Global Warning & THE PLAN

2008 is the global 10th coldest year since records began in 1850 (source WMO).

Why do I make that statement? I believe GLOBAL WARMING is an excuse to Tax the hilt out of all us and politicians along side their bureaucrats refuse to tell us the truth. Roger Helmer MEP has written alternative article in the “The European Journal” (http://www.europeanfoundation.org/) he brings up the problem of Wind Electricity which will be 14% dearer, its environmental benefits are debatable and in some cases where they dig up peat bogs to erect these monstrosities they release more carbon so that any net carbon benefit from the wind farm is lost. If you go to his web site you will find video speech he gives on the subject which is well worth a look.

My main thrust is one Politicians very rarely, if ever, listen to the voters if they did three things would have happened 1) Hanging would be brought back 2) we would have left the EU 3) There would be more prisons with longer sentences, I personally do not agree with hanging but on every occasion they have a survey a large % vote for its return. Our Government and Parliament treat us like retarded children who do not understand anything, when I was a councillor many years ago I asked a leading politician “was it his job to represent the views of his constituents” his answer was “NO” he maintained it was his duty to do what was best for his constituents. What arrogance best meant what he considered best is that democracy?

Democracy to me is when the Majority decide our destiny. So how can our system of Government be called a Democracy? At the last election 47% of the population voted from that 47%, 37% voted Nu Labour the government of today, a government who has overall majority and can not be voted down. That is to say approx 17% of the population voted for our present Government to me that is a dictatorship, what if we changed to Proportional Representation or made voting compulsory that may make Parliament look different but it still puts total power in the hands of MP’s for a maximum of 5 years with the people having no say in between and the EU is the Ultimate Democratic Dictatorship instead of our Leaders getting power via the Gun they get it by the voting system either way the ordinary man is powerless.

I have but given up on this country and resigned myself that the UK had Europe had slipped into a Kid Glove dictatorship which will eventually implode either by violent revolution or by the corruption of the system itself, that has already started with the credit crunch but I had some cheer when I purchased a book The Plan: Twelve months to renew Britain
by Douglas CarswellDaniel Hannan
THE PLAN
The British state is failing. The government has taken more than £1.2 trillion in additional taxation since 1997, yet still fails to discharge its primary functions competently. Our schoolchildren compare dismally with their contemporaries in other countries; our healthcare system is likelier to kill its charges than any other in the EU; we have the highest prison population in Europe and one of the highest crime rates; we have lost control of our borders; our transport infrastructure is overloaded. The current financial crisis, exacerbated by Britain's indebtedness and by the high spending of the quango state, is just the latest manifestation of a deeper malfunction.
The book goes on to suggest the following:

Scrapping all MPs' expenses except those relating to running an office and travel from the constituency

Selecting candidates through open primaries

Local and national referendums

"People's Bills", to be placed before Parliament if they attract a certain number of signatures

Placing the police under locally elected Sheriffs, who would also set local sentencing guidelines (I wrote suggesting the same thing many months ago)

Appointing heads of quangos, senior judges and ambassadors through open hearings rather than prime ministerial patronage

Devolving to English counties and cities all the powers which were devolved to Edinburgh under the 1998 Scotland Act

Placing social security, too, under local authorities

Making councils self-financing by scrapping VAT and replacing it with a Local Sales Tax

Allowing people to pay their contributions into personal healthcare accounts, with a mandatory insurance component

Letting parents opt out of their Local Education Authority, carrying to any school the financial allocation that would have been spent on their child

Replacing EU membership with a Swiss-style bilateral free trade accord

Requiring all foreign treaties to be ratified by Parliament

Scrapping the Human Rights Act withdrawing from the ECHR and guaranteeing parliamentary legislation against judicial activism

A "Great Repeal Bill" to annul unnecessary and burdensome laws


Now this looks like democracy “For the People by the People” the book can be purchased on Amazon, I hope you all read it but more importantly I hope our Politicians read it

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Is Prof David Gilborn a Racist?

Last Sunday ( December 28th) there was a programme on Radio 4 where Henry Bonsu investigates current debates about class and poverty in education policy, in the light of calls by Trevor Phillips, head of the Commission for Equalities and Human Rights, for Britain's white working class children to receive special educational funding, alongside other underachieving minorities. The programme was quite enlightening as I expected a diatribe about racist white people and we must feel sorry for our ethnic brothers. This was not the case it was interesting programme about trying to get children to achieve, although race was mentioned on the whole it was not in a racist manner until we heard from Professor David Gilborn who said the following “White identity has only been destructive and violent” he went on to say that to encourage Whiteness is a time bomb, a disaster waiting to happen. This Professor racist views about white people is a disgrace, his views on the Police Force left a lot to be desired as well, it seems that the BBC pander to these extremist and never give an alternative view.

Listen to the programme go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fzw11

CLEAR OFF 2008

Good Bye 2008 Thank God

I can honestly say that 2008 has been the worst year I have ever experienced why?
1) Lost my wallet losing several hundreds of pounds
2) Turned my Caravan over on the motorway nearly losing my life along side my wife
3) Insurance company refusing to pay out because they maintain I did not inform them of a change of Address.
4) Complained to Ombudsman in July still waiting for a decision
5) Damage to car £4700 Insurance paid approx £600 still awaiting a further £1700 some hope
6) Joint Replacement operation cancelled in May 24 hours before operation 2nd cancellation in 3
Years have been waiting nearly 6 years for operation,
7) New appointment given to see consultant in October agrees to do operation Pre assessment
Check 19th November cancelled till 28th November cancelled again till early part of December
Eventually given December 30th
8) Had flu jab but still got Flu
9) Can not walk more the 20 yards with out Knee pain and now keeps me awake at night

GOOD RIDDANCE TO 2008

Fat Cats Banker, City Spivs and Nu Labour

Who wants to live in Nu Labour UK

My wife runs a small HMO 4 Bedsits over the year she earns approx £9000 plus £1455 Senior Citizen Pension obviously out of this she has to pay expenses Gas, water, electric plus sundries. Not a massive amount, yet she has just been clobbered with a £1451.55p tax bill so all her pension has gone to fund Gordon Browns Coffers. One wonders why she bothers with the Bedsits she just as well shut down 2 make the occupants homeless and not pay any Tax, this will not happen because she has a conscience. Something Gordon Brown does not have , will he be bailing out all those who will lose their houses because they can no longer afford the mortgages NO but he is happy to Bail out Banks who along with him and his government are responsible for the mess we are in, the same Bank executives who earn in a week what my wife does in a year and will Gordon and his ministers plus all the MP’s suffer because of the credit crunch NO they will still get their salaries, their perks, their expenses and when they retire they will get their index linked pensions, oh and we must not forget all those Civil Servants who have guaranteed jobs for life at inflated pay. I was returning from St Petersburg Russia I had attended the World Sambo Championships (paid for by myself) and I overheard some Civil servants who had been to the City for a fact finding mission boasting because of the credit crunch they going to have a cheap Christmas. Next year you will see more and more people homeless, there will be more family break ups, crime will increase, more suicides all because of greedy incompetent bankers and a Government who was not prepared and did not save for the future.
Maybe I can make a suggestion every homeowner who can not afford the mortgage repayments should be allowed to hand back their house to the Mortgage Company with no penalty and then the mortgage company will allow them to stay at a reasonable rent. This will allow the occupants to live in a house they have built up, plus prevent a family breakdown, the mortgage company would be a winner because they now own the house and are collecting an income on the property and in 5 or 6 years time when the value of the house goes to what is owed they can sell it back to the owner. The original owner becomes a tenant and could be illegible for Housing Benefit which would be paid for by National Government not local Councils at least this way Nu Labour could be helping the ordinary working man rather then lining the pockets of Banking and City Spivs.

Martin Clarke East Street Sittingbourne

Home Information Packs a Waste of Time

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 15th December 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Swale’s property market hit even harder

Local Conservative Candidate, Gordon Henderson, says he is worried that Government action is harming Swale’s already seriously depressed housing market.

Mr Henderson’s comments follow an announcement by the Government that Home Information Pack (HIPs) regulations will be tightened, pushing up the costs for those Swale’s residents who are trying to sell their home. This will include forcing town halls to become more aggressive in issuing fines for breaching the burdensome rules. Home Information Packs became compulsory for all homes on 14 December 2007.

