I am teaching media and ethics at the moment and I seriously wonder whether it was necessary and in the public interest for Jon Snow to inform watchers of Channel 4 News that the poor beached whale on the Moray Firth had "cried" just before it was put to sleep. I can imagine there will lots of people seriously upset by that. I know I was. Just as well it's not a programme watched by children.....

CLARKE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION

You have to laugh, albeit hollowly, when Charles Clarke comes on the radio and says what great mates he and Gordon are. Of course they are. Why else would he lambast him in the most recent edition of the Blairite publication Progress.

Brown, you see, has upset the ultras by not doing ENOUGH to fulfil the New Labour agenda. Which is a recipe we are told for 10 more years of Conservative rule. In that respect at least, Clarke is right about Brown. But for the wrong reasons. Unless he changes course, the Tories will win the next election.

We have wasted nearly three years of Government agonising over when Blair was going, then not having an open and honest contest for the leadership, and now going down blind Brownite alleys of neo-Conservative policies and trying to out-Cameronise Cameron.

So anxious is this Govt to please the right's agenda that the checks and balances surrounding police searches are likely to be taken away. Another recipe for disaster. Today, the Govt blocked attempts by the left to bring about a more equitable National Insurance system - ensuting the rich paid the same percentage of their earnings in NI contributions as we do. These things should not be happening.

The PLP has got to find a proper voice and start mobilising and campaigning for decent Labour policies. And if that means rebellions then for God's sake rebel.

The other option is a slow and painful sleepwalk to the much greater disaster of Conservative Government. Even if these days, sometimes, I wonder would anyone actually notice the difference........

WAR CRIMES -WHY WASN'T THIS REPORTED?

As a journalist, I pride myself on being media savvy. Unfortunately, like everyone else, I have to scour the internet to by-pass the mainstream media and sometimes miss stuff. So s I wish to now report the press conference held with John McDonnell MP and members of the Campaign to Make War History who briefed MPs and the media on allegations of war crimes committed against the people of Iraq by Britain's former Prime Minister and the former Attorney General.
Officers from Scotland Yard have started a criminal investigation into the deaths of Iraqi citizens killed during the armed invasion and occupation of Iraq.
The Metropolitan Police are also acting in response to crimes reported by peace activists from We Are Change UK and The Campaign to Make War History. In an unprecedented step, the case was handed to the War Crimes division of the Counter Terrorism branch who are now investigating allegations of 14 criminal offences committed by Tony Blair, Lord Goldsmith and others. The offences are under the International Criminal Court Act 2001, which came into effect under English common law, just two days before 9/11.
Evidence was provided to the police relating to the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and conduct ancillary to these crimes under Sections 51 and 52 of The International Criminal Court Act 2001.• a crime against peace and complicity in a crime against peace under Articles 6 and 7 of The Nuremburg Principles.• murder, incitement to murder and conspiracy to murder under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.• conspiracy to commit genocide, a crime against humanity and war crimes under the Criminal Law Act 1.You can watch the press conference on You Tube.Here's the linkhttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wPx9QsXqXBI

A PHOENIX KIND OF NIGHT

Last night to Mayor of Calderdale's charity "do" at a curry house in Rishworth, a small village about 10 miles away. Much fun to be had due to presence of pub singer who did crap Neil Diamond impersonations and an audience which went crazy to the sound of Sweet Caroline ( think Peter Kay) .

I also met Melvyn, an ex-miner and Mayor of South Kirkby council, in the Hemsworth constituency. Melvyn grilled me on the serious issue of was I New Labour, what did I think of Ed Balls and other people who became MPs after having very little to do with the areas they now represent, and what on earth was I doing in Nottingham during the 1984 Miner's Strike ( answer on the picket line with the miners who had not answered the call to scab) .In short, he gave me a seriously hard time. But when I meet people like him I am reminded that the Party on the ground ie US is still bigger than the bunch who let us down time and again in Government. I am also reminded why, much to the astonishment of many of my friends, I still stay in the Labour Party.

CHANGE OF LINE ON AGENCY WORKERS?

Is there good news, finally, to report from Number 10. The Guardian seems to think so. Today's edition says that Gordon Brown's aides have opened talks with senior backbenchers on the issue of offering employee protection to 1 million agency and temporary workers.
Apparently, 15 senior MPs, including the PLP chair Tony Lloyd MP , have been in talks with Downing Street aides to discuss a compromise.
Last year of course the government blocked an EU directive on temporary and agency workers, partly by insisting that equal protection rights could not be considered until the workers had six months of continuous employment.It also killed off the Trade Union Freedom Bill. A shift in direction would be very welcome. Could it be perchance because , as one Labour MP told the Guardian, there was a threat of a huge rebellion by the PLP? I would like to think so.

AND NOW THE UNEMPLOYED ARE PRIVATISED

A new buzz word was coined today by the Prime Minister. "Incentivise." What does it mean? I believe a Plain English translation would be "punish and privatise."

Lost amid the media ballyhoo over Ronald McDonald degrees was the news ( long predicted by the left) that Brown is now to hand over back-to-work schemes to the private sector. No doubt the companies who take them over will be "incentivised" too. By the truckloads of money they will make out of schemes designed to force people back into work -who will basically risk losing their benefits if they do not comply.

This is being touted by the Govt as a "carrot and stick" approach to tackling unemployment. In fact it's just a stick. Another one to beat the low-paid and unemployed with. And one which in times past we would have expected from a Tory, not a Labour Government.

Instead of shelling out cash to private companies, why not extend and renew public sector schemes to give people a bit of hope and a new start? There are many many models of social enterprise which could be worked on, too. Those really DO provide incentives for the people who work toigether collectively.

Still, looks like arch-Blairite James Purnell is going to have a fine time down at the DWP. Coming up next, closing down the Remploy factories. Anyone out there still think Brown is an improvement on Blair??

DREAMING SPIRES NOT GOLDEN ARCHES.....

Am I impressed by the Government's backing for qualifications in McDonalds management. You bet I'm not. We have already devalued our education system quite enough. The notion of handing out A level equivalent qualifications in burger management is frankly ludicrous.Vocational courses - fine. Let's have more electricians, plumbers and young engineers equipped with the skills they need. But yet again this Government is kow-towing to the CBI and following a corporate agenda. Worshipping at the throne of global capitalism and the junk that goes with it - including junk food. I watched Morgan Spurlock's Supersize Me for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Read Fast Food nation last year. Something ironic, isn't there , about lecturing the nation on obesity - and offering academic studies in quarter-pounders and how to serve them better.

NOT MARTIN AMIS.....

It is 9.22. I have been at this desk since 11 am ( with a one-hour break at the Trades Club) Over nine hours ' lesson preparation and marking. For one day's work tomorrow.

No I'm not whingeing. Just reminded of the lead story in Friday's Manchester Evening News re celebrity lecturer Martin Amis . In a climate of higher education CUTS, he's apparently earning £3000 an HOUR for a series of lectures. Let's just say I would need to work around 81 hours to earn something similar. No I'm not a famous novelist nor will l I ever be but, much as I have enjoyed some of Amis's work he surely doesn't merit that much.Does he.............

LABOUR BRIEFING - SUBSCRIBE NOW!

