Ed Milliband's Lost Generation

Ed Miliband's Labour party has made much recently of the "lost generation" due to the economic climate,  so Bignews Margate has decided to investigate and track down three of Labour's lost generation, to put a face to the current employment crisis of course resources are limited, so the following is based much on my own prejudices and contempt for Labour.

Tony Blair former figure head of Labour, had the sense to scarper before the sh*t, hit the fan, having been befriended at an early age by Australian American media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, who encouraged his editors help  to Blair, who soon realised if he was to get on, had to be nice to people , no surprise then that   the  certain media businesses didn't get much scrutiny, having learnt this lesson Blair was only to keen to help his next best friend, GW Bush even when he wanted to invade Iraq. in the process mistakes were made and evidence had to be " sexed up a bit".  Anyhoo Blair now makes millions by giving lectures and consultations to  rich businessmen, rightwing politicians, on leaving Westminster he also  became Middle East Peace Envoy, and who better, since starting the job it seems there is hardly a country in the region that hasn't seen increased demand for peace what with all the bullets and bombs being tossed around, and of course no surprise that Israel where Blair has a base, still keeps the citizens of Palestine under occupation and continues daily to steal land and abuse the population.

Gordon Brown who spent much of his ministerial career telling us that the years of boom and bust were behind us sadly didnt get the chance to correct himself and point out that boom and mostly bust was er actually right in front of us, sadly he was overtaken by events and  set upon by an  unconvinced electorate who if nothing else overwhelming agreed that they had, had enough of his bullsh*t and that of his colleagues, its understood that he still sometimes turns up at Westminster to sulk and wonder why nobodies paying him the big bucks to speak.

Perhaps the saddest case is that of David Miliband, who it seems has sunk without a trace, once seen by many to have the potential to lead Labour into oblivion, having even less personality and charisma than that of Neal Kinnock and Michael Foot combined, who would have thought that "democratic " trade unions would come up with, the most mediocre leader of Labour ever, his bro Ed Miliband, who's main claim to fame so far,  is that he looks a bit like Wallace.

Perhaps readers will be incensed that, I should make light of such a serious issue, my view is this, that the current real lost generation of  youngsters looking for work, can pretty much blame Labour for sowing the seeds of our current predicament, talking about the "New Labour" generation, these blighters had it all popular support, a stable economy and the good will of the people, at first they showed an interest in getting work shy, layabouts into work, introducing working family tax credits, helping with child care, but hey this soon got forgotten as Labour fell back on the tried and trusted ploy of paying off the public sector and keeping social security scroungers flush. The idea of converting sullen layabouts into a generation of contributors to society was soon replaced, with the easy option of letting things go, and taking an easier and temporary course of importing cheap workers, to feed a then growing economy, ignoring the inevitable future social cost of not enough hospitals, schools, homes or jobs as the economy eventually contracted.

So when Labour sound off, about a "lost generation", remember the generation of Labour politicians who got us here in the first place, and don't worry, they're doing alright, still for all those kids and adults, who now cannot find jobs, good luck and keep trying, and don't go seeking to blame minorities, unless of course your thinking of the cretins in Labour who got us here.

Overheard conversations - Its only rock and roll

Sitting in some cafe on Sunday up in London alone on lunch, chewing on apple pie and slurping on coffee, I listened into the conversations around me, its clear that the election isn’t the preoccupation of everybody, although outside on the Caledonian road there is a rash of “Lib Dem Winning here” posters and briefly a rather cute crayoned version “my mums winning here” in the same style.

I tune in on one conversation, some middle-aged bloke wittering on about where are today's rock giants and note that the younger companions meet this thought with apathy.

Still this thought sort of resonates with me, although I generally listen to a bit of everything, I always come back to the Stones, Kinks, the Who.

My perception is clouded by age and changing priorities and of coarse there are no definitive answers, as to who’s best, greatest and in 30 years time some 50 year old will no doubt making similar statements about musicians of today who have not been topped.

