Tony Blair may have zero moral sense, but he has great commercial acumen, and there is no doubt he spotted a gap in the market in proposing his own return to British politics. The gap is for a pro-EU political leader who does not accept the EU referendum result as the end of the debate, and will stand against the horrifying tide of racism, both on the streets and coming from the Tory party, that Brexit has unleashed.
Where Blair is deluded is in thinking that he can have any role to play. If you have not watched The Killings of Tony Blair yet, I urge you to do so. Apart from the damning verdict of even the ultra-Establishment Chilcot Report on the Iraq War, Blair’s record ever since in whoring himself out as PR man to any rich dictator has damned him forever in public opinion.
I should set out my stall from the start and say I remain strongly pro EU. I don’t see a 52/48 vote as definitive or closing off debate. I am indeed happy that Brexit is giving a boost to prospects of Scottish Independence, but it cannot be in Scotland’s long term interests to have an isolated, impoverished and xenophobic large neighbour, so I shall continue to argue that Brexit should not happen.
While Corbyn has taken an admirable stand against popular chauvinism, he plainly has no interest in trying to keep the UK in the EU, which is consistent with his long term scepticism. That is fair enough. But it means that the 48% who voted against leaving the EU, and are generally aghast that government is now moving to draw up lists of foreign workers and to get primary schools to check birth certificates, are feeling unrepresented. Blair and super-Blairite Jonathan Freedland have genuinely identified a political vacuum. Their folly lies in imagining that they and their chums might fill it.
Freedland’s disconnection from reality is nowhere more starkly revealed than in naming Nick Clegg as a “serious asset” in a pro-EU campaign. Outside the delusions of the Westminster bubble, Clegg is nearly hated as much as Blair. Clegg and friends took Charlie Kennedy’s large left wing party, and turned it into a small right wing party. It says a great deal that in considering leadership for a continued pro-EU campaign against xenophobia, the anti-Gay pipsqueak Farron is a complete irrelevance.
What Freedland does not understand is that it was hatred of his political bubble chums which caused Brexit in the first place. The official Remain campaign director was Jack Straw’s son Will. Peter Mandelson was Vice-President. The top-down campaign was devoid of popular enthusiasm with an almost total lack of popular engagement and community events. It continually paraded figures like Blair, Cameron, Osborne, Straw, Clegg, Kinnock and others, which gave ordinary people a chance to give those they rightly despise a political kick in the pants by voting against their will. Brexit has been caused by a justified hatred of the UK political class.
That those who caused the disaster see themselves as the answer to it is laughable. I remain hopeful that the English in particular will recover from the wave of jingoism which appears to have swept over them like a plague. But resistance must be organic and arise from the people themselves. I hope to see the emergence of a new, untainted and dynamic generation of young activists. My generation have bequeathed a terrible legacy.
Another bullseye, Craig.
Keep it up.
In the Guardian, Natalie Nougayrède asks: “We are watching the destruction of Aleppo. Where is the rage?”…
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/08/destruction-aleppo-russia-massacre-civilians-grozny
I would hazard that the rage is against total propagandists like Natalie Nougayrède. It’s absolutely disgusting how these people take a buck to deliberately lie to and mislead the public. In this instance it’s the former editor of Le Monde.
They’re all presstitutes and utter low life vermin; talking of which, so far the trolls have been conspicuous by their absence on this thread.
No doubt they’re busy on other web sites, persuading people that burning babies alive is good for their bank balance.
And don’t forget to vote for the White Helmets for the Nobel Peace Prize…
https://off-guardian.org/2016/10/06/30325/
You might miss some of the contempt that hack has brought on herself, because the CIF-stapo are cutting comments all over the place and leaving no sign that they existed.
I accept the result of the Brexit referendum, and the referenda in Crimea and Donbas. Unless it can be shown that a vote was rigged it should stand. I say that even though I voted to remain in Europe, and believed that there was never a need to call for disunity with our European partners. The Scottish referendum was different and conducted with some suspicion about the integrity of how it was run. So in that case a properly scrutinised referendum would be in order.
Democracy supports majority voices regardless of whether the decision is good or bad for those voices. I have to go along with it.
“My generation have bequeathed a terrible legacy.”
As part of that generation I plead guilty even though I have tried to oppose the unnecessary wars (all of them). I have tried to put my support behind those whose needs are more important, the poor, homeless, asylum-seekers and people who get so little support from governments, international organisations, ‘charitable’ foundations and NGOs. Talking of all those here is an excellent article by Dady Chery. As regards charity donations for hurricane Harold she writes: “Hang on to your wallets. Give nothing to any organization until it makes clear that it will abide by the wishes of Haitians.”
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2016/10/08/haiti-facts-about-hurricane-matthew-vs-media-poetic-truth/
So what kind of Brexit do you think we voted for? Don’t you think a referendum would be acceptable as to which type of Brexit we might prefer when we finally getting around to setting out some options as to how it might be achieved – and of course if none of those are acceptable, then the electorate could decide that they might want the status quo.
As for saying you supported Remain – all I can say is that you did so with as much vigour and conviction as Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May.
Brexit is Brexit, and Lunch is Lunch and we would like to see what is on the menu.
As for the Crimea and Donbas referenda – yes they did have one not under the point of a gun in 1991 – remember the results? on your reasoning the Austrian Anschluss would also qualify as a free and fair referendum.
The British voted to leave the EU period. What follows follows. It is simple.
You cannot go back – there is nothing to go back to. The EU is finished. It is dead. It does not exist. As is normal for Europe it is likely that the Germans will have the last word. This time around Deutsche Bank will provide the economic equivalent of the military debacle that was Stalingrad.
“The EU is finished.”
It seems pretty lively to me. But, I suppose if you’re creating a fake monster, of course St George has to be able to skewer the dragon. In your imagination, of course.
