The entire point of being a token Northerner in a metro centric privileged government is that any hope of a long career is shrouded by inevitable redundancy.
Eric Pickles brought very little to the cabinet table apart from a regional accent and a huge tray of free biscuits and after the election was unceremoniously told to go away and settle for a knighthood. (more…)
England victory via Getty Images
There comes a time even in the most secure of marriages, when a husband is caught bang to rights indulging in a furtive guilty pleasure. Thus, with more shame than apology, I found myself confessing that I was staying up into the early hours of the morning hunched over a computer watching groups of young, fit women throwing themselves into intense physical activity. Before attracting the attention of divorce lawyers or finding my few meagre possessions flung into the front garden, I should point out that I have become addicted to the football being played at the Women`s World Cup currently taking place in Canada. (more…)
Copyright Richard Wintle
Driving a motor vehicle a long distance between two different centres of population along a busy trunk road or motorway is not that difficult. There are, however, choices to consider and a myriad of decisions to be made on every mile of the journey. Obviously the main consideration is to arrive safely but this tends to be overshadowed by the desire to arrive safely in the shortest possible time regardless of the possibility of being burnt to death in a charred heap of crumpled metal.
So, on a long drive back from the coast after a rather splendid weekend away, uppermost in my mind was the speed at which I should approach some unforeseen bottleneck in the accompanying traffic. The trunk road in question is mostly dual carriageway but occasionally narrows to a single lane for a mile or two which will, no doubt, be improved once the Highways Agency secure the time, money and planning permission to make our journeys faster. (more…)
Copyright John Harris reportingdigital.co.uk
Next Thursday, June 18th, is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and, coincidentally, the 31st anniversary of the Battle of Orgreave. Wellington`s victory will undoubtedly be commemorated with solemnity and pride but with very little mention of Field Marshal Blücher. Orgreave, on the other hand, is being commemorated with bucket loads of official whitewash.
In June 1984, at the height of the miner`s strike, the Orgreave coking plant near Rotherham was subject to an NUM picket. It seems that some of the striking miners were playing football when mounted riot police launched a baton charge. The pickets tried to run away and as the re-grouped forces of Marshal Blücher were unlikely to appear over the horizon, the miners attempted to defend themselves. There were numerous injuries on both sides. (more…)
Not 911 via Reuters
There was a time in this sceptred isle when bank managers were considered to be fine, upstanding pillars of society; wise, avuncular, prudent and honest guardians of the fortunes or poverty of society. Sadly, all that has changed and Mr Mainwaring for all his pomposity is long gone and has been replaced by a call centre in Mumbai and a gangster in Canary Wharf.
Consider the actions of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Having been repeatedly found guilty of all manner of criminality, HSBC have announced that they intend to leave this sceptred isle for good because of impertinent investigation of wrongdoing, unacceptable corporation tax and a cruel and unjust banking levy. Along with money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, illegal rate rigging and stashing the cash of dictators and terrorists, we can now add blackmail to the charge sheet. (more…)
The Plastic Hippo 