Manchester shows how to Keep Calm and Carry On

I spent a very happy three years in Manchester in my younger days, studying at the University. It is a marvellous, vibrant city and its residents are the sort of people you can quite easily describe as the salt of the earth.

But last night, for the third time in recent memory, Manchester was targeted by terrorists.

In December 1992, 65 people were injured when the IRA detonated two car bombs, one on Parsonage Gardens and the second on Cateaton Street. Then in 1996 the IRA detonated a 3,300 lb truck bomb on Corporation Street. The biggest bomb detonated in Great Britain since World War II,  it targeted the city's infrastructure and economy and caused devastating damage, estimated by insurers at £700 million (£1.2 billion as of 2017), injuring over 200 people.

At the time of writing, no group has claimed responsibility for the horrific suicide attack at the Manchester Arena - quite sickly aimed at young people and their parents. 22 victims were killed, including children and 59 injured.

What sort of sick ideology deliberately targets young people?

Manchester was hit hard during August and September 1940 during the Manchester Blitz of World War II. The city came through and rebuilt, and life carried on.

Again, after the Corporation Street truck bomb in 1996, that part of the city was rebuilt and once again life carried on.

Watching the news coverage from Manchester this morning, it is obvious that the city is traumatised, shaken and bloodied, but people are carrying on as normal, going about their daily business. This in itself is the best message to send to those who would seek to disrupt our way of life my means of terror - we will not be cowed, we will not change our way of life, we will keep calm, we will carry on,  YOU WILL NOT WIN.

For those who died -  

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace.

Once More Unto The Breach

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. "

 So our Prime Minister, Theresa May, has called  a snap General Election for Thursday 8th June. Given that the Conservative Party has, since the beginning of this year, consistently been between 15 and 20 percentage points ahead of Labour in the opinion polls (though we all remember how utterly wrong they were two years ago), most of the media and the bookies are almost certain of a Conservative landslide.

Certain sections of the media, social media and political people are excoriating Mrs May, describing her action in going to the country as "political opportunism".  I've been looking back and I certainly haven't found any record of Harold Wilson being criticised in this manner when he called the 1966 General Election in order to increase his small majority, nor again in 1974 when he called the second General Election of that year for the October.

However, as any  psephologist will tell you, the opinion polls 50 days from an election can not be relied upon, even though they historically over-rate Labour's support at that particular point in time.

Politics, and elections in particular, are funny old things, and have the habit of springing some massive surprises on everyone. Indeed, nobody was predicting a Conservative majority in 2015. For that reason, and I believe that reason alone, every single Conservative vote will have to be fought for, and I will most certainly be playing my part to ensure that the good people of Bedford and Kempston return Richard Fuller, who has been our excellent, hard-working Member of Parliament since 2010, to Westminster on June 8th.

Just in terms of conversations I have had with friends on all sides of the political compass, the country is looking for a Prime Minister who will provide the strong, stable leadership that will be needed when entering into the Brexit negotiations. A Prime Minister who is going to stick to their guns and get the best possible outcome for the country - even if that does mean walking away and reverting to WTO rules.

One does not go into any sort of negotiation having first of all played all of one's trump cards before the hand has even been dealt. Those with whom our next Prime Minister will be negotiating are all tough players and if our Prime Minister walks into the talks with one or both hands tied behind their back, you can be sure as eggs are eggs that the EU side will have the PM for breakfast, lunch and dinner, chew them up and spit them out into the middle of the English Channel.

For me, the choice is clear. There is only one person who is going to be able to conduct the Brexit negotiations and steer the country through the potentially choppy waters of the next few years - Theresa May.

A clear choice between strong, stable leadership from someone who has a mandate from the country, or Comrade Corbyn and his Coalition of Chaos where the Scots Nits are calling all the shots.

A friend said to me of Comrade Jezza the other day:

 "I wouldn't trust him to sit the right way round on a toilet seat"

and another

"I feel so sorry for the village that he's depriving of its idiot".

So, fellow Conservatives - we can't take a single vote for granted. We know that the campaign is going to be short and dirty - but we're ready.

Let's all seize the task in hand - Get Out The Vote!

Ask a stupid question... What do you get?