As the subject was mentioned, I’ll just add to The Killing$ – which covers some of the same ground, but by no means all – and Craig’s own reflections on Sierra Leone – my own recommendation of two recently published books –
1. Blair Inc.: The Money, The Power, The Scandals* by Francis Beckett , David Hencke and Nick Kochan.
This covers Blair’s commercial operations up to early 2015, relating them to his charitable claims, and incidentally containing an absorbing excursion into the even better-concealed activities of Peter Mandelson. (Advertisement: An Apology/ Blair Miles continues the saga to date)
And, illustrating the proposal that Blair’s time in power was not an unqualified success, and indeed bordered on a shambles in many respects –
2. Broken Vows: Tony Blair The Tragedy of Power by Tom Bower
If your desire to see the strutting, platitudinous fraud occupying any position at all in UK politics survives your reading these, you probably need psychiatric help.
*Appears to also be available as Blair Inc,: The Man Behind The Mask
It is really too bad that the potential breakup of both the EU and the UK signaled by the Leave vote is being tainted with jingoism and racism, because for the rest of humanity outside the US and Europe, the breakup of the massive, warlike, hegemonic, politically unaccountable governmental entities is the best news in a so far very bleak 21st Century. Tiny governmental structures would be unable to field globe spanning war machines or to dominate the world economy, which is why I favor the quick and complete smashing of them all.
I totally agree with you Karl. I’m not so cynical as to think Washington told Cameron to harikiri himself> I think democracy -rule by shedding of blood – requires bloodied hands to be removed, whitewashed and retired to the Lords.
That human langoustine Hollande who would have made a good health and safety officer for a small fish paste factory is struggling to read the autocue in the sky i.e. NATO at the same time as looking appealing to the French electorate. Don’t worry, those little black eyes and long political feelers are shortly to be pulled off and fed to the seagulls while the legs and tail make bouillabase roux for the French press.
He has been instructed by Obama to give the UK pain for weakening the EU mandate for Syrian regime change.
My eldest brother never had an evil thought in his head. He nicked my metal globe off me in 1963. I said what do you want that for?? He say’s I will show you –
I looked at him – and he looked at me – as if even he didn’t think it was possible – because no one had ever done it before (so far as I know).
My metal globe of The Earth was Spinning Stably in Free Air…
He had designed the electronics in his bedroom (before the days of software) (electro magnets, proximity detectors and potentiometers). He hard-coded it with his soldering iron and his resistors and maybe some logic gates – he knew valves but transistors hadn’t yet quite been invented until before Manchester University – he got a part time job at the Gem Mill in Oldham in his school holidays working for Ferranti.
He was a very clever boy.
He was my brother.
His youngest son after his 1.1 PhD Oxford and Cambridge found himself working in the depths of Dorset…
Designing Software for Weapons of Mass Destruction…My Bother-in-Law did that as well (my eldest sister’s husband – I once beat him at chess)
They both gave it up – completely.
They simply RESIGNED – irrespective of the consequences…
They could no longer design weapons of mass destruction to kill people.
I am just so proud of both of them.
What Brilliant Men.
Tony
If its just you – and you fully joined the British Army on your 18th Birthday..and when you are 19 you find yourself in a firefight in the depths of Afghanistan – and you’ve just got a few mates with you – more or less the same age..and The Officer calls for some kind of protection – gives the co-ordinates…and the American Bombs start falling on you…
Then I can kind of understand the way you feel.
Tony
I remember the american author Kurt Vonnegut saying that Germany under Herr Hitler was a sick nation and in time got better again. I sincerely hope that we depart the UK in their time of illness before they get better, if they ever will.
I appreciate your posts Craig. Thanks.
For a man who criticised David Cameron for meaningless rhetoric about the EU referendum, Craig’s continuing support for the EU institution looks to me like a very flimsily secured Hajj body towel.
Of course Donald Trump the day he takes office could commission a Hero-Big-Balmoral, Castle KingDonald to be built on the site of his golf course and open priority trading terms to his alma mater forthwith.
I’ll order my hero big halal burger with mustard and chips today.
It may be useful to distinguish between the institutions and arrangements of the EC as they currently stand and the idea, ideals and potential which exist for such a structure and set of processes.
After all, no one is surely going to claim that the institutions, structure and processes of the UK single market superstate are in any better condition than that of Europe? Much of the argument on this issue has been based on tackling the unsatisfactory institutional arrangements in these islands – such as a lack of any written constitution [ which is made up and adapted to benefit and suit narrow vested interests as they go along], an unelected head of state and upper chamber, a not fit for purpose voting system which produces a two party cartel and so on. It would certainly be useful to see some progress and debate on tackling those issues and problems.
The utterly contemtable, corrupt, anti-democratic boys clubs such as the EU and NATO should be disbanded forever- NOW!
The Independent claims Bliar is a ‘centreist’ such as their are ‘moderate’ rebels in Syria – our world is being redesigned and repainted for the elites – and when the USA stupidly threatens Russia and, therefore, safety for us all – isn’t it about time to rid ourselves of these demons – for god’s sake how much more do we, the people, have to take?????????????????
The privatisation of schools as ‘academies’ was yet another of Blair’s projects, continued by Brown and accelerated by Gove under Cameron.
Some schools improved but massive fraud and corruption has occurred in many cases. Read about ‘Lilac Sky’ primary schools for example.
England’s academy trusts ‘run up debts of £25m’
6 hours ago
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37589921
‘The Labour Government under Tony Blair established academies through the Learning and Skills Act 2000, which amended the section of the Education Act 1996 relating to City Technology Colleges. They were first announced in a speech by David Blunkett, then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in 2000. He said that their aim was “to improve pupil performance and break the cycle of low expectations.” The chief architect of the policy was Andrew Adonis (now Lord Adonis, formerly Secretary of State at the Department for Transport) in his capacity as education advisor to the Prime Minister in the late 1990s.’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_(English_school)
How many are there?
