The Daily Teaser — 8-5-2015

Well, it’s official.

We now have a Tory government in the UK.

Frankly?   Well, frankly, and personally, I’m not surprised.

Either at Tory winnings.   Or the Labour defeat.

I’m pleasantly surprised that the Scottish Nationalists have done as well as they have: they’ve taken 56 seats out of 59.   Which means that they will hold huge influence in Westminster.

And will hopefully do a lot of good, there.

The non-surprise for me?

Is how badly the Liberal Democrats have done: they’ve lost some 46 or so seats, on the current figures.

I’m very unsurprised.   I’m a lifelong Lib-dem voter.   One who, this time around, could not vote Liberal Democrat.

They slept with the enemy.

I couldn’t vote Liberal Democrat, after that.   Neither, it seems, could many others.

Elections are like that: they’re the one guaranteed form of karma, going.

~≈fl≈~

A European Referendum: Some Thoughts

Can I make a confession, please?

If that's OK with you?

I believe I'm not racist.

No, stop laughing!

I honestly feel I have no issues with those of us who are of a different ethnic group to myself.

Whether my Afro-Caribbean or Asian neighbours would agree with me, there, is another matter: but I don't think they've any complaint on that front.

There's a reason I say this.

It's because I'm about to get very contentious, during this post: and tell you about something I'm thinking of doing, come next year's election. 

I'm also going to to tell you I have no problem with immigration to the UK.

I welcome it, believing it to have made the people of the UK stronger, as a whole.

I say this, because I'm VERY aware that my next statement will get many of my readers assuming - wrongly - that I have an issue with race or ethnicity, that I believe myself not to have.

I'm thinking of voting for UKIP, at the next General election.

~≈∏≈~

True Grit.

Hmm …

I’m thinking the word, here … ?

Is grit.

Yes, I know you were thinking “What did he say … ?”

Grit.

So you know.

At ANY rate, we’ve had the first batch of snow overnight,

Not much, thankfully.

But enough for me to want to make use of the grit I’d manage to pick up from local Lib-Dem County Councillor, David Kendall.

OK, granted that could be washed out if we get rain, rather than the predicted sleet or snow, tonight.

But if nothing else … ?

Well, if nothing else, here’s hoping it helps.

BBC News - Nick Clegg: Lords reform plans to be abandoned

BBC News - Nick Clegg: Lords reform plans to be abandoned

You know, I really don’t get political: I really don’t.

Which is possibly the BIGGEST amount I’ve ever written on here … !

I’m human.

And, as a famed philosopher once said, man is a political animal.

Well, he would’ve said ‘humanity is’, but you know what I mean.

At ANY rate … !

I don’t often get political.

But I’m also aware I’ve posted up the occasional piece that’s politically inclined.

Especially at the time of the last general election: when, to my personal disgust, the Liberal-Democrats — the party I’ve voted for all of my adult life — formed a coalition with the seriously right-wing Conservative Party.

As the junior party, I should add.

I wasn’t happy: and was left with the impression that not many other Lib Dem voters were, either.

So recent news — that the coalition partnership wasn’t a happy ship, in regards to House of Lords reform — had been something I was following.

Basically, the Liberal Democrats were hoping to make the Upper house of Parliament into a largely elected — rather than appointive — one.

Something that the Conservatives have blocked.

Now, I’m STILL none too convinced is Lords reform is something that should be done.

But on the other hand, the Lib Dems raise a good point in saying that it should be.

As a result, Nick Clegg has announced, tonight, that he and his party will seek to delay Conservative plans to redraw the constituency map of the UK — a key Tory policy — until AFTER the next general election, in 2015.

Personally … ?

I’m thinking the Liberal Democrats should learn their lesson: that ANY kind of coalition with the tories is a futile one: and that the time has come to pull out of it.

Here’s hoping.

Cash: Money, Elections and Campaigning like a Trooper.

You know, it’s REALLY not that often I get political, it really isn’t.

Actually … ?

It’s not that often I ask for money, either.

Although I’d say my mother would possibly disagree, there.

At ANY rate, you’ve probably worked out that there’s local elections up and coming in Brentwood, on the 3rd of May.

And that a friend of mine, Karen Chilvers, is standing as a Lib-Dem candidate.

And frankly … ?

Hmmm … How do I this … ?

Needs funds …

Here’s the letter she sent me …

Dear Paul

The night of 5/6 May, 2011 was one of the most difficult of my life. Just after midnight, I learned that I had lost out on being your councillor for another four years. I missed out by just 10 votes.

