This is from Canadian TV
Now according to the respected medical journal 'The Lancet' anything from 1% of the population to 30% (in Liverpool dirty scousers!) were fathered by someone other than their "father". I only just found this link, I'll do a search of the Lancet in a minute, but it ties in with what I was thinking after watching the recent Channel 4 documentary 100% English, where we saw Garry Bushell find out he was actually part African and Carol Thatcher find out she was 25% Middle eastern, the funniest moments were the Woman who said you had to be able to trace your family tree back to Hastings to be classed as English threatening to sue the programme makers for revealing she was half Romany, and the mad old Diana Mosley wannabe (who was ranting on about gollywhitewogs, whatever they are) and turned out to be a mixture of East Asian and Red Indian!
I think the documentary makers being obvious metropolitan liberals were a bit disappointed to get sensible reactions from Bushell and a young squaddie (25% Balkan if I remember right) who took it in their stride, the squaddie in particular making the point that seeing your true origins might make the more racist amongst us think again.
An honourable mention must go to the patriotic woman from Grimsby who was the most English of all (99% or something) who said that Ian Wright was a true Englishman, unlike some Anglo-Saxons.
Anyway back to my point, all these people were convinced that their families were English going back generations on all sides, DNA tests proved them wrong, which just goes to make you wonder what their Grandmothers were getting up to... It also makes me think about all this family tree searching people seem to be doing recently, fair play but maybe combining it with a DNA test would help to give a fuller picture.
Monday, 18 December 2006
Wedding belles
Matt Lucas from Little Britain has got married in a panto style ceremony
The bit that really got me is that Phil and Peggy Mitchell of Eastenders turned up as The Demon Prince and Fairy Godmother! That's celebs for you, unfortunately I can't find a pic of them so here's one of Elton and David.
(sorry for the Heat magazine style post but my blogging partner has fled to Spain for Christmas and won't be back to the middle of next week, I'll be picking up the slack until then)
Farepack victim's letter to Clive Thompson's wife
I do not like to harp on about a subject;
Here is an excerpt from a letter sent to Sir Clive Thompson's wife by the dinner ladies at Taylor High School in Motherwell
So Mrs Thompson, we wish you, your husband and family no ill will or malice, in fact we hope that you all have a truly wonderful Christmas, as it will at least give us some sense of satisfaction to know that your family is at least reaping the benefits of the values that we had instilled in us as children, that if we wanted something we worked for it, and by us doing so it may not have proved very beneficial for us or our families, but, on Christmas morning, when you turn over in bed, and your husband hands you a gift, beautifully wrapped, and in the moment before you unwrap it, when you are feeling excited, and wondering what it contains, could you just stop a minute, and ask yourself, as a mother, "BY THE SWEAT OF WHO'S BROW WAS THIS GIFT PAID FOR?" and then think about some poor child, not in some third world country, but in Great Britain, who is at this same moment sitting in their not so luxurious home, and wondering why Santa didn't bring them what they had dreamed of, then open your gift and try to feel excited about it. Now tell us, would you like it to happen to your child? If your answer is no, then perhaps you are a caring mother after all, a caring mother does not only care for her own children. But if this letter has left you unaffected by the distress and disappointment caused to lots of families, by a company that your husband is chairman of, then we would say that you and your husband deserve each other, an we hope you never find yourself in this position as people will never forget it nor will they ever let you.
Yours Sincerely
More info can be found at;
http://www.unfairpak.co.uk/
I reckon the Farepack victims would have been better off going to Credit Unions, a vastly under used and under rated resource for those on low incomes. There's a good article here
on the top notch Liverpool Times website, the article on Irish credit unions is especially enlightening.