As the title says....

Those who know me will know that over the last few years I have been living with mental health problems.  These are not something that will go away instantly, they will be with me for the rest of my life.

Back in August this year I was finally persuaded that I needed to put in an application for Disability Living Allowance - not only on the grounds of my mental health issues, but also because I have been having mobility problems that have become increasingly worse over time.

Well, today I was visited by an "Approved Healthcare Professional" from Atos Healthcare, the company contracted to the Department for Work and Pensions to carry out a medical examination.  I have previously come across these "approved healthcare professionals" when I have had to have similar assessments for Employment and Support Allowance, and I have to admit that my opinion of them is somewhat jaded.  Those who know me closely will know exactly why.

During the course of the assessment I was asked the following questions, which form part of what is known clinically as the "mini mental state assessment" - which is normally used to assess for dementia and Alzheimers.  As far as I know, I have neither of these.. but do read on.

Question 1: Do you know what day it is?

Answer:  Yes, its Saturday 1st December.

Question 2:  Do you know who the Prime Minister is?

Answer: Yes, but unfortunately it isn't Margaret Thatcher any more.

(At this point I got looked at sideways and an eyebrow rather raised)

Question 3: Can you count backwards from 100 for me in sevens?

Answer: No, I have never been any good at mathematics, I'd need a calculator to do that.

(Eyebrow raised a little more)

Question 4: Can you spell world backwards?

Answer: W - O - R - L - D - B - A - C - K - W - A - R - D - S

Response: No, can you spell the word "World" starting from the end and working backwards.

My response I don't see why I'd need to and I don't have fecking Alzheimers, you know.

Then the pen started twitching over the box on the form and I could swear I saw the words "Possible Tourettes" written down...

Like I said, Ask a stupid question, what do you get?

Well.... its taken a while!

But in about ten days time I will be travelling across the water to the beautiful island of Ireland, to stay with my friends Michael and Andrew for the weekend of Belfast Pride.  Not my first time travelling to Northern Ireland - I spent a few days there several years ago for work, and about all I saw was the drive from Belfast City Airport to Londonderry/Derry and back (but out in the countryside, wow!!!).

So it will be nice to see something of the City itself (hint hint!) and even better to have the opportunity to call on a very old family friend who was one of my late Mum's Bridesmaids and who I only recollect from photos of me (as a very young baby) and then from her coming over for our celebrations for Mum and Dad's 30th Wedding Anniversary in 1994.

It's something I'm looking forward to with great anticipation - I'm going by coach from Milton Keynes, overnight, and then the ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast at sparrow's wotsit in the early morning but what's life without a challenge? A few good books and the iPod to keep me going, its all part of the fun!

Michael has already blogged about the preparations for my visit - but just so long as there's a sofa for me to put the sleeping bag on and I don't fall over the books on the stairs, don't worry about the 'Elf 'n' Safetee jobsworths... :)

On the Friday and Saturday evenings I'm really looking forward to the Faith and Pride events at St George's; Fifteen Minutes with Christ - fifteen minutes of quiet reflection, prayer and meditation during all the hustle and bustle of Pride, reassuring ourselves that being Gay and Christian (in my case Catholic) are not incompatible.

Objections start rolling in

A couple of weeks ago, Bedford Borough Council published the planning applications for change of use and conversion of the Civic Theatre to a "Council One Stop Shop".  The Theatres Trust has objected in the strongest possible terms:

"The Trust objects to the change of use of the Bedford Civic Theatre to a new borough council ‘One-Stop-Shop’ facility because a valuable theatre facility will be lost and there is no replacement provision provided within the catchment area. We were disappointed to receive this application, which proposes the demolition of all the theatrical facilities, despite our objections at the pre-application stage. Although we are pleased that the applicants will retain the existing theatre shell, and we appreciate the gesture to retain the proscenium arch and first floor gallery within the new design, we cannot support the loss of the stage and associated wings without a clear understanding of theatrical needs of Bedford, nor any reasoned justification for the loss of the theatre as a cultural asset."