That result came at the end of the bitterest fight Brentwood has ever seen. The Tories stooped to new lows in their leaflets. They were so bad that they had to publish an apology for what they had said.

I really don’t want to repeat that night. I’m back again, determined to replace that memory with a win on 3rd May, 2012.

People are pleased that I am fighting to stop the Tory-led council allowing excess building in the area. They are also shocked that the council has, yet again, published its accounts late and cost residents thousands as a result. But there is a problem.

My agent, Ian Gale, has costed my campaign, and tells me we are “a little short” of the funds we need to pay for the campaign we have already planned. So I need your help - now.

With your support, we can make sure the Tories don’t buy the result here in Brentwood. They regularly spend twice as much as we do locally.

I’m asking you to give £25 — or more if you can. Otherwise, their is a real danger that we will have to cut back our plans on May 3rd.

Remember: I was just 10 votes short, last year. A tiny swing will win us the election. Every pound you give — or leaflet you deliver — could make the difference.

Thanks, again, for supporting me. We can get the result we want, here,on 3rd May.

With Best Wishes

Karen Chilvers,

Brentwood West Liberal Democrat Candidate.

There …

Now, that’s that letter she sent: and bear in mind here, that she lost the election by 10 votes: I couldn’t help but notice there were 9 people who objected to the Brunel House development, including myself.

Which will hopefully help.

»»·««

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I think I’m actually not going to ask you to give me money: although you’re welcome to, if you want to.

Cash, for preference … !

But on a SERIOUS note

I’m ACTUALLY going to ask you to give Karen your money: if, of course, funding local politics — or a Liberal-Democrat candidate — is something you think you’re comfortable with.

You can drag and drop the form over to you desktop, print it out, fill it out and send it to:

Karen Chilvers,

Liberal Democrats,

FREEPOST,

RLXE-JXLS-YCSU,

Brentwood.

CM14 4XR

Or, if you’re feeling digital, you can visit this link, and make a donation via PayPal.

Have fun.

Dear Mr Clegg ...

Hmmm ...

You know, I've got to admit, I'm actually writing this post from Brentwood Library.

Or started it, there, I may finish it, back indoor.

But I'm trying to at least get out of the house and do some exercise, each day.

Doctor's orders and all of that ... !

‹‹•››

But at ANY rate ... ?

At any rate, I thought I'd quickly highlight this news item from the BBC.

Just to summerise, Britain's Deputy Prime Minister - and leader of the Liberal Democrat half of Britain's coalition government -has announced a scheme to use one billion pounds to help assorted youngster back into employement.

Or, at least, help employers pay them.

I'll happily admit, it's a very worthy scheme, it really is.

On the downside, though ... ?

On the downside is the simple practical question I'd like to ask him.

Where's the equivalent billion of public money, for the older unemployed people, like me, who are ALSO finding it tough to get a job?

I really do HATE to sound selfish, I really do.

But I think I'd like an answer, there.

Any Politics … ?

Hmmmm …

I think I’ve had a morning.

OK, I’ve had a morning: practically everybody today will have a morning, at some point.

What I mean is … …

I’ve had something of an interesting morning.

If you know your politics … ?

You probably have worked out who that is, sitting next to Councillor Chilvers, in the bottom picture.

Maybe I should explain, here … ?

It would be helpful, wouldn’t it … ?

»»•««

Bless her, Councillor Chilvers had been in touch with me, a couple of days ago.

Seemingly, she’d made arrangement for someone she described as a “Senior Lib-Dem MP” would be visiting the Brentwood West ward: she’s one of the three councillors for the area, so you know.

And quietly emailed me to ask if I’d be interested in coming along.

Was I … ?

Given* how sceptical about I’d been about the party I’ve voted for all my life being in coalition with the party I’ve always seen as the enemy … ?

Hell, yes!

It was rather tempting to take some tomatoes along, I will admit that … !

Obviously, the next confession … ?

Is whether I was nervous.

Wasn’t I just.

Sitting here at my desk, right now, I’m confident to admit I’m not sure whether I made a good impression or not.

I’m burbling, aren’t I … ?

At any rate, I was at the local Premier Inn, today, to meet and greet the Liberal Democrat party president, Tim Farron, M. P.

Who I’ve got to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by: he came across as very affable.

And very Lancastrian, I should add: not surprising, according to his Wikipedia entry he was born in Preston.

I have to admit, I was both nervous: and wondering whether I was coherent …

I’m hoping I managed to get across the fact that — having grown up during the 1980s, as Mr Farron had, himself — I’d seen many countries in Europe — those using versions of Proportional Representation — form coalition governments.

