Opening line o' the day
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
From the Gray Lady herself, the New York Times:
"A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of Socialism’s slow collapse".
Cheering, no?
"A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of Socialism’s slow collapse".
Cheering, no?
Here comes a civil war for the French Left
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Martine 'daughter of Jacques Delors' Aubry won the leadership of the French Socialist party in November last year. Our old friend, the perhaps highly strung Ségolène Royal did not take it very well at the time, and appeared something of a sore loser. At the time I wondered (if not aloud, it would seem) if she would stalk off in a hissy fit and start a Ségo Party, but noted this:
Anyway, the two French hacks are alleging full blown Kennedy Chicago-style electoral malpractice in favour of La Aubry in her Lille fiefdom: "Lille was not an isolated case in the North and certain anonymous sources estimate the extent of the fraud as up to 1,000 votes in favour of Aubry".
So, Ségo says this: "It was known that there had been fraud, but not so systematically or to such an extent”. “I think that this cannot be allowed to stand - for the sake of the activists who voted, for public opinion, for the French, for the principle of democracy, for morality in politics”. So, she's not shrugging it off, shall we say. Never knowingly under melodramatic is La Ségo.
Aubry's spokesbod says the book is 'cut and paste job of things already said, already written'. Fabius is backing Aubry. One should note that Aubry is very much a party insider, and Royal a comparative outsider. Feel free to draw parallels with past Labour leadership contests.
Soo, if the French left was in a mess before hand, now it may well be heading for meltdown.
"Most native conspiracy theorists have tired of banging on about the 2000 US Presidential election, so maybe they can switch their attentions to the shenanigans among their fellow travellers on the other side of the Channel.And now a couple of French journos have published a book called 'Hold Ups, Arnaques et Trahisons', which I'm going to render as '..Swindles and Treacheries'. Nice cover too:
Given that Sego lost by all of 42 votes to Martine Aubry, I suppose it was unrealistic to think that Madame Poitou Charente would accept defeat with anything other than her usual gracelessness and peevishness. Anyway, both camps have evidence of 'irregularities' in the voting so this one could run and run, generating huge amounts of amusement for the rest of us, and - with any luck - end up in a split in the PS.".
Anyway, the two French hacks are alleging full blown Kennedy Chicago-style electoral malpractice in favour of La Aubry in her Lille fiefdom: "Lille was not an isolated case in the North and certain anonymous sources estimate the extent of the fraud as up to 1,000 votes in favour of Aubry".So, Ségo says this: "It was known that there had been fraud, but not so systematically or to such an extent”. “I think that this cannot be allowed to stand - for the sake of the activists who voted, for public opinion, for the French, for the principle of democracy, for morality in politics”. So, she's not shrugging it off, shall we say. Never knowingly under melodramatic is La Ségo.
Aubry's spokesbod says the book is 'cut and paste job of things already said, already written'. Fabius is backing Aubry. One should note that Aubry is very much a party insider, and Royal a comparative outsider. Feel free to draw parallels with past Labour leadership contests.
Soo, if the French left was in a mess before hand, now it may well be heading for meltdown.
The things they say...
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A footnote in an article in The 'graph to the 'left-of-centre thinking' at the BBC furore:
How, in God's name, did he or she keep a straight face when saying that? On the upside, if one instance of something can prove or disprove a thesis, I look forward to pointing to the next piece of BBC left wingery and thus 'proving it has a left wing bias'....
"A BBC source said that executives believed that their casting of Boris Johnson, the Conservative Mayor of London, in an episode of EastEnders, proved that they did not have a left-wing bias".
How, in God's name, did he or she keep a straight face when saying that? On the upside, if one instance of something can prove or disprove a thesis, I look forward to pointing to the next piece of BBC left wingery and thus 'proving it has a left wing bias'....
Labels: Boris the Great, Media, The arts, the Left
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now...
