In 2 separate surveys released today, research groups Plimsoll & Euler Hermes have underlined the perilous state of the UK haulage industry, one of the bellwethers of the country's economic wellbeing.
Despite these, and many, many other indicators, the dying government will increase fuel duty by 2p per litre from midnight tonight, thus threatening the livelihoods of thousands of people employed, both directly and indirectly, in the transport sector.
Still, what else can we expect from this shower who, having mortgaged the country to the hilt to try to jumpstart the economy, are now desperate for tax revenue to meet their repayment obligations.
Monday 31 August 2009
Friday 7 August 2009
Throw Another Sausage On The Barbie
In one of today's most welcome stories a British tourist had his genitals burned in a Greek bar, having waved them at several Greek women & then allegedly groped the woman, who then responded by throwing her glass of Sambuca over the offending part, before setting light to it.
At last, a British yob gets his just desserts. The only down side is that she didn't have a bottle of Sambuca to hand.
The woman is, understandably, seen as a heroine in Greece, although she has been arrested for assault. Let's hope he's prosecuted too, and then deported.
At last, a British yob gets his just desserts. The only down side is that she didn't have a bottle of Sambuca to hand.
The woman is, understandably, seen as a heroine in Greece, although she has been arrested for assault. Let's hope he's prosecuted too, and then deported.
Sunday 28 June 2009
Meanwhile In The Downing Street Bunker...
In the last few weeks, in populist moves bordering on the pathetic, the unelected Prime Minister has expressed his concern about the health of Susan Boyle & his spokesman said on Friday that Brown's thoughts were with Michael Jackson's family.
A Sunday Times/YouGov poll, published on 14th June shows that 74% think Brown is doing badly as Prime Minister, 80% think the economy is in a bad way and 43% fear that a close member of their family will lose their job. Personally, I have never known the country to be so angry and fearful of the future yet the Prime Minister can find time to issue statements about American citizens.
Perhaps the country wouldn't be in such a state if Brown turned his thoughts to rebuilding this country instead of trying to appear to be a man with his finger on the pulse of pop culture.
A Sunday Times/YouGov poll, published on 14th June shows that 74% think Brown is doing badly as Prime Minister, 80% think the economy is in a bad way and 43% fear that a close member of their family will lose their job. Personally, I have never known the country to be so angry and fearful of the future yet the Prime Minister can find time to issue statements about American citizens.
Perhaps the country wouldn't be in such a state if Brown turned his thoughts to rebuilding this country instead of trying to appear to be a man with his finger on the pulse of pop culture.
Thursday 30 April 2009
Money, Money, Money
Recently the five West Yorkshire councils revealed how they spent their windfall cash benefits from the sale of Leeds Bradford Airport.
Leeds is spending some of its cash on its new concert arena, better swimming facilities and refurbishment of landmark theatres; Bradford spent its funds in city regeneration, improved health facilities and allocated £33000 to each of its wards to spend on smaller community projects; Kirklees spent its cash to provide free cavity and loft insulation to homes across the district; Calderdale modernised a waste recycling facility and built new swimming pools.
Wakefield's money, on the other hand, disappeared into general funds. The Labour run council chose not to spend its windfall on a project to improve the district, such as a swimming pool, nor did it use the cash to reduce the council tax burden on each of us.
As well as their foresight and desire to improve the lot of their citizens, these other councils have something else in common; not one of them, unlike Wakefield, is controlled by Labour.
Leeds is spending some of its cash on its new concert arena, better swimming facilities and refurbishment of landmark theatres; Bradford spent its funds in city regeneration, improved health facilities and allocated £33000 to each of its wards to spend on smaller community projects; Kirklees spent its cash to provide free cavity and loft insulation to homes across the district; Calderdale modernised a waste recycling facility and built new swimming pools.
Wakefield's money, on the other hand, disappeared into general funds. The Labour run council chose not to spend its windfall on a project to improve the district, such as a swimming pool, nor did it use the cash to reduce the council tax burden on each of us.
As well as their foresight and desire to improve the lot of their citizens, these other councils have something else in common; not one of them, unlike Wakefield, is controlled by Labour.
Wednesday 8 April 2009
Planet Westminster
Today on the Jeremy Vine Show the unelected Prime Minister waxed lyrical about how some banks, including HBOS & RBS (the ones we own!) were being forced to increase the amount of their lending to UK businesses, and that the cost of crude oil was falling, both events being of benefit to the country during this recession.
I'd like to suggest to him that he briefly descends from Planet Westminster and talks to real people in real businesses. Very good companies are failing on a daily basis because banks won't lend to help with tight cash flow, and the price of diesel has crept well above £1.00 per litre.
The reality is that lending is not happening, and fuel costs continue to rise.
I'd like to suggest to him that he briefly descends from Planet Westminster and talks to real people in real businesses. Very good companies are failing on a daily basis because banks won't lend to help with tight cash flow, and the price of diesel has crept well above £1.00 per litre.
The reality is that lending is not happening, and fuel costs continue to rise.
Saturday 7 March 2009
Cowardy Custard
Under the headline The Moment That Cheered Up Britain the Daily Mail published a photo of Lord Mandelson being doused in green custard.
Although I detest this deceitful and useless government I could not disagree more with the Daily Mail's opinion.
What actually happened was a government minister was the victim of an assault, and the assailant got away without arrest. She later tried to justify her assault by saying When democracy is failing you have to resort to any means necessary as long as it is peaceful and does not harm other human beings. Her actions were neither peaceful nor harmless, and our democratically elected leaders can be influenced in other ways, like through the ballot box.
The assailant, Leila Deen, has actually put back her cause by several years, and she will have made it more difficult for the sensible majority to have such easy access to those in power.
Although I detest this deceitful and useless government I could not disagree more with the Daily Mail's opinion.
What actually happened was a government minister was the victim of an assault, and the assailant got away without arrest. She later tried to justify her assault by saying When democracy is failing you have to resort to any means necessary as long as it is peaceful and does not harm other human beings. Her actions were neither peaceful nor harmless, and our democratically elected leaders can be influenced in other ways, like through the ballot box.
The assailant, Leila Deen, has actually put back her cause by several years, and she will have made it more difficult for the sensible majority to have such easy access to those in power.
Friday 20 February 2009
Midnight Blue...
Usually, my infrequent posts have been about political injustice, but tonight I feel the need to write about something different.
Growing up in the 1970s & 80s my favourite band was ELO, and I was therefore saddened to read today of Kelly Groucutt's death at only 63. Although the band had several bass players throughout their existence, Kelly was in the group during their most successful years. I remember seeing them for the first (and as ELO) only time in December 1991 on a very snowy night at the NEC in Birmingham. Kelly actually walked through the auditorium before the concert started, only feet from me!
In later years I also had the pleasure of seeing Kelly as part of ELO Part II, in smaller venues as their audience dwindled.
Kelly is, I think, the first ELO member from the glory years to pass away, and it makes me feel a little sadder tonight.
RIP Kelly
Growing up in the 1970s & 80s my favourite band was ELO, and I was therefore saddened to read today of Kelly Groucutt's death at only 63. Although the band had several bass players throughout their existence, Kelly was in the group during their most successful years. I remember seeing them for the first (and as ELO) only time in December 1991 on a very snowy night at the NEC in Birmingham. Kelly actually walked through the auditorium before the concert started, only feet from me!
In later years I also had the pleasure of seeing Kelly as part of ELO Part II, in smaller venues as their audience dwindled.
Kelly is, I think, the first ELO member from the glory years to pass away, and it makes me feel a little sadder tonight.
RIP Kelly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