Still much of yesterday I spent listening to the Who and came up with this thought are there any characters as remarkable as say Keith Moon the Who’s drummer until his death in 1978, I looked up his Wikipedia entry and have to say its one of the more entertain biographies, how many of todays rock stars would feel the need to return to a hotel room because they forgot to throw the TV out the window or blow up the toilet.

Anyhow I’ve a few days off, so I’ll post a bit more. My contact with this current election has been superficial, I’ve caught the Leadership debate, Cameron appearing smarmy (in my view) with meaningless vote for change claptrap, similarly the wretched (my view) Mandelson, and the joy of his presentation being interrupted by a car crash with the likes of Brown, Harman & Darling no doubt thinking can there campaign get any worse lets hope so.

Gordon Brown was a treat showing exactly how they (Labour) think of us proles, and well done to the Lady involved in bigot gate for not playing the game and endorsing Brown himself who seems to me bigoted and not afraid to manipulate the immigration question himself as in the last Leadership debate.

I will vote Liberal, because they are the only party that believe in equality and fairness.

Thanks but no thanks Gordan

Gordon Brown’s suggestion that us punters take a second look at Labour, isn’t, necessarily the best idea, frankly I’d rather not, having read about accusations of bullying etc.

I already felt that this week’s slogan from Gordon Brown rang hollow, “a future fair for all”, since the past few years have been nothing of the sort.

I and co-workers have seen during Labours rule a massive slide in earnings, jobs routinely taken over by essential workers from Lithuania to Albania whilst experienced people sit at home.

For some reason Labour have sold out manual workers having done nothing to protect employment, unlike France or Germany, so does this mean that the trend will be extended to the public sector workers so that they can either lose their jobs or see income slashed as in the construction industry typically by anything from 30 to 50 %.

Labour in the main represent the educated middle class so its no surprise that they haven’t a clue of just how appalling they’ve been, just imagine how quickly Labour would have reacted if it were their own, local government functionaries, teachers etc were losing jobs en masse to migrants.

Anyway things are looking blimin grim for all of us right now, whether anyone has the balls to sort out public finances certainly not Labour and since it looks as if Gordon Brown lacks the social skills with his own staff see this story which claims his own staff have had to contact an anti-bullying helpline its clear that he’s not going to be taking any second look at his own performance so why should we.

Its strange but I never thought I’d hold the same contempt that I had for Mrs Thatchers government but maybe power really does corrupt and Labour seems every bit as contemptible having more than its fair share of liars, fraudsters and law breakers.

Thought for the Day – The easy ride may be over for Sky TV

I’ve always had this theory that Sky TV plus News International represent the sort of dominant media group which should have been subject to strong regulation a long long time ago.

Sky TV has pretty much had a monopoly in supplying premium TV content outside of major cities since satellite Television began.

It seems things are about to change Ofcom the TV regulator are belatedly worried about fair competition.

I believe that Tony Blair had an arrangement with the Australian media wallah, in exchange for a pro-Labour SUN newspaper and other newspapers, a Labour government would ignore a dominant provider of telly so long as the Sun stuck with them.

Gordon Brown realistically hasn’t got a cat in hells chance of winning a general election but would still want the Sun etc on side so I just wonder if this a warning for the Murdoch lot to stay on side.

Still that’s a glib view and politics is the profession of gentlemen as we all know.

See BBC Story click here

For once Gordon’s got something right

Gordon Browns quoted in the Guardian as saying "To be honest, you could walk away from all of this tomorrow," referring to himself.

Please do, Labour's clearly stuffed whilst you continue in office and so is democracy. In the past eleven years the Conservative party have had a succession of lightweight losers and I suspect the current incumbent will fall into that category but  so far they’ve all had the decency to step aside for the next also ran. 

Gordon Brown has without a doubt has been an immense influence in British politics but leader?  I don’t think so.

Shame all round

I chanced upon Alastair Campbell’s Blog yesterday as a result of visiting the generally prolific Mark Nottingham’s site and following a link.