‘Currently, 2,075 out of 3,381 secondary schools are academies, while 2,440 of 16,766 primary schools have academy status. The number grew dramatically under the coalition government, from 203 in May 2010, and has continued under the present Conservative government.’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13274090
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_(English_school)#History
Vanity projects in many instances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_(English_school)#Criticism_of_and_opposition_to_the_academies_scheme
A continuation and expansion of Thatcher’s policy of course.
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/articles/25academies.html
The HoL register of interests of Lord Kenneth Baker, her education minister and who put the policy into effect.
Category 1: Directorships
Deputy Chairman, Genting UK plc (leisure & gaming) and its subsidiary Genting Ibico
Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.
Chairman, Trilantic Capital Partners’ European Merchant Banking Advisory Council (EMBAC)
Category 10: Non-financial interests (a)
Director & Trustee, Booker Prize Foundation
Chairman & Trustee (unpaid), Baker-Dearing Educational Trust
Chairman and Director (unpaid), Edge Foundation (vocational educational charity; private company limited by guarantee w/o share capital)
Category 10: Non-financial interests (c)
Trustee, Cartoon Art Trust
Category 10: Non-financial interests (e)
Trustee, Career Colleges Trust (educational charity)
He is now aged 81.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Baker,_Baron_Baker_of_Dorking
Farron isn’t anti-gay. What are you playing at?
Actually, forget that. I know what you’re doing.
You’re joining the campaign to demonise any orthodox Christian who doesn’t completely abandon their beliefs in favour of secular liberalism as a bigot.
“You’re joining the campaign to demonise any orthodox Christian who doesn’t completely abandon their beliefs in favour of secular liberalism as a bigot.”
They are bigots! Do you seriously imagine that any god capable of creating a planet, complete with plants and animals, would then set about judging and punishing its creations? Such a god would have to be both incompetent, for creating for example, “unclean foods” and the people who want to eat those “unclean” foods (I just had a nice pork sausage – yum yum!) and totally insane for punishing his creations for doing things that he must have given them the ability to do.
That’s the heritage of our people! And you hate it! You hate our civilisation!
A peer has been tempted to switch to the Conservative Party after resigning the Liberal Democrat whip last month.
Zahida Manzoor quit over the Liberal Democrats’ policies on Europe and praised what she said was Prime Minister Theresa May’s clear leadership on Brexit.
She is the second former Lib Dem peer to switch to the Tories, after Lady Nicholson re-joined the party.
Baroness Manzoor said the Tory party was now her “natural home”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37599184
Apparently some people now believe that Little Tim is intent on making the ibDem party into the antidemocratic party,
Little Tim, just can’t accept the BREXIT choice of the people of the United Kingdom, shame on him.
He is a twerp.
He’s realized that 48% of people voted remain, which is a lot more than voted for his party at the last election
PS What’s the House of Lords got to do with democracy anyway
Well it stopped Big Brother Blunkett passing his fascist state rules and regulations to begin with.
I thought the LibDem party did the right thing, in joining with the Conservative party to form a coalition, to save the country from economic collapse, as was happening under Blair/Brown.
However the LibDem’s became duplicitous and arrogant.
The LibDem’s always were the party that was most keen on the European Union.
At the last General Election, for their love of the E.U. for their duplicity and for their arropgance, the LibDem’s were given a real thrashing by the Electorate.
Then, a year later, while the LibDem’s were still licking their wounds
but still pleading for the voters to hold faith with the E.U.
The good people of the United Kingdom gave The hated E.U. a sound thrashing.
Maybe showing the rest of Europe the way to freedom.
Yes, but then the Conservative and Labour Parties were on balance pro EU as well. Who are the 48% going to vote for in the next election? If the 52% split he could do very well out of this.
I expect when the next United Kingdom General Election is held the Labour party will face a real culling, some of the seats may go to the party fronted by Little Tim, some may go to UKIP, some may go to Green.
However i imagine half of the lost Labour seats may go to the party currently fronted by Saint Theresa.
I’d also expect that the SNP will loose seats, probably to UKIP.
Loose lips loses ships and seats.
Loose lips loses ships and seats.
loo seats?
loo seats and loose bowels
“Little Tim, just can’t accept the BREXIT choice of the people of the United Kingdom”
Funny how brexiters always have to insist that everybody toe the line and accept the result obediently. We all know that Farage said that in the reverse case he wouldn’t have accepted the result. Why are brexiters so anxious about the future? It’s irrational to be worried. After all, the British economy is about to go down the toilet, and we’ve been told that’s nothing to be concerned about.
EdStone Millipede says MPs must get a vote on FAST HARD BREXIT
http://news.sky.com/story/ed-miliband-says-mps-must-get-a-vote-on-hard-brexit-10611084
These arrogant politicians, do they not realize, the reason they are no longer in power, is because their views have been rejected by the good people of the United Kingdom.
Time to STFU you remaining moaners, you have lost the argument
STFU yourself – given that you have lost the argument on so many matters. Fortunately those rules do not apply in democracies – people are allowed to persuade others to change their minds and people are free to do so.
Fortunately those rules do not apply in democracies – people are allowed to persuade others to change their minds and people are free to do so.
So you support the right of the SNP to campaign for another independence referendum?
Of course – that is what free speech means – that doesn’t mean that I agree with them however.
It’s the remainers who seem the most anxious. Leavers are still walking on air. No one’s insisting that anyone has to toe the line but remainers must realise that leavers are not particularly interested in revisiting the campaign right now. They’ll just have to whinge and whine amongst themselves.
And which of the 57 poorly defined versions of Brexit are we meant to accept without having any say in the matter. Those issuing shares on a false prospectus are usually sent to prison – but apparently the same rules do not apply when it is the whole economic future of the country that is at stake.
RD
You “may” have noticed that there has been a LibDem Referendum, the people voted to stick with FPTP.
You “may” have noticed there was a Referendum in Scotland, the people voted to remain in the United Kingdom.
You “may” have noticed there was General Election, the people voted in a Conservative government.
