Nasty politics...we expect it from the extremists but not from Labour MPs

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This lunchtime I had a brief chat with Khadim Hussein, currently Bradford's Lord Mayor. The discussion was chiefly about this:

...members of Britain First, who are led by former BNP councillor Paul Golding, visited his house in Keighley last Saturday and entered it without permission.

Although he was not there at the time, Coun Hussain said it had been a “distressing” experience for his daughters, who were forced to tell the men, who he said were “aggressive, but not abusive”, to leave. 

Cllr Hussein is a genuinely nice man, indeed his comment about Britain First's visits to mosques in Bradford were very different from the confrontational, intemperate comments of George Galloway - "the mosque is a public place" observed Cllr Hussein contrasting this with the frightening experience of ten burly political activists appearing on the doorstep of a house in Keighley.

Indeed, I'm told that Paul Golding had spoken with the Lord Mayor who had advised him to contact his office and make an appointment! Instead the Britain First bunch went off to Keighley claiming that the Lord Mayor was avoiding them.

This, we will be reminded again and again is the nasty side of politics. And my friends on the left will then point at Britain First (or the latest bunch of racist nutters than pop up) and say: "look, you right wingers are all nasty".

However such words - however unpleasantly racist folk like Britain First might be really does excuse this:

This is the photograph tweeted by Labour MP, Karl Turner to his 9,000 plus followers with the ever-so-witty words:

 Just got in to find #UKIP crap on the door mat. It's off back #Freepost #VoteLabour

That's right folks, a Labour MP suggested that the way to 'return' UKIP literature is to wrap it round a brick and presumably bung it through the candidates window? Of course Mr Turner is far too responsible to actually throw a brick through a UKIP candidate's window. But others aren't:

UKIP MEP Gerard Batten had a brick thrown through a window at his London home in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mr Batten said he suspected it was part of an attempt by political opponents to intimidate UKIP candidates ahead of next Thursday's European elections.

I'm guess that the Labour Party approve of this sort of violence - or at least one of its MPs does?

Politics is a passionate business but, while we expect exhortations to violence from the loonies of right or left, we really should see them - even wrapped in a cloak of bad humour - from politicians in a political party that might form the next government.

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Worship - what we politicians require from you...

Respect - pah! Not good enough, not nearly good enough. We don't provide such fine leadership, such dynamic and creative direction for the masses, for mere 'respect'. Vladimir has shown the way for politicians everywhere - worship is what we require of you:

Vladimir Putin has become the object of veneration for a bizarre all-female sect whose followers believe that the Russian prime minister is a reincarnation of the early Christian missionary Paul the Apostle.

Members of the sect in a village 250 miles south-east of Moscow believe that the 58-year-old former KGB agent is on a mission from God. "According to the Bible, Paul the Apostle was a military commander at first and an evil persecutor of Christians before he started spreading the Christian gospel," the sect's founder, who styles herself Mother Fotina, said.

"In his days in the KGB, Putin also did some rather unrighteous things. But once he became president, he was imbued with the Holy Spirit, and just like the apostle, he started wisely leading his flock."

We are, of course, available for the curing of scrofula and other laying on of hands - plus the receiving of due reverence and sacrifice (preferably in the form of hard cash).

Get worshipping my people.

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The Charity Tribunal - off to a good start in examining the private schools issue

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Aside from a daft argument about where the tribunal members went to school (and, wrongly, where they choose to educate their children), the Charity tribunal looking at private education and charitable status has started well by tightening the scope of the examination:

These are deeply political and contentious questions and not for the Tribunal to decide.”

Therefore, he said, the scope of the hearing would be limited to the issues raised in the Attorney-General’s reference and the judicial review.

He warned the legal teams representing the parties that this meant “huge rafts” of the evidence they had already submitted were probably irrelevant and inadmissible and he did not think it would be necessary for any of them to present oral evidence.

The crux of this decision is that all the extraneous, irrelevent stuff from NCVO and the Charity Commission's leftie advisors seeking to widen to debate falls. We are left with the original judicial review brought by the schools and the careful, specific questions asked by the Attorney General.

