THE 'ASSISTED DYING' DEBATE

Friday sees the debate in the UK Parliament when MP's will mull over the pro's and con's of letting individuals choose whether to end their lives or not.  There are naturally strong views born out of beliefs, both religious and secular on either side of the argument.  I liken the discussion to that of abortion - both subjects being fiercely opposed by those who believe that they are right with no allowance made or granted for anyone with an opposing stance.  Emotion, justice and morality all play a part on both sides of the argument.. Those of a religious bent - and I do consider those who believe in characters from a best-selling novel to be nothing other than bent! - should not be allowed to use this 'crutch' as a reasonable argument against either the choice of dying or aborting a foetus. Unfortunately, there are sad saps still at large who have believed in such tosh ever since that well-reported incident on a cross. (Can't believe it really took place myself, can you just imagine the 'Health and Safety' implications!). Bearing in mind the congregational sizes at your average church service, is it representative of our population to allow twenty-six C of E bishops to sit in the House of Lords?  They pontificate, at great cost to the taxpayer, over proposed government legislation before voting on the subject's possible implementation prior to being passed back to the House of Commons for amendments or support.  The quicker these non-elected, minority-serving, migrant-fawning hangers-on are banned from office the better our democracy will be.  That goes for all members of the House of Lords, not just those with a 'nod to God'!  

It hasn't gone unnoticed that head honchos at the C of E, the Catholic Church and the Jewish faith have banded together in a show of unity, as if anyone should care, and come out with the following statement: 'Part of the role of faith leaders in communities is to provide spiritual and pastoral care for the sick and for the dying.  We hold the hands of loved ones in their final days, we pray with families both before and after death.  It is to this vocation that we have been called, and it is from this vocation that we write'.  Vocation?  Vocation?  Sanctimonious prigs! It is not a proper job!! Not once is there reference to the physical and mental suffering of the individual concerned. This 'Collective of wastefulness' goes on to say:  'Our pastoral roles make us deeply concerned about the impact the bill would have on the most vulnerable, opening up the possibility of life-threatening abuse and coercion'.  Is it just me, but the irony is not lost.   'Vulnerable'?  'Life-threatening abuse and coercion'?  I thought those attributes played a large part in the everyday life of those 'members of the cloth'.  (The words 'large part' and 'member' taking on a life of their own in more ways than one!).

 I'm all in favour of a second house, but one where the incumbents are elected to serve by the general population, not because you are high up in some religious sect or due to an accident of birth - a great-great-great grandchild of a so-called 'noble heritage', 'Yeoman stock' or diluted 'blue blood' with an unbroken family listing in DeBretts!

Meanwhile, back in the land of the living - including those who clearly wish they weren't - despite the Prime Minister's directive that Friday's vote should be 'free', Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary and the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, one Shabana Mahmood, have both publicly declared they are voting against the bill on Assisted dying.  Wes Streeting has stated that passing this legislation will be costly to implement for the NHS and could 'lead to someone choosing to end their life early as a way of saving the NHS money'.  I thought he and Rachel Reeves in particular would be over the proverbial deathbed, if not the moon, should this be the case.   Surprise, surprise, Mrs. M, the L C & J Sec. sees the bill being passed as placing the country on a 'slippery slope towards death on demand'.  A tad dramatic in word usage, but then she is a barrister, as opposed to a barista, and not untypical of an MP representing a constituency that has a large Muslim population, in this case, Birmingham Ladywood.  Whilst she may well hold genuine concerns on moral and/or ethical grounds, one should never discount the percentage of motivation created by the guile and pandering of an MP in order to hold on to their seat come the next election.   As has been noted in the press, if the bill is passed, two of the 'Top dogs' involved in its implementation and success will be those who voiced their opinions and voting intentions.  That could cause a few problems methinks, still, I'm sure the good Mr. Starmer has all situations covered.  Thought...  There's always Novichok to fall back on if things look awkward - joke... joke!