You “may” have noticed that there was a BREXIT Referendum,
the people of the United Kingdom have voted to leave the European Union.
Please tell us what you do not understand
What I don’t understand is what type of Brexit is proposed and what plans there are to achieve it.
The majority appear to want a soft Brexit whatever that may be – while those in Govt appear to be ignoring the views of the majority.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-bmg-poll-hard-soft-theresa-may-david-cameron-eu-referendum-a7340641.html
Lunch is lunch but can we see the menu please.
The fact that over 3 months after the referendum we have no idea as to what the planned Brexit will entail is something of a democratic disgrace.
” The fact that over 3 months after the referendum we have no idea as to what the planned Brexit will entail is something of a democratic disgrace. ”
I strongly suspect that’s because nobody knows; and won’t until the negotiations start in earnest.
But we don’t even have an understanding of what they are trying to achieve from the negotiations in terms of the main objectives, red lines etc. They should be entering into the negotiations on behalf of the country as a whole – but at the moment they are behaving as though they have a blank cheque.
You’re appealing to people who never gained financially from being in Europe so asking them to stay in Europe for financial gain is pointless. It’s as pointless as asking them to stay in Europe so they can buy foreign villas, Cartier watches and Ferraris cheaper. What difference does that make to us? We want out for our interests, not in for yours.
Is losing your job at Nissan in your interests?
BREAKING
Yemen funeral bombing: U.S.A. to ‘immediately review’ support for Saudi-led coalition
https://www.rt.com/news/362069-yemen-bombing-saudi-us-support/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabian-led_intervention_in_Yemen
Western involvement in Yemen led by the Saudi Coalition
The U.K. and the U.S.A. support the effort through arms sales and technical assistance. France had also made recent military sales to Saudi Arabia.MSF emergency coordinator Karline Kleijer called the U.S.A., France and the U.K. part of the Saudi-led coalition, which imposed the weapons embargo and blocked all ships from entering Yemen with supplies. Rights groups have criticized the countries for supplying arms, and accuse the coalition of using cluster munitions, which are banned in most countries. Oxfam pointed out that Germany, Iran, and Russia have also reportedly sold arms to the conflicting forces. Tariq Riebl, head of programmes in Yemen for Oxfam, said, “it’s difficult to argue that a weapon sold to Saudi Arabia would not in some way be used in Yemen,” or “if it’s not used in Yemen it enables the country to use other weapons in Yemen.”
Amnesty International urged the US and the UK to stop supplying arms to Saudi Arabia and to the Saudi-led coalition
Boeing receives order for 40 planes form Qatar
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37570847
It is the US aerospace giant’s newest plane and doesn’t go into service until next year.
And politics may also be at play.
There was a suggestion that the Qatar government may have delayed the Boeing passenger jet order to put pressure on the US to approve a deal for Boeing fighter jets to the Middle Eastern country – a deal which the Americans now look set to approve.
Well even though some “may” suspect Qatar of being corrupt and supporting “militants” in Syria, Qatar and U.S.A. are now bosom buddies.
Of note
Qatar are involved in the Saudi led coalition to bomb Yemen, they have supplied ten fighter jets
‘Massive evidence foreign-funded White Helmets support terrorist entities in Syria’
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/361957-syria-white-helmets-un/
Through the White Helmets we are seeing the eradication of Syrian state institutions and the implanting of a Syrian shadow state by predominantly the U.K., the U.S.A. and supported by E.U. governments,
says Vanessa Beeley, independent researcher and journalist.
With Syria’s White Helmets having been in the running for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016,
grabbing headlines as ‘Heroes of Peace’,
with the media and politicians endorsing them, RT spoke with Vanessa Beeley, independent researcher and journalist.
Britain’s great (head chopping) ally Saudia Arabia, has come under the spotlight, after bombing a funeral in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, a country that buys billions of pounds worth of weapons from Britain, killed 150, and injured hundreds more, in the nefarious act.
Washington and the UN, are feigning anger at their great ally, just now, because, all eyes are watching. I wonder if our own Janus faced Foreign secretary, will follow suit?
Of course he will.
https://www.rt.com/news/362069-yemen-bombing-saudi-us-support/
Is Scotland loosing a sense of perspective?
Scotland’s top police officer has said tackling hate crime is an “ABSOLUTE PRIORITY ” for his force.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37584951
Speaking at the start of Hate Crime Awareness Week, Phil Gormley said he was determined to eradicate all forms of hatred in Scotland.
A new network of LGBTI liaison officers has been established in a bid to improve the reporting of hate crimes.
About 90 officers have been trained to work with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community.
The chief constable’s comments come after a recent report called for a stronger approach to tackling hate crime in Scotland.
Looking from the outside, it seems as if Scotland is wondering off into a Dystopian World,
up is down, left is right and normal is abnormal.
WTF is going on in Scotland?
WTF indeed, I’m of course referring to Angela Merkel’s standing ovation by German business leaders, over calls for a hard Brexit, and to resist British Brexiteers attempt to access the single market, without accepting freedom of movement, something Frau May has ruled out.
Francois Hollande, went even further and claimed that “There must be a price to pay for Britain’s actions.”
But Frau May’s goose stepping stance has admirers on the EU continent, French National Fronts, Marine le Pen is said to be a avid admirer. Another fan of May’s xenophobia is, Geert Wilders leader of the Dutch Freedom party, both parties are now prominent, in France and the Netherlands (respectively).
That’s why Frau May’s Brexit when triggered, will need to be cracked down on by the EU, far right xenophobic governments, cannot be seen to get a good deal on leaving the EU, what kind of signal would that send to other, EU nations potentially to be led, by xenophobes, if they come to power.
My son was threatened with extreme physical violence in a public house on the Clyde, simply for speaking with an accent that was perceived to be English, his conversation private, expressing no controversial views. His accent was enough.
He’s Welsh, his grandmother from Bearsden, his wife from Dumbarton but he has lived most of his life in England.
