Sportsmanlike?

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Perhaps I am old-fashioned (of course, I am!), but some of the etiquette in play and spirit of sportsmanship seems to have gone out of some of our sports these days.

Consider the frequent grimaces and clenched, waved fists made by Andy Murray in his tennis matches. What does that tell you about the man? Or his mother who was also seen to be clenching and waving her fists.

Sportsmanship? I don’t think so!
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Funny ‘ain’t it?

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Britain is a great country to live in and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But in some respects we are unprepared for, or maybe ignore, what Mother Nature throws at us.

High winds bring down the leaves in autumn and the railways slither to a halt. In winter the entire country comes to a standstill at the slightest snowfall. In summer any temperature over thirty degrees and the newspapers immediately shout ‘Phew! What a Scorcher!’, and the government bombards us with ways of keeping cool. We are currently enjoying good weather but I wonder how long it will be before the water companies, who are wasting millions of gallons of water every year, tell us that a drought is on its way.

Of course, we are not geared up to handle extremes of weather and there are sound economic reasons for this. We can’t expect the authorities, for example, to stock up on enough snowploughs to clear every single road in the country.

But I do wonder sometimes why it is that speculators are allowed to build houses on known flood plains and not be penalised when those houses are flooded.

Or why the water companies cannot get together and build pipelines to move water from the watery north to the needy south. The Romans managed it and, after all, so do the oil companies!

Funny ‘ain’t it?

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I mean ... You know!

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One of the many things that irritate me (and my wife says it doesn’t take much to irritate me) is the banal and meaningless words some folk often insert into their conversations. It is particularly irritating when listening to interviews on the radio or the television.

I was listening on the radio recently to someone who inserted into every sentence the words ‘you know’ and ‘I mean’ and 'like'. They occurred during pauses and I assume they subconsciously filled the gaps while the person concerned thought about what she was going to say next. And, again this morning, listening to someone being interviewed during a television news item, the same words seemed to fill the gaps while the interviewer was either drawing breath or wondering what he was going to say next. He was also pausing and inserting those gaps with ‘er’.

It’s a bit like the boil on the end of someone’s nose that you’ve never noticed until someone else points it out to you. Once you notice these meaningless words inserted into conversations and interviews, you began to notice them all the time.

And now ... you know ... the chances are ... er ... you will ... I mean ... notice them ... like ... all the time ... er ... yourselves!

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Michael Jackson’s Death

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Michael Jackson’s untimely death is a tragedy for his family and for his many fans. There is no doubt that he was the King of Pop and popular throughout the world as has been demonstrated by the outpouring of grief that has taken place.

I suppose that there was an inevitability, just days after his death, for the media to start speculating on the cause of his death, his financial troubles and who will now be after his assets and future royalties, the status of his family and what could generally be described as the various eccentricities in his private life. These and other matters will doubtless keep the media occupied for many weeks to come.

I do wonder, however, whether the media ought to concentrate more on the many tragedies taking place around the world on a daily basis; Darfur to quote just one example. Without demeaning the effect of the pop star’s sudden death on his family and fans, these would seem to me to be of far more importance.

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I repeat, we are not cutting spending!

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On Thursday I commented on the spat between Gordon Brown and David Cameron over government spending plans for the next few years.

Brown had announced that government spending would increase each year up to the Olympics and Cameron, waving the official government budget, pointed out that in fact government spending was set to be reduced over that period. He asked Brown if he would like to amend what he had previously told Parliament, and Brown foolishly continued to insist that spending would increase. The best he could do was to lamely accuse the Conservatives of planning spending cuts themselves.

Perhaps that little spat would have died the death and been forgotten were it not for an honest admission from Hilary Benn, a much respected minister, during BBC4’s Any Questions programme last night. In this he admitted that cuts in public spending will be unavoidable after the next general election. Mr Benn said the government faced ‘real choices’ ahead and ‘when times are tough you need to tighten your belt’. He got that right.

Isn’t this a case about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing?

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Who Turns U-Turns?

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Yesterday the government announced that public funds will not now be used to further shore up MPs pension funds. Given the public’s anger over MPs expenses, that news didn’t come as much of a surprise!

This morning, they announced that they were dropping some of their education policies. That reminded me that the government has done a considerable number of u-turns. Think of their changed positions on Gurkha soldiers, the Inquiry into the Iraq war, the 10% tax rate, free postage of parcels to soldiers serving abroad, the scaling back of plans to build new warships ...

The list culled from memory seemed endless as, indeed, this turned out to be when out of interest I Googled ‘government u-turns’ on my computer. I was confronted with a choice of 871,000 pages (yes, that's 871,000 pages!) of information about issues on which this government has changed its mind and performed a u-turn.

The number of pages to be found on the subject of government u-turns speaks for itself. Boy, do we need an election!

