Wednesday 27 October 2010

should ed focus more on a alternative rather than PM q's ?

today this me memo to ed miliband leaked in the times
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11637074

describing how to go about tackling david cameron in pm q's this to me looks as though ed is focusing far more on these 6 questions a week more so than finding a credible alternative to the coalitions plans for cuts. This to me looks a tad embarrasing and no surprise David cameron siezed the chance and took him to task on this. I think the memor i have not read it myself told ed to focus more on short snappy questions looking for more humour and sharp witty comments. but why would you look to emulate david cameron, taht is the tactics he uses i thought. basically it looks to me as the labour supremes at the moment are focusing ed's thoughts more on this half hour weekly slot of questions rather than putting out alternatives to waht the government is doing. Untill we start to formulate a real alternative rather than just saying we oppose this and that cut and not saying what we would do instead we will remain looking a little toothless i'm afraid to say.

Tuesday 26 October 2010

not believing the tory spin on the GDP figures

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11624742

This latest news from the news today stating that the UK's econemy grew faster than expected apparently by 0.8 %, this is nicely over looked by the fact that this is a slowing of the growth from 1.2 % under labour in the second quarter of the year. The tories main media sources have come out this morning all guns blazing letting us know this has seen off a double dip recession and that this is further excellent news their austerity package of cuts is working.

I would just like to say i do not believe a word of this. The fact is growth has slowed under the condems. This is sure to worry George Osbourne as with the countries growth slowing even before the cuts have truely hit, has got to be a concern for government ministers surely ?

Wading through all the spin that even the bbc have gone with today growth is down on before and i still dont think the government can be sure their plans have worked.

Lets just wait and see i think 2011 will be a crucial year as when the cuts start to hit home and jobs will be lost. lets see how much growth we get then shall we...

Monday 25 October 2010

will labour side with the unions?

Hi i have just come back from a meeting tonight about the cuts in stevenage, i am begginging to wonder about labours position on the cuts, will we side with the unions and create a movement agaisnt cuts, similar to the likes we saw agaisnt the poll tax in the late 80's ?

or do we carry on ed's course of sticking to the centre of british politics alienating the unions further and ourselves even more. do we oppose every cut or carry on putting our cuts out there, which to be fair would have impacted on people the same way, or do we believe our cuts would have been fairer ? i am still in favour of a robin hood tax that takes more money off the banks and spreads it more equally amoung the less well off myself. That is a socialist view of course but do we not need a bit more socialist values pumped into this political system ? i think we do.

i think there is a growing movement within unions to change things. i can feel it coming, the tories are running scared but if they dont reconsider this is what will happen i am afraid. The people will fight back, not litterally but take the protests to the streets. Over 20 thousand marched in scotland last weekend went largely unreported and the same in london, bristol, lincoln and birmingham. This will only grow as the cuts deepen.

my question is which side do labour sit now, are we with our friends at the unions are we on the side of business's we need to be sure.

Monday 18 October 2010

The media and their relentless attacks on benifit cheats

This article i had to blog about
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/public-accounts/2010/10/anti-benefits-160-media

it hits the name on the head when it comes to how i feel. I am not for one moment suggesting benifit cheats should not be gone after, they should. But

and this is a big but.. i'm registered blind as many of you may or may not know. Registered as disabled, i claim disability living allowance fiarly and squarly. I dont claim for anything i shouldnt. I have just paid back over £1000 in over claiment, in a purely honest mistake of being at a resedential college whilst still claiming. I found out just as i was leaving college that i was not meant to be getting this extra money. I was never told of this and i'm sure many others have made the same mistake.

The issue was the care part of my DLA was meantt o go to the college, as i was in residential college and got all things paid for whilst i was there. This was fair enough and i notified the DWP who set me up repaying the money over time.

I have no issue with this at all. But i cannot stand how the media and certain political bloggers like to group us disabled people, most of whom are totally honest and up front with their claiments as benifit cheats. I find this unfair and often offensive. I understand the deficit needs to be cut but why do the disabled and less well off have to suffer at the expense of wealthy tax dodgers and over paid and risk taking bankers.

