Benefit Tourism is a myth

Under current rules EU migrants looking for work can stay a maximum of 3 months in another EU country. David Cameron's great plan, which includes INCREASING that time period to 6 months, indicates how misinformed so many Tories and our media are. At least UKIP are honest, they want to stop all migration and could not care less about the fate of the 2.5 Million Brits who have used their freedom of movement to live and retire elsewhere in the EU.

Benefit tourism is also a myth, as migrant cannot claim ANY benefits unless they have worked here, and paid the same taxes to qualify as everyone else. All analysis show that immigration adds to British prosperity. The only credible argument is that the country is overcrowded, but migration is a 2-way process - for many years more people left than arrived, now it is swung  a bit the other way - thankfully for 2 reasons 1) it has made the country more prosperous 2) it has altered the demographics of the UK which without immigration would be an ageing population.

Time for honesty please. By all means leave the EU, and stop all migrants - but accept that that means we will be a poorer country, with an ageing society less able to take care of itself.

Migration Myths

It is interesting to see how misrepresented the immigration issue is. Under EU rules a migrant can only stay in another another EU country for 3 months without fulfilling various criteria - of which there are 4
1) You are in work - i.e. paying in to the system not taking out of it. The majority of British people have repeatedly said that they have no objection to migrants who work and contribute. It is also the reason why migration boosts UK GDP
2) You can support yourself privately - and not 'be a burden' on the host countries benefits system. This is why Angela Merkel won her EU Court of Justice court case to prevent paying German benefits to a Romanian migrant - and why 'benefit tourism' does not exists - and is a fiction created by UKIP and some parts of the media.
3) You are student. Students contribute millions to the UK economy
4) You are a relative of one of the other and they support you
The true problem is not migration - it benefits the UK and migrants contribute to our nations prosperity. It is the failure of Cameron to properly enforce these rules.
Of course there are those who object to EU citizens working here - but the number of such people here almost matches the number of Brits who are in other EU states - that is a load of nonsense too.
Support for EU membership continues to rise - thanks to UKIP and people seeing through their ludicrous claims, and also because no credible business organisation or major political party wants to leave the EU.

Michael Fallon's Call to Restrain Immigrants

"large numbers of migrant workers and foreign people claiming benefits should be subject to some form of restraint"

Let's start with Jews, like me. My grandparents are immigrants - perhaps Fallon could find a nice camp for me and my family to move it to? Then maybe he should consider restraining all the Afro-Caribbeans who were asked to come over after WW2 - they could join my family in the restraining centre. How about the Ugandan Asians - plenty of room to restrain them too in our nice camp.

Maybe we should back further:

 Loads of Germans came over too in the 18thC when George 1st of Hannover became King, and hey the Queen and most of her family are Germans too when Victoria (also a German descendent) married Albert of Saxe-Coburg- surely we can fit them in to our restraining camp; along with the Duke of Edinburgh (who is Greek).

Lots of Dutch people came over in the 17th C when good King Will conquered us in 1666- we should root out all their descendants and retrain them as well. Add in the Flemings and Huguenots whilst we are at it.

When we were conquered by France in 1066 lots of French people came too, and are teh ancestors of many members of the House of Lords - so move in the camp t make room for most of our Aristocracy.

Now lets have a serious sort out - after all Britain is a Celtic name and all those Anglo-Saxons (5th C immigrants) and Norse (10th C) immigrants can fit in nicely.

Wait a minute, aren't the Celts migrants too, from Northern Europe? Surely the true Indigenous Race of Britain are Neanderthals? Yes that's it - move the whole population into Fallon's nice camp and leave Britain to the Neanderthals - job done! Fallon can then be Prime Minister

>>>

Just thought it worthwhile to check the latest stats - In the year ending March 2014 (provisional) the total number of immigrants arriving from the EU was 131k, and 162k came from outside the EU. In the same year 50k Brits left for good, giving a net inward figure of 243k, which is what the headline writers are making a fuzz about.

This figure of 243k includes Brits coming home, which in 2012 (last year for which we have reliable figures) was 81k, so we have to re-use that figure. I assume that UKIP do not classify Brits coming home as unwanted migrants. As we do not know whether these Brits coming home were from in or outside the EU, lets just apportion them ratio-metrically. These figures are round to nearest 1000 people.

EU inward (less Brits) = 94,000

Rest of the world inward (less Brits) = 117,00

Balanced by 50,000 Brits leaving for ever

So whilst free movement of citizens within the EU (a freedom that I will defend, as I use it myself to work in Europe) did contribute to population growth, leaving the rest of the world, rather than the EU would have more impact on net inward migration.

British Right or Human Rights?

British Right or Human Rights?

Every person has the right to life, liberty and security; their private and family life should be respected, and they have the right to get married. No-one should be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and has the right to a fair trial. No-one can be enslaved; or suffer discrimination due to sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status. People should have the freedom of thought and religion; and in accordance with law freedom of expression, association and assembly.

That is the European Convention of Human Rights. We should not be afraid of having our laws measured against these principles by an independent Court, free of political bias. Only 2 other European nations refuse to recognise the ECHR, they are Kazakhstan & Belarus; David Cameron shames us by aligning Britain with these dictatorships.