The document goes on to say:

"In your Development Plan Document, Core Strategy and Rural Issues Plan dated April 2008 one of the Plan Objectives 14 (page14) is to ‘Protect and enhance the Borough’s built, cultural and community assets’ as a ‘destination for cultural tourism’. Policy CP2, Sustainable Development Principles, states that the development and use of land will ensure that (vi) ‘important cultural features are protected’. Furthermore, we note that objective (6) of the Milton Keynes & South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy aims to ‘create sustainable communities by ensuring that economic, environmental, social and cultural infrastructure needs are met’ and that a key priority for Bedford is to ‘Revitalise the town centre of Bedford and enhancing retail, cultural and leisure facilities.’ We therefore fail to see how the loss of the Bedford Civic Theatre without alternative provision in the catchment area can be justified or meet the aspirations and ambitions within your Core Strategy."

A pretty damning vindication of what the Campaign to Save the Civic Theatre has been saying all along.  The full document will soon be available on the Theatres Trust Website in due course.

Its not often I come over all Daily Mail but .....

Watching the events of the last three evenings has left me sickened and totally disgusted with the behaviour of a minority of thugs.


Witness the young masked yob interviewed on Sky News who took great delight in swearing live on air, and when asked why he was engaging in the violence replied "because I can".  He admitted that he had gone into the City Centre of Manchester just to take part in the "riot" and thuggery.


What has annoyed me even more has been the reaction of some of the bleeding heart woolly liberals who are trying to make excuses for this lawlessness by trying to put the blame onto government cuts.  Trying to claim that it is all down to the fact that these poor lambs have nothing to do because youth centres and what have you are having to close down because funding is apparently being cut.


Complete and utter nonsense.  There is no excuse at all for smashing up a shop and making off with a 50" plasma TV under your arm.  There is no excuse at all for torching somebody's business premises, robbing them of their livelihood.  My heart went out to the family in Croydon who's furniture business - in existence for 140 years - which had survived two World Wars, the Great Depression of the 1930s and the recession in the 80s only to be totally destroyed by mindless arsonist criminals.


To quote my buddy Scott: "I left School with ZERO exams; I done alright for myself but I dont go looting and blaming the 'system' for the things I aint got.. I just work harder..."


At a guess I would say that the majority of the young scrotes are the offspring of parents who were at school when the rot began to set in in the mid 80s - I refer of course to the time when thanks to the interference of Brussels and the efforts of a load of bleeding heart liberals teachers lost the main tool of keeping discipline in school - namely the cane.


From that point on, kids knew that teachers couldn't touch them - without running the risk of being done for assault.  We are now reaping the seeds of that whirlwind where we have a breed of feral youths who think they can do what they like, where they like and when they like


The Police need to have their hands untied - all too often when they appear to be standing around watching trouble kick off, they are bound by the damned "Health and Safety Rules" and having to carry out umpteen risk assessments - time to get rid and let the Police get on and do their job without them being hidebound by ridiculous red tape.


We also need to get rid of the attitude that we don't carry out our Policing in a certain way.  The Police should have access to the fullest possible range of tools to assist them and if that means baton rounds, plastic/rubber bullets, water cannon and so on then so be it.


Time as well for more effective penalties - particularly against the feral kids.  ASBOs were a waste of space, more often than not they were seen as a "badge of honour", with young thugs competing against each other to collect as many as they could.  Fines, tagging, Police Cautions and whatever are ineffective.


Our Magistrates and Judiciary need to be able to deliver a short, sharp shock to these feral thugs.  Obviously, nobody is going to have the balls to stick two fingers up to the ECHR and bring back the birch but I think it needs to happen.  Before the Isle of Man was forced to give up the punishment in 1983, nobody ever went back for a second dose or reoffended as an adult.


Borstal Training submitted young offenders to a strict disciplinary regime - which is exactly what most of these feral young thugs need.


And while we're at it, maybe a stint of proper National Service wouldn't do them any harm either.


Like I said, its not often I come over all Daily Mail but .....

Another Election Over

And although nationally it was a good day for the Conservatives and a very bad one for the LibDems, for some reason Bedford saw fit to reverse that trend with the Mayoral Election.  In Bedford the Conservatives gained 5 seats and the three main parties are now on an equal split of 12 Councillors each with 4 Independents.