Is it because the disabled and the less well off are easy target ? are we less likely to kick up a fuss?

well let me tell you Mr Osbourne, Myself and many others this wednesday will be taking to the streets of Westminster to protest against proposed cuts in disabled benifits which could ultimatly cost lives.

Friday 8 October 2010

A closer look at the shadow cabinet

hi there again. As i blogged about earlier, i said i would detail the shadow cabinet in more detail later on. well here it is.

Alan Johnson - Shadow Chancellor

argueably the most surprising of the announcements today. Certainly the one the media are focusing on the most. To put alan johnson as shadow chancellor it breaks any media ploy to plot against ed balls and his wife. i see this is a nieve move by Ed miliband personally. I'd have gone with Ed balls. He is sound on the econemy and has almost ran his whole leadership campaign based around the econemy. For alan johnson now, who lets be fair has a fair bit of expereince of being in a top job. was most well known for being home sec for a number of years under gordon brown. I think if he gets the wording and the stragey right he could be good. But just like the media this is the person i have the biggest question mark over. Not that i dont like Aj as i do very much but in terms of the econemy i think he may be a little weak in this area. Only time will tell i guess. I for one will be at least giving him a chance, who knows he may surprise us ?

Yvette Cooper - Shadow Foreign Secretary

Another surprise move by Ed miliband. Yvette was highly tipped for a top job notably the one she was tipped for was the one of shadow chancellor, this was talked about as a battle between her and her husband, has ed M gone for the easy option by ignoring them both for the role and going with Alan johnson in a attempt to cool and media hype between the two Balls family spouses ?. As for SFO i think yvette is a highly talented polititain and will do a excellent job, shadowing william hague who i actually think is one of the better tories out there she'll have to perform well and no doubt she will do so. Big things are predicted for yvette if she carries on progressing the way she has.


Ed Balls - Shadow Home Secretary

As anyone who reads my blog and i'm disapointed to rad not many do, yuo will know that Ed balls was my prefered candidate for leader of the labour party, this did not happen, he came in a respectful 3rd, behind the two Milibands. This is a good show i think for balls who i am very much inspired by. I think he speaks my language in terms of politics. Has teh econemy down to a T and will be disapointed to miss out on shadow chancellor no doubt. Will having to dael with two missed opputunities affect balls much ? i dont think it will, he is the most combative Labour Mp i know of today and will give terresa May a real grilling. From seeing terresa on Newsnight this week i think Ed will have no trouble picking her off with little work. I raellly think we havent seen the last of Ed balls on the big stage and i wish him all the best.


Andy Burnham - Shadow Education Secretary

One of the appointments i was most pleased with. Andy burnham another character similar to Ed balls, got my second preference in the leadership elections, will take on Gove like a dog going after a bone. If ed balls wont be able to take on gove then my next choice would have been andy burnham, widely tipped to carry on his role within the healthy area moving to education will be no problem at all to the versitle andy burnham. A top MP who wears his heart on his sleave, a true labour man with its roots firmly embedded in him.

Sadiq Khan - Shadow Justice Secretary

Sadiq is a excellent MP with a bright future in politics i feel. a real up and coming star i feel. Pleased he was elected to the shadow cabinet and is good for the labour party in so many ways. Multi cultral, raches out to the ehtnic communities, speaks well, well educated, communicates very very well and will do a excellent sound job as shadow to the justice secretary.

Harriet Harman - Shadow International Development Secretary

Never can enough priase be heaped on such a fine female polititian as hariot. Easily is my favourite female MP ever and to me surpass's Maggie Tatcher, although to me that isnt hard as a true labour man.
Real expereince in politics, one of Gordon Browns people and served admirably as a acting leader since the 2010 election.
Will always be a popular figure within labour ranks and does much for women within labour and womens rights too.

Angela Eagle - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Another up and coming MP with big things tipped for her, Angela and her Sister will prove to be a formidable pairing within the shadow cabinet. Used to be involved with Tony Balir a fair bit so knows her way around Westminster very well.