Devo-Min for England (Cameron does not understand devolution)

Having taken the UK to the brink of dissolution, without giving the majority of UK citizens the right to have a vote, David Cameron is now trying to foist an unelected English Parliament on us. His right wing have totally failed to understand that the driving force behind the Scottish independence movement was a desire to take power back from a London elite. English aspirations cannot be met by giving more power to London, as Michael Gove, John Redwood and Nigel Farage are demanding. The message is clear, what England wants is devolution of power and the money that goes with it, back to the English Regions; which ought to be held accountable to local people via directly elected Regional Assemblies.

Scots power for English Regions

Regardless of the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum the devolution genie has been re-released. Devolution is already a reality for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and even the Channel Islands. Yet tentative steps to offer the same rights to English Regions were snuffed out by the incoming Coalition. Regional Assemblies and Regional Development Agencies (RDA) were closed with no consideration for the consequences. Regional planning bodies, established in 1946 to manage post war reconstruction, went as well. Localism was the slogan, but in reality power and money flowed to Whitehall, where much of it remains unspent. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) started appearing; some parts of the country are served by more than 1 LEP, others have none. I am exceptionally impressed by the way LEPs have developed, but the most successful ones are those that have merged to re-create the strategic impact that was delivered by the RDAs. The best example being the North East LEP which now covers almost all the territory that used to be managed by One North East RDA. Sheffield City Region LEP covers much of what was once Yorkshire Forward RDA, and have been bold enough to call it an English Region. Years of potential regional growth has been lost, which in part helped to stall the UK's economic recovery. Ed Milliband has committed Labour to giving power back to English Regions. Many Conservatives support genuine English devolution. Lord Helseltine's 2012 report “No Stone Unturned” concluded that the Government should transfer £49bn of public sector industrial investment from central government to the English Regions to help local leaders and businesses. Whatever is left of the UK after the vote, there must be a genuine commitment to re-create English Regions, with directly elected oversight, and genuine local control of regional development money.

Report by OECD notes UK's 'quantum leap' in higher education

As anyone with a science background will be aware - a 'quantum' is the smallest increment that a particle can make - not the largest. I can only assume that that the OECD really means that under the Coalition UK eduction has made neglible progress - well spotted

Gordon Brown rescues David Cameron

Gordon Brown is now set to rescue David Cameron's premiership. A Scottish independence vote would undoubtably have marked the end for Cameron, as the man who broke up United Kingdom and sleep walked out of the EU. What a contrast Brown is to Cameron - whom he vilified, but in reality is widely recognised the man who's actions steered the UK through the world financial crisis, and led the way for the rest of the industrialised world. In 2010 the UK's debt, was less than all our major competitors but has now spiralled out of control under Osborne. Unemployment was falling and the UK was the first major economy that was back in to growth. 4 years of austerity have resulted in stagnation, poorer public services and a growing gulf between rich & poor that is shameful. The coalition's ethos is riddled with complacency, so much so that they have had ask Gordon Brown to get them out of their mess.

Douglas Carswell - UKIP DEFECTION TO BE WELCOMED

Douglas Carswell should be congratulated for his honesty. Even though exit from the EU would damage our economy, our national security and our personal freedom, he thinks that that is best for Britain. He also knows that as architects of British membership of the EU the Conservative Party would never take Britain out of the EU. David Cameron keeps saying he will 'take back powers' but he has never said what. Our European partners have asked him to tell them what he wants, but they also get no answer. The truth is that it is a con as David Cameron has no idea what he wants 'back from Europe', and the Conservative Party remains as committed to EU membership as it always has been. Thankfully for our well being that view is also held by the majority of the British population as evidenced by the recent EU elections when UKIP secured less than 30% of the total vote with 70% going to parties (including the Tories) who support continued British membership of the EU.

An odd reshuffle - Delighted that Gove has Gone, but why do Pickles and Smith remain?

I am delighted that Michael Gove will no longer be able to mangle our education system. During his time in office he has taken direct control of over half of Britain's schools, which represents the biggest centralised power grab for decades. The scandals are now appearing, with an arrest for an alleged £2 million fraud in just one Academy chain, millions wasted on half empty Free Schools were there are not enough children to fill the desks, whilst schools that remain locally controlled have had their building programme cut and and are overloaded. It is odd that other failed ministers like Eric Pickles, who has undermined local government services, and Ian Duncan Smith who has caused so much misery to disabled people, remain. They should have followed Andrew Lansley to the back benches, who was sacked for wrecking the NHS. The only really great appointment is Lord Hill, who will be our new EU Commissioner. A committed European he helped John Major steer the Maastriccht Treaty into existence. His appointment proves that Cameron is not prepared to back crude anti-EU policies just to win back support from UKIP.

LABOUR'S PLAN FOR LOCAL POWER

Labour's porposal to increase the independance of local government, and to receive more fund in return for public scrutiny is a long overdue re-instatement of the powers of the Audit Commission. It will enabled ordinary people to ensure that their local council will deliver value for money. This is not new but dates back to the Victorian era, who created the District Auditor service, abolished by this crazy Coalition Government. At last we have a party with a genuine commitment to returning power to local communities.

