Filed under: Capitalism, Politics, UK Politics | Tagged: British citizenship, Cuba, Dennis Skinner, human rights, Immigration, Jean Calder, Jim Grozier, NHS, skill shortages, Tony Greenstein, undercutting wages | Leave a comment »
Immigration and British Citizens by Jean Calder
Stormin’ Norman and the Curse of the Coalition Government
I’m not one for making predictions, as my regular readers (Warren, Momma Grizzly, Councillor Christopher, and Biker Dave) will testify, but I have a premonition about the future fortunes of the Lib Dem Member of Parliament for Lewes, Norman Baker. I can feel it it my waters that his time on the Green Benches (the colour, not the party) may be limited.
Actually, there is speculation about his future in several quarters, not least in the pages of Latest 7 magazine and in Brighton and Hove News in articles written by one of the nicest and most principled journalists around, Frank le Duc.
So why should Stormin’ Norman’s future look so uncertain? Well, for a start, he is a Lib Dem, and as my regular readers (the said WM, MG, CH & BD) will know, I have had my doubts about the Lib Dems. Apart from being untrustworthy, lacking backbone, two-faced, unprincipled, deserving to be confined to the dustbin of history, I think they are rather a decent bunch.
The Lib Dems are facing meltdown at the next general election for several reasons:
For helping to create the Coalition Government and thereby allow the Tories to run the country without a mandate;
For betraying their pledge on tuition fees;
For standing by while the privatisation of the NHS has begun;
etc. etc. etc.
And Stormin’ Norman’s part in this is not great. He betrayed his own written pledge on tuition fees, he agreed to become a Minister in this government that is implementing policies that were not in either party’s manifesto nor in the Coalition Agreement, and his government is bumping up rail fares (something that will not go unpunished by commuters in the Lewes constituency). On the issue of rail fares, Stormin’ Norman not only remained silent, he is the Transport Minister responsible for rail!
But it isn’t all bleak for him, as Frank le Duc has suggested, Lord Baker of Lewes is a likely reward for his loyal service to the Coalition. However, that would be a sorry end for someone who inspired so much hope as an anti-establishment MP in his early career.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Brighton, Christopher Hawtree, coalition, David Murray, fares, Frank le Duc, Hove, Lewes, Momma Grizzly, NHS, Norman Baker, Paul Perrin, privatisation, Rachael Bates, rail, tuition fees | 5 Comments »
A Big Challenge to Brighton & Hove Tories: Do you believe in the Big Society?
David Cameron has failed one of the first tests of politics. If you have a Big Idea and nobody gets it, try to drop it quietly. Cameron’s Big Idea is the Big Society and not even his mother likes it. The problem is, nobody understands what the brand is.
Cuts in funding to national and local government, to schools, the NHS and to charities has resulted that the idea has been rejected at birth.
Cameron has said that the Big Society is “my absolute passion”. Norman Smith, the BBC’s chief political correspondent, said “The Big Society is crucial to David Cameron’s political prospects precisely because it is his Big Idea, his “mission”. The danger therefore if it flops is that he will be personally identified with that failure and Tory MPs will point accusing fingers towards him for not focusing on a more clear cut, traditional Conservative message.”
But before that, I have a Big Challenge to local Big Conservatives (Rachael Bates, Rob Buckwell et al): What the heck is the Big Society. Please can one of you explain what your Great Leader is on about, is the Big Society going to feature in May’s local election campaign, and do you want to pledge your unqualified support to Cameron and to his Big Idea?
Filed under: Council Elections 2011, Politics | Tagged: BBC, Big Society, cuts, David Cameron, NHS, Norman Smith, Rachael Bates, Rob Buckwell | 18 Comments »