Here in Ghana people are stunned by the announcement that a bond of £3,000 will have to be submitted by visa applicants to the UK, redeemable on return.
It is unpleasant for a nation to be singled out as comprised of particularly untrustworthy individuals against whom special measures are needed. Theresa May appears quite deliberately to be singling out countries whose citizens are normally black or brown – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Nigeria. They are all citizens with extremely close ties to the UK. For example, all of those countries supplied large numbers of men to British armed forces in two World Wars; with little resulting gratitude.
The true level of Britain’s regard for the Commonwealth is disclosed in all its arrogance; citizenship of the Commonwealth countries with the longest link to the UK will become a positive disadvantage in visa application. Israeli settlers living in Occupied Palestine on the West Bank, incidentally, will still be allowed to enter the UK without any visa at all, despite membership of neither Commonwealth nor EU. Paradoxical, isn’t it?
The measure shows the arrogant British disdain for these countries – of which India pre-eminently but also Ghana are fast growing and important trading partners. Undoubtedly Ghana will retaliate with measures which hurt British businesses; many of my good friends are senior Ghanaian politicians, and they are all furious. The rhetoric the British employ about transformation from colonial status to a modern partnership of equals is exposed for the tissue of lies it has always been. This is a straightforward racist measure, aimed at securing the racist vote to the Tories.
Not does it make any sense. If you are intending to enter the UK under false pretences, and have the intent illegally to settle and start a new life there, then £3,000 is scarcely a deterrent given the substantial economic gains you intend to make over the long period you intend to stay. It will rather seem a good investment; people will find the money. The people it will deter are those who never intended to overstay. The extra cash upfront, to the businessman for a business trip, for the student coming to study, for the tourist will drive them to go elsewhere, to the UK’s net loss.
More cruelly it will deter decent middle class people from coming to see grandchildren in the holidays, from going to the niece’s wedding, from going to graduation. Those things will become the prerogative of the wealthy, those with plenty of cash to spare.
This does nothing to deter illegal immigration. It merely demonstrates populist racism, demonstrates contempt for some of the UK’s best-disposed friends, and demonstrates that the government thinks the right to travel is only for the rich. It is contemptible.
As you say Craig to single out a nation as Ghana is unpleastant and to be regarded as un trustworthy is stereotypicaly retarded yet we do suffer and are reminded daily of stereotypical thoughts and actions daily and occasionly are reminded how retarted we are.
We are systamatical evolved so to deny some all forms cognitive bias towardas others may be unwise.
To be sure of…..?presently trust no one including ones’ self use instincts, and try friendly face-ism. But presently everyone has enough reason to be unhappy.
So as a rule try to help others who seem less fortunate.
UK economic growth is clearly down at at a real 0.7%
Clearly the poor are going to be hit harder as a continuation of the mass experiment in human despair, which this coalition government has cheated to describe as an economic policy. It is ideologically driven and we see economics of the madhouse. And it is done with the objective of affecting the transference of wealth from the poor to the rich under the pretext of an economic crisis – not reason, it’s a pre-text. The economic crisis which hit this country in 2007 was their economic 9/11.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tag/uk-austerity
@ Nevermind –
“The final straw came when the bank that runs our account reduced our overdraft level just after we had posted a record annual profit of more than £1m.”
And maybe it runs the Turner Group’s account too, and just maybe that deal had a little help. Sharks. Used to be they’d only lend you an umbrella when the sun was shining…now they don’t lend umbrellas at all.
“Dreoilin The link to the nasty Tara McKelvey piece ref Edward Snowden just worked for me.”
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2013/06/pandering-to-racism/#comment-415094
“Mod: link fixed, thanks Dreoilin”
Not sure who’s clicking on what now, Mary, but if it’s working that’s good.
I think you are right Komodo, that was the preferred method of two of Germany’s largest car producers to get rid of the up and coming modern Borgward in the 1950’s, a very old trick.
If a bank is approached by a large customer, who just happen to mention pulling out of said bank, unless soandso are not getting anymore credits, then the bank will think twice before ignoring such warning.
The art (used advisedly) of economics is so open to interpretations, is it not?
less than 1 percent growth used to be classed as a recession, alas at these times of economic depression (almighty and on going recession) less than one percent growth is considered an achievement that ought to be celebrated! Public services have been withdrawn, pensions are in the process of getting withdrawn, the social safety nets removed, whilst the interests to be paid on the monies borrowed to help the banksters to stay afloat regardless of the “moral hazard” complications, thereof.