Here is an excerpt from a letter sent to Sir Clive Thompson's wife by the dinner ladies at Taylor High School in Motherwell
So Mrs Thompson, we wish you, your husband and family no ill will or malice, in fact we hope that you all have a truly wonderful Christmas, as it will at least give us some sense of satisfaction to know that your family is at least reaping the benefits of the values that we had instilled in us as children, that if we wanted something we worked for it, and by us doing so it may not have proved very beneficial for us or our families, but, on Christmas morning, when you turn over in bed, and your husband hands you a gift, beautifully wrapped, and in the moment before you unwrap it, when you are feeling excited, and wondering what it contains, could you just stop a minute, and ask yourself, as a mother, "BY THE SWEAT OF WHO'S BROW WAS THIS GIFT PAID FOR?" and then think about some poor child, not in some third world country, but in Great Britain, who is at this same moment sitting in their not so luxurious home, and wondering why Santa didn't bring them what they had dreamed of, then open your gift and try to feel excited about it. Now tell us, would you like it to happen to your child? If your answer is no, then perhaps you are a caring mother after all, a caring mother does not only care for her own children. But if this letter has left you unaffected by the distress and disappointment caused to lots of families, by a company that your husband is chairman of, then we would say that you and your husband deserve each other, an we hope you never find yourself in this position as people will never forget it nor will they ever let you.
Yours Sincerely
More info can be found at;
http://www.unfairpak.co.uk/
I reckon the Farepack victims would have been better off going to Credit Unions, a vastly under used and under rated resource for those on low incomes. There's a good article here
on the top notch Liverpool Times website, the article on Irish credit unions is especially enlightening.
Sunday, 17 December 2006
Don't panic Captain Mainwaring!
I've nicked this from Ken Macleod's Early days of a Better Nation blog
I think it's well worth a look if you're interested in the contributions of socialists and anti fascists to the war effort, look beyond the pacifist nuts at the real socialists...
'A Popular Front in arms'
Home Guard Socialism: A vision of a People's Army
by Stephen Cullen
Copyright, Allotment Hut Booklets
Price:3.00. Available for cash, UK stamps, or sterling cheque made out to the author at 76 Hanworth Road, Warwick, CV34 5DX
The BBC comedy series Dad's Army has probably done more to shape the popular memory of the Home Guard, Britain's WW2 volunteer defence force, than any other source. Good though the laughs are, this is a shame, because the Home Guard was a serious organization whose history has some significance today and may have more in the future. Stephen Cullen, an anti-militarist with a sound knowledge of military history, here provides a clear, well-documented and non-sectarian introduction to one aspect of the Home Guard's history that deserves to be better known: the key role of a small group of socialists and Spanish Civil War veterans in its initial organization, in the training of thousands of its members, and in the popularization of its ideas and methods to a readership that extended well beyond the Home Guard itself. Tom Wintringham's New Ways of War (1940), and 'Yank' Levy's Guerrilla Warfare (1941), both Penguin Specials, provided their readers with the political rationale and the military tactics of guerrilla warfare as a method of national and popular resistance to mechanized warfare and fascist occupation. Guerrilla Warfare is a severely practical manual: Levy's personal experience ranged from the Royal Fusiliers through the Mexican Revolution and Sandino's struggle in Nicaragua to the British battalion of the International Brigades. He drew also on the contemporary experiences of the Soviet and Chinese partisans. It's a long way from Captain Mainwaring's comical crew.
Stephen Cullen's pamphlet provides a wealth of fascinating information about Wintringham, Levy and their comrades, the 'Osterley Park socialists', and their vision of a People's Army. It leaves its readers to reflect on the curious and unsettling fact that in the national and social crisis of 1940, the one moment in the twentieth century in Britain when an armed people led by socialists was an urgent necessity and was rapidly becoming a practical reality, the great majority of Britain's radical socialists were otherwise engaged.
Why don't you run for parliament?
That's what a mate asked me in the pub last night, when I was expanding on my political views in a Guinness fueled rant. Well first of all it's not likely a pro-English independence socialist candidate would get elected, secondly er it's not likely I'd get elected if I was running for a mainstream party, thirdly if I was democratically elected by a significant section of the local population, I wouldn't be able to take my seat. No, I'm not an undischarged bankrupt or electoral fraudster, I'm a republican and as the Centre for Citizenship say here that disqualifies me from membership of our so called mother of parliaments...
Surely if we were a real modern democratic society, Members of Parliament would have to take a pledge of allegiance to the people, or some such formulation, not to Mrs Windsor, why should I make any extra effort to defend this woman just because her ancestors robbed more land than mine?
Meanwhile here is a spoof of the oath of allegiance that immigrants must make before getting British citizenship. Well spoof or just reading between the lines of what the oath really says? Now whatever your views on immigration, why should Liz and her parasitical intellectually sub normal family be first on the list? And why should authority derive from the crown? The only people who can grant authority is us, 'The People'.