Saturday, July 11, 2009From the Unite website:
"Unite, the UK’s largest union, is preparing to ballot its members at the Guardian Print Centre (GPC) for industrial action over the company’s proposals to make a quarter of the staff redundant.
"Unite, the UK’s largest union, is preparing to ballot its members at the Guardian Print Centre (GPC) for industrial action over the company’s proposals to make a quarter of the staff redundant.
Industrial action at GPC, based in London's Docklands, would halt the printing of the Guardian newspaper in the south of England".
What will the latte left do if its house journal is printed by scabs?
Labels: adding to the gaiety of the nation, the Left, Unions
The Hansard Trawl, featuring misbehaving sheep and leftie hoisted by his own petard
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Could this be the euphemism of the decade?
Who let that duck in....
Sticking with furry creatures and similar, this headline - Sheep: Tagging - made me wonder if ovines are defacing barn doors with 'Ban mint sauce', 'sheep rule' or whatever. Alas not.
And now this from Jeremy Corbyn:
Someone who has spent as long on the wilder shores of the left as Corbyn should be well aware that it is deeply racist etc etc to define ethnicity in terms of normative whiteness. More here...
Odd question o' the day:
"Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of intensive livestock farming on climate change; and if he will make a statement.
Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA has commissioned a number of studies, some of which are ongoing, to assess the environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from several agricultural commodities throughout their lifecycle.
Who let that duck in....
Sticking with furry creatures and similar, this headline - Sheep: Tagging - made me wonder if ovines are defacing barn doors with 'Ban mint sauce', 'sheep rule' or whatever. Alas not.
And now this from Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what percentage of (a) white and (b) non-white staff of his Department of each (i) grade and (ii) pay band have received the highest performance marking in each reporting year since the inception of Department for Transport (central).
Someone who has spent as long on the wilder shores of the left as Corbyn should be well aware that it is deeply racist etc etc to define ethnicity in terms of normative whiteness. More here...
Odd question o' the day:
Joan Ryan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many road fatalities there have been in each parliamentary constituency in Greater London in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
And the figures are in, and it is Mark Field of the Cities of London and Westminster who would have been sending the most (18) condolences last year, followed by Andrew Dismore of Hendon (11). No other constituency saw double figures. Paul Burstow of Sutton and Cheam can be happy that no-one has died on the roads in his seat in the last five years. Good for the road users there. Down here in sunny Croydon, Central has the worst record over five years (19), and South the best (9). Nice typo here - 'Hoi born and St. Pancras'. I may as well make the traditional reference to Dobson as the member for the two tube stations.
If ever a question deserved the 'disproportionate response' answer it is this one:
The answer is about as boilerplate as they come:
And as for this - 'The Security Service Act 1989 sets out its functions and prohibits it doing anything in furtherance of the interests of a political party. It does not investigate anyone for being a member of a campaigning organisation' - I do not believe it.
If ever a question deserved the 'disproportionate response' answer it is this one:
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of water consumption on his Department’s office estate in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07, (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff.Mr. Kevan Jones: It will take more time to collate and verify the information required to answer the question. I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
James Paice, our man in SE Cambs does not appear to be in the pay of the water barons, by the way. Jones was true to his word, and followed up with figures of 86 m3 in 2005-6 and 84 m3 in 2006-7.
Is the feline out of the satchel?:
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what activities have been undertaken by his Department’s Euro Minister in that capacity. [277178]
Mr. Woolas: A Home Office Minister has not attended any meetings on the Euro since 2007 and there are no plans to do so.
Good job too.
And over in the Lords, who feels a proper charlie now:
Lord Tyler: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to reply to the Question for Written Answer tabled by Lord Tyler on 6 May (HL3404) and due for answer by 20 May. [HL4571]
Lord Pearson may be a little paranoid:
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 10 June (WA 151), whether the Security Service has been or is active inside or towards the United Kingdom Independence Party or any of its members.To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 10 June (WA 151), whether the security services or the police have collaborated or are collaborating with the European Anti-Fraud Office or any other organ of the European Union in relation to the United Kingdom Independence Party or any of its members. [HL4591]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Security Service has investigated or is engaged with the United Kingdom Independence Party.
