Postings to this site

It am in receipt of unpleasant and false allegations Ā because I refused to post someoneā€™s opinion on allegations about an MPā€™s conduct. This site does not run stories about MPs alleged personal failings because I do not study them and do not wish to get dragged into legal disputes about what someone did or did not say or do. If you do not like that do not come onto this site with your unpleasant remarks. I am also daily sent the same allegations about billionaires influence. I have commented on that in general terms and am not going to pursue allegations about named business people for the same reasons.

29 Comments

  1. SM
    December 21, 2022

    “The moderator reserves the sole right to decide whether to publish or not” – odd how often visitors to this site overlook that important line, nor do they realise or remember that Sir John is his own moderator.

  2. THUTCH
    December 21, 2022

    Well said Sir John. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

  3. Robert P Bywater
    December 21, 2022

    Sir John
    I support you all the way on that. You are a beacon of propriety and common sense.
    I don’t always agree with all you say but I defend until *their* death your right to free speech..

  4. Nottingham Lad Himself
    December 21, 2022

    Sorry to hear that Sir John.

    However, your site has repeatedly posted comments citing, say, Labour MPs use of private education or connection with trade unions as “personal failing”s, so your policy remains unclear to me.

    reply I decline to post allegations about personal conduct of Labour MPs

    1. Peter2
      December 21, 2022

      If you say you want to abolish the freedom for people to pay for private education whilst quietly sending your own family to private schools or you have had the advantage of going to such schools yourself then I think your hypocrisy should be exposed NHL

      1. Nottingham Lad Himself
        December 21, 2022

        Name a person who has said and done that.

        1. Narrow Shoulders
          December 22, 2022

          A previous shadow home secretary for one.

        2. Mickey Taking
          December 22, 2022

          A certain female with poor grasp of arithmetic. As our host insists – no names, no pack drill.

        3. a-tracy
          December 22, 2022

          Diane Abbot sent her son to private school.
          Jeremy Corbyn went to a private school.
          29 Nov 2022 ā€” Sir Keir Starmer has recommitted to Jeremy Corbyn’s policy of scrapping the charitable status of independent schools.

          1. Peter2
            December 22, 2022

            Thank you Tracy.
            And there are other examples.
            I was astonished at NHL’s lack of knowledge.

    2. Narrow Shoulders
      December 22, 2022

      Notts Chap – you repeatedly demonstrate your inability to determine between truth and supposition when presenting the case you advocate.

      Allegations and anecdote are not the same beast.

  5. margaret
    December 21, 2022

    oh come on John , you cannot say that money doesn’t have influence.!

    1. Nottingham Lad Himself
      December 21, 2022

      That is why more successful democracies often place strict and very modest limits on the amount that any single legal person – that includes businesses – may donate to any political party.

      1. Peter2
        December 21, 2022

        Which more successful democracies are you thinking about NHL
        And why should I be refused my right to spend my money as I wish?

      2. Mickey Taking
        December 21, 2022

        Pity that doesn’t apply in China, Russia, N.Korea, USA.

      3. SM
        December 22, 2022

        NLH, so they learned lessons from Ramsay MacDonald, who accepted a Ā£40,000 ‘loan’ (now worth Ā£1 3/4 million) from a local Scots businessman, who was then ennobled?

      4. a-tracy
        December 22, 2022

        What’s a modest donation! Is nearly half a million Ā£ from a Chinese donor ok? What about Ā£2.15m?

  6. RDM
    December 21, 2022

    You didn’t finish your sentence, no doubt thinking of how to be Polite?

    ” If you do not like that do not come onto this site with your unpleasant remarks.”

    I would have finished with;

    then, Please refrain from using the site (AKA; Sod off!).

    And, that’s my Polite version (Aaa,… you didn’t know I could be Polite, did you?).

    RDM.

  7. R.Grange
    December 21, 2022

    That seems fair. Though I don’t know the details of what’s being referred to, it must be right to protect a site from getting embroiled in legal issues over personal allegations.