Now before I go further this bit is necessary background, 90% of the population do not follow politics in any depth myself included and its likely that most of the population get their political insights from life and popular media the Star, Sport, Sun, Emmerdale or Corrie.

Its a fact that most of us don’t write blogs, ask local bureaucrats to explain themselves or attend local meetings.

Most of us just have a blind faith, that those who make the big decisions or control our lives, actually know what their doing, give a damn and will act in a vaguely benign manner.

At this moment in time, we’ve come to one of those points in history when us the public, have, had a rude awakening, the economy is shot to pieces, were losing our jobs, the banks are as bankrupt as are our politicians.

The credit crunch has divided country between those who are trying to hold on to what they’ve got and those who haven’t got a clue.

Much of our economy is made up of the public sector, I understand in Scotland half the workforce are paid courtesy of taxpayer, so far no one in the public sector has been effected by the economic downturn least of all Gordon Brown.

Gordon Brown lost his grip on the economy, reality, and public opinion sometime ago, unfortunately his grip on to office is stronger, in what is to me, a spiteful and belligerent attempt to prove that he is capable Prime Minister which clearly he isn’t.

Alistair Campbell probably typifies Labour thinking in a posting on his blog referring to the Euro elections “those who say it was a day of shame for Britain, and for Labour, that the BNP one these seats, are right” his solution is to engage with those “stayaway voters” you wonder why they wouldn’t do this anyway.

I just wonder whether senior Labour figures are just so aloof that they haven’t thought of the blooming obvious, coming back to the fact most people don’t do politics, Labour might consider that the majority do not take kindly to losing their jobs to recent migrants and their schools and medical facilities being stretched which could explain why so many voted BNP.

Labour have drawn some comfort in the fact that in real terms BNP didn’t get more votes carefully ignoring the fact that UKIP have also made gains.

Its certainly a shame that anyone should consider voting for BNP, its a bigger shame that Labour are so aloof that they would no longer understand why ordinary people voted for a fascist party, even more a shame since as the party of government for the last eleven years, they actually engineered the situation where ordinary people felt more comfortable voting for nazi apologists than Labour.

Last nights pitiful display of loyalty by craven Labour MP’s to Gordon Brown who is trying to prove the point he’s not as bad as he clearly is, serves to confirm that Labour are finished.

Brown’s happy to take his colleagues into the wilderness and we’re going to pay the price, us the electorate delivered gift wrapped to a bunch of lightweight Tories lead by David Cameron and the BNP picking up more disillusioned voters.

Labour have yet to explain the benefits of mass migration, to British workers, until they do so they’ll lose support, I consider myself to be reasonably informed and I don’t know why a Labour Government cannot protect their own people.

Its easy for Labour MP’s to criticise those who voted BNP, as I mentioned earlier most of the population don’t get too deep in to political subtleties, they see jobs going and wages being cut and BNP fascists are offering what they want British jobs for British workers.

Ladyman out of touch ?

Writing in this weeks Isle of Thanet Gazette Stephen Ladyman MP, has this great insight referring, I guess to fellow MPs “Too many of my colleagues have failed to understand how angry people are …”

Well I just wonder if Stephen Ladyman has ever considered the impact of him, as I understand accepting a donation of £25,000 for his local constituency party from a local developer, who wishes to concrete many acres of Thanet.

Stephen Ladyman has been kind enough to allow us taxpayers an insight into his expenses even at one point to “slum it” by sending a contribution to Bignews Margate, after I questioned why we have been paying out £340 a month on food.

Incidentally he did not address the issue of the second job, which was highlighted some time ago in the Sunday Times when not too long, after leaving his job as minister for state for transport, (about a year later) he was spending some time writing letters on behalf of ITIS Holdings, for whom he was employed as an “adviser”, citing that the recipient might recall he had once been “minster of state …….”

It would be interesting to know whether Stephen Ladyman is currently gaining vital experience as a salesman for ITIS Holdings, it’s often the excuse of MP’s that holding directorships and jobs outside of parliament somehow enhances their abilities to do the job of MP. Yeah right, and I’m sure that most MP’s then give money earned from outside directly to charity.

