Category Archives: Current Affairs

A Brave New Start

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The British people have voted, in a fair and democratic (words unknown in Europe’s corridors of power) referendum to leave the European Union. Not everybody voted to leave, of course, but in the long term those who voted to remain, along with the rest of Europe, will thank the British (not for the first time in the history of this continent) for what they did on June 23rd, 2016.

As this blog has said regularly, since its inception 5 years ago, the European Union is and always was doomed to failure and even if the British had voted to remain it would merely have delayed the inevitable. We have now got our country back and there are millions in Europe who are envious of that fact. Let’s see if the politicians of France, Italy, Holland et al have the courage to offer their peoples a similar right to choose.

Inevitably, I suppose, there have been recriminations and harsh words spoken following the referendum result, perhaps the most insulting being that those who voted to leave are somehow racist, nationalist or “Little Englanders”. I’m sure there are some who fit that description but it’s no more accurate than describing Remainers as misguided, idealistic, condescending, self-deluding dreamers. Some of them are not.

Many of us voted out because we believe in democracy and in the right of a free people to choose how they are governed. It doesn’t mean we don’t like Europeans nor desire peace and harmony any less than our compatriots. That is ridiculous.

We must now move on, work together and find a government and prime minister in touch with the needs and desires of his (or her) people. There will undoubtedly be tricky times ahead and we will certainly feel some economic discomfort but, like a mill pond, its tranquillity shattered by a stone, the waters inevitably grow calm and life goes on as before.

A Message to the Undecided

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That the European Union is corrupt, grossly inefficient, over-regulated and undemocratic is beyond dispute. The fact that those in the Remain camp talk of future change from within the Union indicates that they are in agreement.

The question is do they really believe that, by continuing its membership, the UK will succeed in bringing about such change, having singularly failed to do so since it joined in 1973? If they do then it is, at best, a triumph of hope over experience or, at worst, an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of those unable to see the truth for themselves.

However, irrespective of the EU’s inefficiency, corruption and lack of democracy, irrespective of the debates on economics, security and immigration, irrespective of the disgraceful bullying threats of our arrogant, condescending Prime Minister and his unprincipled cronies, we need to ask ourselves one question.

Do we trust ourselves to govern our country (as we have done for over 900 years) or would we rather pass on that responsibility to an unelected European elite?

If we trust ourselves we vote to leave, if we don’t we stay. Simple really.

Naked Dining

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There’s been a fair bit of publicity recently about London’s first “naked restaurant”, a place called Binyadi, where diners, waited on by naked servers, strip off to eat their food. It’s certainly generated a lot of interest with 40,000 people said to be on the waiting list, so the owners are clearly on to something.

Is this an indication of our further descent into voyeuristic and perverted decadence or just a bit of fun? The owners seem to take it pretty seriously though with talk of opening your mind and liberating yourself. Mind you, I think I’d take it seriously too if I had that many customers.

What of the practicalities however? How do you stop things from falling into your food? What do you do if you’ve been handling hot chillies? What if you spill some hot soup? All these things would bother me, although evidently the food is raw and uncooked and you eat with your fingers so there’s no problem with the soup after all.

On another level, how are you going to concentrate on nibbling your olives if you take a fancy to the waiter/waitress/one of the other diners? How embarrassing could that be? Is that a courgette under your napkin or are just pleased to see me? Perhaps they could have an area annexed to the dining room called the “Rutting Room” where people could slink off at opportune moments.

I, for one, can’t really see what all the fuss is about, doesn’t everybody eat naked in the privacy of their own home anyway? Oh. Well, this could be a good business opportunity for some. Round our way, they would probably have to name the place “Porkers”, due more to the potential clientele than the cuisine! Oh blimey, I think I’ve just lost my appetite.

Abusive Politicians

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As the European Union Referendum campaign gains momentum the rhetoric has predictably become more emotional and abusive. Still, that’s politicians for you, never that far away from the kindergarten or school playground.

Much of the talk has been of economics, with each side wheeling out their financial “experts” peddling scare-mongering theories as to how much it will cost us if we stay or leave.

It would be naïve to hope that the majority of voters would look to how their votes would affect the country as a whole (and future generations) rather than the short-term impact on their pockets, but that’s human nature, I suppose.

Perhaps it was ever thus and perhaps people really can be bought or sold. If that is the case then they can hardly complain if things don’t turn out quite the way they’d planned.

Don’t Meddle

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During his recent visit to London, President Obama announced that the United Kingdom would be better off staying in the European Union and that if we left we would be “at the back of the queue” as far as trading with the USA is concerned.

This obviously delighted our pro-EU Prime Minister but certainly did the opposite as far as opponents of the EU are concerned, several of whom directed some pretty sharp comments at the President by way of a response.

