Daily Mail
"..The crisis over Italy’s crippling debts intensified as Rome’s announcement of a new austerity package failed to calm the markets. Many analysts now believe that Italy will soon follow Greece and Ireland in demanding an EU bailout. ....For the British taxpayer, these are worrying omens. More than two-thirds of our trade is with the EU and America, and our banking systems are so intertwined that catastrophe for them is catastrophe for us. Indeed, the European Banking Authority revealed British banks have a terrifying £200billion tied up in the five weakest eurozone economies. ....
BBC’s corrosive power
...MPs complain that the power of the Murdoch empire has been corrosive.
But hasn’t the power of the BBC juggernaut with its pro-immigration, pro-euro, pro-multiculturalism, anti-church, anti-marriage, politically correct Left-wing and anti-American agenda had a far more corrosive effect on British life? "
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Friday, 15 July 2011
The BBC has done infinitely more damage to Britain
James Delingpole
"If only they were capable of realizing it, they would understand that over the last decades, the BBC has done infinitely more damage to Britain – economically, socially, politically – than anything the yellow journalism of Rupert Murdoch has ever achieved. By setting the parameters of the political debate, the BBC has been responsible for Britain’s cultural surrender to Islamism and “multiculturalism”; for its submission as a vassal to the creaking, moribund European Socialist Superstate; for the current Coalition’s inability either to lower taxes or rein in government spending; for the proliferation of “rights” and dependency culture and the creation of a feckless underclass trained to believe it is government’s job to take care of its every need; for the removal of empiricism, hard science and skepticism in the debate on “global warming”.
"If only they were capable of realizing it, they would understand that over the last decades, the BBC has done infinitely more damage to Britain – economically, socially, politically – than anything the yellow journalism of Rupert Murdoch has ever achieved. By setting the parameters of the political debate, the BBC has been responsible for Britain’s cultural surrender to Islamism and “multiculturalism”; for its submission as a vassal to the creaking, moribund European Socialist Superstate; for the current Coalition’s inability either to lower taxes or rein in government spending; for the proliferation of “rights” and dependency culture and the creation of a feckless underclass trained to believe it is government’s job to take care of its every need; for the removal of empiricism, hard science and skepticism in the debate on “global warming”.
J K Rowling - part III
A wizard place to live! JK Rowling's childhood home goes on the market complete with her teenage graffiti(Daily Mail)
I am resistant to score any points against Mrs J Murray, aka J K Rowling, aka Joanne Rowling,but I have seen worse places to live, and much harder conditions for children to be brought up in. For all the problems Mrs J Murray, aka J K Rowling, aka Joanne Rowling may have had in life, hers were not the worst I have come across.
Part 1 here, part 2 here....
Part 1 here, part 2 here....
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
The REAL cost of Britain's debt mountain: £78,000 for every family... thanks to Labour
Daily Mail
"The true size of Britain’s debt mountain can be revealed today as £2trillion – nearly £80,000 a household. Previously ‘hidden’ liabilities including the cost of public sector pensions and building projects are being published by the Treasury.They show that future payments to retired teachers, police officers and NHS staff will cost taxpayers £1.1trillion, or £1,100billion. The enormous figure, which is equal to 80 per cent of Britain’s output, is treble the combined national debts of Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. The future cost of schools and hospitals built under the controversial Private Finance Initiative will pile an extra £40billion on to our debt mountain.The £1.1trillion and the £40billion come on top of the official debt figure of £909billion. The figures will appear on the Government books for the first time when it publishes full accounts for every Whitehall department.
