It’s long been thought that politicians have to be born with either a thick skin or a larger than normal dose of arrogance. Some, however, appear to be born with both. As a politician you can pretend to listen to your electorate and you can brush aside criticism of your party’s policies in the media. […]
budget
Olympic Stadium Legacy – The Biggest Fast Food Outlet In The World
Where do you go to find the world’s biggest fast food restaurant and its hosts who rank seventh in the list of the world’s most obese countries? Weirdly enough, it’s at a place where the world’s fittest people are performing in front of an audience of billions…..yes…..you’ve guessed it…..The 2012 Olympics stadium in London. While […]
G4S, May & Hunt Compete In ‘Pass The Blame’ Olympics
Few can deny that the failure of G4S to find and train enough applicants for the marshaling and security of the Olympic venues is incompetent. However, it appears Home Secretary Theresa May and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt are a part of the few. While it is possible to forgive their need to talk up the […]
Chancellor Suspends Fuel Tax Rise But…
The chancellor’s announcement, that he is suspending his planned 3p-per-litre fuel tax increase was a welcome U-turn along his road to austerity. Despite the reduced forecourt prices of the last few weeks, its implementation would still have had a huge impact on both businesses and individuals alike. Chancellor Osborne has stated publicly he has done […]
Politicians, Tax and the Moral Argument
According to Treasury Secretary, Danny Alexander, those who use tax avoidance measures to reduce their tax liabilities are the “moral equivalent of benefit cheats” He was speaking publicly after it was reported that comedian Jimmy Carr is saving himself masses of cash by using a tax avoidance scheme called K2. It works by transferring income […]
Pensioning Off Our Right To Retire…!
The Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has unveiled details of his plan for reform to the welfare system. While he is correct that the present system is ridiculously complicated and needs simplifying, he is wrong in his assumption that most people want to stay in work indefinitely. He claims that most people want […]
Fuel Your Anger At MPs Not Road Users!
With fuel prices continuing to rise on the back of the political unrest in the Middle East, it is understandable that fuel users here are becoming increasingly frustrated. It is tempting for campaigning groups to contemplate taking direct action by staging ‘go slows’ on major roads or blockading oil refineries. While it may be understandable […]
A Long Time Resting…..
It’s been almost two months since I’ve posted on here and I am ashamed of myself; I needed a break. I’ve also been testing new technologies to make my writing life easier but somehow I never got re-started. A lot has happened in the world in the time I have been away and if I […]
Can We Really Afford The Cost Of Stealing From The Courts?
The Justice Ministry has announced the cuts it will be making to the courts system following the Coalition’s spending review. Justice Minister, Jonathan Djanogly used the customary LibCon ‘get out of jail’ excuse for the cuts saying the present system is “unsustainable”. 93 Magistrates’ courts will be closed along with 49 County Courts but according […]
Are Our Students Becoming Our Teachers?
There must be something about the quality of the lectures on a Wednesday afternoon, for only two weeks after the Millbank riots in London, our students are once again …well…revolting. All over the UK, thousands of young – and presumably intelligent – folk have decided to demonstrate their immense displeasure and opposition to our Coalition […]