Stephen Ladyman when he replied to Bignews Margate suggested the cost of food was necessary due to the long hours of the parliamentary day, well not having worked in parliament what would I know, the closest I’ve ever been to Ladyman’s hectic schedule was few months last year leaving home @ 5am, back home around 8pm after building railways in London, and despite getting paid less than half an MP’s salary, I never expected my employers to pay for my breakfast sarnie, lunch time cafe visit or even the takeaway when I got home.

In fairness to politicians I’ve never had to sit on my backside all day and talk bollix or listen to it.

Ladyman finishes this weeks Gazette column “By all means voters should punish MP’s who have broken the rules. But in the end, MP’s should be elected because of their values, their record, their beliefs and their policies, not because they have deep pockets.”

Quite right, so if I were one of Labours hardworking honest activists who’d had a kicking in the polls I’d take a long hard look at this comment and maybe ask Ladyman whether he might think about his values and see if they stand up to scrutiny on the level of not just whether rules are broken but also if the spirit of the rules have been ignored.

Stephen Ladyman is not alone in his attitude, the “in good faith” position is sadly shared by most MP’s, who seem to think, if, they’ve been open enough to admit, there’s a vile smell coming from the Kitchen, that exonerates them from the fact they created the stink in the first place.

To sum up, I’m sure that Stephen Ladyman is well meaning and honest in his dealings, and I hope that he at least has the chance to see the bigger picture this weekend and does something for the country like help get rid of Gordon Brown who if left in office will guarantee a long time in the wilderness for Labour.

Gordon Brown doesn’t get it

I see tonight on the TV news Gordon Brown is despite haemorrhaging ministers & large numbers of honest hard working councillors, jiggling his cabinet around as if he has any realistic hope of leading his party to victory or the country out of the mire.

Maybe I’m just as delusional, as all those crooked MP’s who believe they had some god given right to defraud the tax payer, so long as they declare it, still did I hear Gordon Brown state that “we fight for what we believe” didn’t Mrs Thatcher come out with some similar tosh just before being shown the door.

Gordon Brown is on the ropes, simply because he is not up to the Job of Prime Minister, the backlash from bent MP’s fiddling their expenses, should have be shared equally between both parties, if not more so, for the conservatives have a long standing reputation for scandal.

Labour continuing to support Gordon Brown will only guarantee a Tory victory in the next election, and we the people will suffer, it will be criminal if the Labour Party support Brown’s bunker mentality past the weekend.

Just how bad can it get!

Whilst “Honourable Members”, are rushing to put the money back in the till, they can at least comfort themselves with this thought, a couple of less than brilliant pieces have news have been buried as we the public bay for their blood, the p*ss poor minimum wage rise which I rambled on about yesterday, even worse, the news that in the last three months an astonishing quarter of a million people have lost their jobs.

So if nothing else politicians were sparred the “what are you going to do about it” type questions  which journalist should have been asking but were clearly they enjoying politicians trying to wriggle out of Sh*t creek with or without a paddle.

Almost worth the grief was the Prime Minister trying to convince us on the BBC 10 oclock news that his solution, MPs paying their ill gotten gains back hadn’t just been nicked from David Cameron's suggestions earlier in the day.

Anyhow coming back to the “how bad can it get” reference in the title, as you may or may not know I work on the railways and I’m employed by agencies and from time to time as contracts finish etc. I register with other more general employment agencies, and yesterday I got a telephone call from one, asking whether I was currently looking and then the conversation switched and this person was asking me whether I knew of any vacancies in rail industry for a relative, you’d think an employment consultant would know who to contact.

As far as I’m concerned MPs can keep the bloody money so long as they see that British workers get preference in employment and or fix the economy.

Gordon brown has delayed panic attack?

Gordon Brown has belatedly acted, on the controversy surrounding MP's expenses, clearly after weeks of continuing scandal, much of it coming from his own ministers and Labour MP's as they fill their boots with taxpayers' money.

