Monthly Archives: April 2010

In the three debates Mr Clegg made much of the need for fairness. I agree. In British General Elections fairness is at the heart of the rules and the aproach of the main broadcasters. That is why all MPs lose their jobs at the start of the Election proper, why no former MP is allowed [...]

Let me share a secret with you. I have heard a number of politicians in private say disobliging things about constituents and even about members of their own political party. These same MPs or candidates have been civil to the very same person when meeting them in public. Yesterday I heard the authentic voice of [...]

There are two sensible answers to the Euro crisis. Greece could leave the Euro, devalue its currency, and come to an accommodation with the markets over what it needs to do to enable it to borrow again. That would be the best answer for the Euro, and would enable Greece to take part of the [...]

Much of the money lent to governments can be bought and sold daily in the markets in the form of government bonds. This government borrowing usually has the highest rating from credit agencies, or AAA, because investors often believe that money lent to governments is as safe as you can get. Governments, they argue, will [...]

I once wrote that whilst the left in the media and politics endlessly run their scissors over the defence budget to look as if they wish to curb spending, the far larger social security budget gets ignored. Social security costs around five times as much as national security. The simple truth is the UK cannot [...]

Some Labour and Lib dem figures are talking of a “progressive alliance” to prevent a Conservative government. This alliance seems to mean 1. Spending well beyond our means and borrowing huge sums – why is it progressive to borrow money from poorer Chinese to pursue an unsustainable level of spending? Why is it caring to [...]

Last night I was proud of Wokingham. Churches Together organised an open election platform for all the candidates in the General Election. More than 200 people attended, and asked a series of searching and good questions of us all for two and a half hours. We were each allowed equal and short time to explain [...]