Fourth in the table!
Fans' eye view on Saints getting to fourth in the table (that's self indulgent footie news for you nonsporting types ;-) ), Ugly Inside have this article on the possibilities of promotion
Meanwhile to keep with the England theme of the blog, our blind cricketers could probably show the so called able bodied team a thing or two, we've just lost out in the semis of the world cup
I'm a bit worried about that "Proud to Patronise" banner behind them...
Saturday, 16 December 2006
What sort of nationalism?
Another plug for toque, a post on what we should be aiming for in English nationalism, while here newera has a perhaps more idealistic (but no less valid) conception of what he means by it. I'd say my own view falls somewhere between the two.
Friday, 15 December 2006
MP's views on the campaign for an English national anthem
here
Dear oh dear, talk about mealy mouthed politicans.
Thanks to Little Man Toque for drawing my attention to it in his reply to this post
Not being convinced by the choice of words is not an excuse to not support the motion, lets establish the principle of a national anthem then argue over it's content.
Dear oh dear, talk about mealy mouthed politicans.
Thanks to Little Man Toque for drawing my attention to it in his reply to this post
Not being convinced by the choice of words is not an excuse to not support the motion, lets establish the principle of a national anthem then argue over it's content.
I'm a little angel
target="new">
How evil are you?
According to this anyway, thanks to Not Saussure for this
I don't see how a gun would make me more angelic
How evil are you?
According to this anyway, thanks to Not Saussure for this
I don't see how a gun would make me more angelic
Farepack update
Well, at least they're getting something
Well done to everyone who has donated something to the victims. Still it's a shame to see the scum who stole the money in the first place (the company's owners) getting away with it.
Well done to everyone who has donated something to the victims. Still it's a shame to see the scum who stole the money in the first place (the company's owners) getting away with it.
This is what I want for Christmas
Hey forget the bad taste
You do get the chance to play for the anti christ's team, but they can't win.
As based on the books by this bloke. No one mention transvestite serial killer lookalikes please!
Morning after pill "controversy"
Frankly unlike Bel over here
I can't see what all the fuss is about, morning after pills should be available for free when required like any other medication, subject to the same health considerations of course.
"Call me ignorant, but I thought that the general aim of a charity was to benefit society."
I'm not sure about ignorant, but you are wrong. Charities are supposed to benefit who or whatever they say they want to benefit, or push whatever line they say they want to push. As it happens I think they are benefiting society by putting these ideas forward.
I can't see what all the fuss is about, morning after pills should be available for free when required like any other medication, subject to the same health considerations of course.
"Call me ignorant, but I thought that the general aim of a charity was to benefit society."
I'm not sure about ignorant, but you are wrong. Charities are supposed to benefit who or whatever they say they want to benefit, or push whatever line they say they want to push. As it happens I think they are benefiting society by putting these ideas forward.
Serious fraud probe dropped
What a surprise the government and the Serious Fraud Office have dropped the corruption probe into BAE's dealings with the Saudis
The only surprising thing was that they were probing it in the first place. And to claim they are dictching the probe on grounds of 'national security' is a laugh.
It just goes to show that where cash is concerned principles go out the window. Another issue of course is all the fuss about muslim women and the veil, the government seems to be happy to jump on the hysterical bandwagon over that, complete with one of their MPs (Jack Straw) demanding muslim women strip before he will see them in his office - and yet they are quite happy to take the money and run when it comes to dealing with a vile Islamo-fascist regime, that happens to have a lot of oil money.
The excellent Chicken Yoghurt looks into the issue in more depth here, and raises some other points
Blogging to peak next year
According to this report on the BBC
It will reach a peak of around 100 million bloggers, with 200 million having already stopped.
I wonder how long I'll keep this one up.
It will reach a peak of around 100 million bloggers, with 200 million having already stopped.
I wonder how long I'll keep this one up.
"68% of English want own Parliament"
This is from the Telegraph, cut and pasted so we don't lose it.
Britain wants UK break up, poll shows
By Patrick Hennessy and Melissa Kite, Sunday Telegraph, 26/11/2006
The United Kingdom should be broken up and Scotland and England set free as independent nations, according to a huge number of voters on both sides of the border.
