NuLabor Is Now Hypocrisy Labour
They’re certainly being accused of that in The Times in a front page article, entitled Hypocrisy charge as Labour cuts its pensions.
It’s one of those titles where you can skip the rest.
Why Should Anybody Get More Than Average Wage on Benefit?
I suspect that those who framed our benefits rules many years ago, probably didn’t expect that years later claimants would get such high benefits, so they left this simple rule out.
So now benefits have spiralled out of control as government after government has put sticking plaster over sticking plaster to try to mend a failed system.
The proposed rule is a sensible one, that would probably be supported by most people, but like most things, managing the change will be the most difficult part.
But it is an insult to a prudent family, living on or below the average wage to have neighbours, who don’t work and perhaps never have, getting a lot more in benefits.
It is not a new problem, as in the 1970s, when we first lived in Suffolk, there was a problem family in the village, whose expensive lifestyle was completely sustained by benefits and certain interesting piecework. Many complained about it, but nothing happened.
Iranians Seize Barbie
This headline is in today’s Sunday Times.
Apparently Barbie has been banned in Iran since 1996 according to this article. So police are now seizing them in shops.
A mother is quoted as saying that her daughter says the Iranian versions, Sara and Dara (Ken) are ugly and fat.
I don’t think my children ever had a Barbie. But they were all boys. On the other hand, they didn’t have an Action Man either.
Fans Have Asked for Their Money Back After Seeing The Artist
It is being reported that fans are asking for their money back after seeing The Artist, because it’s silent.
It appeared that most of the requests were in Liverpool. Knowing the city well, it was probably a try on or people being funny.
As it was at the Odeon, which is a national chain, I suspect that the cinema staff were less attuned to the quality and nature of the film, than they were in the Barbican.
Is Sir Fred Going to be an Unfellow
This comes from an article in the Scotsman.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh may now strip Goodwin of his fellowship. Amid the baying mob there are those prepared to take a more conciliatory view. Lord McConnell rightly says that what happened at the banks was a result of more than one man’s failings. The failure of RBS was systemic.
So will he be de kilted or whatever they do north of the border?
A Good Spelling Mistake
I read this on CityWire‘s web site.
Newspapers and stationary retailer WH Smith (SMWH.L) is to release a Christmas trading statement on Wednesday.
Those who were at school with me, might remember a notice pinned to the door of the Stationery Office, which said something like.
Stationery Office
Hasn’t Moved in Years.
I hope we got the spelling right, as we were pupils at a Grammar School.
Siobhan Benita: An Independent for Mayor for London
I read last night in the Standard, that Siobhan Benita, is running as an Independent for London Mayor. Here’s her web site.
So as far as I’m concerned what has she got that appeals to me.
She certainly looks better than the three main candidates; Ken Livingston, Boris Johnson and Brian Paddick, but that is really irrelevant. On the other hand, I lived next to a woman MP for some years and know the difficulty of mixing family and politics from talking to her. My friend had brought up three children as an MP and it didn’t help her marriage, which eventually broke. But I don’t think she ever let those who voted for her down. But things are different now, in that nannies and other help are much more affordable. And judging by the time you see Boris on the box doing things unrelated to his job as mayor, it is a high profile job, but you can find time for family and other things.
Like me Siobhan is a London mongrel, who has spent a fair proportion of her life in the city.
The fact that she is an Independent appeals too. I grew up in the old Borough of Southgate, which like some of the other old London boroughs had an independent council. When the large London boroughs like Enfield was created we ended up with a Labour Council, who did the things that their party masters wanted. There was a lot of grand projects and services deteoriated. My father said it was just the same when Wood Green was merged into Haringey. And they were both Labour councils! Those with local connections were sidelined for the greater good of the party.
But she will win if her policies appeal. Or not as the case may be! I shall comment on these and what I would do if I was Mayor over the next few days.
I think her biggest problem will be getting the media to take her seriously and also to give her the coverage she needs.
Dinosaurs Wreck Daylight Saving Bill
The latest attempt at saving lives by moving the clocks an hour forward has been wrecked by those MPs, who have gone against the main will of the House of Commons, the government and the people of the UK, by using procedural tricks to talk the Bill out. Read all about it in the Guardian.
It’s funny, but now I live in London instead of Suffolk, I’m more in favour than ever of the bill. I have just walked back from a bus in semi-darkness. So in Islington and Hackney, the lights aren’t too bad, but it was just at this time of night last winter, when a teenage girl was killed as she crossed between two buses, just round the corner from where I live. An hour of extra daylight and she might still be alive. She probably shouldn’t have done it, but who hasn’t.
If the Scots, who weren’t the major objectors this time incidentally, want a different timezone to England, then that is their business.
But how many other pedestrians will have to die before this lunacy is corrected.
Doctors Catch Bob Crow Syndrome
I like this use of words in a leader in The Times today.
I would define Bob Crow syndrome, as being unwilling to give up salaries and pensions, that are way above what similar groups of employees are getting.
The leader does praise British Airways pilots, who graciously took a pay cut rather than see their jobs disappear.
God Isn’t Listening
Apparently, Texas is in the midst of a drought.
According to The Times today, last April Rick Perry, the governor and Presidential candidate, lead a prayer for rain in the state.
And guess what?
It hasn’t rained.
Either God doesn’t exist or he/she doesn’t like the fact that Rick Perry executes a lot of people in his state.
The Anonymous Widower 