Alan Johnsons right - capital spending required

I was watching Alan Johnsons(shadow Chancellor) interview on Andrew Marr this morning. Alan brought up the subject of capital spending. I agree that this is a good idea (as does Cable and Obama).

Capital spending means that we have a lasting asset like for example the Olympic venues, the high speed train link and say the proposed new aircraft carriers. But this of course includes building schools for the future (which is to be replaced which a smaller building program). Capital expensditure provides work and gives the country with a lasting usable asset. It's not employing administration staff for the sake of it. It provides economically viable jobs with something to show for it.

I hope capital expenditure is taken into account in the spending review and I also hope that it's not only Alan Johnson and Labour who put pressure on to ensure there is some capital expenditure.

Bracknell Regeneration Partnership website

It's nice to see the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership has been busy in one area. Their website for example http://www.bracknell.com has been up and running for a few months now. There is plenty of news and event details on the site etc but if you click on regeneration all you will see a short statement, but no actual news on the regeneration. Remember this is the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership website.

 

So in other words, so far they have nothing more to add. No news is bad news in this case.

A pledge is a pledge. End of

I agree with some elements of Lord Brownes report into the future cost of tuition fees and university funding. For example I am pleased with the recommendations like scrapping upfront fees for part time students, protecting fees from certain medical and science and other important courses. I also agree with 30% of the poorest graduates paying less and could even go so far to say I like the idea that some of those Mickey Mouse degrees would not be taken up.

I can even understand the reasons why the coalition will increase fees but what I don't understand is going back on a pledge. Why sign a pledge if you know its not possible to act on it. I just can't reconcile this point. I can defend most things on the doorstep, but I don't think I can defend this one, it just wont wash will it? Will the voter still understand that it is still Liberal Democrat policy to scrap tuition fees? Even if our leaflets confirm this they simply won't believe it.

It's common for parties to go back on manifestos like when Tony Blair reversed the Labour Party's 2001 manifesto promise not to introduce "top-up fees" in the first place. Manifestos of course do not allow for changing circumstances and lack the flexibly required in government. I understand that being in government means making hard decisions and choices. But I think this is different. This is a pledge. A pledge to me is something you have to stick to.

Student voters and their parents won't understand that Liberal Democrats abstained from the vote, this does not make everything alright. Even if your local Liberal Democrat MP voted against and increase in fees many will view the Liberal Democrats as a whole as going back on their pledge. Therefore I think voting against an increase is still not enough. Liberal Democrats should not agree to an increase and Cable should no be putting forward an increase. Perhaps it would of been better for a Conservative minister who didn't pledge to not increase tuition fees or scrap them (and some did) to be given this task, politically that would of made more sense.

Needless to say, I am not very happy with the endorsement of Lord Brownes report by Vince Cable and Nick Clegg. I will wait to see what the coalition government decides to do and I will assess then what action if any I may take.

In the meantime I recommend you right to your MP on this issue and others may want to join Lib Dems against scrapping the cap.

Today's link is to Jennie Rigg has written a letter on this point to Nick Clegg see here

You have inspired me

Firstly I want to say thank you. Thank you to the people who left comments to my 'Fed up. So I'm going to stop blogging', Thank you all those on Twitter who asked me to carry on blogging. Thank you to the bloggers that linked to this post and asked me to continue (Walaa Idris for her open letter , Iain Dale and even Nadine Dorries). Thank you to Mark Reckons who emailed me and told me how much he enjoyed my posts.

 

It was brilliant to receive encouragement and advice from members of all parties and none.

 

I now have someone in the wings to check my blog posts, my grammar and my spelling. I plan to post less often as suggested my the Norfolk bloggers comment. I will read the books I have been recommended by my readers.

 

I plan to not give in to Dyslexia. I will aim to improve.

 

So its decided then. I'm back! and it's all down to you, Thanks!

Fed up. So I'm going to stop blogging

I'm fed up. Fed up with my bad English. My English is terrible. I failed English at school in part due to bad behaviour I think caused in part by my then stammer and dyslexia. I only got an 'F' in GCSE English and had to retake it at Bracknell and Wokingham college, doing an extra year there. I still only managed a very low mark in English but the college kindly let me take a national diploma course as they saw my potential in other areas. I love them for that.

I also blame myself for not improving. Why the hell can't I do it. I'm not stupid. It should be bloody easy, Damn it! I hate it. Did I write that correctly? I have no idea, no bloody idea!

I have tried to improve but I never see it, I just can't do it. I still have no idea how to use a bloody comma or use words like their or there or they and they're. Just basic errors. I find the English language a so so difficult. I have been using http://www.gcse.com/english/ to help me but it takes too long to go over every word again and again only to find errors.

This blog has been a great help to my English but it has also highlighted errors. Errors that I am frankly embarrassed about.

So it's been fun. this blog has opened up doors for me. I love replying to comments and geting a chance to break stories (only a few I know) and write opinion pieces. But now keeping track of my own errors is becoming a real hassel.

