Does anyone agree that there is a need for forum space to mention all those things that are of interest in the short term but, would not necessarily sustain a half a dozen or a dozen comments.
For example: Yesterday was the last day of the Six Nations rugby competition. Only of interest perhaps, to few on these Forums. I’d like to have placed a reminder but couldn’t find the last Six Nations subject, so didn’t bother.
Another example: Lord Neuburger, President of the Supreme Court mentioned that it was desirable that people should not be prevented from venting their often frustrated opinions on contentious issues for fear of condemnation. He thought that commentators who were opposed, were inhibited by the prospect of disapproval, from discussing rascism, homosexuality, ordination of females etc.
My Six Nations snippet was that it was a generally good result. Ireland won (by points difference) the Six Nations title from England. England won the Triple Crown and France was beaten ! Result.
By: charliehunt - 17th October 2015 at 17:56
Great match – SA deserved winners!;) Now it should be All Blacks to beat Les Bleues.
By: John Green - 17th October 2015 at 12:29
Meddle,
If you’ve got a strong case then you really don’t need to ‘cook the books’ as per the IPCC.
It is that doctoring of the evidence by the IPCC and others that has totally demolished any claim they might have to credibility on the subject of climate change – or, anything else for that matter.
By: charliehunt - 17th October 2015 at 05:48
Of course in principle but “reducing pollution” is such a lazy phrase and therefore meaningless.
I have missed the point of your last comment. Can you clarify?
By: Meddle - 16th October 2015 at 23:13
Surely reducing air and water pollution is a good thing though, even if the science isn’t in 100% agreement on the potential long-term impact? I’m always amused by those that profess an undying love for the green and pleasant land of England, but view any sort of environmental measure as some sort of shady liberal conspiracy to spuriously tax. Very odd.
By: charliehunt - 15th October 2015 at 16:50
Of all the subjects which concern us globally the utter brainwashing of the political elite worldwide with few exceptions of “global warming”is the most scandalous. The phrase in itself is meaningless. The science for what it’s worth flawed and half the world in thrall to a phenomenum about which they know little and understand less.
John – I would point you to the best climate website I know – Watts Up With That? – where you can read the science rather than the b*******hit.
By: John Green - 15th October 2015 at 15:41
Report. D.Tel. 15th inst.
Top French TV weather forecaster blows the gaff ! Phillipe Verdier has been taken off the ‘air’ after outspokenly criticisng so-called climate change experts and political leaders over alleged global warming.
M. Verdier went on to say: ” We are hostage to a planetary scandal over climate change – a war machine whose aim is to keep us in fear”. According to M. Verdier, climate scientists who often rely on State funding, are “manipulated and politicised”
He is particularly critical of the work of the IPCC saying that they blatantly erased data that contradicted their conclusions and cast doubt on the accuracy of their climate models.
We, in Britain of course, have known about the shameful manipulations of the IPCC from past investigations reported by that outstanding investigative journalist, Christopher Booker
By: John Green - 26th September 2015 at 11:27
Eurosceptics ? How dare they !
Hang on, that’s probably why I support them.
By: trekbuster - 25th September 2015 at 21:09
I am astonished that you and they are not more bothered by the billions that the UK will be paying the Chinese to build nuclear power plants here.
£3m is peanuts compared to that, not to mention the loss of dignity.
Strange for them to complain about Gideon as everybody knows the TPA is a Tory eurosceptic front. jonathan Isaby used to be deputy editor of Conservativehome.com
From an article from spinwatch:
In the aftermath of the 2010 general election the Taxpayers’ Alliance held a roundtable meeting to discuss the Conservatives return to power. Attendees included Eurosceptic think tanks Global Vision and Open Europe.32
Although the TPA claims to represent all taxpayers, such links suggest that its main interest lies in taxpayers of the Eurosceptic tycoon variety
This article shows how a lot of their support comes from Tory donors
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/09/taxpayers-alliance-conservative-pressure-group
http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/joe-emersberger/item/219-a-closer-look-at-the-taxpayers-alliance
By: John Green - 25th September 2015 at 19:30
Jonathan Isaby of the Taxpayers Alliance would like to bring your attention to the fact that our generous Government has decided to invest a gift of 3 million GBP of taxpayers cash into training five thousand new Chinese football coaches to increase the level of interest in that country and elsewhere.
Something to remember when the next election looms. Hang on a minute, there won’t be a lot of choice !
By: John Green - 22nd September 2015 at 18:40
Why am I not at all surprised ?