Government research into HIPs has recently found that there is minimal public knowledge and interest in HIPs; that the industry thinks they are a waste of time; that they duplicate costs and that buyers are not bothering to consult HIPs; yet bizarrely the Government has announced the following changes:-

· Heavy-handed fines: Town halls will be instructed to “identify specific cases of non-compliance and enforce the requirements”. This raises the prospect that Kent County Council will be forced to start fining Swale home owners £200 a time if they do not follow the rules.

· Making it more difficult to advertise your home: From April 2009, the Government is cancelling the “first day marketing” provisions. These allow sellers to place their home on the market if a HIP has been ordered, but has not yet been completed. The cancellation will be mean that sellers will have to wait longer before they can put their home on the market. They will be fined if they advertise their property without a HIP.

· Gold-plating the Packs: The time to complete a Pack will increase, as sellers must personally fill out a detailed new ‘Property Information Questionnaire’ as part of the Home Information Pack. Yet this will be of little interest to buyers, who will instinctively treat information provided by the seller with a touch of scepticism.

Mr Henderson said:
‘I am deeply worried about the local housing market. You only have to look in our local newspapers to see the crisis engulfing Swale. There are fewer houses for sale than I can ever remember and the value has plummeted for those that are advertised.

‘Not only are home owners being hit, but estate agents and local newspapers, who rely on property advertising for their survival, are going through a really tough time.

‘Information Packs have already harmed the market and discouraged sellers. The last thing Swale needs is the prospect of heavy-handed fines being levied on home owners.

‘The housing market is on its knees and Labour’s response is to make it more difficult and expensive to sell your home. That is absolute madness.

‘I honestly believe ministers should suspend HIPs. Such action would provide a shot in the arm to Swale’s ailing market, which is why I welcome the commitment by David Cameron that he will scrap Home Information Packs altogether if he becomes Prime Minister.’

Notes to Editors

Home Information Packs became compulsory for all homes in England & Wales on 14 December 2007. The Government’s latest plans for Home Information Packs were announced on 8 December 2008.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm081208/wmstext/81208m0001.htm#0812089001094

HIPS ARE A “WASTE OF TIME” SAYS GOVERNMENT RESEARCH

Parliamentary Questions have compelled Ministers to publish opinion research into Home Information Packs provided by polling firm GFK NOP, at a cost of £60,000. Almost 4,000 buyers, sellers and estate agents across the country were surveyed. It shows:

Alarm over the worsening economy and rising cost of living: The report reveals:
· “Uncertainty and lack of confidence in economy and housing market was top of mind for buyers and sellers” (p.6).
· “Economic concern felt across South, Midlands and North: Caution – fear of negative equity; concern over ability to repay; Concern regarding economic climate, impact now being felt; recession anticipated; cost of everyday living increasing” (p.8).

Minimal public knowledge and interest in HIPs:
· “Amongst buyers and sellers: awareness, knowledge and understanding of HIPs poor; lack of engagement, experience and interest in the HIPs process” (p.6).
· “Superficial awareness of HIPS; minimal knowledge and understanding; not sufficiently aware / interested enough to ask to see HIP; rarely shown HIP; not seeing advantages of seller paying; In London, concern over HIP cost when selling property in future” (p.11).
· “Dismissive: don’t see purpose… Neither buyers or sellers are proactively enquiring about HIPs” (p.13).

Packs are a waste of time:
· “[Amongst estate agents] Attitude: resigned… Majority perceive no benefit / tend to be negative / waste of time” (p.15).
· “Estate agents struggled to think of positive comments about HIPS” (p.17).

Buyers not consulting HIPs:
· “First time buyers: Little knowledge / indifferent… Buyers and sellers: More knowledge / dismissive… Estate agents: High understanding / resigned” (p.19).
· “Buyers/first time buyers: Majority not offered to see HIP; majority not asked to look at HIP; seen as … long, boring, technical” (p.21).

Duplicating costs
· “Estate agents… Concern over houses being on market for an extended length of time and HIP becoming out of date before sale agreed” (p.26).
· “Portability of HIPs raises potential problems… Sellers may have to pay for multiple HIPs, if they change estate agents” (p.34).

Full HIPs presentation: http://www.conservatives.com/pdf/SecretHIPsResearch.pdf

MORE WOES FOR HOME INFORMATION PACKS

· The independent Carsberg Review in June warned that HIPs were the “worst of both worlds”, adding to red tape and costs, but not providing reliable information. It warned that they were duplicating costs, since “a substantial number of conveyancers ignore its existence and recommission searches on receiving instructions from their buyer client”.

RICS, Sir Bryan Carsberg’s Review of Residential Property, June 2008, p.42.
http://www.rics.org/Practiceareas/Property/Residential/Market/spotlight.htm

· In May, property firm MDA estimated that over half of all buyers' solicitors ignore the HIPs searches and commission their own “to maintain due diligence for their client” and make up for the deficiencies in the HIP – much of the search information is voluntary, meaning the seller has no financial incentive to pay to include potentially negative information about the property.

MDA Press Release, 22 May 2008.
http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/May2008/22/c3008.html

· The Council of Mortgage Lenders requires mortgage lenders to ensure that a search is not more than six months old at completion. Hence, any search in a HIP practically has an extremely short shelf-life, requiring buyers to commission their own, even if they did trust the selective information in the HIP. In a falling market, when it is takes longer to sell a home, this is a particular problem.
http://www.cml.org.uk/handbook/Overview.aspx

· Analysis of the Government's own ‘area trials’ of the Packs, shows that a mere 8% of home buyers felt that HIPs had sped up the home buying process. Three-quarters of buyers felt that the Pack had no effect on their decision on what home to buy. The research by Ipsos-MORI reveals that buyers' solicitors felt that HIPs' “quality could not be trusted” and failed to offer buyers “sufficient protection”. This survey research was suppressed by embarrassed Government Ministers for months.

DCLG, Home Information Pack Area Trials - Research Report, March 2008.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/hipareatrials

· HIPs increase the cost of moving home, acting as a disincentive to sell. Ministers were warned by Oxford Economic Forecasting back in 2006 that HIPs would deter sellers and curtail the number of housing transactions, harming the economy (OEF, The Impact of Home Information Packs, 27 June 2006).

ENDS

IS Womens Hour Propaganda for Womens Lib?

I quite often listen to the Radio, I like current affairs programmes and telephone call in programs like the A.M production of TalkSport , mind you the latter programme has become really tame now that presenter John Gaunt was sacked for voicing his opinion so much for free speech. On Saturday I switched on a Review of the weeks “Women’s Hour” my first thought I can not listen to this but am glad I did.

First we had a Top American lady who was on John McCain’s Presidential Team a Carly Feriman (not sure of the spelling) she was asked whether women still had an up hill struggle when it cam to top jobs, she replied yes but instead of making excuses and condemning men she went on to say “So I had to work harder” Her best reply was “You want the best people for the job no matter what packaging it comes in” now there is a women to respect but I must add caveat: Could it be that some women are not good enough for the job? One thing she mentioned that business deals are done in Lap dancing Clubs and she felt it degrading that as women she was expected to attend clients at these venues, I think it is degrading for anyone to attend a place like this and the tax man she should not allow this type of cooperate entertainment as a legitimate tax deduction

Next came a piece featuring Rachel Cooke a reporter from the Observer, she was beside herself that 30% of women between 15 & 30 thought that women should stay at home and look after their home worse still 40% of all women said the same thing she felt flummoxed! I personally thought the figure would have or should have been higher. Then some other women complained it was taken for granted that women should look after children, she then inferred why men could not do it instead. Maybe she has never heard of the bond between Mother and Child something a man will never replace, a child needs it mother at those young years not a nanny. What annoyed me most was that I took this as insult to my own wife, I have been married for 38 years in that time we have had 3 children, 5 grandchildren, a nice house, a good business renting property and all of this has been done as a partnership (not the soppy name for people who live together and will not marry) a true partnership. The strength of our partnership was we both worked to our strengths my wife is an excellent home maker, mother and grandmother while I have a better eye for business, without the others strength we would not have succeeded. On many occasions her skills in being a homemaker has helped in the business.