Douglas Alexander - Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary

Another Mp i have grown to really respect in recent times. Tipped for a future leadership job douglas will do well in teh shadow cabinet. His assesment of the last election at conference stood out for me. He is frank, honest and is labour through and through. A realistic and honest guy with his finger on the pulse as far as labours last election results went, Is one of the fore runners to project game plan and other such ventures to secure labours route back to power.

Jim Murphy - Shadow Defence Secretary

Jim is another brilliant Scotish Mp and could have been a great scotish first minister. moving into defence will suit Jim down to the ground. A fighter not only on the ground but a real tough guy on the political stage, has good back bone and will do well in this role i feel.

John Denham - Shadow Business Secretary

John has done well in recent years, built up a good reputatin amoungst labour people and i feel sure will fit in well to this role. John isnt someone i know too much about but i am sure will give his all to make this position work for him.

John Healey - Shadow Health Secretary

A excellent Mp widely respected not just within labour ranks. This positin i would have thought would have gone to Andy Burnham but if not then john healy would be my next best choice. Is sure to be briefed by andy burnham in his fight to go after Andrew Lansly of the condems. I see this is a battle labour really can win. It is related to the econemy but is a off shoot of it. The NHS must be something we do defend with everything we have. We must fight tooth and nail to keep it as it is untill we can get back to power. John is the man to make sure this happens i am sure of it.

Caroline Flint - Shadow Communities Secretary

Caroline was another shock inclusion, a very much new labour person, caroline will have her work cut out to make this position work for her, a potential loose cannon will have to be kept on side if ed is to keep a steady ship.
I think giving caroline this positin is key as communicatin is everything but i'm sure if given the freedom she will flurish.

Rosie Winterton - Chief Whip

Rosie is one of the MP's in this list i know probably the least about, i heard a interview with her on 5 live earlier and she sounded very well spoken, i am sure she will be in conversatin with Ed miliband very regulary and clearly is a Ed M person and is sure to carry out her job to the best of her ability.

Meg Hillier - Shadow Energy Secretary

A totally brilliant MP, young, enthusiastic and fresh. A new name to add to our list of top labour MP's. i follow meg on twitter and she is a family person with a key drive. To make the world a better place. Giving meg this role will be a good place to start for her to realise that plan.

i wish her all the best personally.
Maria Eagle - Shadow Transport Secretary

A tough role this as transport is facing a big pressure to reform itself. A role that can be pushed to all boundaries. With high speed rail being one of the big go areas of the condems. This is not a role that will prove a difficult role i feel, certainly not in opposition. I feel there will be a lot of agreeing with the government in this role. i think maria is up to the job but again time will tell. Not one of the biggest jobs in the shadow cabinet but no means less important to the country as a whole.

Hilary Benn - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

Son of the great labour leftist MP Tony bBenn, Hilary is a fine Mp and will do a excellent job for labour, totally loyal and as labour as they come hilary will perform to the best of his ability and will hold the thought for Ed. One of the most loyal MP's you could hope for within politics.

Mary Creagh - Shadow Environment Secretary

A big role in this day and age with the environment and the state of the planet becoming increasingly a bigger and bigger issue. As it stands this role looks a small job but lets not pretend it is environment should matter to us all and one of Mary's biggest tasks is to get that out there that we are all affected by this in some way or another.


Ivan Lewis - Shadow Culture, Media and Sports Secretary

Another one of the lesser jobs in the cabinet but as we draw towards 2012 london olympics and the forth coming decision on the 2018 world cup bid england are going for. This is a rol that wil need to be carried out with the upmost pride and passion. I have no doubt I van Lewis is the man for this and will do a excellent job.

Peter Hain - Shadow Welsh Secretary

A funny one this one, initially not included as didnt gain enough votes, Ed miliband personally brought Peter back in. I can understand his as initially there was not a obvios choice for welsh minister. This for me is a key role, As next year 2011 Labour culd realistically take wales back if we work hard. With peter hain ther a welshman and a guy with his finger on the pulse i think this is now a real possibility.