"The true size of Britain’s debt mountain can be revealed today as £2trillion – nearly £80,000 a household. Previously ‘hidden’ liabilities including the cost of public sector pensions and building projects are being published by the Treasury.They show that future payments to retired teachers, police officers and NHS staff will cost taxpayers £1.1trillion, or £1,100billion. The enormous figure, which is equal to 80 per cent of Britain’s output, is treble the combined national debts of Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. The future cost of schools and hospitals built under the controversial Private Finance Initiative will pile an extra £40billion on to our debt mountain.The £1.1trillion and the £40billion come on top of the official debt figure of £909billion. The figures will appear on the Government books for the first time when it publishes full accounts for every Whitehall department.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Euro zone crisis enters dangerous phase
Stuff NZ
"The euro zone's debt crisis has taken a dangerous turn. Contagion is singeing the currency bloc's third biggest economy Italy, which would be too big to save with existing EU financial fire-fighting tools. The cheapest way for Europe to build a firewall to shield Italy would be to take decisive action this month on a second bailout for Greece, market participants and EU officials say. The longer a decision is delayed, the greater the risk of events getting out of hand in Greece or on capital markets, forcing core nations to take more radical and politically difficult measures to hold the 17-nation currency zone together. The choice would then be between closer fiscal union and a possible breakup of the euro area. "
"The euro zone's debt crisis has taken a dangerous turn. Contagion is singeing the currency bloc's third biggest economy Italy, which would be too big to save with existing EU financial fire-fighting tools. The cheapest way for Europe to build a firewall to shield Italy would be to take decisive action this month on a second bailout for Greece, market participants and EU officials say. The longer a decision is delayed, the greater the risk of events getting out of hand in Greece or on capital markets, forcing core nations to take more radical and politically difficult measures to hold the 17-nation currency zone together. The choice would then be between closer fiscal union and a possible breakup of the euro area. "
Stolen from our pockets
Dr Richard North
"What this means is that we borrow money off the market – for which we pay interest - to lend to the IMF. But what may have been missed from the earlier post is that the bailout funds are to be used, inter alia, to buy up Greek debt – from a nation that intends to default.
Thus, in reality, we are buying up debt with borrowed money, to give to an organisation which will lend it to a "client" (or clients) that will never repay it. In effect, that makes this money a £9 billion "gift" from British taxpayers. It will be given to the financiers (mainly banks) who lent money to the Greek government, to help them cut their losses."
"What this means is that we borrow money off the market – for which we pay interest - to lend to the IMF. But what may have been missed from the earlier post is that the bailout funds are to be used, inter alia, to buy up Greek debt – from a nation that intends to default.
Thus, in reality, we are buying up debt with borrowed money, to give to an organisation which will lend it to a "client" (or clients) that will never repay it. In effect, that makes this money a £9 billion "gift" from British taxpayers. It will be given to the financiers (mainly banks) who lent money to the Greek government, to help them cut their losses."
Monday, 11 July 2011
Government's cash machine: Labour milked £1billion in speeding fines from 17million drivers
Daily Mail
"Labour 'milked the motorist' for an astonishing £1billion in speeding tickets - half of it raised in the last five years alone. The first full research on the speed camera regime under the last government has revealed how more than 17million motorists were hit with fixed penalty fines. In the final years of Labour, when all the income was going direct to the Treasury, the government was earning up to £10,000 every hour. Between 2005 and 2009, for which figures have just been published, 8,282,905 fixed penalty notices were issued to motorists in England and Wales for speeding. With fines of £60 per offence, that means drivers have been hit for £496,974,300 in only five years. Tory MP David Ruffley, who uncovered the figures, said: 'Labour treated the British motorist like a massive cashpoint machine on wheels. "
"Labour 'milked the motorist' for an astonishing £1billion in speeding tickets - half of it raised in the last five years alone. The first full research on the speed camera regime under the last government has revealed how more than 17million motorists were hit with fixed penalty fines. In the final years of Labour, when all the income was going direct to the Treasury, the government was earning up to £10,000 every hour. Between 2005 and 2009, for which figures have just been published, 8,282,905 fixed penalty notices were issued to motorists in England and Wales for speeding. With fines of £60 per offence, that means drivers have been hit for £496,974,300 in only five years. Tory MP David Ruffley, who uncovered the figures, said: 'Labour treated the British motorist like a massive cashpoint machine on wheels. "
Saturday, 9 July 2011
President Obama's oil for jobs strategy shows the economy has the president over a barrel right now
Telegraph
"To recap, on June 23, the US, alongside the 27 other members of the International Energy Agency, agreed to release 60m barrels of oil onto world markets. The US is supplying roughly half the volume from its 727m barrel-strong strategic reserve. The IEA described it as a way of making up for supplies lost to the fighting in Libya. Everyone else saw it as an attempt to push down crude and petrol prices in struggling western economies.
