I moderate this site, when I can spare a few minutes to do so.
I post short contributions first.
I delete postings that make unsubstantiated allegations about named people or companies for legal reasons. Mr Corbyn gets the same protection as Mrs May.
I delete contributions using bad language or smearing groups of people. Links from sources I have not checked will delay a posting and may result in deletion. A link to a source like ONS or the World Bank can be helpful and does not delay a posting.
November 18, 2017
It seems Hammond has come up with taxing takeaway food and drink containers (using the green ruse once again for more yet more taxation). If this really the best he can come up? It sounds like misguided a repeat of the pasty tax or the vat on hot/tepid takeaway food.
They containers have 20% vat on them already and the money buying them has already paid NI and income tax so circa 60% in total – is that not enough Hammond? More red tape, more distractions. Thus taking the productive away from their productive work and decreasing productivity yet again.
Also we have ninety MPs have calling on the prime minister to set up a cross-party convention on the future of the NHS and social care in England.
They say a non-partisan debate is needed to deliver a “sustainable settlement”.
Well the NHS has suffered from the cross party, dire state monopoly, free at the pint of rationing delay and incompetence agenda for far too long. The NHS is not sustainable it is a disaster killing thousands.
What is needed is to start charging everyone who can pay and to encourage more people to go privately and/or to insure (cutting taxes so they can afford to pay). That way we might get an NHS and Doctors that actually welcome customers rather they trying to deter them at every turn, or giving them perhaps 3 minutes each, two weeks on Wednesday if they are lucky! One complain only though! You need another two bookings for the other two!
The NHS is the envy of no one sensible at all.
November 18, 2017
One “complaint” only though – as many Doctors insist – even thought they might well be related and medically relevant!
November 18, 2017
What has this to do with the OP ?
November 18, 2017
I have had one post deleted and I assume it was for inaccuracy. I thought it would have been better if the inaccuracy had been pointed out as part of the post. I had given a link for veterans for exit who were suggesting Britain had signed up to the new EU army and it turns out this has not happened as yet.
November 18, 2017
I had two on that deleted as well. I am surprised. Reputable sources, and hugely significant material for the debate on what we had apparently signed up to. Those in highly respected positions in the armed forces would know and they were authors of said articles/conference address. One of the links was to an address at the Cons Party Conference! Should be reputable.
November 18, 2017
Thank you Sir. I promise no swearing, no names, no links
The tax on plastics:
Yet again a selfish minority (this time litter bugs) causes everyone else to get fined.
How about policing this ugly problem better ?
I’m surprised old people haven’t been blamed for the Monster Munch packets and kebab cartons dropped in the local park.
Pity those turtles choking to death on Werther’s Originals packets.
(Yet more old people bed blocking hospitals on the BBC this morning)
November 18, 2017
apparently bacteria have been found which digest plastic.. all plastic should be compressed and stored or not made at all.
November 18, 2017
Has David Davis really agreed to the ECJ keeping control of our laws, as Charles Moore suggests today?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/17/time-get-annoyed-david-davis-has-accomplished/
November 18, 2017
This government has got a couple of weeks to make up its mind if it is going to cross red lines and make more concessions, or if it will leave on WTO terms.
If it decides to concede then true Brexiteers need to force a leadership change.
If it results in a general election so be it.
November 18, 2017
It has indeed got to that point. Perhaps another duff budget from Hammond will speed things up even more. Leaks so far suggest he is well on the road to another disaster. The Cons are now in a position to publish a leaflet on how best to go about attacking and losing core voters in droves, and eradicating any traces of their ideology.
November 18, 2017
John , The energy and time you put in creating , monitoring and responding to your site is highly commendable and admired by a very wide group of people . I very much enjoy reading its contents and the replies you get ; I definitely obtain a sense of involvement and it adds to the challenges of my day . Some responders do overdo it and occupy too much of the space and of your time so I hope they will take heed of your remarks . Meanwhile my very best regards .
November 18, 2017
Bert Young – you might also have mentioned that out of nearly 1500 Parliamentarians, JR is the only one to write a daily blog informing the public, and engaging with all comers, on issues of the day.