I am getting pretty picky about which groups I join on Facebook - but have just joined the Labour Briefing Readers' Group. I am also about to increase my standing order and copies to sell - such is the popularity of this publication up here. Why?

The February 2008 edition has Reports from the Labour Representation Committee and local LRCs (including ours) , articles about the National Policy Forum and the NEC elections , plus info on the Socialist Youth Network's COFUP campaign for fair pay.

Also news and analysis on Iraq, Iran and Kenya as well as trade unions in the US presidential election.Plus coverage on the National Insurance Contributions Bill, welfare reform and issues surrounding women's prisons, prisoner's rights and public sector pay*

Mark Serwotka, Jon Rogers and Marsha Jane Thompson debate political unity and the Labour left ( yes we can do it!) Also regular columns by John McDonnell, Geoff Martin, Alan Simpson and the NEC's Christine Shawcroft Find out more - and subscribe - on the link on the right

LIGHT RELIEF 2

As local readers of this blog will be aware, we have a celebrity candidate in nearby Todmorden. Stephenie Booth ( wife of Tony and mother-in-law to Tony B ) is standing as Labour 's choice for the Calderdale elections. Somehow or other ( nothing to do with me ) this has come to the attention of the Independent On Sunday - she is quoted as saying she won't be "using her connections" to try and get votes. Well I have some news for her. I know you have been away from the UK for some time Steph but I'm afraid that round here, the Blair connection is NOT a winner. And, frankly, I would play it down. As much as possible.......
Tony Booth, of course, has for many years enjoyed something of a reputation as a" fiery left winger." Which his unexpected attendance last year at a John4Leader meeting in Hebden Bridge seemed to back up. However in a recent interview, he said his next choice of Labour leader would be James Purnell or Hazel Blears.... oh dear

LIGHT RELIEF 1

I read with amusemment of a meeting between Tony Benn and Nigella Lawson, the very mention of whom seems to turn most men I know into jelly. Apparently, Tony made her very cross indeed by confessing that he ate to live rather than lived to eat. So much so that his cooker has apparently not been switched on since the death of his wife some years ago.

As readers of his last memoirs will be aware, TB now exists largely on a diet of pizzas, ice-creams and cup-a-soups. Nigella might have a point.......

TOYNBEE TELLS IT LIKE IT IS......

From today's Guardian - well said Polly!

What a week. Most of this bad news has been the government's own fault. The opposition could only stand and gape in open-mouthed astonishment at such political vacuity and ineptitude.
These are the images that the ghost of the election yet to come would summon up for Ebeneezer Scrooge Brown. Is it too late, Brown might ask the ghost. No, of course not. It's never too late for redemption - or "change" as Brown calls it without changing anything. For despite all this, the Tories are still only a few points ahead, nowhere near where they should be. That's some comfort, but frankly it's hard to believe enough people would turn out to vote for four more years of this. A pusillanimous cabinet bungles its safety-first policies, failing to appease unappeasable enemies while losing most of its friends. But imagine if Labour now reversed all this week's cornucopia of bad decisions. Look into the future - and avoid it.

SEND IN THE CLONES

The departure of Peter Hain means that the current Cabinet is the most right-wing in Labour's history. Despite his recent misdemeanours, Hain was of the Tribunite tradition and frankly a more rounded human being than the cloned New Labour set we are now stuck with.

James Purnell, Andy Burnham, Liam Byrne. Bland Blairites every one. So much for the Government of "all the talents."

It isn't, of course, that the left and centre-left is short of candidates. But Jon Cruddas ( let's not go there again) ruled himself out of a Cabinet role. And would Brown have given him anything meaningful? Probably not. It's also hardly surprising that people like Alan Simpson - hugely knowledgeable on the environment and seriously bright - are standing down . Likewise Lynne Jones MP. What chance do they have of realising a remotely socialist agenda when the Government is populated by squeaky clean New labour clones in their 30's?

Harold Wilson famously said the Labour Party needed "two wings to fly." It seems to me that we are in danger of being permanently grounded and losing the next election unless Gordon Brown starts to recognise the fact that Labour - and the PLP - is a broad church with many different views. I am not, to be honest, holding my breath......

NOT SO BRIGHT.....

Is New Statesman journo Martin Bright a member of the Labour Party? Because if he is then surely he merits expulsion for publicly urging people not to vote for Ken Livingstone and support a non-Labour candidate . Just a thought......

NOT TOP OF THE POPS.....

In life, I have always thought it better to provoke strong reactions in people. Mediocrity is not something I aspire to. Nevertheless, a few minutes ago I was surprised to note that an AMICUS poster on Labour Home had referred to me as the "most hated person in the Cruddas campaign."
Given my complete obscurity and lack of influence, I find that pretty risible. But not, necessarily, a negative. Likewise the fact that back in November it was a fellow member of the West Yorkshire LRC who personally challenged Jon Trickett as to why he had nominated Gordon Brown for leader. Good on him I say.......
Sometimes in politics you have to keep quiet. But there are times when you have to stick your head above the parapet. I have never had a problem doing that. And I don't suppose I ever will. Whatever the consequences.....

HAIN RESIGNS

So Peter Hain has finally done the decent thing and resigned from the Government, It is a sad end.

As someone once said, all political careers end in failure but his demise is particularly painful. Hain was once a radical campaigner, fought apartheid, and did a great job in Northern Ireland. In the long-gone days of Blair's dominance, he was even prepared to talk to disaffected Party members about their concerns . For all of those reasons ( and because there wasn't a proper left candidate) I voted for Hain for the Deputy Leadership.

The issue of his campaign funding has now been referred to the police - and he has had to go. Frankly, it's rather a shame he didn't reisign on a point of honour. Let's face it there have been so many opportunities - what with the draconian measures planned at the DWP to force people back to work. Not to mention the Remploy scandal.

Update: And sadly Hain has been replaced by the odious toady James "Photoshop" Purnell.....

THROW OUT THE 42 DAYS PROPOSAL!

Unlike our Home Secretary, I have no problem walking London's streets at night. Unlike our Home Secretary, I do not believe that plans for the extension of anti-terrorism legislation are worth supporting
Apparently, the Whips are scurrying round the tea-rooms in a desperate bid to avoid defeat for the Government. Their attempts look increasingly desperate
The Commission for Equalities and Human Rights has now described the proposals as disproportionate, unjustified and in breach of human rights law. Its chair, Trevor Phillips, has told the Home Secretary he will be seeking legal remedies should the counter-terror bill reach the statute book. The commission also says the proposal would have a disproportionate impact on Muslims, and suggests that people who are unlawfully detained for the 42 days and lose their livelihoods, homes or families in the process should be entitled to compensation. I suggest Labour Mps stand firm and get this wrong-headed legislation thrown out of Parliament.

ROLE MODELS......

Absolutely knackered after several hours teaching and long commute - not helped by losing electricity last night in wake of floods and subsequent lack of sleep . Today worthwhile, though, as interested to note who my students regard as ethical role-models. No, it wasn't the depressing litany I had feared of Britney, Amy Winehouse and (God help us) Posh ( although they were mentioned) No. We got amongst others Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and the Dalai Lama. It started me thinking about who I would nominate as an admirable person and the following spring to mind........

