Dear Reader,
3.50 am is, perhaps, a bit early to get up on a Sunday morning; presenting that awkward dilemma… is it too early or late for a glass of Rioja? Fortunately, unlike Mr Cameron – but six weeks or so away from having to cancel the removals van booking, I don’t have bigger issues to decide…such as finding a new Foreign Secretary, whether Ken Clarke might have been a better choice of Chancellor, whether there could be any good ideas out there on the internet to use as policies…. so I poured myself a glass and settled down to read the News of The Screws and other newspapers online.
The NOTW informed me that Jade Goody’s mother went on a ‘coke binge to mark the anniversary of her daughter’s death’, ‘Venables goes ‘crazy’ in clink’ (quite possibly from reading all the tabloid ‘exclusives’ on him), ‘Paedo on Facebook snared me in web of lies’ (Not ‘me’ being ensnared obviously) – and declined to accept an invitation from the NOTW to meet Mr Miaow Miaow online. I always try to be fair but searched in vain for anything on NOTW online which could be classed as news or of relevance to anyone that lives on Earth.
So.. it was over to The Sunday Times….online….
Not being one of the new graduates from The Laurel & Hardy Institute of Humanity Studies, I do not believe that ‘people should not ever be allowed to strike…. EVAR! ‘ (which seems to be a popular view among those wretched souls kept in a London ‘Lock up’ so they can be polled from time to time on the issues of the day… I soon got bored with the coverage in various newspapers claiming victory for one side or the other in the British Airways-Unite strike. I knew I had to read Clarkson on the matter…
Captain to striking cabin crew: boy, are you in for a shock
Clarkson does the business… and summarises the matter in his inimitable way…
“I like Virgin. And I flew Singapore Airlines recently, which was out of this world. But there is nothing quite so joyous as leaving the hustle and bustle of a superheated Third World hellhole and being greeted on the big BA jumbo by a homosexual with a cold flannel and a refreshing glass of champagne. Take that away from us and we may as well all be Belgian.”
I then turned to an interesting article in The Sunday Times…. SAS veterans join new war on poachers:Conservation Wildlife charities are using military kit and know-how in bloody battles to save species at risk
And… just in case you thought that the corruption by MPs was all done and dusted now they have (almost) all paid back what they were not entitled to by way of expenses…the Sunday Times comes up with….
Revealed: Labour’s cash for influence scandal
The Sunday Times reports: A FORMER Labour cabinet minister has boasted about how he used his government contacts to change policies in favour of businesses. Stephen Byers, former trade and transport secretary, was secretly recorded offering himself “like a sort of cab for hire” for up £5,000 a day. He also suggested bringing Tony Blair to meet clients. He was among several politicians recorded by an undercover reporter posing as a company executive looking to hire MPs for lobbying work.
“The others included…” – well… it is only fair that you read the Sunday Times story….. they did the work…it is an interesting list!
And then this… from The Observer…
Treasury calls in Vince Cable for talks on implications of a hung parliament
The Observer reports: “Vince Cable has held unprecedented and detailed talks with the top official at the Treasury about the Liberal Democrats’ economic policies – and declared himself willing to serve as chancellor after the next election. As Whitehall gears up for a possible hung parliament, Cable told the Observer that he had been questioned by Nicholas Macpherson, the Treasury’s permanent secretary, about what the Lib Dems’ demands would be in a coalition with Labour or the Tories….”
The Observer noted…“Cable was unaware of such meetings having taken place with Lib Dem shadow chancellors before previous general elections. The talks were a sign that the Treasury was “taking seriously” the prospect of his party playing a leading role in economic policy in what could be the first hung parliament since 1974.”
On the other hand… as nothing would surprise me in politics these days… it could just be some guy at The Treasury who gets up at 3.30 am, cracks open a bottle of Rioja, and decides it might be fun to phone Vince Cable….and see what happens ?
I watched Eddie Izzard on television last night – doing his 43 marathons for Sports relief... I like Eddie Izzard (How can one not?) … that was a very fine effort… and because Le Singe is, obviously, still in his tree… I am more than prepared to make a donation to Sport Relief – ordinarily, I don’t like to be told by celebrities to make donations… … but Eddie Izzard doesn’t tell… he suggests…invites… and anyone who can eat a Big Mac while doing a Marathon deserves support!
It is now 5.30 am and I am in an excellent mood… unfortunately… the cafes are not open yet… so I may have another
Best, as always
Charon
“such as finding a new Foreign Secretary … ”
It must now be a case of ‘anybody but Hague, etc., etc., etc.’ What an incompetent lot of lighweights. They should not be trusted to run a beer-up in a brewery. Well, perhaps that’s unfair: I suppose some of the Bullingdon boys could – just – be trusted to do that, after a fashion.
are you sitting in a cafe now, sugar? or passed out on a divan? as much as i like online reading, the luddite in me is looking forward to coffee, the nyt and the local paper after i drop the mother-in-law at church. i have to admit, i have a whole new appreciation for the politics of the uk these days thanks to all y’all across the pond! xoxo