An interesting Labour leaflet arrived on my doormat yesterday announcing that “Labour (MEP) candidates in the South West believe in giving people a say….. there must be another public vote …” At last: But closer inspection (bottom right – click to enlarge) of the leaflet shows it is in fact, being promoted by USDAW in… Read more
Pretty useless IFS investigation…
This from the Guardian: It is hardly surprising that two nations whose development has been driven by financial gain and greed share a common trend of growing inequality. It is inevitable that countries like the UK and US that measure success by economic growth will always favour those who already have wealth. In the circumstances… Read more
Terrorism starts in the family
There is a very interesting new book which seems to have received little attention: ‘Home-Grown – How Domestic Violence Turns Men into Terrorists’ This suggests that Terrorism – literally – begins at home. As almost without exception terrorism attacks were carried out by men with histories of domestic violence. Now I haven’t read the book…. Read more
It’s democracy, stupid – or is it?
The @metpoliceuk told us last week that the number of threats to MPs has gone up by 126% from last year. It is a pretty depressing twitterfeed, so I recommend you investigate it only if you don’t believe me! Is the law around free speech and protest working? Of course when the government chooses not… Read more
Sugar tax dangers
There is a new and very worrying study that suggests that aspartame (one of those sugar substitutes) actually destroys neurotransmitters – brain chemicals necessary for the function of neurons. Now this test may, possibly, not be correct in humans. But in my view we really need to affirm the safety of these chemicals in food… Read more
Checklist for fascism
Came across this American definition of fascism. Now of course, it is not definitive or even defining. Yet it brought me up with a shudder. I think we should beware because in Europe too, many parties are well on the way… I suggest we should all sit up and take notice. Most of the requirements… Read more
On probation
I came accross this simple chart to summarise the privatisation of much of the probation service which shows what a complete disaster it has been: (Note: CRCs are Community Rehabilitation Companies: NPS is the National Probation Service – the bit that is still state run; TR is Transforming Rehabilitation; MoJ is the Ministry of Justice. Double… Read more
The European Elections: Tactical Voting Principles
Introduction This is the fourth in the series of posts on the European Parliament elections. The first discussed PR voting systems. The second was a guide to the European Parliament. The third a description of the current state of play and the UK parties. The party positions were discussed in the 3rd EP post, but… Read more
Cash or Data Protection?
This, remarkably, from a recent issue of ‘The Times’ As Sweeden is in the vanguard of the cashless society it just goes to show how completely misleading such an idea is. We might also like to consider whether we really want the payment processors taking their commission percentage on everything – for ever, and knowing… Read more
BoM May 2019
Our May book of the month is Fintan O’Toole’s Heroic Failure – The Delusions of Brexit. Fintan O’Toole’s book appeared some months ago and is an analysis of some of the myths surrounding Brexit and the deep hold it had on the English psyche. This was in the context of the Brexit referendum. With the… Read more
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