Ellen Wilkinson, Labour MP who led the Jarrow march and was an education Minister in 1945 Attlee Government.Jack Jones. Legendary trade unionist who I met a couple of years ago @ Labour Party conference.Bruce Kent. CND Peace campaigner . Victor Grayson- Firebrand socialist who disappeared in mysterious circumstancesVictor Jara - Chilean artist killed in wake of Pinochet coup

Could probably think of few more but frankly too tired. Off to bed and lots of zzzzzs with C and C ( cocoa and cat) . Thankfully working at home tomorrow......

HATCHET JOB ON KEN AN OUTRAGE

What a hatchet job they did on Ken Livingstone tonight . Martin Bright was "shocked" to see Ken "swigging whisky" at public meeting. Well, he mustn't get out much, must he? No doubt the whisky was diluted with water and it WAS 7pm. The Dispatches programme which has just ended was largely risible, frankly. Shock, horror, Ken is a bit of a socialist and some of his colleagues were once in the International Marxist Group. So what. Half Tony Blair's cabinet were old Commies or Trots. And if some of ken's team are all still firm believers in world socialism, well Good luck to them.

I could name ( but I won't ) an extremely prominent Manchester councillor who was also in Socialist Action, another who was a Militant zealot of the most fanatical kind. Both are now on the Council and now firmly part of the Manchester Labour establishment. I rather wish they had stayed on the Left.

Bright's attack on Ken for supporting Chavez ( and going to Cuba) was worthy of the Daily Mail at its most xenophobic. And I was sad to see Peter Tatchell signing up to this nonsense.

I don't doubt Ken can be an absolute nightmare to work for - he is utterly charmless IMHO. But this "documentary" was partisan, unconvincing, and seemingly the only people prepared to speak against him were failed apparatchiks who had had their noses put out of joint. Plus various Tories and Liberal democrats. Not impressed....

NOT WAVING .....NOT DROWNING!

Blind panic this afternoon as flooding announced in Hebden Bridge. Evacuated teaching early to find out if town under water as reported. Would my cat have the sense to leg it to the attic ( cue for withering look from Kitty) would my computer be under water. Etc Etc etc In the event, some local flooding further down hill but near me a lorry had gone into the river and basically caused most of the mayhem. Business as usual by tomorrow.... still, gave me extra time to mug up media ethics classes for tomorrow. Quick Cook's Tour through Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, J S Mill, Nietzsche, Sartre (pictured) Marx and of course quick reference to...... the NUJ Code of Conduct.
I have also been provided with this quote by K Marx. "Philosophers only interpret the world. The point is to change it."

ALL ABOARD THE GRAVY TRAIN.......

Back in the Dark Ages, Pat Hewitt was a lefty who did sterling work for the National Council For Civil Liberties . Now she joins the long list of ex- Ministers who have got their snouts in the trough/ boarded the gravy tran, whaetever. The former Health Minister is being nicely recompensed for losing her Cabinet salary after picking up an estimated £100,000 income for two posts which seem not unlinked to her previous work - and stance on the NHS. She's now a “special consultant’’ to Boots, who just by coincidence were allowed to bid for GPs’ surgeries.She has also been made a “senior adviser’’ to Cinven, a private equity company which last year bought Bupa’s 25 UK hospitals for £1.4billion. No wonder New LabourMinisters are so keen on bringing the private sector into the NHS. It's a cracking source of income if you lose your job

NATIONALISATION IS NOT A FOUR-LETTER WORD

So. Gordon Brown is so scared of the N-word that he is opting for a deal which is likely to seriously annoy taxpayers. Well done. Apparently, he's cooked up some deal with his China travelling companion Richard Branson which will mean US having to subsidise the Bearded One's plans for ( you guessed it) Virgin Bank.
According to today's Telegraph Brown has sanctioned the deal, which will see the taxpayers' debt "parcelled up" and sold to institutional investors, repayable over a number of years, in an attempt to avoid the "political stigma "of having to nationalise a bank.The Government will underwrite the debts and Virgin is the front-runner
Branson says he has a "winnable" bid and that he will rebrand the lender Virgin Bank.
It is ludicrous and a disgrace that Brown's Thatcherite faith in free markets is allowing him to play silly buggers with billions of pounds of taxpayers' money. Even the extremely moderate Steve Richards, of the Independent, agrees with me!
http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article3356208.eceney. And Branson can't lose...

FROM NO TAX TO PAYE

This year's tax return bad news for the Chancellor as I earned naff all but things are looking up financially as I have just had news I have more teaching hours at ACU - A Certain University. Now in the field of media and ethics so have variously downloaded pics of George Galloway, Liz Hurley, Hillary Clinton and Homer Simpson. I am hoping it will be an interesting discussion .........

FACEBOOK FATIGUE

Maybe it's my age. But I'm getting increasingly irritated with my membership of Facebook. Things were fine when it was just a case of making "friends" with people and joining like-minded groups. But now my e-mail box is awash with unwanted invitations, notifications, stupid quizzes and all manner of additional nonsense which I frankly can't be bothered with. Getting rid of the stuff on my profile takes forever and life is basically too short. So at thr risk of sounding like a Grumpy Old Woman, please don't send me any virtual drinks, quizzes, questions or other cyberspace paraphernalia. I really cannot be doing with it.......

GRASSROOTS ALLIANCE NEEDS DEMOCRATISING

Inevitably, Luke Akehurst has latched onto the discussion we have been having over the Grassroots Alliance slate with some speculation about why John Wiseman, a member of the LRC, has decided to go it alone .The answer is very simple.
There is not any "disarray" or fall-out on the left. John decided to stand unilaterally because he thought a socialist should have a voice - and a say - in the debate.
The inner workings of the CLGA may be common currency to someone like me ( who for many years has been campaigning, attending conference and mixing with the ilk of Pete Willsman and Christine Shawcroft ) but if you live outside London and concentrate on trade union work then it's pretty much foreign territory.
The LRC has certainly supported the CLGA in the past but as far as I am aware still is NOT signed up, sealed and delivered to a commitment to back the entire 2008 slate.
No doubt that will be clarified at our next National Committee meeting. If that is so, then John may have to consider his position. But, as of now, I really don't see why a socialist with a credible left position should be discouraged from standing. The reason this problem has occurred is down to the lack of democracy within the Alliance. John has as much of a mandate to stand as anyone else. And he should not be demonised.....

SPENDING ON LEADERSHIP BIDS SHOULD BE CAPPED

In the wake of the Peter Hain fiasco ( which I still don't expect him to survive ) Harriet Harman is apparently calling for a cap on spending for leadership and deputy leadership campaigns.
Sounds pretty sensible to me. After all, Hain wasted over £200,000 on his campaign, which was marked by slick and glossy literature and national newspaper advertising
However, no-one has mentioned the considerable amount of money which must also have been shelled out for Michael Meacher's campaign that never was . Perhaps this is because everyone has forgotten........ but in that dismal week after Brown became leader without a contest, our CLP secretary had to bin dozens of leaflets from the Meacher camp. Meacher, I recall, also had a pretty swanky website .
By way of contrast, John McDonnell's hard-working but cash-strapped team did their best with basic A4 leaflets - and an awful lot of volunteers who hoped good policies would win out over flash PR.
What is truly extraordinary I suppose is that Hain should spend so much - and do so appallingly badly. What is even more extraordinary is that Gordon Brown's unnecessary leadership "campaign" was the most expensive of all, costing £203,852. Talk about a waste of money.One wonders what would happen in such campaigns if there were a properly level playing field.