And that I was definitely not happy about that … !

Now, I’ll be honest, here, and give Tim his due. He managed to stress his point he felt it was a good thing for the country: and also point out that the Alternative Vote system is one his party’s hoping to introduce in their planned reforms of the House of Lords.

Hmmm …

Now I’m none too sure I’m completely reassured by that: the one thing for reform is to make sure the Upper House is truly democratic. Against is the fact it works, and has done for years.

But will give him his due, in trying to make the effort to be persuasive.

He also managed to quote a Dutch Liberal MP who visited the Lib-Dem parliamentary party, just before the election: one who’d been flattering the fact the UK’s party had kept their hands clean.

Clean, but empty.

As he said, himself, that’s not the case in government: those hands aren’t empty, or clean now.

»»•««

Just as a final point, at the moment.

I do know Tim gave us the Student tuition fees as an example of what he meant about clean/empty hands: he happily admitted they’s got they hands dirty.

Very, especially after pledging to oppose the moves.

He also stressed that part-time students wouldn’t be affected.

I’ve got to admit, I sent a quick text to my kid sister — Nephew Jude’s mum — Ruth.

She confirmed that.

And also admitted she’d have to abandon any plans, on financial grounds, if she was forced to do the course full-time.

Hmmm …

I’m hoping Tim’s reading this.

I’d love to know what he’d tell her.

* Karen was also very frank: she’d asked me and a local businessman called Chris along, as we’d both been sceptical about it.

WikiLeaks and Liberal Democrats

You know, I’ve got to admit, there’s been a lot going on, news wise, hasn’t there … ?

There has, hasn’t there … ?

On top of the on-going WikiLeaks story, here in the UK, we’ve also seen intense protests by students over the governments recent raising of tuition fees. And cutting of university budgets.

Now I’m not sure how I feel personally about that,

Although I do know that my two younger sisters — university graduates, both — wouldn’t be too happy about it, were they both still studying.

What gets me about it … ?

Is simply the fact that the Liberal Democrats — who I voted for at the general election — quite publicly broke a pledge to not do so, were they in government.

Now I know politicians can all too easily be accused of breaking promises.

But I can’t recall Labour or Conservatives being caught so flagrantly with — hoping Councillor Chilvers will forgive me — their pants down.

Way down, in this case.

And can’t help but think that, whatever the rights and wrongs of the student protests*, that many students who’ve peaceably and lawfully protested these changes can be forgiven for voting Labour at the next General Election.

I think they aren’t to blame if they feel betrayed.

«•»

Now, quickly back to WikiLeaks.

One thing that did catch my attention was this article, about how the Hacktivist group, Anonymous, are encouraging people to join what they call a ‘voluntary botnet’.

While the rebellious teen that I was, many years ago, can appreciate the efforts, I have one small question.

Are they stark, raving bonkers … ?

No, seriously … ?

Are they … ?

Questions aside about the legality of the software they’re suggesting people use — something called LOIC — I can’t see any one sensible installing something that hands over control of their machines to someone else.

No matter how laudable the other person’s intentions.

I think I’m going to suggest people sign a petition, instead …

* Lord knows there are rights and wrongs: I’m also thinking the protest organisers were a touch naïve not to realise that vary shades of anarchist protest-hijackers would totter along. I’m also wondering what twit in the Royal Protection Squad let Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall out, without checking on what was going on. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always had the impression that some of our more left-wing brethren use the phrase ‘Royal Family’ as an alternative to ‘target’. And keep handy eggs around. But that’s just me.

Just as a Quick Opinion …

And it literally is going to be quick.

At least, I hope so.

There are some posts I never no how long they’re going to go on for, when they start, I really do … !!

A t any rate, something I know I happened to see float past on the BBC News channel, when I was posting up today’s Teaser, was an article about former Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy.

Whom the Lib-dem leadership have denied is in talks with the Labour party about defecting.

APPARENTLY, Mr Kennedy, himself, isn’t available for comment.

But given his own abstention, when the Coalition deal was put before Liberal Democrat MPs … ?

Well, I’m surprised a story like this hasn’t come up, before now.

And equally surprised that no-one’s mentioned the SDP …

‹‹‹•›››

At any rate, while we’re on the subject of politics … ?

I’m very aware that the coalition government’s been spreading around the idea of us — the public — suggesting ideas to help them cut government spending.

And can’t help but wonder why I didn’t think to float ’round the relevant sites to see what I could see.

And I’m kicking myself in not putting this one up, myself.

Oy VEH!!!!

‹‹‹•›››