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Full Marks!

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Whatever you say about the politics of David Cameron, you have to give him credit for reacting swiftly and firmly to the scandal about MPs expenses.

It has been announced that a number of Tory MPs will repay inappropriate expense claims to the tune of £125,000; this in addition to the £130,000 that has already been repaid since the scandal broke.

Cameron has demonstrated that this sort of action can be taken in a short space of time, and it is a pity that our ponderous Prime Minister couldn’t have done the same thing. True, he has set up yet another wretched inquiry panel to look at Labour’s expense claims but, by jingo, Cameron has beaten him to it.

Again!

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Get Your Figures Right!

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Get Your Figures Right!

I’ve said before that Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesdays are a complete pantomime, and yesterday’s session was no exception.

David Cameron reminded the Prime Minister that last week he told the Commons that capital expenditure would grow until the year of the Olympics. He pointed out that this statement was at odds with the government’s own published figures which showed that this wasn’t the case and asked the PM if he would correct what he said last week.

Brown’s response was to stubbornly and repeatedly stick to his own figures, to repeat that capital expenditure would grow, and to accuse the Conservatives of planning to reduce it if they got into power. The result was, once again, that Brown looked foolish, especially when Cameron was actually waving the government report in question.

There seems little point in having Prime Minister’s Questions when the Prime Minister never answers any of them and, instead, resorts to pointlessly attacking the Opposition on plans they may or may not have.

On the other hand, it makes for good entertainment - which is about all you can say about it!

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A Bit More Co-operation Would Be Helpful!

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Not long ago our local council resurfaced some of our roads. They made a very good job of it, doubtless at enormous cost, and the results looked very fine indeed as the resurfacing covered up a hodge-potch of various ugly repairs over recent years.

But their fine work didn’t last long because the gas company have been systematically replacing old pipes and, unbelievably in my view, started digging some of it up again. And, even though they have filled in their holes and patched them up, the result is once again a mess.

It would seem to a simpleton like me that, except for emergency work, the utility companies must plan their work many months in advance. So it seems odd that the council did not co-ordinate their work so that the resurfacing was delayed until after the gas company have done their bit. Is that too much to ask? Alternatively, perhaps the gas people didn’t tell the council what they were about to do.

It seems so often that a stretch of road is dug up by one utility, patched up and then dug up again by another utility. Perhaps, if there was co-operation between the utilities and the councils, then our roads wouldn’t look the mess they have become. As I say, there needs to be co-operation between the utility companies and the councils but how to achieve this is the hard part.

Perhaps one solution would be to insist that the utility companies completely resurface the roads they dig up. It would, of course, hit them in the pocket (and ultimately us I suppose) but it might focus everyone’s attention on co-operation.

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A New Speaker

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So MP John Bercow has been elected Speaker of the House of Commons, and I wish him well and hope he will do his best to clean up the Parliamentary expense system that he himself has enjoyed in the past.

I don’t pretend to understand why many Tory MPs don’t like Speaker Bercow but, if he doesn’t represent the Old Guard, then that might be a good thing in my view. Change is what is needed not the preservation of the Gentlemen’s Club that existed before.

What did strike me watching some of the television coverage last night was how ungracious many of the Tory MPs were in not clapping when Speaker Bercow was escorted to his Chair. He was, after all, elected by a majority in a simple ballot and on this basis alone deserved to be congratulated.

But then I don’t understand much of what goes on in this Parliament!
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Impressions Of Norway

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I was asked yesterday what my impressions of Norway were following our short cruise to the fjords last week.

Norway ranks highly on our list of annual cruising choices and we have been going there for more years than I care to remember. My impressions from last week are the same as on all past visits to this and other parts of Scandinavia - the country is spotlessly clean, most of the people speak English and are mainly polite and courteous. There will always be exceptions of course but, in the main, that has been my experience.

Norway has a population of around 4,500,000 and occupies an area of around 125,000 square miles. This compares with, say, Greater London which has a population of around 7,000,000 and occupies just 600 square miles. You can’t really compare the two except in some respects.

For example, why is it that Norway’s streets and pavements are so clean when there are so few people to cover such a large area when London’s streets (and many other places) are so dirty, graffiti-ridden and litter-strewn when there are so many folk around and employed to keep it clean?

One of the answers to this question must have something to do with self-respect, respect for others and respect for one’s surroundings. Other factors will undoubtedly be at play, but respect has much to do with it I am sure.

Secondly, head for head, how many of us can converse with a foreigner in their own language? Very few I fear and, in truth, I am no exception.

The answer can only lie with the quality of education, a sadly failing system in this country after so many governments have tinkered with it over the years. How many British ten-year olds can converse fluently with, for example, a French visitor in his/her own language? Very few indeed. But on a visit to one Norwegian port and passing a junior school (without the need for fences against paedophiles and others peddling drugs and knives, by the way), a ten-year old schoolboy held a fluent conversation with me in perfect English.