BLAIR'S UNETHICAL BANK LINK

In this week's Morning Star the admirable Jeremy Corbyn MP points out that the bank to which Tony Blair is now a well-paid advisor (£500,000 a year with perks) hardly cuts it on the ethical front.

J Morgan Chase is the third biggest bank in the US with assets of £1.3 trillion dollars and an absolutely ghastly track -record. A couple of years ago, environmentalist campaigners for the Rainforest Action Network and Greenpeace slammed its IMDs - Investments of Mass Destruction. The bank cleaned up its act a bit followin g intensive lobbying but still has links with four out of 5 of the world's largest arms dealers and companies who have picked up lucrative contracts in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. No surprise Blair fits in so well....nor that he is now best chums with Nicholas Sarkozy. The only question I have is why he was so keen to hang on as PM when he is clearly cleaning up big-style financially with the help of his arch-capitalist friends .

NO NEW LABOUR SPRING IN MY STEP.....

Thursday 3:11pm.

Just had an e-mail from Labour HQ inviting me to the Spring Conference in Birmingham.Yeah, right. Why would anyone in their right mind waste £75 to hear Ministers jawing on about how fantastic the Government is - with no fringe to make it worthwhile spending even one nano-second there.

Four years ago, I was daft enough to invest hard-earned cash @ the Manchester Spring Conference. They were so desperate for people to fill the seats that people like Hazel Blears were ringing people up and giving visitors' tickets away. Several years down the line, I would imagine the situation is even worse....

Like the now neutered autumn conference, the Spring version is a talking shop which makes no decisions whatsoever and frankly I don't know why they bother.One can only pity those who have to big it up in the PR office. Thus we're told.

"With this array of themes to discuss and debate in the many forums, workshops, plenaries and training sessions taking place, Spring Conference will be a vibrant and informative event for all."

As the late great Peter Cook once said on being invited to dinner with david Frost, "I'm sorry but I think I'm watching television."

WELL SAID SEUMAS .....

Newsnight was claiming the other day that Chancellor Alistair Darling was getting seriously hacked off with Gordon Brown's dithering over the nationalisation of Northern Rock. Darling, as befits an alleged former member of the Militant tendency, had no such qualms. Now it looks as though the Govt will finally have to concede public ownership is the only answer. Which drew my attention to an excellent piece by Seumas Milne in today's Guardian > Here's an extract but I recommend reading the whole thing on CiF.....

"The Northern Rock implosion has highlighted the real nature of what's called the free market in modern capitalist economies - neither free nor transparent, and utterly dependent on state support. As the fallout from what shows every sign of becoming a wider economic crisis becomes clearer, demands for alternatives are certain to grow. Bemoaning what he calls "the rise of state capitalism", the Yale professor of trade and finance Jeffrey Garten this week declared that "the era of free markets unleashed by Margaret Thatcher and reinforced by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s is fading away". He's right, but politicians and the media have yet to catch up."

FIB DEMS DO IT AGAIN ........

It's no small wonder that many people I know refer to our political opponents as the "Fib Dems." Last night our Labour group moved a Budget which put up the precept round here by a staggering, er, 9 pence a week.
This paid for various increases to grant funding for community groups, plus an extra £10,000 for parks and public spaces. Yet even this small advance was violently OPPOSED by leading Liberal Democrats who today have the gall to pretend they were in favour of it.
I must add that after two hours of debate these two voted AGAINST the overall Budget which , strangely is praised today on our Hebweb by the Libs as being one to "ensure that Hebden Royd continues on the path to prosperity, by building and strengthening the pillars that create a great community",
Cllr John Beacroft-Mitchell leader of the Lib Dem group on council says their priority was to "keep the rise to a minimum". What he doesn't say is he spent more or less the whole evening opposing the increases for which his Party is now claiming credit and saying we were "throwing money away." The Lib Dems' original budget also proposed a £5000 cut ot the overall grants budget. Unbelievable hypocrisy......

FROM SUPERTAX TO NO TAX

Breathing a mighty sigh of relief as my tax return finally whizzes over to my accountant. That's the good news. The bad news is that 2006/7 was possibly my worst year ever financially. Such are the ups and down of freelance life and fortunately in better times I was able to save for the proverbial rainy day.
Having lived in Yorkshire for 11 years, have also acquired fairly thrifty habits and cut coat according to increasingly threadbare cloth......But it is likely to be an even worse year for many who have not been lucky enough to be able to put money by and be part of a generation where buying a home in your 20's and 30's was a realisable option - even on a modest wage. After 20 years, my monthly mortgage is probably less than most students shell out for bedsit accommodation.
As for journalism, well despite the many excellent campaigns the NUJ has fought the notion of new starters on a weekly paper being able to set up home is almost impossible now. It was just about do-able 20-odd years ago.
Gordon Brown says 2008 will be a "dangerous year." Maybe he ought to start living dangerously on the breadline for a few weeks and experience the harsh reality of his talk of pay restraint.

JOHN WISEMAN CAMPAIGN STATEMENT

"The John Cruddas and John McDonnell campaigns taught me one thing, if there is any sense in the world both of these great campaigners should be in leading positions in the party. That is why we are suffering. I hope to bring the centre-left and left together in this campaign and show that young activists, trade unionists and PPCs can make a difference to the future of our country. I want to see the implementation of the temporary workers directive. I want to see the removal of all anti-trade union legislation. I don't want to see the building of more nuclear power stations for my daughter's generation. I want to see peace in the world, Obama to win the democract presidential nomination, the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and be brave enough to say so. I would like to see one national minimum wage of at least £8.00 an hour, yes getting rid of poverty pay for our most vunerable people. I would like to see more investment in pension eg the immediate introduction of the index link. More care home investment from councils not less, less privately run. I would say most importantly an end to the PFI, PPP in our schools and health service. I have had to go through a PFI. The reform agenda needs to be about more Government direct investment through an increase on taxes for people on more than £80,000 a year and this money invested into our NHS, schools, climate change research eg renewable technology. I want to end on this, you want progressive ideas at the top of the party including reform of donations, more money from the unions and affiliates. Support me! You want an end to private donations and the re-affliation of unions that have left us as well as others that could affliate including the NASUWT (now with a political fund) and the NUT (voting on it now), support me! Lets make sure that Gordon knows that this party's grassroots have a voice, vote for change. Nominate John Wiseman.

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS.....

Sometimes events conspire to give you a bad day. And so does the absurd state of our railways. Currently no PA system at our local station ( has been that way for several weeks) which meant I had to fork out £35.00 for a taxi after getting on the wrong train and ending up in Burnley instead of Manchester, where I was meeting my (mobile-less) 87-year-old dad for lunch..No phone nor staff at Burnley station so no chance of getting in touch to say I would be late. A letter of complaint will be in the post......

SHOW HIM THE DOOR, GORDON

From today's Guardian On Line
"Sleaze inquiries into donations to Peter Hain's campaign for the Labour deputy leadership could eventually lead to a police investigation, a supporter of the embattled Work and Pensions Secretary acknowledged.
But Labour MP Ian Lucas insisted that Mr Hain could continue in his Cabinet job even if the police are called in." What planet are these people living on, exactly? In the real world, I have a tax return imminently waiting or I will be fined £100.00 for overdue payment. Funny old world......