Is that the sort of race hate that Scotland is keen to stamp out?
He’s really not interested in returning for more of the same and frankly, who could blame him.
Scotland’s problems go far deeper that a bit of homophobia.
“Is that the sort of race hate that Scotland is keen to stamp out?”
Of course not! Hating the rest of Britain in something the Scots learn at birth.
Not just the rest of Britain.
http://www.northern-times.co.uk/News/Alness-man-fined-800-for-racist-attack-07102016.htm
Your comment is moronic and, ironically, hateful.
BD.
Do you mean like this, it’s a two way street, but I’m sure you already knew that.
https://mobile.twitter.com/britnatabusebot
Not really difficult to work out that at a gathering to launch the commencement of a week of activities and discussion around a particular theme that one of the key speakers would engage in a bit of mild rhetoric to reassure people who are also registered voters that problems they experience in their everyday lives are being taken seriously by those whose role is being part funded from their tax contributions.
It would perhaps be useful to consider local and regional context before rushing to premature faux outrage. Areas of the UK such as the South East, the Midlands, Wales, and the West Country etc do not have within their midst a large community of organised and well funded bigots who believe they are “The People” and who see their role in life as using every waking hour to physically and verbally abuse anyone who is not one of them. This includes not only those who they consider non straight but anyone of a different religious group or who has an opinion different to them.
Baroness Manzoor, has defected the inconsequential party, the Libdems, to join the goose stepping xenophobic Tories, Manzoor, claims she left the Libdems, because they couldn’t accept the result, of the Brexit vote.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/08/liberal-democrat-peer-joins-tories-over-refusal-to-accept-brexit/
Manzoor claims that the Libdems aren’t a democratic party, (and goosesteppers are) Manzoor also agrees with Frau May’s, future vision of the dis-United Kingdom.
Frau May has stolen UKIP’s thunder, by moving further to the right, whilst proclaiming to be centrist, with usual toss something like “A society for everyone, and jobs for everyone.”
I certainly won’t be surprised if UKIP politicians, defect to the Tories, now they see eye to eye.
Must be quiet sad to find out that Lords sitting in judgement on our affairs, seem to have no idea of what political system they are living in and what resembles their very own confused ideas.
a crumbling, reeking system of overblown patronage and cap duffing.
Indeed if she wants to quit an undemocratic institution she shoild quit the House of Lords
to join the goose stepping xenophobic Tories
RoS- I see that you’ve followed Craig’s lead and started cross dressing as Dave Spart.
I’d lie down in a darkened room for a bit if I were you RoS- or consult your local medical practitioner; just to reassure you, I live in the belly of the Sassenach beast, the South London suburbs, and hear no pounding goose steps on the pavement around here.
LOL ! I see you have so taken up the role vacated by a certain Clown, that you’re now the new play-mate in the ROS Punch & Judy Show. 😀
The margin of victory for Leave was far greater than shown, even if we exclude voting fraud, because the Leave vote was more strongly held than the Remain vote. This is based on the view that people can usually be relied upon to vote for the status quo and because most were probably “Remain, but” like Corbyn and because we weren’t full members anyway.
Also the Remain vote, like the Leave vote, was cross party and its unlikely for tribal reasons that many Lab/Con would vote Lib Dem for promoting Remain, particularly as presumably that would now have to involve a commitment to join the Euro.
That said there is nothing undemocratic in asking for another referendum as in a parliamentary representative democracy the referendum is advisory and its MPs who decide. But its just poor politics for a governing party to do so because it will enrage rather than attract voters and bring the system further into disrepute.
So Jeremy Corbyn, is reaching out independence supporters in Scotland, hoping to bring disillusioned ex-Labour voters, back into the Labour fold.
Corbyn who’s against Scottish independence, is really just attempting to strengthen his hand North of the border, as at present there’s only one Labour MP in Scotland. To those who back Scottish independence, he must be nothing more than a distraction in Scotland, however I do hope he fairs well in the rUK.
Frau May, has given Corbyn, a boost, the nasty party has, allowed Corbyn to reach out and debate with other parties, that back immigrants, something that normally wouldn’t have happened.
However those who back Scottish independence, must realise that Corbyn isn’t in power, and that we must not be diverted, from the main goal of independence.
I’m in favour of towing the whole of Scotland at least 50 miles ( 80 Km in the new Scots Republic ) to the north so that they can really be independent and so we won’t be forced to listen to their whining any more. In fact, they should be forced to speak Gaelic. Get it fixed RoS!
Well you fit right into the coming New Order England. Must be nice for you to wear your jackboots in public instead of around the bedroom.
You’re just trying to steal more of our seas. Do you work for Blair?
Sometimes I wish you would make up your minds. Many of us had Gaelic as our first language, but your mob forced us to speak the Beurla Shassanach.
No! We need to be able to allow our nuclear submarines to travel freely around the whole country and moving Scotland north would facilitate that.
I mean, if Europe wants to give us a “Hard Brexit”, maybe we need to show them what “hard” is all about?
The distance you move north is, of course, open to negotiation; as long as our submarines move freely to target Belgium.
The referendum has not unleashed a tide of racism Craig, only provided a pretext for some people who were keeping quiet about it. Framing the vote as a racist vote is fatuous when you consider that all stay votes were racist.
“The referendum has not unleashed a tide of racism Craig, only provided a pretext for some people who were keeping quiet about it”
Quite agree.
But ironically, by insisting the leave vote was all about immigration, and inherently racist, the liberal remainers like Craig have practically forced May and the Tory party to take a hard line on freedom of movement. People in fact voted leave for all sorts of reasons. It would have been possible to negotiate exit with no ‘red lines’.
I suspect that the recent Nuremberg Rally was held to paper over the cracks in the Tory (Official) partei and pretend to make an appeal to the working class, which is the least racist of all.
