Tory Split on Cuts

George Osborne is under pressure to tear up his austerity programme after Boris Johnson called on the government to drop its "hair-shirt, Stafford Cripps" agenda and Liberal Democrat leaders demanded a spending boost in the spring budget.
Speaking in Davos on Friday shortly after the release of figures showing the economy was again contracting, the London mayor said it was time to "junk the rhetoric of austerity" and instead take steps to boost confidence and spending.
The Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, who has for the first time conceded that the government cut investment spending too quickly after it arrived in office, was last night understood to have been swayed during a meeting with the business secretary, Vince Cable, to thrash out proposals in the next budget to spur growth.
On the table will be plans to cushion the blow of local authority budget cuts by allowing councils to borrow more freely to build new homes. It has been estimated that if borrowing caps were removed councils could build 60,000 homes over the next five years. Cable is also urging fresh proposals to make the state-owned banks lend, and has gone public on a call to change the inflation target.
Senior cabinet members are saying it is a racing certainty that the economy will suffer a triple-dip recession, requiring a further first quarter of negative growth.(1)

True, it's just two, if not more, but interesting to see the fresh display of public dissent from Johnson on this issue.

The downturn no doubt is partially caused by the indiscriminate cuts.

Footnote:
(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/25/george-osborne-pressure-austerity-programme

The Hobbit P1 rocks

I watched the first Hobbit film Dec. 26th last year.

It is very enjoyable. Despite minor alterations in the storyline it is a very good rendition of Tolkein's book.

Those interested in high fantasy need to obtain it once it's out on DvD.

Immigration Returns to UK Debate

David Cameron has launched an attack on Ed Miliband's plans to ensure that frontline staff in publicly funded jobs are able to speak English, in a new battle over the best way to integrate immigrants into British society.

The prime minister was responding to the Labour leader's announcement on Friday morning that workers in public sector jobs that deal with the public will have to show proficiency in the English language under a Labour government.

Outlining a new set of initiatives which Labour claims will improve social integration, Miliband also said he would tackle landlords who pack new immigrants into overcrowded houses, and ban recruitment agencies from seeking workers only from particular countries or ethnic groups.
His new policies appear to have riled Cameron. Speaking from Brussels, the prime minister challenged Miliband to explain why he had supported past Labour governments which Cameron claimed allowed unchecked immigration.(1)

This is, of course, at leastp artially cynical. Has there been any major changes in immigration over the last 2-year period? No.

So the 'system' he says is 'broken' is intentionally presided over by his government.

Footnote:
(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/14/david-cameron-ed-miliband-immigration

Olmert hypocricy on 'slap in the face'

Former Israeli PM Olmert says that the recent announcement of E1 illegal settlement construction plan is a 'slap in the face'.(1)

Well it's nothing compared to his 'slap in the face' of Mr. Abbas & history by presenting crumbs in 2008 in a so called 'offer' and only verbally, not on paper.(2)

Notes:
(1) http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/olmert-settlement-construction-in-area-e-1-is-slap-in-the-face-of-obama.premium-1.481853?localLinksEnabled=false
(2) http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/images/iht_daily/D171209/olmertmap.pdf

Egypt Const. Vote Rushed

Egypt's Pres. is going to rush a vote for its new constitution only a few days from now(1)

In my opinion that's unfair. People need time to read and debate it.

Note:
(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/02/egypt-mohamed-morsi-referendum-constitution

Special Advisor Lobbying Scandal Builds

Once again a former special advisor to the Coalition government of the UK gets
a cushy job in the same sector he worked as a state official. In health for a
private firm(1).

We all know how it works. The lunches, the hospitality, the quiet word in
your ear, the ex-ministers and ex-advisers for hire, helping big business
 find the right way to get its way."(1) I agree Mr. Cameron.

Note:
(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/nov/23/david-cameron-privatisation-adviser-health-lobbyist

WB settlers stealing tons of soil from Palestinian land

West Bank settlers stealing tons of soil from Palestinian land

Roughly a month ago, infrastructure work began in one of the house-trailer neighborhoods in the West Bank settlement of Ofra. Brown soil was needed to cover the foundations. In properly functioning places, such soil is bought and paid for, but not in Ofra. Tzvi, a local farmer, nicknamed “Kishu,” found an alternative: He sent a rented tractor and truck to the outskirts of the settlement, next to the Palestinian villages of Silwad and Deir Dibwan, where they simply stole dirt. Tzvi claims that the land belongs to him.

The theft was made possible – even easy – by the fact that wide expanses of land belonging to Deir Dibwan and Silwad are enclosed within Ofra’s security fence, and the villages’ residents do not have free access to their own fields. Entry into Ofra requires coordination with the Israel Defense Forces and a constant security escort. The fence, like many parts of Ofra, was built without any permits.

In 2009 and 2010, residents of Silwad and Deir Dibwan petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice, demanding that the illegal sections of the fence be dismantled. The IDF responded to the petition, confirming that the fence was in fact built without permits and unnecessarily closes off land owned by others. At the same time, the army asked for time to build a new, modern security fence, closer to the houses in Ofra. The IDF requested until the end of 2012 to finish the job, but no work has yet begun at the site.(1)

 

The theft of Pal. land continues by the illegal settlers in the OPT.
And of course barely a blip from Obama

Note:
(1) http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/west-bank-settlers-stealing-tons-of-soil-from-palestinian-land.premium-1.469522