http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/14/barack-obama-ground-zero-mosque
The decision to build a mosque and cultural centre near the site of the 9/11 attacks in New York has caused great controversy.
Relatives of those who perished in the World Trade Centre atrocity are understandably very distressed by this.
President Obama, however, has backed the plans, stating that in the United States, Muslims have as much right to a place of worship as anyone else.
And I have to agree with him.
The terrorists who caused death and mayhem on September 11 2001 did not represent the majority of peace-loving, tolerant Muslims around the world who were appalled by the tragedy.
What occurred on that fateful day was a total perversion of the cause of Islam and the perpetrators can in no way be viewed as true defenders of the Muslim faith.
Therefore building a mosque near Ground Zero should not, in my view, be seen as a victory for terrorism.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Full Impact Of Coalition Plans For Council Tenants Revealed
http://www.labourlist.org/jeremy-corbyn-a-cruel-nasty-and-dangerous-homes-policy?utm_source=taoma
David Cameron recently said the right to a council home for life should be scrapped. This article outlines extremely well what would happen if these proposals became law.
And as usual, the Liberal Democrat poodles in the government are not saying anything to oppose this.
David Cameron recently said the right to a council home for life should be scrapped. This article outlines extremely well what would happen if these proposals became law.
And as usual, the Liberal Democrat poodles in the government are not saying anything to oppose this.
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Ministry Of Justice Statement A Taste Of Things To Come
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10925989
The announcement from the Ministry of Justice outlining the severity of impending job cuts will not have come as a surprise.
The message of the Coalition has been clear from the start. Nearly all Government departments will have to make huge cuts in spending in order to bring down the budget deficit inherited from the previous Labour administration.
This is surely just a taste of things to come.
The full impact of Government cuts will be known on October 20, with the spending round. Then we will learn exactly where in which departments the axe will fall.
I suspect the whole of Whitehall is also holding its breath.
The announcement from the Ministry of Justice outlining the severity of impending job cuts will not have come as a surprise.
The message of the Coalition has been clear from the start. Nearly all Government departments will have to make huge cuts in spending in order to bring down the budget deficit inherited from the previous Labour administration.
This is surely just a taste of things to come.
The full impact of Government cuts will be known on October 20, with the spending round. Then we will learn exactly where in which departments the axe will fall.
I suspect the whole of Whitehall is also holding its breath.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
'Klutz' Cameron's Latest Gaffe On Iran
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1300678/David-Cameron-branded-klutz-suggesting-Iran-nuclear-weapons-latest-foreign-policy-gaffe.html
It certainly doesn't get much worse than this for the Prime Minister.
Labour have branded him a 'foreign policy klutz' for his latest throw-away comments that Iran had nuclear weapons.
And now the Tory-supporting Daily Mail has jumped on the bandwagon.
Once again, Cameron is showing his political inexperience.
It certainly doesn't get much worse than this for the Prime Minister.
Labour have branded him a 'foreign policy klutz' for his latest throw-away comments that Iran had nuclear weapons.
And now the Tory-supporting Daily Mail has jumped on the bandwagon.
Once again, Cameron is showing his political inexperience.
PM's Fixed Council Tenancy Proposals Are Riddled With Flaws
http://www.labourlist.org/why-time-limiting-social-tenancies-wont-aid-mobility?utm_source=taomail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2870+Communication,+Thu+5th+Aug+2010&tmtid=33832-2870-6-1-1297
This article sets out perfectly the arguments against abolishing the right of council tenants to a home for life.
The most worrying aspect of the Prime Minister's latest big idea is that giving people council homes for only a fixed period will act as a complete disincentive to finding work. People will now be worried that if they get a job they will lose their home and be forced move in to one in the private sector and could find themselves suddenly unable to afford to pay rent.
What level of income will be deemed enough for someone to live on in the commercial market?
In my mind, these proposals will make people want to remain unemployed and have not been thought out.
David Cameron is shooting from the hip once again.
This article sets out perfectly the arguments against abolishing the right of council tenants to a home for life.