Of particular note is the power to combine adult care and NHS services for older people. This is now rolling out across Scotland, and will deliver better services at lower cost. An important policy decision that will improve older care in the UK, but will probably not get the attention is deserves.

Black Gold for The Midlands (Oil/Gas Fracking in Leicestershire & Newark)

Supporters of fracking will be delighted to know that Union Jack Oil have announced a major oil/gas find in North Leicestershire. Shares in the company have soared following their announcement (Daily Telegraph) that there could be as much as 5.4bn barrels of oil in place under the “PEDL 201” licence area, in which the company has a 10pc stake. This site lies between Wymeswold and melton Mowbray. Similar finds could be found in the PEDL 202 licenced site, which includes the whole village of Wymeswold.

Whilst there could be objections from Wymeswold residents, concerning the contamination of ground water, earth tremors and the 100's of lorry movements that will be needed to take the oil/gas to the M1, this is unlikely to be succesful. This is because the Coalition Government's Queen's Speech includes a new bill to take away the right of householders to object to oil/gas extraction from under their homes.

This major find also raises hopes for similar finds in Nottinghamshire, where large swathes of the County have had licences granted for oil/gas and underground coal gasification exploration. This should be a great boost to UKIP's candidate for Newark, Roger Helmer, who has strongly campaigned in favour of Fracking. Licence number PEDL 206 includes the whole town of Newark and is held by Egdon resources.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/10870767/Leicestershire-shale-oil-potential-outstrips-south-east-England.html

http://frack-off.org.uk/locations/

THE END OF SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOLS

Many of you will be too young to remember the strange school system that we had 50 years ago. In those days, in the summer, all children aged 10 were required to sit a State Controlled exam. It did not matter if they had just turned 10, or the next day was their 11^th birthday, or were sick or well, all had to sit this State Controlled exam on the same day. The State also manipulated the 'pass' mark to ensure that only 1/3 'passed'. The 'failures' were told by The State that they were too stupid to be allowed a proper education. Instead of going to a proper school, they were sent to ones that had the worst buildings, the poorest facilities, and the lowest paid teachers. These 'schools' assumed that the children sent to them would never be high achievers, or get to University – so entrenched was this discrimination that they did not allow them to sit O Levels, which was the only route to post-16 education. Thankfully this iniquitous system was stopped, and between 1965 and 1975, almost of these 'schools' were turned into the same schools that the lucky 1/3 were allowed to attend. The greatest advocate of this outstanding improvement in Britain's schools was a pioneering Secretary of State for Education. Herself a product of an elite Grammar School, Margaret Thatcher closed more Secondary Moderns schools than her predecessor, Anthony Crosland. At last all children could go to Grammar Schools, and instead of the State deciding their future at the age of 10, children were empowered to reach their own level of attainment without State interference. To underline that things were changed for ever for the better, these schools were renamed Comprehensives. It is incredible that any politician who wants to be taken seriously should seek to return us to the days when the State decided that 2/3rds of our children were unfit to get a proper education at the age of 10.

Farge denies 2/3rds of children an education

Incredible - there are only 178 Grammar Schools left - the biggest cluster being in Kent -which as a direct result has one of the poorest overall educational achievement levels in the UK. How stupid can Farage get - Thatcher (his hero) led the way is closing down Grammar schools, and thus gave all children the educational opportunity prior to that given to just 30% of them. Comprehensives are the outstanding educational success story of the UK. Only UKIP would take us back to an era when 2/3rds of all kids were declared too thick at the age of 11 to be allowed to be educated. Thankfully UKIP do not have the level of popularity that they seem to think they have. This sort of daft policy is to be expected from someone who has had a privileged upbringing

David Cameron's Letter

For those of you who read my post about the tax payer funded Party Political Propoganda that I received from David Cameron re: business NI tax cuts - I now have the costs.

The National Audit Office have kindly informed me that Cameron's letter went to 1.7 Million people at a cost (to us) of £430,000. His office have also told me that they were given access to the HMRC database to get the address details, but claim that this was not a breach of the Data Protection Act.

I wonder what Eric Pickles would do if a Local Authority used Council Tax money to pay for a letter telling residents how wonderful they think they are?

Migration is a 2 way process

Migration is a 2 way process. In excess of 2 million Brits have used their rights as EU citizens to live, work and retire in Europe. This freedom is threatened by UKIPs proposal to take the UK out of the EU. I regularly work in other EU countries, and UKIP will deny me the right to do so; thus UKIP's policy is  a threat to personal freedom and will undermine our economy.

The principle of free movement was fought for by Margaret Thatcher, when she helped to create the single market; it seems bizarre that the Right Wing of her Party now seek to undermine her achievement. The Conservative Party are the architects of Britain's membership of the EU, and Heath/Thatcher/Major & Cameron were/are committed Europeans. Ironically when Labour fought the 1983 General Election with a policy of leaving the EU they lost heavily.

