A Small Island Man

This morning whilst sipping my frappe and meandering around the port of my small Greek island I made the acquaintance of an American tourist. I was extolling the virtues of my beloved island and offering my recommendations for what they might like to see and do during their short three-day stay. The conversation eventually veered into the realm of politics and I discovered, somewhat to my surprise this visitor would be supporting Trump and not Biden. She went on to describe Biden as a senile sleepy octogenarian. She considered him ridiculous. "Say what you want about Trump, but at least he gets things done". Why is the left being led by someone who seems such an easy target for this ridicule? Corbyn at a time when the Tories, or rather the ERG coup were in full swing with a demonstrably ludicrous Brexit campaign, decided the most effective form of opposition was to adopt a position of (faux) neutrality. It's no surprise that an already disgruntled, disenfranchised elector...

The world is on the brink of substantial change. Several critical issues have the potential to disrupt us globally. Climate change, disease pandemics, wealth distribution, and artificial intelligence (AI) are all genuinely global concerns. Without global cooperation, we may lack the means to implement comprehensive global solutions. Regarding AI, too few seem to comprehend its significance. In summary, I see three major issues. The power of AI, when in the wrong hands, to generate misinformation as a propaganda tool. I once posed a question to ChatGPT (before the implementation of many controls that now ensure responsible usage): "Write me a rousing, patriotic essay on why it is good and necessary to kill Jews." Anyone not terrified by its response would be foolish. The essay was exactly what I requested, with an impassioned and patriotic tone, but it manipulated and twisted 'facts' to support its case. AI makes grenades and missiles seem as primitive as stone-age axe...

  I received this news this morning from my financial advisor ...more than 50 Conservative MPs, part of the Conservative Growth Group, are now actively calling on the government to abolish inheritance tax before the next general election.  Among the members of the group are former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi, who wrote in The Telegraph that scrapping this “morally wrong” tax would show that the government “backs families in their desire to pass on their hard-earned savings to the next generation”. Others include former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, who said inheritance tax is “unfair and economically damaging”, and former Home Secretary Priti Patel, who insisted that people should be able to “determine the future of the assets they have worked hard to save and build up”... So the millionaires amongst our elected leaders Nadhim Zahawi,  Jacob Rees-Mogg, Priti Patel and presumably 47 other filthy rich MPs are all in favour of scrapping inheritance tax. W...

Dear Ms Lucy Frazer, In the House of Commons on March 9 2023, you spoke as minister for Culture, Media and Sport in respect of Gary Lineker’s tweet (1). Please explain why “as somebody whose grandmother escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s, I think it’s really disappointing and inappropriate to compare government policy on immigration to events in the 1930s” (2)? What makes any reference or comparison to the events of Nazi Germany in the 1930s disappointing and inappropriate? Is it your opinion that what the Nazis did to the Jews with their final solution of concentration camps and gas ovens was so much worse than the home secretary’s proposed “The Illegal Immigration Bill” that descendants of those who suffered the Nazi atrocities will feel their suffering is being trivialised by comparison? Do you feel that? In the 1970’s I attended a school in London. Although not a bad school, it wrestled with the effects of poorly handled immigration and the racial hatred that created. A working-clas...

Valentine's Day 2023 I wake to the first blue sky day after weeks of winter. It feels like spring is on its way. Shutters of our little house are opened and that pure light seemingly unique to Greek islands pours into the house. It's Valentine's day and I am lucky enough to be with someone I love and in a place that I love. What could be more romantic than doing a supermarket shop for Valentine's day? And here is the magic madness of our Greek island life; it turns out nothing could be more romantic.  A stop is made at the Prego coffee shop. The view overlooks Kato Petali. Even after seven years I just cannot contain my exuberance for the sheer stunning beauty of our island landscape. The island is refreshed by winter rains and is all green and ready to burst forth with spring blooms. A spinach pie and coffee are ordered and we sit in the sunshine and I am just totally overwhelmed at the beauty of the stepped terraces, traditional blue and white sugar cube houses, chape...

Boris Leads Conservatives to 2024 Election Victory with Promise to Rejoin It could never happen? Just like Trump couldn't be President, or Liz Truss being prime minister, or the UK leaving the EU. Right? The economic consequences of a hard Brexit deal are becoming more apparent and more widely acknowledged. That economic hardship is going to be hitting even more people by 2024. If by 2024 significantly more voters want In than Out, then would it not be an obvious vote catcher to offer Rejoin? Some facts that might point the way: In 2016 younger people were more inclined than older folk towards Remain - By 2024 many of those youngsters will be able to vote, and many of those older folk will not be alive. Economic data now shows the UK lagging behind all other EU economies. The Russian invasion of Ukraine makes a good case for a united and stronger Europe. Evidence that foreign investment is shying away from UK post-Brexit. Johnson already publicly backing Ukraine joining the EU. So ...

Will Strikes Bring the House Down? Nurses are striking because we have 10% inflation and they cannot afford their rent, transport and food. Tories, and as far as I can see Labour too, seem to respond with: There is nothing in the kitty A pay rise will fuel inflation It’s not fair to other people people who are not getting a rise It's visionless and gutless. I say negotiate an immediate settlement. There will need to be give-and-take on both sides. But the government should also start showing some leadership and look at solutions that amount to more than sitting on their backsides fiddling with taxation and budgetary spreadsheets. Where is the POLICY? The largest slice of a nurse’s salary is his/her rent or mortgage. It will take about a third of what s/he earns. One-third of her/his labour is going into putting a roof over his/her head. Source: https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/average-uk-household-budget#nogo We Need: High-quality social housing for everyone from the homeless to those...