A clear majority of people in both England and Scotland are in favour of full independence for Scotland, an ICM opinion poll for The Sunday Telegraph has found. Independence is backed by 52 per cent of Scots while an astonishing 59 per cent of English voters want Scotland to go it alone.
There is also further evidence of rising English nationalism with support for the establishment of an English parliament hitting an historic high of 68 per cent amongst English voters. Almost half – 48 per cent – also want complete independence for England, divorcing itself from Wales and Northern Ireland as well. Scottish voters also back an English breakaway with 58 per cent supporting an English parliament with similar powers to the Scottish one.
The poll comes only months before the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union between England and Scotland and will worry all three main political parties. None of them favours Scottish independence, but all have begun internal debates on the future of the constitution.
The dramatic findings came as Gordon Brown, the favourite to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister, delivered an impassioned defence of the Union at Labour's Scottish conference in Oban yesterday.
In an attack on the Scottish National Party, against whom Labour will fight a bitter battle for control of the Edinburgh-based parliament next May, the Chancellor claimed: "We should never let the Nationalists deceive people into believing that you can break up the United Kingdom."
The ICM poll told a very different story, however, with 60 per cent of English voters complaining that higher levels of public spending per head of the population in Scotland were "unjustified", compared to 28 per cent claiming they were justified. Even among Scots, 36 per cent said the system was unfair, with only 51 per cent supporting it.
Voters also had serious concerns about the so-called West Lothian Question, the ability of Scottish MPs at Westminster to vote on solely English matters while many purely Scottish issues are decided in Edinburgh. Sixty-two per cent of English voters want Scottish MPs stripped of this right and even 46 per cent of Scots agreed. The poll showed that the English are more likely to think of themselves as British than the Scots are. Only 16 per cent of English people said they were "English, not British", compared to 26 per cent of Scots who said they were "Scottish, not British."
In the sporting arena, 70 per cent of English people said they would support a Scottish team playing football or rugby against a nation other than England. But, when the question was put to Scots, only 48 per cent said they would back England with 34 per cent supporting their opponents, no matter which country it was.
While I certainly don't agree with all the reasons given in the article why English people want independence or a parliament, I can't disagree with the conclusions. We want our own government, we want to be recognised as a nation in our own right - and the only people trying to stop us are the political establishment.
This isn't about England Vs Scotland, but about the people Vs the politicans.
Apologies for the old news, I'll make sure my second post is more upto date.
Britain wants UK break up, poll shows
By Patrick Hennessy and Melissa Kite, Sunday Telegraph, 26/11/2006
The United Kingdom should be broken up and Scotland and England set free as independent nations, according to a huge number of voters on both sides of the border.
A clear majority of people in both England and Scotland are in favour of full independence for Scotland, an ICM opinion poll for The Sunday Telegraph has found. Independence is backed by 52 per cent of Scots while an astonishing 59 per cent of English voters want Scotland to go it alone.
There is also further evidence of rising English nationalism with support for the establishment of an English parliament hitting an historic high of 68 per cent amongst English voters. Almost half – 48 per cent – also want complete independence for England, divorcing itself from Wales and Northern Ireland as well. Scottish voters also back an English breakaway with 58 per cent supporting an English parliament with similar powers to the Scottish one.
The poll comes only months before the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union between England and Scotland and will worry all three main political parties. None of them favours Scottish independence, but all have begun internal debates on the future of the constitution.
The dramatic findings came as Gordon Brown, the favourite to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister, delivered an impassioned defence of the Union at Labour's Scottish conference in Oban yesterday.
In an attack on the Scottish National Party, against whom Labour will fight a bitter battle for control of the Edinburgh-based parliament next May, the Chancellor claimed: "We should never let the Nationalists deceive people into believing that you can break up the United Kingdom."
The ICM poll told a very different story, however, with 60 per cent of English voters complaining that higher levels of public spending per head of the population in Scotland were "unjustified", compared to 28 per cent claiming they were justified. Even among Scots, 36 per cent said the system was unfair, with only 51 per cent supporting it.
