Monthly Archives: February 2008

There is a big gap between what the public (and press) think about MPs’ pay and expenses, and what many MPs think. A lot of constituents think £60,000 is a good salary, and are concerned about some of the claims MPs have put in under the second homes allowance and travel budgets. Some in the [...]

it was good to see so many people turn up to lobby MPs for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. They did so peacefully and patiently, in best UK democratic style. None of them went on to the roof. I hope all the MPs who still plan to break their word on such a referendum [...]

Today we hear that Network Rail faces a large fine from the Rail Regulator for its failure to complete the engineering works to its network on time over Christmas and the New Year period. A few days ago we heard that Ofgem had fined national Grid £41.6 million for its behaviour towards pre payment meter [...]

The silly stunt pulled by the LibDems in Parliament yesterday was the ultimate cynical manoeuvre. The LibDems wish to break with their election promise of a referendum on the Constitution. They think demanding a referendum on In-Out will get them off the hook. They call for it knowing that the Labour Government and most Labour [...]

Today’s claim that some anti depressant drugs are little or no better than pretend pills for all but the most severe kinds of depression poses some interesting questions about medicine on the NHS. The drugs bill is huge and growing. All too many patients expect a visit to the doctor to produce a prescription as [...]

The English question is analysed today in a Think Tank Report, who warn that if the government does nothing to tackle the injustices to England the problem will worsen. Part of the problem is economic, and the economics of the problem are worsening by the day. Between 1998 and 2006 the UK grew by 27%. [...]

Today for a change I want to write about something I am no expert on – binge drinking. I would like your thoughts on it. When the government proposed relaxing the licensing hours, they argued that there would be a drop in drunkenness and rowdy behaviour. They said it would end drinking up time in [...]