TIME FOR GRASSROOTS ALLIANCE TO GET REAL

Last week I had an e-mail from John Wiseman, a seriously hard-working trade unionist who is active in AMICUS Unity Gazette and a member of the LRC. John has just announced he will be standing for the NEC on a left ticket and I will be supporting him.Why? Because I think the "Centre Left" Grassroots Alliance is no longer particularly "left" and I also think we need more people of courage and conviction - rather than conpromise and consensus.
John's declaration has , I understand, annoyed some members of the CLGA and I can see it might be irksome to backers of the entire slate. But, ultimately, we are all free to vote for as many, or as few of the slate members as we wish.
To be frank, the inner workings of the Grassroots Alliance are a bit of a conundrum and are not transparent - nor have they been conducted in a particularly democratic fashion.
John Wiseman has been seeking advice from trade union branches and constituencies and he has every right to stand.He's honest, no-nonsense, a good socialist with his feet on the ground and we need more people like him. John is also PPC in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

POWER OF THE BLOGOSPHERE

Regrettably missed out on an opportunity to hold forth about the Peter Hain fiasco on World At One as e-mail from producer only got to me at 1.26pm.However, it shows my profile is growing.......Leftie bloggers of the world unite!

BRIAN HAW ATTACKED BY POLICE

At a certain University today where this morning I borrrowed Bernard Crick's famous biography of George Orwell from the library.
I wonder what Orwell would have made of the appalling events this weekend as people protested against government plans to restrict protests in the vicinity of Parliament.
According to the Morning Star, the London demonstration began with an unauthorised rally in direct defiance of the law concerning Trafalgar Square.
Civil liberties protesters then decided to "go for a stroll" around Westminster, protesting at various Whitehall ministries, Parliament Square, MI5 headquarters and New Scotland Yard, before gathering at the gates of Downing Street.
Members of the police territorial support group then swiftly moved in to drag away around a dozen protesters who had lain down and linked arms in the road.
Peace protestor Haw was apparently filming the demonstration on his video camera when an officer bashed the camera, cutting his cheek.
He attempted to report the incident with the officer in charge but was instead seized, dragged into the roadway and manhandled into a police van, and arrested for being "likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress."
Haw alleges that, once inside the van, officers had forced his head down and punched him in the testicles. Later, he alleges, he was strip-searched and had his camera confiscated with no legal justification given.
"They have promised to return the camera, but I wouldn't be surprised if the evidence was erased," he says. Neither would I. It really does seem as if dissenting voices are being silenced one by one.What with the plans for micro-chipping offenders, ID cards, we are closer to Orwell's nightmare vision of an authoritarian 1984 than ever before.

FIREWORKS RE HAIN ........

My Sunday hits ( normally miniscule) were obviously boosted spectacularly by being quoted re the Hain farrago on the Guido Fawkes website. No surprise that Tories read our blogs. But I'm glad to note that at least the ones who read this one don't normally eff and blind as they do on the GF websites.Other Labour grassroots opinion here........
http://www.order-order.com/2008/01/labour-rank-and-file-disown-hain.html

THE DEFENDERS OF TRADE UNION FREEDOMS

Someone has kindly forwarded me the full list of the rebels who voted against Jack Straw's disgraceful pre-empting of the POA dispute by banning strike action. Well done to all who rebelled and stood up for the fundamental freedom to go on strike. I regret to note my MP was not among them. Neither were "lefts" like Peter Kilfoyle, Chris Mullin and Michael Meacher. Pretty depressing, really.

Diane Abbott, John Austin, Colin Burgon, Ronnie Campbell, Martin Caton, Michael Clapham, Katy Clark, Michael Connarty, Jeremy Corbyn, Jim Cousins, Jon Cruddas, Ann Cryer, John Cummings, Dai Davies, Jeffrey Donaldson, David Drew, Mark Durkan, Bill Etherington, Paul Flynn, David Hamilton, Mike Hancock, Dai Havard, Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins, Lynne Jones, Lynne, Elfyn Llwyd, William McCrea, Alasdair McDonnell, John McDonnell, Alan Meale, Anne Moffat, Denis Murphy, Gordon Prentice, Jim Sheridan, Dennis Skinner, Geraldine Smith, David Taylor, Richard Taylor, Jon Trickett, Paul Truswell. Des Turner, Keith Vaz, Bob Wareing, Hywel Williams, Sammy Wilson, David Winnick, Neil Gerrard, Ian Gibson

HAIN 4 THE HIGH JUMP?

In life we all mistakes. So I admit to serious misjudgement in voting for Peter Hain as Deputy Leader. Not that that matters now, of course. The post has been rendered all but obsolete and the vaguely lefty noises made by Hain, Harman and Cruddas have been pretty much silenced by the relentless march of the Brown machine and its obsession with the free market .

Still, Hain has gone beyond the pale in allowing a whopping £100,000 in spondoolics to stay undeclared. Funds, he says , which "were necessary to run a modern campaign." Those of us on the left of course had no such cash cows - nor the slick campaign literature which Hain et al sent out in their quest to become Deputy Dawg. Would it have made any difference? Possibly. Possibly not. Anyway, that's history.

The point is that since getting back into Government Hain has behaved in a fashion which quells any remaining doubts that he would get completely behind the New Labour bandwagon in his bid to stay part of the Government's glitterati. Punitive pronouncements on welfare benefits, utter betrayal of the Remploy campaigners, backing for nuclear power from this once committed unilateralist. It's not a distinguished record at the DWP, is it?.

The bogus "think-tank" which allegedly funded Hain's campaign by the back door is yet another illustration that there is one law for the Establishment and another for us. I wager that tomorrow's Sunday papers will have lots more details. I also think Hain will be out in any Brown re-shuffle - even if he isn't forced to resign. And guess what he will do then ? Yep, expect him to turn sharply to the left. And this time I won't believe a word of it.

LEAD KINDLY LIGHT........

Today has been an absolute nightmare of a day - and largely without electricity. One of the perils of living in a semi-rural area is wiring systems dating back to Dark Ages so my hopes the bad weather was to blame for the flickering lights which eventually went kaput came to nought - and light has just returned at 4.27pm.Does make one realise how utterly dependent we are on electricity. Never mind the blogging, couldn't have a bath, couldn't boil a kettle. And couldn't see a thing after 3.30pm.....
Reminded me of the miner's strike in 1973 when as kids we all actually hoped we would get a power cut. It was a great excuse for not doing homework......These days, we depend far more on electrics. All the more reason why we need to look at renewable sources and even options like "clean" coal -

RED GORDON SPEAKS UP FOR SOCIALISM

The following words are an absolutely fascinating extract from the Red Paper written in 1975 by Gordon Brown . I find it extraordinary -and sad - that a man such a cogent case for democratic socialism should morph into a neo-liberal politician whose faith is now firmly entrenched in the market and Thatcherite values. What is perhaps even more interesting is that these words are just as (maybe even more) relevant than they were 30-odd years ago.
The full text is in the January 2008 edition of Socialist Standard, the journal of the Socialist Party of Great Britain.