November 18, 2017
I very much respect and admire John Redwood for having his Diary and responding to individuals. I believe it is invaluable for us, and for him too?
November 18, 2017
Seems to depend who you are. Some here have no trouble getting multiple long winded repetitive often off topic posts on whilst others with shorter more relevant ones wait days until no-one is interested.
November 18, 2017
Just read the housing one which rather proves my point.
November 18, 2017
Agreed. I could say more but it would get deleted.
November 18, 2017
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160111050204/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_263808.pdf
Office for National Statistics.
Levy (2012) explains that the last official figure for the state pension schemes’ obligations was produced by the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), as at 31 March 2005, at £1.347 trillion, for Great Britain, based on the legislation in force at that date.
In summary, the estimates in the new supplementary table indicate a total Government pension obligation, at the end of December 2010, of £5.01 trillion, or 342 per cent of GDP.
Nice referenced post.
So the questions.
What’s currently owed?
Why has the ONS been told not to repeat the exercise on the debts?
The ONS claims that its a contingent liability.
The WGA [whole of government accounts] claim IFRS adherence.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/whole-of-government-accounts
Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) consolidates the audited accounts of over 6,000 organisations across the public sector in order to produce a comprehensive, accounts-based picture of the financial position of the UK public sector. WGA is based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the system of accounts used internationally by the private sector.
https://www.iasplus.com/en/standards/ias/ias37
IAS 37 says that some lcontingent liabilities should be on the books but not.
https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Evaluating-the-government-balance-sheet-provisions-contingent-liabilities-and-guarantees.pdf
So how can you make any decisions on our behalf when 11 trillion pounds of debts are left off the accounts?
What are the public accounts committee doing that they can’t tell 11 trillion pounds are left off the books?
What are the consequences of leaving those debts off?
What are the consequences of those debts?
For example inflation hit 3%. That’s 300 bn this year alone on the capital growth in the pension debts alone. Doens’t take into account accruals of more debts.
November 18, 2017
JR, I understand. Many of us are grateful for your time and patience. We hope it is a two way street: we vent our collective spleens; and you gain an average insight into the views of a large number of people.
Off topic: Art50 states that the leaving process takes two years (or less). Therefore the leave date limit is legally fixed by the TEU (Art50). Therefore any change to that date must be voted on by Parliament to comply with the Miller case decision. That is, a change to our rights (to Leave as specified) must have Parliamentary approval. Comments?
November 18, 2017
“a change to our rights (to Leave as specified) must have Parliamentary approval. “
Seems a reasonable point. But with the overwhelmingly remain majority in the House (despite their voting for A50 for self-preservation), they’d get it.
All amid the usual denials of trying to stop Brexit, of course.
November 18, 2017
Good afternoon
I have read, understood and accept your reasons for delaying posts. I genuinely appreciate the time, effort and the monies you put into this site. But what do not understand or cannot accept is why a post of mine which broke no rules got held up in moderation for 24 hours whilst Dennis Cooper’ s got waved through when he clearly made disparaging remarks to both named and unnamed persons. Yes my post was a little long, but no longer than his and it included both a link and was off topic.
I am sure you can appreciate my frustration.
Many thanks
November 18, 2017
Apologies John because I am as guilty as anyone else. I know this is a particularly busy time for you with everything that is going on in parliament right now, but the very future of our nation is at stake, and we need a forum in which to take these remainers on. If we don’t challenge them, they can get away with their lies and distortions.
I want to add though, that I will never write anything I can’t substantiate, and I’ll always use my own name so if anyone has any issues, they can take it up with me directly.
Tad
November 18, 2017
“…moderate this site, when I can spare a few minutes…You read faster than I do Gunga Din!
November 18, 2017
And a very good job you do of moderating it !
November 18, 2017
Pleased to read this. Short contributions are, in general, the best.
November 18, 2017
How about deleting repetitive off-topic or mostly off-topic posts; I believe this would be very popular.
November 18, 2017
The BBC (and now some Tory ministers) are trying to stoke up inter-generational hatred.