To my utter surprise - and horror - Dave Hodgson managed to get himself re-elected Mayor of Bedford.  When we thought that the Civic Theatre would be safe, it isn't so now the battle has to start afresh.

Now wouldn't it be great if the Conservative and Labour Groups on the Council could come to some sort of arrangement to provide some proper opposition to Hodgson?  Somehow I don't think that's going to happen, do you?

Another Year Older

..... with the added distraction of being as close to 50 now as I was to 40 two years ago ..... Oh sod it, I think I'm just going to grow old disgracefully! Jake Kwan I hope you've got plenty of Guinness in for tomorrow night at The barley mow! Oh, and by the way, Birthday Fairy, or Birthday Returning Officer or whatever you are calling yourself these days, I demand a recount!!

A ringing endorsement!

I was absolutely delighted to read on Thursday that John Guthrie has been endorsed in his Candidacy for Mayor of Bedford by Cllr Apu Bagchi who is one of my two Independent Councillors here in Castle Ward in Bedford. I have only got to know Apu in the last year, but I regard him as one of Bedford's Elder Statesmen, if he won't mind me using that description. Apu has been a pillar of support for the Save Our Civic Campaign, and I have found him to be an absolutely solid and top class gentleman. I've only got to know him in the last year or so, but some people make an immediate impression. Thank you Apu.

Oh Dear ...

I shouldn't need to of course, but it looks as though I am going to have to make it crystal clear for the benefit of anybody who starts getting any silly ideas about the content of my blog and any local activities I take part in.

The opinions and thoughts expressed in and published on this blog site are my own, personal opinions and thoughts and have nothing whatsoever to do with any organisation or body with which I may be involved or associated, neither do they seek to represent the opinion of any such organisation or body or its members.

There we go. Clear enough?

Bedford Needs a New Mayor

My somewhat scathing comments about the 2009 Mayoral By-Election and how it was torpedoed and then scuttled by a disgruntled "Conservative" Mayoral hopeful have been noted on both ConHome and this blog.

Whilst in certain circumstances I have to be nice to the person concerned for professional and non-partisan reasons, the truth of the matter is that I still blame her for Parvez losing the election, Bedford Conservatives ending up with egg all over their faces, the feeling of "why am I bothering" when I looked at the Times & Citizen that fateful morning and us ending up with the eejit who is now in control of Borough Hall. I'm reminded in many ways of Geoffrey Howe's resignation speech.

However, I am a firm believer in the old adage that everything happens for a reason. In that case, the reason being that everybody can now see what a complete waste of space the current Mayor is, and how lucky we are to have a professional businessman - not a professional politician and snake oil salesman - as our Conservative Candidate. I refer of course to none other than John Guthrie.

Since I first met John to talk about the Save Our Civic Campaign last year, I could not but be struck by his no nonsense, business-like attitude. At the end of the day, being in charge of a Unitary Authority is no different to being in charge of a multi-million pound business.

I say no different. There is one big difference. Those in charge of a Unitary Authority too often seem to be in it to get themselves re-elected. Performance and delivery don't matter so long as the spin doctors can get it sorted come election time.

Those in charge of a multi-million pound business are in it to generate value for their shareholders, a profitable return to ensure the future growth of the business but above all they realise that they are accountable and can be removed and replaced either by the Directors or the Shareholders having no confidence in them.

Sorry, can I make that two big differences. In the case of the Unitary Authority, the Shareholders are also the Customers. In business, the shareholders probably aren't the customers, but might be. And you can't always be guaranteed of a majority or three-line whip on the board of directors.

In business, you never take your customers, or your board of directors for granted. You don't treat them like fools. You don't feed them spin because somewhere down the line, it'll come back to bite you.

Like going on the radio and saying that you've got to make £24 million of savings in your time of office but then committing yourself to spending

• £50,000 on choosing a "preferred developer" for the Riverside North Development without consulting the Full Council
• An undisclosed sum on demolishing the Town Hall building, without consulting the Full Council
• Another undisclosed sum on destroying the Civic Theatre and converting it into a "one-stop-shop" without consulting the Full Council
• £563,000 on a hair-brained scheme for installing Archimedes' Screws in the River Ouse to generate power - again without consulting the Full Council
  

What sensible businessman does that?