Socialism is good for the rich, and really, really, exceedingly bad for the poor, is the message getting pounded home day and night. The disconnected chancellor verily believes; the eating of a “ten pounds” hamburger is a sign of sacrificing the umpteen quids sitty down dinner, that ought to be celebrated by “we the people” for being so fortunate to have such a diligent chancellor at the helm. Alas poor dickhead, has little clue that “ten pounds” is the sum total of the money that is left for most of the poor to live on for the duration of a week.
The current state of communication between the governed and the governors is akin to the dialogue of; deaf, dumb and blind, none can see, hear, or understand the plight of the poor, and the jobless who are not “lazy malingerers” but they have no jobs, because there are no jobs to get. 0.7 percent growth is made only possible because we the people are paying the interests on the loans that were borrowed on behalf of the we the people to give to the rich, so that they would not get to be poor, just like us poor, who have always been poor.
Another O/T bit of good news; the guy who invented the business model subsequently honed to perfection by Trafigura & Xstrata croaked earlier this week-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10144393/Marc-Rich.html
Mrs May stood with an arm on Mrs Lawrence’s shoulder. Hypocrisy.
and look at them all in April at a Memorial Service for her son who not lies in a grave in Jamaica away from the stench of Whitehall.
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Teresa+May+Memorial+Anniversary+Service+Stephen+g9vqJAqzcypx.jpg
Don’t know what’s the matter with me today.
….who NOW lies in a grave…..
It gets better by the minute:
US Army blocks personnel’s access to Guardian’s website
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, hey:
Snowden asked to brief Russian parliament on US espionage
Dunchu just love the smell of Freedom in the morning?
Agent Cameron resembles B.Liar more and more every day. SamCam is a deserted wife these days and he must see little of his children. When he is older, he will realize that he has missed out by giving his political career priority.
If it’s Friday, it must be Brussels.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-to-push-for-cuts-to-eu-red-tape-at-brussels-summit-as-leaders-pledge-to-tackle-youth-unemployment-8677867.html
Then it’s Kazakhstan. Take note P Andrew.
David Cameron urged to raise human rights concerns on Kazakhstan trip
Human Rights Watch says it is very concerned about deteriorating situation in oil-rich republic
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jun/28/david-cameron-human-rights-kazakhstan
When he is finally given the order of the boot, what will life be like for him? Will anyone pay to hear him speak? Probably not. He will find cushy niches in the City if he does not have them already by proxy.
Tempus fugit Dave!
~~~
The Brooks/Coulson pair have failed in their appeal to have prosecutions dropped.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/28/rebekah-brooks-andy-coulson-phone-hacking
Jon 9.27pm last night.
No problem,your points noted..
Im totally cool with the 3 deleted posts-i understand the reasons.
I also note your advises inre: not rising to the bait-and bait it most surely is-I generally don’t but certain subjects,and the use of those subjects as point scoring,really touch a nerve hence my flare up.
Apologies and normal service shall be resumed.
Cheers.
Komodo,
You have been much misunderstood it would appear….;.)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2350561/The-toxic-bites-Komodo-dragons-deadly-thought.html
My family and friends in the Ukraine have never in 22 years been able to obtain UK visas. There are two ways it can be done – demonstrate that you have a pukka high-flying career or a large fortune or both in the Ukraine (reasons to go back), or demonstrate affluence by paying for a tourist holiday package that includes visa. Charging a large bond just streamlines the process (of discrimination) and makes it more efficient. Makes the process less corruptible, too.
@ Jives.
I’m going to ask J** to delete your post. Very bad for the reputation, and it makes a nonsense of all the cash I’ve paid the branding consultancy.
“‘Komodo dragons are actually very clean animals.
‘After they are done feeding, they will spend 10 to 15 minutes lip-licking and rubbing their head in the leaves to clean their mouth.
‘The inside of their mouth is also kept extremely clean by the tongue.”
I’ll never live it down.
