Your Business? None Of Your Business

I'm buggered if I can find it in the mire of Wordpress, but Leg-Iron once wrote at length about why you should never issue an apology to the righteous. They see it as a weakness and will use it against you. And he is quite correct.

Sure as night follows day, once the precedent has been set that government can dictate what is allowed to be permitted in a pub, the next step will be to tell the pub exactly how to progress its business.

Come on, Dick, you're fantasising, surely? Not really, no. Think again.

Alcohol expert calls for Liverpool pubs to be replaced with cafes

BARS should be replaced by cafes and restaurants in Liverpool city centre to tackle a binge-drinking crisis, MPs were told.

A health expert who studies the effects of excessive drinking in the city identified the explosion in the number of pubs and clubs as the key factor.

Dr Lynn Owens called for the city centre to be “redesigned” to tempt a wider range of people than simply “young people binge drinking”.

Where does one start with this? There isn't mention of any pub owner being consulted on the matter of 'redesigning' their business. No mention of the willing customers who are, without doubt, the reason for the 'explosion' in the number of outlets catering for them.

Merely the righteous deciding what is best for us and eager to ride roughshod over the wishes of the business owners, and customers, to achieve their perfect ideology.

You see, they got away with it before and now see pubs as their little toy.

The BBPA don't have a clue how to fight, they just mumble, and CAMRA are so fucking useless as to be irrelevant. They would probably back this idea too, their heads being so stuck up their own backsides that their woolly cardigan collars are chafing their rings.

One would hope that the pub spokesmen, in a period of unmitigated disaster for the industry, would at least object to a "nurse consultant with Liverpool primary care trust (PCT)" being described as an 'alcohol expert' over and above they who purport to represent the hospitality trade. They won't, though. They will continue to lobby a government which is pre-disposed to ignoring their every word (the budget should have shown them that), in the faint hope that they might be listened to. Unfortunately, it's too late.

They said sorry, see? They admitted wrong-doing and backed the righteous in their endeavours. They're not in the game anymore. Who needs a spokesperson for pubs when the righteous have appointed their own?

Expenses: Now It's Them And Us

Michael Martin was angry today, was he not? Not angry at the behaviour of MPs, of course. Angry at the fact that someone had the temerity to leak a disk which allowed us to see what MPs were up to. Did he not realise that proceedings were being broadcast live on TV and radio ... or is he just an arrogant tool? (don't answer that)

Unless this caledonian cock was of the belief that his statement was being made in camera, this was a public announcement that it's now them and us and further confirmation that there is a cancerous jock cabal at the heart of Westminster.

Kate Hoey was slapped down contemptuously, like a naughty primary schoolkid, for having the cheek to suggest that calling the rozzers in to investigate the leak wasn't a particularly clever idea if MPs wished to prove openness.

But an annoyed Mr Martin said he had already heard her "pearls of wisdom on Sky News".

He added: "Is it the case that an employee of this House should be able to hand over any private data to any organisation of his or her choosing?"

"It's easy to say to the press this should not happen - it's a wee bit more difficult when you just don't have to give quotes to the press and do nothing else."

And Norman Baker was, just get this brass neck!

"... another member who is keen to say to the press what the press wants to hear.".

The press wants to hear, Mick, because WE want to read it. You remember us, don't you? The poor saps who pay for the comfy chairs you rest your trade union grounded backside on. Who subsidise your meals and your drinks while at work. Who pay for your transport, the furnishings in your second home, the pen you write with, the wine in your extensive parliamentary cellar. Hell, just look around you, there probably isn't much that you can see which hasn't been paid for by us. If you've got one of those desk toys from iwantoneofthose.com, do you know what? We paid for that too.

Yet you believe that we shouldn't be allowed to see what the 646 have been spending until you have blanked out the embarrassing bits? I'm trying to decide if that makes you a cunt, or just plain ignorant. What the heck, I'm going to spoil myself, you're an ignorant cunt.

This government has successfully marginalised any form of contribution from the public. Manifesto commitments are routinely discarded, and then when challenged, government fight bitterly through court to ensure that such promises aren't enforceable. Policy is decided, and then consultations carefully choreographed to result in a favourable conclusion. MPs don't just advise how we should live our lives anymore, they make us follow their will by force backed up with lies. Connivance is endemic, misdirection and untruths are now parliamentary currency, low poll turnouts are proof that no-one now believes that politicians have any relevance to the way we wish to live.