The answer is about as boilerplate as they come:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The established policy of successive Governments is not to comment on questions about Security Service investigations.Well, they would say that, wouldn't they?
And as for this - 'The Security Service Act 1989 sets out its functions and prohibits it doing anything in furtherance of the interests of a political party. It does not investigate anyone for being a member of a campaigning organisation' - I do not believe it.
Labels: Croydon, fun with statistics, racial minefields, the Left
The Guardian performs a major public service for the nation's drinkers
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
It has, in its doubtful wisdom, hit upon what it considers to be the nation's 200 finest pubs. I'm not my stomach is up to calculating what these people look for in an 'ale' house.
And so, courtesy of the map, I can be confident that I can drink anywhere for miles North, South, East or West of Croydonian Towers, without the place being infested with its readership, as apparently there are no decent hosteries between Herne Hill and Richmond in the 'North' all the way down to Dorking and Crawley in the 'South'.
You too can ascertain whether your drinking pleasure will risk being interrupted by Guardianistas by having a damned good click on its map.
And so, courtesy of the map, I can be confident that I can drink anywhere for miles North, South, East or West of Croydonian Towers, without the place being infested with its readership, as apparently there are no decent hosteries between Herne Hill and Richmond in the 'North' all the way down to Dorking and Crawley in the 'South'.
You too can ascertain whether your drinking pleasure will risk being interrupted by Guardianistas by having a damned good click on its map.
Labels: the demon drink, the Left
Something to look forward to in 2012.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
No, not the World's Largest Outdoor Steroid Abuse Fest.
From Le Figaro:
"The Socialist Party could not withstand another defeat in a Presidential election". "If that happened, the party could disappear. It might even be desirable".
A consummation devoutly to be wished.... However, I do think that they are being rather wet, as the loathsome Mitterand waited out a Gaullist hegemony from 1954 until 1981 when he took the Elysee himself.
From Le Figaro:
"The Socialist Party could not withstand another defeat in a Presidential election". "If that happened, the party could disappear. It might even be desirable".
A consummation devoutly to be wished.... However, I do think that they are being rather wet, as the loathsome Mitterand waited out a Gaullist hegemony from 1954 until 1981 when he took the Elysee himself.
Those open-minded Democrats.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
A mildly interesting set of research findings from Pew on the 2008 Presidential election campaing, revolving around news sources and so forth, with this the stand out:
"Percentage who usually seek out political information online from sites that share their point of view".
All online political users - 33%
Democrats - 44%
Republicans - 35%
Independent - 22%
Well, of course, it is we on the Right who have closed minds, eh?
"Percentage who usually seek out political information online from sites that share their point of view".
All online political users - 33%
Democrats - 44%
Republicans - 35%
Independent - 22%
Well, of course, it is we on the Right who have closed minds, eh?
The other jaw dropper is that apparently 4% of voters 'shared their experiences at the polls by commenting on someone's website or blog', and two per cent blogged themselves. Crikey.
Labels: the Left, United States
Headline o' the day
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
From Serb daily Blic:
Well knock me down with the integumentary appendage of a columbiforme...
(The detail actually concerns a reduction in the number of ministries, but never mind)
Well knock me down with the integumentary appendage of a columbiforme...
(The detail actually concerns a reduction in the number of ministries, but never mind)
Socialists for gerrymandering
Monday, April 13, 2009French Socialists are less than happy at the prospect of a new constituency map for France that will better reflect current demographic realities rather than previous ones. As with this great nation of ours, changes in constituencies rarely keep track with the pace of demographic change, and just like here, redistricting would favour the right, reflecting the depopulation of sundry Socialist fiefdoms. The rather unlikely figure of 577 is the sacré numéro for deputies, with much of the rebalancing involving seats for overseas and DOM/TOM French, at the expense of the 'mainland'.