He made the announcement on the number 10 website, where you can see the video of Gordon brown, explaining his interim measures, it's worth looking at, just to gauge how bad things are, watch his delivery and demeanor, toward the end it seems his smile for instance flashes from scowl to full volume grin or rather grimace without any in-between a bit like watching a light bulb flicker before it fails.

Maybe it's the possibility, that the prime minister has just cottoned on to the fact, of how seriously the public take, the images of the home Secretary apparently bluffing her way out of a rather unseemly position because if you study the PM, it looks as though he couldn't be more uncomfortable, if sat in a dentist's chair, facing an extraction without pain relief.

Of course he comes out with all the usual tosh, of greater disclosure accountability etc.  but what does that mean in practice, I seem to recall one particular MP, who although he declared taking 25,000 pounds for his party, from a developer, not surprisingly as far as I can recall, didn't then preface remarks about a development, by saying “I had a donation from one of the directors of this company”, when speaking in favour of it.

Also mention was made of second jobs, again I seem to recall, a former minister, taking a "Consultancy" not long after being sidelined, in the same sector that they had recently held ministerial responsibility for.

Labour has positioned themselves, firmly where the Tories were in 1997, that is remote from those who voted for them, and with their snouts in the trough.  Of course I believe that barring some miracle, most labour MP's will be in receipt of the P 45, which to be honest is their own fault, but might explain their screw you attitude to the electorate.

I'm convinced that Labour won the 1997 election, not because of Blair's cheesy grin, their policies but because of years of Tory sleaze.

MP's if they want to be considered professional, they need to cut out the second jobs, not take gifts and just get on with the bloody job, it's fair enough that an MP might have a special interest, but taking paying job is just not on.

Conservatives are probably just the same but of course the difference is their not currently the party of government, although Gordon Brown is doing his best to make that so.

Labour hypocrisy and the Chinese Circus

I can understand athletes, sports men and women, being over come by the spirit of the Olympics, the ideals of the Olympics etcetera but when the Prime Minister, takes part in what was a PR exercise for the corrupt and abusive Chinese regime, it just underlines how out of touch he and his government are.

China as we all know occupies Tibet and ruthlessly puts down opposition which is at odds with much of Labours own policies (I think), of encouraging the break up of the United Kingdom, and open boarders, so just what the hell is Gordon Brown allowing this Chinese PR Circus into downing Street, even more offensive is the sight of what I take to be Chinese security pushing and shoving participants about outside 10 Downing Street. Click here to see video.
I read somewhere that Gordon Brown had taken on a new advisor to stop stupid gaffs, well it doesn't look like its working. Still one outcome is that news today, that china has killed or is that murdered 8 rioters, will move to the back pages, doubt we will not hear any labour ministers speaking too loudly on that issue.

Finally this torch waving PR is promoted as a journey of Harmony, which clearly its not, one thing we all ought to remind ourselves is that the Olympics sports run for two weeks, the bullshit goes on forever.

Ladyman to be voice of the South East

Steve Ladyman has taken news of his dismissal from government a bit better than one would expect. As a fellow Thanetonian his role as Transport Minister, is one that didn't appear to offer an advantage to his constituency or surrounding area.

A quick glance at our transport links shows, little improvement over his years in office, the road to Sandwich is still a pigs breakfast, there is no dual carriage way into the heart of Thanet and the much hyped up rail link is going to be overpriced, a little faster and into the wrong part of London for many commuters.

Mr Ladyman is waiting for clarification on his new job for the Labour party, apparently he has a remit to travel around the south east and feed the government with information on issues concerning this area, this would be great, were it not for the fact that Gordon Brown, is committed to continuing the outrageous situation, that allows Scottish politicians to vote on matters concerning England, but not the other way round (see Guardian).

We've heard how Gordon Brown wants a fair more consensus manner of Government, but where England, south east or north west is concerned we already know where Gordon Browns coming from and unfortunately for us, its Scotland.

Kent Online