Does Brown have a twin in the banks?

There have been a number of photos in the press this week of those described as Britain’s “top bank bosses”.

Has anyone else noticed that Eric Daniels of Lloyds TSB is a ringer for Gordon Brown?

More pleasant-looking, of course, but the colour and style of the hair, the shape of the face and the eyes are just the same.

Poor man!

No fear of meeting Wayne

An unusual piece of marketing has been revealed today.   It seems that Activities Abroad have sent out a marketing e-mail declaring that if you go on one of their tours, it will be a chav-free holiday.   They reckon they appeal to the middle class, and have worked out that people’s first names give a good clue to their class.

A previous survey  carried out by someone had already put forward the idea that Duncan and Catherine do better at school than Wayne does.   Now that is, in many cases, because middle class parents are themselves better educated and strive to ensure their children get a good education.   But not in every case.   The old grammar schools were well-populated with children from so-called “working class” families who were clever, did well at school, and got into Oxbridge.

It is true, though, that the middle classes are very unlikely to name their child Wayne.   So Activities Abroad has drawn up a list of first names that clients are unlikely to find amongst their fellow guests on one of their holidays.   No surprise that Chardonnay, Bianca and Tiffany feature in the list  -  names straight off the TV soaps.

Needless to say there has been a storm of protest, but the tour firm’s Managing Director makes no apology.   “I simply feel it is time the middle classes stood up for themselves”, he says.   What a pleasant change!

Labour Party Political Broadcast 2009

I found this on Dizzy, and he had it from Iain Dale’s blog.    Well worth a watch!

Bill of Rights to protect our freedoms

Dominic Raab has written an interesting post on Centre Right on Conservative Home on whether Britain now needs a Bill of Rights.   He has written a book, being launched this evening, called “The Assault on Liberty  -  What Went Wrong with Rights”.   His point is that this government has attacked so many of our liberties, that such a Bill of Rights is now needed.

In the past I’ve always been against a Bill of Rights, like I am against a Written Constitution.   It isn’t our way in England.

But I too now believe that the assault on our individual rights has reached the stage where action is needed.   Sadly, though, not a chance while there’s a Labour government.

Bin tax binned?

If, as the Telegraph is reporting, the government has decided to scrap its proposed Bin Tax that’s good news as it would have been yet another big brother snooping around what individuals are doing.   Interesting that, apparently, not a single council volunteered to take part in the pilot scheme.   Seems they at least know their voters would hate it.

I’m a bit torn on it, though.   I hate the idea because, like many of their gleeful money-making schemes, it leaves you wondering what you are paying Council Tax for.   Surely collection and disposal of refuse is an important part of Council Tax expenditure.   And for those of us who do not use the education service, social services, housing, libraries, sports facilities, and so on, it is just about all we are getting for our money.

But on the other hand, as I have blogged before, I put out so little refuse each week that I believe the Council would actually owe me money.   But then they wouldn’t hand it over anyway.

Leave The Stig alone

So it seems the identity of The Stig has been revealed by “a newspaper” which outed him on Sunday.  

The BBC programme “Top Gear” has carefully preserved the secrecy of The Stig, who test drives fast cars on the programme, and still refuses to comment on “who or what” he is.   Until now, the motoring press has gone along with the spirit of the programme.   But now a story has appeared in a Bristol newspaper, resulting from an internet hunt by “fans of Top Gear”.

If they really are “fans of Top Gear” why would they want to destroy what is an integral and highly entertaining part of the programme.   What is it with people that makes them want to do this?   Why can’t they just enjoy the joke?

Leave The Stig alone.

Nationalized banks – what a future!

I don’t know who I’m most disgusted with, the government or the banks.

Here we are with the Labour government pouring billions more into the banks in return for, in the case of RBS, we are told, an increase of the government’s stake in the business from 50 to 70%, and in the case of  the others some sort of restructuring which again will reduce the shareholders’ stake in the businesses.

Yes, we are in a financial crisis, and something needed to be done.   But why are all these privately owned major businesses flocking to become nationalized?   Have they lost all their pride?   Banks that have been in existence as independent private financial businesses will become part of the vast public sector which is rapidly overwhelming England.   Do these entrepreneurs really want to become civil servants?

And as for the government.   Well, they’ve done it.   Attlee couldn’t, Wilson couldn’t, Callaghan couldn’t, Blair couldn’t, but Brown is well on the way to nationalizing the banking industry.

God help us all.   Our public utilities owned by French, Germans, Russians, Arabs, Chinese.   They won’t need to declare war on us in future, they can just pull the plug on the electricity, the gas, the water, or whatever.   And now the banks owned by the government, so all our savings in the hands of  that lot of profligate incompetents.

Sticking it all under the mattress becomes more attractive by the day.

Labour’s leaflet – spin again

Three leaflets landed on the doormat yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.

