The Royal Family: Shameless!

The Royal Family: Prince Charles is shameless when it comes to using his influence and position in those areas he considers himself an expert. It is said that successive government ministers opened windows and had to be held back from jumping, when another princely missive landed on desks.

Whilst his mother, The Queen, has had her own benefits from the government frozen and needs to dive for cover every time a slate falls off the roof of one or other palace badly in need of repair, her son and Heir to the throne lives like a Prince from another age, totally cossetted from every day concerns, with over 100 flunkies paid to take care of him and others happy to kiss his backside, just to say they know him.

In court last week he was accused of "interfering" in the decision to scrap a design intended for the Chelsea Barracks site, because it did not fit in with his idea of what a London building should look like. The Prince is fond of the "classical" look and has a hissy fit every time he sees something verging on the "modern".
Mind you, when you see some of the carbuncles dotted around the Capital, you can see where he is coming from. However, if it hadn't been for the court case and the judge's insistence that a letter HRH wrote be made public, we would never have known of his involvement in the affair. Of course he is entitled to his opinions, but is it right that he be allowed to express them without challenge or accountability?

Meanwhile, the Princes William and Harry, continue to benefit from being the sons of Princess Diana, living a life of luxury, while pursuing their careers in the forces and working for their photogenic charities. Eventually, both will give up dabbling in the forces and concentrate on their respective roles within the family firm; Prince William as his father's eventual replacement and Harry, as the "spare" should his brother no longer be available.
It is said that Prince William, now training in North Wales, is living full-time with his workshy future wife, Kate Middleton, both waiting for the government to give them the nod on where and when they should make their engagement public.

In this debt-ridden time of proposed benefit cuts and threatened big job losses, one wonders how relevant the Royal Family is in the life of Great Britain. Or perhaps, in difficult times, the Monarchy as a symbol of the nation, becomes even more important?

The World Cup 2010: For England the party's over......

The World Cup 2010: So, for England the party's over and the flag of St. George is ripped off the walls and windows of a devastated nation. Once again, overpaid premier division players failed to transfer their individual talents on to the world stage and, despite being robbed of one goal, there was never a moment when they gave the impression of being a winning team. 

This was the year the "golden team" was going to show the world how to play the beautiful game and the British media went into hype overdrive in its support. But the game against Germany will prove costly for the losing players, who probably had some lucrative advertising deals signed, sealed, but unfortunately never to be delivered. Unless you are Eddie the Eagle, companies don't like being associated with losers.

Monday's front pages will not make for great reading and the whole adventure has been a nightmare for the English team and manager.

 However, writing in her News Of The World column, I was pleased to read that Alex Curran approved of the red kits because....."they bring out Stevie's tan". So now we all know what Mr Gerrard will be wearing for Alex when he makes his premature return. Let's hope he hits the spot.

The Emergency Budget 2010: Them v US

We have got used to the "we are all in it together" mantra, which suggests that everyone in the land will share the pain of the Emergency Budget proposals. However, even just thinking of the pension age rise, one gets the impression that we are going back to the days of "Them v Us", when the haves will be able to retire whenever they like, whilst the rest of us will be forced to carry on more or less until we drop.

Somehow, it just doesn't seem fair that we will continue to work ourselves close to death, to eventually get a small pittance for a shorter period in retirement and still be expected to pay a large proportion of our hard-earned money in contributions towards public sector gold-plated and inflated pensions.

It is hoped that the Coalition will deliver on its promise to review public service pensions, but one gets the feeling that any action will fall short of the real necessity to bring public service entitlements in line with the rest of us.

Likewise, the £2 billion tax levy on banks sounds impressive, until you hear that they are popping the champagne corks having expected it to be £5 billion. Already banks are cock-a-hoop with delight and looking at ways to minimise the cost and impact on profits.

This government will be making a big mistake if it thinks that it will get away with strong words but weak action in the months and years ahead. It needs to act to ensure that everyone really does share in the pain.

If Gordon Brown is to be blamed for anything it is his reckless raid on pensions and Labour should be ashamed of itself for that action alone.