Who Scrutinises the Scrutineers?

It reminded me of the final episode of "Yes, Minister" - the one where the local councillors wanted to sell off the local art gallery to subsidise the football club, much to Sir Humphrey's disgust.

Now I wasn't able to get there myself, but by all accounts last night's meeting of Bedford Borough Council's "Scrutiny" Committee was a farce worthy of scripting by Ray Cooney and being put on stage at the Whitehall Theatre.

Lib Dem Councillors apparently ignoring the evidence being presented most eloquently by Bedford's erstwhile Labour Member of Parliament, Patrick Hall, amongst others. "Covering their ears whilst humming 'Jerusalem'" is one description that has already been published on Facebook. The one Independent Councillor allegedly asleep and then voting with the Lib Dems.

How can Executive Decisions made by a Lib Dem Mayor and Cabinet be properly scrutinised if the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee is a member of the same political party and probably therefore on a three line whip? It just makes a travesty of the whole system.

You might well ask, what is all this about? Well, if it wasn't obvious, its all about Saving Our Civic - stopping Mayor Hodgson from turning Bedford's Civic Theatre into office and "one-stop-shop" space for the Council.

My God, if this is what life is like under a Lib Dem controlled council, what on earth would life be like under a Lib Dem government?

Cry Havoc, And Let Slip the Dogs of War!!

I thought that the above quote from Shakespeare (Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 1) might have appeared in David Cameron's speech the day the General Election was called.

But no, he's kept his powder dry until tonight. Undoubtedly the performance we were waiting for.

Clegg-over came across as rattled. Gordon Clown as desperate, like a man about to be made redundant pleading for his job. David Cameron as calm, collected, statesmanlike, unflappable and completely Prime Ministerial material.

The only thing I missed was the statement to Brown "you talk of experience, but I'm going to get this country out of the hole you have dug for it over the last 13 years before you dig it so deep we can never get out."

You know, its completely changed my total antipathy towards the general election, I might even go and vote next Thursday.

Lib/Lab Coalition?

WILL THE LAST ONE OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON MAY 7TH PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF.

Just off down to Bedford's Civic Theatre to join in the protest about its closure. The Civic is a lovely little venue and while the Mayor suggests that we should use the Harpur Suite or Corn Exchange instead he really hasn't got a clue what the AmDram groups need in the way of facilities.

I directed the last production that the Bedford Marianettes put on at the Corn Exchange and that cost us £15K before we had even started!!

Roll On the 7th May

At the beginning of last week I thought to myself "hmmm, General Election ..... how much would it be for a ticket to New Zealand for the next month."

Those who know me of old know that in the past I've been something of a political animal, feasting on the prospect of elections and all the activity that goes with it. But to be quite honest, media experiences of the last 3 Generals, and the quite frankly atavistically sanctimonious and policy-less posturing being now displayed by Clegg-over and the LibDems (knowing damn well that hell will freeze over before they can come within a gnat's breath of forming a goverment) have contributed in no small amount to my tendency when either approaching or in a hyper-phase, to not suffer fools at all, let alone gladly.

"Its the economy, stupid" - yes, its the economy.

Back in 1997 when almost the entire country seemed to be voting NuLab, I just could not bring myself to do it. I could remember what the country was like before 18 years of Conservative Govermnent. I said as much when the Labour Party came round canvassing.

Think back - if you are old enough to remember. The stranglehold the Unions (with their Communist or Soviet agenda at the time) had on the country. The Miners' Strike and the Three Day Week which brought down the Heath Government. Further industrial unrest following both General Elections in 1974 with the Union Leaders being invited for "beer and sandwiches" at No 10. Technological advances being delayed or scuppered by the Unions because they would result in job losses. The Callaghan Government being unable to stand up and deal firmly with industrial unrest and political agitators in the Unions in the leadup to the Winter of Discontent in 1978/79. Sudden power cuts because the miners were on strike - again. Rubbish piling up in the streets because the dustmen were on strike. The dead going unburied. Bread being rationed due to some other strike. Denis Healey being sent, cap in hand, to the International Monetary Fund for a loan to prevent the country from going bankrupt.