However, while our own dear Labour party may not particularly like the work of the Boundary Commission when it works against it (any more than would the Tories, LDs or come to that, Kidderminster Hospital Concern if in the same position), there is at least some recognition that equal constituency sizes are an important part of a tolerably fair democracy.
Meanwhile, if current plans Outre Manche go ahead, the Socialists would lose 23 deputies and the Gaullists nine. And what are they calling this? 'An attack on democracy', in the reckoning of Pierre Moscovici, National Secretary of the PS, and inevitably yet another Enarque. His reaction is merely the most over the top, with others denoucing 'meddling', 'a manifest lack of impartiality' etc etc.
While I would accept that it would perhaps exhibit better govenance to have a greater degree of distance between constituency mappers and government, the figures on population by département are indisputable facts on the ground, no matter how much rankly hypocritical grandstanding Moscovici enages in.
Anyway, what's the French for Old Sarum?
However, while our own dear Labour party may not particularly like the work of the Boundary Commission when it works against it (any more than would the Tories, LDs or come to that, Kidderminster Hospital Concern if in the same position), there is at least some recognition that equal constituency sizes are an important part of a tolerably fair democracy.
Meanwhile, if current plans Outre Manche go ahead, the Socialists would lose 23 deputies and the Gaullists nine. And what are they calling this? 'An attack on democracy', in the reckoning of Pierre Moscovici, National Secretary of the PS, and inevitably yet another Enarque. His reaction is merely the most over the top, with others denoucing 'meddling', 'a manifest lack of impartiality' etc etc.
While I would accept that it would perhaps exhibit better govenance to have a greater degree of distance between constituency mappers and government, the figures on population by département are indisputable facts on the ground, no matter how much rankly hypocritical grandstanding Moscovici enages in.
Anyway, what's the French for Old Sarum?
Labels: France, hypocrites, the Left
Howling into a vacuum
Thursday, April 02, 2009Over at the TUC's site, they have a message for the G20, which I do not doubt the Masters of the Universe have been waiting on with bated breath:
"Gordon Brown and his fellow G20 leaders must agree an overhaul of the global economy to promote jobs, justice and climate (sic) when they meet today (Thursday) in London, according to Put People First, an unprecedented alliance of more than 160 unions, development, environment and faith groups".
I rather like the idea of promoting climate. It is a bit like promoting gravity.
"Gordon Brown and his fellow G20 leaders must agree an overhaul of the global economy to promote jobs, justice and climate (sic) when they meet today (Thursday) in London, according to Put People First, an unprecedented alliance of more than 160 unions, development, environment and faith groups".
I rather like the idea of promoting climate. It is a bit like promoting gravity.
There's plenty of economically sub-literate bilge in the statement, and I would not want to waste pixels repeating it, but just take in this list of signatories:
"ActionAid, Action for Global Climate Community, ACTSA, Advocacy International, Akina Mama Wa Africa, AMREF UK, ATL, Avaaz, BECTU, BOND, Bretton Woods Project, CAFOD, Centre for Democracy and Development, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Change is Coming, Christian Aid, Compass, Concern Worldwide (UK), Co-operative News, Connect, Dalit Solidarity Network UK, Defend Council Housing, Engineers Against Poverty, Equity, Everychild, Fairtrade Foundation, Fatima Women's Network, Find Your Feet, Fire Brigades Union, Friends of the Earth, GardenAfrica, Global Call to Action Against Poverty, GMB, Green New Deal Group, Greenpeace, HelpAge International, Jubilee Debt Campaign, Lattitude, Merlin, Micah Challenge UK, MRDF, Musicians Union, Muslim Council of Britain, NASUWT, National Union of Journalists, National Union of Teachers, NEF, New Internationalist, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, One World Action, Oxfam, Pants to Poverty, PCS, People and Planet, Progressio, Prospect, Red Pepper, RMT, Salvation Army, Save the Children, Shelter, Stamp Out Poverty, STOP AIDS Campaign, Stop Climate Chaos, Synergy Centre, Tax Justice Network, Teach a Man to Fish, Tearfund, Thirty-eight degrees, Tourism Concern, Trade Justice Movement, Trades Union Congress, Trading Visions, Traidcraft, Transnational Institute, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, UCU, UK Aid Network, UNISON, UNITE, Usdaw, VSO, War on Want, Womankind Worldwide, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, World Development Movement, World Vision, WWF".