Whilst it is a serious subject, I continue to be naively optimistic for a positive outcome.  The mischievous and whimsical side of one's nature does however allow one's mind to conjure up thoughts of a dictatorial regime - elected obviously - where subjects could be put down on the grounds of 'Being kind to them and good for society at large'.  What an opportunity to find space to drive on the M25 without the usual tailbacks?  It's the elderly that I have trouble with.  Now I say this as a 77 year-old in body, but 47 years-old in mind - well that's how I see myself.  Some may differ.  I do recall an instance when I described myself as 'Young at heart', to which I was subjected to the retort - 'More childlike really!'.  We still speak...

Queuing at a supermarket checkout usually causes blood vessels to enlarge, if not burst.  'Bert and Doris' stand between me and the customer being served.  They tut, they moan in dismissive, though hushed tones as their wait continues.  She sporting inherited broach on her coat, he sporting flat cap, as opposed to baseball cap, which often denotes ongoing chemotherapy in the elderly. They look at me for moral support in their dual irritation but their turn eventually arrives - and milk it they do!.  They are slow at packing, they are slow at paying.  Doris can't find her purse, the assistant gives me a sideways glance indicating her own irritation at their slowness.  Bert reminds Doris to show their Nectar card before the final sum is requested. That's also lost in the Tardis that serves as a handbag!  Much searching and a further minute out of my life, when 'hey presto' another rabbit is extracted. I am beginning to feel slightly more confident that this  couple will soon be on their way and out of my life. Bert then reminds Doris that they have vouchers.  More scrambling, same handbag, different pocket!  Just as I'm losing the will to live and asking myself why B&D had to be in front of me that day, I witness the debilitating ageing squawks seeking advice from said assistant who by now has joined me, and those behind me, in losing the will to live.  'Are any of these vouchers any good', Doris plaintively asks.  The assistant trawls through said collection and verbally confirms that six are irrelevant and three are out of date.  Doris puts them neatly back into her purse, which is then equally neatly placed in her handbag ready to be extracted on their next visitation in a week's time - at precisely the same time of  day.  These are people of routine! I am now served, my goods being placed quickly in my bags and with consideration to others behind me.  My Nectar card and credit card are to hand, I carry no vouchers.  A swift transaction, a smile, a 'cheerio' and I'm away.  Off to my car, but sadly snookered in my quest to exit the sliding doors as there stand Bert and Doris who have met up with Neville and Elsie, chattering like monkeys and oblivious to the their trolleys  being parked in such a manner as to stop all 'who enter here'  or  those wishing to exit and make up for lost time and a possible course of counselling.  Assisted dying?  A nudge in the right direction for some springs to mind...  

                     IS THAT  'CHILDREN IN NEED'  OR  'NEEDY CHILDREN'?

Every year the BBC hosts an evening of fun and frolics with the aim of raising money for 'children in need'.  Every year the event rakes in upwards of £40 million.  It is a lot of money, subscribed to by generous donors across the length and breadth of Britain.  Every year I bury my head in another channel - any channel, or no Channel at all - with the express intention of avoiding any contact with the hype, hysteria and brash whooping that accompanies the pointlessness.  Over the years groups of middle-aged men and women have swum through ice-cold water, tumbled out of aircraft hoping their parachute will open before they die, or immerse themselves in a bath of cold baked beans for two hours - and all for the chance to 'be on the telly'!

As with all so-called 'good causes', one is left wondering where the money raised actually goes to?  My first thought is just how much is taken in admin costs, especially the salaries of those at the top.  When researching information regarding large, well-known charities, the money paid to chief executives, directors and those involved the 'equality and diversity' racket was mind-blowing.  Comparisons with those at the helm of our utilities sprang to mind!  As Christmas approaches, viewers of commercial TV stations are currently subjected to adverts for a wide range of charities - or bad causes - as I think of them.  'Help the children in Gaza' they cry, or 'Support famine relief' in some God-forsaken, war-torn African country where the ruling junta are 'doing very nicely, thank you!'  Helping the homeless on the streets of Britain is a common theme spread across several charities.  Gone are the days when the narrater, having hopefully appealed to your conscience while you take in the visual poverty, asks for a donation 'big or small'.  Oh no, they now seek a specific amount, one of them asking for £29.80p.  Audacious, arrogant and frankly, a bloody cheek!  

