I'm told (by an eco-warrier friend of mine) that, on a per person basis, you'll find more water in Sudan than in Greater London.
Good job that London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, is offering all Greater Londoners DIY Planet Repairs Toolkit for £0.
Sign up for yours - for free - here.
Friday, November 30
Wednesday, November 28
Shrewd Opportunism?
Chris Huhne is merely thinking of his own political capital in writing to the Metropolitan Police Chief, Sir Ian Blair, demanding an investigation into the latest party funding row.
Perhaps he is hoping it will do for his reputation what it did for SNP MP Angus MacNeil's in "Funding-gate" pt 1.
Yet whilst Gordon Brown's suggestion yesterday that the donations were "unlawful" may imply a police investigation is necessary, that Chris Huhne is attempting to "cash in" (pun not intended) on the issue is quite base.
It might help him in his attempt to get the poisoned chalice that is the Lib Dem leadership, but it hardly paints a rosy picture of British politics in general.
As if potentially unlawful donations aren't bad enough, this petty sort of playground politics makes our legislators look like a bunch of ferrets in a sack.
The smart thing for opposition parties to do in this situation is to give the impression they are concerned with the consequences of this latest furore, and with the actions of those involved, without appearing to be shamelessly capitalising on it.
Perhaps he is hoping it will do for his reputation what it did for SNP MP Angus MacNeil's in "Funding-gate" pt 1.
Yet whilst Gordon Brown's suggestion yesterday that the donations were "unlawful" may imply a police investigation is necessary, that Chris Huhne is attempting to "cash in" (pun not intended) on the issue is quite base.
It might help him in his attempt to get the poisoned chalice that is the Lib Dem leadership, but it hardly paints a rosy picture of British politics in general.
As if potentially unlawful donations aren't bad enough, this petty sort of playground politics makes our legislators look like a bunch of ferrets in a sack.
The smart thing for opposition parties to do in this situation is to give the impression they are concerned with the consequences of this latest furore, and with the actions of those involved, without appearing to be shamelessly capitalising on it.
Tuesday, November 27
In praise of ... Ben Brogan's Blog
Whilst I don't particularly care much for the institution he writes for, Ben Brogan's blog is probably one of the best British political blogs on the internet.
Which is why I've added him to my blogroll. Also added is the Spectator's Coffee House Blog and Boulton & Co from Sky News.
Alas, blogs I had hitherto respected - such as Iain Dale's Diary and Guido Fawkes - are becoming increasingly difficult for me to read. The former because it lacks incisive analysis and sounds far too often like the sort of razor-sharp political analysis you'd get at a WI Coffee Morning, and the latter because it is turning into little more than a Labour attack blog (still, Guido is remarkably well written).
Which is why I've added him to my blogroll. Also added is the Spectator's Coffee House Blog and Boulton & Co from Sky News.Alas, blogs I had hitherto respected - such as Iain Dale's Diary and Guido Fawkes - are becoming increasingly difficult for me to read. The former because it lacks incisive analysis and sounds far too often like the sort of razor-sharp political analysis you'd get at a WI Coffee Morning, and the latter because it is turning into little more than a Labour attack blog (still, Guido is remarkably well written).
Sleazy Peasy
Today, two quotes, juxtaposed.Conservatives, take heed. Labour, take stock."So Labour and the Lib Dems have made a pact jointly to hurl sleaze accusations at the Government and Tory MPs. That makes a change ... For Labour, sleaze is a cover to divert attention from the emptiness and obscurity of its somersaulting policies and promises. For the Lib Dems, it is a publicity stunt."
Woodrow Wyatt, Oct 1996
"If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience."
George Bernard Shaw
Monday, November 26
Common sense prevails
On Friday, members of the Oxford Union voted by a margin of two-to-one to allow Nick Griffin and David Irving to participate in a debate on free speech. In the circumstances, this is the right decision.
Of course, there will be demonstrations tonight by those opposed. Maybe even counter-demonstrations by supporters of the BNP. But MP Evan Harris puts it well when he says:
Of course, there will be demonstrations tonight by those opposed. Maybe even counter-demonstrations by supporters of the BNP. But MP Evan Harris puts it well when he says:
"Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, who is billed to speak at the forum, said it was the "views of these extremists which are a disgrace" and "not their right to hold their views".
"I have spent my whole political life opposing racism and bigotry, but it is vital to demonstrate that they will be defeated within our existing laws.
"The measure of our country's respect for free expression is our willingness to allow it for the most objectionable and offensive lawful speech, not just for those with whom we agree."
Max Hastings also writes on the issue in the Guardian today. See here.
Thursday, November 22
Thieves exploit benefits claimant data loss
With the police still pulling apart the HMRC offices in Washington, it hasn't taken long for daylight robbers to cash in on the loss of millions of benefit claimant records.
Experian, one of the UK's two credit-reference agencies, have just sent me a marketing message asking me to sign up for their online CreditExpert service. In the email, they reference the loss of millions of child benefit records as a good reason to do so. The CreditExpert service allows you to access your credit reference for a 'small' £70 annual fee.
I've got to say, I find the timing and pitch of this email to be a little cynical and quite distasteful.
I'm not against encouraging people to check their credit record on a regular basis. Indeed, this is advisable (I do it). But it is possible to get paper records for just £2 a time, instead of paying £5.99 a month for the priviledge of accessing data held about you.
Experian, one of the UK's two credit-reference agencies, have just sent me a marketing message asking me to sign up for their online CreditExpert service. In the email, they reference the loss of millions of child benefit records as a good reason to do so. The CreditExpert service allows you to access your credit reference for a 'small' £70 annual fee.
I've got to say, I find the timing and pitch of this email to be a little cynical and quite distasteful.
I'm not against encouraging people to check their credit record on a regular basis. Indeed, this is advisable (I do it). But it is possible to get paper records for just £2 a time, instead of paying £5.99 a month for the priviledge of accessing data held about you.
Thursday, November 15
Tories: "Let's give them a hard time. They're all foreigners."
Those pesky foreigners have been up to no good again. But luckily, three erstwhile Tory MPs were ready and waiting to give them a hard time.
I just wonder if the reception given to credit ratings agencies by the Treasury Select Committee would have been warmer if they had been British....?
More at FT.com.
I just wonder if the reception given to credit ratings agencies by the Treasury Select Committee would have been warmer if they had been British....?
London prides itself as an international financial centre but some MPs noted “they’re all foreigners” amid other insults as they privately disparaged the three main credit ratings agencies ahead of a parliamentary committee hearing this week.
Representatives of Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings came before the Commons Treasury select committee on Tuesday during hearings into financial stability and transparency in the wake of the Northern Rock debacle.
Before the hearing, three Conservative committee members began discussing the upcoming interrogation unaware their remarks were being picked up by the microphones on parliamentary TV. Michael Fallon, a former schools minister and the leading Tory on the committee, turned to Graham Brady and Peter Viggers, and said: “We must be as rude as possible to the credit agencies”, and that “they’re an absolute shower”. One MP said: “They’re all foreigners”.
More at FT.com.