Stopped sniggering yet?
As if the British pensions system wasn't stuffed already
Monday, January 19, 2009then the TUC and a group of bien pensants want to complete the taxidermy.
"The TUC, MPs and leading figures from the pensions and investment industry (none of whom are exactly householf names, I might note) are today urging the Government, institutional investors and fund managers to back a series of proposals on responsible investment to help address the practices that contributed to the current financial crisis".
And how do they propose to do this?
"The statement calls for pension funds to insert a 'do no harm' clause into their statement of investment principles".
And
"The statement also calls on institutional investors to sign up to the United Nations- backed Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI). The principles set out commitments for investors on engagement around corporate governance, environmental and social performance".
This is part of the gloss at the PRI site: "We also recognise that applying these Principles may better align investors with broader objectives of society".
And who, I wonder, defines those? They could not possibly be modish left wing causes, could they? Signatories from these parts include the BBC pension fund, Haringey and Merseyside councils and Co-Op financial services. Draw your own conclusions, I know what mine are.
If memory serves, some time back a comparison was drawn between a theoretical 'unethical' portfolio of shares in arms manufacturers, alcohol and tobacco barons etc and a portfolio of 'ethical' companies - mung bean vendors, health food stores and so forth, and the former kicked backsides and took names.
I consider the duty of my pension provider to focus on maximising my retirement fund, and so long as what they do is legal, I do not care how they go about it.
"The TUC, MPs and leading figures from the pensions and investment industry (none of whom are exactly householf names, I might note) are today urging the Government, institutional investors and fund managers to back a series of proposals on responsible investment to help address the practices that contributed to the current financial crisis".
And how do they propose to do this?
"The statement calls for pension funds to insert a 'do no harm' clause into their statement of investment principles".
And
"The statement also calls on institutional investors to sign up to the United Nations- backed Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI). The principles set out commitments for investors on engagement around corporate governance, environmental and social performance".
This is part of the gloss at the PRI site: "We also recognise that applying these Principles may better align investors with broader objectives of society".
And who, I wonder, defines those? They could not possibly be modish left wing causes, could they? Signatories from these parts include the BBC pension fund, Haringey and Merseyside councils and Co-Op financial services. Draw your own conclusions, I know what mine are.
If memory serves, some time back a comparison was drawn between a theoretical 'unethical' portfolio of shares in arms manufacturers, alcohol and tobacco barons etc and a portfolio of 'ethical' companies - mung bean vendors, health food stores and so forth, and the former kicked backsides and took names.
I consider the duty of my pension provider to focus on maximising my retirement fund, and so long as what they do is legal, I do not care how they go about it.
Thieving Socialists
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Putting wealth redistribution into practice has caught on with members of the staff of the NZ Labour party:
"Labour leader Phil Goff is not happy with the activities of some of his party's younger staffers.
One person has been arrested and enquiries are continuing regarding several others, after they allegedly stole several boxes of wine from the press gallery's end of year Christmas party last night".
Wine boxes. Honestly.
Mind you, our own dear Prime Minister has counselled comparable action in the past: ""This book was edited by Gordon Brown when he was a student in the 1970s at Edinburgh University. It is entitled Alternative Edinburgh and was penned at the time when Brown was a socialist student leader - it is full of suggestions of how to live in Edinburgh for next to nothing!...my favourite one is how to turn up at a party without bringing a bottle with you - so what do you do... you bring a carrier bag of empty cans and put two half-bricks in the bottom of it to weight it down".