Mr Speaker, you are already very lucky that a huge swathe of the public are blissfully unaware that they are being subjugated by the holier-than-thou cretins over which you preside, but one thing that will make even the facebook generation prick their ears up is money, especially in a fucking recession.

This is news because, on top of all the petty shit you have been slinging in our direction, it's now clear you are a collection of devious, grotty, thieving bastards. The property you own at our expense while we are struggling to pay mortgages and rent, the extensive furnishing of your nests while we are 'making do' in difficult financial times, the massive borrowing you incompetent fucktards have landed us with while you enlarge your bank accounts by not even paying for fucking light bulbs. It's an insult to each and every one of the 44 million voters in this country.

Yet you, Mr Speaker, the person entrusted with keeping MPs in order, are angry that we have been notified as to the level of troughing?

When even the speaker has lost sight of who are supposed to be in charge in a democracy, and who are the servants, it can truly be said that parliament has reached a new low.

Brown's Lying In Graph Form

Via Al-Jahom

Fake Charity Rigging Consultations Within Rigged Consultations

What the fuck is going on up in Jockland? If anyone truly believes democracy still exists in our isles, think again.

The Scottish assembly are planning to ban smoking in mental institutions. Remember that these were exempted in previous smoking ban legislation since many residents are simply not allowed to leave the confines.

As I have mentioned before, the usual rigged public consultation was arranged and punted out to 'stakeholders' who will mostly have a view according with the wishes of the legislators. The public won't be told about it and will only be able to respond if they stumble across it or are expert online detectives. It's a common tactic, of which we are now well accustomed.

One of the fake charities stakeholders who were included in this particular work of fiction, though, have gone one step further by holding a rigged consultation of their own.

The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) received £22m income last year, here's where their funds came from:

Local Authorities - £16,528,567
Scottish Executive - £1,709,195
Dept of Health - £1,336,808
Employment Services - £817,711
European Social Fund - £608,312
Other Income - £606,562
Dept Work & Pensions - £474,802

Their response has been published on their web-site and is stunning in its dismissal of those surveyed.

A few snippets:

Most of those who responded to our survey did not think that the law should be changed. Over half (52%) said the Scottish Government should take no action, while almost 30% said that the Government should encourage people in psychiatric wards and units not to smoke, but not change the law. Just over 13% believed that the Government should make it illegal to smoke anywhere in psychiatric wards and units. Both mental health service users and workers expressed similar views ...

And ...

Clearly, there is little appetite for a total ban. Several of those who selected “something else” stated that they did not think the law should change at all. Some respondents raised concerns that people smoking in the grounds of hospitals at night or in quiet areas would be vulnerable.

And ...

We asked respondents to say whether they thought that banning smoking in psychiatric hospitals and units would be a positive or a negative step. Three-fifths said it would be negative and over a quarter thought it would be positive.

And ...

It is clear that the majority of those who responded to our survey do not wish to see smoking banned from psychiatric wards and units. SAMH recognises these views and also the strength of feeling among many service users about being able to smoke. In particular, SAMH is extremely aware that for people who are detained and not permitted to leave a hospital, a smoking ban would essentially remove their ability to smoke: a position in which no other group in Scotland currently finds itself.

Well, that's a definite no then. After all, according to their web-site.

SAMH, Scotland’s leading mental health charity, works to support people who experience mental health problems

But not if it conflicts with the righteous church of healthism, it would seem. SAMH's recommendation to the Scottish Assembly?

SAMH would therefore conditionally support a phased introduction of a change in the law to ban smoking in the buildings but not the grounds of psychiatric hospitals and units.

Eh?

Apparently, they paced up and down for a long time before completely ignoring their respondents.

SAMH has given this response a great deal of thought. It is unusual for us to survey the views of people who have mental health problems and then to take a position which differs from the majority of respondents.

But they did.

Seriously, what is the point of these consultations? Why waste the money when the outcome has been pre-arranged?

This is how your lives are being ordered and destroyed, people.

Spending Other People's Money

To repeat an oft-quoted opinion on socialists.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money [to spend]."

As the government sleaze-fest rumbles on, one morally-corrupt swill-gobbler's name jumped out of the page and screamed "Look at what an evil bastard I am!"