For The White House, it was an accurate diagnosis that rising petrol prices were proving a drag on an economy that, in the giddy days after Congress extended President Bush's tax cuts last December, many believed would enjoy growth of 4pc to 5pc this year. It was also an act of desperation. "
"To recap, on June 23, the US, alongside the 27 other members of the International Energy Agency, agreed to release 60m barrels of oil onto world markets. The US is supplying roughly half the volume from its 727m barrel-strong strategic reserve. The IEA described it as a way of making up for supplies lost to the fighting in Libya. Everyone else saw it as an attempt to push down crude and petrol prices in struggling western economies.
For The White House, it was an accurate diagnosis that rising petrol prices were proving a drag on an economy that, in the giddy days after Congress extended President Bush's tax cuts last December, many believed would enjoy growth of 4pc to 5pc this year. It was also an act of desperation. "
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Ten great myths about foreign aid: After Cameron described critics as 'hard-hearted', how your money is squandered
Daily Mail
"British aid props up repressive autocrats.
Human Rights Watch issued a devastating report last year that revealed how DFID’s 250-strong staff in Ethiopia failed to monitor annual spending of nearly £300 million. Worse, British taxpayers’ money was shoring up an autocratic regime, funding indoctrination and with food used as a political weapon. The same is true in Rwanda, where Britain aided a sham election last year by funding the electoral body that prevented the president’s rivals from standing and the media council that closed independent newspapers. This tiny nation, a favourite of Mr Mitchell, is being given an average £83 million a year despite last month’s disclosure it had sent a hit squad to assassinate exiles living in Britain."
"British aid props up repressive autocrats.
Human Rights Watch issued a devastating report last year that revealed how DFID’s 250-strong staff in Ethiopia failed to monitor annual spending of nearly £300 million. Worse, British taxpayers’ money was shoring up an autocratic regime, funding indoctrination and with food used as a political weapon. The same is true in Rwanda, where Britain aided a sham election last year by funding the electoral body that prevented the president’s rivals from standing and the media council that closed independent newspapers. This tiny nation, a favourite of Mr Mitchell, is being given an average £83 million a year despite last month’s disclosure it had sent a hit squad to assassinate exiles living in Britain."
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Column - Things I never thought I’d see here
Andrew Bolt,Herald Sun (Australia)
"HERE are some things I never thought I’d see in this country I love.
I never thought I’d see people picketing shops because their owners were Jews.
But in Melbourne last Friday, 19 protesters were arrested as they tried to stop people from shopping at the Max Brenner chocolate and coffee store in Melbourne’s QV.
In Sydney last month, Leftist and Muslim protesters did the same to a Max Brenner shop in Sydney, claiming the Jewish-owned franchise company supported the Israeli Army.
I’ve seen pictures of Jewish shops being attacked before, of course, but they were in black and white, in another country at another ghastly time.
But this is Australia. Today.
Here’s another thing I never thought I’d see in this country I’ve loved for its fair go.
I never thought I’d see academics sign a petition demanding someone be stopped from simply arguing.
But in Western Australia last week, that’s just what was done by 50 academics, from professors to a PhD candidate specialising in the representation of the Salvation Army in Finnish cinema, who demanded the University of Notre Dame stop warming sceptic Christopher Monckton from speaking there.
I’ve seen pictures of people being silenced for heresy before, of course, but they were in history books, drawn from inquisitions centuries ago, in another continent.
But this is Australia. Today.
Oh, and I never thought I’d see people getting doctorates in Australia on how Finnish films depicted the Salvation Army. But they do in the University of Western Australia, and, to be honest, that’s a first anywhere.
Here’s another thing I never thought I’d see in this country, which I’ve loved for those great home-making suburbs that artists once mocked for being boring.
I never thought I’d see parents killed after telling off naughty teenagers, or great masses of people brawling in our streets.
Yet this week, a Melbourne mum, with her 11-year-old daughter beside her, was stabbed to death after confronting youths who’d egged her house. Yet this week, 300 youths fought each other and police in a Melbourne suburb.
Oh, I’d heard of such stuff about the meanest streets of the United States, years ago.
But this is Australia. Today. ......"
