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.

~≈∏≈~

Nigel Evens, MP

Do you follow the news, at all … ?

I’m fairly sure you do.

I’m also fairly sure that — as I — you have various bits of news that catch your eye.

One that’s caught my eye, in the past few days … ?

Is the news that MP, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Nigel Evans, has been acquitted of several counts of rape and sexual assault: a case that followed on from several similar trials — and acquittals — of men in the public eye.

Congratulations to him.

But one thing about his acquittal has caught my eye.

His claimed belief that Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service should pay his bills.

My first thought, there … ?

Was “Excuse ME … ?”

~≈Á≈~

Elected … !

Hmmm … 

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’m actually finding Mike Oldfield’s Ommadawn a touch on the moreish side.

The more I hear it, the more I’m liking it.

Although, granted, the more I’m ALSO getting the urge to Morris dance, but the less said, the better, I think.

‹‹‡››

But let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

I’ve got to admit, I’ve been seriously keeping an eye on this years local elections.

And wishing Karen Chilvers well for it!

Here’s hoping!

But at any rate … ?

I’ve got to admit, I’ve had a leaflet from Joan Holmes, the Conservative candidate for the area, and someone I’ve very little time for: ever since this little incident.

There’s several things I could say.

But one thing does strike me about Councillor Holmes flyer: the fact she highlights she’s the only candidate to live in her ward.

Good for her.

But I’m ALSO very aware that her fellow Conservative candidate — Margaret Brehaut, who’s standing in Shenfield — doesn’t.

She lives in Great Bentley*.

Near Colchester, miles away from Brentwood.

Now, I hate to sound picky, here, I really do.

But I think Councillor Holmes really shouldn’t be making an issue of exactly where she — or others — lives in the ward.

Especially when one of her colleagues is from seriously outside of the area she represents.

*        I know I may ghet in trouble for publishing that.   But I’d also ask anyone thinking of saying anything to me also say it to BT.   AND to Councillor Brehaut: she may wish to go ex-directory.

Eric Pickles: Possibly At It Again

You know, every-so-often, you HAVE to ask questions, don’t you?

Don’t you … ?

“Do you want fries with that?” is a perfectly valid one, for example: although obviously, only in very specific circumstances. (None of which will involve Clint Eastwood saying “Well? DO ya … ?”)

“How did that photo get THAT size,” is another: I wish I knew, I’d be able to do something about it!

And a third … ?

Actually, a third is all about Brentwood and Ongar’s much loved MP, Communities secretary, Eric Pickles.

And I’ve got to admit, the question in question is “HOW MUCH … ?”

Because I’ve got to admit, I’ve just seen this article on The Guardian’s website — there’s a hoop or two to jump through, first though, they don’t make it easy … — and that’s the first thing I thought.

Whatever else one says of the man — and in person, he’s somewhat affable — I’m thinking if he’s paying that sort of money* to one man, for barely a year’s work, I have a couple more questions to ask.

Firstly … ?

“If you’re paying THAT much, Eric, will you be giving the likes of me a jobº?”

And secondly … ?

Secondly, given that Mr P’s noted for giving local councils hell in a bucket for overspends?

Secondly, I’d have to ask this:

“Mr Pickles, how do you justify paying one of your staff members that money: when it’s more than Joanna Killian — Essex County Council Chief Executive — got for the same sort of periodª?”

After all, he DOES encourage councils to spend less: he should SURELY do likewise.

Actually, there’s a thirdly, as well.

“Mr Pickles? Where EXACTLY did that money come from?”

Because if that’s public money, I think we have a right to complain …

* £580, 000, just over half a million, for 16 months: which works out at something like £36, 000 per month. Hell, I’ll work for THAT … !

º I refer my honourable readers to the footnote just above this one! (Actually, Debbi, Nina, I don’t how much that is in Euros or dollars: but it‘s not exactly potato peelings.)

ª Going by this article, she got £289,173 for 2010 to 2011: £385, 564 would be the equivalent figure for the 16-month period. (IE from January 2010 to April of this year. I divided her pay by 12, then multiplied it by 16, to get that figure.)