However, this Coalition government has to stand by its decisions on the economy, but it may find that the public, in the midst of tough times and pain, may become more militant if the experience is not a shared one. Lack of action within the public sector, too many banker bonuses and further MP expenses scandals will send the public onto the streets with the unions, who are itching for a fight.

The rise of a new aristocracy, immune to government economic pressures, would not be accepted by the majority.

The Emergency Budget 2010: George Osborne's tight grip

George Osborne didn't disappoint when he presented his Emergency Budget, although he has been accused of unnecessarily putting too tight a grip on a fragile economy. He has to be congratulated on following through on his promise of pain and lashings of it, but it was probably his one and only opportunity to squeeze the country until it hurts and blame it all on Labour.

The Chancellor gave a confident performance in the Commons and one got the impression that he was quite happy not just to address the issues surrounding the country's massive deficit, but to lay out the future strategy of the government in tackling the welfare state. Had it not been for the battered economy he would never have got away with such stark proposals concerning benefits.

Watching Osborne's calm performance, one couldn't help but notice Nick Clegg behind him, looking I thought, uncomfortable and perhaps wondering how many of his supporters were feeling he had sold his soul to the Conservatives' devil for a place at the top table.

I thought Harriet Harman gave an impressive response considering her government's part in creating the deficit and waste, but she did make some Lib Dem MPs shudder in her condemnation of their party's part in the budget proposals. The VAT increase is an embarrassing u-turn for Nick Clegg and there are those who will feel that he sacrificed principle for power.

Liberal Democrats: Carelessness costs votes....

The Liberal Democrats must remember that they are on trial and that too many scandals could be seen as downright carelessness. The party is finally been taken seriously as a party of government and instead of setting the standards, it is they who are betraying the Coalition ethos, with one forced resignation and a bad dose of hypocrisy on the part of Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, within weeks of the election.

Nick Clegg must wonder how many times he has to go to the Prime Minister and explain another LibDems indiscretion and it brings into question his own judgement. Other people in the party knew about Chris Huhne's affair and one therefore wonders why Mr. Clegg wasn't in the loop and, if he was, why he waited for the News Of The World to set the agenda?

I am not sure that newspapers should be stalking public figures, but it seems that Mr. Huhne used his election publicity to highlight the importance of "family values" whilst getting his leg over outside the marital home.

It has been suggested in the past that the behaviour of the Liberal Democrats in the regions has often verged on the despicable when dealing with their opponents, but hypocrisy at national level will be quickly exposed. The Coalition has taken the moral higher ground over Labour and any more shenanigans in the coming months will not go down well with the hard-pressed public.i

Christine Bleakley: Life on the sofa with Adrian Chiles

Whatever turns you on I guess, but for the foreseeable future it looks like Christine Bleakley will wake-up at some ghastly hour each morning to contemplate life on the sofa with Adrian Chiles. It is now reported that the BBC withdrew its £1 million pound offer to continue with "The One Show" and within the hour she was snapped up by ITV for the morning show due to replace the current GMTV breakfast programme. Her new deal is for £4 million over three-years and also gives her the opportunity to front peak-viewing programmes across the network.

With George Osborne's painful budget about to squeeze all of us, the timing is just not right for TV stars to be seen to demand massive salaries and the BBC cannot afford to upset the new government by dishing out large sums to its talent.

The story is that the Beeb was fed-up waiting for the presenter to make her mind up about her future and decided to give her the heave-ho first. The more likely explanation is that she informed them of her decision to go with ITV and the BBC then issued the "withdrawal" statement, providing the broadcaster with an opportunity to smack her in the gob AND send a message to the Coalition that it was no longer prepared to pay big sums to spoilt stars.

Miss Bleakley, who is footballer Frank Lampard's girlfriend, has hit the big-time since appearing on Strictly Come Dancing. Her appearances beside Adrian Chiles on "The One Show" was a ratings winner and would have continued had the BBC not decided to replace him on Friday evenings with Radio 2 irritant Chris Evans. Mr. Chiles got angry and moved to ITV, now followed by his co-star.