Captain Tom will be turning in his grave - either metaphorically if he was cremated, or physically if buried - as news breaks that his daughter and son-in-law did very nicely out of the book sales.  The public bought the books because they thought the cover price was going to our most popular charity of all - the NHS!.  Little did they know it would be funding the double-barrelled Ingram-Moore's lifestyle to the tune of £1.5million. 

Some 30 years ago, I was organising motor shows for a well-known car magazine.  I hosted over forty shows during a 7-year period.  The shows were free to the public and because they attracted families, I arranged children's activities, helicopter rides, industry-relevant trade stands and a few charity stands.  Lessons were learned as patterns evolved.  Initially I invited national charities that had relevance to the location, a hospice or a hospital ward dedicated to the wellbeing of those suffering from a particular ailment.  I also invited a local animal sanctuary,  or dog rescue centre.  No fees were charged for any charity when attending the two-day show, all profits made over the weekend being retained by the charity.  What emerged was a pattern whereby the national charities just didn't turn up with no warning, telephone call, no bye-your-leave, in short - sweet naff all!  A call by me on the Monday morning after the show would reveal the same answer -'We were short of volunteers', there was a mix-up with staffing'.  Common to all 'No-shows' was a total lack of manners.  Without fail, all the animal charities appeared and were staffed for the duration.  I got wise to this behaviour early on and started charging the grand sum of £25 per stand.  Because the events were held outdoors, there was no lack of space for stallholders. Guess what?  'No-shows' became a thing of the past.  Animal charities by the way, were still given free space as they had been supportive and professional from day one.  I only ever give to animal charities, their cause is far more deserving.

Less than a week after this year's Children in Need evening its 'Chair', as opposed to 'Chairlady' or 'Chairwoman', (How the hell can anybody be a 'Chair'?), Rosie Millard resigned after protesting that grants were given to a charity whose former chief had been embroiled in a child abuse debacle.  James Rennie, the chief in question, was convicted in 2009 of child sexual assaults.  Having read of his 'interests' and subsequent jail sentence, I can confirm that he, along with the Ingram-Moore's, will not be invited round for afternoon tea!

I do wonder just how many of those contributors to Children in Need realised over the years just where their hard-earned dosh was going?  Perhaps they would be surprised, shocked even, to learn that £466,000 had, over the years been given to LGBT Youth Scotland.  That is an enormous sum and begs the question raised in the title of this article.  Are these 'children in need', or just plain needy?  Normal is male or female, everything else is a lifestyle choice and should not be subject to public or charitable funding.  Rosie Millard appears to be someone with principles and will therefore be awarded an 'Attaboy' from me and naturally invited round for afternoon tea, scones and... and...  a choice of Raspberry OR Tayberry jam with her clotted cream.  I can be no fairer than that!

If the above informs, amuses, titillates, provides gut-wrenching belly laughs or, in the case of Lib-Dems and Guardian readers, merely offends,  please look at the Trouser Press website for details and availability of books written under the name Anthony Mann and published by Trouser Press:- www. trouser-press.biz

Until the next post, for all my American readers - 'Have a nice day!', for those attempting to retain their humour within the confines of these Septic Isles - 'Do your best to get through the day!'.

                                                            OH YES SHE DOES!