D.Tel. (report, 22nd Sept.) claims that only two migrants/refugees our of every ten arriving in the EU from the Middle East is actually Syrian.
Fake passports are being freely traded on the Internet with people from the Sudan, Egypt. Iraq and Libya passing themselves off as Syrians.
Who would believe it? It is claimed that an undercover Telegraph reporter speaking Arabic spoke to a people smuggler who wanted £1,000 for fake Syrian documents.
Is it really possible that there is serious deception at work ? All the people that I see featured on my TV screen look to be decent, honest upright citizens just desperate to enhance with their skills life in the downtrodden EU.
By: charliehunt - 5th September 2015 at 15:38
Linc – I have a serious question for you. Your unremitting scorn and contempt for our MPs, without exception, is well known and well documented in various threads here. How would you change things, how would you solve the problem you perceive?
By: Lincoln 7 - 5th September 2015 at 15:07
I think the word “Rabble” is very apt for all 650 of them in Westminister. even more so watching them at P.M.s Question time, on a Wednesdays.The only day one sees the house full!!.
Jim
Lincoln .7
By: trekbuster - 5th September 2015 at 14:07
Interesting, yes, well argued, possibly, well balanced, not really.
I was amused by his statement ” where there is no far-Right party causing havoc in Parliament.” depends on your definition of far-right really. Just as the tory press and other media are trying to push the perceived centre to the right, compared to tory governments of the 60’s and early 70’s The current rabble are further rightward leaning. All depends on ones own perspective of course. Others seem to think they are limp wristed liberals
By: John Green - 5th September 2015 at 13:22
A thoughtful, balanced article titled: “As poorer countries get richer, the Great Migration will only increase” and written by Frazer Nelson appeared in the D. Tel. yesterday.
The general theme was that money is needed for migrants to travel, and this has now become much easier since poor countries have become wealthier and that wealth has percolated down to those who perceive a need to migrate.
By: John Green - 28th August 2015 at 17:11
Charlie,
No confusion. The ‘you’ I mentioned is not a personal ‘you’. It is impersonal and collective. eg. the wider public.
By: charliehunt - 28th August 2015 at 14:03
Me??!! Rather the opposite as you will recall if you care to check any of my posts on the ghastly EU!
Or are you confusing me with Snafu the Luxembourgeois….?;)
By: John Green - 28th August 2015 at 13:54
Just in case you still maintained your illusion that the EU is entirely democratic, along comes Mr. Morgan Johansson to disabuse you. Mr. Johansson is described as the Swedish Justice and Immigration minister.
He is quoted by the D. Tel. (28th inst) on the subject of unrestricted immigration into the EU:
“Every country that is a part of the EU should do their share and that goes for everyone” he said.
“Sooner or later there will be a mechanism that makes it compulsory for all countries to do their share, because that is the way that Europe works”.
There you have it, whether you like it or not. That’s democracy for you.
The spectre of Jean Monnet hovers and smiles a secretive smile.
By: charliehunt - 27th August 2015 at 15:14
Trekkie
The whole peerage fiasco is a disgrace and it gets worse!! I have a remedy…..;)
John
True but if it’s a blunt sabre it’s more like the small willie syndrome – if you’ll excuse my coarseness!!
By: John Green - 27th August 2015 at 14:46
Something else for IDS to be proud of?
Along with the DWP putting out false case histories of claimants on it’s website (although the latter he blamed on his staff).
Seems he has a problem with either recognising or telling the truth in parliament (again)
Trekkie,
A cup of tea and an aspirin is indicated. We have common ground ! IDS is not my favourite Tory politician by a long chalk. When he was allegedly in charge of Pensions, I wrote what I regarded as two quite sensible letters – I hadn’t been drinking – on the subject of State Pensions.
His Highness declined to reply to either.
Charlie,
When a bully with history rattles his sabre, I always sit up and take notice.
By: trekbuster - 27th August 2015 at 14:24
Another interesting snippet in the Del.Tel/Torygraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11828053/David-Cameron-appoints-new-Lords-live.html
I think one of the tweets in the piece says it all:
Hogg peerage is two fingers to the people, who are still outraged by the expenses scandal. @David_Cameron hasn’t learned anything, has he?
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) August 27, 2015
Edit:
Another appointed stands out as astonishing to me:
David Willetts-two brains a peer? Bl**dy nora
On the positive side, good to see both Ming Campbell and Alan Beith continue to (hopefully) keep justice and business legisltation under some effective scrutiny
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March 16, 2014 at 1:27 pm