Blairite wipeout in Scotland teaches us an important lesson about them. They have no particular beliefs other than in their own careers. Progress was always more about career progress than societal progress. When politics stops being a nice little earner, the Blairites will very easily give it up.
If they had strongly held principles and beliefs, they would continue fighting for them even if they made nothing from it and it actually cost them money, like, umm, me. But you don’t see any Blairite ex-MPs who have spent the last couple of years on wholehearted political campaigning or working for their party. They have gone where the money is – many accepting their remunerative reward from the corporations they so loyally served while in office. Many with banks and financé companies; Brian Wilson never stopped working for the nuclear industry whether in parliament or out. Some have joined the laughably called modern charities sector with its high six figure salaries. The only professional Scottish Blairite (though not MP) who has prominently remained loosely connected to politics, John McTernan, has done so as the lowest kind of journalistic prostitute, damning Labour for anyone who will pay him.
When I read that Tory lickspittle right winger Blair McDougall is to be the Labour candidate in East Renfrewshire, my first thought was “Oh great, that’ll split the Tory vote, SNP hold.” My second was “where is Jim Murphy?”. The far right Henry Jackson Society member Murphy was so dedicated to the cause, he carried his own soapbox and braved eggs. Surely he hasn’t given up? Surely he’s fighting again? But no, none of them are. As soon as the Blairites found politics stopped giving them large wodges of cash, they all lost interest in it, completely. You will search this election in vain for the dulcet tones of wee Dougie Alexander.
It was not ever thus. Gladstone and Churchill are but two examples that spring instantly to mind of politicians who lost constituency elections after they were MPs, but kept fighting and made comebacks. But whatever you can say about Gladstone and Churchill, they were not just in it for the money.
I do not think Labour face a wipeout in England of the same scale they did in Scotland. In fact, I do not think this will be a comfortable election for the Tories, as even the media cannot prevent the electorate from twigging May avoids people, avoids scrutiny, and is programmed with only three lines. But if Labour do suffer large losses in England, then Corbyn should look to Scotland for an example and take heart. Any defeated Blairites will not come back. They go away if you stop paying them. That should embolden him to carry on as leader. Politics is in an era of unprecedented volatility, and assuming May is re-elected, within two years she will be massively unpopular as the effects of Brexit hit.
The Labour Party will lose the General Election according to the polls; a crushing defeat snappily planned to take care of Corbyn in a culpable very British dump. And Jeremy, bless him, has fallen into the trap of offering a regressive package of election sweeteners under the guise of left-wing radicalism that begs a Q&A of whose gonna pay for the friendly goodies.
Not to worry, in part Jeremy can still enjoy such peaceful places such as Harrowdown Hill, escape being forced to address a collection of whores who prefer CIA subsidies to truth or forced to commit unambigious war crimes…
Asking how to pay for it arrogantly assumes capitalism is the only economic model. Jeremy will pay for it through socialism – you know, the economic model that Churchill admitted fueled the WWII economy of full employment and national transport etc (fully employment for women but try that for men now?) – then went on to create the wealth in the post-war years which Thatcher et al sold off to the parasites. The NHS, British Rail, British Steel, the docks (now ABP) etc, etc, etc. And now capitalism’s end is about to fuck the whole world over.
Quote from Anthony Wedgewood Benn;
‘When I was 18 years old, the man from the Govt, offered to dress me in a nice warm uniform and put sturdy boots on my feet , feed me 3 solid meals a day, house me and take care of the laundry, transport me about the country,take care of my health and cut my hair and pay me a regular wage. In return all I had to do was go and kill some Germans.’.
If the Govt can do this in war time, why can they not offer something similar in peacetime like full-time productive employment.’.
and you seem to have fallen into the bigger trap of saying ‘whose gonna pay for these goodies?’ Considering the last chancellor doubled the national debt and his economic advisor frequented a crack den then I find the half arsed smugness of your post rather fucking predictable in it’s inability to offer anything other than more of the same by default while ignoring the flow of wealth and power via the financial sector since the Crash to a dangerous few, none of which is allowed to be reflected in the policies of any political party deemed electable nor objectively debated in the media.
Well Murphy did not last long with CMI. Perhaps he gave poor value for money. 🙂
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2015/11/open-letter-to-president-ahtisaari-re-jim-murphy/
and then there’s the loquacious Tessa, economical with the actualité.
Lord Taylor and Tessa Jowell, Long Term Crooks https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2009/05/lord_taylor_and/
Speaking of money, Baroness Jowell, fresh from her successes at the London Limpics with her friend Seb, is REALLY busy. Apart from reviewing the ‘papers’ on Sky News, I don’t know how she fits it all in. She must have several diary secretaries and perhaps that greasy husband of hers helps out with the travel arrangements. He’s good on flights to and from Italy btw!
Crikey. It’s long. Her register of interests on the HoL website. http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/baroness-jowell/159
Category 1: Directorships
Non-executive Director, The Economist Newspaper Group
Non-executive Chairman, The Chime Specialist Group of Companies (communications and sports marketing)
Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.