So let's have some balance here. Yes there is a need to address migration, but simply slamming the door will turn the UK into a prison - with us all as the prisoners denied the right to live and work in other EU countries.

Romania 10 - a fantastic country - Farage 0 - a disgrace to Britain

The highlight of our last trip to Romania was Iasi, by luck a Feast Day and all the churches were open, including the walled monastry in the centre of the town. I know most Brits head for the stunning Black Sea Coast, but travel around a bit and you get some great sights. Sinaia is the gateway to the royal palaces, and ski lifts to the snow capped montains. On to Brasov - stunning. Count Vlad seems to have lived everywhere, Bran the obvious tourist draw, but his birthplace is also a superb ruin. The more German Western part brings in to play Sigisoare - and other mediaevel towns; but try to find time to visit the fortified churches - unique to this country.

The only uncivilised side of this debate is Nigel Farage, who yet again has brought disgrace to this country

Wind Turbines Reach 30,000

Wind Turbines Reach 30,000

What a fantastic piece of news, at last an achievement to be proud about. Onshore wind is predicted to be the lowest cost form of electricity generation within 5 years, only overtaken by Solar Panels in 2030 (DECC audited figures). We can now get away from using Middle East Oil, Russian Gas and Uranium from Central African war zones. Household energy bills will fall, as wind is so low cost, and it is secure because it is British! Well done, we are well on our way to meet the 20% target that the National Grid have stated that they can handle.

Poor UKIP, East European migration has fallen

Poor UKIP, East European migration has fallen  - so much for the migration flood nonsense. What the leader colums fail to mention is htat 2 million+ Brits have used their freedom as EU Citizens to live, work & retire throughout Europe. Migration is a 2-way process and UKIP want to take that freedom away from us.

Of course one group of British migrants are the UKIP MEPS, whom it seems now have to hand over 10% of their income to UKIP (bit like some of those whacky American religious cults). Of course this nice source of cult income is dropping as UKIP MEPS defect or get jailed for fiddling their expenses. To my knowledge (correct me if there are more) the only MEPs ever jailed for expense fiddling are UKIPs' - Ashley Mote and anotehr who's name escapes me

Renewables are the lowest cost source of energy

Energy policy should be based upon long-term planning and costing, not short-term sound-bites driven by political expediency.The removal of subsidies for the development of large-scale photo-voltaic (PV) energy production makes no economic sense. According to the DECC's very well researched figures, PV at £70 per kWh will be the lowest cost source of electricity production in the UK by 2030, undercutting closed cycle gas turbines (CCGT) at £85 per kWh, and Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT), essential to manage peak demand, currently costing £165 per kWh rising to £184 per kWh in 2030. Onshore wind at £85 per kWh is also a clear economic winner. Nuclear is also predicted to fall to £77 per kWh. Long term forecasts show gas, coal and oil based generation costs rising, whilst wind, PV and nuclear continue to fall. If we ignore the environmental debate, just a cursory look at the figures shows that we should cease all use of fossil fuels now. If we also account for the human and economic cost of climate change, plus the unsolved problem of long-term nuclear waste storage; promoting the rapid expansion of renewable energy is the only credible energy policy. It will guarantee security or supply, and reduce household bills.

UKIP - and the far right

The victorious democratic allies created 3 organisations out of the ashes of WW2, to protect our sovreignty (NATO), our personal freedom (The Council of Europe), and to regenerate our economies (what is now the EU). It is tragic that these pillars of our prosperity, security and freedom are now threatened by a new alliance of the far right across Europe; whom millions died to defeat 60 years ago.

UKIP threaten our freedom

UKIP threaten our freedom. If you want to study an English Language degree in Holland, or work on a building site in Germany, you can just go. If you want to buy property in Tuscany, you can just do it. If you want to retire to the Costa del Sol, you can. If you run a small business and want to sell to Italy, you can without trade barriers or abiding by foreign regulations. Millions of British people use this freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in the EU, thousands of small businesses sell British goods with ease, and an estimated £30 Billion worth of trade arises from EU membership. Migration is a 2-way process, and well over 2 Million Brits now live in the EU. This freedom will be lost if UKIP isolate us from the biggest market in the world, and will cost 1000's of British jobs. If you want to keep your rights and your job, then whoever you support please vote for freedom in the EU elections in May and stop UKIP wrecking our economy.

Micahel Gove's Science Howlers - make me weep

The appalling errors in Michael Gove's new GCSE 'science curricula', which uses acceleration instead of velocity, and  time instead of distance, is symptomatic of his lack of empathy with practical skills. His seems determined to focus on written exams, at the expense of ensuring that students are capable of applying that knowledge. Science, Engineering, Design & Technology are the essential building blocks to support Britain's manufacturing and creative industries. They only way to truly understand the fundamentals of these subjects is by application, which is why coursework and practical exams are essential.

The continuing damage being inflicted on our education system by Mr Gove will be reflected in years to come, as our wealth creating industries will find that the outputs from his educational experiments cannot deliver the skilled workforce that Britain requires.