( the stresses are mine)

"If the prospects for the least fortunate are to be as great as they can be, then they must have the final say—and that requires a massive and irreversible shift of power to working people, a framework of free universal welfare services controlled by the people who use them."
"But socialism will have to be won also at the point of production—the production of needs, ideas and particularly of goods and services. And that demands ending the power of a minority through ownership and control to direct the energies of all other members of our society."
"[The market can no longer be seen as the efficient allocator of resources and indeed that the productive forces within our economy have outstripped the capacity of the market."
"The more automation there is, the greater is the need to deal with the social consequences by increased public expenditure; yet the more the government raises in taxation, the more urgent is the need for more automation. Thus, increasingly, the private control of industry has become a hindrance to the further unfolding of the social forces of production.
"What has often been cited as an irresoluble clash in socialist theory between regulating material production according to human needs and the principle of eliminating the exploitative domination of man over man can only be met through producers controlling the organisation of the production process."
"In a society which is both mature and complex, where the total social and economic processes are geared to maintaining the production of goods and services (and the reproduction of the conditions of production), then the transition to socialism must be made by the majority of people themselves and a socialist society must be created within the womb of existing society and prefigured in the movements for democracy at the grass roots

NUCLEAR POWER -NO THANKS

John Hutton made his long-expected announcement on nuclear power yesterday - to the great delight of the Tories who have largely abandoned their "green" phase at the prospect of the private sector picking up the tab. I hope my MP Chris McCafferty joins the chorus of disapproval from across the labour movement. Several reactions below.

CND chairwoman Kate Hudson: ""It's dirty, dangerous and expensive.The government's own advisers say that, even with a doubling of nuclear capacity, carbon emissions would only drop by 8 per cent - that's compared with the 60 per cent target set by government.
"This decision is incredibly short-sighted. Successive governments have yet to come up with a long-term strategy for coping with the waste that will remain hazardous for millennia."
LRC chair John McDonnell MP: "It flies in the faces of our supposed commitment to tackling climate change.Renewable resources and decentralised energy offer the potential to provide safe and environmentally friendly power while also meeting Britain's energy needs."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone : "The mistake of a generation.The government is fooling no-one.There is not a country in the world which has managed to do this without massive public subsidy."

Michael Meacher MP :"The mother of all white elephants

GOODBYE COMRADE....

I am about to leave the house to attend the funeral of a long-standing Labour Party member and friend who died just before Christmas. Richard Kinsey was a colleague of Robin Cook and taught Gordon Brown in his days at Edinburgh University. A renowned criminologist, socialist and once a Parliamentary candidate, Richard had sadly fallen seriously ill with MS by the time he moved to Hebden Bridge. But for many years he still attended local Labour Party meetings and was a fierce opponent of Tony Blair and New Labour. Like many others, Richard finally lost patience with Labour over the war in Iraq and dropped out of activity. But he attended a meeting with Harriet Harman last year to remind her in noi uncertain terms of the sterling work she had once done for the National Council For Civil Liberties.
I believe we owe it to comrades like Richard to carry on fighting to put the Labour back into this Party - no matter how frustrating and dispiriting it may be.

PROTEST AT PLANS TO RESTRICT PEACEFUL PROTEST

Over the years I have taken part in many protests in central London. Most marching past the House of Commons and down Whitehall.

But our rights to do so could be further eroded under plans to extend already draconian protest laws.

Sections 132 to 138 of the 2005 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act ban protests in the vicinity of Parliament which are carried out without obtaining permission from the Government six days in advance. The law was originally passed in an attempt to get rid of peace protestor Brian Haw (pictured) - but a judge ruled that the powers did not apply to his long-standing demonstration. However, many others have since been arrested for staging small protests. Now there are plans to "harmonise" ( lovely Orwellian word) those police powers . Which is why representatives from all political parties were outside Number 10 yesterday.
Labour 's John McDonnell, Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes, Tory MP Daniel Kawczynksi, and Plaid Cymru 's Adam Price joined Green Party Greater London Assembly member Jenny Jones, Lib Dem peer Baroness Miller, Labour NEC member Walter Wolfgang and campaigning comic Mark Thomas to deliver a petition. They are urging people to respond to the consultation before the January 17 deadline and register their opposition to further restrictions on the right to freedom of assembly.

John McDonnell said: "We're hoping that, once people become aware of what the government's plans are, they'll be outraged. We'll be able to prevent any further assault on civil liberties."
Details of the consultation can be found at http://www.repeal-socpa.info/

NHS - SAFE IN OUR HANDS ????????

Spotted these figures on the Compass website from a Tameside (Greater Manchester ) doctor.
NHS privatisation , far from being mothballed, is steadily eroding the ideals on whuch Nye Bevan founded Labour's greteast achievement in 1948.

"Prior to 1997, the NHS was buying less than £200m a year of private treatment; this is estimated to have increased to £4bn by 2007. As much as 15% of cherry-picked elective surgery will be hived off to private hospitals, leaving NHS trusts to cover the complex and Cinderella services. PFI schemes worth more than £5bn have been completed since 1997, with another £12bn under negotiation - all of them locking trusts into costly, long-term leasehold deals."

GORDON'S LOST THE PLOT.....

Call me a cynical old journo, but it's usually a sign of desperation when politicians resort to the PR gimmicks and the contacts book. So we have the dire news that Brown has invited fading football star David Beckham to Number 10 for a "chat." ie a PR opportunity

Beckham, these days more famedfor his underwear that sporting prowess, tells the British Public Brown is a "very good man". So that's alright, then.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Gordon Brown today in Parliament on the topic of nuclear power."It's quite a shock to me that other parties are leaning in different directions." Actually, Gordon, it's quite a " shock " to a lot of us who thought this Party was supposed to be "green" and anti-nuclear that you are wilfully ignoring the views and received wisdom of environmentalists, academics and loyal Labour Party members. Anbd it's pretty woeful that there are many Tories now to the "left" of New Labour on the nuclear issue.

BUMBLING BERNARD BACKS GOVT ON NUCLEAR POWER

How galling to see Hebden Bridge's most famous son, Bernard Ingham, supporting nuclear power ( and resembling one of those crusty old Muppets) on TV last night. Bumbling Bernard once served as Maggie Thatcher's Press Secretary but, curiously, also worked for Tony Benn. An ex-Labour man, he is now a right-wing Tory completely supportive of the Government's new enthusiasm for more nuclear power stations. At least 10 more are planned - with all the detritus they bring with them. If it's such a great idea, why was there no-one from the Government on Newsnight.This not so smart move has been agreed "unanimously" by the Cabinet. Which of course means that famous CND-er Peter Hain has yet again signed a pact with the devil. More details to be announced tomorrow by John Hutton. Another nail in the coffin for disillusioned members. And thousands more votes lost to the Greens.

HILLARY CONFOUNDS THE PUNDITS

So Hillary it is in New Hampshire. Just goes to show that the opinion polls can get it wrong. A friend has referred me to a website called http://www.electoralcompass.com/ which shows where you fit on the US political spectrum. I am having trouble accessing it so maybe I am off the scale (!) but the reality is there is very little ideologically between Obama and Clinton and neither are, in UK terms, left-wing. Both said they opposed war in Iraq but voted for extra funding. Obama is not in favour of universal healthcare. Or even a watered-down version. Problem is John Edwards, to the left of both, already seems to be out of the running.