Member of Advisory Board, Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS)
Senior Adviser, Inc London (communications and marketing agency; Member’s role is to develop young staff and support the Founders)
Senior Adviser, Founders Forum and Lepe Partners llp (Founders Forum is an advisory and consultancy service to digital entrepreneurs; Lepe Partners is an independent merchant bank and Partner of Founders Forum; the Member advises on digital entrepreneurship; until May 2016)
Professor of Practice, London School of Economics (teaching with LSE Cities programmes and with Department of Government)
Member of Advisory Board, Harvard School of Public Health (advising on international ministerial development programmes and participating as a member of the expert support group)
Occasional income from broadcasting, lecturing and mentoring, especially Sky News press previews/reviews
Consultant to DRET (David Ross Educational Trust), London SW1 (short term consultancy until 30 April 2016 to advice on sport and cultural enrichment in curriculum development)
Member of the Advisory Board, Infra Red Capital, London SW1
Co-Chair, Gatwick Growth Board
Category 3: Clients
The Chime Specialist Group of Companies (category 1), ALCS and Inc London (category 2) all have a broad interest in the discharge of public policy. While the Member might advise on general approaches to policy, legislation and regulation, she has specifically excluded from contracts with her clients the use of relationships developed as a result of her role as a member of Parliament and minister
Category 7: Overseas visits
The Member receives each year travel and subsistence to support field volunteering with Magic Bus, a charity which engages with the development of children and young people through sport across 20 states in India and other countries. Magic Bus has an allocation of complimentary flights as a donation from BA and the member normally receives one of these. Subsistence and accommodation in India are provided by staff of Magic Bus or at the Magic Bus Field Centre
Category 10: Non-financial interests (a)
Chair, London 2017 World Athletics Championships Inspiration Programme
Category 10: Non-financial interests (b)
Associate, Institute of Government
Category 10: Non-financial interests (d)
Board Member, Social Market Foundation
Category 10: Non-financial interests (e)
Trustee, Tennis Foundation
Trustee, Ditchley Foundation
PS Chime is a construct of the sports footwear ambassador, Lord Sebastian Coe . He’s on ‘leave of absence’ from the HoL as from 24.4.17.?? His entry:
UK Parliament/Post/Date
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury) Jun 1996 – May 1997
Committee/Date
National Heritage Oct 1995 – Feb 1996
Employment Apr 1992 – Oct 1994
Constituency/Date
Contested for Falmouth and Camborne May 1997
Member for Falmouth and Camborne Apr 1992 – May 1997
Political Life
Ambassador Olympic Legacy 2012 –
Professional Life
Chairman CSM Sports and Entertainment 2013 –
Chairman British Olympic Association 2012 –
Chairman LOCOG 2005 – 2013
Chairman London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Bid
A Conservative MP of course.
All of these stooges find niches to occupy like the carved statues on cathedral exteriors.
Did you hear the swine this morning? Undermining Jeremy at every opportunity of which there are many on the corporate MSM.
‘The three-time general election winner confirmed earlier this week that he intends to vote for Labour on Thursday, June 8, but said the party is destined for failure unless it makes holding the government to account over Brexit the most important issue in its campaign.
“I think the real issue is blank cheque — it’s what mandate does she [May] claim, both on Brexit and the health service, education and all the other things,” Blair said.
“I think that’s the most powerful argument for Labour in this election, because of the way the polls are and the way the opinion polls are on the leadership issue.
“The most powerful argument for Labour is to say it’s important for our democracy that the Government is held properly to account and she needs a strong opposition.” ‘
http://uk.businessinsider.com/tony-blair-theresa-may-will-win-the-general-election-2017-4
The thing is, he is right, this Election is about Brexit because both the incumbent government and MSM are making it about Brexit. The reasons is obvious, if it were about anything else, the Economy or the NHS the Tory’s would be toast. In making it about Brexit, together with the issue of “Strong Leadership” vs “The Coalition of Chaos” the Tory’s know they have the winning hand.
If Labour are to have any chance at all they need to hammer home the failures thus far of the Tory Brexit plan. They need to remind people of how much T May’s government have already conceded to the EU before negotiations have already started (Parallel negotiations will not happen, despite May pleading for it in her TEU 50 letter is one prime example). They need to explain to people why “no deal is better than a bad deal” is effectively shooting yourself in both feet in negotiating terms.
They also need to tell people the real reason T May called the election, she is scared of the Ultra’s in her own party, who will scream when they realise that they are not getting the clean, hard Brexit they think they’re going to get. What they’ll get, the best anyone will get (anyone who isn’t completely stupid that is) is a transitional deal (T May calls it an “implementation” phase) of undetermined length where the UK will still be under the influence of, and paying for, EU institutions like the ECJ. Half in Europe, still run by Europe. T May is scared of her own party, and her own core voter base and holding an election now buys her time after the excrement finally comes into contact with the oscillating air current device.
Could this be a £1 billion pound slush fund, to fund undesirables in foreign countries, monies have already been paid to the White Helmets, and we know their true status.
Could other monies have gone to, say fund rebel groups.
“No single minister is accountable for the CSSF and, in an evidence session last month, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it is backing almost 100 initiatives in 40 countries.”
http://www.thenational.scot/politics/15248408.Questions_over_David_Cameron___s____secret______1bn_anti_war_fund/?ref=mrb&lp=43
Surprisingly, nothing so far on Boris Johnson’s latest demonstration that you can take the lout out of Bullingdon, but you can’t take Bullingdon out of the lout – calling Corbyn names. I declare open season on Johnson:
Here’s the atrocious Nick Cohen on Boris, a year ago, after the tousle-haired turd had slyly insulted Obama during his visit to the UK::
I am therefore writing with the caution of a lawyer and the deference of a palace flunkey when I say that Johnson showed this morning that he is a man without principle or shame. He is a braying charlatan, who lacks the courage even to be an honest bastard, for there is a kind of bastardly integrity in showing the world who you really are, but instead uses the tactics of the coward and the tricks of the fraudster to advance his worthless career.
Cohen might have added ‘ the language of a playground bully’ but Boris wasn’t quite up to using that on the leader of the free world, was he?
‘ the language of a playground bully’
“Mugwump”? Have to be a very posh playground.
Much better than ‘turd’, ‘swine’, ‘excrement’, ‘vomit’ and what not? If one is going to abuse, one may as well have some FCO class. In this case it’s of N American Indian origin.
Yes, the jocular namecalling conveys the insult while pretending it isn’t an insult. Perfectly illustrating Cohen’s criticism for him. And reinforcing the totally false image of Johnson as a lovable eccentric. Surprised he didn’t do it in Latin.
Indeed. It was a posh playground. But no less unpleasant for that. However, I believe the term also features in the interminable saga of Harry Potter at some point, William Burroughs uses it in the context of heroin-addled homosexual promiscuity, and didn’t the holy CS Lewis include it somewhere too? It’s not exclusively Eton.
It’s what we used to call the alien invaders on Space Invader machines.
TY Fred. So not a compliment then….and by the way, doesn’t that make you some kind of racist?