Voters also had serious concerns about the so-called West Lothian Question, the ability of Scottish MPs at Westminster to vote on solely English matters while many purely Scottish issues are decided in Edinburgh. Sixty-two per cent of English voters want Scottish MPs stripped of this right and even 46 per cent of Scots agreed. The poll showed that the English are more likely to think of themselves as British than the Scots are. Only 16 per cent of English people said they were "English, not British", compared to 26 per cent of Scots who said they were "Scottish, not British."
In the sporting arena, 70 per cent of English people said they would support a Scottish team playing football or rugby against a nation other than England. But, when the question was put to Scots, only 48 per cent said they would back England with 34 per cent supporting their opponents, no matter which country it was.
While I certainly don't agree with all the reasons given in the article why English people want independence or a parliament, I can't disagree with the conclusions. We want our own government, we want to be recognised as a nation in our own right - and the only people trying to stop us are the political establishment.
This isn't about England Vs Scotland, but about the people Vs the politicans.
Apologies for the old news, I'll make sure my second post is more upto date.
Border issue barrier to split?
Scaremongering in the 'Scotsman' today
What a load of cobblers, as Alex Salmond points out border controls and migration between the UK and the Irish Republic have hardly been strictly enforced even during the height of the troubles. All Scotland would have to do is remain part of the 'Common Travel Area' that involves Britain and Ireland. My wife's family are Irish catholics with members living on both sides of the border, most of them don't even bother with dual citizenship it's just not an issue for them, and I don't see why it would be between to other independent states.
What a load of cobblers, as Alex Salmond points out border controls and migration between the UK and the Irish Republic have hardly been strictly enforced even during the height of the troubles. All Scotland would have to do is remain part of the 'Common Travel Area' that involves Britain and Ireland. My wife's family are Irish catholics with members living on both sides of the border, most of them don't even bother with dual citizenship it's just not an issue for them, and I don't see why it would be between to other independent states.
Bumper crop of blueberries found on Mars
According to New Scientist here
Alright so not quite as exciting as the headline made it sound, like everything when it comes to Mars exploration, hey we've found canals - no, sorry they're giant cracks, hey there's green vegetation - sorry it was a stain on the telescope or something, hey we've found a giant face - oops no sorry shadow and crater, hey we've found a rock in Antarctica that's from Mars and got fossilised microbes - ha! I'm not falling for that again, the microbes could from Earth right?
You've cried wolf too many times Mars experts...
Thursday, 14 December 2006
Blogpower and the end of futurism...
I found this on blather, the excellent Dublin site
Blather interviewee Bruce Sterling pens his last wired.com article:
"The future of the Internet lies not with institutions but with individuals. Low-cost connections will proliferate, encouraging creativity, collaboration, and telecommuting. The Net itself will recede into the background. If you're under 21, you likely don't care much about any supposed difference between virtual and actual, online and off. That's because the two realms are penetrating each other; Google Earth mingles with Google Maps, and daily life shows up on Flickr. Like the real world, the Net will be increasingly international and decreasingly reliant on English. It will be wrapped in a Chinese kung fu outfit, intoned in an Indian accent, oozing Brazilian sex appeal."
Here's the full article
This seems to tie in to some of the ideas expressed here by James Higham and friends...
the idea of co-operation between a loose network of small blogs...
I'd even go as far as wondering whether the internet itself is "dead" - do people actually still spend hours browsing randomly like they used to? I know that for the last couple of years I've pretty much only gone to sites I already know, or on the recomendations of others.
Blather interviewee Bruce Sterling pens his last wired.com article:
"The future of the Internet lies not with institutions but with individuals. Low-cost connections will proliferate, encouraging creativity, collaboration, and telecommuting. The Net itself will recede into the background. If you're under 21, you likely don't care much about any supposed difference between virtual and actual, online and off. That's because the two realms are penetrating each other; Google Earth mingles with Google Maps, and daily life shows up on Flickr. Like the real world, the Net will be increasingly international and decreasingly reliant on English. It will be wrapped in a Chinese kung fu outfit, intoned in an Indian accent, oozing Brazilian sex appeal."
Here's the full article
This seems to tie in to some of the ideas expressed here by James Higham and friends...
the idea of co-operation between a loose network of small blogs...
I'd even go as far as wondering whether the internet itself is "dead" - do people actually still spend hours browsing randomly like they used to? I know that for the last couple of years I've pretty much only gone to sites I already know, or on the recomendations of others.