Tax Payer Funded Political Propoganda

My morning muesli soured when I received a bulk signed letter from David Cameron - may I share my response with you - and the National Audit Office, Press and others to whom it went.
Dear Sirs
(sent to David Cameron's Constituency office as there is no email for David Cameron available)

I am writing in my capacity as Managing Director of GSI Ltd, an SME that designs and builds electronic instrumentation. I wish to complain about the use of tax payers' money to support party political propoganda. Today I received a letter from David Cameron which purports to be about the new NIC £2000 rebate - but reads like a Party Political leaflet. This is a disgraceful abuse of public money and should be stopped, I sincerely hope that hard working tax payers have not paid for this propoganda.
It is also untrue. The coalition government undermined the nascent recovery they inherited in 2010 by deflationary policies that pushed the UK back into recession. The worst policy from a business viewpoint being the VAT tax rise - many of my suppliers are non VAT registered self employed traders, and they had no choice other than to pass on this tax hike in their charges to me for materials as they could not reclaim it. VAT of course disproportionally hits the low paid, typical of the Conservative Party, and sucked money out of the UK home market. Other tax hikes include IPT, APD, fuel excise - the list goes on. It is like being mugged in the street, and then being given some small change by the thief to buy a cup of tea!
I am also sick of Mr Cameron lying about our business taxes - only big businesses, mostly foreign owned, have had Corporation Tax cuts. British SMEs like mine who represent over 50% of our GDP are still paying the same as we did under Labour in 2010.
The cause of the recession was the greed of the Western world's banking sector, yet Mr Cameron has done nothing to regulate the Banks who did so much damage to Britian's economy.
I note that the return address "Huddersfield HD8 1DY" is no longer in use according to the post office, but was once used by a Debt Collection agency - how appropriate.
Finally I am based in the North East - and the Coalition Government's abolition of the RDAs was a gross folly that undermined innovation and the availability of support for new product development. Mr Cameron has undermined our economy, pushed us back in to recession, and has created a false boom built on quicksand - merely to give the false impression of economic comptence in time for the next General Election.
So my question to the National Audit Office is - who paid for this letter?

POSTSCRIPT

The NAO have now confirmed that the letter cost £430,000 and was sent to 1.7 Million people

David Cameron to Cap Wind Farms

Turbines bad - Fracking good

The poor folk on the Somerset Levels are still mopping up - and Cameron demonstrates popular and misguided opportunism to prevent wind turbines, a key technology to combat climate change. Wind turbines in recent months have generated in excess of 10% of the UKs electricity needs, and  is one of the lowest cost power generating systems currently available, comparable without subsidies to European New Nuclear and Close Cycle Gas Turbines. Yet full burn ahead, plus huge tax payer subsidies for fracking, with unknown capacity and costs, but established harmful impacts on ground water, CO2 emissions and terrain. Vote Blue Go nowhere and certainly not Green.

UK GDP since 1946

Note asymptomatic change from the year we joined the EU

Farage and Putin - working together against The Ukraine

Nigel Farage's claim that the EU has 'blood on its hands' and is responsible for the tragedy of The Ukraine demonstrates the danger he represents to the UK.  He is incapable of reconciling the sacrifice, including lives, being made to support the Ukraine's desire for freedom and the right to join the EU with his hatred of the very notion of European co-operation. However to reconcile this contradiction he has chosen to follow a dangerous line,  effectively supporting the invasion, partition and annexation of a free country.

I seem to remember that the same happened to Poland in 1939.

At stake in the EU elections is more than UKIPs determination to undermine our economy, they now threaten our national security.

CLARITY ON THE EU

In the 2009 EU elections the results were, Tory (25), UKIP (13), Labour (13), Lib Dem (11), Green (2), BNP (2), SNP (2), Plaid Cymru (1), Sinn Fein (1), DUP (1) & UCU-NF (1). On the big question, should we remain in the EU some 2009 manifestos were a bit fuzzy.

Fortunately for the mainland parties we now have clarity. To stay in you have a choice of Labour, Lib Dem, Green, SNP or Plaid Cymru. To leave the EU you can support either UKIP or the BNP.

If you have absolutely no idea what you want to do vote Tory

Milliband the Statesman in Waiting - Tories do not understand the Ukraine crisis

Ed Milliband's bold move to prevent the USA intervening militarily in to Syria directly precipitated the destruction of their chemical weapons arsenal.  Far from being 'appeasement' as claimed by Nick Boles MP and sabre rattlers in the Conservative Party - it was characteristic of a World Statesman in the waiting.

Conservative MPs attempts to reduce the Ukraine crisis into pitiful party political sniping in the UK is both arrogant and petulant. The Tory Party has lost the right to govern this country, and should never be let near any international crisis.

HS2 - build it in the North First - response to Policy Statement by former Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill

A sensible solution - the South have enough wealth and is over developed. Linking the Midlands with HS2 to Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield, via Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Stoke, and on via the East and West Coast Lines to the real North will ensure that Britain's wealth flows North instead of South. The South doesn't want HS2 - so let's have some investment up here for a change.