….
Don’t know why it would have made me racist, I hadn’t heard the word used in any other context at the time.
I’m assuming that the mugwumps didn’t call themselves that, perhaps having read ‘The Naked Lunch’*, and that this was your term for them. Which would make you an antimugwumpite….let it pass.
*Or seen the film. Mugwump on the left:
https://i2.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5605166896_8a0dde6275_o.jpg
http://zelo-street.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/boris-joins-mugwumps.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mugwumps
“The Mugwumps were Republican political activists who bolted from the United States Republican Party by supporting Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland in the United States presidential election of 1884. They switched parties because they rejected the financial corruption associated with Republican candidate James G. Blaine. In a close election, the Mugwumps supposedly made the difference in New York state and swung the election to Cleveland.”
Turns out it’s not such an insult after all, in fact it could easily be interpreted as a compliment given that the original Mugwumps were anti corruption. And I’m sure that’s how ” London’s formerly very occasional Mayor Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson” intended it to be;-)
I think the Tories are heading for a real going over in Scotland in the almost forgotten May council elections.
My reasoning is due to Ruth Davidson and her vile party’s stance on the Rape Clause. At FMQ’s Davidson and her party refused to take any interventions from any other MSP’s on the matter. To have done so would have opened the floodgates, to a barrage of uncomfortable questions.
To even defend the Rape Clause, reveals the true nature of those odious Tory MSP’s. It will surely have a knock on effect in the way voters see Davidson and her party in Scotland come May, and June’s elections.
I take it you don’t approve of giving rape victims compassionate exemption to caps on tax credits allowing them to receive financial help in raising their child.
Would you advise your daughter (if you have one) to reveal the details of her rape (a harrowing, frightening and truly traumatising experience for any woman) to a complete stranger in order to obtain tax credits?
Bearing in mind that the woman or any woman for that matter, had already found tremendous courage to tell her close family.
Sometime Fred (well most of the time) you come across as a real numpty, or a inconsiderate fool.
If your daughter had been raped would you advise her to reveal the details of her rape to the police in order to secure a prosecution?
The fact is that in order to claim a woman would not have to report the rape to the police, not even directly to HMRC, her family GP or other professional can assist her to fill in a form and submit it for her. The Department of Work and Pensions has insisted that all women affected will be offered third party support from experienced professionals.
So what do you suggest? That rape victims are denied the opportunity to claim tax credits on a third child?
You just don’t get it Fred.
So explain it to me. Why are you opposed to victims of rape being exempt from tax credit caps?
You have two older siblings yet your mum still gets tax credits, what’s going on there? Oh.
A copy of the form to be filled in to claim tax credits for a third child.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C93bMlYXUAArkfA.jpg
No revealing any details to a complete stranger, no having to relive the ordeal to some faceless bureaucrat.
Now do you get it?
All you need to know about the weasel Blair-ite McDougall.
https://caltonjock.com/2015/12/24/blair-mcdougall-wannabe-politician-never-worked-a-day-in-his-life-paid-over-2-million-by-the-state-over-20-years-career-a-litany-of-lies-renfrewshire-should-reject-this-pompous-twit/
Re your link, RoS ; has Mr Jeremy Cor-byn ever worked at anything other than politics?
It may well be that May will be very unpopular in two years time (just as thatcher was) but the damage of brexit will have been done and going back it will be and monumental task.
Bert.
Scottish Television to stage a leaders debate with Sturgeon, Davidson, Dugdale and Rennie.
They seem to be excluding Patrick Harvie even though the Scottish Greens have slightly larger representation in Holyrood than the Lib Dems. On the spurious excuse that the Greens are not standing candidates in all Scotland’s constituencies. I hope the Greens take this to the courts.
Of course the reason STV are doing this is so Sturgeon has to take on the unionist narrative outnumbered three to one.
Stupid Murdo Fraser has tweeted that it’s “Good to see extremist fringe parties like UKIP and the Greens excluded.”
So Murdo thinks you’re an extremist if you are a Green. It’s extreme to care about the environment. As opposed to being a moderate who stands to make a lot from fracking I suppose. Said moderate then donates immoderate amount of money to the Tories.
reel guid, what the bloody hell are STV playing at? The Greens are a respected party acrosx the whole of the UK, and ergo Patrick Harvey merits his position in the debate.
But yes I agree with you there must always be three hyena’s on the debating floor when a SNP rep makes an appearance.
We must always remember that the media are pro-union. One can only expect this as Baroness Margaret Ford a Labour peer, is the chair of the STV group.
Ros
Baroness Ford is also a non-executive director of Serco. Enough said.
reel guid.
Here’s the full rundown, some are ex-BBC.
http://www.stvplc.tv/about-us/board-of-directors
reel guid.
The STV, of who’s who claims that Baroness Margaret Ford is a “independent” peer, see my above link.
Wiki however claims that she’s a Labour peer, skullduggery by th STV?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Ford,_Baroness_Ford
Ros
She’s listed as a crossbencher on the Westminster official website.
See one of the board used to be a director of Bacardi. That’s appropriate since this whole thing is a bit rum.
Iraqi MPs to launch investigation into Turkish airstrikes – report
Iraq’s parliament has assigned its Defense and Security Committee to look into Tuesday’s Turkish airstrikes that left five Peshmerga soldiers killed on the Shingal Mountain near the Syrian border, Kurdish media network Rudaw reported Thursday. The committee will ask the parliament to take action against “neighboring countries’ activities” in Iraq and to put pressure on the UN Security Council to stop Turkish attacks inside Iraqi soil, members of the committee said. The Kurdistan Regional Government has in the past urged the PKK to leave Yazidi areas including Shingal Mountain, where tensions were running high after deadly clashes broke out between the PKK affiliates and KRG-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, according to the report.
How come Israel and Turkey are allowed by The United Nations to get away with bombing /invading Syria and Iraq?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39728682
What are the Israelis playing at, with constantly attacking Syria?
My best guess is they are trying to provoke Russia / Syria into striking Israel, thus bring America into Massive strikes against Syria, the Israel
will steal even more land from Syria?