November 19, 2017
Lifelogic & Denis might be a bit miffed 🙂
November 20, 2017
If it is true then it is worth shouting from the roof tops!
November 20, 2017
Repetition may be necessary because some people are too dim to get the point first time. Although to be kinder they may not notice it first time.
November 18, 2017
Hope the above is short enough
November 18, 2017
Thank you for the clarification.
You probably have seen Paul Goodman’s article on reports about David Davis, in Conservative Home. Among other things he says:”The paper says that Davis is frustrated by the role that Jeremy Heywood and Oliver Robbins are now playing in drawing up Brexit policy for the Prime Minister in Downing Street. This is close to the mark. ”
This sounds alarming as the officials in question are said not to be fans of Brexit. I hope you have the chance to provide an assessment of the strength of the Remain movement in seeking to frustrate Brexit, or failing that, to water down and weaken the UK’s negotiating position. Who is providing the steel to the May backbone while others seek to turn it to jelly?
November 18, 2017
I understand your minister has given Scotland 1500 tons of the English fish quota after Brexit and maybe the North Sea area is to follow.
Is this true. I dare say you Mr Redwood will be able to investigate and as many others as are interested. Is this another betrayal of the English and England. There is no England Minister to speak and act for England. The other minor nations have been given this authority.
Unionists will never protect England. England always comes last.
November 18, 2017
Please can we have a post on why the Conservative Party is so against joining EFTA? I should be more than happy to contribute a post on why we should join it if you like.
Or not as the case may be.
All you have to is to e mail me and I’ll send it to you.
November 18, 2017
JR,
I can’t help feel that your diary and subsequent comments could/would be better served as a forum. Your posts tend to receive more replies than most popular internet forums.
A forum would allow you to delegate moderation to trusted aides, whilst giving you the ability to personally reply to any given submission. Whereas the comments section on wordpress tends to not scale very well in that regard.
This change could also allow additional local and national discussion separate from your daily posts and in the former could become a valuable resource for us, your constituents.
Whilst I seek no moderation ability I’m certainly happy to help make this happen if you consider it a good idea.
Rgds
ksb
November 19, 2017
This blog is unique and of a very high standard. I value the moderation being done personally by the owner. I don’t understand people getting upset about how he does that. It is his very own, and that is what is so special about it. I also don’t understand how he has time to do it all. But I am very grateful to him for it.
November 20, 2017
ksb, I agree with Rose, I have many posts held up in moderation, I don’t care. Get your own blog if you want freedom to post anything you want at any time you want to. We are guests, John reblogged out of a courtesy, if over many years he has become blog friends with several clearly knowledgeable posters whose views he respects why wouldn’t he be more confident to quickly republish their thoughts. I’m very grateful he moderates me, I wouldn’t want to get into personal trouble because I mis-spoke and John is much more of a professional diplomat than I. You should respect the work he does here for free if you don’t like it go post on other blogs who are more lackadaisical.
November 19, 2017
With respect ksb, like all of us we take people for granted. I recall someone on TV being extremely quarrelsome and personally rude to a very placid Bill Gates saying if he REALLY wished to help people he would redirect the billions he is giving away voluntarily from X to Y and Z.
Looking at JRs blog, being normal, I naturally tried to find one where you also get a free plastic toy. I couldn’t find one anywhere near as good as his..and no plastic toy dammit!
November 18, 2017
Radio 4’s comedy commissioner says the “News Quiz” programme is not a political, it’s comedy. If you’ve ever heard it you would know different.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5094695/BBC-accused-bias-stacking-Remainers.html
November 18, 2017
Appreciated!
November 19, 2017
The Chancellor is getting into driverless cars. I thought he and the Governor of the Bank of England were already in one
November 19, 2017
OK boys. Listen up.
If you were sitting in some hellhole and heard the land if milk and honey was over the channel, you’d go for it.
Yes. Their beliefs are wrong but who is behind all this ?
Start looking at the bigger picture . Please.
( Love the view counts )
November 22, 2017
Are you trying to give me a heart attack ????