Labels: the demon drink, the Left
A counterpart to the BNP shenanigans of the other week
Friday, December 05, 2008From The Korea Herald (for once I am quoting from the South Korean press, although DPRK fans can expect more from there later):
"Conservative civic groups yesterday disclosed the names of some 5,000 members of a progressive teachers union in Seoul, in a bid to tame what they call biased education and leftist activism.
"Conservative civic groups yesterday disclosed the names of some 5,000 members of a progressive teachers union in Seoul, in a bid to tame what they call biased education and leftist activism.
The Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union reacted angrily, suggesting it may take a legal action, as the move possibly violates privacy and libels its members..."KTU teachers' biased education and actions that are inappropriate for teachers are one of the reasons the education sector is so troubled," the People's Coalition Against Antinational Education said yesterday at a press conference".
Not wanting an affiliation in the public domain and being ashamed of it are not one and the same, are they?
Labels: South Korea, the Left
The trouble with not taking the EU seriously
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Unnoticed in these parts, the Party of European Socialists, to which our own dear Labour party subscribes, has just published its manifesto, or 'manifiesto', as they are calling it in Madrid. The gestation period, rather amusingly, was nine months. As Martin Schulz, head of the PES put it, "It is a question of creating a common front to resist neoliberalism and to again give hope to citizens".
Most of the Euro Left sent along the heavy hitters to thrash out the manifesto or at least to add their names to it - Zapatero, Martine Aubry, Münterfering (the SPD's head honcho), Socrates (the Portuguese PM), Ferenc Gyurcsány (the Magyar PM) etc etc etc. The full list is here. And who spoke for our own DLP? Miliband? Brown? Nope, someone called 'Carolin Flint'. Who is a minister of state, rather than a cabinet minister, and at the risk of being ungallant, cannot be considered to be in the same league as the names just reeled off. Maybe Brown was just too busy to hang out with his comrades.
Anyway, onward:
"For the past five years, the conservatives have had a majority in Europe - in most EU Member States and in the EU institutions. What have they done with it? Did they tackle the global financial crisis? Did they address rising food and energy prices? Have they fought poverty and inequalities? Is society fairer than it was five years ago? Did they support our initiatives to deliver more and better jobs?"
Know anyone in these parts who might choke on his kippers reading that?
And there's more. Much, much more:
Limits are also needed on top executive pay and bonuses.
We must ensure that workers have full rights to information and consultation during all takeovers.
We propose to strengthen workers’ rights to information and consultation. Employee participation at European and global level is a key issue for the future - a vital element of a more social Europe and a precondition for decent work. We will seek to enhance participation in economic decision-making processes at European level. To do this, workers’ rights to information and consultation must be anchored in company law directives using the European Company Statute model and the rights of European Works Councils must be extended. We also want to foster greater social dialogue between unions and employers at European level
and extend it to more sectors.
Bye bye funding from big business.
We will act in all EU member states to promote fair (sic) tax policies, which will guarantee the financing of Europe’s welfare states.
45% is just a starting point...
All other climate legislation should also be adapted to meet the 30% emissions reduction target.
We propose to introduce improved parental leave rights for men and women across Europe up to the highest standards in Europe.
Swedish model, anyone?
New, innovative sources of financing are needed in addition to delivering existing European aid commitments - notably, attributing at least 0.7%of Gross National Income to development policy - in a more coordinated, efficient and targeted way.
We propose to address the global food crisis by working to prevent further
760 speculation on food prices
In among the bombshells there are some world class outbreaks of flannel too:
We will address the problems related to brain drain created by the migration of highly-qualified professionals and skilled workers within Europe and from third countries into Europe.
We propose that the EU actively promotes an Alliance of Civilisations through the United Nations, strengthening dialogue and partnership between peoples and cultures as a means to enhance world peace and security.