So thank you one and all for reading, it's is your interaction that gave me the most enjoyment from blogging.I will still be on Twitter and if you do wish to follow mw my account is http://twitter.com/dazmando.

Todays link is to Green blogger Steve Gabb, who I promised to link to for Bracknell the Movie. Enjoy!

Bracknell Town centre is dull‏

I agree with the readers of Get Bracknell in Little hope for town centre revamp.This comes after news that the Bracknell Healthspace will not be build in Market Street and instead will be build on the Skimped Hill Health Centre site.

I can remember when I was at college looking at the plans for a new town centre and a few years ago looking again at an exhibition in town of new town centre plans (see here). I can remember surveys accross town with signs explaining that this is for the new town centre regeneration. I can remember promise after promise on when Bracknell work will begin on a new town centre.

Yes a few things have happened. The train station has been improved, there are some new units with a Costa in one. We have a lovely new College but I remain so disappointed about the town centre itself.

How much longer do we have to wait and will it ever happen. take a look at the town at the moment and try to tell me that it doesn't look old and tired and dull.

There is one part of town however that looks more tired than the rest, Take a look,

The there is the top of Bracknell Harrods as its known. Remember when this was a department store.

Market Street,

And of course the 3M building

I love this town I just wish the regeneration happened because its a turn off. I like the rest of Bracknell are fed up of waiting so long for this to happen.

My newspaper Q&A

This weeks Bracknell Standard has a little Q&A with myself. Heres my answers as submitted to the paper.

What is your favourite food? Normally the food on the biggest plate.

What is your favourite holiday destination?  So far Japan, I just so enjoyed my trip there, the people, the food and the crazy cosplay costumes.

What was the last book you read? The Dirt which is a biography of Motley Crew. Its a crazy rock n roll story that's just unreal.

What is your favourite TV programme? currently Spooks but it was Waking the Dead and before that Star Trek.

What was your first pet and its name? I have fish which I haven't named, maybe I should.

What is your favourite film? That's a hard one. I guess Comedy it would have to be Austin Powers (all 3) but otherwise on the serious side it's Michael Moores Bowling for Columbine which is about the Columbine High School massacre. Still his best documentary. I wish America would do something about their gun laws.

What painting or photo do you have on your wall or desk? A scan of my yet unborn baby.

Who would your ideal dinner guests be? from politics I would take Boris Johnson and Paddy Ashdown. I think they would be the most interesting politics to hear lots of stories from around the table. Music I would go for Jimi Hendrix and Vernon Reid (Guitarist in a rock band called Living Colour) because I think Jimi is the great rock musician who has ever lived an Vernon because he's very intellectual, oh and Ozzy you have to have Ozzy.

What car do you drive? I just sold my yellow mini which I loved. I now have a very boring Ford Focus.

What is your biggest regret? Not going to university.

What makes you smile? Life in general.

What was your first job? Cleaner at Gateways in Crowthorne, had to get up early for that one then head off to school.

What do you like about Bracknell Forest? Well its certainly not the town centre or the 3M building. I think its the parks and the many cycle paths. You can travel all over Bracknell without touching a road.

If you won the National Lottery, what would you do? I would help shelter the charity giving my time to them and I would actually afford to run for parliament as I would have the time to commit to it.

If you could be asked one question what would it be and what would you answer? Would you ban certain video games? My anwser, No. Parents should pay attendtion to the age restrictions on video games. Games are a media just like films and they should be treated the same way.

No No No Not Alan Johnson as Shadow Chancellor

Ed Miliband has clearly changed his mind about winning over Liberal Democrat voters with the appointment of the highly authoritarian Alan Johnson. I freely admit that Alan is a big hitter and more popular than say Ed Balls who commentators expected to get the job.

However was this not a chance for Ed Miliband to demonstrate how different he is and to demonstrate this new generation. I personally think a more radical and better appointment would have been Yvette Cooper. Even though this could of looked like a snub to her husband Ed Balls. I think Yvette Cooper would have been a refreshing change to shadow Chancellor.

A missed opportunity to have an ambitious women as shadow Chancellor and to demostrate a different radical Labour party.

Todays link is to Tory Blogger Walaa Idris who asks How is Alan Johnson a New Generation!? and Labour blogger Scarlet Standard who supported Ed Miliband and can see internal and external political advantages of putting Johnson in the role.

Jack Straw calls Labours shadow cabinet selection 'Barking mad'

All parties have their own forms of democracy. I'm sure that none are perfect and it is for that party to choose or change their internal democracy. But Labours electoral college and elected shadow cabinet does appear to have some floors that could be improved and updated.

Today Labour will announce their shadow cabinet today. This brings up the question of not allowing the Labour leader to select the shadow cabinet. Ed Miliband will have to rely on those who are voted in through the Labour parliamentary party.