A GOVERNMENT minister is claiming up to £22,000 a year in expenses by saying that her mother’s modest bungalow in Yorkshire is her main home.

Baroness Thornton, a Labour minister in the whips’ office, has lived and worked in London for more than 30 years and has a £1m family house near Hampstead Heath.

However, Thornton has claimed about £130,000 since 2002 by designating her mother’s current bungalow and, before 2005, her mother’s previous home as her main residence.

Do you know? I think this is the same troughing sow who was a prime mover in Wednesday's Lords decision to force corner shops into hiding tobacco displays. The same inconsiderate shit who had this to say about a common sense amendment from Lord Borrie which would have lessened the financial impact.

I recognise the sentiment behind the amendments of my noble friend Lord Borrie. I assume that it is to achieve our public health objectives while minimising burdens on business; that is a laudable aim but, I fear, misplaced here.

Yep, the aim of attempting to avoid small retailers having to shell out £2,500 of their post-tax profits is a misplaced one, according to Thornton. Translated from swine-ese: 'It's not my money, so who gives a shit?'.

What this evil cunt has stolen could pay for the forced refurbishment of over 50 small shops. It would go some way to alleviate the £125m bill she has blithely helped land in the laps of the country's 50,000 corner shop owners (after they have paid their taxes from which she has been stealing), but don't expect the troughing fuck to volunteer this large wedge without a fight. Or at all. She is, after all, rotten, selfish, and corrupt to the core.

Not only that, she isn't stopping there. She wants to financially punish them even more.

Baroness Thornton, for the Government, described the measure as "another important step to a tobacco-free world"

Oh I see now. That is what she is in the Lords for, is it? To use her position to force her prejudicial will on 22% of the public, along with those who make a profit supplying a legal product, without any democratic mandate whatsoever ... and to build up her property portfolio on the back of those that pay taxes on such products and businesses.

Forget swine flu. Hopefuly this disgusting, self-righteous Labour whore will suffer an extended bout of the most virulent strain of Ebola, whilst being simultaneously beaten with cricket bats by a horde of angry asian shopkeepers.

Seems fair to me.

Quote Of The Day

As one MP after another claims they have not broken any rules, that the system is wrong and needs changing.

"The question you have to ask is who devised the system? MPs devised the system under their self-regulating arrangements."

Sir Alistair Graham, ex-chairman, committee for standards in public life

Gordon Brown "More Piñata Than Politician" Says New York Times

Oh dear, Gordon Brown's deficiencies have been noticed across the pond. The New York Times have picked up on his woeful PMQs on Wednesday and are, quite frankly, laughing at him.

LONDON — Prime Minister Gordon Brown is spectacularly unpopular these days. He is presiding over one of the weakest economies in Western Europe. His government is widely seen as weary, porous and flailing. His own party members spend their time plotting, spreading nasty gossip and openly defying his policies.

But it was still shocking to see the mauling Mr. Brown suffered in the House of Commons on Wednesday, when he had to appear during this week’s installment of the half-hour grilling called Prime Minister’s Questions. So mercilessly and brazenly did his Conservative opponents mock, taunt and ridicule Mr. Brown that at times he seemed more piñata than politician.

Note the 'one of the weakest economies in Western Europe' bit? There's no appended possibly, or allegedly. It's common global knowledge.

It's not the only transatlantic giggling going on either. Via Swiss Bob, it seems French speaking Canadians are also splitting their sides at his ineptitude.

Whips being openly ridiculed during the Ghurka vote. Brown being destroyed live on TV for the world to see. Lies and spin unravelling by the day. YouTube experiencing some of their biggest political hits ever with Dan Hannan, the grin video, nose-picking, and this (in case you hadn't seen it).



It's embarrassing, yes, but personally I hope he clings on for as long as possible to make sure Labour are unelectable for as long as I live. One more year is nothing if it means we never have to endure such a mealy-mouthed, bullying, dictatorial, offensive, mendacious, anti-democratic collection of corrupt control freaks ever again.

Then we can tackle why the Tories aren't speaking up against the assaults on our liberties like they should be doing.

UPDATE: As Swiss Bob points out in the comments, the hilarity at Brown has spread to the Austrians.

The laughter in the meeting room was getting louder, and at the end of Question Time Brown was no longer willing to give answers

No longer just a devalued Prime Minister (© Dan Hannan), a contemptuously derided one too.