We support the reform of the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council, as well as the revision of the decision-making process, mandate and functioning of the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and the regional banks, and the International Monetary Fund. The allocation of voting rights in the IMF must better reflect the interests of developing countries, particularly the poorest amongst them.
Good job that is way, way outside its area of competence, frankly.
We will continue to build a strong transatlantic partnership with the new Democratic leadership of the United States of America.
Pick up the nuance there?
Anyway, don't say I didn't warn you.
Most of the Euro Left sent along the heavy hitters to thrash out the manifesto or at least to add their names to it - Zapatero, Martine Aubry, Münterfering (the SPD's head honcho), Socrates (the Portuguese PM), Ferenc Gyurcsány (the Magyar PM) etc etc etc. The full list is here. And who spoke for our own DLP? Miliband? Brown? Nope, someone called 'Carolin Flint'. Who is a minister of state, rather than a cabinet minister, and at the risk of being ungallant, cannot be considered to be in the same league as the names just reeled off. Maybe Brown was just too busy to hang out with his comrades.
Anyway, onward:
"For the past five years, the conservatives have had a majority in Europe - in most EU Member States and in the EU institutions. What have they done with it? Did they tackle the global financial crisis? Did they address rising food and energy prices? Have they fought poverty and inequalities? Is society fairer than it was five years ago? Did they support our initiatives to deliver more and better jobs?"
Know anyone in these parts who might choke on his kippers reading that?
And there's more. Much, much more:
Limits are also needed on top executive pay and bonuses.
We must ensure that workers have full rights to information and consultation during all takeovers.
We propose to strengthen workers’ rights to information and consultation. Employee participation at European and global level is a key issue for the future - a vital element of a more social Europe and a precondition for decent work. We will seek to enhance participation in economic decision-making processes at European level. To do this, workers’ rights to information and consultation must be anchored in company law directives using the European Company Statute model and the rights of European Works Councils must be extended. We also want to foster greater social dialogue between unions and employers at European level
and extend it to more sectors.
Bye bye funding from big business.
We will act in all EU member states to promote fair (sic) tax policies, which will guarantee the financing of Europe’s welfare states.
45% is just a starting point...
All other climate legislation should also be adapted to meet the 30% emissions reduction target.
We propose to introduce improved parental leave rights for men and women across Europe up to the highest standards in Europe.
Swedish model, anyone?
New, innovative sources of financing are needed in addition to delivering existing European aid commitments - notably, attributing at least 0.7%of Gross National Income to development policy - in a more coordinated, efficient and targeted way.
We propose to address the global food crisis by working to prevent further
760 speculation on food prices
In among the bombshells there are some world class outbreaks of flannel too:
We will address the problems related to brain drain created by the migration of highly-qualified professionals and skilled workers within Europe and from third countries into Europe.
We propose that the EU actively promotes an Alliance of Civilisations through the United Nations, strengthening dialogue and partnership between peoples and cultures as a means to enhance world peace and security.
We support the reform of the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council, as well as the revision of the decision-making process, mandate and functioning of the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and the regional banks, and the International Monetary Fund. The allocation of voting rights in the IMF must better reflect the interests of developing countries, particularly the poorest amongst them.
Good job that is way, way outside its area of competence, frankly.
We will continue to build a strong transatlantic partnership with the new Democratic leadership of the United States of America.
Pick up the nuance there?
Anyway, don't say I didn't warn you.
Labels: Elections, EU fun and games, the Left
When philosophy professors go rogue
Friday, November 07, 2008My old chum Ségolène Royal is well placed to be the new head honchetta of the French Socialists, so doubtless electoral oblivion and toe-curling embarrassment awaits them. So far so hum drum.