The next was the funniest they had some of the Greenham Common women on, for those who can not remember them they were a bunch of women who lived in make do shelters for years around USA Cruise missile base at Greenham Common 25 years ago, their idea was to stop the Cruise Missiles with the hope that war would stop and mankind could live in peace. A worthy ideal and peaceful protest is a good thing but to stay for years and having the ignominy of failing is something else. Cruise Missiles were eventually removed from Greenham because of the collapse of the Soviet Union and Communism, the threat of the missiles helped do that, whether the collapse of the Soviet Union and all the problems that have gone with it, is for the betterment of mankind is for history to decide. Policing these women cost millions of pounds money which could have been spent on far better things. The funny part was when an archaeologist came on stating that they were excavating the site? after only 25 years. I expect they have even got a government grant for this important fact finding mission into our history so they can understanding the people of that era? Dare I make a suggestion that they look at TV reports, listen to archive radio talk to the people who were there. Yet they did have one interesting find it seems this strange tribe of women had different camps and one was for vegans, at the vegan camp they found an empty milk bottle! Could it have left by the Vegan Tribe or could it have been tossed out of a car window? Finally one of the Greenham Common women bragged how she stopped there for 5 years, where did she get the money to eat? THE DOLE who knows and to bring up children in those conditions was at best irresponsible, where were the Social Services when they are really needed
It was interesting to listen but once again a typical BBC programme with no balance


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

common sense

So the German Treasury Minister now agrees with David Cameron that when your in debt you pay of your debt by not spending COMMON SENSE one would have thought

Yet Gordon Brown tells us that we should spend spend IDIOT Of course he then tells the Germans they do not know what they are doing and the rest of the countries agree with him. Is that the rest of these countries who supposedly got us into this mess in the first place so their record is far from sound! Time for a change around.

Why is that Switzerland which is independent from all the various groups i.e. EU & USA and is very small country yet their economy grew by 3.1% last year and is expected to grow even more next year. So why Cannot GB and island Nation do exactly the same some hope their are to many people who are on the EU gravy train for that to happen

Pubs can Claim

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 7th December 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Swale’s pubs could claim rate relief – but don’t know it!

Local Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, this week warned that local pubs are being denied business rate cuts by the Government. Pub landlords could be paying thousands of pounds over the odds in tax, but are being kept in the dark by Government tax inspectors who want to avoid paying out tax refunds.

Mr Henderson’s warning follows a revelation earlier this year that tax inspectors were hiding the fact that hundreds of thousands of homes could be paying too much council tax. The tax officials kept quiet about the information to save money and save face.

· Five pubs closing every day: The British Beer & Pub Association has estimated that pubs are now closing at the rate of 36 a week - five a day and a number of local licensees have complained about a dramatic fall in income. Pubs are paying a heavy price for the smoking ban, fragile consumer confidence, higher beer taxes and increased competition from supermarkets.

· Government guidance on taxing pubs: Parliamentary Questions have brought to light unpublished internal guidance by the Valuation Office Agency (an arm of HM Revenue & Customs) on how local firms should be charged business rates. It admits that they have been giving out the wrong advice to firms on the effect of the smoking ban. Until recently, tax inspectors refused to give any business rate reduction for the loss of custom due to the ban. Their latest guidance now admits – thanks to advice from top lawyers – that the smoking ban represents a ‘material change’. Pubs can use this to make a claim for a lower ‘rateable value’ and so cut their yearly rates bill. For example, a £5,000 reduction in rateable value would save publicans £2,300 a year in tax.

· Local firms kept in the dark: Pubs can only apply for this tax cut if they make an appeal and fill out complex paperwork. The Government has made no announcement about potential refunds to local pubs across England and Wales.

Mr Henderson said:
‘Local pubs are a vital part of our social fabric and community life. Whilst big pub chains may be making money out of Labour’s new drinking laws, small everyday pubs are suffering from the combined onslaught of higher beer taxes, a weakening economy, supermarkets selling alcohol below cost price and the smoking ban.

‘Whatever people’s views on the smoking ban, it has had a major impact on many pubs. The Government’s own tax inspectors have now admitted that pubs may be eligible for refunds on their business rates, but Swale’s pub owners are being intentionally kept in the dark about this U-turn. This is yet another tax cover-up from the same inspectors who have conspired to hide council tax errors.

‘The least the Government could do is let people know when they can legitimately claim rate relief. Business rates are the third biggest cost to local firms after rent and staff costs. ’

Any local publican who wants more information can contact Mr Henderson on 01795 665251.
…ends…
Notes to Editors – see below

NEW TAX COVER-UP EXPOSED

Parliamentary Questions by Conservatives have forced the Government to publish its previously secret guidance on the effect of the smoking ban, and how premises should be rated for business rates.

“Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency’s non-domestic rating guidance, RAT IA, as amended to include advice on the smoking ban.

Mr. Timms: A copy of the Valuation Office Agency’s Rating Instruction and Advice reference 260106, which was updated to include advice on the Smoking Ban in June 2008, has been placed in the Library.”

Hansard, 28 October 2008, col. 888W.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081028/text/81028w0021.htm#08102878005871

Full document: http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-2542.pdf

Unlike council tax, business rates are based on the ‘rateable value’ of the property. For every pound that this rateable value is increased, the final business rates bill will be increased by 46% (the ‘multiplier’).
http://www.voa.gov.uk/Business_rates/rating-multipliers.htm

The Valuation Office Agency will consider a change in a firm’s rateable value if there has been a ‘material change of circumstance’. This guidance outlines to what extent the smoking ban constitutes such a material change:

“It was not considered that this change [the smoking ban] could constitute a MCC [material change of circumstance] and earlier versions of this advice reflected this. Advice from counsel now shows this view to be wrong that the ban on smoking can be a matter affecting the physical enjoyment of a hereditament” (Valuation Office Agency, MCCs and physical manifest, para 5.14)

“The previous CEO advice was that the ban does not represent a matter affecting the physical enjoyment of the public house because it can still be physically enjoyed as a public house. Smoking being merely an incidential activity by customers and not something which went to the heart of the beneficial use of a public house which would be the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises. However counsel advises that this is not the test.” (para 5.16)

“Given the ban affects the physical enjoyment of the premises, it would seem to follow that whilst it does not affect the physical state of other properties, i.e. those in the locality, it must, as if affects the physical enjoyment of the premises also be physically manifest there. In considering smoking ban proposals, VOs [valuation officers] need to envisage what rent would be have been paid for the hereditament at the AVD [original valuation date] assuming the ban was then in place affecting both the subject premises and other premises “ (para 5.18).

“Proposals citing the ban on smoking should be re-examined to see if they satisfy the general requirement for validity (including sufficient wording to identify the nature and date of the change, and, if so, it is recommended invalidity notices should now be withdrawn allowing discussions to proceed with a view to resolving the proposals” (para 5.19)

Hence, if a pub’s rateable value was decreased by, say, £5,000 due to the effect of the smoking ban, then the business rates bill would fall by £2,300 a year.

The British Beer & Pub Association has warned that pubs are now closing at the rate of 36 a week (BBPA press release, 8 September 2008).
http://www.beerandpub.com/newsList_detail.aspx?newsId=255

COUNCIL TAX COVER UP

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Labour Ministers and the Valuation Office Agency were intentionally hiding council tax banding errors to save money and save face. The delayed council tax revaluation exercise flagged up that many homes were currently wrongly banded and are paying over the odds (so-called ‘consequentials’). These errors could be corrected without a revaluation (as already happens if someone actively makes a council tax appeal).

Yet Ministers covered up this information – as the Government would lose money and have to pay tax refunds, and since it would generate “adverse press coverage” for Labour “in the current climate”. Blacked-out minutes, uncovered by Conservatives, explained:

“MJ questioned what action should be taken by Groups on consequentials identified following data enhancement. Concern was expressed about the possible knock on implications for billing authorities and adverse press coverage this could generate in the current climate. Action Point – TE to establish potential numbers involved with GVOs. Action will then be agreed with ODPM and Ministers”. (This item has been redacted, as it remains an ongoing policy issue).

Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation Programme Board (England) of 22 November 2005.
http://www.conservatives.com/pdf/DEP2008-0478-withfulltext.pdf

Obtained via Hansard, 19 February 2008, col. 613W.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080219/text/80219w0031.htm#0802211001653

NULABOUR

There must be an election soon as the NUlabour government have just announced 2 policy statements which make sense. Jack Straw the person who brought us the HUMAN RIGHTS act has now realised it doesn’t work and has decided to try and change it to incorporate a HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY clause and they also have decided to clamp down on giving Council house to immigrants, they will have to wait 10 years. When will these reforms be introduced your guess is as good as mine NEVER I expect.