Glad to see that at least onE Political Party wants to return power to the regions too. The abolition of the RDA's was a disastrous policy.

see http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/01/build-hs2-north-first-birmingham-manchester-leeds?commentpage=1

Ukraine - the EU and UKIP

Ukraine buries its dead, in a revolution that was precipitated by their desire for freedom and the right to join the EU. In the UK we have the bizarre spectacle of our far right, as represented by UKIP, aligning with Vladmir Putin in trying to pull the UK out of the EU.

Ukraine - moving to freedom

Let us hope that the Ukraine can now progress towards being a truly free and democratic nation, and a full member of the Council of Europe and the EU. What a contrast to the dangerous nationalist tendencies in the UK that seek to isolate us from these essential European institutions that underpin our prosperity and personal freedom.

Goerge Osborne admits economic failure

George Osborne's admission that he has failed to secure a sustainable economic recovery is a significant realisation that the Coalition Government's economic strategy has failed. The core failure is the Conservative Party's disdain for our wealth creating potential, which is represented by manufacturing. Their decision to abolish the Regional Development Agencies, ridicule the value of teaching Design & Technology, and maintaining the level of Corporation Tax for Small businesses are all examples of their anti-business values.

Britain's economy will only recover if control over planning and innovation is returned to local decision makers; if manufacturing is put at the heart of our industrial policy; and design, technology and engineering are given the status they deserve in our schools.

A message to Dominic Raab - Whole Life Tarrifs & the EHCR

I was very disturbed this morning by your rant on Radio 4. In Britain we have a proud tradition of freedom and an independent judiciary - you seem to want to have our courts controlled by politicians - this is very dangerous and threatens our individual freedom. Sentencing should be set by judges, not you. You views seem more aligned with Hitler and Stalin than a modern free democracy.

I am not ashamed to have our legal system scrutinised by our European Peers - as I am proud of our legal system. In 2013 over 2000 cases were referred to the ECHR by British citizens - a freedom you seem to resent. Significantly only 21 when to a full hearing - and only 11 were lost by the UK Government (including Parliament's attempt to ban the wearing of a crucifix at work). This is an exceptional record and testimony to our outstanding legal system. By allowing our system to be open to such peer review shines the light on regimes who's record is somewhat worse, in particular Russia and Turkey.

If we left the 47 member ECHR we would be marginalised along with with Belarus and Khazakstan - hardly a pleasant prospect but that seems to be the sort of legal system that appeals to you  -one where judges are controlled by politicians.

Having a whole life sentence reviewed after 25 by an independent and free judiciary is perfectly reasonable. Your rant degraded the debate and brought shame on to our political processes.

David Cameron and UK PLC support the EU

David Cameron and UK PLC support the EU

It cannot be often that we see the TUC, The British Chambers of Commerce, The Engineering Employers Federation, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Lloyds and the CityUK lined up together. They are all organisations that are amongst the many who submitted evidence to David Cameron's recently published review [13/2/2014] of the balance between the EU and the UK's competencies on trade. Overwhelmingly they support the UK's membership of the EU, and state that not only is the balance correct, it is good for Britain. UKIP, and many Conservatives who oppose David Cameron, simply do not care how many British jobs will be lost should we follow their folly of isolating this great exporting nation from the largest market in the world.

British Business wants the EU

‘We believe this balance of competences to be broadly appropriate.’ - The British Chambers of Commerce.

‘SMMT believes that the balance of competences between the EU and UK on trade and investment is right.’ - The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

‘[We] see no advantages in altering the current balance of competences in this area’. - The Scotch Whisky Association.

‘We have no doubt that there are significant advantages in the EU negotiating on Trade and Investment matters with other countries on behalf of the EU as a whole. Britain’s interests are best served in this case by being part of a 500 million plus bloc of consumers rather than negotiating such agreements on

its own.'- The Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe.

‘Operating as part of a trading bloc strengthens both the UK and Europe’s bargaining power and ability to lower trade barriers and support investment.’ ‘[...] so competence at the EU level remains in the interests of the UK.’ ‘Repatriation of trade policy competences would threaten the integrity of the Internal Market.’ - Engineering Employers Federation and UK Steel.

‘EU States combined offer a far more attractive package to international partners that the UK does alone.’ - TUC.

‘A large majority of respondents endorsed ... belonging to a larger sphere of influence, such as the EU.’ - Scottish Council for Development and Industry.

‘Competence over international trade and investment negotiations should remain with the EU.’ - Lloyd’s.

‘the UK’s trade and investment potential is strengthened by its membership of the EU and that the EU is likewise made stronger by the membership of the UK.’ - The British Irish Chamber of Commerce.

‘We would not wish to see our ability to tailor our approach to supporting investment and trade weakened through any changes to the balance of competences in this area.’ - Welsh Government.

‘The EU’s Common Commercial Policy has been a success story for the UK:

Trade partners want access to the entire EU Single Market: negotiating as a bloc gives the EU added power;

The UK has successfully influenced EU trade policy’s open market objectives.’ - TheCityUK.

‘With regard to trade and investment the EU should be regarded as a resource which should be supported to the full.’ - The British Ceramic Confederation.

Just a sample of the overwhelmingly pro-EU sentiments submitted to the Government's review of EU competences. Most striking are the costs that will burden UK businesses should we leave the EU.