The 'She' in question is a headteacher, as opposed to a Headmistress, by the name of Mandy Ovendon.  She is 'very excited' apparently by her decision not to allow any reference to Christmas during a performance at Wherwell Primary School by a touring pantomime company. A spokesman - as opposed to a 'spoke', or a 'spokesperson' - for the Essex based Chaplins Pantos explained that,  'We don't always mention Santa Claus, but there would usually include a Christmas song and there would be reference to Christmas.  On this occasion, the school asked us not to include any reference'.  What a miserable bunch of woke scrotes!  The Ovendons of this world and her ilk are the reason this country is without discussion on anything racial, gender or our ongoing and costly asylum fraud!

Wherwell Primary School is in Andover, Hampshire, not an area normally associated with a cultural and diverse melting pot.  Sadly, an influx of non-natives and their offspring have settled in the area and the education system bows to pressures considered inconceivable not a decade or so ago.

An unnamed representative from the school commented:  'When we chose to invite the travelling pantomime to Wherwell, our request was a practical step to ensure all children at the school would be able to attend and enjoy the show.  Our aim, as always, is to foster inclusivity in our school community and be a place where children and their families feel safe, welcomed and valued'.  Well, they've certainly managed to get in all the woke-speak - 'inclusivity',  'community',  'safe',  'welcomed',  'valued'. Have you ever heard such sycophantic, cringe-making bollocks?   If there are parents of children who don't take Kindly to Christmas references because it doesn't align with their beliefs they can, at best stay away, or, even better, move to a country where their beliefs are enshrined and traditions upheld.  

If the situation was reversed, does the misguided Head think a Hindu ceremony in India or a Muslim play in Lebanon would be altered to accommodate a white Church of England family who have recently emigrated from Dudley?

It is a very slippery slope this Head is walking.  Has she not considered the views of those white, native parents who, I assume, still take up the majority of the local population?  I haven't visited Andover for a year or so.  It was quite white then.  Mind you, look at the north-west of England, it didn't take long to become an Asian province where Muslim mayors abound in numbers.  Ah, such is the changing face of Britain and not helped by the likes of Mandy Ovendon.

If I were a parent of a child attending Wherwell Primary School. I would definitely be having a conversation with those responsible for this pathetic, petty action.  All it does is sow division and anger.  My child would not be attending on principle and I would explain to my child why in front of the Head.  Once again, the ethnic minority run roughshod over the native majority.

I do not wish Mandy Ovendon a 'Merry Christmas', I do however wish her and all her supporters, a 'Crappy New Year'! 

    THE EX ARSE-BISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND HIS FLOCK OF ABUSERS!

Dear, oh dear, that most exalted of all within his sect was not sitting comfortably - though nowhere near as uncomfortably as the boys and young men who suffered appallingly at the hands of the now deceased Mr  John Smyth, QC.  Not a nice man by any standards, he is described as a 'British child abuser, barrister and active Christian involved in ministry with children'.  Well,  that's one way of putting it!  Oh, and he also represented Mary Whitehouse as her lawyer some decades ago during her years of campaigning against what she considered to be a lowering of moral standards on both TV and the media.  What hypocrisy!

Justin Portal Welby, who revelled in the full title of 'The Most Reverend and the Right Honourable the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury GCVO',  has been toppled from his post of Top God - sorry, Dog - bloody lysdexia!.  The latter stands for 'Grand Cross Victorian Order'. -there's posh!  Sadly, his titles outplayed his talent for justice.   I'd like to know what these people do?  It's not a proper job.  They're not contributing to society in any form.  Shelf-stackers at Sainsbury's contribute far more than these religious wastes of space.  In this case it is the Church of England, but irrespective of whichever cult the sheep in human form follows, power, greed and abuse have been prevalent from time immemorial.  For many it has been the safe haven to continue abuse to this day - and tomorrow, and next week, and forever onwards, it appears.   Shrouded in secrecy but known to many within the hallowed halls of clerical establishment and hierarchy,  those that abuse will continue with impunity,  those that know, but turn a blind eye, will also continue to be all-unseeing and un-knowing.  That 'Club' mentality which permeates so many sects and orders continues to weave its magic across the world.  