    That said, I see a difference between insinuations about MPs’ personal failings, and criticising the political influence of billionaires. Especially when the billionaires in question make no secret that they want to change society according to their ideological beliefs. If it’s their influence that is being criticised in comments, I don’t see why the comments should be moderated out.

    1. Mark B
      December 22, 2022

      Our kind host sets the topic of the day to be discussed. It is usually polite to keep to the script and, when going off-topic, only doing so because there is something that may be of general interest.

      The only thing that irks me is, when I do stay on topic and within the rules I still get moderated despite others breaking them and having multiple, and long posts, allowed through, some complete with links etc

      1. R.Grange
        December 22, 2022

        True enough, Mark, though certain billionaire ‘philanthropists’ bring their money and influence to bear on quite a wide range of topics of general interest.

    2. Donna
      December 22, 2022

      Agreed.

      There is a considerable difference between MPs’ personal conduct, however inappropriate and hypocritical it may be, and the control and influence which some billionaires are buying over Supra-National and Governmental Institutions in order to impose their own Agenda on the world’s population.

  8. John
    December 21, 2022

    Good for you.

  9. Ian B
    December 21, 2022

    Sir John – I appreciate you providing this outlet for all views. Just amazed at your energy and dedication to service of the Country on so many levels.
    Without the views from every direction we donā€™t move forward.

    Thank you..

    1. ukretired123
      December 22, 2022

      +1 Merry Christmas SJR a a true Brit and gentleman who lives up to his Knighthood and MP like no other in his efforts to bring sensible ideas and ideals of his voters to Westminster and government despite many deaf ears.

  10. Chris S
    December 21, 2022

    Quite right.
    If someone wants to make allegations of a personal nature about anyone, they should go to the appropriate authorities. Trying to smeer one MP via another is completely unacceptable.
    I suspect the MP in this case will be from another party, but, tempting as it would be, you are absolutely right in refusing to become involved.

  11. Julian Flood
    December 22, 2022

    Sir John, by not publishing posts from those obsessed with pointing the finger at individuals they believe are manipulating world politics, you are driving them to other platforms – they pop up all over the place. This suggests that there is a market which needs to be serviced.

    My new blog, itstherosycross.com, is the new go-to meeting place for those who have connected the visit of James VI to Royston on his way to be crowned as James I, the mysterious symbols in the strange cave at the centre of Royston, and the fivepetalled grave marker at Therfield church. This should ease the load.

    JF
    (Seriously, thank you for a blog that makes sense of the mistakes being made by those who should know better. Merry Christmas.)

  12. Rhoddas
    December 22, 2022

    Despite all, a very merry Xmas Sir J.

    Perhaps you could comment/ask your contributors re the feasibility of some form of Russian tax (say, both imports & exports) whereby monies are collected then held in a fund to support the Ukrainian people at this horrific time. For their humanitarian needs including generators.

    A ‘Warmonger’s Tax’ in essence… how might it be setup via G7/G20?

    Early thoughts… I feel there needs to be a firmer financial basis to avoid the Despot figuring on Western donor fatigue; my view is to make Russia pay and visibly. Welcome sage comments.

  13. Berkshire Alan
    December 23, 2022

    Fully appreciate that this site is read, and comments can be made from anywhere in the World, (which is what makes this site such a great discussion forum) but surely it is pointless to write to JR on a personal basis, and expect a response, when he is not your own MP.
    The whole idea of our political system is for Mp’s to only be responsible to their own constituents, unless they are a minister if some sort with wider responsibilities.
    Probably sad, but this is my first port of call (with a cup of tea) after scanning the News headlines
    Thanks JR for providing such a forum, and for sharing your insight and thoughts on a daily basis, and for giving us the opportunity to comment on a whole range of topics.
    Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas and New Year !
    Can only hope things get better for all of us over the coming year, and that some of the policies you advocate become a reality.

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