull about but there is also tonnes we should be massively proud of. Just 'cause the media have it in for New Labour doesn't mean we should be ashamed to shout about the acheivement. Being from a working class family in Liverpool throws the political spectrum into sharp relief and we only have to think back to the 80s as a portant of what the Tories are trying to achieve this time round. Think back to the way school and hospitals were then and look around now. Are Labour guilty of just not being perfect? Personally I think we seem frightened to stand by our record and the things New Labour put in place, fair enough there were mess-ups and things we got wrong but so far this Coalition is just a littany of broken promises and misery from a team of empty vessels. Any objection people raise to their policies is blithely dismissed and mocked, it's be easy to stomach if they actually had a mandate!
In my time in the party it's been brilliant. My Constituency Labour Party has been welcoming and full of great people...it's been a pleasure to work with them and the outstanding victories in the May council elections were a privelige to be part of. I am not saying all local Labour parties are all like this but you really should give it a go. Be part of the fightback.
Never trust a Lib Dem
So after making a big show about forcing a "Listening Exercise" over Lansley's NHS Reform bill the Lib Dems meekly voted for the reforms in the same way they voted for them in the first place.
So now pandora's box is open and the NHS is all about competition...The private sector can swoop in on the profitable areas whilst leaving the scraps to the NHS in the same way the vultures jumped on the profitable areas of the Post Office's business.
It couldn't have happened without Nick Clegg and your friendly neighbourhood Lib Dems...we should never let them forget it. You expect the Tories to bow down to their business friends and allow them to feather their nests with public money. Profit is all they ever care about...The Lib Dems however have enabled all these wretched policies to get voted in.
The NHS reforms were in no-one's manifesto. Cameron expressly promised he wouldn't impose top down NHS reforms and yet here we are. Cameron is a arrogant liar whilst Clegg is a vile little quisling. It's a tricky call on what's worse.
Nye Bevan said the NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it. The storm of dismay and derision proves there is folk left....Personally I'd love to see it start at the Lib Dem conference but I very much doubt it
So now pandora's box is open and the NHS is all about competition...The private sector can swoop in on the profitable areas whilst leaving the scraps to the NHS in the same way the vultures jumped on the profitable areas of the Post Office's business.
It couldn't have happened without Nick Clegg and your friendly neighbourhood Lib Dems...we should never let them forget it. You expect the Tories to bow down to their business friends and allow them to feather their nests with public money. Profit is all they ever care about...The Lib Dems however have enabled all these wretched policies to get voted in.
The NHS reforms were in no-one's manifesto. Cameron expressly promised he wouldn't impose top down NHS reforms and yet here we are. Cameron is a arrogant liar whilst Clegg is a vile little quisling. It's a tricky call on what's worse.
Nye Bevan said the NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it. The storm of dismay and derision proves there is folk left....Personally I'd love to see it start at the Lib Dem conference but I very much doubt it
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Oh look, Cameron lying about NHS staff supporting his reforms
So that arrogant wretch has been blithely lying about support for the Tories ridiculous NHS reforms...Well done to the NHS organisations for standing up and calling him to account on his arrogant duplicitousness.
The BMA have been screaming from the rooftops about Lansley's bill for months but still Cameron claims to have support for the bill amongst NHS staff...well now the Royal Collage of Nursing and the Royal College of GPs have stated categorically that they aren't.
David Cameron told MPs that doctors and nurses were now
"supporting" government plans to overhaul the NHS in England.
The Royal College of GPs said it was "extremely worried" about some aspects.
(Report on the BBC)
Never Trust a Tory
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