There will be a number of bishops and no doubt those lower down in the pecking order,  wondering if the call will come for them to explain their involvement,  if any,  or knowledge of, if any, abuse carried out by the disgusting Smyth character.    The Reverend Michael Coran (as opposed to Koran, which I would have found slightly amusing), suggested that more people should be questioned.  Presumably that puts him in the clear!. It could turn into another Post Office scandal with bishops scurrying around defending their actions - or lack of them - in a manner not too dissimilar to PO or Fujitsu bosses claiming amnesia or being in the loo at the time and therefore 'none of it being their fault'!   Another bishop interviewed this morning on the BABC was the current Bishop of Winchester,  latterly Bishop of Truro and in a previous role, the Executive Leader of the 'Church Mission Society', which in itself doesn't appear overly seemly!  His name is Philip Mounstephen, just a 'T' away from a schoolboy snigger and the begging of the question 'Does he?'  That of course is before said boy is sent to John Smyth for punishment. Pure whimsy of course, but satisfying to conjure with all the same.

Perhaps if the left-leaning, migrant loving, do-gooding, slave-apologising Welby had spent more time looking at the bigger picture of Britain's ills, as experienced by the tax-paying public day-in, day-out,  he might also have taken note of what was going on with his ex-fellow 'happy camper' back in the 1970's!  If they weren't 'bunking-buddies' they certainly knew each other. You can see the Arse-Bishop wringing his hands thinking 'This is a bit of a bugger and no mistake, let's hope it all blows over soon,  huh!'.   It didn't and there are stories to be told, cases to be investigated, financial settlements to be made by the Church in the fullness of time and hopefully, several resignations along the way.  

What the C of E are left with is finding a replacement that is whiter than white in their private life, preferably without a history of abuse to their names, though probably 'nothing within the last five years will be as good as it gets'.  I spoke with a friend of mine who also fails to see the significance and point of any religion other than a cover for unedifying sexual activities and he said, 'A pound to a penny the next one will be black and female - two boxes ticked, there's a result!'.  He's probably not wrong.

    OF MIDGETS,  DWARFS AND ACADEMIC FLIES IN THE OINTMENT

The word 'seething' would sum up how I feel as I write these notes.  Seething, because part of our history is once again being consigned to history books - books that will certainly be burned if minorities are allowed to overwhelm majority views and opinions with their childish indoctrinations.

The pub-owning group Greene King has once again crumbled in the face of minority pressure.  There is a pub in Abingdon, Oxfordshire which opened in 1974 as the 'Magic Midget'.  The name was in honour of a racing car of the same name, produced in the town by MG, then owned by British Leyland.  The MG Midget had long been considered an iconic British sports car.  The pub was renamed 'The Midget' in 2002.  The intervening years have witnessed the passing of majority rule by a succession of 'minority causes' putting the fear of shame into any individual or business that doesn't toe the W*** line.

A female by the name of Dr. Erin Pritchard, who is a senior lecturer in Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University started a petition in order to rid the public house of its 'Dwarfist' links!  She said: 'I have dwarfism and like many people find the word offensive.  I doubt anyone would tolerate a pub with a name containing an equally derogatory slur against another group of disabled people or an ethnic minority'.  This is the same woman, by the way who forced Marks and Spencer to change the name of 'Midget Gems' for the same reason. The upshot of her being offended and presumably the one thousand supporters that signed her petition, is that Greene King, the gutless owners of the pub, have caved in and have renamed it again as 'The Roaring Raindrop'.  I read that this latest change refers to MG's last record-breaking car built at Abingdon.  Very few people, other than MG aficionados, will be aware of the new name and its part in the company's history, whilst millions will remember the MG Midget!  Did anyone, either driving or spotting an MG Midget automatically think of a dwarf, thus sniggering or guffawing in a schoolboy manner as they made an association between a car and part of a circus act?  