They aren’t trying to provoke Russia. They are trying to get Hezbollah to fight on their terms on their venue-Syria.
And, of course, in alliance with ISIS they are doing all that they can to weaken the Syrian Army, without provoking Syria into responding.
Turkey is enveloped in madness.
Turkey suspends more than 9,000 police officers over ‘Gulen links’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39723371
How could the E.U.
possibly allow Turkey into the fold while this madness goes on and on?
Alleged terror attack thwarted today outside Westminster.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/27/man-arrested-over-incident-in-whitehall-near-parliament
A guy with a knife is disarmed and arrested by police.
It happens about twenty times every day in London.
There seems to be an awful lot of twerrorists on the lose.
I no longer feel safe hiding in the cupboard under the stairs, and I’m now building an underground bunker in my garden.
This seems prudent, because as well as the twerrorists, North Korea is about to rain down nuclear missiles on us.
I have a shortwave radio and whilst in my bunker will listen to the government broadcasts, so that I know what’s going on.
Yes Rob, but in the eyes of the media, it’s a thwarted terrorist attack, you need to get with the programme. ?
I’ve been waiting for my frontal lobotomy operation for ages now.
The NHS really does need to be privatised, so that it’s more efficient.
Those nice Mrs May and Mr Hunt really do have our best interests at heart.
Incidently Rob, JFK’s sister Rosemary was lobotomised.
As was Howard Dully, he went on to publish a New York best selling book on the matter. ?
Are you mocking Scotland Yard?
Are you mocking those of us who want to prevent everything that’s not nailed down in Britain from being stolen by a bunch of psychos and scum?
Five weeks is a long time in politics, especially if those weeks are spent campaigning.
A medal for you forthcoming bevin for your conciseness–keep it up!
A literate account of Sir William Shawcross’s support for Zionist Israel. The facts are indisputable.
https://coolnessofhind.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/william-shawcross-the-neocon-zionist-anti-muslim-head-of-the-charity-commission/
No names, no pack drill for the Anglo Israel Association contact/trustees on the CC website.
LOL. How fascist is that?
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=313523&SubsidiaryNumber=0&TID=211923673
On the accounts, Shawcross is not there but his-wife is – Olga Polizzi, Lord Forte’s daughter. Lord Bew is now the chair. He is yet another avid Zionist supporter.
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends23/0000313523_AC_20151231_E_C.pdf
He was a director of the Henry Jackson Society.
https://companycheck.co.uk/director/906817618/WILLIAM-HARTLEY-HUME-SHAWCROSS/companies
16 directorships. 6 active.
https://companycheck.co.uk/director/906817618/MR-WILLIAM-HARTLEY-HUME-SHAWCROSS/summary
The young Shawcross wrote a very good book about Nixon and Kissinger’s bombing of Cambodia (“Sideshow”). His father was a Labour attorney-general who led the British team at the Nuremberg war crimes tribunal. At some point, the son seems to have become an extreme reactionary (fervent supporter of the destruction of Iraq) and establishment lackey.
OED
Zionism
NOUN
mass noun
1A movement for (originally) the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. It was established as a political organization in 1897 under Theodor Herzl, and was later led by Chaim Weizmann.
If Labour does badly or well, Corbyn must stay in place until the Labour party is cleansed enough to function properly and/or one of the young committed MPs is ready to take up the baton of Socialism. I doubt the majority of party members will want him to go, whatever happens, until the Labour party has been democratised. There are so few Labour MPs truly committed and foreign policy seems to be the weather vane for a reliable Socialist or even true Social Democrat. Social democracy has been infested and tainted by neo liberal/neo con in all western democracies.
This is going to be a long haul and a major public re education project. I just hope things don’t get really, really bad for millions more before people start to ask fundamental questions about the economic system we live in.
One thing I don’t doubt is Corbyn’s strength of character and commitment, it will depend on the commitment and stamina of supporters of the ‘project’, one man alone or isolated can achieve little.
The stench of the revolving door, lobbying and donor system in British politics is almost as bad as in US.
If the general election is lost and there is a leadership challenge, Corbyn will be re-elected. And quite right too.
I agree Corbyn will win another challenge. Hopefully Watson will be challenged as soon as is practical.
I hope that all those Bliarites loose their deposits leaving Corbyn with not much cleaning up to do.
What is happening though is that the right wing forces who are work trying to dislodge cajole back stab and belittle hope that this election will get rid of him, ensuring that the interplay between these traitors and the Tory’s in Government provide fruitful business and perks for all concerned.
That we are rattling head on into another war that will obly undermine world peace has got nowt to do with it.
The trouble with all those neo liberals/cons Labour MPs losing their deposits is Labour will be trounced and May will be crowned de facto dictator or leader of an extreme authoritarian regime. So much better if May, Johnson, Fallon etc. lost their deposits!
May is making gaffe upon gaffe in her tightly protected factory and party faithful visits. She looks an incredibly weak character when compared to Corbyn considering the immense pressures he has been under since he was first elected leader and ironically her campaign meme is ‘strong and stable’.
Aaron Bastani noted an interesting thing at one of Mays events, no mention of the Conservative party or the Tory logo on the posters at that event, just Theresa May- strong and stable leadership’. https://twitter.com/AaronBastani/status/857672236228063232
Haven’t you anything better to do like fighting an election?
“If the general election is lost and there is a leadership challenge, Corbyn will be re-elected. And quite right too.”
Great news! Hopefully he will be elected eternal leader.
I can do both. And you?
Blair is chronically insecure and thinks money will give him status, but the more money he makes the more he is hated. He concluded the neo-cons had the money, hence his support for their double-speak “war on terror” to the detriment of the UK, humanity and Labour Party.
I don’t think Blair cares about his status in general society, only in his and ‘higher’ circles. People such as Blair have no dealings with citizens in normal life as far as I can see, they live in a parallel world.
I hope when The United Kingdom has completed Hard Brexit,
the likes of Neil Kinnock will have his pension from the E.U. stopped
Why are EU salaries tax free? Does it not compromise the recipient?