We are in recession due to two factors 1) The government did not put enough by for a rainy day 2) It is global problem. If we accept the latter why are there rumours flying about instigated by government sources that we are going into the Euro and accepting the EU Constitution. Surely the lesson learnt has been that we have been too reliant on outsiders i.e. USA and EU, to get out of this mess we must look to ourselves start becoming more self sufficient, start clawing back our utilities from foreign ownership etc Yes put GB before any other country.

The Banking crisis is built on greed and inefficiency and what do Government throughout the World do Reward those who started the Problem , you will not see One banker, Government Minister, MP, MEP or civil servant go with out this Christmas, the public should think of that when they sit down for the Christmas Dinner some for the last time in the house they are in.

How The Tax System Works

HOW THE TAX SYSTEM WORKS> > Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to £100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:> > The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.> The fifth would pay £1.> The sixth would pay £3.> The seventh would pay £7.> The eighth would pay £12.> The ninth would pay £18.> The tenth man (the richest) would pay £59.> > So, that's what they decided to do.> > The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by £20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just £80.> > The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the £20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'> > They realized that £20 divided by six is £3.33. But if they subtracted that from everyone's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.> > And so:> > The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).> The sixth now paid £2 instead of £3 (33%savings).> The seventh now pay £5 instead of £7 (28%savings).> The eighth now paid £9 instead of £12 (25% savings).> The ninth now paid £14 instead of £18 (22% savings).> The tenth now paid £49 instead of £59 (16% savings).> > Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.> > 'I only got a pound out of the £20,' declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, 'but he got £10!'> > 'Yes, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a pound, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I did'> > 'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get £10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks'> > 'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor'> > The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.> > The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill.> > And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.> > David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.> Professor of Economics> > For those who understand, no explanation is needed.> For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

IHerb do not pay Import Duty

In February I purchased some vitamin tablets from a company called Iherb, after a while I started getting demands from DHL for import taxes, they never put the details down so I thought it was a scam. Several weeks ago I had warning letter from a debt recovery agency saying I owed DHL £10.97 although only a small amount I still thought no I had paid for all delivery charges but its seems I was incorrect this is IHerb reponse
Dear Customer, > > We regret the misunderstanding; but the shipping charges in our order system> > do not include duties and taxes for international customers.
I expect some where in the small print it states this but I feel I was mislead by this company which I might add I shall not use again.
The lesson is, do not be fooled by low prices from the USA expect hidden charges
I have paid the amount.

Should we spend

When any normal person gets into debt what advice would you give them? I would suggest they cut back on their spending cut out things that are not essential i.e. Holidays etc maybe even sell a few things. Yet the Government now tells us that the best way forward is to spend money therefore increasing your debt this will be good for the economy we are told. MAYBE but will it be good for us NO unlike Banks and Civil Servants who get into debt we will not be bailed out by this government or any government come to that, have look at last weeks paper where there were 6 houses repossessed and now up for sale at a Bargain price. Where was the Government when these people needed help? There was an old saying “Money goes to Money” it seems if your Debt is big enough i.e. millions the government will help you but if your debt is thousands you can become destitute, who would have believed it would be Labour Government helping the rich and famous while treading down the working man into the ground. Our Prime Minister says” Do not blame me it’s those horrible Americans who started it” sounding just like the little boy caught doing something wrong and says “wasn’t me mum”. I expect Government Ministers, Banks and Civil Servants will have a good Christmas but blow the rest of us.


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Electric Gas Rip Off

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 11th November 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Energy companies “ripping off” consumers

Local Tory Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, has accused big energy companies of “ripping off” consumers in Sittingbourne & Sheppey.

The accusation follows news that the wholesale prices of gas and electricity have fallen by around 30% in the past couple of months. It is estimated that if energy companies were to drop the retail price of gas by just 10% consumers would save between £80 and £90 in a year.

The justification used by the Energy Retail Association for no reduction in prices is that the industry buys its gas and electricity many months in advance, so changes in wholesale prices take about six months to feed through to household bills.

Mr Henderson said:

‘Quite honestly the energy companies are ripping off consumers. Their excuse for not passing on the drop in wholesale prices simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

‘If we accept on face value the statement by the ERA that it takes six months for a fall in the wholesale price of gas to be reflected in the retail prices, then why was it that when the wholesale price went up in March, April and May, that those increases were passed on to consumers in June, July and August?

‘So the big question is this: If it only takes three months for price rises to kick in, why should it take six months to pass on a cut when prices drop?

‘Unless the Industry can come up with a very good explanation for that discrepancy, consumers have every right to carry on feeling they are being ripped off.’
…ends…

Attached chart showing last 12 months natural gas wholesale price fluctuation which can be found at http://www.rigzone.com/news/finance.asp?cid=7&tp=1Y

God Bless America

The United States of America comes in for a lot of criticism from the rest of the World most of the time through jealousy but this latest election does show that is a land of opportunity. I do not care for the Democratic Party but where else could a man who because of the colour of his skin was not allowed to vote back in the 1960’s a time when the Klu Klux Klan was murdering people because of their colour, can become President only in the USA. Where else in the Democratic World do the Voters get so involved in an Election only in the USA, I do not want to live in the US but I do admire them. Both McClain and Obama when they finished their speeches said “The USA is the greatest Country in the World and God Bless America” can you imagine a British Politician saying “Britain is the Greatest Country in the World and God Bless the British People” NO because someone will say that it will offend those who do not believe in God, or offend some one who doesn’t think we are the Greatest Country in the World or offend some one who is not British can you imagine the compensation claims for hurt feelings, yet the title of our Country is “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” notice the word GREAT.
I have been involved in politics for some time but as I get older I am getting more and more disillusioned with Politicians, not local councillors on the whole I believe they do a reasonably good job for very little reward and they are in contact with local a person that’s their raison-detre. It is national Politicians who never listen to the Public, take three examples 1) Hanging. Every time there is a survey the majority of the Public are favour for the return of hanging, the same goes for coming out of the European Union, harsher punishment for criminals, curb immigration, remove the Human rights Act, I could go on . Do they listen to us NO, they will reply “they know not what they say” or “we know better” or “you do not know the full picture” how patronising! What do they think we are children? Maybe it is time for an MP to be allowed only a certain amount of time in Parliament maybe a maximum of 10 years, this will stop so called Career Politicians who do not have a clue what life is outside Parliament and what about having referendums on every important issue like they do in Switzerland. I wait with bated breath for a politician who enters Parliament and doesn’t turn native, the sort of MP I want some one in his fifties, worked all his life and worked for the community he wants to represent, plus lives in the area an MP who will listen to the people and represent their wishes.


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Death Of Sport

Are we seeing the death of Amateur Sport?

This may seem strange questions after one of our most successful Olympics ever and with the UK hosting the 2012 Olympics. Yet the British Olympic committee have said there has been a drop of 20% participating in Sport and remember the Olympics is now open to Professionals. So the word amateur sportsman is now a defunct name for Sports people? Yes in top sporting events to reach the top of the main sports you have to be professional but there are still people who are participating in Sport whether as a coach, competitor, participants who are at a level where they receive no financial gain in fact doing there sport costs money.
My feeling are that unless things change rapidly Sport participation is to sink to even lower levels especially with the under 16 years. Let give an example:

Ask yourself the question how many local Football teams started with a couple Dads kicking the Ball around a park other lads join in, some weeks down the line some one comes up with the idea let’s form a Team and join a league. A new team is formed which give the youngster discipline, sense of belonging, pride and all the other things sport can give.
Could that happened today? If it can what would they needed
1) Kit
2) Professional Indemnity Insurance to protect the coach
3) Accident Insurance for all the players
4) Public Liability Insurance
5) Coach Qualification
6) Club Mark
7) Join a league
Club Mark what is that I hear you say? Surely that is not a legal requirement No not yet but without a Club Mark you will most probably get no grant aid, it will be difficult to get insurance cover and the local schools will not recommend your club. Recently a member of my Judo Club the Young Judo Club asked the Person in charge of all the local SSCo (School Sports coordinator) why we were not on the recommended list she informed him that the Government has told them not to recommend any Club without a Club Mark! Yet our Club is over 50 years Old and is World Famous and never had a visit from this person, someone I might add who is paid by the local Tax Payer so much for Democracy in the UK. Our Club is lucky it has sufficient funds and expertise to get a Club Mark from both the British Judo Association and Kent County Council.
What is a Club Mark this basically a Kite Mark so people can recognise a Club has some basic standards, this in itself is not a bad idea but why do we need the HEAVY HAND of a dictatorial state
Here are some of the things require for a Club Mark Must have two qualified coaches , Two Volunteers must attend a course on running a club and how to be a volunteer, CRB Check, attend Child protection Course, has an open/non-discriminatory constitution and equity policy , The coaches and volunteers responsible for the programme have job descriptions with
Clear roles and responsibilities assigned. I could go on and this all for a group of people who want to help kids get involved in Sport and doesn’t finish there by 2012 all Coaches will be expected to have United Kingdom Coaching Certificate with prices up to a £1000 I wonder how many people will take up the offer.