It’s not really a good idea for a foreign statesman to meddle in the affairs of another country, no matter how well-intentioned his motives may be. I wonder what the response would be if a foreign leader stood before the cameras in Washington DC and, however politely, suggested to the Americans how they should run their country?

Actually, I don’t wonder at all, I know what the response would be; the speaker would be greeted with a not-so-polite suggestion as to where he could stick his microphone, and quite right too!

Drones

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Yesterday a British Airways passenger plane was struck by a drone as it approached London’s Heathrow airport. Fortunately nobody was hurt, but the incident brings home the real danger of something feared by the aviation industry for some time.

This was said to be the first such incident in the UK and it is unlikely to be the last. There is always the possibility of a carelessly-operated drone accidentally colliding with a plane and usually there is unlikely to be any life-threatening damage, but what if terrorists decided to use an explosives-filled drone to target aircraft? What can be done to keep aircraft safe?

Firstly, the aviation authorities and forces of law and order have to maintain and probably increase vigilance. Secondly, we have to copy the US and make it illegal to own a drone unless it is registered with the police and marked with an official number making it traceable. Thirdly, whilst the use of a drone near airports is already punishable by imprisonment we have to look at further ways to extend criminal aspects of drone use.

None of the above will stop a determined terrorist however and all we can do is hope that our military and police intelligence services are good enough to prevent disaster. That and prayer.

Tax Avoidance – Again

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Every few months a new episode of the same story appears in the media. This week we’re back to the hoary old chestnut of tax avoidance and the “scandal” of wealthy men and women arranging their affairs to save on personal income or corporation tax.

It happens throughout the world and offshore tax avoidance schemes seem to be as popular and thriving as they ever were. In many cases, no laws are being broken and the smart folk are simply utilising smart accountants and the infrastructure available to them.

It may be immoral for the chief executive officer of a large company to pay less tax than the woman who cleans his office or the bloke on the factory floor who assembles the parts for the machinery that has made the CEO’s fortune, but it is not illegal.

It should be illegal of course but to make it so would require a change of law so that tax avoidance, which is legal, is instead proscribed as tax evasion, which is not. That would require a huge change in political will however and, no matter how much we all rant about the unfairness of it all, it is unlikely to change.

Many of the targets of any proposed change in legislation are the paymasters of our leading political parties and politicians are as likely to bite the hand that feeds as a turkey is likely to vote for Christmas.

British Steel

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The staggering collapse of the British steel industry, like coal, formerly one of the pillars of all that made this country wealthy and prosperous, has been painful to behold. Like anybody else, I feel desperately sorry for those people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

The fact that for the last few years our steel industry has been run by a foreign company, Tata of India, was initially hard to digest but welcome nonetheless if it kept the industry active and people in work. Sadly, it hasn’t worked out and, following the loss of thousands of jobs at the turn of the year, it was announced last week that thousands more will follow on the back of losses of £1 million per day.

The main reason is said to be the flooding of the market by cheap Chinese steel with which the West cannot possibly compete. There are those who say that our Government must intervene and save the jobs, a familiar refrain but one that has to stack up economically. In spite of the wishes of the Far Left it cannot just be left to the government to keep its citizens in full time employment. The lessons of the former Soviet Union clearly demonstrate that.

However, there is something that any government can do and that is to tax foreign imports so harshly that the home market can flourish once more, even if it means a more expensive product for the consumer. In the USA the steel industry faces a similar problem and the government there has responded with taxes in excess of 250% on foreign steel to try to protect the American industry and its workers.

Our government should do the same thing although the problem we have is that we are bound by the rules of the European Union. It is up to them to deal with the problem, meaning that British jobs are at the mercy of the unelected mandarins of Brussels. Another factor to be considered when voting in the June referendum.

The Wealth of Nations

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On the back of the English £20 note is a picture of Adam Smith, the famous 18th century Scottish economist, philosopher and author, whose book “The Wealth of Nations” radically changed the way people thought about wealth and national prosperity.

Smith was a great believer in free trade and the economic and social benefits that it could bring to a nation and its people. However, he once remarked that –

“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest”.

A statement worth bearing in mind when we hear of certain leaders of big business urging the UK to remain in the over-regulated European Union.

We must never forget that capitalist self-interest outweighs all other interests, including democracy and freedom, time after time.

Blue Belt

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Earlier this month the Marine Environment Ministry announced that twenty three new marine conservation zones had been created around our coastline in addition to the existing twenty seven zones created two years ago.

These fifty zones, in effect a marine national park comprising 20% of British coastal waters, have been designated “blue belt” (a bit like “green belt” on land) meaning that sea life will be protected from the excesses of mankind such as dumping, pollution and even uncontrolled fishing.

What a great idea and what a wonderful piece of news for one of the world’s finest coastlines. Let’s hope that there are enough Marine Environment personnel available to police and protect it from  over-zealous European fishermen.