A full copy can be downloaded at www.tech.dmu.ac.uk/~eg/EU

Climate change is not a religion

We now have the first estimates; the cost of this year's floods will be nearly £15 Billion, wiping out 1% of the UK's GDP. The Government's failure to take action on climate change has cost us more in 4 weeks than any similar period during the whole financial crisis. The reason? We now know that the Environment Secretary's decision to ditch 'climate mitigation' actions undermined the policy to strengthen our flood defences. This was compounded by the Treasury's decision to increase 'the minimum threshold value' of flood defence expenditure to £8 for every £1 spent.

The misery of today's flood victims is, as Nigel Farage put it, due to 'The Weather' - but as he and many Conservatives stubbornly refuse to accept - the increase in extreme weather conditions is due to climate change. No doubt these self same people would have denied that the world is round in the middle ages. This arrogance was the cause of the fiscal policies that decided that flood defences were not worth the money.

It is time for politicians to stop treating Climate Change as a religious schism - their language betrays their shallowness - we are deniers or believers or sceptics. It has to stop. It is not a religious or political debate, it is peer-reviewed science, and the overwhelming evidence is that human activity has caused the current process of climate change - which is now drowning this country.

Fracking, Insurance and Ancient Rights

Whatever you do they get your money! Across the UK land-owners are registering their ancient rights to extract minerals from under your house, even if they are no longer the free-holder. They do not need to tell you if they do intend to exercise those rights, as Nick Boles MP, our planning supremo has ruled that there is no need for Planning Authorities to inform people if a holder of a Fracking Licence wishes to extract gas from underneath you. Now I hear that lawyers are advising house buyers to insure against fracking, especially if the Lord of the Manor has exercised his/her ancient rights. Yet these self same people are also quite often also 'Lloyds Names' who profit from these insurance policies.
Neat trick - register your ancient mineral rights and make money from fracking - but if you don't you sell people insurance policies in case you do and still make money.

UKIP's election manifesto is drivel - So says Nigel Farage

UKIP's election manifesto is drivel! At last some honesty from Nigel Farage, who also reached the same conclusion as every credible UK business organisation, immigrants add to the UK's economy.

The OBR's analysis is: migrants are more likely to be in work than British people of the same age group; they pay taxes and national insurance; they rarely rely on benefits; other countries have paid the cost of their education, and childhood healthcare; they go home so we do not pay for their retirement. I am not saying that we should have an open-door migration policy, simply that it is time to have honesty. Closing our borders will damage Britain's economy, as I and thousands of other Brits will find it harder to go to the EU to work, and cutting immigration will harm our economy.

On the subject of drivel, I would love to pack Nigel Farage off on an endless trip around The Circle Line, as called for in UKIPs manifesto that he wrote the introduction to. That would help prevent UKIP further damaging our economy. 3.5 million jobs have been created thanks to the Single Market, which has swept away all controls and bureaucratic barriers to British exports. EU membership adds around £35 billion per annum to our GDP. It attracts major foreign investors, including large scale car production; many of whom are being put-off by the UK's continuous vacillation on the merits of EU membership. Outside of the EU we would have bureaucratic barriers to our exports to the biggest market in the world, and be outside of the planned EU/USA free trade area.

We can follow UKIP's self proclaimed manifesto of drivel, and leave the EU, but to do so will result in a loss of British jobs, businesses and prosperity

Ukraine and the EU

When the former fascist states of Spain, Portugal & Greece freed themselves, they underpinned their fledgling democracies, and built their economies, by joining the EU. When Eastern Europeans liberated their countries they too joined the International Institutions that underpin our Security (NATO), personal freedoms (The Council of Europe) and our prosperity (The EU).

Today we see the people of the Ukraine on the streets in support of a simply ideal, the desire to join the EU and pnce again the family of European democracies. It is just a part of their road to self-determination, prosperity and freedom. In contrast we see UKIP and the right wing of Conservative Party siding with the Ukrainian Government (and thus Russia) seeking to pull the UK out of the EU.

Let us hope that the British electorate side with those who want freedom, and reject the narrow nationalism of the Ukrainian Government and UKIP.

God's Vengence Caused the Floods! UKIP latest

It is rare that I am left speechless by a UKIP elected representative, but the thought that the floods were a divine intervention to punish David Cameron for allowing Gay Marriage is so 'off the wall' I really do not have a response.

He has now been kicked out of UKIP as part of  Nigel Farage's policy of  clearing out  "extremist, nasty or barmy" views". Surely on that criteria most of UKIP's members should now be thrown out?

UK has Europe's Highest Wind reserves (response to letter in the Daily Telegraph)

Dear Sir

I would suggest that Professor Michael Jefferson reviews the annual figures provided by DECC on whole life electricity generating costs. These tables are based on audited accounts for all forms of energy generation, and take account of both subsidies (which are removed) and decommissioning costs (which are added). (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decc-electricity-generation-costs-2013)

The figures show that three types of generation are similar in costs, Close Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) at £80 per MWh, Nuclear at £90 per MWh, and on-shore wind turbines at £101 per MWh. However to maintain capacity during peak load demand requires Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT), as they can be quickly turned on and off at a very high cost of £180 per MWh

On shore wind is therefore only marginally more expensive than CCGT and Nuclear, and all fall within the same cost band when uncertainties are considered. It has the advantage of not being subject to variations in raw fuel costs as they are free. The figures also do not take account of the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions, which is impacting on our daily lives as evidenced by the recent floods.