The appearance of both on the morning sofa has meant stars from GMTV scurrying for other jobs.

The World Cup: Time to say goodbye.....

What drama! England's World Cup 2010 will make for a great film, somewhere down the line, although it will be difficult to decide if it should go in the "comedy" or "horror" category. It has all gone wrong for the team and the manager, Fabio Capello, who is probably on the telephone right now negotiating the right time to say goodbye to English football. England would have to reach the finals for him to remain after the drama in South Africa.

Watching John Terry's press conference tonight, the message he was sending out was that the manager had effectively lost command. The UK media over the past few days has been blistering in its attack on both manager and players, although it is Wayne Rooney's outburst about fans that seems to have unleashed volumes of pent-up resentment against the players themselves.

The World Cup campaign started with such hope and conviction, but quickly turned sour and one wonders how long the disillusionment amongst the players against the strict regime of Mr Capello has been allowed to fester. Where is the FA in all this?

Even if the team wins on Wednesday, one gets the feeling that Capello will not survive, but the players must also be concerned about the public reaction towards them. It may all turn round on Wednesday, but if not the love affair between our top Premier players and their passionate supporters may come crashing down.

The general public - football supporters included - are about to be hit with one of the toughest budgets ever and will not be in the mood to listen to the excuses from very highly-paid pampered professionals, unable to find the will or the passion to kick a ball for their country.

The Coalition Budget Cuts: Let the heartache begin....

So, the budget cuts have started and the heartache begins as the newly-installed Treasury Secretary, Danny Alexander, has either axed or suspended projects announced under Labour. Amongst the schemes no longer in the frame are a Stonehenge Visitor Centre (£25 million) and a hospital (£450 million). In total £1.9 billion has been salvaged.

At this stage in the honeymoon, it is easy for the Coalition to axe or suspend any project it likes on the basis that it needs to save money and/or it is a Labour indulgence. However, at some point down the road, the Coalition itself will be held responsible for the after-effects of the cuts and what then?  Blaming Labour will only be accepted up to a point and with Alistair Darling finding his mojo and challenging the Osborne assumptions, the blame game will only be tolerated for so long.

At what point in the painful process will the public begin its protest? It will be then that the cracks will open between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, as both sides make claims and counter-claims in defence of their own party's involvement in the decision-making process.

BP & The Oil Spill: Only one thing to do with bully boys....fight back!

We are always being told that there is only one thing to do with bully boys...fight back! The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a disaster for the people, the environment and the animals who reside there. And if BP cut corners in its haste to drill, then the company and its executives should face the full weight of the law.

Meanwhile, the oil is gushing from the pipeline and endangering all in its path, but instead of concentrating on turning it off, the company executives are having to bow down to the demands of the politicians and daily face public humiliation that, at times, reminds me of the Chinese Red Guards haranguing their victims before parading them through the streets.

President Obama has every right to be angry on behalf of the American people, but perhaps he should allow BP and the USA's vast resources to work on getting it sorted, before wading in so publicly with his anger and concerns. It would be a display of real leadership if he were to remain calm and supportive when all around are doing the opposite and then, when it is all done and dusted produce the iron fist.

BP is an Anglo-American company with massive amounts of cash behind it and, of course, it should pay for the oil spill and other compensation. It has already said it will do so. Perhaps it would be more helpful if at this time the President and Capitol Hill leaders stopped behaving like media-junkie bullies.

For such a massive company, BP's public relations performance has been totally and utterly disastrous and it doesn't help when the Chairman, Carl-Henric Svanberg  talks about the "small people" of  the badly-hit region, even if the words are likely to have been a result of translation from his native Swedish.

The BP chairman and his Chief Executive need to stand up and remind the President and the legislature that it is in the interest of the country and the company to work together, instead of expending time and energy on threats and bully-boy tactics. Once the problems are sorted, then both Mr Savanberg and Mr. Hayward should resign as a matter of principle.

And the US President, who I normally admire, should also ensure that those responsible for looking after America's interests in such matters should also be held accountable.