A good start which, I hope, will conclude with a sensible settlement allowing private schools to continue providing the educational benefits for local communities that they were established to provide as charities.

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Quote of the day...

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From Paul Maynard MP's maiden speech:

But it is abundantly clear to me that no matter how much we legislate, no matter how many laws we pass, we cannot legislate for what occurs in people’s minds. I hope, by my presence in the House over the coming years, not so much by what I say but by the very fact of being here, that I can challenge some of the misconceptions, prejudices, fears and suspicions that go with my conditions."

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On the causes of murder...

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The terrible attack on Gabrielle Giffords will shock us all - the attempted murder of an elected politician causes a mass intake of breath. And reminds us of the fragility of democracy. But our first response should be to turn our thoughts to the victims, their families and their friends. They are suffering and it shows no respect at all if our response to the tragedy is political.

The language of war and violence litters our political debate - we are 'fighting', 'campaigning', 'taking out', 'bringing down' - all aggressive words intended to fire up our supporters and demoralise opponents.

So when a US Democrat Congresswoman is gunned down this discourse continues for some. Instead of looking in shock, hesitating and thinking of that person's family, friends and associates, the search is on for a cause - a cause of the attack. Before any investigation, before we even know the name of the gunman, before we even know the death count...the finger is pointed. And it is a political finger.

It seems at least six people are dead, but what matters to some is to find a political source for the tragedy. Fevered shouts, name-calling and the naming of the culprit.  And in this case a nice easy target - or maybe I can't now use that word - has emerged in Sarah Palin who made the terrible mistake of putting crosshairs symbols on a map showing the congressmen and senators she wanted to target in the 2012 election campaigns. And we are supposed now to believe that this act - this terrible error - was responsible for some deranged maniac shooting down Gabrielle Giffords and around a dozen bystanders?

I do not believe for one second that this website map was intended to or acted to incite some person to the extremes of violence we have seen today. I hold no brief for Sarah Palin's politics - although I don't share some folk's irrational and violent hatred of her - and think that the cause of liberty is held back by those like her (and sadly too many her left-wing opponents) who combine it with judgmental bigotry. But I do not see in her campaigns any incitement to violence or any corrupting of America's democratic discourse.

If there is a lesson - and I would prefer to wait for investigations, to see whether we can understand why the murderer did what he did - it might lie in the language we all use. The wishing of people dead (I would have a pretty penny if I'd sixpence for every time someone publicly wished Margaret Thatcher dead), the celebration of violent acts (remember that criminally foolish student with the fire extinguisher) and the use of metaphors of war in our political campaigning - all these things could contribute to providing, for someone already minded to murder, some form of warped justification for such a terrible act.

But however much we should moderate the language of our political discourse, however much we should treat opponents as real human beings, there is no place for claiming that a debate littered with violent language causes or incites murder. It does not.

And rather than trying to create such a belief, we should instead be thinking about those shot - some of them killed. If it's your way, pray for them. Cry a little. Pause for political breath.

And show the dead, dying and wounded some respect.


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Well that about does it for 2010 (thank heavens) - here's to 2011. Now how does that song go?

Another year sputters to its end. Exhausted, fractious and, like the overtired toddler, definitely in need of a rest. So what do we do? We throw a party. Not just any old party but a big party - a party where everyone has to go out, drink, make a fool of themselves, be happy, sing crappy Scottish dirges while holding hands in an odd way and get all maudlin about what good, bad or tragic occurred in the preceding 365 days.

I guess a bit of remembering is a good thing - taking a moment in time to survey the wreckage of 2010 and to peer into 2011's crystal ball. For my part, I shall look forward rather than back - mostly because 2010 was a pretty crap year for me, bad enough for me to believe that things really can only get better.

So here's some thoughts for 2011 - not predictions, I don't do predictions - just thoughts:


1. May sees an important set of elections - not just those in Scotland and Wales but across English local government. And the Coalition parties stand to do badly. For the Conservatives this is to be expected but for the Liberal Democrats it could prove something of a shock should their dire poll position continue.