Britain is AIRBRUSHED out of EU maps already, two years before we formally leave the bloc
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4452818/Britain-airbrushed-EU-maps-Brexit.html#ixzz4fTkrZGKz
Anything that speeds Brexit is to be welcomed
“Why are EU salaries tax free?”
Because they are stateless. Silly question 😉
They are not tax free – just taxed at a lower rate.
It is an interesting thought that those who are disloyal to the UK should have their pensions stopped – I suspect that there are not a few here that would suffer if that were the case.
Haven’t you anything better to do like fighting an election?
Sorry Res Dis the Treachery Act was repealed in the sixties although violating the heir to the throne’s wife might seriously affect a retirement 😉
I’ve fought elections for Labour since I was a young lad – going a bit easier in this one since all the Momentum Party members are meant to be taking up the slack (though all the signs are they are not!) and are none to keen to listen to those who have actually won elections for the Labour Party and support the Party’s actual objectives and policies.
I didn’t ask for your résumé. I asked you why you are buggering around on here when there’s an election to be fought.
I think that’s a reasonable question.
“It is an interesting thought that those who are disloyal to the UK should have their pensions stopped – I suspect that there are not a few here that would suffer if that were the case.”
I cannot believe I just read this comment. Erm, in what sort of society do you have to ‘earn’ the means to live in old age by compliance with some definition of ‘loyalty’ to the state or country? Sounds like totalitarianism to me. Imagine what that would mean in todays climate… all dissenters from and questioners of the government narrative would be left with no income in old age. Craig would be high on the list along with most of us!
. The employees are not stateless and they work in states.
The obvious thing would be for the tax to be paid in the employees home state, or in the state in which they work.
Some Brits work tax free in the UK for EU related entities.
The consequence is that they are thus compromised. It is too good a thing to oppose.
They are not tax free; they are free of national income tax but subject to a EU income tax which is treated as a receipt into the EU budget.
Well the EC the ECB and the EBRD are exempt from tax in the states where located and not subject to income tax unless they are US or Czech..You are correct though in saying that such EU employers have to impose an EU internal tax, which then stays within the organisation.
On s salary of say £78.5k you would £26k tax in UK but as an EU worker you would pay £12.6k or 16% as opposed yo 33% in UK.
So Habba you are correct, but the compromising consequence is as I suggested.
They get everywhere don’t they?
In case you missed the link I gave on the previous page:
There’s been more major civil unrest in Paris today…
https://www.rt.com/news/386306-paris-protest-lepen-macron/
They’re protesting against both Macron and Le Pen. They are also protesting against the ongoing state of emergency, and the fact that to all intents and purposes France is now a police state (cue the next ‘terror attack’).
The French have the balls to stand up for their rights. Alas, the Brits haven’t reached that stage yet.
Back to Blairites.
Tristram is happy at the V&A on his + £230k pa.
https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-6665-Britains-most-unpopular-MP-Tristram-Hunt-quits#.WQJSsGeGPSc
Imposed on Stoke on Trent by the arch Blairite Mandelslime.
V&A museum plans to revive design skills
‘Mr Hunt, the former Labour politician who now heads the V&A, said creative industries were among “the UK’s greatest national and economic assets”.
“By bringing together local industry, museums and schools, DesignLab Nation will ensure that the V&A delivers on our founding purpose, to educate and inspire the artists, innovators, designers and creatives of tomorrow,” he said.’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39704998
As a matter of interest, what do you think would be a fair salary for the head of the V & A?
To the nearest £5000 if you like.
Certainly not more than a High Court Judge (£177,000) and as it’s a charity I would suggest £120,000.
Or perhaps no Head of a charity should be paid more than a CofE bishop circa £35-80,000 & housing.
Admin head of CofE is paid circa £155,000. That should be a ceiling for the largest charity bosses.
“V&A museum plans to revive design skills”
____________________
if true, this is surely to be welcomed by all who wish the UK and her economy well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“‘Mr Hunt, the former Labour politician who now heads the V&A, said creative industries were among “the UK’s greatest national and economic assets”.
____________________
That is probably correct. The creative industries provide sorely-needed employment and equally sorely needed foreign exchange. People who carp at their very existence are economically and socially illiterate.
Selected excerpts from the Morning Star’s “About Us” tab:
“The paper’s editorial line remains anchored in the political programme of the Communist Party of Britain”
and
“The Daily Worker/Morning Star has experienced …. an outright ban during part of World War Two”
(during the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, presumably…)
and
“The Morning Star … reports authoritatively on what is happening in Cuba, Palestine, Ukraine”
(of course 🙂 )
“Theresa May lays bare ambition to capture Labour heartlands” (whilst in a police-secured warehouse on the outskirts of Leeds)…
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/27/theresa-may-to-lay-bare-ambition-to-capture-labour-heartlands
It’s an absolute joke. The sad thing is that many people fall for the propaganda.
Points of Order HoC today. First was Alex Salmond. Aided by Dennis Skinner and ably kicked into the long grass by Bercow, oleaginous as per usual.
‘Alex Salmond (Gordon) (SNP)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Have you had any notification of a statement from the Minister at the Cabinet Office—or, indeed, the Prime Minister herself—on the Channel 4 report of last evening, which suggested that the Crown Prosecution Service has to report on 30 individuals for possible prosecution between 20 May and the early part of June? Given that many of them are Members of this House, we must consider the implications that that could have for the reporting and coverage of any such decision and the position of the candidates during an election campaign. It would be a scandal of enormous proportions if any attempt had been made to influence the timing of any such reports. Has any provision been made for coping with such an eventuality if it occurs during an election campaign? The Prime Minister has decided to reappoint all of the campaign team responsible for this boorach, who have already been fined by the Electoral Commission, but that campaign team—up to and including Lynton Crosby—having successfully bought one election, must not be allowed to buy another.
Mr Speaker
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his point of order. My response is as follows: the rules governing the conduct of elections are not a matter for the Chair. I hope that the House will understand that, although I have given the right hon. Gentleman a full opportunity to register his concerns, I have no intention of being drawn into this matter. That would be quite improper. What the police and the Crown Prosecution Service do, and when, is a matter for them. Members with views on these matters can, and doubtless will, express them. I will express no view on the matter.
Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab)
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker—
Mr Speaker
Very well. I am not sure it is, but I will give the hon. Gentleman the benefit of the doubt.
Mr Skinner
I raised this matter with the Prime Minister a week ago yesterday—this is a matter for you really, Mr Speaker—and did not get an answer from her. I was then fortunate enough to be called by you to raise the matter again with the Secretary of State for Justice and, once more, I did not receive a reply from the Government. What has now emerged is that you, in the Chair, are saying, “It is not a matter for me.” The Prime Minister did not respond to my accusation that the election should not have been called. She did not get a revelation on the Welsh hills; she called a snap election to try to beat the Crown Prosecution Service. That is what this election is all about, and that is why it is a point of order for you, Sir.
Mr Speaker
The nature of the system is as has been described. I think that there will be a general acceptance that the police and the prosecuting authorities have responsibility in these matters. My responsibility is most certainly to hear colleagues and to err on the side of latitude in hearing colleagues who want to raise points of order, and I think that I have done that very fairly. I have never ducked anything that is my responsibility, but I think that I know that which is not.
+++++
Other points of order followed.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2017-04-27/debates/8F2844B4-B935-4973-B417-C811D269E6CD/PointsOfOrder
I actually spent two years of my education in a minor public school (for our trans-Atlantic friends, a ‘public school’ in the UK is actually a private school; Eton, Oxford and all the rest of it). I came across characters like Bercow all the time. Even when they were 12, 13 or 14 years old you could see that they’d been totally indoctrinated by the system and had an ingrained arrogance, which the public school system is designed to enhance. By contrast the state school system is now designed to ‘dumb-down the animals’ even further.
I went to a particularly rough comprehensive. Do I get any kudos for that from the likes of you? Like hell.
I can assure you that I also went to a particularly rough comprehensive. It’s why I largely walked away from it and spent most of my time in the local snooker hall.
I wouldn’t advise you to bet against me on a game of snooker.
My point, of course, is that I always hated the education system, and I’ve directly experienced both sides of it, the toffs and the plebs.
There’s not many people who can say that, and perhaps it will give you some insight into my view of the world.
For the record, when it came to my secondary education, I spent two years in a public school (one of the most elitist) and then three years in a massive comprehensive school (in London), where they automatically put me into the top stream purely because I’d come from a well-known public school. Go figure.
By the time I was 14, and now at that massive London comprehensive, I practically stopped going to school at all.
The ‘education system’ taught me to read and write, and for that I’m forever grateful, but that’s all. I don’t knock teachers, who have an incredibly difficult job thesedays, but my real education was life, not the propaganda nonsense that they now pump-out in the classrooms.
Haven’t you anything better to do like fighting an election?
Good point, John.
The battle is on!
I went to a particularly rough comprehensive school myself. It was pretty obvious the opposite was true from that which you observed – a sizeable proportion were fully resigned to the path of delinquency, encouraged in this belief by brutal and sadistic teachers.
You never, or very rarely, have something to say. You target people. You knew what he meant, Eton, Harrow . . . unless of course he was being sarcastic as in the video-link he supplied!
Why someone like you is allowed to post here is beyond me.
I have no problem with opposing views, because it’s good to debate these things.
Your constant message of hatred, though, is another thing entirely.
It’s good in one sense, because you can’t debate your way out of a wet paper bag.
It’s bad in another sense because the owner of this ‘human rights’ blog freely allows creatures like you line space.
I think I’ll end it there, before I go into one.
My post was aimed at Alcyone, whose original post now seems to have been removed.
My post was not aimed at John Goss, who I have the upmost respect for (even though he often disagrees with me).
I also have the ‘upmost’ respect for him! Haha
Haven’t you anything better to do like fighting an election?
What?
JC should stay on, definitely. I don’t see another leader among those pip-sqeak Nu Lab traitors, so fuck what they think. What’s needed is a change in the rule book, which will be hard, and take time. At some point, the left need control of the NEC, and the selection process, and what a fight it’ll be. Once JC wins that, good things will accrue, and he can retire. And anyway, why would he resign? Losing an election? It’s that short-termism that brought us Evil Blair in the first place; you can be sure the Tories don’t worry over-much about single elections, but do concern themselves with the longer-term. Because screwing the poor is, after all, a long-term task, to be done with the proper ardour and malice.
Blair promoted people like himself – dickheads. No wonder they all pissed off to make money. They’ll be back when\if some shiny dickhead takes control of the Labour party again.
“Blair promoted people like himself – dickheads”
______________________
And hasn’t Mr Cor-byn promoted people like himself – knobs?
What’s with this “Cor-byn” nonsense? I thought you didn’t like jumping on the trivial and irrelevant, turning into some weak attack theme.
This is unpleasantly like the methodology of the far right in the US, where scum like Roger Ailes would turn ordinary terms (like “Democrat”, or “Democratic Party”) and get those influenced to use “DemocRAT” and the “DemocRAT Party”) – make sure the emphasis is on the RAT there – in order to cause a persistent negative association.
I would hope that you’re above playing silly games like that.
I asked that same question but it was not answered. It is a puerile attempt to denigrate.
Glenn
Yes, it is nonsense, isn’t it.
But tell me – is it more or less nonsensical than “Treeza” or “Mandelslime”?
“Treeza” is obviously an ironic chavvy reworking of “Theresa” and “Mandelslime” is self evident, but why “Cor-byn”? I could understand “Corby-n”, but “Cor-byn” is a mystery to me and others. Do tell.
Far left extremists tend to hate moderate left wingers and centrists much more than they hate right wingers.
Look how the Communists hated the Socialists in the 1930s and 1940s (“social fascists” was an insult of choice).
I wonder if that’s why M. Melenchon has refused to endorse M. Macron for the 2nd round of the French Presidential?
Perhaps he hates centrists more than he hates the extreme right?
