Blog & Newsweek: 16 Bracknell & national politics

Here is a selection of issues making headlines during the past few weeks:


Local News

'We will not cut services' says cllr Lee 'At a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council's executive on Thursday last week, councillors approved the proposals as part of £1.2m belt-tightening measures.'

Bid for old bin policy rubbished - Local Tories don't agree with Communities secretary Eric Pickles.

Threatened ASBOs do the job - I'm not a fan of ASBO's myself.


Local Links

Redwood again - Time to speak for the UK, Mr Hague - On a EU fine for not displaying flags. I agree with John Redwood it's not a EU the country. No country should pay these fines.
  
liberalburblings. - Looking back at the scandal of Guantanamo reminds me of my blog Closing Guantanamo Bay

Green Reading has details of Free Solar Power


National Link (Links of the day)

Iain Dale has the latest letter from Geraldine Dreadful MP Writes ... to Ann Widdecombe.

Stephen's Liberal Journal has to remind America of something in 'The Land of the Free Neglecting the First Amendment'

Tom Watson MP 'I support Eric Pickles' and so does Tom Harris MP (both Labour MP's you know).

 Left Foot Forward has the Top Five Most Influential Left Wingers

The Northfolk Blogger reports on Deluded Norwich labour - Any depths, any lie will do !


And finally todays bit of fun is 3 Ton Gallery collection of Thirty Five Images of Space Helmet Reflections. H/T to Gingerbbm

Double dip gamble‏

There has been all kinds attacks on the coalition cuts all over the web and warnings of a double dip recession after yesterdays Bank of England forecast of a 'choppy economic recovery'. While less than 3% growth is not great its still not a double dip recession so lets not panic just yet. The way some have reacted you would think that we are back in a recession.

If we keep on talking about a double dip recession it will happen because even those that can spend or even need to spend well hold of on those planned purchases and ties goes for business too.

For what it's worth I think government spending should be cut as it cannot be sustained and I would like to see admin inefficiencies removed. By the same token I would like to see more capital projects like in the states for example the High-speed rail plans is a great example. The good thing about capital spending is that we all get a permanent asset which the country can use.

One of the real keys as Mervyn King said is small business bank lending. I believe the sooner we split up the banks the better so they can get on with lending funds to business.

I'm willing to admit as a Lib Dem that I don't fully agree myself with having cuts too quickly but I do agree that we must have the cuts. I'm somewhere between the coalition and the Labour party on this (I guess that's what makes me a Lib Dem right).

I do think however that this is a gamble and a fine line between pleasing the markets (the reason why we are cutting to keep the interest payments down and rate) and not going into a double dip recession. If the banks can get the money flowing then there won't be a recession but personally I'm not enjoying the ride.

Hold on tight people it's going to get bumpy but try not to panic.

Todays Links related to this Norfolk Blogger postDouble Dip Recession ? We were warned !

Was the denial conference a good idea?

Ok I do agree with what was said as I understand the need to remind
people why these cuts are being made (or at least on reason for them) I
also agree with joint Lib Dem and Conservative announcements.

Now that said what I can't agree with is having a joint conference to
attack the Labour party. It could be argued that this shows a unite
front. Problem is if you make politics into an us and them you give
Labour more fire power.

This is not a us verse them it should be us and them verse them.
Sometimes we should even disagree with our coalition partner.

Another point is that the British public like an underdog. If there is
too many joint attacks then the British people will feel as though the
Labour party are being picked on. Labour could use this as a defence and
thereby improving their defence.

So next time there is a 'press conference' to tell the masses about how
Labour have gone on a bender they should be separate and at different
times or on different subjects. We can put our side in our own press
conference and them theirs. Maybe the coalition would get a double bang
for their buck. This would at least demonstrate that it is too separate
parties attacking another. Us attacking them and them attacking them.

Details of the conference from the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10939954

Why all MPs should support reforming the electoral system

I wanted to share this scientific look at AV from the London School of Economics with my readers.

Why all MPs should support reforming the electoral system. It is a key step in restoring their own legitimacy with the public

H/T to Mrblawton

Sky v Skype

As reported yesterday in the Independent 'Rupert Murdoch claims to own the 'Sky' in 'Skype'' Skype (the free to use international internet video link service) has noted in its application to the Nasdaq stock exchange that "in respect of the Skype name are being opposed by BSkyB plc".

Shame that will not help them achive the price they may have been hoping for. Rupert Murdoch must be quite concerned about Skype. He is not a fan of free to use services.

In honour of what Sky does not yet own with the word Sky in it Stephen Glenn lists 'Ten Things that Rupert Murdoch Doesn't Own'. Dangerous as Rupert Murdoch may use this list next.

School milk makes me sick

Following politics closely can give you a different prospective on the world of breaking news stories to that of the 24hour news media. Take the scrap free milk for children under five story which was reported as the government not knowing what it is doing by most news channels.

I think this error was mostly all down to the Conservative MP for Guildford not knowing the difference between what has been decided on and what is up for discussion. Of course this looked worse when the PM office heard the story and released a press statement saying that this is not a coalition government plan. Catching Minister David Willetts who never out.

If this story was to be spun well then as soon as David Willetts interview had finished then the Prime Minister office should of made the statement. This is why sometimes spin becomes a necessary evil in the 24 hour media world. Because the news media will run with the story and then make out that there has been confusion when the was simply an error my one minister.

Firstly I don't think David Willetts was caught out as he said on the Andrew Marr show that a number of options are up for discussion which keeps him in the clear.