In England, the Liberal Democrats will be defending 1,830 seats, Labour 1,600 and the Conservatives just over 5,000. In the equivalent elections in 2007, the Liberal Democrats polled 26% of the vote, about twice its current poll level. A third of the seats in Metropolitan councils and all the seats in the 30 unitary councils are up for election. A total of 124 district councils have all their seats up for election, and 70 have a third.

With Conservatives losing hundreds of seats (although I hope this won't be the case in Bingley Rural), it will be the performance of the Liberal Democrats that will get the focus - if they lost half the seats they are defending it will place further pressure on the deal with the Conservatives. We could see high profile defections to Labour from Liberal Democrat ranks - certainly at local level and possibly a national figure or two.

2. On the policy front, I expect to see the free schools movement accelerating - there are large places without proposals (there are none in Leeds, for example, compared to three in Bradford) and, as the first schools get closer to opening interest will rise. This is the most exciting - and I expect most change-making - of Coalition proposals and one that will benefit the lives of thousands of children many from poorer backgrounds. Coupled with the reassertion of didacticism and teacher authority, this is the most welcome change in education since 1944.

3. We will see further strikes, protests, sit-ins and such - all greated with frothing nonsense by both left and right. Two things will come of this - the police will be granted more power to deal with 'unrest' and those protesting will undermine their argument and their cause. The first is a crying shame (but always happens) and the second is the consequence of protests - 1968, 1981, 1990: remember those protests as the "people" took to the streets, were "mobilised" to fight for their rights. In each case, two years later saw the return of a Conservative Government. Most people don't like violent protest - it's as simple as that really.

4. On other fronts - the public health proposals will see the New Puritans on the rise again as the active campaign against working-class lifestyles takes on a new order. Local councils - and us councillors - will do what we do so well. Fuss, irritate, intervene and generally make a nuisance of our selves. This time in the interests of 'healthy living'. I shall be opposing all this - but will be a lonely voice.

Finally, I hope to find some more remunerative work, spend some quality time with my family and enjoy the company of those few friends I have left. Oh, and see West Ham stay in the Premiership (although this is looking a little unlikely right now). And I'll pen the odd word or two here - including a welcome return to the Friday Fungus.

I hope you all enjoy 2011 - after all 2010 has been and gone so all that rubbish is behind us. And the coming year will be a good one - I know so!

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Life's mosaic...

I'm a mosaic - a fragmented, fractured collage of flotsam, jetsam and washed up driftwood. I'm not a clear fresh painting but a creation of doubts, questions and uncertainties. I do not understand those people who are so certain in their belief - or their unbelief - that they can dismiss questions and doubts without thinking, without consideration. I had a parish priest once - Father Best - who doubted. His homilies were not what the comfortable, certain congregation wanted - Father Best challenged his faith, questioned what it was all about, explored what it meant to believe. He doubted in public. And there were mutterings; "this isn't what we come to mass for, we come to be assured of our salvation not laden with doubts." What those certain folk do not understand is that doubt makes us human. Without doubt, without challenge, without question we become automata - mere machines stamping out our short time on earth to the rhythm of our masters, of whatever definite thing we choose to believe. Without doubt there is no magic, no discovery, no joy. And we must take the pain - the agony - of doubt with that joy. We must take it because it makes us what we are - independent, creative and exploring. There are those who would have us be machines. Who want us to march in step with the wisdom that they impart to us. Who wish us not to doubt. These people are the evil ones - the ones who would deny the truth of humanity. Whether it be politics, religion or science, we must never ever condemn those who doubt, who question, who challenge. They may seem mad - we may beleive them mistaken. But their doubt is more important than our certainty. I am a mosaic of doubts. I am certain only of the absence of certainty. And this imperfect pattern of bits and bats presents its face on the world - to challenge, to argue, to question and to say that your certainty is not so. And that fragmented, uneven picture lasts better than the smooth, unblemished coat of clear colour - it is real, living, a construct of doubt rather that certain truth. It is life's mosaic... ....