As for politeness, I fear we have fallen way behind some of our Norwegian cousins for whom courtesy seems a virtue to be cherished. Rude drivers, parking wardens (now called Civil Enforcement Officers!), shop assistants, officials and a multitude of others daily exhibit tendencies that would not have been tolerated in my youth, and I am in no way a Methuselah yet!

I don’t know what the answers are to my own questions and there will be many, many more than I’ve mentioned here. Nonetheless, some of the answers must lie with respect and education and, that very unused word these days, discipline.

This blog is not a whinge but a comment in response to the question put to me yesterday. But I have to say that the comparison makes me very sad nonetheless.

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Not Much Has Changed!

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We’ve been away for a week and got back yesterday to find that not much has changed.

Another government minister resigned while we were away because it is alleged she fiddled her expenses, and this morning’s news tells us that three of the candidates for the post of Speaker are also alleged to have had their fingers in the till. So not much has changed since we were away has it?

Whether or not the new Speaker (and I'd like to see either Frank Field or Anne Widdecombe get the position) will be able to achieve anything about bringing reality and commonsense into MPs pay and perks remains to be seen. But I have my doubts because it is this lot that actually have to vote any changes in!

Let’s think for a moment. We’re in a job and our boss comes along and tells us that he wants to cut our pay and rein in our expenses. But, though he thinks it is a very good idea, in the end it’s entirely up to us. Now what would you do in these circumstances? No contest!

And that is the thing that is missing in the organisation and running of Parliament - there is no ‘boss’ that actually has the overriding power to establish a fair system of pay and allowances and, much more importantly, to enforce it and, in extreme cases, sack errant MPs.

I’ve lost count now of the number of MPs who have demonstrably had their snouts in the trough - and it is good news that some of them are now to be investigated by police on suspicion of possible fraud. However all of those who have resigned government posts or announced that they intend to step down at the next election remain as MPs, drawing their full salaries and allowances. What message does that give to us ordinary people?

The message is that not much has changed!

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Happy Birthday. Ma'am!

One of London’s best pageants takes place this afternoon when the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, a tradition dating back to the reign of King Charles II, takes place in Horse Guards Parade to honour the Queen’s birthday (which is actually in April).

The guest of honour is, of course, Her Majesty the Queen and the parade has, since the days of George VI, been held in June.

The Queen has attended every parade in her reign except in 1955. This year, the colour will be trooped by the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in a parade full of the spectacle of glittering uniforms, marching soldiers, prancing horses and music. The ceremony will be followed by an RAF flypast and the firing of a 41-gun salute in Green Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

The parade, the flypast and the gun salutes will be watched by many thousands of people in person as well as by millions of television viewers and has become one of London’s most famous spectacles.

Queen Elisabeth has served this country well and faithfully for 57 years and is probably the most respected monarch in the world. She is, next to Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years, the longest serving monarch in the world and on this day we wish her a very happy birthday parade and send loyal greetings.

Alternative Employment?

We’ll ignore the report this morning that Shahid Malik, the Communities Minister, allegedly failed to tell the whole truth about his expenses to the inquiry that cleared him of breaking ministerial rules over his rental arrangements and that he is now to be investigated once again. I’d only comment that the report reinforces my view that in days past, long past, ministers and MPs served the people instead of themselves.

I’ll turn instead to the latest antics of the BBC, that bastion of political correctness funded by us, the taxpayers; a fact that often seems to escape those in charge of it.

We hear this morning that the BBC are planning to cut the salaries given to their top earners though, so far, they are only applying these cuts to the ‘talent’. At first glance, one wouldn’t have thought that cutting the pay of performers would achieve a great deal and that more attention ought to be paid to the senior ranks of the BBC itself. But, I suppose, it’s a start.

What is interesting from the estimates in today’s report is that, among others, Jonathan Ross gets £18 million over three years, Graham Norton is paid £2.5 million a year, Jeremy Clarkson £2 million, Terry Wogan £800,000 a year, Bruce Forsyth £900,000 and Chris Evans £540,000. Cor! These rates are better than those of MPs and for a lot less work!

I have no time at all for Jonathan Woss, Graham Norton or Chris Evans and cannot understand why they should command such high salaries. I can’t see anything ‘entertaining’ about them at all. I would rather see their contracts lapse and let them take their chances with the commercial companies who, maybe, might look first at their own budgets before taking them on. As for Jeremy Clarkson, I would remove him from television altogether for his shows merely advocate and encourage fast and risky driving in an environment which is already overcrowded with cars and thoughtless drivers.

