Gordon Brown’s praise for Marks & Spencer’s decision to charge customers for plastic bags is justified.
What he didn’t mention was the official figures, just released, which show that over the last two years Government Departments and agencies have bought more than 1.2 million plastic bags branded with their logos.
The election of David Cameron as Conservative Leader saw the issue of climate change being dragged to the centre stage of British politics for the very first time.
Ever since, Labour Ministers have been struggling to practice what David has been rightly preaching.
This revelation proves that they still have some way to go.
Friday, 29 February 2008
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
A criminal exercise in spin
In the midst of the media storm surrounding the Government's decision to nationalise Northern Rock, it may have escaped your notice on Monday that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced plans to "reduce serious violent crime by 2011."
This, I remind you, is a Labour Government that's been in power for almost 11 years.
Why has it taken so long to come up with such a plan and why will it take another three years before we are likely to see any positive results?
Might it be anything to do with the fact that Labour Ministers, embarrassed by the continuing surge in violent offences, are trying to desperately to kick the issue into the long grass until after the next General Election?
You would not have to be much of a cynic to reach that view.
This, I remind you, is a Labour Government that's been in power for almost 11 years.
Why has it taken so long to come up with such a plan and why will it take another three years before we are likely to see any positive results?
Might it be anything to do with the fact that Labour Ministers, embarrassed by the continuing surge in violent offences, are trying to desperately to kick the issue into the long grass until after the next General Election?
You would not have to be much of a cynic to reach that view.
Thursday, 14 February 2008
We’ve been quango’d
New research published today reveals Yorkshire is massively under-represented on the boards of non-elected quangos.
The New Local Government Network report found that more than half of 1,000 quango board members live in London and the South East.
However, whilst this situation is both disturbing and wrong, the real scandal is the continued rise in the number and powers of these bodies across the country.
As the report confirms, quangos now have a combined annual budget of £123 billion of public money and yet a great many of them have next to no proper scrutiny for the decisions they take.
This situation must change and I know it is an issue high on the priority list for the next Conservative Government.
In the meantime, it is obvious that the membership of quango boards must become more representative of the country as a whole including the involvement of greater numbers of people from Keighley and Ilkley.
The New Local Government Network report found that more than half of 1,000 quango board members live in London and the South East.
However, whilst this situation is both disturbing and wrong, the real scandal is the continued rise in the number and powers of these bodies across the country.
As the report confirms, quangos now have a combined annual budget of £123 billion of public money and yet a great many of them have next to no proper scrutiny for the decisions they take.
This situation must change and I know it is an issue high on the priority list for the next Conservative Government.
In the meantime, it is obvious that the membership of quango boards must become more representative of the country as a whole including the involvement of greater numbers of people from Keighley and Ilkley.
Monday, 4 February 2008
Troop welfare being neglected
I was very concerned though hardly surprised to read this morning’s Daily Telegraph report on troop over-stretch in the British Army.
According to Ministry of Defence figures, one in 14 soldiers is currently unfit to deploy because of illness or injury.
It has also been confirmed that the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, currently in Afghanistan, recently had to leave 50 long-term sick troops behind and many other battalions are in exactly the same position.
The simple fact is that out troops are over-committed, under resourced and, as these figures prove, massively under-rested.
The Military Covenant is not being kept and, for that, Gordon Brown, Des Browne and every Labour Minister should hang their heads in shame.
According to Ministry of Defence figures, one in 14 soldiers is currently unfit to deploy because of illness or injury.
It has also been confirmed that the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, currently in Afghanistan, recently had to leave 50 long-term sick troops behind and many other battalions are in exactly the same position.
The simple fact is that out troops are over-committed, under resourced and, as these figures prove, massively under-rested.
The Military Covenant is not being kept and, for that, Gordon Brown, Des Browne and every Labour Minister should hang their heads in shame.
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