a worker's views
The UK’s permanent representative to the EU (let’s call him ambassador, for short) resigned and sent a long email to all his staff. Not the usual ‘thanks for all your hard work’ and ‘I will miss you’ for Sir Ivan Rogers. No, he had a lot to say for himself. About 1400 words. For all … Read more
If I was the leader of the Labour Party I would not ask Diane Abbott to go on TV programmes to represent my party. She appeared on The Andrew Marr Show, today. to be interviewed by Nick Robinson. One of his first questions was straightforward. Are you in favour of Brexit or are you in … Read more
It is laughable for Nick Clegg to call himself a Liberal “Democrat”. His contempt for democracy was on public display when he appeared on The Andrew Marr Show, earlier today. Clegg had turned up to justify his part in trying to prevent the UK leaving the EU. After the obligatory platitudes (of course he respects … Read more
The true nature of the socilaism espoused by Jeremy Corbyn and his Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, were revealed at the Labour Party conference today. Despite all the left rhetoric, McDonnell made a speech on economic policy which made it clear they plan to run capitalism for the capitalist class. In his own words, McDonnell wants … Read more
When did sport become a business? A long time ago. I am old enough to remember when the eastern European countries dominated many events at the Olympics, and here in the UK we muttered under our breath about how unfair it was. They were state sponsored. They did not have to work for a living. … Read more
When Jeremy Hunt announced to the House of Commons that he intended to impose new contracts on the junior doctors, he was declaring war on the NHS trades unions. He had a choice. Even if we believe that he genuinely wanted to reach a negotiated settlement, as he claims, he did not need to impose … Read more
Sound-bite Dave has come to the rescue again. As thousands of homes are affected by flooding in Cumbria, Leeds, York, Manchester and Scotland, slick Dave announced an ‘extra £40 million’ was to be spent of dealing with the flood damage in Yorkshire. Not only that … he has also appointed a ‘Yorkshire Floods Envoy’ in … Read more
Google has agreed to pay £130m in corporation tax, following a six-year enquiry by HMRC into their tax affairs. This measly payment is a tiny fraction of the £3-4 billion they earn every year in the UK. Of course, corporation tax is paid on profits, not turnover. So they are allowed to deduct their ‘costs’ … Read more
In today’s i newspaper (the cut-down tabloid version of The Independent) Ian Birrell uses his column to lambast the junior doctor for having the cheek to defend their salaries and working conditions. He says the BMA has ‘behaved like an old-fashioned trade union’ as if that was an insult. How dare an organisation set … Read more
Why all the fuss about Lynton Crosby getting a knighthood in the New Year’s honours list? The Telegraph columnist John Mc Ternan says it is fine. After all, what is the honours list for, if not to reward your friends for their help, he argues. Makes no difference to me. My application to be on … Read more