Of those mentioned above, I wouldn’t begrudge a penny to Terry Wogan or Bruce Forsyth and believe they actually earn their salaries. Both are entertaining in the full sense of the word, and Terry Wogan especially is seen as a ‘friend’ to the millions of people who tune in to his radio programme every day and listen to his gentle banter.

As for the rest, if some accountant comes along to cut their salaries they might consider alternative employment as an MP or even as a minister!

Reviving The Corpse!

British politics have long been confrontational and one gets tired of witnessing the endless round of unanswered questions in parliament which are met with counter accusations leading to pointless and fruitless exchanges of insults.

So I’ve always thought that Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesdays (for 150-odd years they used to be held on Thursdays until President Blair moved them as being more convenient to him) were a complete and utter waste of time whatever party happened to be in power, and yesterday’s session was no exception. As usual Gordon Brown didn’t answer any of the questions put to him but merely countered them with accusations against the Conservatives.

Brown did, however, tell us that he proposed to introduce an independent body to supervise MPs pay and conditions which would have power to impose sanctions on erring MPs. Fair enough - supposing the lot sitting comfortably with their snouts in the trough vote such a body in.

You’d suppose that Brown would then follow this proposal up with others that would deal with our appalling economic position, help rising unemployment, deal with the many issues affecting hospitals and schools and any of the dozens of others that impact on the lives of the ordinary man in the street.

But no, he announces a plan to reorganise the voting system. What a strange thing to come up with at this time! Might it have something to do with the fact that the Labour party is virtually disappearing as disaffected voters look to other parties who appear more able to sort out the problems that face our country? Or am I just a cynic?

This proposal seems to me to be akin to a surgeon attempting to revive a corpse which has already been embalmed!

That's Rich!

It is claimed this morning that MPs are considering preventing those on higher incomes from the annual Winter Fuel Payment when temperatures get below a certain level. This is a handout that helps a great deal of people, particularly those on small pensions.

Maybe it is a good idea to prevent millionaires and other rich folk from getting this annual payment. But what I find rich (no pun intended) is that it is our MPs that have come up with this idea.

That’s right! MPs! Remember - that mob that get a minimum of £64,000 a year plus up to £140,000 in allowances! Maybe they should set the limit for the allowance at £63,999!

The Snouts Remain In The Trough!

So Gordon Brown survived a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party last night and was not asked to stand down as Prime Minister or to call a General Election. Surprise, surprise!

Let’s suppose I’m a member of that Gentleman’s Club called Parliament. But not one of those who have been making improvements to their principal homes at the taxpayers’ expense, claiming interest payments on non-existent mortgages or enriching myself by buying an expensive pad in London which I intend to sell off at vast profit without having to pay capital gains tax on it. Let’s suppose I’m not one of them.

But let’s suppose I’m an ordinary member of parliament who quietly makes full use of the parliamentary allowance system by taking the maximum possible. Maybe I’m paying my wife to be my secretary and, maybe, my sons occasionally work as my researchers at extraordinary rates of pay. I’m taking as much as possible out of the system but, of course, all strictly within the present rules. Hey! I don’t want to rock the boat by doing anything that might attract the attention of the Daily Telegraph, do I?

So now someone comes along and asks if I would like to sign a petition asking the awful Gordon to step down in favour of another man so that a new prime minister can be appointed and parliament dissolved a month or two after that. I’m all for it, I say. Let’s have a change of man, some new policies and, maybe, just maybe, the British public might get to like us a bit more and some of us might get re-elected next time round.

But wait a minute. If we get a new man who then dissolves parliament so that we have to have a general election shortly afterwards, I and all my mates are out of a job. Instantly. And I will lose all my lovely allowances.

To hell with that. I think I’ll keep quiet, keep my snout in the trough and hopes it all lasts for another lovely year!

This Wretched Government!

The British public showed what it thought of the current government when it withdrew its support for it and the Labour Party in last Friday’s local council elections. This Prime Minister shows no leadership, the government has no direction and so many MPs appear to have their snouts in the trough.

The result was entirely predictable and Labour lost every council it controlled along with most of the seats it had on others.

So it came as no surprise that last night’s results in the European elections were quite conclusive: Labour was trounced yet again and came third after the Conservatives and the UKIP parties, with the odious BNP winning two seats in the European Parliament.

Whether Gordon Brown will now resign and/or call a General Election remains to be seen, though neither possibility seems likely according to the various pundits commentating on the news this morning.

Personally, I wish he would call an election as this would remove much uncertainty, aggravation and frustration in people’s minds at the way the country is presently being conducted by a faltering, corrupt and utterly useless government.

It may be Oliver Cromwell who said of King Charles’ government, ‘In the name of God, Go!’, but it was John Adams that later said, ‘The happiness of society is the end of government.’

By jingo, he got that right!