~~~~~I don’t see a 52/48 vote as definitive~~~~~
With all due respect Craig, that’s the most fascist thing you’ve ever written, even for a “small l” liberal. I suggest you reconsider.
Another one wanting to suppress freedom of opinion. Hmmm…, now where did I hear of that before?
Me? Expressing his opinion is OK, it’s the opinion I deplore. You shouldn’t confuse the two, even accidentally.
There seems to be no end to the friction within the party.
‘Labour whips Conor McGinn and Holly Lynch resign days after chief whip Rosie Winterton’s sacking in reshuffle.’
Haven’t heard of either of them.
Perhaps they deserve a generic name, “Wallet McWalletface” perhaps?
Nonsense, these two have been fired, they were allowed to claim resignation – they’re both clueless numpties anyway – it’s good news for the front bench.
Conor McGinn MP was one of the pivotal people in the coup. He was the person who sent another and another MP out to resign every hour or couple of hours, to ensure maximum damage. He also whined that Corbyn had threatened to tell his dad on him. Sky News reported early on in the coup that McGinn was co-ordinating it from the Whips’ office, and a couple of hours later they deleted that report from their website and all cached copies that they could find.
thanks for that snippet JSD, very revealing, so Mrs. Hiodge works via the whips, hmmm.
More on Hodge
After Brexit, Labour Friend of Israel launches coup against Corbyn
24 June 2016
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/after-brexit-labour-friend-israel-launches-coup-against-corbyn
I agree, Craig. I’m not just a supporter of the European Union, I am a European. Just looking at the last 100 years, there have been Irish, Scotish, English, Polish, German, Austrian, Russian and Danish people in my immediate family, whoops, I forgot the lot from Mali, sorry. As my wife’s linked to the aristocracy and royalty she can trace her line back well over a thousand years and it contains members from virtually every European state and plenty that no longer even exist. So, what’s all this nationalism really about? I give up. I’m lost.
It seems to be a kind of poetic or romantic ‘branding’ in the service of the State and specifically warfare, a bit like a football supporters club injected with a massive dose of nationalist steroids that would kill an ox. Heaven knows where the UK goes from here.
“a bit like a football supporters club injected with a massive dose of nationalist steroids that would kill an ox.”
There’s nothing quite like arriving in Livingstone to do a job on the Monday following the weekend England beat Scotland in whatever stupid football match it was. I mean, I detest football; how was it my fault? Try telling that to the miserable Scots. I was at the Hot Rods racing.
“miserable Scots.”
___________
Careful Alan, your xenophobic mask is slipping, I would never attack the good people of England, I only denounce their government.
You however?
They were definitely miserable that particular morning 🙂
Who? The two you were on the job with?
What? Are you RoS little pet terrier?
Actually, there were three Scots, from “God’s Own Country” as they said, but most people call it Perth, on the job with me. We got around Scotland quite a bit. We had fun usually, but that day they were miserable.
Brexit set to hit eurozone’s economy, says ECB boss Draghi
I actually read the same thing about a week ago in Die Spiegel, however this is in RoS’s favourite:
http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/719190/Brexit-set-to-hit-eurozone-economy-ECB-Mario-Draghi
Nothing like the thought of losing money to terrify a Scotsman, eh?
Alan you keep linking to the Express, you wouldn’t be Norton in disguise by any chance, would you?
I mean he links to same old tosh regularly, as well. ?
It’s in Sputnik too:
https://sputniknews.com/europe/20161009/1046153768/brexit-eurozone-collapse-banks.html
Ah yes, J.P. Morgan Stanley Chase, a beacon of light speaks…erm, then again, it make Deutsche bank, look like the Salvation Army when it comes to morality.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/j-p-morgan-chase-nearing-settlement-with-prosecutors-on-asia-hiring-probes-1469121763
You’d have been as well, linking to a story about the US Federal Reserve, that claimed the EU was on the verge of collapse.
If Scotland has yet another once in a lifetime Independence Referendum
and if you make the European Union keep you, you will be FORCED to accept the Euro.
The in about a year, you can go down together, with all guns blazing.
Oh look, the Tories have changed their minds:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/foreign-workers-u-turn-list-shame-companies-theresa-may-amber-rudd-justine-greening-a7352466.html
“The Government has U-turned on controversial plans to force companies to draw up lists of their foreign-born employees – just a week after it unveiled them as Tory conference.”
So all RoS’s fretting and fussing has been for nothing.
Too late Alan, the damage has already been done, we know what the goosesteppers are thinking.
Even more so, from the mouth of Frau May, from your link.
“Theresa May used her speech at conference to attack “politicians and commentators” who spoke up in favour of immigrants.”
However Alan, this from your link was rather intetesting, don’t you think?
“Despite causing an outcry on social media polling by YouGov conducted last week found that a majority of voters from all parties except the SNP supported the plans to draw up public lists of foreigners.”
Where’s Fred, when you need him?
When you didn’t reply to my post https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/10/headless-uk-european-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-628378 I assumed you realised what a stupid prat you had been believing the Natzi propaganda and decided to stop digging.
There never was a proposed list of foreign workers just numbers and even that has now been dropped.
Now about that list of the names and addresses of foreign nationals living in Scotland the SNP keeps?
Whistle and the dog comes running, sounds like our goose stepping supporter is a tad riled up.
Nevermind the bankers are a tad glum as well.
“The British economy is about 80% services. The glummest faces that I saw at the Conservative conference in Birmingham were those of the bankers. They noted that ministers failed to speak out on the importance of their sector. They are becoming resigned to losing “passporting” – the rule that allows a UK-regulated firm to do business across the EU – and are preparing to shift operations out of London. Some bankers reckon that this exodus will deprive the Treasury of about £10bn in taxes a year.”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/07/europe-hard-brexit-hurt-british-trade-deal
Hard Brexit here we come.
No-one is going to shift operations out of London. London is the epicenter of global fraud and all the fraudsters will remain in place. Where else is infinite re-hypothecation lawful?