The World Cup: The ITV Campaign

ITV's own World Cup campaign has not been covered in glory, what with its HD fiasco and the sacking of pundit Robbie Earle for over-extending his understanding of what "family and friends" mean when it comes to distributing his allocation of match tickets.

Although he did pay for the tickets, somehow they ended up as part of a block that was then used to promote a Dutch drink, with 35 orange-dressed girls ensuring they got lots of attention in the stands for the Holland v Denmark game.

What is revealing is how many tickets are made available to the media and one assumes that ITV paid up-front for the tickets, which begs the question how many did the BBC obtain to put aside for its own extended family?

Robbie Earle was due to play a part in the bid to host the 2018 World Cup in the UK, but that will no longer be the case, with his pundit career also most likely at an end.

Adrian Chiles must have been hoping that ITV's World Cup presentation would firmly establish him as a major star within the network, but it has been less savoury issues that have grabbed the headlines.

The Labour Leadership Election: Bitching about each other..

It is hard to believe that the Labour leadership election is in full swing, with candidates heavily promoting their causes behind the scenes and even, it is suggested, the Miliband brothers, bitching about each other.

The information that the brothers are making underhand comments about one another comes courtesy of Ed Balls, another rival for the post, who has assured all and sundry he will not be a party to such unedifying behaviour, while making sure we all know who is doing it. A double-bitch standard if you ask me.

Meanwhile the Coalition Government is getting on with running the country, with David Cameron confirming daily that when it comes to the job in hand he is to the manor born. His straight-to-the-point summary of the Saville Report was sincere and dignified and one did get the impression that he found it painful but necessary to lay bare the truth that British troops had behaved as they did on Bloody Sunday.

Harriet Harman's reply to the Cameron statement was also without frills and one is getting used to seeing the Rt. Honourable Acting Leader, at the dispatch box on behalf of her party. Perhaps she should have joined in the leadership battle, although maybe she recognises that whoever leads the party into the next general election is unlikely to be the one in power when Labour next gets into government.

The problem for Labour is that its credibility has been severely damaged by the state of the economy it left behind and any opposition to proposals to get it right may be seen by the public as out and out politicking, at the expense of the country.

As I previously stated, the current candidates for the leadership are somewhat tainted by their previous government involvement, with the exception of Diane Abbott, who hasn't a cat in hell's chance of making it. It will need a fresh broom for Labour to re-establish itself.

There is a quite calm at present which probably serves Labour well, but one wonders how long it will last before the firebrands within the party emerge from hibernation? Or did New Labour really work in emasculating all internal opposition? Somehow I don't thing so.

The Saville Report: 38 years after Bloody Sunday killings....the murdered INNOCENT!

Thirty-eight years after the Bloody Sunday killings on January 30th 1972 in Derry, Lord Saville has issued his report, with the conclusion that none of the 14 people killed posed a threat and that the shots were unjustifiably fired by British soldiers.

That day has remained a festering wound within Ireland, North and South, for 38 years and Britain's reputation all but destroyed by the erroneous report by the then Lord Chief Justice, Lord Widgery, who is now damned forever. In his report some weeks after the killings, he cast doubt on the innocent, accusing some of those killed as complicit in firing weapons or handling bombs. It was seen then and proved now that this was a whitewash.

There must have been powerful forces at work that the soldiers did what they did and covered it up for so many years, with false testimony to the Saville Inquiry. There have been many atrocities committed by all sides in the Northern Ireland conflict, but it is surely shocking that members of the British forces would behave as they did and get away with it for so long.

It is right that the Prime Minister, David Cameron, has made no excuses for the behaviour of the soldiers on that day and offered his apologies on behalf of the nation. 

Is anyone out there watching Big Brother?

Is anyone out there watching Big Brother, the final series, done to death by Channel 4? I ask because there are a couple of people of my acquaintance who were devotees of all the previous outings. This time when I asked what they thought of the latest one, they suddenly went coy and into total denial mode that they EVER watched such crass TV.