You can just imagine how much fun this woman must be!  She may have a doctorate, but I suggest she applies to the Open University for  courses in the following subjects:-  'Common Sense',     'Perspective and Proportion',  'Humour' - if that is still an allowable attribute - and 'Getting Out More'!  People like her and the one thousand petitioners are worrying examples of what is happening throughout our country.  The minority rule and there is little opposition as no-one wants bad publicity.  Zoe Bowley,  who is Greene King's Managing Director, said that the company thought 'long and hard' about changing the name,  As always, they conceded and history is consigned to memory.  People such as the sad Dr. Pritchard are a danger to society at large.  They  never see the bigger picture, so entrenched. embittered and driven are their views, so ungracious and ungiving their mentality.  

I have just taken my metaphorical file marked 'Wastes of Space in British Society' and added Dr. Pritchard's name.  She joins the ranks of Lord Longford, Peter Hain,  Peter Tatchell and the Blairs,  amongst many others of dubious worth.  It is is such a pity that people like her spoil everyday wordage.  They turn it into a cause celebre and contribute in no small measure in making  the world a much more miserable place through power garnered due to their physical appearance.  So, another group of people I shall not be looking too kindly upon in the future - miserable ticks!

My problem going forward, when espying an MG car, is managing NOT to think of dwarfs, elves, sprites, hobgoblins, pixies, leprechauns, imps, gnomes, fairies, nymphs or gremlins. Do hope I haven't missed out anyone of 'limited stature'?  After all,  I like to think of myself as 'Inclusive'...

                     IF ONLY THAT LAMMY FELLOW HADN'T SAID WHAT HE DID!

We've all said things we regret in our past.  Somebody I met only yesterday recalled an occasion when he was discussing a girl's bust size and just how he'd like to get his hands around her 'jugs'.  The other male cut in by telling him that he'd been dating said girl for nearly a year and he wasn't impressed with the other chap's desires or fantasies, before walking off into the wide blue yonder, never to be seen again.  The point is that he was eighteen at the time, new to more adult social intercourse and possibly sexual intercourse, who knows?  By the time you reach the age of 46 and you are a Labour Member of Parliament you should be aware that comments and judgements made today can come back to bite you years on - six in this case!  David Lammy has come a long way since then, mainly due to the Tories losing the last election, but he is now this country's Foreign Secretary.  I cannot  think of a minister more foreign!  Wikipedia describes him as 'English'.  That he definitely is not.  I reluctantly have to concede that he be described as British, after all, the man possesses one of our passports, bur English he never will be.

Back to 2018, as a Labour backbencher, metaphorically expanding his chest with all the confidence of his then limited power and persuasion, he uttered the following comments regarding what was then the 45th President of the United States of America, and who has now become their 47th.  Mr. Lammy described Donald Trump as a 'woman-hating, Neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath who is a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long'. Adding fuel to his badly-timed outburst, he also commented that DT was 'deluded, dishonest, xenophobic and narcissistic'.  How proud he must have felt, there in swash-buckling mode deriding the President of arguably the most powerful country in the world and unarguably, our greatest ally. The EU never came close to being an ally - before our joining, during our time-wasted membership or post resignation.  America has been there for us and for Europe.  Its  freedom to this day is due in no small way to American support and democracy, the likes of which the 'lame' Lammy; would do well to remember!  Only a year earlier, he announced:- 'Yes, if Trump comes to the UK, I will be out protesting in the streets.  He is a racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser'.  Note, not even the courtesy of addressing him as Mr. Trump -  the man is without respect or manners.