All my facts can be checked by going to on the internet, after readings this am I right in saying amateur Sport will soon be dead? Or am I just a cynic but don’t say you have not been warned

Well Dads do you still want start that Football Team?
Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Visa, Invalid Buggy,NU Labour recession

I have at long last got our visa from the Russian Embassy to visit St Petersburg for the World Sombo Championships, they certainly make you jump through hoops to get one and the final cost was about £60 and with the Flight costing £381.50p the 4 days there will not be cheap. The recession has hit my Martial Arts Association we had to cancel our British Championships because of lack of entries, most complained that it was to near Christmas and they were unsure of their money circumstances, I expect there will be more to come.
NU Labour are talking about bringing in a test for people using Invalid Buggies and about time to, it is always the few that ruin it for everyone else. Some Buggies drivers are a danger to themselves as they seem to think they have an invisible shield around them and some of them are so rude never a honk on their horn or excuse me NO just bang into your legs and then you get the "CAN'T YOU SEE I AM AN INVALID" "NO! I HAVE NOT EVOLVED ENOUGH TO HAVE EYES IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD" lets insist they have insurance cover as well and go on a course for good manners. Recently a small shop keeper had a complaint from a Buggy driver that she could not get her buggy in the shop, she subsequently complained to the authorities that the shop was in breach of the Disability Act. This could lead to the shop having to spend a lot of money altering his door and shop to comply with the act or he would be forced to close and sell up, I await the outcome. While we are at it make cyclist take a test and get insurance they are a menace on the Road and on the pavement

Go To Pakistan

Now here's a thought . . . .?
If you are ready for the adventure of a lifetime, try this:
A: Go to Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq illegally. Never mind immigration quotas, visas, international law, or any of that nonsense.
B: Once there, demand that the local government provide free medical care for you and your entire family.
C: Demand bilingual nurses and doctors...
D: Demand free bilingual local government forms, bulletins, etc.
E: Procreate abundantly.
F: Deflect any criticism of this allegedly irresponsible reproductive behavior with, 'It is a cultural thing; you wouldn't understand.'
G: Keep your British identity strong. Fly your national flag from your rooftop, or proudly display it in your front window, or on your car bumper.
H: Speak only English at home and in public, and make sure that your children do likewise.I: Demand classes on English culture in the Muslim school system.J: Demand a local country driver license or national insurance number equivalent
K: This will afford other legal rights and will go far to legitimize your unauthorized, illegal, presence in Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq
L: Drive around with no MOT, tax or insurance and ignore local traffic laws.
M: Insist that local country law enforcement teaches English to all its officers...
N: Organize protest marches against your host country, inciting violence against non-Brits, non-Christians, and the government that let you in. Good luck! You'll soon be dead.
It would never happen in Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq (or any other country in the world for that matter) except righthere in the UK, because we are run by soft, politically correct politicians that are too scared to 'offend' anyone.
If you agree, pass it on.If you don't, go ahead and try the above in Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq

EU Flag to become official for GB

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 20th October 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Europe uses world economic crisis to “bury” constitution betrayal

Gordon Henderson has expressed outrage that Members of the European Parliament have voted to reinstate the EU’s national symbols of a flag, anthem, motto and public holiday.

Mr Henderson has accused MEPs of using the current world economic crisis to “bury” what amounts to a public betrayal.

The European symbols were deleted from the EU constitution, before being sold to the British Public as the Lisbon Treaty. This change allowed Gordon Brown and his Labour colleagues, including local MP, Derek Wyatt, to refuse Britain the referendum on the Constitution that was promised in the Labour manifesto at the last election.

Mr Henderson said:

‘The decision by the European Parliament, despite opposition by Conservative MEPs, to reinstate these symbols of nationhood is quite outrageous. This is a cynical move to introduce a European Constitution by the backdoor and British voters have every right to feel betrayed.

‘It is particularly galling that the EU has sneaked this vote out when the world is facing an economic crisis. With so many people worrying about losing their jobs and homes you would have thought MEPs would have better things to do than waste time making Beethoven’s Ninth the European national anthem!

‘I suspect the EU has taken this step now because they hoped that nobody would notice. Quite simply they tried to use the world economic crisis to bury this betrayal.

‘Derek Wyatt and his Labour colleagues denied us the referendum promised in their election manifesto, because they argued the Lisbon Treaty was not the European Constitution. Well that argument has been blown out of the water and it is now time to ask the British people whether at this very worrying economic time the country should adopt the European constitution.

‘If Parliament needs extra time to put a referendum in place MPs can always cut down on their proposed 24 day Christmas holiday!’
…ends…

Survey For Landlords

I am just received a letter from the Licensing Officer Swale Borough Council asking me to update my Personal Licence Information, no problem with that but they also enclosed a questionnaire here are some of the questions:

What is your religious belief? Followed by a list, what has my religion got to do with me being a Landlord? They also asked if I was a Muslim, they are not allowed to consume alcohol so why would they want to be a landlord? Surely it would be hypocritical to serve some thing you think is harmful

What is your Sexual Orientation? What has that got to do with being a landlord or has Nu Labour brought in some new laws that states that so many pubs have to be run by Homosexuals, so many run by normal sexed and so many by Bisexual, oh I nearly forgot the A Sexual (someone not interested in sex). Does anyone care what the landlord is and what they do behind closed doors? Mind you the Bisexuals have it hard as there is no group promoting their unusual sexual habits, maybe they could have their own organisation called AC/DC Pride and the A Sexual would have an organisation call FAN (Fuss about Nothing) Pride. Stupid is Stupid does

What age brackets to you fall in? Surely this ageism once again what has age got to do with being a Landlord.

Do you consider yourself to have a disability? Yes I have a job standing after 10 pints. This one is unusual one because some disabilities would make you an improbable Landlord but why are they asking? Is there some physical test about to appear? Before you get a license.

How would you describe your ethnic group? Once again what has the colour of your skin got to do with your ability to be a Landlord, SBC then finish by saying “what other languages would be useful to you” IF YOU CAN NOT READ ENGLISH HOW DID YOU READ THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT. If people want to live in this country they should speak and write English, Council Tax should not be spent on producing paper work for those who are to idle to learn English.

All these questions were from the SBC Equalities Survey

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Baby George

Latest edition to my family, 5th grandchild Baby George Mother my youngest daughter Susan. Married to Anthony Whitby with a daughter poppy. Born October 10th 2008

ANGEL OF THE SOUTH

Whilst listening to Radio 4 there was a piece about the Angel of the South I knew nothing of this so I looked it up and below is what it is all about, briefly it is a Monument to celebrate the South of England. It seems there were 5 Artists who were short listed to present their work one of which depicted a White Horse as the this piece of art was to be in Kent a good idea but it is literally a Standing White Horse.