The most worrying aspect of the Prime Minister's latest big idea is that giving people council homes for only a fixed period will act as a complete disincentive to finding work. People will now be worried that if they get a job they will lose their home and be forced move in to one in the private sector and could find themselves suddenly unable to afford to pay rent.
What level of income will be deemed enough for someone to live on in the commercial market?
In my mind, these proposals will make people want to remain unemployed and have not been thought out.
David Cameron is shooting from the hip once again.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Can Anything Else Go Wrong For This ConDem Coalition?
http://www.labourlist.org/the-so-called-schools-revolution-is-a-damp-squib
We are barely a few weeks into the life of this new Coalition and already there have been a catalogue of problems.
Within days of taking office, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Laws, is forced to resign because of a sex scandal.
Then we had Michael Gove's botched announcement of which schools were going to be hit by the scrapping of Labour's Building Schools for the Future scheme.
Next, the Prime Minister puts his foot in it big-time by accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism, whilst on a visit to India, her most bitter political rival
Now it has become clear that very few schools want to become self-governing academies.
This Government is engaging in change for change's sake in the all the institutions that form the bedrock of British society - the NHS, Schools, the Police, with surely others to follow.
These are changes that are based on Tory dogma and a dislike of big government, rather than the benefit of the British public.
And the Liberal Democrats are following along behind like brainless poodles.
We are barely a few weeks into the life of this new Coalition and already there have been a catalogue of problems.
Within days of taking office, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Laws, is forced to resign because of a sex scandal.
Then we had Michael Gove's botched announcement of which schools were going to be hit by the scrapping of Labour's Building Schools for the Future scheme.
Next, the Prime Minister puts his foot in it big-time by accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism, whilst on a visit to India, her most bitter political rival
Now it has become clear that very few schools want to become self-governing academies.
This Government is engaging in change for change's sake in the all the institutions that form the bedrock of British society - the NHS, Schools, the Police, with surely others to follow.
These are changes that are based on Tory dogma and a dislike of big government, rather than the benefit of the British public.
And the Liberal Democrats are following along behind like brainless poodles.
Monday, 2 August 2010
Long Spell In Opposition Not A Certainty For Labour
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10827320
David Miliband struck a very sombre note at the latest hustings for the Labour leadership candidates.
Yes, it is true that the Labour Party historically has spent many long years in Opposition following certain election defeats
However, whilst Labour's share of the vote in May's election was by all accounts low, the fact that the Tories did not get an overall majority and is now very precariously sharing power with a party that has more in common with Labour than them, has to mean that Labour has some cause for optimism.
Labour's defeat in the last election was in no way as catastrophic as those the party experienced in 1983 or 1987. Nor can anyone claim that they lost as badly as the Tories did in 1997.
David Miliband is right to take a very cautious line and warn the Party that they could be out of power for a long time.
But how long Labour spends on the Opposition benches will depend heavily on the new leader taking control very quickly and ensuring that the Party immediately unites behind them. As long as the Party remains disciplined and focussed, then Labour can concentrate on rebuilding itself and ensuring victory at the next election in five years time.
I believe it is definitely possible for Labour to do this.
A long spell in Opposition is by no means a certainty.
David Miliband struck a very sombre note at the latest hustings for the Labour leadership candidates.
Yes, it is true that the Labour Party historically has spent many long years in Opposition following certain election defeats
However, whilst Labour's share of the vote in May's election was by all accounts low, the fact that the Tories did not get an overall majority and is now very precariously sharing power with a party that has more in common with Labour than them, has to mean that Labour has some cause for optimism.
Labour's defeat in the last election was in no way as catastrophic as those the party experienced in 1983 or 1987. Nor can anyone claim that they lost as badly as the Tories did in 1997.
David Miliband is right to take a very cautious line and warn the Party that they could be out of power for a long time.
But how long Labour spends on the Opposition benches will depend heavily on the new leader taking control very quickly and ensuring that the Party immediately unites behind them. As long as the Party remains disciplined and focussed, then Labour can concentrate on rebuilding itself and ensuring victory at the next election in five years time.
I believe it is definitely possible for Labour to do this.
A long spell in Opposition is by no means a certainty.
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