"HERE are some things I never thought I’d see in this country I love.
I never thought I’d see people picketing shops because their owners were Jews.
But in Melbourne last Friday, 19 protesters were arrested as they tried to stop people from shopping at the Max Brenner chocolate and coffee store in Melbourne’s QV.
In Sydney last month, Leftist and Muslim protesters did the same to a Max Brenner shop in Sydney, claiming the Jewish-owned franchise company supported the Israeli Army.
I’ve seen pictures of Jewish shops being attacked before, of course, but they were in black and white, in another country at another ghastly time.
But this is Australia. Today.
Here’s another thing I never thought I’d see in this country I’ve loved for its fair go.
I never thought I’d see academics sign a petition demanding someone be stopped from simply arguing.
But in Western Australia last week, that’s just what was done by 50 academics, from professors to a PhD candidate specialising in the representation of the Salvation Army in Finnish cinema, who demanded the University of Notre Dame stop warming sceptic Christopher Monckton from speaking there.
I’ve seen pictures of people being silenced for heresy before, of course, but they were in history books, drawn from inquisitions centuries ago, in another continent.
But this is Australia. Today.
Oh, and I never thought I’d see people getting doctorates in Australia on how Finnish films depicted the Salvation Army. But they do in the University of Western Australia, and, to be honest, that’s a first anywhere.
Here’s another thing I never thought I’d see in this country, which I’ve loved for those great home-making suburbs that artists once mocked for being boring.
I never thought I’d see parents killed after telling off naughty teenagers, or great masses of people brawling in our streets.
Yet this week, a Melbourne mum, with her 11-year-old daughter beside her, was stabbed to death after confronting youths who’d egged her house. Yet this week, 300 youths fought each other and police in a Melbourne suburb.
Oh, I’d heard of such stuff about the meanest streets of the United States, years ago.
But this is Australia. Today. ......"
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
World stocks, euro fall as Portugal cut to junk
(Reuters) - World stocks slipped from five-week highs on Tuesday and the euro tumbled broadly on concerns about the global economic outlook and after a major ratings agency downgraded Portugal to junk status.
Friday, 1 July 2011
£100bn extra? That's not a budget rise, says deluded Brussels in snub to Cameron
Daily Mail
"Brussels bosses were accused of living in ‘fantasyland’ last night after the European Commission claimed its demand for £100billion of extra cash was not a budget increase.
Viviane Reding, the vice president of the Commission, said it was ‘a miracle’ that the EU had not demanded even more money.The budget, which will land Britain with a £10billion bill, is a calculated snub to David Cameron, who has insisted it should rise by no more than inflation at a time of austerity at home.In a sign of how detached EU officials have become from public opinion, Mrs Reding claimed the budget was not rising – when Brussels was actually demanding a 10 per cent increase in spending between 2014 and 2020 compared with the current budget period.
She said: ‘It is a myth to say the budget goes up. We are not asking for more money. We have a steady budget that is not increasing. That is really a miracle.’
Mrs Reding, from Luxembourg, also claimed the budget for bureaucrats ‘is even going dramatically down’ – a bare-faced lie exposed by the small print of the budget, which shows spending on administration rising from 5.7 per cent of the total to 6.1 per cent."
"Brussels bosses were accused of living in ‘fantasyland’ last night after the European Commission claimed its demand for £100billion of extra cash was not a budget increase.
Viviane Reding, the vice president of the Commission, said it was ‘a miracle’ that the EU had not demanded even more money.The budget, which will land Britain with a £10billion bill, is a calculated snub to David Cameron, who has insisted it should rise by no more than inflation at a time of austerity at home.In a sign of how detached EU officials have become from public opinion, Mrs Reding claimed the budget was not rising – when Brussels was actually demanding a 10 per cent increase in spending between 2014 and 2020 compared with the current budget period.
She said: ‘It is a myth to say the budget goes up. We are not asking for more money. We have a steady budget that is not increasing. That is really a miracle.’
Mrs Reding, from Luxembourg, also claimed the budget for bureaucrats ‘is even going dramatically down’ – a bare-faced lie exposed by the small print of the budget, which shows spending on administration rising from 5.7 per cent of the total to 6.1 per cent."
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