Curious……
Macron is more accurately described as far right. Give us your definition of ‘centrist’ while you’re at it.
Only by people like you, I fear. What’s your definition of “far right” in the French context while you’re at it?
We’re not allowed to talk about it… because we live in a ‘democracy’.
It’s the job of Habba & Co to keep up the pretense.
Here you go, Rob – a treat for the night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIndlXvKib4
Thanks, I enjoyed that, but still prefer the original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR_SZR_tmxM
What incredible ignorance you draw upon: in the 30s and 40s the Communists and Socialists tended to be in alliance against fascists. Look up Popular Front, for example. During the war, after 1940, Communists and socialists formed the backbone of most Resistance movements. Look up Italy and Greece for more information.
It is true that there were periods in which Social Democrats and Communists allowed fascists room to manouevre but such questions are totally unrelated to modern France or Melencthon who has always been a socialist and distanced himself from the CP in the recent campaign, by replacing The Internationale with The Marseillaise.
He is not endorsing Macron because Macron is a neo-liberal, NATO centric, EU worshipping tool of the US Banks.
For Melencthon who first struck out on his own course away from the Socialist Party after the betrayal which became the Treaty Of Lisbon-whose provisions had been decisively rejected by the French electorate- Macron, while not a traditional fascist, is unacceptable. He is advising his supporters not to vote LePen, in effect he urges abstention.
So you are entirely wrong in both of your major claims: Melencthon’s opposition to Le Pen is unequivocal and clearly stated; the history, in France particularly, of the Popular Front and, as recently as Mitterand’s Presidency Communist membership of Socialist Cabinets, gives the lie to your attack on ‘far left extremists’ such as Melencthon (in fact a moderate Socialist).
You have spent too much time wallowing in Robert Conquest’s propaganda and have forgotten what truth means.
The Popular Front lasted for all of two years in France. Abandoned by the Communists at the behest of the Comintern in preparation of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 🙂
Re the rest of your screed : so why is M. Melenchon not NOW, just over a week before the second round, either telling his troop to vote against Mme Le Pen or at the very least not to vote FOR her?
Compare and contrast with say Old Harrovians / Etonians and grammar school types.
We’re on the verge of World War Three and this blog continues talking about parochial matters. No disrespect to our friends north of the border, but I would say that world matters are a bit more important than Scottish matters at the moment.
What’s going on in Korea at the moment is all about the demise of the American empire. I’ve mentioned before that it’s all about the forthcoming presidential election in South Korea in May, which will put in place a President hostile to America (this is now happening in many places in the world, by the way), a President who will kick all US forces out of South Korea.
Sputnik is a Russian government news agency. Here’s their take on what’s happening with regard to Korea…
https://sputniknews.com/radio_loud_and_clear/201704271053045621-manufactured-crisis-senators-white-house-korea-briefing/
RobG
You previously opined that this blog was ignoring the most important event in Europe, which you stated was Melenchon’s triumphant advance to the French Presidency. As the election of an anti-American South Korean President is still less going to happen, forgive me if I decline to follow your advice and blog about it.
As you have consistently assured us that we are all going to be dead any moment now because of Fukushima, I cannot see why you are worried.
Craig, I thank you for your reply.
It’s late and I’m about to crash out.
There’s been serious civil unrest in Paris today (27th April), which has been part of serious civil unrest since early 2016.
Why do you not talk about this?
It’s like an Alice In Wonderland world.
I know you came up through the system, and were a British diplomat, and all that, but even though you were a whistleblower it’s like you have blinkers on.
And please don’t mention Fukushima, as though it’s some ‘silly conspiracy theory’ because I can absolutely rip you apart with that.
Lunatics like you, who believe all the propaganda, are responsible for cancer rates going through the roof.
R: “And please don’t mention Fukushima, as though it’s some ‘silly conspiracy theory’ because I can absolutely rip you apart with that.”
RobG: You couldn’t rip through a wet paper bag with that. (I hate wet paper bags, btw)
Everyone knows the facts about it who wants to know, you have no special knowledge or insight. Or any expertise on the matter.
Ever spent any time in the nuclear industry, Rob? I have. Five years. Nothing you have said to date challenges the above. Come on, you even tried to blame heating in the arctic on Fukushima at one time!
My time here is limited, but if you’d like to “absolutely rip apart” someone about the science on Fukushima, you can give me a go – as long as you’re going to conduct an honest discussion, in the first person.
Why does the ENT surgeon who treated me say that he is dealing with an epidemic of thyroid cancer, a known side effect of radioactivity exposure. Four local GPs are in his list. He maintains the cause is environmental. Airborne? Food chain? Water? Windscale? Chernobyl?
He has 40 years’ experience in his speciality.
The most chilling thing you’ll ever see on You Tube. Look at the race in the 60s. What will future generations think? The madness behind the wish to destroy other peoples.
A Time-Lapse Map of Every Nuclear Explosion Since 1945 – by Isao Hashimoto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCF7vPanrY
Britain’s Nuclear Bomb – The Inside Story
Next Weds BBC Four 21.00hrs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08nz0xh
‘In 1957, Britain exploded its first megaton hydrogen bomb – codenamed Operation Grapple X. It was the culmination of an extraordinary scientific project, which against almost insuperable odds turned Britain into a nuclear superpower. This is the inside story of how Britain got ‘the bomb’.
The BBC has been granted unprecedented access to the top-secret nuclear research facility at Aldermaston. The programme features interviews with veterans and scientists who took part in the atomic bomb programme, some speaking for the first time, and newly released footage of the British atomic bomb tests.’
This follows on from Prof Al Khalili’s visit to Sellafield, shown recently.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/bbc-four-goes-nuclear
I applaud the BBC for producing these documentaries.
Sharp Ears: “Why does the ENT surgeon who treated me say that he is dealing with an epidemic of thyroid cancer, a known side effect of radioactivity exposure. ”
Did this surgeon say this is a direct result of Fukishima? Of course not. But that’s what Rob would have you believe.
“There’s been serious civil unrest in Paris today (27th April), which has been part of serious civil unrest since early 2016.”
