“The Jubilee was one of the greatest aquatic triumphs of the British people”
This was said by Boris Johnson on American television, when he was promoting his book. There’s a video of it here.
Have we ever had a politician like Boris before?
Boris hints that he could be President of the United States as he was born in New York.
I suspect, he’d make a better fist of it, than some of second-raters, who’ve held the job in my lifetime.
If You Think the Eurozone is the Only Place with Financial Problems, Look at California
This article on the BBC web site, discusses the problems of California. Theirs may not be as large sums, but because of the way their political system works cutting the state’s $16billion deficit is going to be very difficult, due to American’s complete aversion to the raising of taxes.
I wonder how many other states are in a similar states.
FiReControl Was Abysmal Failure
FiReControl was one of the Blair government’s flagship projects, which had the aim of sorting out the 999 services for the fire brigades across England. According to this report from the the National Audit Office, it wasn’t a success. Here’s the first paragaph.
The project to replace the 46 Fire and Rescue Services’ local control rooms across England with nine purpose-built regional control centres linked by a new IT system has been a comprehensive failure. The DCLG acted to cut its losses by terminating the contract in December 2010 but at least £469 million will have been wasted.
Lord Prescott defended the system in the media last week and felt that others were to blame.
Now a letter from Matt Wrack of the Fire Brigades Union is published in The Times with the title of this post as a title, which drops Prescott in the doo-dah. If the FBU won’t support you, something must be wrong.
I hope he’s got his wet suit on!
Prescott is one of those politicians, who in my view, are not fit to run a whelk stall.
He should do everybody a favour and retire from public life. Preferably to a cottage by Spurn Head.
Baroness Warsi Puts the Boot In!
Baroness Warsi is reported on the BBC as condemning in the strongest terms the child abuse of white girls by a minority of Pakistani men. I am very much behind her views, as child abuse is child abuse no matter who does it. It can never be excused under any circumstances.
I would however question the views of some that should know better, who have done little to follow up complaints or condemn the proven abuse.
Let’s hope too, that Baroness Warsi and others, like Jack Straw and Trevor Phillips, keep the pressure up, as only by a concerted and forceful campaign will we stamp this vile practice out for good.
Germany v Greece
If things work out right, Germany will play Greece on June 22nd in Euro 2012 in the midst of a Greek General Election.
What fun?
They Do Presidential Debates Differently In Mexico
This story about a Mexican presidential debate, shows they do things rather differently.
Basically, the production company hired a lady to escort the candidates to the podium and she wore rather inappropriate clothing. Or perhaps clothes more appropriate for one of Berlusconi’s parties.
The Headmistress Lays Down the Rules
The headmistress or is it the Chief Warder, has put on her sternest East German face to lay down the law to the naughty Greeks, who have said they won’t take her medicine.
I’m afraid I think they will have to otherwise the financial police of New York, London, Frankfurt and the Far East, will make it so expensive for them to get the money they need to spend on expensive cars and the other imports they need.
The state of the Greek parties are outlined here. Just look at the face on the Chief Warder’s picture.
As if the Chief Watrder hasn’t got enough on her plate with the Greeks, and the French decide to play by their own rules. I suppose they have to, as reportedly, it’s the French banks, who are up to their necks in Greek debt.
The Mayoral Referenda
What is the most disappointing about this election is the rejection of new mayors in places like Manchester and Nottingham.
I moved to Hackney in London because a stroke meant I couldn’t drive and I needed good public transport. The Mayor, whoever he or she is, certainly gives London a focus and I believe helps to improve public transport and other things, that are important to the city.
The rejection of mayors is probably a vote for the status quo, as a good mayor would probably do more for the city, than an entrenched party of old time-servers.
Recently, I visited all 92 football clubs in alphabetical order by public transport. Manchester, and I mean Greater Manchester, has the worst public transport of any major conurbation. An elected mayor might just bring it all together and create a system that works. At present, all the local authorities have too much control and create the mess they’ve got.
The Anonymous Widower 