This morning, the day after it was revealed that Donald Trump was to be the next president, Keir Starmer was one of the first to congratulate him and David Lammy's 2018 comments raised their left-leaning heads once again.  Interviews were held with the Foreign Secretary this morning on national media and it is all being brushed away in the manner of a slave asking for a day off as 'old news'.  Mud sticks,  Mr. Lammy.  My comments a couple of days ago on Mr. Trump were as I perceive him to be.  He is all the things I said he is and the 'Lame One' was correct with the word 'narcissistic', the man positively swims in its scent water!  But it's not all bad. Oh that we had a Tory or even better, a Reform government!  With Donald Trump and Co, one side of the water and his good friend Nigel on this side, it would interesting to see what paths and choices our countries could take with trade and wall-building especially.  DT would have a lot in common with Kemi Badenoch as well - good girl our Kemi - like her and her values.  All in all, interesting times ahead,  NOT for the Labour Party,  however.  Locally there have been a couple of council by-elections, in both cases the seats quickly swung back to the Tories.  In the West Midlands and Lancashire, two council seats changed hands, Tories losing one, Labour the other, both taken by Reform.  It keeps life interesting dunnit!

                             THE ALL-AMERICAN DREAM - OR NIGHTMARE?

Who will be the next president of the United States Of America?  Until Mr. Biden was persuaded to hand over the reins to 'Pamela with a K', the constant reminder was that with a population pf some 300+ million people, they had those two to choose from!  Mr. Biden looks for all the world like an increasingly ageing liability -gaffes galore, awkward moments, loss of memory, but elected as a Democrat President in place of Donald Trump.

The move to replace the current incumbent was timely, shrewd and above all - necessary.  From a British perspective, what's best for the UK?  Uncle Jo was pro-Irish as opposed to pro-British.  It didn't go unnoticed by the masses!  We now have a very different kettle of fish in the form of Kamala Harris.  She is certainly going to give the Trump camp a run for their and Mr. Musk's money.  Maybe Americans saw a different Vice-President to the one we saw during her term in office,  We were left asking who she was and why we saw her so rarely.  She didn't appear to be high-profile, more 'No, I haven't seen her for ages either, what does she do all day?'   Her years as a lawyer will have held her in good stead for a political after-life. She possesses decorum, a sense of proportion and mainly chooses her words wisely. KH appears to be able to read both people and the social situations of the population at large.  She would seem to have principles and determination, but I feel she could also become all things to all people depending on the political circumstances at any one time.  Oh, and as we would say in 'Sarf 'London, 'she's not a bad looking sort!'.  For me her biggest problem is that she is against the death penalty.  If she was representing a British political party, I suspect she would be a Lib-Dem, a representation designed to give false hope to many, with a life consigned to the political periphery.

Donald Trump couldn't be further from his opponent in views, principles - or lack of them - and style.  How best to sum up this odious example of all that's wrong with the world!  well... he's an egomaniac, course, loud, brash, classless, unscrupulous, child-like and a bully-boy along with a myriad of other uncomplimentary descriptions that I haven't thought of as yet.  However, where I see Kamala siding with every ethnically-challenged, displaced waif and unwanted stray on the world stage, at least DT will make a fist of returning migrants south of the border to Mexico.  I can't see KH acting with such determination and focus.  Does she like the UK?  I don't know. DT does, what with his Scottish roots and that should sit more comfortably when discussing trade.  Uncle Jo was never our 'closest ally'.

I envy the Americans, just wish we were preparing for an election...

                                 IT"S ALL OVER BAR THE TAX INCREASES

Rachel Reeves - or the current 'No.1 Wicked Witch of Westminster' - delivered her budget two days ago.  As is often the case with these announcements, it's not what is publicly said in Parliament during the 'declaration of intent' but more what has not been mentioned. Policies and changes often remain buried within, awaiting extraction, hence why two days on, news is filtering out regarding various concerns.

Farmers feel aggrieved about the change to inheritance rules, GP's are concerned about the rise in National Insurance contributions and whether it will apply to all or will they be treated as a small business and be exempt from the increases.  The fact remains that for business as a whole, increased NI contributions will lead to lower wage rises.  By reminding us at any opportunity that she was holding to her promise of not raising taxes for 'working people', the Chancellor omitted to say that prices will inevitably rise as costs have to be passed on to the customer.  It is a cycle that takes a lot of breaking without reform and imagination. 