I have never understood why members of the public would want to subject themselves to the humiliation and disrespect that the programme-makers heaps upon them in the name of entertainment. Or why, any audience would want to indulge in daily voyeurism involving total strangers with little talent, wit or brain-power. A couple, (I can't remember who), went on to other things, but generally each of them emerge from the house and if lucky join the party Z-list and are avoided like the plague by true celebs who generally have had to work to gain their fame.

The audience and therefore the advertising pound has steadily dwindled as each series aired and the participants became savvy to the needs of the watching audience, turning it into a downmarket Jeremy Kyle show.

World Cup: England vs. USA: Talk to the hands!

The World Cup has begun and England's 1-1 draw with the USA has already knocked the nation's confidence. With everything still to play for, it hasn't stopped the near-crucifixion in the media of goalkeeper Rob Green, who stopped the ball and then for whatever reason decided he didn't need to hold on to it. 

In the UK the media has a habit of raising expectations and creating heroes, but quickly going in for the kill if it doesn't happen as demanded. Ever since 1966, England has, almost as a given, expected to win but has failed to do so and, with so many countries with great players taking part, one wonders, once again, if England's expectation is unrealistic.

Britain vs USA: War of words over oil

Whoever would have thought that Britain and the USA would have a war of words over oil? The spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is a catastrophe for the environment and devastating for the economy around the Louisiana coast line.

However, there is something bullying and petty about President Obama's tirades against BP and its Chief Executive, Tony Hayward. BP is now an Anglo-American company and it did not deliberately create the problems. Nor did it disown its responsibility for the disaster, spending enormous amounts of money in an attempt to plug the pipeline.

One can understand the frustrations of the President who Stateside appears to be getting the blame for not plugging the hole personally, although how he should do this is hard to fathom. He is not an engineer and this is not a Hollywood movie, where the leading man would have stopped the oil flow within the hour.

By lashing out at BP and its Chief Executive in particular, President Obama has acted like a bullying tyrant and anti-British to boot, with his talk of British Petroleum, a name long gone from the company. It is sad to see him behave like a typical politician, undignified and willing to point the finger of blame, instead of showing real leadership by encouraging BP in its efforts. In the long-term he would have been better respected had he done so.

Our own Prime Minister is now being accused of not taking up for Britain and will discuss the issue with the President in a telephone call later today. It is hoped he will, politely, tell the occupant of the White House to cool his temper, stop his personal attacks on Tony Hayward and instead help BP find the resources to halt the oil flow.

The President has failed to mention that BP employs more people in the United States than in the UK and spends billions finding oil to satisfy the American market. This is a time for leadership, co-operation and encouragement from the world's most powerful man. Verbally beating up Tony Hayward as he works with his team to battle against the elements is just not....well, the American way.

Diane Abbott: Is she what you might call a champagne socialist?

I do like Diane Abbott, even though she is what you might call a champagne socialist and a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to the education system. Her involvement adds a new dimension to the race for Labour leader, but the party needs to rid itself of the pretense that any of the candidates offer a real choice other than bone fide members of the establishment. I laughed loudly when someone on the radio described her as a "single mother", as if that description was going to conquer up a woman, a black woman no less, struggling to cope to raise her son in this crazy mixed-up world.

Ms. Abbott has an MA in history from Newnham College, Cambridge and has worked in the media or within the political system ever since. Her son is a product of a marriage that ended in divorce and it is unlikely that she has ever had to struggle, with her conscience or otherwise. She controversially sent her son to the private and expensive City Of London School and described her decision as "indefensible", although when it comes to their children's education, several senior members of Labour, including Tony Blair, behaved like members of the Soviet Politburo, making one law for the worker-peasants, but safeguarding other choices for themselves.

By the time of the next General Election, whoever is Labour leader will be tainted by and often reminded of their association with the previous government, the cause of so much of the pain we are about to suffer. I am already assuming Ms. Abbott will not be that leader.

David Cameron: Who's afraid of the big bad wolf.....?

Regardless of who was elected, we all knew the tough times were coming, but is David Cameron over-doing the big bad wolf melodrama, with his messages of doom and gloom, whilst his partner Nick sings us lullabies that promise a tough time, but one that will be somehow kinder than when Margaret Thatcher was in power?