In December 2013 just over 14% of UK energy production was produced by wind turbines. Emerging technologies such as Power-2-Gas are delivering techniques to store surplus energy, to be returned to the Grid during peak load times, and wind is far cheaper than OCGT. Improvements in engineering are also continuing to drive down costs.

The UK has one of the highest wind reserves in Europe, as we are an Island, and it is folly not to exploit this natural resource.

UKIP need divine intervention

According to UKIP councillor David Silvester Britain's current stormy weather is ' divine retribution for gay marriage laws'. I am rarely lost for words, but UKIP seem to manage it every time.

Frack M'Lud? [Lords of the Manor rush to register mineral rights]

Frack M'Lud?  [Lords of the Manor rush to register mineral rights]

Whatever your views on fracking, we have a right to know who owns the mineral rights under our homes. News that peers of the realm are rushing to register their mineral rights has come as a shock to many in the East Midlands. Thousands of residents in Ilkeston are now receiving notices that mineral rights under their homes belong to the Duke of Rutland. What about the the other great estates in the East Midlands? Petroleum Exploration & Development Licenses licences have already been issued for land from East Leake through Wymeswold, to Melton Mowbray; yet few residents are aware of this. I think we have a right to know, and what compensation will be paid for the inevitable drop in house  prices.

Congratulations to Latvia

Latvia is now the 18th country to join the Eurozone. With an annual GDP growth rate of 4.6%, and a per capita income at 69% of world average, Latvia has come a long way since breaking away from the former Soviet Union. Its budget deficit is 1.2% of GDP and national debt is only 40.7% of GDP. Like other former Communist states it is outperforming the older economies of Western Europe; and collectively they are becoming the power house for European economic recovery. It is time to stop denigrating these nations and their people who had to fight both Fascism and then Communism, and instead build trade links for UK exports.

MIGRATION SHOCK HORROR LATEST

HEATHROW AIRPORT - Romanians out numbered by Daily Mail reporters


>>>>>>


Flash update - Heathrow flight was cancelled due to lack of passengers - sorry - next time I tell a tale about Romanians I'll check the facts - unlike the Daily Express

Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland , Estonia - my personal highlights

On the subject of Romania (Jan 1st 2014 the invasion that never happened)  I would recommend the following as my personal favourite holiday destinations:- The Bucegi Mountain range - in particular the route past Sinaia and Peles to the gorgeous old town of Brasov; superb mountain scenery as well as castles to visit - take the cable car to the top as there is plenty of very cold snow even in the height of Summer. Then on to Bran for the start of the Count Vlad 'Dracula' hype, great fun if a bit OTT. Sighisoara is a superb mediaeval town, worth a visit as is Sibui and much of the West. To the East try Iasi, we were lucky on our last visit as it was an Orthodox festival and all the ancient churches were open for the day.

GDP growth in Romania is better than the UK, and like much of Eastern Europe it is developing into a power house of economic growth. One day many will regret denigrating Eastern Europe, as we will look to them as potential export markets, and they might well remember how badly they were treated by our outrageous popular media and unreasonable politicians.

Though to be honest my favourite country to visit remains Slovakia, especially the Spis Region, and Mala Fatra mountains. Kia now build their cars there (near Zilina); and we risk losing our car industry to other countries should we choose to isolate ourselves from the biggest single market in the world.

The Buuk region of Hungary runs a close second to Slovakia for natural beauty for me - Eger for History & Castle - on to Silvasvarad for a great day out with the family, or try the little trains that run through Lillafured - then North to the Border and the cave regions of Agetelek and on to the Southern Slovakian cave regions - try the underground boat trip in the Domica cave system.

The best of Poland I think is the South East - Kazimierz Dolny for a trad tourist stop-off on the Vistula, via Lublin if you can for pure history, but pay your remembrances at the Madjanek concentration camp before you leave (and hopefully understand why the post-war generation established the 3 pillars of European prosperity, security and personal freedom - The EU, NATO and the Council of Europe). To the East you start getting the forests and open plains that lead to the Ukraine & Belarus. We really liked Zamosz, with its amazing star layout, but for Jewish History try the Jewish Museums in Vlodova - beauty and sadness combined. The road from Zamosz to Vlodova can be used to divert to the site of the Sobibor Concentration Camp, another reminder of why we must work and stay together as a Continent and not disintegrate back to Nationalism - Sobibor is famous for being the location of largest escape from any Nazi prison camp, when 600 prisoners escaped, of which only 150 made it to freedom.

The Estonian northern coast is stunning, especially the light and the beaches. Our main base was Lahemaa National Park, from which you can drive East to the Russian border at Narva in a matter of hours, picking up sites en route.