The Tory Party’s Annual Xmas Party at Downing Street – Let’s Not Play Scrooge!

 I am Launching a Crowdfunder to Help Ensure that No MP Goes Hungry this Xmas – Please Give Generously

Seen on a bus indicator in Brighton & Hove - as a punishment they should get the wit who wrote this to spend his vacation with Ugly Patel

There are some unkind, mean spirited people who begrudge our loyal and hard working MPs their £81,000 annual salary (plus expenses). Despite the feral press, most of us realise that many of them are struggling to make ends meet.

It cannot be right that many MPs are struggling to put food in their children's mouths whilst scroungers galore are bleeding the welfare state dry with their claims for universal credit.

Whilst the disabled live the life of Riley on benefits, Boris Johnson, who like George Washington cannot tell a lie, is forced to go cap in hand in order to raise enough dosh to wallpaper his Downing Street flat. And then they accuse him of corruption.  Unbelievable.

I can't tell you how demeaning it is that Britain's First Minister is on the bring of penury and poverty, especially now that Carrie has made an honest man of him. Indeed with a young baby Boris is forced, with his poverty pay of £161,000 to go, cap in hand, to Zac Goldsmith to provide him with a free holiday chalet.

I shall therefore be setting up a Crowdfunder, which I hope this time won't be taken down. Do please give generously.  You know they are worth it.

Michael Fallon, former Defence Minister’s famous interview in which he decried Corbyn’s attempt to explain the reason why terrorism came to the streets of Britain

 

Miliband’s Labour Seeks the Safety of Consensus Politics

Labour Says Yes to Austerity & Cuts – But They’ll Be Nice Cuts than the Tories

In last week’s Brighton Independent I had an article which suggested that Miliband was determined to lose.  Of course he’d like to win but he refuses to break from the consensus behind austerity.  Instead of boldly saying that austerity is the road to ruin and Labour is going to reverse the welfare cuts, tax the rich at 80%, reverse major privatisations and pay no compensation bar the price which was paid (minus  profits taken), Miliband tries to present himself as the safe alternative to the Tories.

Labour is going to face a wipe-out in its Scottish bastion because they are perceived as the ‘red Tories’.  Running a No to Independence campaign with the Tories has backfired on them spectacularly.  Labour in Scotland has been a by-word in corruption and nepotism.  It’s not as if the Scottish National Party is a particularly radical party.  It has failed to even use the power to increase income tax by 3p and has instituted its own cuts programme.  It has failed to increase spending on the NHS in Scotland but compared to Labour it is seen as a radical, socialist alternative.

Miliband - desperately seeking cover

The Tories are, of course, attacking Miliband because he is going to need their support to become Prime Minister.  Instead of fighting back and saying that the SNP have every right to have a say in the government of Britain (after all, isn’t that what the union with Scotland is about?) he has run for cover.  Even some Tories like Lord Forsyth and Malcolm Rifkind have been bolder.

Nicola Sturgeon of SNP - set the cat among Labour's pigeons

Miliband’s latest pledge is a milk and water scheme to have 3 year secure tenancies and rents rising by no more than inflation.  But although any reform would be welcome, this is puny and pathetic.  We used to have permanent security of tenure for people in furnished tenancies.  People were what they call sitting tenants.  There used to be full rent control.  That is the system we should go back to and taking a leaf out of the Tories book, Labour could propose the right to buy for private tenants and see what the Tory reaction to that is!  Taking housing out of the market and treating it in the same way as health.  Adopting a socialist policy that housing is a basic need and should not be subject to the market and speculation is what is needed, not tampering at the edges.

Bennett (Green), Clegg (opportunist LD), Farage (racist UKIP), Miliband, Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) Cameron (Tory sell your grandmother party!)

My prediction?  The Tories will be the largest party.  Labour plus the SNP should be within spitting distance of the magical 324 need for an overall majority.  Hopefully the Lib-Dems, the most disgusting and unprincipled party of all will suffer heavy losses.  UKIP is unlikely to gain more than 2-3 seats and the Greens will keep their one seat.  Who forms a government?  Miliband might unless he proves particularly stupid.

Tony Greenstein