 Of course, David is howling with anguish so that we all understand he inherited this lousy mess and has got to do what a man has to do, even if it will cause him and us an awful lot of pain to get the country back on track.

The cuts are a-coming and the PM assures us that everyone of us will be affected, which will delight those who feel the need to keep up with the Joneses, no matter what the cost.  

At what point after the Emergency Budget on the 22nd will the country fall out of love with the Coalition and start to look with nostalgia on the days of Gordon Brown when, no matter what the economic situation, we could rely on him to borrow to spend and save us from the pain of reality.

In fairness it was not all Labour's fault that the world's economies went belly-up, but it was unfortunate that because of the coming election, Gordon felt unable to act more honestly in dealing with the problems.  

The Coalition has some tough choices to make and come the next election it may not face a grateful nation. It is said that Labour's hierarchy and its backbenchers are much happier than they have a right to be and, one wonders, if that is because they are hoping a backlash against unpopular cuts and tax increases, may lead to a desire by the voting public for another change. And, heaven's above, a Labour government?!

Britain's Got Talent: Simon Cowell has revitalised television family viewing....

Some see it as an early warning sign of the apocalypse to come, but once again Simon Cowell and ITV have  produced the goods with the latest series of Britain's Got Talent which ended tonight. The show consistently attracted large audiences, keeping customers from cinemas, restaurants, churches and bingo halls. For the past few weeks it's likely that even yobs stayed off the streets of Britain for a family night in.

Simon Cowell has revitalised television family viewing with slick production values and entertaining, if not always, talented acts. Some will never ever be heard of again. Thank God.

Others, like Spelbound, the gymnastic group, were worthy winners of tonight's final, producing an acrobatic display that was truly breathtaking.

Much of the success of this show and X Factor is the chemistry between the judges and, on BGT, Piers Morgan, Amanda Holden and Simon himself, make a superb trio of egotistical arbiters.

The Labour Leadership Election

It is tough for Labour being the opposition party when they and we know the current Coalition is in power because Gordon Brown and his party made a real mess of things and that, in the coming years, we the voting public will pay a heavy price for the betrayal.

The Labour Leadership Election appears almost irrelevant in the current political climate which, of course, is dangerous for democracy, when a sitting government can push legislation through without a credible challenge.

The candidates for Labour leader, with the exception of Diane Abbott and John McDonnell, are tainted by their association with Blair and Brown. Whoever wins this time may just be keeping the seat warm for a new up-and-coming leader, who we have yet to know, but will have enough time to galvanise the party for the election after next.

The next but one leader of the Labour Party could very well be amongst the new intake of MPs....any bets?

Vince Cable: The man most likely to bring the whole shebang down?

If I was Cameron/Clegg, I would be worried that the man most likely to bring the whole shebang down is Vince Cable, their Business Secretary.

He now refers to his fiefdom as "the department of economic growth", but not wanting to cause offence has acknowledged that it is "complementary to the Treasury". No doubt this will reassure the PM, his deputy and the country's Chancellor, George Osborne, who perhaps was under the impression that he was in control of the nation's economics.

Vince Cable built his reputation for warning, earlier than most, about the looming recession and the dangers of consumer debt, but he appears to be lukewarm in his acceptance of the Coalition, despite his leader's total immersion in the politics of compromise.
The message Cable sends out is that of a man prepared to go along with the whole shared government thing, on condition that he is left alone to wander down whichever corridor he so chooses. One suspects that one day George will turn up at the Treasury to find Vince behind his spacious desk, checking it out for size.

But Mr. Cable's elevation to a guru of the nation, has perhaps gone to his head a little, with rumours of him working behind the scenes to enhance his own position at the expense of his colleagues, especially Mr. Osbourne.

There is deep disquiet amongst Tories over the forthcoming changes to CGT, which many feel will add so little to the Treasury coffers, but lots of grief and damage for them and their rainbow government. They are resentful that the changes are being forced through as a sop to Mr.Cable and Co. who might sulk otherwise.