Does it matter who gets to the White House? Oh yes. The thought of another Republican at the helm is utterly sickening. And, though the democrat "left" may be unrecognisable as such to socialists in this country ( if NOT New Labour) the right is way way to the right of anyone over here. Religious fundamentalism has no place in largely secular British politics - unfortunately not the case over there. What it all boils down to now is a personality contest. On that shallow, superficial level, would rather see Obama in the White House.

LET'S PUNISH THE POOR.....

Hat tip to Don Paskini ( who have also added to my bloglist)for an excellent analysis of how Labour and the Tories are vying with each other to punish the poor and disabled by cutting their benefits. Pretty sickening stuff. As Don points out, even the Tories concede that over 90 per cent of claimants are utterly genuine. This is just a case of Brown and Cameron trying to out-macho one another ( putting it politely) and grab the Daily Mail headlines.

THE JOYS (AND OTHERWISE) OF BLOGGING

Have noticed recently that a couple of lefty blogs have "died" so they are no longer on my list. So a sad goodbye to Commissar and 1 or 2 others which started around the same time as mine did - or shortly afterwards.
I think blogging is a bit like going to the gym. You have to keep going as if you miss it for more than a couple of days, it's much much harder to start again. Some days, frankly, I'm utterly uninspired ( and it shows).It's also easy to become extremely repetitive and am trying not to do that. The actual discipline of writing is something I probably find easier than some as it's how I've earned a living for 20-odd years Anyway, to those who read the blog, thanks for doing so. The posts are by and large good-natured and I have been fortunate in not attracting much in the way of abuse. It may be that I too one day will tire of the blogosphere but for now will keep going.........PS: There are now new links on thr right hand side to Socialist Appeal, Tribune and New Statesman.......

NOTHING CHICKEN ABOUT THESE GUYS......

Like many others , I watched in horror last night as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall set about setting up an intensive poultry farm to show the Great British Public just what they are buying into when they buy those cheap chickens from the supermarket.
Without being smug, I can honestly say it's years since I bought anything other than free-range meat.
Round here, we're very lucky in having two traditional butchers ( one of whom actually has a farm) and if I buy at the Co-op, there's a good range of organic beef, lamb and free-range chicken.Obviously, when I eat out, the same rules don't apply. And maybe I will think twice before automatically ordering chicken in the local curry house or whenever.
OK, you might say what gives a substantially well-off person like HFW the right to lecture a group of less than affluent families how to live their lives. But he's right to say there is a price to be paid for ridiculously cheap meat in terms of suffering for the creatures we eat
Besides, the incredible success of Fairtrade goods shows that people WILL pay a bit more to buy ethically. Indeed, the Co-op has just announced it is to stop selling battery farm eggs. Not so much of a step up then is it to sell free-range poultry rather than produce which may taste OK but is the fruit of 39 sad days of life for an intensively-farmed bird.
We all eat far too much anyway so better to have chicken once a week than every day. And, like our grannies did, make soup with the leftovers. Cheap food, cheap clothes. Both largely available as a result of exploitation - be it animals or workers holed up in sweatshops.
So well done to those like Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver who are making us think.
I hope the supermarkets - and general public - respond in an appropriate way. PS: I am informed by a friend that HFW is a relative by marriage to David Cameron. Makes no difference to those chickens..........and the Co-op could steal a march on its more corporate rivals be being the first to go free-range........ and also make it affordable.

JACK STRAW BANS PRISON OFFICER STRIKES

Last year, I was delihted to welcome Brian Caton of the National Prison Officer's Association to speak at a meeting I organised in support of the LRC. Brian turned up at incredibly short notice and gave a rousing speech. I suspect he will now be making a few more following the news that the Government is re-introducing the Tory legislation which banned prison officers from striking.
Jack Straw has just announced that he will reinstate a statutory ban which was first imposed by the Conservatives in 1994, and at the time was opposed by Labour, who later repealed the law in 2005.What a disgrace! The POA is unlikely to take this one on the chin. Indeed Colin Moses has just been on the radio saying the union will take its case to Europe if necessary. The right to strike is a fundamental one which no Labour Government should take away. Straw's approach is hardly conciliatory and seems guaranteed to further inflame the situation .

NHS - GOOD AND BAD NEWS

Welcome news from Gordon Brown that he is to introduce the first national screening programme of its kind in the world, to spot the early signs of heart problems, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
·Good news too that key diagnostic procedures such as blood tests, electro-cardiograms (ECGs) and ultrasounds will be available in local GP surgeries, to help cut waiting times. But it's a bit of a shame that all these positives are also being accompanied by yet more privatisation and outsourcing, with the market now encroaching into every sector of the NHS.
As this is not the case in Scotland and Wales, where there has been a moratorium on privatisation, it will inevitably lead to disparity in services across the UK and a postcode lottery for services and treatments. Neal Lawson has an interesting piece on this topic on the Compass website and as he rightly points out: " If Labour cannot popularise the National Health Service as an institution that embodies the values of the left, the notion of solidarity will come under threat of extinction in an increasingly individualised and consumerised world. After all, we should all be equal in our pyjamas." Thanks to marketisation, this is not the case........

OBAMA VICTORY IS REASON TO HOPE

I was in the audience in Manchester when Bill Clinton came to talk to Labour Conference in 2006. Many ( particularly women) apparently find his mode of oratory extremely seductive. I was amused by his references, in the American way, to "Mayor Livingstone" and "Chancellor Brown" , but overall I thought his speech was heavy on charm but very light on substance.

The Clintons, like the Blairs, have been professional politicians for decades and ooze money and influence. But they represent an era which is gone. Hilary Clinton is also white, middle-class, and probably too clever for her own good.

It would be great to have a woman in the White House. But if I were a US citizen, I would not vote for Clinton . She represents the kind of slick, centralised operation which was the role-model for New Labour in the early 1990's. Her "values" twist and turn in a cynical way which we here in Britain have had quite enough of. So I am heartily glad that Obama has won the first of the primaries in Iowa. It was even better that Clinton came third below John Edwards , who is widely regarded as the "left" Democrat candidate.

If Clinton doesn't make it, I think that sends a message to us here in the UK. A message which is very frightening for the New Labour machine. But one which should give those of us who value principles over pragmatism a reason to hope for the future.

NEW YEAR CHALLENGE TO NUCLEAR POWER

The Government's plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations could be stymied after GREENPEACE today raised the prospect of a fresh legal challenge. The environmental group, which lodged a successful legal challenge to the energy review last year, says it is ruling nothing out.
An independent group of academics and scientists has also accused the government of conducting a second "flawed" consultation into the future of nuclear power.
The experts said in their report that the five-month consultation was "rushed, undemocratic and failed to properly represent the complexities of the issues involved." Just about par for the New Labour course, isn't it ? Let's hope this shameful railroading is stopped in its tracks.