Private schools face the imminent introduction of VAT.  This is no doubt a spiteful way of getting back at a section of society those on the left cannot abide. The irony being that this is the very education that got most MP's to the level of power and influence they have today. This government despises middle England - the South-East in particular - all pensioners that pay their way and those who have worked all their lives and been prudent, saving for a future continually undermined by Labour governments.  By withdrawing the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners not on any form of benefit, (see above sentence for details of 'real' working people), Ms. Reeves has alienated a large section of the voting population.  I just hope they remember this budget come the next election.

The £20billion black hole became £40 billion when taking into account money needed for the NHS, infrastructure projects such as getting HS2 into Euston, paying miners a pension top-up and postmasters for their disgusting treatment at the hands of Post Office management in what was one of the greatest cover-ups and injustices this country has ever witnessed.  No-one is denying that we are broke or that the country is socially broken, but it is the way government approaches these decisions that dismays the public at large.  If one accepts that there is such a financial deficit, surely it makes sense to plug the holes where money is being spent on pointless projects (HS2 springs immediately to mind), and traditional support for those who should not receive one pennyworth of help from 'hard working' taxpayers.   The NHS itself is one of the biggest culprits.  Because this country fails to make plans that are carried through, we never truly invest in staff.  We have overseas doctors and nurses employed throughout our hospitals and health centres when we should be trying our own youngsters.  Agency nurses cost an absolute fortune, yet still they flourish and drain our resources.  Once we allowed private healthcare into the NHS, it became a slippery slope of profit over service.

What would an alternative, imaginative budget look like?  Oh that Wicked Witch No.2 - Yvette Cooper - in her role as Home Secretary could have come to the rescue, galloping into the Commons on a white charger, standing in her stirrups and  halting proceedings by declaring 'I have a plan.  It may not be cunning, but it's bloody obvious and will be ever-so-popular with the masses!'.  To shocked anticipation she holds aloft a charter stating that all cross channel ferries have been commandeered and that as she speaks umpteen thousand migrants are being returned to France!  Those involved, she continues include every example of benefit-scrounging flotsam currently held in hotels, ex RAF bases, centres run by private contractors and those hunted down and found working illegally in Chinese restaurants, Thai massage parlours and a lone African homosexual seeking refuge in a West London lock-up.  She awaits her next sentence in order that the jubilation and cheering from all sides of the house can calm itself.  Beaming like a cat that hails from the north-western County of Chester, she adds that the miscreants are being deported as she speaks!  Furthermore, we have stopped payment to the French government as they have been doing bugger-all to deter the small boats and that we will be saving in the region of £20 million a day!  'Hurrah and Hussar' they shout in unison.  And there's more...!  'What's more', (Told you there was more),  'the Government has seized the  assets of the German manufacturers of dinghys and closed the business down at the same time making it illegal to cross the channel without  a passport showing British nationality spanning a fifty-year period, a British driving licence and until they are discontinued,  a Waitrose loyalty card'.  She further announces that due to so many deportations, we no longer need to build as many houses and that the country's 'Green Belt' has been saved for future generations!  To ecstatic cheering she takes a bow before taking her leave.  The Chancellor, cutting a lonely figure and not wishing to be excluded from the accolades bestowed upon her fellow cabinet minister, stutters before tearing up her previous declarations and announces that all pensioners will indeed get their winter fuel allowance reinstated, NI contributions will be decreased by 1.2% and VAT will not be charged on private schools!  

As MP's gaily skip (as opposed to 'gayly skip') back to their constituencies  'True Brits' make their way en-masse to the Kent coast in order to witness the deportations and loudly exclaim with a new-found fervour  'That's right, bugger off back to France, see how much you'll get in benefit from the Froggies!'   All around laugh and cheer before pint glasses clang in unison and happiness and contentment permeates throughout the land.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, we have the American election to look forward to! That'll be fun...