Compare that with 2010. Rubbish piling up in the streets (Leeds) because the dustmen were on strike. The Brown Government being unable to stand up and deal firmly with the industrial unrest at British Airways and the Railways because the Unions are the Labour Party's paymasters . The Prime Minister and Chancellor presiding over the biggest financial con at the expense of the taxpayer that has ever happened.

Yes, a financial con. "No more boom and bust". As if he could single-handedly end the established economic cycle. The only phrase we didn't hear uttered from Gordon Clown's lips was "You've never had it so good". Instead, we were conned by him and his touchstone, his friend Prudence. What prudence sells off the country's entire gold reserves at a rock bottom price? What prudence removes regulation of the banking system from the most senior Bank Manager of them all and hands it to the bankers themselves? What prudence saddles the country with the biggest national debt in recorded history?

So as you can gather, I had already made up my mind how I would be voting. Exactly the same way as at every General Election since 1983. In a way, I'm rather looking forward to either Patrick Hall's or Henry Vann's minions coming and knocking on my door (that's assuming that they can actually get in to the apartment block to start with).

Its taken me a while ...

Well, its only taken me about 4 months to start blogging; been quite a busy old time what with the local elections, various other things and then the Bedford Mayoral Election last week.

It is the latter that I want to talk about today - as is quite widely known, the Conservatives came second and basically what could quite easily have been a winning campaign was torpedoed right at the start (http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/bedsonsunday-news/displayarticle.asp?id=450415) and then finally scuttled on Polling Day (http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/bed-news/Mayoral-race-Senior-Tories-predict.5735938.jp).

When you are part of a campaign team, as I was in this case supporting Parvez, you expect to be in a 2, 3 or 4 way fight against the opposing parties - in this case a 4-way fight against the Lib Dems, Labour, Green and Independents. That's the easy part. You know where you stand. What you don't expect is to have your own people forming part of the opposition to the campaign, or even sabotaging it!

Well, the person responsible has been suspended from the Party for two years. http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2009/10/bedford-conservative-group-leader-and-deputy-mayor-suspended-from-party-for-two-years.html There is a lot of comment on ConHome and in other places, some of which I agree with, some I don't. Basically, the local Party Chairman's email (quoted on the BBC News website) sums up the position, which is the same as my view on the matter.

The basic argument seems to be with the way the Open Primary - or to be correct, Open Caucus - was conducted. I wasn't there, but personally I can see nothing wrong with it. The best of the bunch won on the night, and if he was able to get his own supporters along to the meeting, that is quite fair enough. All the other candidates had exactly the same opportunity, whether or not they chose to use that opportunity is up to them.

But why these Open Primaries - or Caucuses? I can see exactly where DC and CCHQ are coming from with them. I have been involved with local elections for over twenty years and I have steadily seen turnout drop to, in some cases, less than 20% on polling day, particularly over the last twelve years. A decision has been made to re-engage with the voters, to try and get them interested once again.

There is a need to attract the most suitable candidates to stand for the Party, be that in Local or Parliamentary Elections. Not wishing to disparage the valuable work that our local Associations do, but in some places its still the case that selection of candidates is down to a room full of the ubiquitous "blue rinse brigade" or the "retired Colonel" faction. Now there's nothing wrong with that in a de-centralised Party, but in a few cases candidates are being chosen by this method either on the basis of their appeal to the selection committee (which may not necessarily be the same as their appeal to the voters) or on the principle of "buggins's turn" - which cannot necessarily encourage new blood and people with fresh ideas who have not been mired in years of town hall politics.

The news is out today that Mayor 'Plod' Hodgson has announced his Cabinet. As expected, filled with his Lib Dem cronies with two portfolios - Adult Services and Childrens Services - offered to the Conservatives. Given that it is now almost certain that the two-tier/three-tier debate is going to hot up, and given the Mayor's commitment to two-tier, this is something of a poisoned chalice given that if the Conservative Group accept either of these posts the Mayor has effectively stifled any opposition from the Conservatives. A clever bit of political manoeuvering on his part.

Here we go

Well, here we go with my first attempt at a blog.