Visiting Big(Non)wigs …

Hmmm …

Now, I don’t know if I’ve made an impression, or not.

I hope I have …

But suspect I haven’t.

You know, you’d POSSIBLY be thankful if I actually told you why, wouldn’t you … ?

»»·««

But at ANY rate … ?

I’ve got to admit, my street got a badly timed visit from Brentwood’s MP, Eric Pickles, this morning.

Badly timed, you say … ?

Well, yeah.

I’d run out of tomatoes.

And as I said earlier … ?

I’m none too sure if he’ll remember, but I’m hoping he will.

Because …

Well, I’ll be frank, here, if I may, I’ve always been something of a fan of the basic idea of open source source software and operating systems.

Operating systems in particular.

I’ve always liked the idea that there’s should be more than one choice for ways to run a computer: I’ve always suggested Ubuntu as a very user friendly Linux distro, for example, to any who’ve asked.

Now in the past, the current Chancellor, George Osbourne has always spoken well of using open source software … but never seemingly done much about it.

So, me being me … ?

I handed him a copy of Ubuntu 11•04.

Complete with making the point it’s free software.

And the (only mildly bitchy) point that as he’s using a version of Windoze on hit by now notorious £7, 000 laptop, he’s handed control of his machine to Bill Gates.

A foreign power, if you chose to look at it that way.

His reply was a “Well it could …”

I’ve got to admit, I told him — politely enough, I think — that there wasn’t a could about it.

So …

Well, I don’t know if Eric Pickles is reading this.

But I’d dare him — if he is — to use that Ubuntu live disc on an older machine he, parliament or party headquarters may have access to.

And use that machine as his main working machine, for a week or so, to make himself familiar with it and the software it contains.

And to see how much use he can get from it.

And then starting costing replacing Windozes.

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.

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!!!!

‹‹‹•›››

Political Footballing …

You know, I’ve got admit, I’ve got BBC 4 on, in the background.

There’s a fascinating show being presented by Stephen Fry, about Richard Wagner.

Amazing watch: although, I’ll admit, Wagner’s not someone’s who’s work I’ve chosen to explore, given his reputation.

°°°°°

Which Mr Fry’s just covering, now: as he says, himself, it’s not a comfy area for him, as he’s Jewish.

Phew …

Heavy going stuff.

°°°°°

At any rate, that wasn’t I was going to tell you about, tonight …

What I was going to say was that — Sunday just gone — I got an email from Councillor David Kendall’s, who’s one of the Lib-Dem councillors for Brentwood, and also stood as the Brentwood and Ongar Lib-Dem PPC.

Or Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, if you want the full term …

At any rate, here’s what he sent me …

Hi Paul

I saw the e-mail you sent to our website regarding your take on the coalition. I can understand that not all Lib Dem voters are going to be supportive or in agreement with what has happened, but from talking to members of our parliamentary team I know the options open to us were limited.

I am sure many Lib Dem voters would have liked to have seen a centre left coalition with Labour, but the votes cast and numbers of MP's didn't stack up. I also get the feeling that a number of died in the wool Labour MP's were less than enthusiastic about the prospect of working with the Lib Dems in a coalition so it never looked likely to get off the ground.

What would you have liked to have seen happen ?

What are your main concerns about the coalition ?

If you voted Lib Dem for the General and the Borough Council elections what made you give us your support ?

I'm not sure I'll be able to provide the answers your looking for but I'll do my best.

Regards

David

Cllr David Kendall

And here’s what I replied …

Hi, David, and thanks for the email

Let’s get that last question out of the way, shall we … ?

I’ve got to confess, I’ve vote Lib-Dem for most of my life, now: most of the time, I see meself as being left-wing enough to vote for you, but not left-wing enough to vote Labour. And too left-wing for voting Conservative.