Ann McKechin - Shadow Scottish Secretary

The clear and obvios choice in the end. Ann is one of the few scotish labour ministers and i feel will fit in well. Having a scotish person in a role for scotland will be key to appeal to the scotish people. Again labour can and will do well in scotland next year i feel if we play our cards right.

Shaun Woodward - Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary

Just like Peter hain Shaun was brought back in by Ed miliband, one of the most surprising choices in this lot of shadow cabinet members. Shaun has worked in this area before and is probably labours best choice for this area. I dont believe he will match peter mandelsons performance in this role but then again not many ever will.

Tessa Jowell - Shadow Olympics Minister

A obvios choice really already on the olympics commitee for the government Terresa is new labour but a very ambitious woman, good for labour and good for the country, works hard behind the scenes to drive things forward she believes in and with the london 2012 games around the corner terresa will have a big part to play in the delivery of a successful games for london and its legacy it will leave behind.


Liam Byrne - Shadow Cabinet Officer Minister

Liam is a excellent MP, is truely loyal and speaks a good game, his unfortunate part in leaving the letter to the next governemnt of there being no money left in the treasury was possibly not his finest moment in politics, but beyond that liam has great ability and is vital we kept him in our shadow cabinet. I really hope Ed uses him to the full and gives him his chance to stamp his mark on this opposition and the government that need pressure putting on them.

Overall i think Ed Miliband has a good group of people to work with, Clearly he didnt get to choose them this was elected by the PLP but where he did get to choose, who goes where apart from alan johnson who i would have swapped with Ed balls i think he has got this right. Of course only time will tell but i am happy with this to be going on with.

If you do read my blog you may wish to read what i have to say over the weekend when i start to outline my idea of the fair society, my answer to David camerons big society, which is dropping like a stone with the public and tories alike. My version of my own brand of new politics will be interesting to read, but is aimed to take on camerons ideas and turn them into a fairer society and a society embedded with true labour and socialist ideas.

the shadow cabinet announcement

so as we just been hearing here is the full list of the shadow cabinet who ed miliband has chosen to serve under him as leader.

here it is in full Alan Johnson - Shadow Chancellor
Yvette Cooper - Shadow Foreign Secretary
Ed Balls - Shadow Home Secretary
Andy Burnham - Shadow Education Secretary
Sadiq Khan - Shadow Justice Secretary
Harriet Harman - Shadow International Development Secretary
Angela Eagle - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Douglas Alexander - Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
Jim Murphy - Shadow Defence Secretary
John Denham - Shadow Business Secretary
John Healey - Shadow Health Secretary
Caroline Flint - Shadow Communities Secretary
Rosie Winterton - Chief Whip
Meg Hillier - Shadow Energy Secretary
Maria Eagle - Shadow Transport Secretary
Hilary Benn - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Mary Creagh - Shadow Environment Secretary
Ivan Lewis - Shadow Culture, Media and Sports Secretary
Peter Hain - Shadow Welsh Secretary
Ann McKechin - Shadow Scottish Secretary
Shaun Woodward - Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary
Tessa Jowell - Shadow Olympics Minister
Liam Byrne - Shadow Cabinet Officer Minister

stay tuned as later i will be detailing these ministers and weighing up where they will fit in or not.

also sometime over the weekend i plan to roll out my own version of th big society, known to me as teh fair society, it will be what my politics will be based aarround. concreted into a fair and equal society.

Monday 4 October 2010

Murdochs media empire

After watching dispatchs tonight on channel 4, i was horrified to hear how much power Rupert murdoch actually whelds now. To have murdoch within a earshot of the most powerful man in britian, the Prime minister. I for one am very worried about where this will eventually lead to.

I afor one am really worried how the right wing media - news corp can influence the government at quitea high up level.This is not healthy for a democratic country i feel.

I think the communications advisor to david cameron is in a really dodgey position now and now this documentary has aired people will be more aware of the shadey world of the media in this country now.

The most worrying party is the role of the police in all this, they sem to have their hands tied in waht they can do. i think their reputation is on the line here if they are not careful.