Charlie Brooker on the NHS reform bill

Tomorrow's Daily Mirror front page

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Mirror sums up the position we now face with the ConDems voting the Health & Social Care bill through its final stages of parliament.  Tomorrow I will post details of which way MPs voted so you can remember at the general election in 2015, when the NHS is likely to be in a lot worse position than it is now.

Letter to The Press on NHS Drop the Bill petition

In today's Press

ON Tuesday, Conservative and Lib Dem members of the Parliamentary back bench business committee decided to vote against the Drop the Bill petition against changes to the NHS being discussed in Parliament.

This new e-petition site was launched with much fanfare claiming that petitions with more than 100,000 signatories could launch a debate in Parliament; as of today the petition has more than 163,000 signatories.

It is amazing that the Tory-led government continue ploughing on ahead with this misguided Bill despite the mass opposition from NHS professionals and the public. This latest move just shows the disdain the Government has for public opinion, with minister after minister claiming that we just don’t understand the Bill. In reality many people do understand the changes and this is why we are so vehemently opposed.

We are now moving into the final days of the Bill going through Parliament. Please take the time to make your opposition known before it is too late. You can also pledge to take part in the online rally against the Bill on March 7 at goingtowork.org.uk/

We're all scroungers in ConDem nation

I do not blog much at the moment as it is quite painful typing due to nerve problems in my arms, but I was so outraged this morning when I learnt about the latest Tory attack on benefits that I was moved to comment.

A Tory backed review has called for patients on sick notes to face independent assessment after being off work sick for more than 4 weeks.  Judging by the welcoming noises the government have made they are keen to follow this through.

Already the government have been attacking those on long term disability support, with rhetoric which infers that many of those on benefits are bogus and don't need support.

In my 21 years of work I have been written off as sick for over 4 weeks on a couple of occasions.  Once was for a serious break to the arm which resulted in being in a cast for 6 weeks, the other time involved 2 discs in my neck pressing on nerves causing serious pain in my back and arm which made in near impossible to sit down at a desk or use a computer, which is 95% of my job.  These are just two examples of justified absence from work, there are hundreds of other genuine examples such as cancer, serious injury, major operations to name but a few.  Why should the thousands of people in this position be forced to face an inquisition to see if their illness/injury is a valid case for absence.  Your own GP is in the best position to judge this.

As well as the physical examples of injury mentioned above, many ask their GP for time off work due to depression and stress.  What worries me is that this is exactly the sort of condition these measures are aimed at attacking.  The result will mean that many people will feel intimidated into returning to work before 4 weeks so that they don't have to face this assessment, even when they are not well enough to be returning to a work environment.  This could result in a worsening of their condition, and could even contribute to an increase in severe mental health conditions and suicide.

I hope the Labour Party see this aggressive approach for managing health problems for what it is and oppose any such bill which is put before parliament.

Leonard Nimoy and a bit of silliness for Sunday morning

40 things to do before I reach 40

I reach forty in 2 1/2 years so have decided to draw up a list of activities and achievements to reach before then.  So far I have:

1. Visit Scandanavia
2. Learn a foreign language

Hopefully I will have drawn up a list of 40 by the end of the month.  I will keep a blog of my achievements over at http://40thingstodobeforeireach40.blogspot.com/

Suggestions for my list of 40 welcome, although nothing too dangerous and physical please.

Do you want this racist representing you in Europe?

Original message at https://twitter.com/#!/nickgriffinmep/status/100135489859895296

If Trade union votes are being looked at so should the MP/MEP block

The Guardian reported recently that Ed Miliband is looking at changing the rules to reduce the influence of trade unions at conference and in the leadership election.

I am not going to argue that the place of unions within the party shouldn't be looked at, but they should be revised alongside all other power bases and groupings within the party.

Many argue that if it wasn't for the trade unions Ed Miliband would not have won the leadership election.  This is true under the current leadership rules, but it is also true that because MPs and MEPs hold a third of the vote and their votes boosted David Miliband's vote.  If the perceived unfairnesses are to be addressed it should be to bring in a genuine one member one vote system where every members vote has the same weighting on the basis of being a member of the Labour Party, and that member should only have one vote, not up to 5 based on how many other groupings that person belongs to such as The Fabians, The Co-Operative Party etc.  Only then can we say we have a truly democratic means of electing the leader.

The dangers from Chinese lanterns

Over the past few years the use of Chinese lanterns has increased considerably, but many users are unaware of the risks they cause to the countryside.

Many of these lanterns can end up landing on farm land where they have found to be eaten by farm animals, particularly cattle which can suffer a slow agonising death, as the write can puncture the stomach lining..  Animals and wildlife can also get entangled in the wire.  Although not quite as dangerous bamboo framed lanterns can still cause problems for animals, as they can become entangled in them or get injured from the bamboo.

There is also a risk from fire, as the fire has not necessarily extinguished when the lantern lands.  They can cause serious fires if they land on hay stacks or fields.  A quick search of Google will provide evidence of numerous fires caused by them.

They are also beginning to cause a problem with litter in the countryside, with many landing miles away from the area they were lit, instead landing in the countryside.

Therefore, please think twice.  Chinese lanterns may look beautiful in the sky, but they can cause serious risks to animals and farmland.  If you are going to use them please ensure they are securely tethered to the ground.

Further reading:

NFU information leaflet
NFU article
BBC News article
Guardian news article

If Rupert Murdoch hadn't been born - Classic Fry & Laurie

Is it such a bad thing to drop shadow cabinet elections?