The Five Designs

For those who know your history you will know the Rampant White Horse name Invicta (unconquered) is the County symbol of Kent. Did you know: The white horse on a red field is said to be the symbol of the ancient Saxon kingdom of Kent, dating from the sixth to the eighth century. The horse specifically relates to Horsa, a fifth century warrior, who, together with his brother Hengest, defeated King Vortigernk. The first written record of the white horse can be found from 1605 in Richard Verstegan's work Restitution of Decayed Antiquities, which states that in 449AD Hengest and Horsa landed in Kent under the banner of the rampant horse. According to the radio programme it could be the oldest symbol of government in the World.
The problem is that Kent County Council and most probably most of the people of Kent (Kentish Man and Men of Kent) want the INVICTA HORSE not just any old white horse standing as though waiting to be fed but the BBC in their wisdom believe KCC should not get involved as the Artist has said he will not change his design. Well I for one have been proud to have been born in Kent and I love the word INVICTA (unconquered). What I suggest to KCC is to tell all those artist thank you very but no thank you as for the BBC stop meddling in the affairs of Kent.
You will see the designs attached


Five artists have been short-listed to design an Angel of the South sculpture in Kent.
The £2m landmark piece of public art will stand on a hilltop above the Ebbsfleet Valley, close to a former chalk quarry, two motorways and the Channel Tunnel railway.
Paid for by Eurostar, London and Continental Railways and Land Securities, organisers hope it will become the south’s version of Antony Gormley’s iconic Angel of the North at Gateshead.
The 164ft sculpture, twice the size of the Angel of the North, will mark the new Ebbsfleet International railways station and a massive development of homes and commercial space planned for 1,000 acres of former quarry land.
The artists short-listed for the commission are Christopher Le Brun, Daniel Buren and Turner Prize winners Rachel Whiteread, Mark Wallinger and Richard Deacon.
But we want to know what you think the sculpture should look like. What sight should greet rail passengers arriving in the south of England? What symbolises the south? What would you submit to the judging panel?
Send us your designs to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml;jsessionid=44QI40EJ424FBQFIQMGCFF4AVCBQUIV0?view=CAMPAIGN&grid=P9&pg=/ETHtml/content/promotions/mypic/mypic.jhtml&pc=mypic&_requestid=156358. By submitting your design you confirm that you agree to the terms and conditions

Am I Racist or has PC gone mad?

Am I Racist or has PC gone mad?

A new programme has come to our screens called Merlin, it about the Wizard in the time of King Arthur. Not the most ground breaking piece of TV but a good ¾ hour of escapism, so why have I posed the question “am I racist”? Well quite simply we have many villagers and soldiers in the programme who are black and one of the main characters is of mixed race. King Arthur lived in the 6th Century so how would Black People be in Britain? I suppose when the Romans left a Century before Arthur there could have been Black Soldiers in the Roman Army but would they have stayed on and integrated with the Britons? Maybe but it does seem some what tenuous. I believe that the Programme makers are taking Political Correctness to the extreme fearing that if they did not have a minority represented they may be penalised. Although the programme is just a story as is the Legend of King Arthur and there fore is not legitimise as an accurate historical fact but my problem is this just another way of some lefty producer trying to alter our history to make it more sanitised to the chattering classes who invent Political Correctness. History with all its problems is there and trying to rewrite it does not alter what happened.

So am I racist or am I a realist?

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne Kent

Jamie Oliver and the Scroungers

Jamie Oliver

I have yet to watch the TV Programme where Jamie visits people who are on the Dole permanently and tries to teach them to cook. Listening to the Radio and friends who watched it there was a lot of disgust about women on the show who claimed to be poor but could afford to smoke, drink copious amounts of Beer and have a massive TV. The radio programme I listened to ask the questions how do we get this scrounger back to work, well I have a suggestion.
You have to accept that there are people in our society who are lazy malingers and would rather get something for nothing rather then work, by all means try an educate them and encourage them to fend for themselves and become part of the community but until you accept that they have different set of ethics to the rest of us you will never come to grips with the problem. So we accept that this group of people want to live the way they do and see no shame in living of the state, you can not starve them back into work but what you can do is to make life on the dole unpleasant by making it impossible for them to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, go to the cinema, go on holidays etc etc HOW? Easy you do not pay out any unemployment benefit in hard cash you give them vouchers. With these vouchers they will only be able to pay out for the necessities in life, they would not be able to sell the vouchers as they would be in their name and presenting them at a shop they would have to confirm their ID. No one would go hungry, cold or be unclothed but they would not have any luxuries and if anyone who is on vouchers is seen driving a car, smoking or in a pub they can be asked where they got the money from. Vouchers would have a stigma attached to them as people would recognise them as scroungers, obviously there would have to be a period of time says a year where you would be given cash because there are genuine people who may be in between jobs and they have been contributing through their taxes, as for single mothers they should only be given vouchers they should be made responsible for their actions and the father of their child should be hounded for payment to support his of spring.
I believe this will force people back into work, as they will not be able to buy take away so they will eat healthier, if they are at work they will have less time to become social misfits and when they have to pay for their luxuries out of money they have earned they may start to respect other peoples property.

Can you see any of my ideas happening NO I do not think so if this letter gets printed there will bound to be an out cry from the Left Wing Do Goode’s who will try and defend this underclass, it seems the scroungers, thieves and vagabonds always have a Champion to protect them, when will the Working, decent law abiding person get their Champion?


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

these may interest you

Then & Now plus X Factor

Then and Now plus X Factor

On one of the History Channel I have been watching a programme about the unsung heroes of the second World War people like the Train Drivers who were ferrying cargo, petrol, troops, bombs etc to keep the war effort a lot of time when bombs were dropping and when German planes were strafing them, there were the Land Army Girls and Young Women who were put on the land to feed the country, the Bevin boys, young men conscripted not into the Army but down the Coal mines and they were no released from their duty till several years after the War had finish with no back pay or demob suit. The one thing they had in common, they were British and they got on with the Job without any histrionics. After watching this exhilarating and tear jerking programme I felt a deep sense of pride in the people and in being British.
Then I switched by mistake to that X Factor programme which started its life being a stage for new singing talent, you had a panel of Judges who would listen to you sing and make a judgement on your ability. This seems to me not to be the criteria anymore now you have to sing and then you asked a string of questions about your private life, the more you can trowel on the emotional blackmail, plus tell the most outlandish story so you can get the women judges in tears the more likely you will get through to the next round. WHAT has that got to do with your ability to SING????
If that doesn’t work you humiliate yourself by falling on your knees and beg, yes beg while doing this it helps to cry and whine about how bad life is for you. Now if you do win you run out in hysterics to join your supporters who in turn go hysterical. WHAT an absolute disgrace, yet pages of this nonsense goes into the press, one wonders what the young people from GB i1940’s and 1950’s thought of this. One thing is for sure they would not recognise the behaviour of the people of this British Isles, that is until they meet our Boys and Girls who serve in the Armed Forces giving their all for this country the last remnants of the saying “Proud to be British”


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne Kent

Not Everything is bad in England

Not everything is bad in England in spite of what NU Labour has done to ruin the UK, the past few weeks have been very good weather wise, just right to explore Kent. This time of year there is always a Horticultural/Farming show plus the end of all the Village Fetes. Two weeks ago I made my annual visit to the Goose Fair in Challock Nr Ashford, this fair is based on when the Geese were driven to Market. This is a real Country Fair with lots of shows and demonstrations by Amateur clubs, plus you have a lot of local stalls selling their wares an excellent typical English scene, The following week I was of to a Cider and Apple festival at the Brogdale Trust near Faversham A registered charity, responsible for the maintenance of the National Fruit Collection. This was a great Day Tractor and Trailer ride round the fruit plantations, various local crafts on display, hog roast, cooking demo, live folk music and of course lots of Apples and Cider a great day out. Sadly I missed this year Hop Festival at Faversham the last time I went there was a plethora of Morris Dancers, the streets of Faversham do make for a unique festival. Weddings are also a must for this time of the year something our NU Labour Government has tried their best to discourage but they continue to flourish. Valerie and I (married 38 years) were to friends of ours Graham and Jenny Sargent invited us to their daughter’s Karen’s wedding. The pair have a lovely converted Barn and in the grounds they had a large and I mean large Marquee erected for the Wedding breakfast and subsequent party, it was a traditional White wedding the evening was followed by a three piece band, no drunks, no plastic glasses, no family fights and no disco a great day to remember.
So as you can see there is lot to be thankful for being English and being a Man of Kent mind you it would be better if could get rid of Gordon and his cronies.

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

JK Rowling is she against marriage?

JK Rowling gives £1 million to NU Labour

In a statement, JK Rowling, who wrote the first of her best-selling books about boy wizard Harry Potter while claiming to be an impoverished single mother, ( obviously one with a lot of time on her hands) indicated that her gift was motivated by Labour's record on child poverty and Tory leader David Cameron's offer of tax breaks to married couples.

