GB's anniversary

Gord's been in no 10 for a year. Time to sit back and reflect on all the good things that have happened in that time.

Documents on a train

Yup, its happened again.

Further to a previous post, more secret documents left on a train. Blatant disregard by those who should know better of the security of the country.

Happened last Friday - a bit of a delay in posting.

David Davis resigns

Resigns because he's disappointed at the outcome of the 42 day terrorist detention. Resigns in order to stand again, forcing a by election.

Ok, the chap's got some integrity, and is standing by his principles, he's lost his position as shadow home sec, and isn't likely to get it back. But it also looks like he's forrcing the by election, with all the costs associated with it ( I don't think labour and the lib dems are even going to field a candidate), just so he can sit on the back benches. I'm not even sure if he's still going to be a member of the conservative party.

Not sure about this one. Then again I don't think anyone else in Westminster is either. Rebel without a point?

Careless data loss costs lives

Well, it's happened again. A file containing secret confidential details af Al Qaeda stuff was left on a train, and handed in to the BBC, who very public spiritedly handed it back to the gov. Left on the train by a high ranking (suspended) gov civil servant.

Just to go along with losing personal data of several thousand social security personal details in the post, a stolen laptop containing details of naval personal from a burger bar, and many other examples of lackadaisical data security, followed by a round of empty assurances of clampdowns on these security breaches, and enquiries that we never hear anything more about.

There's a lesson to be learnt somewhere.

Oh, yeah, that's right - try and gag the BBC more effectively.

Poor schools threatened with closure

Underperforming schools (600 odd) have today been told they have 50 days to come up with an action plan to bring GCSE pass levels at the 'good' level (whatever that is) to at least 30%

I assume those schools that are shut will then just let the children roam the street.

Whatever happened to parental responsibility?

Looks like govs incessant fiddling with schools and education hasn't worked - again.

Child and pensioner poverty

Despite the govs clamouring to reduce child and pensioner poverty, it was reported today that they rose.

The number of children living in poverty rose by 100,000 in 2006-2007 to 2.9 million before housing costs. Pensioner poverty increased for the first time since 1998, rising by 300,000 to a total of 2.5 million.

gov ministers are said to be disappointed. Nuff said.

Car and fuel tax

Just as fuel prices are rising, house prices are crashing and food prices are going up, the gov announces one of the most bizarre car taxes ever.

Old cars, bought several years ago, will be charged at a higher rate, because of more stringent CO2 emissions today - effectively punishing drivers for buying cars several years ago, or those buying 2nd hand cars. BBC news site

At the same time, there's a proposal to add an extra 2p on fuel duty this November. The price of a litre of diesel is already at 130p minimum, and rising, effectively crippling road hauliers, and many other just average people.

Fair enough we've got to do something about energy usage / carbon emissions etc, but when you consider that fuel duty is already 48%, and I've seen no evidence of fuel or road tax being used for 'green' issues, then is it any wonder that there's another backlash growing (see the hauliers protests) BBC news site

I wonder if these taxes will stick, or once again will the gov 'listen to the people' to protect its own arse?