Gordon Brown apologises over 'rent' expenses

Gordon Brown has apologised for breaking Commons expenses rules by sub-letting an office funded by the taxpayer. The Prime Minister was rebuked by the Standards and Privileges Committee for allowing premises in his Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency to be sub-let.
However, Mr Brown will face no punishment because neither he nor the party benefited financially.
This follows Jacqui Smith MP, Home Secretary and Peter Hain MP

Tory chief's firm faces questions

A company run by the Conservative Party treasurer Michael Spencer gave advice to almost half the councils facing a funding crisis as a result of the collapse of Iceland's banks, an investigation by The Independent reveals. Councils who paid Butlers for strategic advice advice were almost twice as likely to have lost money in the three main Icelandic banks as those advised by other companies.
Of the 116 local authorities who lost money, 51 received advice from Butlers. Their losses totalled £470m, more than half the total amount of council funds frozen in the banks.
The Independent's two-month investigation has been passed to the Communities Select Committee, which today begins an inquiry into local government finance, sparked by the disastrous decision of councils to invest £886m in Iceland's economy.

What I Said Tuesday, 11 September 2007

Brown tough on public sector
Mr Brown told Congress he would "take no risks with the economy" and put stability first. "No loss of discipline, no resort to the easy options, no unaffordable promises, no taking risks with inflation," he said.During his address, dozens of PCS members, who had earlier threatened to stage a walk out, instead held up placards demanding "Fair Pay for Public Servants."Mr Brown has insisted that public sector pay settlements this year must not break through an overall average of two per cent, although inflation is running at 3.8 per cent.Several leaders reacted angrily outside the conference hall, saying Mr Brown had implied the low paid were to blame for inflation, while failing to address the issue of spiralling City bonuses which pushed up house prices and caused inflationary pressure.Mark Serwotka, the PCS general secretary said his members in job centres, pension centres and the child support agency – who in many cases earned only £13,000 a year had been offered an average of one per cent over three years – were "completely demoralised".

Mini Workers throw eggs at Union Leaders

Furious mini workers pelted their union leaders with eggs yesterday after 850 jobs were cut. "Where has the union been all this time?" asked union member Adam Mason, "Why did I bother paying my subscription? They did nothing for us." The trade union Unite donated £1.5m and was responsible for 41% of Labour party's funding, Unite followed the usual union practice of making a substantial donation to the national Labour party (£1.4m) and a series of smaller donations to local Labour constituencies around the country. The GMB donated £294,358 nationally, plus other donations locally; and the CWU gave £169,455 nationally.
If New Labour gave back laws to protect the unions and its workers instead of business, then it wouldn’t matter who is in government. This is why so many factories in Wales have closed, because the unions have been turned into toothless money machines for New Labour. If the unions really wanted to show New Labour of their discontent, then stop donating millions of pounds to them. Job losses like these wouldn’t have happened so easy in France or Germany with their tougher employment laws.

Bosses Slate VAT rate cut

More than 90% of British firms believe the government's VAT cut has failed to help their business, a survey says. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) found 76% of firms reported the cut in VAT had been of no benefit - and 16% said it was actually a burden.

Bank Whistleblower:Brown should resign

Gordon Brown should quit over his role in the financial meltdown, whistleblower Paul moore said yesterday. The Prime minister had to go because the crisis was caused by policy failures that went "right to the top of government", he added. "In Gordon's mind, it was all caused by global events beyond his and anybody else's control," So much for Gordon's boom and bust promise.

The Welsh Nationalist are coming

The Welsh national team won the red rose boys (England) for the second time. Now it is time for the political Welsh national team (Plaid Cymru) to do the same to the red rose Labour party in Wales. I didn't see many Union flag yesterday, why because it was Wales v England.

True Wales are Tories in Disguise

My understanding of True Wales (the no campaign) is a Tory lead campaign, with a soul purpose to split Wales and the Labour party (between Labour unionist and Labour nationalist). This campaign would hand the next general election to the Tory party (as in 1979), Labour MP’s in Wales wouldn’t mind because they will still get elected whoever is at no 10. The Labour members within this organisation would rather side with right wing Tories.

Peter Hain calls Electoral Commission incompetent

What a cheek Former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has for his recent attack on the Electoral Commission – as “incompetent”. The Electoral Commission is a statutory body set up by the Labour Government in 2000 to oversee the democratic process, and in particular to promote "integrity, involvement and effectiveness" in our democracy. They only work by guidelines set out by the Labour party, so if there are any flaws within the commission then it is down to the initial setting process.
The same Peter Hain, who failed to disclose more than £100,000 pledged to his deputy leadership campaign. Which he blames the the failure on an administrative blunder or in other words his office staff. With employers like Mr. Hain who needs enemies.