Look at all of the great frauds of the past decade from AIG to the JP Morgan “London Whale” – the location of choice is always the same and always London.
“The glummest faces that I saw at the Conservative conference in Birmingham were those of the bankers.”
So you attended the Conservative conference? Confession is so good for the soul RoS. RoS the closet Tory.
Hang on, it was Birmingham eh? So maybe that should be ELIE the closet Tory???
….’glummest faces’ …etc is a quote from the Guardian article.
“Where else is infinite re-hypothecation lawful?”
Spot on.
Sharp Ears.
It would appear Alan, has the sense of Norton, when it comes to reading comments and links. ?
Maybe he is Norton?
And maybe you are ELIE? 🙂
Alan, the fact that this utterly daft and fascist policy ever emerged at Conference means it was planned by politicians, not their civil servants.
As yet Mrs. May has not said whether she would guarantee that EU citizens living here, could stay here. She is trying to operate past parliament, but whatever they decide to talk about will have to be ratified by Parliament.
It would be ludicrous to even try forcing it past MP’s scrutiny, there has to be a debate about their plans.
Forgoing the obvious question of how does one know the Conservative and Unionist Party in Government are telling the truth when they say they are not going to do this and they never meant that in the first place on the grounds that I got rid of that bridge at Tadcaster I had for sale last week on e-bay, it is worth offering up an exercise for all those suffering from self inflicted gullibility.
Here is a list of forty policies put forward by forty Conservative and Unionist MP’s back in 2013 from the New Statesman magazine:
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/06/beyond-satire-tory-rights-alternative-queens-speech
The task is to peruse the list of 40 policies and identify which of these proposed policies have now come about or are about to occur.
Anyone who claims, without the usual shred of evidence other than their own firm beliefs which must be true because they believe it, that the Conservative and Unionist Party in Government will shortly announce that they did not mean it when they said they will not introduce the repeal of the 1972 European Communities Act or will definitely be reversing the decision to abolish the Department of Energy and Climate Change should seriously consider not going out in public without adequate supervision.
Oh my, the Psychopathic Empire does tie itself in some funny knots. The BBC’s headline is that Saudi “vows” to probe deadly Yemen strike – and the US says it is “prepared to adjust our support” for the slaughter! And not a squeak from the UK.
Howls of outrage from Mr Outgoing? UNSC resolutions?
Hey, simmer down, let doo process take it’s course. Let’s establish the facts yadda yadda rhubarb.
So Russian bombing Aleppo is very very bad, while Saudi killing 140 at a funeral is…what?
Not so much as a ‘disproportionate’, or some other piss-weak weasel word. Heck, that’s reserved for the IDF at their most murderous.
“Adjust our support” is not even a raised fucken eyebrow.
Oh my God, the Russians are moving nuclear missiles around their country..!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/09/russia-downplays-moving-nuclear-capable-missiles-to-kaliningrad
(no comments allowed, of course)
Quick! quick! Nato must ring Russia with missile bases, and America must spend trillions on upgrading it’s nuclear weapons, totally against international treaties.
Oh, but they’ve already been doing this…
The new knight of the realm, Fallon, was giving it large on the Marr Show this morning aided by the host. Revolting.
It sounded scripted.
Fallon: We’re seeing a much more aggressive Russia
The Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said Russia needs to be “held accountable” for its actions in Aleppo, where an airstrike on a UN aid convoy left dozens dead.
Speaking to Andrew Marr, Mr Fallon said: “Russia is determined to prolong this civil war; it is actually conniving with the regime’s bombing of civilians and may indeed have been bombing civilians themselves.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04bgpf7 11mins no less.
If the Americans stopped funding and arming the people fighting the Syrian Government, the war might end before
Christmas
But! But! the twerrorists are coming to get us!
I must get back in the cupboard under the stairs – where I have enough food and water to last for two weeks, and spare batteries for my torch and sex doll – but before I seek shelter again, while our governments strain to protect us from this serious threat, this might be worth a watch…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgGNzj6rKqI
Oh, if only Spitting Image were still around. They’d have a field day with May & Co…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReIAna459sg
For readers of a younger generation who may not be familiar with all this, Spitting Image was a British satirical puppet show that aired during the 1980s and 1990s. The song they are using in the above clip comes from the movie, ‘Cabaret’…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Mg6Gfh9Co
They could have ended this year’s Tory Party conference with a rousing rendition of that song.
Oh, if only Spitting Image were still around. They’d have a field day with May & Co…
They would all be locked up for umpteen hundred trumped up reasons and face liable court action!
Neocn/NeoLib don’t do humour!
Little Tim
would still be squarking abuot how brilliant it would be to be in the Eurozone
There is that new thing, Newzoids on ITV. on a Saturday night, but I missed it this week because it clashed with “Bound for Glory” on Challenge TV. That’s sort of like Spittin Image.
French officer ‘between life and death’ after fire attack
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37601933
I don’t know about RoS Disunited Kingdom
For the Last Ten years it has seemed to me that FRANCE is falling apart,
I wonder the FRENCH have not noticed.
French police in life-threatening condition after Molotov cocktail attack
http://www.france24.com/en/20161009-french-police-injured-molotov-cocktail-attack-paris-suburb
Four officers were injured when a group of around 15 youths swarmed their cars in the town of Viry-Chatillon and lobbed Molotov cocktails at them.
The 28-year-old male officer suffered “very serious burns on the hands and the entire body,”
prosecutor Eric Lallement said.
I thought FRANCE had been and still was in a State of Emergency
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36842311
France’s National Assembly has voted to extend the state of emergency for six months.
The move follows last week’s attack in Nice in which 84 people were killed and scores injured when a lorry was driven into crowds.
The state of emergency was brought in after terror attacks in Paris in November that left 130 people dead.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France must expect more deadly attacks despite precautions taken by his government.
Speaking at the debate in the National Assembly, he said France would have to learn to live with the threat.