WOOLLY JUMPER TIME

Last year I switched to npower in an attempt to save money ..... bad move. Today it's been announced that the company is going to hike up gas prices by up to 23.8 percent while electricity bills will increase by up to 27.1 per cent. Two possibilities to save money are extra jumpers and the wood-burning stove which I have downstairs. But it's an outrageous increase. Addthe rail fares hike of 15 per cent and rocketing food prices and thefact is thatmillions of people this year are going to be in serious financial difficulties. And the Government expects people to put up with wage" rises" of 2 per cent. I think seriously difficult times are ahead for most of us in 2008. What worries me most is how pensioners will cope with these soaring charges. But npower and their rivals are only concerned about keeping the profits up.....

MORE NIGHTMARE TICKETS.....

Last week blogged about Independent columnist John Rentoul favouring a "dream ticket" of Miliband and Balls to lead Labour. It gets worse.......apparently the Telegraph is touting for uber-Blairite Andy Burnham and another "ex-Minister" has told Rentoul moves may be afoot to champion the odious right-winger Liam Byrne. Byrne, you may recall, has been at Westminster for only a couple of years and is famed largely for his reactionary rhetoric on immigration. The only cheering thing is that NONE of the aforementioned would stand a chance. And that the Blairites must be desperate...........

BENN DIARIES - SOME THOUGHTS

Just finished what may well be the last volume of the Benn Diaries. And it's strange to read a diary so contemporaneous with very recent events. I was there at many of the meetings /conferences/marches referred to in this latest volume. Which I can't help feeling - due to the slant editor Ruth Winstone wished to take - concentrates far too much on the personal rather than the political.
In truth, it is a rather melancholy read for anyone of my age who remembers Tony Benn when he was not a lovable old "national treasure" but a radical left-wing Cabinet Minister feared by the media and the Establishment. And I suppose it's rather upsetting to learn that life can be as lonely for a famous octogenarian as anyone else.
Mortality hovers around almost every page but thankfully, Tony Benn has the comfort of a huge extended family who are obviously extremely supportive.
I find it odd though how both Hilary and Stephen Benn moved to the right. Stephen was in my old constituency of Brent South in the eaqrly 1980's and then definitely a Bennite AND a Benn. Now he is married to a woman who was one of Tony Blair's advisors and clearly a New Labour enthusiast , along with Hilary.
It was interesting to read how Benn Senior refused a place on the stage at the 2005 Labour Conference for a keynote speech which son Hilary was giving. Quite rightly, he surmised it would be used by the Leadership as a signal of surrender - and that it would also upset his supporters on the left.
Outside the obvious family loyalties, Benn is so adept at friendship that he crosses not just factional, but party lines and stays personally loyal to those who have strayed far from their original ideals . An admirable and difficult virtue......however the book's postscript, I thought, illustrates how quickly things move on. Written only in July, it praises Gordon Brown as a "breath of fresh air" who Benn has hopes will listen to a diferent agenda and not govern from "top down" as occurred in the Blair years.
Just 10 weeks later, Tony Benn was speaking out at a Labour Briefing fringe meeting and absolutely horrified at Brown's proposals on Party ( non) democracy. The Blairite policies he denounces, like ID cards and draconian terrorism legislation, are now of course also being championed by Brown with the same bullishness and refusal to listen to the Party. I am reminded of that quote from Macbeth "We have scotched the snake, not killed it. "
New Labour, unforutunately, for the moment, marches on... happily so does Tony Benn

BRING BACK BRITISH RAIL!

About to book a rail ticket to London - let's just say I won't be travelling West Coast line. The utter chaos which passengers have been experiencing post-Christmas is completely unacceptable but an inevitable result of the fragmentation of our railways. As if that weren't bad enough, fares are going up by 15 per cent. As I blog, Gwymneth Dunwoody is railing on World At One against the situation we are now in which, as she rightly concludes, is a result of the demise of British Rail,.

" Literally billions of pounds are going into the industry but this is far from benefitting passengers because of the way it's been handled ." Time, I say, to start campaigning again on the issue of re-nationalisign the railways....

FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE- LET'S HAVE A UNITED NHS

Dismayed but not surprised to read that "marketisation" of the NHS is having all kinds of negative consequences.

As the Attlee Government's proudest achievement enters its 60th year, NHS Confederation boss Gill Morgan has told the BBC that patients in the UK are getting very different services,
Ms Morgan, whose organisation represents NHS trusts and health boards, says: "We basically have four different systems. We have had a complete split in philosophy. The model in England is about contestability and choice driving service improvements. Outside organisations have been brought in and patients can shop around. That model has been rejected by the other three."
In Scotland, where people have free personal care - unlike the means-tested systems elsewhere - Ms Morgan said there has been much more consensus.
She described the approach as the "collectivist model".
"They have very little contestability. They have been slower to improve waiting than England, but much less tension between doctors and managers.
"In Northern Ireland there has been very big structural change and more integration between health and social care."
In Wales, which has received praise in England for introducing free prescriptions, she said the close working relationship between local government and the NHS had had an impact on public health. ... diplomatically concluding "All we can say is that patients are experiencing different systems, each one has its advantages and we will have to wait to see what happens."
But others are not quite so circumspect. Joyce Robins of Patient Concern said the differences were "breeding envy".
Former Government adviser Chris Ham, of Birmingham University says:
"Patients are increasingly looking across national borders and wondering why they are not getting the care others are getting."
Michael Summers, vice chair of the Patients Association, adds England is lagging behind the rest of the UK.
"England - for some reason - seems to have been the poor relation."
The reason, as we know, is this Government's obsession with PFI, privatisation, outsourcing and moving the NHS in a marketised direction which would have horrified its chief architect Aneurin Bevan. And delighted Margaret Thatcher.......

THE FAT OF THE LAND.....

Thanks to Christmas over-indulgence, I have put on about 5 pounds over the festive season. With a purge on high-fat foods and excess alcohol, that will hopefully disappear over the next few weeks. But it's just as well I do not live in North Staffordshire. Because the NHS there apparently demands that patients must have a body mass index below 30 to qualify for any routine operation.

As my normal BMI is about 28, I would just about make the grade . And, though no-one would describe me as skinny, size 14 is actually not too bad for someone who has just hit 50.

However, with the BMI benchmark imposed in North Staffs, I would be hovering on the brink and frankly most people I saw in the pub last night would be refused surgery. Which is ridiculous - and wrong.

Apparently, even more people who are overweight and smoke will be at risk of being denied treatment under new proposals being considered by the Government. Another classic case of New Labour targetting the wrong people.

Who smokes, drinks and eats rubbish food? The poorest in our society. Why? Because cheap food is high in fats and sugars and alcoholic oblivion is cheaper than it has ever been thanks to the supermarkets who make big profits out of cheap booze loss leaders.

Smoking, as that great leftie John Reid once observed, tends to be a "pleasure" enjoyed by the working-class.Indeed, my mum, a seriously unexcessive person, used to say her 10 fags a day was her "only pleasure." She died at 61 from lung cancer.

Under these guidelines, perhaps the chemotherapy which extended her life by 18 months would now be refused. I sincerely hope not.

I have noticed for some years that the nation is getting fatter. On a scale hitherto only seen in the US. That doesn't give the Government the right to play God and refuse NHS treatment to people who have paid their taxes and national insurance in the expectation that when they became ill they would get help. Why don't they start having a go at the fast food industry, and the employers who pay the low wages which mean people are simply too skint or too tired to seek out healthier ways of life. Even if they wanted to.