They were from the Labour Party.   Round these parts one leaflet from them, actually during the three week campaign of an election, is the most we ever see.   Do they know something?

Two of the leaflets were from and about the local councillors;  the third was a national leaflet  -  the one “What families and businesses need is real help now.”   Not a word of embarrassment of course about what the Labour government’s part may have been in getting us into this mess.

And the strap line at the end “This is no time for a novice.   To say no to a novice………”

First of all, what about 1997.   Almost all of Tony Blair’s lot  -  including himself and the Blair Babes  -  were real novices.   But they were lauded as the hope for the future!

Second, if today’s “crisis” requires experience, but 1997 didn’t, that surely gives the lie to Labour’s claims that the Conservatives left them a mess of an economy.   Rather it backs up the point that John Major left the economy in good shape, with low inflation, low interest rates and low unemployment.

Plain English and Simplicity Needed

Is it any wonder that small charities and their volunteers are in despair over accessing grants.   This load of  incomprehensible jargon was just part of today’s post:-

“The Commissioning Team would like to wish you a Happy New Year and take this opportunity to give you an update of the arrangements for commissioning this year.

 ”As you may know, the Local Priority Fund of £3.1 million (previously referred to as SCF Commissioning) is made up of the former Children’s Fund, Connexions funding and some Social Care funding and will now be commissioned by localities.  This gives us an exciting opportunity to meet existing and emerging needs to improve outcomes for children and young people.

“We are very pleased with the positive approach everyone is taking and how feedback and discussion is helping us to develop a commissioned service which is accountable, appropriate and straightforward.  Please keep sending your comments and suggestions so we can continue to improve the process.

“We are also working through how children, young people and their parents and carers can be part of commissioning, and how we may use their perspectives and expertise to commission useful and effective services.

 ”Local Priority Fund 2009+

“Current partnership agreements are coming to an end by 30^th September 2009. The Commissioning Team is working closely with local CYPSPs on a transparent, needs-led commissioning process to ensure that the Local Priority Funds from October 2009 onwards meet local need. 

 ”Each CYPSP is currently determining their locality priorities using information and knowledge which is currently available. These priorities will then be used by the CYPSPs to determine the types of services they want to commission to meet the identified gaps and needs. 

 ”Each CYPSP will launch their Local Priority Fund in March 2009, which will detail their priorities and specifications of services they would like to commission.  Application details will be made available via xxxx County Council’s website.  All organisations will need to register on xxxxx, xxxx County Council’s eSourcing portal, in order to apply for funds. 

“Provider workshops

“We will be holding a series of provider workshops in March / April 2009 for organisations who would like more information or support in submitting applications.  Information about times and dates of these will be sent out in the next few weeks. 

“Extended Services Sustainability Funding 2009+

“Each CYPSP has designated priorities for this funding in 2008-09. Funding for 2009-10 will be commissioned in co-ordination with the Local Priority Fund.

“Other funds

“There may be other commissioning processes undertaken by CYPSPs either with other funding streams coming on line or as joint commissioning develops.  Our intention is to keep you updated with appropriate information and send email alerts to enable potential providers and partners to keep up to date with developments.  Those Organisations who have registered, will also receive information through xxxxx.

~     ~     ~     ~      ~

The Regional Multi Agency Fora (MAF) in the East of England:

Promoting and Celebrating Good Practice

10:30 am – 11.00 am		Registration and Tea/Coffee
11:00 am – 11:10 am				Welcome and introduction Chair of MENTER Board of Trustees
11:10 am – 11:30 am				Overview of the Regional Multi-Agency Forum (MAF) structure: background, links and achievements EERA-Strategic Migration Partnership Senior Policy Officer
11:30 am – 11:50 am				The East of England Migrant Worker Steering GroupChair of the Migrant Worker Steering Group
11:50am-12:10pm				Coffee and Networking Break
12:10pm- – 12:45pm				The role of the statutory and voluntary sectors in the Multi-Agency Fora in the East of England: the Suffolk and Norfolk examples
12:45pm -2:00pm				Lunch and Networking Break
2:00pm – 2:45pm			The National No Recourse to Public Funds Network (NRPF) Keynote Speaker
2:45pm-3:00pm			Closing statement  MENTER Chief Officer

All this sort of bunk plus the ghastly political correctness is why I am about to give up.

Interest from both perspectives

The Nationwide’s position that they will not pass on any further Base Rate reductions to their mortgage customers is interesting.   

While having sympathy for those whose properties are now worth much less than the mortgage value, at least they are paying a very low rate of interest compared with former years.

Meanwhile, does this mean a glimmer of hope for those living on fixed interest investments?   People with building society and other savings accounts have seen their interest practically disappear.   They might just as well  take all the cash out and stuff it under the mattress.   No interest at all, but it might be safer than leaving it with a bank or building society which then goes bust.