Actually, I’ve got to admit, I’m one of that generation that grew up, under Thatcher. And, while I could see some appeal in the woman, I also felt that I, as your fairly average working person, I could never seen her government offering much for me, as I’m neither a small business-man, nor someone who stood to benefit much from her policies.

I’m also thinking that growing up in Brentwood — safe Tory seat that it’s been for the last 3 decades or so — also showed me I had little in common either with the average Tory voter in the area, or with the local Labour party.

Who’ve never grabbed /much/ attention, ’round here.

And didn’t grab mine, to be frank. (An old school friend, Mark — or Mark Young, to give him his full name, I think he was a labour ppc at one point — one asked me what I thought of something that had come up at his local Young labour meeting: someone had suggested a Billy Bragg concert benefit gig for the Brentwood labour party. Much as I like some of Bragg’s poppier stuff, I couldn’t help but laugh in his face: ’round here, that would’ve been a major non-event, somehow.)

So the basic background to my support of the Lib-Dems is partly the fact that that’s how I’ve grown up.

But also the combination of three factors.

Firstly, I think that the changing of the tax threshold to £10, 000 directly affected — and benefited — me. Most of my working life, I’ve not had to sort of job that goes over minimum wage, so that … ? THAT I could vote for.

The second one factor was the change of voting system. As I’ve already said, I’m a lifelong Lib-dem voter, so my my vote — going on my party, as it were — being able to boost the party’s chances at becoming more of a force in Parliament can only be something of a good thing.

And thirdly, the simple fact that — as Nick Clegg, himself has stated — the 2010 election represented a serious chance of genuine change

•••••

As for what I think could have happened … ?

Hmmmm …

You know, I’m really not too sure.

I had a couple of possible ideas. Or maybe I should say hopes.

One was quite simply something I remember Sir David Steele expressing a hope for, back in the 1980s: the party quite simply if nothing else, becoming the Official Opposition. Not a realistic hope, I know, but one I would liked to have seen.

As to a coalition … ?

Well, I’ve got to admit, I kind of guessed that one with the torys was going to be inevitable, before the results were announced.

After all, the BBC’s coverage made it perfectly clear that a coalition with Labour was a complete non-starter: I think the impression I got wasn’t so much about Labour party objections … but the various phone calls that Nick Clegg with Gordon Brown were … contentious, let’s put it like that.

Not something that the mixture of Clegg and Cameron seems to suffer from.

•••••

As to what I would’ve liked to have seen happen?

Hmmm …

Well, personally, I’d’ve hoped for a stronger parliamentary position. That’s a first.

Secondly?

I’m a realist.

I know perfectly well that going into coalition with David Cameron’s tory party was a much more viable ">option than going into coalition with Labour, given both the numbers, and the fact that Nick Clegg and David Cameron seem to have a much more amiable working relationship than was reported between Nick Clegg and Gordon Brown.

But may I be blunt?

I feel that that — given the two parties histories — is a deal with the devil. I’d’ve been a lot happier if we’d gone right back into ">opposition.

•••••

So, questions.

Questions, questions, questions …

Hmmm …

Dozens, possibly …

But I’ll try and keep it to a minimum.

First off, let me get my pet bugaboo out of the way, first … !

I’m a blogger.

And quiz fan.

And former pub-quiz master.

And technology watcher.

That’s a key one, for me.

Now I think you’d’ve possibly guessed I’ve already written to both Brentwood Council, Essex Council, and the Brentwood Gazette about the use of open source software in Essex libraries, in schools and anywhere else.

Here’s my first question.

What are you — both as an individual Liberal Democrat, a councillor and representative of of your party — planning to do, both nationally and locally to promote open-source software by councils and national government. AND political parties, I should add.

That’s my first one.

Secondly …

Well …

I think it’s a fairly simple question.

I want to know what your party’s coalition government is going to do for me.

Actually do, rather than promise.

—————

Hmmmm …

Now, I’d probably — if I were less tired — probably be wanting to say more. A lot more.

But I do know I’ve not heard back from him, just yet.

Here’s hoping I here something a touch more definite than a speech a certain someone gave, today …

—————