“Even if these words are hard to say, it’s my duty to do so,” he said.
“There will be other attacks and there will be other innocent people killed. We must not become accustomed, we must never become accustomed, to the horror, but we must learn to live with this menace.”
Obscene remarks made about women by US presidential candidate Donald Trump were no more than “alpha male boasting”, Nigel Farage has said.
The UKIP interim leader told Fox News the remarks were “ugly” but something “if we are being honest that men do”.
Mr Trump’s remarks, made 11 years ago, have led at least 33 senior Republicans to withdraw their support from his presidential bid.
This is twaddle, in my day everyman bragged about women, they are trying to impose that Gorgon
Yeah, sure – and in your day children were soundly thrashed, women knew their place, “minorities” didn’t get uppity, and all was good in the white man’s world – right?
A turkey for Christmas from Bernard Matthews? Yes maybe. At the cost to the suppliers to the company which has just been sold. They might get a penny in the £.
Sale of Bernard Matthews leaves debts of £23m owed to hundreds of suppliers
Video report by ITV Anglia’s Kate Prout.
900 companies who have supplied Bernard Matthews have been told they won’t receive unpaid bills worth £23 million Credit: ITV News Anglia
It comes after the sale of Norfolk and Suffolk poultry giant last month.
Bernard Matthews was taken over by the 2 Sisters Food Group.
They secured a deal that meant no jobs were lost, but some of its creditors have been left out of pocket by hundreds and thousands of pounds.
See Kate Prout’s report here
http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2016-10-07/sale-of-bernard-matthews-leaves-debts-of-23m-owed-to-hundreds-of-suppliers/
Treeza made a reference to the BHS failure in her conference speech and said there would no more of the same LOL. I will find the quote.
‘But today, too many people in positions of power behave as though they have more in common with international elites than with the people down the road, the people they employ, the people they pass in the street.
But if you believe you’re a citizen of the world, you’re a citizen of nowhere. You don’t understand what the very word ‘citizenship’ means.
So if you’re a boss who earns a fortune but doesn’t look after your staff…
An international company that treats tax laws as an optional extra…
A household name that refuses to work with the authorities even to fight terrorism…
A director who takes out massive dividends while knowing that the company pension is about to go bust…
I’m putting you on warning. This can’t go on anymore.’
At the end of the sentence ending in ‘bust…’ she made a knowing wink and the adoring audience all fell about.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/10/full-text-theresa-mays-conference-speech/
This good man who speaks out is a Professor of Accountancy at the University of Essex. He reported to the HoC on the sale of Bernard Matthews. There are many similarities to the BHS case.
Bernard Matthews Limited, Bernard Matthews Holdings Limited and Pension Scheme Summary
I have not conducted a forensic investigation of the pension scheme deficit at Bernard Matthews Limited or its parent company Bernard Matthews Holdings Limited as the matters are complex and will require considerable additional time.
Bernard Matthews Limited and related companies are ultimately controlled by Rutland Partners (and related vehicles). On 20 September 2016, partners from Deloitte were appointed Administrators to the Bernard Matthews group of companies. On the same day, the company’s business and assets were sold for £87.5 million through a pre-pack arrangement to Amber Residential Developments Limited (now known as Bernard Matthews Foods Limited) and Amber Real Estate Investments (Industrial) Limited. Both of these companies are part of Boparan Private Office, a private investment vehicle controlled by Ranjit Singh Boparan.
A Statement of Affairs has not yet been filed though the Administrators have released “Proposals” which effectively are a fait accompli for unsecured creditors, including pension scheme members.
The Administrators’ “Proposals” show that the sale proceeds will be used to make a full payment of £46.6m to lenders Wells Fargo Capital Finance (UK) Limited and PNC Financial Services UK Limited….
/..
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/work-and-pensions/Bernard-Matthews-administration-arrangement-Prem-Sikka-briefing-05-10-2016.pdf
Mr Sikka has written in the Guardian.
HMRC is in thrall to big business. It can no longer do its job
The tax collection agency is no longer able to serve the public and enforce the law. But Labour can get it back on track
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/08/hmrc-thrall-big-business-tax-collection-labour
Corbynomics offers hope of a New Deal for low-paid workers
Away from the soap opera, the Labour leader is laying the foundations to more fairly distribute Britain’s wealth
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/03/corbynomics-new-deal-low-paid-workers-labour-leader
BHS is a victim of shareholder greed
Big corporations are seen as the private fiefdoms of investors. We need to protect workers and taxpayers
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/25/bhs-shareholder-greed-high-street-retailer-divident
Prem Sikka is a professionally qualified accountant with experience in industry and commerce. Since 1996, he has held the position of Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex. Prem’s research on accountancy, auditing, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, insolvency, globalisation, money laundering, tax avoidance and business affairs has been published in books, international scholarly journals, newspapers and magazines. He has also appeared on radio and television programmes to comment on accountancy and business matters. He is director of the Association for Accountancy & Business Affairs. He writes regularly in Britain’s Guardian newspaper.
There is also no money left for pensions at Mr. Bootifuls Turkey parlour. Pension liabilities have not been taken over, how can that be possible.
Whilst its a worry that Trump is as crazy as Clinton the fact that the crazy John McCain has withdrawn support for him becomes an endorsement.
TURKEY shuts its doors on SYRIAN migrants as it vows to build a wall
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/719386/Turkey-build-wall-Syrian-border-migrants-people-smuggling
#Well on the face of it, a good thing, it could mean that Turkey will no longer be supplying “moderates”
the ones who are trying to destabalize Syria.
It could mean they will stop illegal oil trading.
It could mean that they bring the Turkish troops home.
It could mean, they no longer give hospitalization and respite to troops of the Islamic State.
It’s only a question of limiting the crossings to authorised people, supplies and oil. They won’t stop those they want to cross. If anything the move is anti-Kurdish, trying to stop the PKK communicating with the Rojava Kurds.