And what will happen when the day comes that the Business Secretary is thwarted in achieving the rest of his agenda? Will he bow to collective cabinet responsibility, or will his ego make him walk?

Derrick Bird: What triggered his rage?

All sorts of reasons are being put forward in an attempt to explain how Derrick Bird could have acted as he did and what triggered his rage. The killings across Cumbria has caused shock, not only within that community, but in the wider world, with many questions being asked, including why the police took so long to track him down as he went about his killing spree?

The reasons include a family feud over a will, an unpaid tax bill and rows with his colleagues on the taxi rank. Derrick Bird had convictions for theft, but never served a prison sentence, which meant he was not automatically denied a gun license.

The murders appear to be both targeted and random from a man who did appear to bear grudges and had issues with particular people. Twelve people have died as a result, with others seriously injured. Whatever his rage he appeared to aim his shots at his victims faces.

There have been knee-jerk calls for a ban on guns and I am quite impressed by the reaction of David Cameron, the Prime Minister, who didn't play the political game, but instead pointed out that to own a gun in the UK requires a tough process and that you can't legislate to “stop a switch flicking in someone’s head”.

It is a sensible and mature response from a new Prime Minister who is due to visit Cumbria today.

Public Sector Fat Cats

It is about time there was outrage over the big salaries public sector fat cats appear to be awarded, with the justification that they would earn even more out in the real world. My response, after a polite snigger, is let them try then! The majority of these people have no experience other than within the public sector, where incompetency is rarely challenged and friends in high places often the only qualification.

Some of the people and their positions are just an extension of the quango-industry, which have become a shameful drain on the public finances. This new Coalition Government has promised to tackle this whole area, where bonuses are dished out regardless of performance.

But, we must be careful not to instigate a witch-hunt and frighten of real talent. Professional management skills are required in areas like the NHS and Social Services, but the expectation should be that the public sector, without the same pressures as a commercial environment, will not attract the same salaries as those in private industry, where targets and the dole queue are powerful incentives.

No one within the public sector should earn more than the Prime Minister, the holder of the top job.

Alcohol: Low-priced offers in supermarkets....

As someone who no longer drinks alcohol, I can sit in lofty judgement on the latest attempts to address the issue of low-priced offers in supermarkets and beyond.

It is now generally accepted that alcohol is probably the last and most dangerous of legal drugs sold without prescription. Abuse of it can lead to alcoholism, family break-ups, job losses and lives torn apart. What does amaze me is seeing young people who use it, not to relax in a social situation with a few drinks, but to deliberately drink themselves drunk even before heading out to "enjoy" themselves. The availability of booze does not seem to be an issue and cheap offers are a powerful incentive, but I am not convinced that raising prices will reduce the level of drinking.

I must admit I have an issue with compulsory clampdowns, as the majority of drinkers do so sensibly. What is required is more education in schools and a campaign that makes drunkenness an anti-social behaviour, instead of something to laugh and boast about, whilst nursing another hangover.

Excess drinking is not just the preserve of the young, there are middle-aged and older lives out there wrecked by the effects of this killer drug. However, moderation is everything...

Do You Need Help? AA 0845 769 7555 (UK)

Israel: Facing an International Outcry

Israel is facing an International outcry over its disastrous raid by its commandos on ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists, making efforts to deliver aid to Gaza, despite a blockade. The Israeli military were met with fierce resistance from those on board the lead ship, who used sticks, chairs and iron bars. Nineteen people have been declared killed or missing. Twenty Britons are said to be in the aid convoy, but their whereabouts are not yet known.

The blockade on Gaza has been in force by Israel for three-years and the main reason for the raid was to search for weaponry. There has been an International outcry over the invasion, with the UN Security Council meeting in New York and William Hague, amongst others, calling for an independent inquiry.

One question being asked is why the peace activists on board were waiting, ready and able to resist and there are accusations that the commandos, who were dropped from helicopters, started shooting before  landing on the ship.

The propaganda from both sides has already begun, but the outcry against Israel has been quick and fierce across the globe. Israel has handed a gift to the extremists within the Arab world, but it is unlikely we will ever know the truth of the raid.