A rather more interesting side effect is that Senator Jean-Luc Mélenchon and his faithful Sancho Panza, Marc Dolez have resigned from the PS in an epic fit of pique and are going to create a new movement 'that will not compromise with the right'. Which is nice. By my reckoning French political parties are essentially the ego projections of individuals rather than organisations based on much by way of principle, and furthermore they are woefully unimaginative when it comes to names.
Anyway, enough of the tiresome background details, and on with the far-fetched parallels:
Mélenchon is a philosopher, and the only other academic philosopher I can think of who ever decided to get a little more muscular with his political philosophy is Abimael Guzman - El Presidente Gonzago, El Sol Rojo de Perú - of the Sendero Luminoso or Shining Path.
Soo, perhaps Mélenchon will decide to raise a peasant insurrection - le chemin brillant? - in his Senatorial home of Essonne, although this being the Paris 'burbs etc, I do not think it is ideal territory.
A rather more interesting side effect is that Senator Jean-Luc Mélenchon and his faithful Sancho Panza, Marc Dolez have resigned from the PS in an epic fit of pique and are going to create a new movement 'that will not compromise with the right'. Which is nice. By my reckoning French political parties are essentially the ego projections of individuals rather than organisations based on much by way of principle, and furthermore they are woefully unimaginative when it comes to names.
Anyway, enough of the tiresome background details, and on with the far-fetched parallels:
Mélenchon is a philosopher, and the only other academic philosopher I can think of who ever decided to get a little more muscular with his political philosophy is Abimael Guzman - El Presidente Gonzago, El Sol Rojo de Perú - of the Sendero Luminoso or Shining Path.
Soo, perhaps Mélenchon will decide to raise a peasant insurrection - le chemin brillant? - in his Senatorial home of Essonne, although this being the Paris 'burbs etc, I do not think it is ideal territory.
Labels: facetiousness, France, South America, the Left
Would Kinnock quit Labour if a Miliband led it?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008Apologies for the somewhat misleading headline, but who would bother reading this if I headlined it 'Old French Socialist doesn't think much of one his successors'?
Michel Rocard, one time French PM ('88-91) and not altogether bad egg despite being a Socialist does not think much of Ségolène Royal (you and me both, pal)and is near as damn it threatening to leave the party if she is elected its leader, commenting thus when asked if he would leave if she took the laurels :
"Next year I will mark my 60th year in the party. I put up with all of it: the Algerian war, the treachery of Guy Mollet (1), the lunacy of the first nationalisations of the 80s which only just failed to bring the economy to its knees. One has put up with a lot".Michel Rocard, one time French PM ('88-91) and not altogether bad egg despite being a Socialist does not think much of Ségolène Royal (you and me both, pal)and is near as damn it threatening to leave the party if she is elected its leader, commenting thus when asked if he would leave if she took the laurels :
He is perhaps too gallant to note that he was de facto sacked by the loathsome Mitterand only to be replaced by the staggeringly incompetent Édith Cresson, a woman often alleged to have been Le Sphinx's mistress.
(1) - Mollet suggested merging the UK and France, but I don't think it is that that has piqued Rocard. He is, I suppose, the nearest thing the French Socialists have to Ramsay MacDonald as a hate figure.
The death of Socialism, Israeli division
Monday, October 27, 2008
In news to gladden the heart, the Israeli Labor party is likely to secure all of 11 Knesset seats out of 120 at the next election. Its high-water mark was 63 in '68.
Were those conditions to apply in these parts, Brown would be commanding some 59 MPs, making it a little weaker than the Lib Dems are at present.
Were those conditions to apply in these parts, Brown would be commanding some 59 MPs, making it a little weaker than the Lib Dems are at present.
'Sarkozy, you are in the process of getting closer to socialism. Welcome to the club'
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Mot my words, but those of Hugo Chavez.
If Sarko does not administer a stout rebuff to the Venezuelan thug I will be 'disappointed'.
If Sarko does not administer a stout rebuff to the Venezuelan thug I will be 'disappointed'.
Labels: France, South America, the Left
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