Wednesday Whimsy: Fud!

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Back in the dark ages when computers needed their own office block let alone their own room, the word “fud” was coined. “Fud” – as I’m sure you all know – described the disinformation and attack campaigns directed by IBM salesmen at people who might switch to competitor organisations. These campaigns leant heavily on the “no-one got sacked for buying IBM” adage and sought to question the reliability, support and capability of competing machines. Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt – fud – was sown in the minds of customers.

It seems to me that we haven’t used this word enough! The strategy of casting doubts (not to mention fear and uncertainty) in the minds of the target audience is central to political campaigning – and especially to the left’s campaigns. The entire Labour strategy in the recent general election was founded on fud – disinformation that spread fear, uncertainty and doubt among those tempted to desert the party. Key targets – middle-class public sector workers, ethnic minorities, union members – were bombarded with negative stories about what the Evil Tories would do in power, how this threatened them, was based on questionable evidence and would probably make things worse.

What we had was the strategy of the father in Hillaire Belloc’s Jim on being informed of Jim’s death:

When Nurse informed his Parents, they
Were more Concerned than I can say:—His Mother, as She dried her eyes,
Said, “Well—it gives me no surprise,
He would not do as he was told!”
His Father, who was self-controlled,
Bade all the children round attend
To James’s miserable end,
And always keep a-hold of Nurse
For fear of finding something worse.

Or, as we now know it, fud!

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Friday Fungus: "...I am picking mushrooms." - thoughts on the "Great debate"

The glaring omission from yesterday’s “Great Debate” was any discussion of mushrooms (the suggestion that the failure to consume certain mushrooms contributed to the debate’s dullness is, of course, not something your esteemed author can comment on). Critical questions were omitted such as the decline in home grown mushrooms and their substitution with different quality imported mushrooms some of which are not the clean, white colour we expect but brown!

And the shiny pair (plus the dishevelled looking chap) were not asked about their preferences – do they like their mushrooms adulterated with garlic? Or are they fans of lightly fried wild mushrooms with just a hint of herbs, salt and pepper? Maybe (please tell me this ain’t so) one or other of the “leaders” doesn’t like mushrooms? Surely it would be wrong to have a prime minister who didn’t eat mushrooms!

Gone are the days when mushrooms were matters of great diplomatic significance – when a twitch in the production stats for field mushrooms sent tremors through the markets. And the world is not a better place for this – for allowing mushrooms to fade from the agenda of power. Do these men not realise that mushrooms are good for you? That mushrooms can help save the planet? And that mushrooms can help all of us cope with living in a place where bureaucrats, politicians and other busybodies run riot with our freedoms?

Maybe in the next debate? Or may be we should all respond to politicians like Grigory Perelman:

“You are disturbing me, I am picking mushrooms”

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Sometimes I wonder why I bother....

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Sometimes I wonder why I bother....

Yesterday a local resident rang me to complain. The matter of his complaint is not significant but his political response was...

“You’re all useless. You can’t get a simple thing sorted out. I won’t be voting at the General Election.”

Now if this was a solitary event, I would put it down to the heat of the moment but this comment is ever more common. It goes along with:

“If I could, I’d be off to (inset foreign country of choice) tomorrow. This country’s finished.”

And:

“I’m half inclined to vote for (insert chosen unpleasant right-wing party) just to make a point.”

Or:

“You politicians are all the same. Just interested in yourselves, getting big wages and fiddling expenses. Don’t care about ordinary people.”

The population – or that part of it willing to articulate its feelings – seems to be in one big grump. And now we’re facing the prospect of a General Election that will be characterised by nasty personal attacks, smears, innuendo and the construction of straw men to knock down.

The chances of a real debate about the economy, schools, health, soldiers dying in other people’s wars....the things that do matter? Don’t hold your breath!

This weekends nastiness fest around Gordon, bullying hotlines and yah-boo "you're bad, we're good" politics has left a rather nasty taste. His Grace has it about right.

...I guess I will bother but it will likely be more because I'm helping friends than from any real enthusiasm.

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