Flaming Jane @ 28 Jun, 2013 – 8:01 am re your comment – “Henry VIII Would Be a Modern Day Psychopath”
An interesting comment and article. Though I don’t know if I would agree, or even if there is enough information to reach a conclusion. A long time ago I got to know an extraordinarily wealthy Iranian in the days of the Shah. I’ll never forget a conversation we had where he made the comment that the rich, and I am talking about the super-rich, shouldn’t pay taxes because they had so many responsibilities. His view was that taxes should be borne solely by peasants since they had nothing to worry about (presumable since they had nothing) and had a much easier life that the rich who had all their wealth to worry about. I thought he was joking, but he wasn’t. Certainly when the Iranian revolution came about, I understood the why of it, though not the form it took.
Since then I have met a number of people who could be classified as super-rich and, particularly where their money was inherited, and where they are not particularly intelligent, they all share certain characteristics – arrogance, a disbelief in equality of law, a complete lack of ethics, a belief that the rest of us owe them a living and that rules don’t apply to them (and the rules don’t, since the super-rich never pay the same rates of taxes as the rest of us do). The truth is very simple – they are different. They have been flattered by “yes-men” and courtiers all their life, they have never had to earn anything (and wouldn’t know how), they are spoilt rotten. They come to believe that they are entitled to anything they want since everybody panders to their wishes, and that those who oppose them need to be punished. Of course the super-rich have learnt not to publicise these beliefs and indeed to hire spin doctors to present them as wonderful people, giving all the time to charity.
Henry 8th was unique in that the murder of his wife’s was judicial and open; he is not the first super-rich man to murder his ladies, and he isn’t the last either. The super-rich never had a chance to be normal. By super-rich I don’t mean a few tens of millions – I mean billions. When they throw their weight around, like Henry 8th, they do enormous damage to society and democracy. This is a serious problem, particularly today, when the rich seem to be exercising more and more political power, particularly in partnership with the secret security services. The problem is not so much that they are born psychopaths, but that the money makes them act as if they had been born psychopaths. The first Dollar Billionaire, Andrew Carnegie, said that he who dies rich, dies disgraced – and he was right. It’s time that this was remedied by law and the super-rich taxed back into being just merely rich.
Evidently there is a misunderstanding here. The bond does not equate to an automatic granting of a visa! The bond is an addition to the current controls/restrictions over issuance of the visa.
=======
Komodo also your species seems to have cracked the Blood Thinners chemical make up too. Currently big Pharma is busy analyzing the saliva for its properties. Soon you may find replicas of yourself in a stuffed toy departments of the big stores, at this rate.
========
Anyone heard about the South African whites beating a hasty retreat out of the Alamo? (fearing that death of Mandela will unleash a huge wave of violence)
Khazakstan/Cameron…
He was there last year too. What this link –
http://www.eurodialogue.org/Kazakhstan-UK-Sign-Accord-on-Transit-to-Afghanstan
doesn’t make very clear is that the agreement is to transit military kit OUT of Afghanistan as we leave. Other options include burning it, blowing it up, and leaving it for the Taliban to use in restoring the natural imbalance of the place.
Interesting piece in the Guardian yesterday suggested that Afghanistan is in fact an Indian-Pakistan proxy war (Pashtun vs Tajik, etc) and nothing to do with us at all.A defensible p.o.v.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/26/nato-taliban-india-pakistan
I have spent all week and not listened to any news.
Just caught the 3pm news on Classic fm.
Man jailed for raping pensioner, Brady is a nutter and something else….
Now I know why I avoided the news.
Soon you may find replicas of yourself in a stuffed toy departments of the big stores, at this rate.
It’s about time someone did something about those bloody meerkats, anyway.
Snowdens options are even more limited.
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/28/19175108-no-one-wants-this-fight-ecuadoreans-divided-over-snowden-asylum?lite
“Public opinion in Ecuador runs hot and cold on whether the country should extend political asylum to Snowden. While some admire their president for trying to stick it to the United States, others fear economic fallout if Snowden settles in Ecuador.
One Ecuadorean newspaper this week called the leaker a “hot potato,” while another labeled him “a spy.”
Glenn Greenwald wrote a piece in The Grauniad the other day warning that the smear jobs would be coming at him…and sure enuff here’s the Daily Fail’s attempt…but great to see so many commentators wise to the action and mocking the smear and pathetic excuse for journalism.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2350153/Journalist-helped-Edward-Snowden-expose-NSA-scandal-previously-sued-business-partner-running-Hairy-Jocks-porn-business.html
‘The inside of their mouth is also kept extremely clean by the tongue.”
Whose? I think it’s important to know.