Pensioners' lost millions

Pensioners are missing out on millions of pounds worth of state help. Many older people look forward to a comfortable retirement. A lack of cash can sometimes make the reality very different.
Pensioner poverty is now at crisis levels and two million pensioners live below the government's poverty line. Many older people find it difficult to cover day-to-day living costs, never mind luxuries.
The Pension Credit is just too complex and a lack of awareness which sometimes stops the cash from reaching older people's pockets.
Pensioners are more likely than anyone else to miss out on benefits. Each year hundreds of millions of pounds in benefits cash lies unclaimed. Plaid Cymru, Age Concern and Unions have campaigned for this Labour government to restore the pension link with earnings to improve the lives of pensioners. This link was severed by the Tories and Labour continues with this Tory policy.

When will Labour take Responsibility?

So Labour Cllr Ray Davies blames the Tories for today’s credit crunch and recession. Then uses the rest of his letter for a Thatcher rant. This is a classic letter from a Labour member who can’t defend his Labour government, so he digs up a Tory ghost. Be realist Labour has been in government since 1997, even though Labour kept to Tory spending plans for the first few years. Since Labour got in the gap between rich and poor is much wider now, Labour could restore the link between pensions and earnings, which would improve the lives of thousands of pensioners. It is Labour that is closing post offices. At least Labour was able to financially help the London City bankers to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds. While they’re so called core voters lose their jobs because Labour couldn’t set up a rescue plans for the various companies.

The Death of free Banking

The loss of the post office service will have a negative affect on the economy of the local community and surrounding areas. With individuals and small to medium-sized businesses reliant upon a service. That is very localised and customised to their specific needs and provides face-to-face personal support and advice to the elderly, the disabled and vulnerable people. This Labour government should consider urgent action to retain effective and comprehensive postal services in Wales. Not even during the dark days of Thatcher and her Tory government would have made such drastic closures.
The worse is yet to come, as this Labour government encouraged people claiming benefit to open bank accounts instead of having their giros over the counter at the post offices. These people will feel more aggrieved with the news that due to the credit crunch in Britain free banking is likely to be scaled down. Which means you could be charged for withdrawing money from cash point machines or get charged if your account has a small amount of money in it. This Labour government is feeding the most needy to the banking sharks and shame on all Labour members who agree.

Save the Vulcan Pub

There are many things in life that should be saved, wildlife, culture, language, heritage, The Vulcan Pub should be included because once something is gone there is no going back. If it is to be save then it needs to be fully retored to its nature state and therefore used like a working museum.

Sack the Welsh Select Committee

The Welsh Select Committee a group of ambitious career MP’s who has found a new lease of life acting as a block to the Welsh Assembly. They act like a second chamber (the house of Lords) to Wales, with Tory and Labour MP’s sitting side by side. All jobs for the boys.

The Long Term cost to Wales

The 2012 London Olympics Games will leech a whopping £437m from Welsh voluntary budgets. That will mean in the long term every sport club in Wales will suffer some sort of extra hardship, will experience a drain in membership. Welsh communities losing its rugby, football, athletic clubs and other clubs that rely on funding. These clubs are what help keep the local people fit and healthy but also keep the community together. There is not much for the people of the valleys old or young and various clubs are they only escape. If these are forced to extinction then that could be the death nail to most communities. If losing local swimming pools is not bad enough but thanks to Labour’s policy that is not the only thing to be lost.
The only areas to benefit in the short and long term will be London and the south east of England.

Fine Words

"You only have power over people so long as you don't take everything away from them".
Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Prediction for Welsh Success

Wales to win the Grand Slam.
Blues v Ospreys European cup final.
Swansea City v Cardiff City championship play off finals
May be an EDF all Welsh final.
Wrecsam for Promotion.
Topped off with a record number of Welsh player selected for the British Lions.
It is going to be a good year for the Welsh.

British Jobs 4 British Workers

The latest pictures of UNITE members holding up "British Jobs 4 British workers" signs. What if a poster said "Welsh Jobs 4 Welsh workers" would the holder be called racist, if that poster was in Welsh they definitely would be called racist. I have never seen signs like those during professional football games where nearly 50% of footballers are non-British or outside any NHS buildings.