I have never read a Harry Potter book and I have only seen pieces of a film when my grandchildren are watching it on DVD. Why? at 58 I have grown out of Clildrens' Books especially ones that copy old fairy tales and rearrange them, mind you the money this women has made is phenomenal pity I can not write like her. Mind you I am glad I did not buy one of her books now I realise she was supporting the Labour party and why has she done this because she believes this Government s record on child poverty is good! Where has she been for the last 10 years the gap between rich and poor in GB is greater now then ever has been, or does she think this does not effect children. She then goes on to say David Cameron's offer on Tax breaks for married couples is wrong, it has now been established that children brought up with parents who are married do better then any other relationship but the she was a single mother and seems to me she resents Married families she certainly must have a strange set of ideals if she thinks being a single parent should be the norm.

She would better of giving the money to a children's charity but the that would not get her a safe Labour seat to become an MP

SCHOOL AGE TO RISE TO 17

SCHOOL AGE TO RISE TO 17

It never ceases to amaze me how Government, Politicians and so called experts can be so out of touch with the people they supposed to represent, in this particular case I refer to increasing the age a Young person has to stay at school or should I say full time education. Young people and children in to day’s British society are very difficult to deal with for many reasons, a big majority detest School and some even hate it so how they going to benefit from staying on till their 17 years old? This troublesome group of teenagers can cause havoc in a school by their disruptive behaviour a lot get tarred with they trouble makers, yobs, prison fodder yet in reality they are a group of young people who find no interest in the school system, they find it boring and the teachers patronising.
My idea is when a youngster reaches the end of the secondary 4th year i.e. 15 to 16 years old they should be allowed to leave School if they have a full time job with a contract no matter what the employment, if they do not have this they will not be able to leave until 17. This will encourage youngsters to behave in school with the knowledge that they will need a good reference to find a job, they will come the influence of mature adults who will become their role models rather then listening to a group of other youngsters who normally spout a load of rubbish based on something a celebrity said. I left school and went to work on A Hinge and Son Farmers as an Agricultural Apprentice at 15 years 3 months of age; it was the best introduction to the real world there could be. I was expected to work hard, be reliable, good timekeeper, honest and have loyalty to the firm, yes all these things could taught in school but that was just theory this was practical hands on. When you came in bragging about some idiotic teenage escapade you performed at the weekend there would always be one old timer who tells you belt up and stop talking rubbish but at the same another one would pull you to one side and give you advice. This was real education some thing a school could never give.
Today we are obsessed with getting our youngsters to University and if they do not go society treats them as failures and inferior yet I know many people of my age and younger who has become very successful business man employing hundreds of people some with University degrees. Some started as apprentices some just as labourers and should success be just counted in financial terms what about all those people who become involved in community based projects, Scouts, Cubs, Football teams etc in my own sports of Judo and Sombo there has been many a top Black Belt and Coaches who have mundane work yet in my eyes they are still a success.
The reason Government etc have increased the age to 17 is not for the benefit of the Young People it is for their benefit it brings down unemployment and give the smockscreen that they care about the education of young people.


Martin Clarke

My Knee & Hip v the NHS

Some of you are most probably aware that I have to have a Hip and Knee replacement, my knee it must be getting on for 7 years that I have been waiting and for my hip 3 years. Our sacred cow called the NHS has done its best to prevent the operation happening WHY? money it seems that Big People (I am 23st 7lbs) need special beds in recovery and you need constant vigilance for 24 hours after the operation. So how do they prevent you having operation:
1) They tell you that as a big man you could die on the operating theatre because your lungs will not push your chest up
2) Big people suffer easily from Blood clots which could kill you
3) Cannot get a knee replacement your size
4) Knee will only last a year then will have to be replaced
So you think hang on I can put up with the pain a bit longer because there is no way I want die but eventually, the pain and the fact you can no longer walk any distance without a stick and hanging on to railings, you decide to take the risk. Then they tell you if you lose 8 stone they will operate, this will take me to a weight I was at 15 years and how do I lose this weight? I eat moderately I do not drink alcohol during the week and only limited amount at weekends plus I still train 5 days a week admittedly always in a seated position. Eventually you get a surgeon who will operate only to be told 24 hours before the operation it has been cancelled this has happened twice in 3 years, so back to another appointment with yet another surgeon. The last one I saw was three weeks ago he agreed to operate but the told me he was leaving the area the following day can you believe it. So my next appointment is in October if that is a waste of time I will be going private to a hospital in Belgium at a cost of £8500 I will have to break into my savings and go with out a few things but it will be worth it but I will be thinking all the time WHY HAVE I PUT MONEY INTO THE NHS SINCE THE AGE OF 15?

This last year has been the worse for me as I have become a cripple and for the first time in my life I can understand what permanently disabled people must be going through. People look at you as if you are some sort of freak because you walk with a stick, some in my case enjoy my disability comments like “I bet you wish you had not done Judo now” or “I thought sport was good for you ha, ha”. The frustration at not being able do things is most probably the worst thing NO the worst is when someone offers to help you across the road, talking to you as if you are some half wit.
Hopefully my disability will not be permanent and in a years time I hope to be back walking country lanes again.


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

CIA & MI5 Rig Referendum

Daniel Hannan is the Conservative MEP for South East England and he is one of the Good Guys an MEP who has not gone native unlike most MEP's who get elected to represent us but then get used to the money, the expenses and the high life. Once they have experienced this cushy little number they suddenly become Deaf, Dumb and Mute.
I have attached his blog site well worth a read especially the piece about the CIA and MI5 being involved in the referendum which put us into the EU



http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/Daniel_Hannan

OPEN EUROPE

Open Europe

Open Europe Bulletin: 4 September 2008
New Open Europe briefing warns EU trials in absentia could mean miscarriages of justice
Georgia crisis would have been better handled under Lisbon Treaty, say EU politicians
A plan to circumvent the Irish "no" vote begins to emerge
News in brief
Open Europe in the news

1. New Open Europe briefing warns EU trials in absentia could mean miscarriages of justice

Open Europe has published a new briefing note which warns that EU plans to impose recognition of foreign trials in absentia could lead to miscarriages of justice.
The European Parliament this week adopted a proposal that would allow citizens to be extradited automatically to another EU country after having been convicted by a foreign court in their absence.
Judgements in absentia would be recognised by several countries that do not currently allow this practice in their own judicial system, including Britain. The proposals, which were put forward by seven countries, including the UK, were described as "by their very nature a violation of the fundamental procedural rights of the accused" by the European Criminal Bar Association.
The proposal will now be presented to the Council of Ministers within the next three months, after which the document will start the process of becoming national law.
Please click here to read Open Europe's new briefing:
http://openeu.bluestatedigital.com/page/m/661f27c961e28569/P6LmQl/VEsH/

2. Georgia crisis would have been better handled under Lisbon Treaty, say EU politicians

Europe's leaders have failed to agree on sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Georgia. However, they did threaten to "postpone" planned talks on cooperation with Moscow. Unarmed EU civilian observers are also to be sent to Georgia to ensure the Russian army is abiding by its ceasefire agreement. Vladimir Putin praised the "good sense" of the EU for not imposing sanctions. (Les Echos, 3 September)Although EU leaders were deeply divided on the approach to take to Russia, there were numerous statements claiming that the crisis proved the need to bring into force the Lisbon Treaty. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that "If the Lisbon Treaty, which is in the process of being ratified, had already been in force, the EU would have had the institutions it needs to cope with an international crisis", including an EU Foreign Minister and "a real European diplomatic service". (Le Figaro, 18 August) EU Commission Vice President Margot Wallstrom said, "I was encouraged and impressed by the determined action taken by the French Presidency but can not help thinking that with a new treaty it would have been easier to have a better coordinated response, faster and with greater authority." (Wallstrom blog, 3 September)A European Commission official told the EUobserver website that, "Some people are saying that Georgia - which has changed the atmosphere in Europe - could be used as a pretext for the Irish to hold a second referendum". (EUobserver, 3 September)European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering called on all member states to ratify the Lisbon Treaty "as quickly as possible", saying that the Georgian crisis proved why it is important for the EU to be united (EUobserver, 2 September)