 

Jack Straw on BBC Five Live today said "It's fine if your not in the shadow cabinet because those appointments are made on a rational basis by the leader. If your in the shadow cabinet, the shadow cabinet is elected. I from a position of complete neutrality said to my colleagues, look I survived and prospered by this systems for 10 years. But I'll just tell you its barking mad. Because for arithmetical reasons as well its a daft system. what it means is that of the 18/19 people in the shadow cabinet probably a dozen are capable of being in the cabinet half a dozen are not and if and when, and it will be when we have a Labour government some of those people who thought it was a kind of meal ticket into the proper cabinet will be sorely disappointed.

Nicky Campbell "then asked will you come on in a few days and with Mandelsonian candour tell us the half a dozen who are not up to it?"

Jack Straw replied "Err no. Because if I did come on in a few days I would say to you that their all appositely fine. and indeed, but here's the point Nicky, I won't know, because it's the front bench as in the shadow cabinet is an interesting test of people character and ability. So you don't necessarily know immediately. Although what I do know is that if we left the decision of shadow cabinet as we left the decisions about the cabinet to the leader, people may say it gives them too much power but it actually gives them a great deal of responsibility."

The whole interview can be heard here (from about 2hours 10 minutes in) and includes some interesting comments on Peter Mandelson book.

I agree with Jack Straw on this. This process has an element of a popularity contest. MP's will need to stay on the good side of their fellow members. Not bad thing you may say, but this lack of control for any leader is no good thing for bring about a sense of leadership and for getting the members in the cabinet who would work best with you. It's possible that those MP's you don't get along with will also be the MP's that stab you in the back.

Media get graduate tax wrong again

I keep hearing about how Liberal Democrats want a graduate tax. This came up again on today's BBC Breakfast during the interview with David Cameron.

I feel I must correct the BBC on this. Liberal Democrats still want to scrap tuition fees and do not want a graduate tax. It is not Liberal Democrat policy. But it is a proposal Lib Dems would be willing to support.

The graduate tax is a coalition proposal put forward by Vince Cable as a progressive form of tax. It's an idea to help fund higher education when austerity measures are required. It is not a permanent solution but a necessary measure in these times.

Another misunderstanding is that some believe the graduate tax proposal is on top of tuition fees. It's not. The Graduate tax is a replacement for tuition fees and is not in addition too them.

I really wish the media would try to understand the difference between a coalition proposal and party policy. At the moment the media seem happen to confuse the public.

Details can be found on this money Q&A: What would a graduate tax mean?

Scrapping child benefit - what will Ed do?

I was watching BBC Breakfast this morning when the Chancellor did something politicians never do. Osborne was asked a question by Shan Lloyd about universal benefits and he answered it by announcing a new policy that is within his speech (scrapping child benefit for higher rate tax payers). This is not the normal way of doing things in politics. Normally you don't answer the question and you certainly don't announce a policy before giving a speech to party conference and not without leaking bits of your speech to the press first. I found this quite refreshing.

 

Anyway others will cover the rights and wrongs of this announcement in detail as this is a big story because it moves the Tories to the left. However I was wondering about how Ed Miliband and Labour will deal with this announcement. Ed has a chance to move right or left of this debate and maybe remove his Red Ed tag. He could agree with this cut, thereby showing that he is progressive and also doesn't agree with universal benefits or he could disagree with all or part of this announcement. If Labour do this then are they not moving to the right of the coalition on this issue and thereby removing his Red Ed tag?

 

I look forward to the Daily Mail's headline tomorrow on middle class benefits being cut.

Blog & Newsweek: 18 Bracknell & national politics

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


Local News

Council approves plans for atomic research facility

'Hospital loan not a bail out' - A GOVERNMENT loan of £18million to the trust that runs two hospitals in Ascot and Slough is “not a bail out”.

Family homeless back on Civvy St - A war veteran, his wife and their two sons are having to live in a single room at his parents’ because they do not qualify for council support.

Vulnerable ‘worst hit’ by council cuts


Local Links

Green Gabbles has some pictures of The Offence (1972) which was filmed in Bracknell

and Green Gabbles also has how you can help appeal for Iran, USA and the death penalty cases

Alvin wonders where people get the time to do their blogging - Blogging and stuff


National Link (Links of the day)

Benedict Brogan on the Telegraph blog covers Lady Warsi accuses Asian community of electoral fraud - A blog that I enterly agree with.

Mark Pack has An old Liberal Democrat policy rides again courtesy of Iain Duncan Smith

Thr Norfolk Blogger is not impressed in No greater love hath no man than this, than to lay down his brother for his own advancement

Duncan on Split Horizons has Quantifying and Visualising the Lib Dem Effect in the Coalition
which is in contrast too Let's stop trying to kid ourselves about what the Lib Dems have achieved as part of the coaltion

Labour blogger Scarlet Standard who was very happy that Ed Miliband won see 'Yes!' has her Reflections on Conference

And that's it for now. Have a good weekend!