So the despicable Spanish Government wants to make bullfighting a “cultural heritage” activity. Giving something a respectable sounding name does nothing to change the fact it is to be reviled. Did you know the Spanish (etc) Inquisition is still around, but now called “The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office”? The Inquisition’s most enduring feature… Continue reading SPANISH DESPICABLE OVER BULLFIGHTING
Britishness must evolve slowly – rapid change is dangerous
I believe the most important “elephant in the room” for the Left is the question of “Britishness” and our failure to protect what is accepted as the place we have reached in our social and cultural development. We have ignored the fear of change coming too fast and being too drastic, collectively hoping it would… Continue reading Britishness must evolve slowly – rapid change is dangerous
TIME TO BAN NON-STUNNED SLAUGHTER OF MEAT
Foremost in our dealings with other creatures should be a recognition that, if we take from them their lives for our own purposes, we should do everything rationally possible to do so in a way that minimises their suffering. That is why slaughter using methods for religious purposes, such as Halal or Kosher should not… Continue reading TIME TO BAN NON-STUNNED SLAUGHTER OF MEAT
LABOUR MUST OFFER REAL CHANGE
The Labour Party’s recent history is as a government of war, privatisation, commerce and attacks on civil liberties. Just trying to present a slightly different flavour of the Tory Government’s policies will not see Labour back into power. Mealy mouth acceptance of the “need for cuts” or promises confined to adjustments to Tory policies won’t… Continue reading LABOUR MUST OFFER REAL CHANGE
RECLAIMING OUR FLAG FROM EXTREMISTS
Over many decades, few Union Flags have been seen in public as a matter of course. They may come out for special occasions, but then are put away again. It has been as if we fear offending people by an outward display of pride in our nation, symbolised by its flag, or might be embarrassed… Continue reading RECLAIMING OUR FLAG FROM EXTREMISTS
TIME TO TACKLE THE DISGRACE OF UK SLAVERY
Masses of media time and column inches are devoted to irrelevancies, like a private company not providing the Olympics security it promised, or a young Royal partying without his clothes. So why is the disgrace of slavery in the UK not a constant news item and crusade for politicians of all colours? On this day… Continue reading TIME TO TACKLE THE DISGRACE OF UK SLAVERY
Is the end nigh for social/affordable housing?
A recent article in a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors publication described how there had been a workable balance in house building, post WWII, between private and public sectors, at around 100,000 each a year. That balance was broken around 1980 by the Thatcher Government, and not subsequently restored. Since then, the relative numbers of… Continue reading Is the end nigh for social/affordable housing?
Watering down shareholder control of executive director pay
Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, announced last week that proposals in March 2012 to give shareholders more say on executive director pay in listed companies are to be watered down. At that time, the proposals were thought to be “virtually certain to take effect” after 1 October 2013, and would have a significant impact on executive… Continue reading Watering down shareholder control of executive director pay
Health and Safety gone mad? Hardly.
It’s a funny thing about Health and Safety regulations. Sometimes what is deemed “healthy” or “safe” seems more likely to be what is “cheap” or “convenient”. Take asbestos as an example. Asbestos is a truly pernicious substance and can cause people to die in horrible ways. Particles are invisible, you can’t smell them, taste them… Continue reading Health and Safety gone mad? Hardly.
One law for us, another law for them
The Government is planning a new law that could “bring about a revolution in corporate crime enforcement”. That means letting off their mates if they play ball. They claim the present justice system is “inadequate for dealing effectively with criminal enforcement against commercial organisations in the field of complex and serious economic crime (fraud, bribery… Continue reading One law for us, another law for them