I am a strong supporter of bringing in more accountability and democracy to the Labour Party, but the shadow cabinet elections are a rather problematic arrangement and I can understand why Ed Miliband would want to get rid of them.

The leader is elected by a 3 way split of MPs & MEPs / Trade Unions and Labour party affiliates / Ordinary Members.  Ed just scraped in with more votes when all 3 constituents were taken into account, but David Miliband had a clear lead in the parliamentary labour party.  This means that many in the shadow cabinet are supporters of his brother David.  In total there are - members of the shadow cabinet who supported David:

• Douglas Alexander
• Angela Eagle
• Tessa Jowell
• Caroline Flint
• Ivan Lewis
• Jim Murphy
• Mary Creagh
• Meg Hillier
• Shaun Woodward
• Liam Byrne

If you also take into account those who supported campaigns for the other candidates it only leaves a few cabinet members who actually campaigned for Ed to be leader.

While I am not for one minute suggesting any of these people are being disloyal, it is possible that there are some people who feel that Ed is taking the wrong direction.

It surely makes more sense for a leader to pick his/her own cabinet which more strongly represents the general thinking of the leader.  It also gives the leader the opportunity to put a shadow cabinet together who will continue in those roles once Labour are re-elected, rather than the leader having to carry out a re-shuffle of places once in government.

Withdraw Brian Souter's Knighthood

In the recent Queen's birthday honours list it was announced Stagecoach co-founder Brian Souter is to be awarded a knighthood.

I could not think of a more unsuitable person to receive such an honour.  Souter personally bank-rolled a referendum in Scotland campaigning to keep the homophobic law Section 28, which stopped the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools.

I urge people to sign the following petition:

We the undersigned are deeply offended that Brian Souter has been awarded a Knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2011.
Mr. Souter ran a campaign of fear and misinformation which was deeply hurtful to the LGBT community in Scotland.
The Keep The Clause Campaign increased hatred towards an already victimised group and saw a corresponding increase in violence against LGBT people.
We believe that it is wrong for such a person to be given such a high honour by Her Majesty The Queen and call on HM Government to withdraw this award.

Click here to sign http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/notosoutersknighthood/

The petition has already attracted over 3800 signatories in two days.

My Desert Island Discs

I enjoyed listening to the Your Desert Island Discs programme on Radio 4 yesterday.  It  encouraged listeners to send in their Desert Island Disc choices, which I along with 10,000 other listeners did.

The choices were rather predictable, especially considering the listener demographic, but I do like the top 8 choices, although I would say that Bohemian Rhapsody is far from the best song by Queen.

I can't remember all 8 songs I selected, but if I was submitting today I would choose the following 8:

1. Casta Diva from Bellini's Norma, sung by Maria Callas



2. Drown by the Smashing Pumpkins



3. I'd Rather Go Blind, sung by Etta James



4. If It Be Your Will by Leonard Cohen



5. Symphony No.5 by Mahler



6. Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf Mix) by The Pixies



7. Estranged by Guns N Roses



8. With Or Without You  by U2



It is rather difficult whittling your choices down to 8, I could have easily picked 20 tracks.  I would have liked to have added Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Billy Bragg, Chopin, Goldfrapp and Pink Floyd to name but a few.

My choice of book would be easier.  Without a doubt it would be the Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin which I cannot recommend highly enough.

And my luxury would have to be and endless supply of wine, as that would be the only way to survive the tedium :)

Why I will no longer support York Against the War after its decision to invite Gilad Atzmon

I joined York Against the War in 2002 when it was clear the government were planning to invade Iraq.  It has done an excellent job over the years opposing the governments wars, and I have attended many of their meetings and marches, although admittedly fewer of the past few years.

I was dismayed to hear that they had decided to invite Gilad Atzmon (see http://www.yorkagainstthewar.org.uk/#gilad_atzmon).  Several people tried to warn YATW that Atzmon was an unsuitable guest due to the accusations of anti-Semitism against him.  I along with others objected to his invite, but the decision was made to go ahead with the invite.

I would recommend reading the following articles about Atzmon:

A Guide to the Sayings of Gilad Atzmon, the anti-Semitic jazzman by Tony Greenstein

The unlikely friends of the Holocaust memorial killer by Nick Cohen (although I would point out that the SWP don't have anything to do with him now either.  John Rose recently withdrew from a meeting when he found out he was to share a platform with Atzmon).

And if you are not convinced by the inappropriateness of Atzmon's invite read his own article on anti-Semitism at http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/on-anti-semitism-by-gilad-atzmon.html

This event will do nothing to advance York Against the War's cause and I for one will have nothing to do with it.

Tabloids and invasion of privacy

Looking at the Sunday papers this morning I saw that once again the News of the World had hit new depths.  As the following was printed on the front cover:

How can such depraved stalking by the paparazzi be in the public interest?  I'm no defender of the Royals are their extended family, but like anyone else they should be allowed some privacy.  Why should Pippa Middleton be stalked by sleazy journalists and photographers?

When public figures and celebrities are at public events by all means it is fare game to photograph, but this sort of behaviour goes far beyond this.

Once again the News of the World and the Murdoch empire should be ashamed of themselves.

It is obvious that self regulation by the Press does not work and it is time for an official regulatory body as there is with other areas of the media.

Spitting Image certainly got it right when they portrayed tabloid reporters as pigs