Yeah, riots so severe that they don’t even merit a mention in the French press today, at least the couple of papers I looked at. There was one small story yesterday, I seem to remember. Even though you live in France, you need to keep a sense of proportion, Rob. Stoning the CRS, and the volleys of CS gas in response, are all part of the evening’s entertainment. It gets slightly more serious when the molotov cocktails are thrown, but not too much. The thing that keeps France stable is that there is plenty of social housing. If the French dared to do what the British government does to its own people, there definitely would be instant revolution.
The polls are bollocks and the only thing they reflect accurately is marketing strategy:
“Social proof, also known as informational social influence, is a psychological phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior for a given situation. This effect is prominent in ambiguous social situations where people are unable to determine the appropriate mode of behavior, and is driven by the assumption that surrounding people possess more knowledge about the situation.
The effects of social influence can be seen in the tendency of large groups to conform to choices which may be either correct or mistaken…”
I’m betting on Corbyn to win.
You’ll be right.
100% agree. Or in poll-speak, 123% agree, adjusting for some bollocks I made up.
Those polls are utter nonsense. Given that senior people are resigning from May HQ, and some Tory scoundrels are facing arrest, this election could prove interesting. I’m not calling it for Corbyn quite yet though, I will wait for now, like I did with Trump. I’d love JC to win, just to see the look on [inset Blair-ite knob] face. Yes, I am that small and petty.
When it comes to censorship, this board is like a Carry-On movie (a total joke).
Which leaves me to ask: who the feck does Craig work for? You sure as hell don’t work for us.
It’s all the usual nonsense, which mass movements all across Europe are now sweeping away.
The presstitutes will tell you nothing about this, and neither will this board.
Well, so far a gang of right wing racist nutters have, helped by the Mail and Express, swept the UK out of the EU. I don’t think I would call that a mass movement though. As I look across Europe, I can’t immediately see which mass movement has succeeded in sweeping anything. There is undoubtedly a wave of revulsion at growing wealth inequality, but so far in general the corporate run political interests have managed to divert that discontent into popular racism. Genuine left wing movements either sold out like Syriza or failed like Melenchon. Where is this surging tide you perceive? It sounds very exciting but its a bit invisible.
In fairness, there are allegations that 500,000 voters had the chance to vote twice.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-04-15/le-pen-faces-disaster-election-after-monumental-computer-error
In a tight election, could this have swung it to Macron? Can’t prove it, but it’s deeply suspicious. One thing I know about the establishment, they always prefer a fascist to a socialist. They’d choose Le Pen over Melenchon every day of the week.
What’s rather distressed some old lefties, including myself, is that parties presenting an alternative to the corporate centrists are very far right wing (i.e. fascists). The only go-to party for progressive, democratic socialists always campaign to the left, then immediate “triangulate” to become corporate stooges the moment they enter office.
Bill Clinton, Blair’s “New” Labour and the traitorous Liberal Democrats come to mind.
When a more principled and committed person like Corbyn comes along, most of his party and the entire Establishment ridicule him, treating him varyingly between risible, dismissible, contemptible and unstable. Yet Farage and B. Johnson are held as entertaining cheeky-chappies, and their pronouncements taken more or less on face value.
Sorry, I digress – the distressing part to me is that some self declared lefties will cheer on actual fascists like Trump and Le Pen, because they are apparently so good at speaking up for the people, and will supposedly work in their favour.
This, needless to say, is utter rubbish. Farage wants to turn the UK into a complete mini-me of the US, do away with the NHS and much more. In fact he would like America to become less socialised and more favourable to the rich, which is why he’s so well in with Trump.
All far-right parties work for the elite – which certainly does not include the stupid and the ill-informed masses which were duped into supporting them. Which includes – sorry to say – all those who welcomed the fascist Trump into office because, gosh, that Hillary was just so awful. Benghazi! Pizzagate! #ObamaGunGrab!
Ehm….Is it in Scotland?
Craig
You are aware of the previous political allegiances of most of the leading lights of SYRIZA, surely?
“Well, so far a gang of right wing racist nutters have, helped by the Mail and Express, swept the UK out of the EU.”
17,410,742 voters voted to leave. That’s quite some gang of racist nutters. Tell me, in what way are these 17,410,742 people racist nutters? What is their common way of demonstrating their racism and their madness, sufficiently for you to be able to notice it? Or is that you think that ONLY a racist nutter could have voted to leave the EU, because the EU is so good that only someone who was not only mad, but a mad racist would have voted to leave it?
” I don’t think I would call that a mass movement though.”
So 38% of the population isn’t a mass movement. Funnily enough, it’s the same percentage of the Scottish population that voted to leave the UK.
You should be glad of the Mods’ work, Rob. It’s bad enough as it is – ‘strewth, some people even come here on a regular basis to threaten all of us with death, that we’re going to be shot dead because the poster doesn’t approve of us!
Can you imagine what this board would be like if everyone were to let rip, with no adult in the room at all?
So who is ‘the adult in the room’?
All I see so far are children, and totally corrupt children at that.
You said it, Rob, and – since you have 18 posts on this page alone – you should know.
Nothing worthwhile to say, glenn?
My ’18 posts’ (as you say) on this post are unusual. That’s because we are on the cusp of World War Three, and none of you egits on this blog seem to understand this, including the owner of the blog (Craig).
Death by ignorance.
It’s the worst way to die.
Oh, it’s the third world war now?
I thought it was all about Fukushima, and how that was going to kill us all with irradiation, cancer, and all sorts of stuff only you knew about.
Or was the more immediate danger my being put up against a wall and shot by your mates?
Sorry, Rob. You’re threating me with so many ways of dying, I’m not sure which I should be preparing for.
RobG
“Which leaves me to ask: who the feck does Craig work for? You sure as hell don’t work for us.”
______________________
Is that not an egregiously silly comment?
WTF makes you think that Craig should work for you (or anyone else on this blog for that matter) – whatever you mean by “work”?
You are beginning to come across as a second Macky – having been rebuked by Craig you are now beginning to specialise in swiping at him.
Grow up.