Former 2nd highest US General James Cartwright under investigation over the Stuxnet leaks.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/28/general-cartwright-investigated-stuxnet-leak
Passerby –
Intriguing question re. SA whites, there.
What seems to be going on is that barking neocons both in SA and the US are pumping up the hysteria, but the intention is obscure. This site may be more reliable than the NRA fundies who seem to be at the bottom of the stories, but I guarantee nothing:
http://www.africacheck.org/reports/are-white-afrikaners-really-being-killed-like-flies/
Jives; Just read that story. Equal treatment under the law must be the public relations message.
Komodoettes very rarely insist on ‘no tongues’, Ben, and I pity you anthropoids whose lingual members are undivided.
Smugly,
K.
Infiltration into Glastonbury. How many of those attending will have a clue about the Occupation, al Naqba and the ongoing oppression. Any protests likely?
They are so on the defensive that they always have to crow.
Israeli acts geared up for Glastonbury
Marcus Dysch, June 27, 201
Jewish Chronicle
A collective, one of four Israeli acts playing at Glastonbury this weekend
Four Israeli groups will perform at Glastonbury this weekend, becoming the first musical acts from the country to appear at the festival.
A collective, Saz, Ester Rada and 3421 are due to play 10 separate gigs during the five-day event.
Former JC reporter-turned-Brit-Award-nominee Jessie Ware will also be singing.
She is due to appear on the John Peel Stage on Sunday afternoon. American-Jewish sister trio Haim are among the headline acts.
Jeremy Hulsh, chief executive of Tel Aviv-based organisation Oleh! Records, helped arrange the deal for the Israeli acts to appear at the festival.
He said: “Everyone is really excited. This is a huge first and it is great for the Israeli music scene to have an influence on Glastonbury.
“The organisers have been really helpful and have given us so many stages to perform on.”
The busiest Israeli act will be soul singer Ester Rada — she is due to perform on four different stages.
As a warm-up for Glastonbury, all the groups played at the Tune In Tel Aviv concert in Islington, north London, this week.
http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/109030/israeli-acts-geared-glastonbury
Flaming June,
Yes indeed,with the notable exception of Mark Steel last night’s Question Time was full of nauseatingly acquiescent droids.
Some of the camera shots of the audience reactions were definitely pre-planeed.The “noddy” choreography.Sickening and a total sham.
Except Mark Steel the reaction over the Snowden and surveillance question was genuinely pathetic yet terrifying.
These cowardly people are the type who would’ve thanked the SS guards who came to disappear them.
@ Macky re. the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
______________
Towards the beginning of this thread you asserted that the UK’s proposed £3000 bond requirement for visitors from a certain number of countries was “contra” the provisions of the UN’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human rights.
I was rather puzzled by this claim of yours as it didn’t seem to correspond to my recollection of the Declaration’s provisions. My puzzlement was all the greater because Craig, who knows something about international law, hadn’t mentioned this aspect of the matter in his introductory post, or subsequently.
As you seem reluctant, in your last post on the matter (28 Jine, 00h25) to provide the article(s) of the Declaration which the UK’s proposed action would be violating, I thought I’d assist you by re-reading the Declaration myself and reporting back.
Well, you’ll be interested to hear that there is nothing in the text of the Declaration which would lend substance to your assertion.
The Declaration lays down a long list of rights which states should make available, on a non-discrimatory basis, to their citizens and others present in their territory. There are no trans-national rights present in the Declaration and more specifically, no trans-national rights in respect of migration whether permanent or temporary (eg, visits for personal reasons, study, etc). For most of the rights mentioned in the Declaration there is no need to specify the purely teritorial application (eg, it is obvious that state A cannot guarantee the right to education in state B), but in the one case where there might be possible ambiguity – freedom of movement – the article in question (Art 13a)says :
“Eeveryone has the right to freedom of movement and residence WITHIN THE BORDERS OF EACH STATE” (emphasis added).
So, dear Macky, your assertion was incorrect. The UK’s proposed measures are not in violation of the Universal Declaration.
_________
As a sort of conclusion to this ‘discussion’ :
To err is only human and therefore I don’t expect you to apologise or even to admit publicly that your assertion was incorrect. But I would suggest for the future thaat you should perhaps check more carefully the accuracy of what you intend to post on the blog. There are sufficient valid reasons for contesting the UK’s proposed measures without having to manufacture spurious ones.