3. A plan to circumvent the Irish "no" vote begins to emerge

All eyes continue to be on Ireland, where the government has proposed the idea of a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, despite the resounding 'No' vote delivered on 12 June.
After strongly denying any prospect of a second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty back in July, the Irish Europe Minister Dick Roche has now publicly announced that a second vote would be "appropriate". (Newstalk Radio, 22 July, and Irish Independent, 25 August)
Prime Minister Brian Cowen also admitted that a second referendum will be considered. However, it was suggested that people might only be allowed a second vote on parts of the Treaty, with much of the text just being pushed through the Irish Parliament.
A report in the Irish Independent stated that: "It is possible for the Dail to pass some parts of the treaty without a public vote, and it is understood that Mr Cowen sees this course of action as an option." (2 September)
Meanwhile, according to the Irish Times, Irish officials met with their Danish counterparts last month to get advice on how Ireland could opt out of crucial aspects of the Lisbon Treaty - like the opt outs the Danes adopted following the "no" to the Maastricht Treaty in a referendum.
In 1992, the Danish government responded by coming up with a proposal to "opt out" of four key areas of the Maastricht Treaty - the euro, defence, justice, and common EU citizenship. The proposals were then approved in a second Danish referendum in 1993. (Irish Times, 28 August)
Several pro-Treaty commentators have questioned in the media why a referendum was held in Ireland in the first place. They argue that only some of the elements in the Treaty are constitutional changes and therefore legally require a referendum.
So it seems likely that in October Ireland will be offered the option of "opt outs" from the most sensitive, constitutional elements - for example, the provisions on an EU defence, Home Affairs, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The Irish government will then try to push the rest of the Treaty through the Dail without a referendum, and will allow a second referendum only on the question of whether Ireland should opt out of the most controversial elements.
In this way, even if the second Irish referendum on the opt-outs returns a 'No' vote, the Treaty will still come into effect for all other member states.
Legally such a process could be achieved in one of two ways. The contents of the Lisbon Treaty could be inserted into the forthcoming Croatian Accession Treaty (expected at the end of 2009). The text would be the same as the Lisbon Treaty, but would also make provisions for Ireland's opt outs. This would be legal, but would require the other 26 member states to re-ratify the new Treaty. This would be unpopular in Britain, as the Government would not want to push an unpopular Treaty through the Commons just before a general election.
The alternative is to bend the law. The current problem for supporters of the Treaty is that giving Ireland legally-binding opt outs from Lisbon should require a change to the treaties, which in turn would have to be ratified by all other member states. However, the law could be fudged, as it was after the Danish "no" in 1992. Britain's former "ambassador" to the EU, Sir Stephen Wall, recalls in his recent memoirs that EU leaders simply invented a whole new type of legal arrangement to get round the "problem":
"Member states rallied round the plan that had been in gestation for some weeks, of providing an interpretation of the treaty which would, as the Council's legal adviser, the clever and inventive Frenchman Jean Claude Piris, advised the heads, clarify the treaty provisions for Denmark."
"It was an intergovernmental act with binding legal consequences. However that did not mean, either in national law, community law, or constitutional law that it needed to be ratified."
While neither of these options are ideal from the point of view of the pro-Lisbon camp, they are probably the only realistic ways to "get round" the no vote. There seems little prospect that a second referendum on the same treaty would be won. A new poll for the Irish Sunday Independent found that people would vote no by 44 to 42 percent if a second referendum were held. The poll also showed a sharp drop in Brian Cowen's popularity, down 34 points since he was elected in May.
The main pro-Lisbon opposition parties in Ireland have also reacted angrily to suggestions of a second referendum. A spokeswoman for Fine Gael said that talk of a second referendum only served to highlight the "arrogance and lack of respect" the government has for voters. A spokesman for the Labour Party said comments about a second referendum were "not helpful" and that there can be no question of simply putting the same proposition to the people again. (Irish Independent, 28 August)
Meanwhile, the European Commission has been rolling the pitch for a return to the Treaty. The Commission's office in Dublin last week issued a briefing to journalists blaming the "British media" for the Irish no vote, and complaining that it could not control "anti-establishment" bloggers. In a separate report this week the European Parliament called for EU regulation of blogs (see the Open Europe blog for more details).

4. News in brief

EU military mission in Chad dependent on Russian support. Russia has agreed to send four helicopters and up to 200 military personnel to take part in the EU mission to Chad despite recent tensions with Europe over its role in the Georgian crisis. EU officials this week decided to accept Russia's offer, as the mission has long struggled to muster enough helicopters. Daniel Keohane of the EU Institute for Security Studies in Paris said: "Despite spending 200 billion euros annually, it still took fully six months to find only 16 helicopters and 10 transport planes for the Chad mission." (Irish Times 4 September)
Brown's fuel poverty plan thwarted by EU rules. Gordon Brown's plan to raise £500 million to fund fuel vouchers for vulnerable families, which was the centrepiece of the Prime Minister's relaunch, has had to be abandoned as a result of EU rules. (Guardian EUreferendum Times 4 September)
EU to regulate bloggers? The European Parliament's Culture Committee has adopted a report recommending the regulation of blogs, including making it impossible to blog anonymously. (Report OE blog Expressen 4 September)
EU renewables targets to push half a million people into fuel poverty. The new wind farms required in the UK in order to meet EU renewable energy targets could add £6 billion a year to consumers' energy bills, adding 25% more to the current cost of domestic electricity. According to the Government's former chief scientist Sir David King, the drive to increase the UK's wind power to meet EU targets for renewable energy could push half a million more people into fuel poverty. (Telegraph EUreferendum 28 August, PA 4 September)
Did EU win the Olympics? The EU-funded organisation the Young European Federalists have said in an open letter to athletes from the 27 EU member states that if they became Team EU they would have a higher medal tally than the US, China or Russia. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that, "The European Union therefore takes the leading position. It's a victory for sport and for the fundamental and common values of the people of the union." (Sun EUobserver Dan Hannan's blog Telegraph 26 August)
EU emissions rules stop production of classic Vespa. EU emissions restrictions have effectively ended the production of the classic Vespa PX. The new rules require automatic gears and make the production of a two-stroke engine larger than 50cc economically unfeasible. Andy Gillard, editor of Scootering magazine said that it was the end of an era, whilst Piaggio UK general manager said that the PX "will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best". (Telegraph 26 August)
EU price controls increase phone bills. Vodaphone has announced that it will increase the price of domestic phone calls to make back revenue it has lost because of EU price controls on overseas calls. (Times 19 August )

5. Open Europe round-up of EU news

Every morning Open Europe produces a round-up of news from all around Europe, looking at the French, Spanish, Belgian, German and Scandinavian press as well as UK coverage of EU issues. If you would like to receive the press summary by email, please sign up on the front page of our website - http://openeu.bluestatedigital.com/page/m/661f27c961e28569/wKQSlR/VEsHAg==/
Open Europe also runs a blog on all EU-related issues which is updated regularly, and where you can post your comments. To read our blog, click here: http://openeu.bluestatedigital.com/page/m/661f27c961e28569/OnknIB/VEsHDQ==/

6. Open Europe in the news

UK Government welcomes EU plans to allow citizens to be tried in their absence in other member statesDaily Mail BBC 3 September, 4 September
Various papers picked up on Open Europe's new briefing paper on EU plans which would impose recognition of foreign trials in absentia. Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted on the BBC website and in the Mail, as saying, "This proposal could open the door to serious miscarriages of justice and ministers should not be supporting it."
United in PowerlessnessNational Interest Open Europe blog 18 August
US magazine the National Interest quoted Open Europe dismissing the notion that the Lisbon Treaty would make Europe a more serious player internationally, saying: "Open Europe points out that EU members collectively spend but 1.6 percent of their GDP on the military and have been steadily cutting expenditures since the 1990s: 'Why will the short war in Georgia change this long trend when the other wars--which EU members are actually fighting in--have not?'"
EU sends development aid to RussiaTelegraph blog 18 August
On his Telegraph blog, Alex Singleton questioned why the EU gives aid to Russia, citing an Open Europe report calling for control over development aid to be returned to member states.
UK Government too passive about EU proposalsNews of the World 17 August
Open Europe was quoted in News of the World, in a piece looking at a House of Lords report on the EU Commission's Annual Policy Strategy. The report criticised the UK Government for taking a too passive an approach to proposals coming from the Commission.
170,000 people work for the EU, as revealed by Open Europe researchHeritage Foundation Het Nieuwsblad Overheidsmanagement.nl SP National Interest 11 August, 14 August, 18 August
Open Europe's research, which found that the number of people working for EU institutions has reached 170,000 people, far more than it claims, continued to receive coverage, reported in several European newspapers in particular.
71 per cent of Irish voters against a second referendum, according to Open Europe pollLe Monde Le Figaro L'Express Elsevier 25 August, 26 August
Open Europe's poll, which found that 71 per cent of Irish voters were against a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, continued to receive coverage