Friday, February 5
GTA Westminster
(From their blog post 'The Old Parties: A Nest of Thieving Criminals' - no discernible acknowledgement that most of their candidates have criminal records)
Saturday, January 23
Noam Chomsky on...
... the need not to ridicule Tea Party demonstrators who have the wrong answers but genuine grievances, where the latent energy from the public enthusiasm for Obama08 may go, the silent heroism of those that stand in oppression's way, and a bit of Black Flag (amongst other things).
Thursday, January 21
We can't go on like this...
Thursday, January 14
Cameron to outline his arms/aid mishmash
The FT has just broken the news that David Cameron will use his speech at Chatham House tomorrow to tell us his plans to redirect DfID funds into what looks on first glance like a resurrection of the Colonial Office, at least at the top level. He will call it a "stabilisation and restructure force" overseen by a new National Security Council.
Tuesday, January 12
Clegg's evaporating policies, and why they matter
What Clegg's jettisoning of party policy yesterday says about his election strategy, and the next Government's challenge.
Here is a brief roundup of policy pledges Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats commuted and committed to yesterday.
“Put on hold”
- Extending free childcare to all 18-month olds
- Free personal care for the elderly
- A "citizen's pension" based on residency not NI contributions
- Tuition fees to be realised not in the next Parliament but “over six years”
Retained
- Raise the starting rate of tax to £10,000
- More one-to-one tuition and small class sizes at primary school
- 10% levy on banks' profits as long as the banks are underwritten by the taxpayer
- No to the like-for-like replacement of Trident
- An end to tax credits for families on above-average incomes
- Cancelling the government's baby bonds
- A £400 cap on all public sector pay increases.
- Electoral reform
- Reduction of the number of MPs by 150
He also said he wanted a "revamped economy weaned off the fascination with the City of London" - with more emphasis on infrastructure and green technology (and the creation of a bank for infrastructure).
The move to effectively simplify their policy platform this time around makes sense politically for a number of reasons. Firstly if they are invited into coalition they will be able to demand clear reforms and more justifiably claim that they have a democratic mandate to demand them.
Secondly, although it will prove more difficult to be all things to all people on the doorsteps, an electorate that is often unaware of where any party actually stands, never mind the Liberal Democrats, might be more likely to remember signature pledges rather than a huge plethora of the ideal policies on everything. Being able to jettison spending without so much scrutiny enhances the Lib Dems’ opportunity to make more eye-catching single pledges like those retained today.
It should be noted that the move to rationalise the party’s policy platform to make it plausible in spending terms is not a new direction and has been an increasing focus of the party under Menzies Campbell and even more so under Nick Clegg (the key difference between the two being Clegg and Cable have ushered in greater ambitions to limit tax). Even so, today’s announcement will risk impassioned fissures within the Parliamentary party and beyond, where activists cherish their ability to categorically say that tuition fees will end.
However, with the election focussing on the economy there is renewed need for any party asking for the right to form a government to prove that they can handle the immense challenges facing Britain’s economy, including the £178bn deficit (12.6% of GDP). Financial markets are concerned over a hung Parliament or a Conservative party with a weak majority that is unable to take decisions that will reduce the deficit.
Where the Liberal Democrats stand on spending is now more important as there is a reasonably high chance Labour will slip into leftist partisanship as it forms a circular firing squad after the election – a situation that will result in campaigning to try to obstruct a Conservative legislative programme by the remnants of the Parliamentary Labour Party in the Commons and perhaps also in the Lords where Labour will still wield significant force. This means that whether they form a coalition or not the Lib Dems could still have significant responsibility.
A hung Parliament is politically dangerous for the Liberal Democrats. Coalition with either party (but doubtless the Conservatives if anyone) will seriously alienate their support base. On the other hand the failure to form coalition or at least some form of partnership in Parliament could result on real economic instability – not something the Liberal Democrats want to be tainted with!
Wednesday, December 30
New Song: 'Emmy's Epic Journey' (DnB/Rock beat)
This is a foray into combining Drum'n'Bass with my guitar play.
Its about Emmy Bocaege's epic journey by boat down the Thames to Aragorn Tower in Canada Water.
Hope you like it!
Rate, comment, share, subscribe etc.
Wednesday, October 14
Fresh start
I was burgled.
Yep, basically computer/hard drive and therefore all the music I've recorded was stolen, along with all my home studio gear.
Pretty sad, but it does mean this is a fresh start - and I do mean to create a whole new bunch of songs/articles when my new computer and rackmount gubbins arrives.
So please stay tuned...
In the meantime check out/download this song I wrote with YoungFLmusician (a.k.a. J Mogs): A J-Mogs Face: 'Cutting Loose'