Secondly Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the "chaos" was "shambolic" and undermined the PM's ministers. This political tactic worked well and the media used the chaotic term. I can see now that this may of happened to Labour from time to time and I guess I understand if it did. Interesting how the tables turn.

Thirdly this was the media chance to remind everyone how 'evil' Margaret Thatcher was when she took away the milk from over-7s. Interesting how there was no mention of Wilson's 1968 Labour government taking milk away from secondary school pupils. As pointed out by John Redwoods rather enjoyable rant here.

Personally as someone who is having a child soon I would prefer milk to be replaced by fruit. I have a dislike of milk as I did have it at school and I was constantly made sick by warm full fat milk. This put me right of milk in my younger days.

Incidentally Anne Milton is the same MP who said that doctors should tell people they are fat rather than obese. I think its up to them but to me fat actually sounds kind of than obese.

Im expecting a few more mistakes from Mrs Milton I think she could be one to keep an eye on.

Nick Clegg and David Cameron coalition pants

I found these at the Earls Court CAMRA Great British beer festival yesterday I put this picture on twitter. It was Re-Tweeted many times yesterday.

This picture is from the back of the pants;

This pants can be brought at Twisted Twee here

Blog & Newsweek: 15 Bracknell & national politics

Here is a selection of issues making headlines during the past few weeks:


Local News

Political parties see surge in new members - The parties are arguing about how many more members they have. Perhaps they should all simply be happy to have more members.

Schools ‘nod’ to academy status - Ranelagh School is interested in Academy status

Rethinking mental health services - 'MENTAL health services need more funding, said Bracknell’s MP at the launch of a charity’s campaign.'


Local Links

John Redwood The Liberals 1915-24 - covers the decline of the Liberal party in 1915 to 1924

Green Gabbles asks if this is News or advertisment?

Reading List return with the top of the Berkshire Blogs for June as did Green Reading last week here will they both continue?


National Link (Links of the day)

I'm given the role of Minister for Nuclear Weapons on Twitter Cabinet

Scarlet has A Letter of Advice to the Next Leader of the Labour Party

Progressive line ask who are you calling stupid, stupid on AV

Left Outside examines if Does China threaten the Environment?

Left Foot Forward shows Labour members and public disagree on election defeat 


And finally todays link is to the http://failblog.org/ always a bit of fun.

Social housing for life

Damn I just hate it when I agree with David Cameron PM and disagree inpart atleast with Simon Hughes Deputy Lib Dem.

David Cameron has said "Tenants could be given fixed terms of up to 10 years and move on if their circumstances had changed". Well I have to say I think this is worth looking at. When social housing is now so hard to come by and is in such demand it makes sence that if your family move out then perhaps you should move to a smaller home. Many people do keep their council house and hold on too it when their circumstances have changed.

I agree with Simon that this is not in the coalition agreement or policy for the Tories or the Lib Dems. If so perhaps this should be a policy for a future manifesto and not tabled during the coalition. But I do agree with the idea. Is it really fair to allow people to hang on for years to a family council home while other families wait?

The BBC has the full story here Lib Dems wary of Cameron social housing plan - Hughes.

Tory blogger Walaa Idris gives the arguments on Social Housing Reforms are a necessity not a choice

As does Lib Dem Sara Bedford on Lib Dem Voice here Social housing: a home for life?

UPDATE: this blog I agree with http://spiderplant88.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/why-the-coalitions-plan-for-social-housing-could-actually-work/

Local blog: One part of Bracknell's town centre regenerates itself

While some parts of Bracknell have an increasing amount of charity shops and adverts for council services (see Local Blog: High Level of Bracknells Empty Shops?)mainly from the band stand down to where Woolworths used to be)). One part of Bracknell is making a revival by the derelict 3M building. SeeFix the Eyesore in the Middle of Bracknell Town

I think its great that while we wait still for the development of the town one corner has had an injection of life into it thanks to Bracknell small ethnic community and in particular its Ghanaian community.

The amazing story of Alvin M Greene for Senator

I first heard this amazing story of the unknown Democratic Senatorial candidate Alvin M Greene from the BBC radio 4 doc Americana. It's an extraordinary interview about his strategy for becoming a senator of South Carolina. It also gets cut off at the end after a question Mr Greene doesn't like. Hes certainly no politican which is a little refreshing.

Mr Greene won with only a $200 dollar campaign. He is unemployed and lives with his father, who he is a full time carer for. Vic Rawl requested a re run of the Democrat primary after a number of controversial questions were asked of Greene's shock victory. There was speculation that Greene was a Republican plant, questions over his filing fee payment and speculation on how he left he military.

There was also a low voter turnout of just over 22% in a fully open primary.

I'm really not sure if Alvin M Greene is good or bad for democracy just watch this interview. But then again who is to say is isn't after all some Republican have some very right wing ideas.



It's really amazing that someone with no funds can get this far in the US. Is this because no one was paying any attention to the Democrats? As South Carolina has been Republican since the 1980's. Mr Greene certainly appears to have his enemies now (Just see the video above).

You can see just how under funded he is from Mr Greene website below

http://www.alvingreeneforussenator.com/home

I was going to add a Hip Hop video based on Alvin Greene's campaign 'Alvin Greene is on the scene' but this was removed from You Tube due to copyright claim.

So is this a good example of democracy working or a bad example. I still can't decide.

RAP NEWS: Wikileaks vs The Pentagon - INTERNET WARS

I enjoyed this fun but topical rap video on protecting internet freedom so I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy.