Pope Francis: Anti-Capitalist Featured
Pope Francis hit out at World poverty yesterday by slamming Global Capitalism as a “Money Cult” and calling for drastic ethical reforms throughout the international markets for the creation of a humane global society.
Euro-Sceptic Conjecture? Featured
The lingering European curse of the Tories. Well, lingering is not the right word really. It is as abundant as it ever has been and if anything, with traditionalists and euro-sceptics reacting against the party leadership’s attempt at modernisation with protest votes for UKIP (though I speak in hope more than conviction in saying ‘protest votes’), the ongoing, multi-decade schism that Europe has wrought upon the party could completely undermine hopes of a unified Conservative party going into the next election.
The Green Party is, in a sense, in a momentous 40th anniversary, if you go back to the founding of the People’s Party in 1972/3 out of which the Green Party was created in 1990. There has been little celebration of this, with most people still only really seeing the party as an outsider, a means to rejecting the established parliamentary megaliths of Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems. They’re no longer perceived as the ‘hippy tree-huggers’ in lieu of Greenpeace, but while they are established as a viable option for people to vote for in local and European elections, their national presence is still that of a small party.
“Bizarre” and from “another age” are the terms used by Greg Martin, head teacher at Durand Academy, to describe the comments by former Conservative Party councillor John Cherry that claimed Pakistani children struggle to “rise to the top” because such nationalities were “uncertain” when it came to hard work.
"Ninety-seven per cent of pupils will be black or Asian” he told the Mail on Sunday. “It depends what type of Asian. If they're Chinese they'll rise to the top. If they're Indian they'll rise to the top. If they're Pakistani they won't.”
Such comments are undeniably stupid. Stupid in two ways: a PR way and more importantly in terms of helping to foster a successful modern society, which is kind of the job of a councillor. Of secondary importance is the PR idiocy of the comments – how can a politician in the 21stcentury not realize that comments like these are going to be widely condemned in modern society? Whether you believe these views or not, on a practical level if you’re going to be a successful politician you should surely know that such comments are inconducive to any political success.
Liverpool V Chelsea Match Preview Featured
The Liverpool V Chelsea game (Sunday 21st at 4pm) at Anfield this weekend should be a cracking game.
Liverpool are in No-Man’s Land at the moment, six points behind arch local rivals Everton and in danger of finishing seventh in the league (and out of the European places) after an indifferent season. They have nothing to lose and will want to beat one of the so-called bigger teams in the Premier League.
Chelsea meanwhile have much more to play for even though they are out of the BetFair Fa Cup. They are in with a good shout of finishing in third or fourth spot in the Premiership and thereby getting a lucrative Champions league spot. However they cannot afford to slip up with Tottenham and Arsenal yapping at their heels.
This is also the major story of the return of Rafa Benitez to Anfield, where he worked miracles as a coach – bringing home the European Cup in 2005 to Liverpool after perhaps one of the greatest finals ever in Istanbul that year.
Conservatives: The Only Way Featured
It seems that my decision in 2012 to renew my Conservative membership was right. The party is headed in the right direction and David Cameron has a good chance of remaining PM at the next General Election due in 2015 if he sticks on his current course and is strong-willed in the image of the late Baroness Thatcher.
Iron Lady Funeral Featured
The Queen has led mourners in St Paul's Cathedral at the funeral of Baroness Thatcher, Britain's longest serving prime minister of modern times. More than 2,000 dignitaries from around the world paid their last respect at the biggest such occasion since the Queen’s own mother's funeral in 2002.
Lady Thatcher's coffin was carried through streets lined by mourners and members of the three armed forces. PM David Cameron said it was a "fitting tribute" to a major figure.
Four thousand police officers are on duty in central London, which saw large crowds along the route of her funeral procession, which was conducted with full military honours. There were reports of some protests but not the large demonstrations some had predicted. In fact the noise of protest was drowned out by the clapping coming from the crowd.
The congregation at St Paul's included Lady Thatcher's family and all surviving British prime ministers, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Sir John Major, the current cabinet and surviving members of Lady Thatcher's governments,
There were tears, and occasional laughter, as the Bishop of London, Right Reverend Richard Chartres paid tribute to her forthright character in a simple service, which, at Lady Thatcher's personal request, did not include any eulogies.
"After the storm of a life led in the heat of political controversy, there is a great calm," said The Right Reverend Chartres.
"The storm of conflicting opinions centres on the Mrs Thatcher who became a symbolic figure - even an ism.
"Today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Thatcher are here at her funeral service.
"Lying here, she is one of us, subject to the common destiny of all human beings."
"But when you're mourning the passing of an 87-year-old woman who was the first woman prime minister, who served for longer in the job than anyone for 150 years I think it's appropriate to show respect."
In total, two current heads of state, 11 serving prime ministers and 17 serving foreign ministers from around the world attended. Notable absences were former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who could not attend due to ill health, and former US first lady Nancy Reagan, who was also unable to come.
The Great Thatcher Facebook Divide Featured
Over a week on from the death of Margaret Thatcher and her legacy of a divided society remains. Hailed as the saviour of an ailing nation ridden with obstructive unions by many but derided as the soulless capitalist with little contempt for the bulk of society by many others. It’s difficult to find anyone with any sort of indifference to the Iron Lady, whether on the street, pub, Facebook stream or at the questionable Thatcher parties.
Cowards Attack Boston Marathon Featured
An investigation is well under way after two explosions near the finishing line of the Boston Marathon left three people dead and at least 140 injured. The FBI has taken over co-ordination of what it described as a potential terrorist inquiry. Boston police say officers are working around the clock and all leave has been cancelled.
Maduro Fabricates Election Victory Featured
So Nicolas Maduro, successor of Hugo Chavez, has won a narrow victory in Venezuela's presidential poll? Yeah right! Allied predicted this “result” some months back here.
Allegedly Mr Maduro won 50.7% of the vote against 49.1% for opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. The Venezuelan electronic voting system has already been declared open to fraud by even Jimmy Carter. It’s been used again for pro Chavez party votes.