Our jolly scottish cousins
This picture shows what fun it must be attending socialist rallys in Scotland... Hmmm... OK
Why choose that flag then?
Just in case anyone is wondering what that green and red flag with a white dragon is all about... The honest answer is that I like designing flags. The political answer is that while I don't have a problem with the English flag, I've got a sticker on my car after all - I reckon the ideal of English Republicanism needs another symbol, one that can be exclusively associated with it.
Well the White dragon allegedly comes from King Alfred's battle standard and is an excepted symbol of ango-saxon England, also white is the colour of peace, not surrender contrary to popular belief - and a white dragon could symbolise a peaceful nation that is prepared to defend itself.
Pictures in books show 17th century revolutionaries like the diggers and levellers with green flags - green was the colour of 18th century radicals because it was the "commoners' colour" and therefore seen as democratic. There's also all the images and descriptions of 'A green and pleasant land' of course.
Red needs no introduction as the colour of the international working class and labour movement.
Also Red and White are the colours of the English flag, and the Welsh flag has a similar design.
I propose that any lefties or democrats that support the campaigns for an English parliament or for outright independence print off copies of this design, for stickers, posters or leaflets.
If you want - and stick the picture on your blogs and websites. Maybe it'll catch on.
Well the White dragon allegedly comes from King Alfred's battle standard and is an excepted symbol of ango-saxon England, also white is the colour of peace, not surrender contrary to popular belief - and a white dragon could symbolise a peaceful nation that is prepared to defend itself.
Pictures in books show 17th century revolutionaries like the diggers and levellers with green flags - green was the colour of 18th century radicals because it was the "commoners' colour" and therefore seen as democratic. There's also all the images and descriptions of 'A green and pleasant land' of course.
Red needs no introduction as the colour of the international working class and labour movement.
Also Red and White are the colours of the English flag, and the Welsh flag has a similar design.
I propose that any lefties or democrats that support the campaigns for an English parliament or for outright independence print off copies of this design, for stickers, posters or leaflets.
If you want - and stick the picture on your blogs and websites. Maybe it'll catch on.
Transistria's president returned to office
Wikipedia article here
The happy chappie is Igor Smirnov of the Respublika party. He has been the President of this internationally unrecognised 'democracy' since 1990.
According to Wikipedia, this little nation despite not really existing has more names than most 'real' countries!
"Other names in use
In Russian, the names used for Transnistria are always consistently either Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica or Pridnestrovie (the two official names, long- and short- respectively). However, in English a wide variety of names have been used to describe the region, among them: Trans-Dniester, Transdnistria, Transdniestria, Transdniestr, Trans-Dniestria, Transdniester, Transniestria, Transdnestr, also Trans-Dnjestr and Trans-Dnjester.
The government of Moldova refers to the region Stînga Nistrului, which means "Left Bank of the Nistru" although in in the Moldovan Latin script, the official name is Republica Moldovenească Nistreană (which translates to English as "Nistrian Moldovan Republic"). The European Court of Human Rights used the name Moldavian Republic of Transdniestria or Moldovan Republic of Transnistria (MRT), while OSCE and others sometimes refer to it as the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic (TMR). Author Charles King, in his book The Moldovans, uses the names Dnestr Republic and Dnestr Moldovan Republic (DMR)."
How many post offices to close?
According to this, up to 3,000 many of them in rural areas. So the government wants to cut car use but is forcing more rural people to drive more often. OK that makes perfect sense. Actually this about more 'rationalisation' it's about making the Royal Mail fit for final privatisation.
"You cannot carry on putting a massive amount of public subsidy into this"
Prime Minister Tony Blair
And yet you can continue putting a massive public susbsidy into the arms trade, which employs fewer people, you can continue to subsidise America's war in Iraq - but when it comes to providing subsidies for normal people, that's a different matter.
"You cannot carry on putting a massive amount of public subsidy into this"
Prime Minister Tony Blair
And yet you can continue putting a massive public susbsidy into the arms trade, which employs fewer people, you can continue to subsidise America's war in Iraq - but when it comes to providing subsidies for normal people, that's a different matter.
The English are racist!
Aren't we? You know a lot of people on the left and in liberal circles (mostly the middle classes it seems) like to claim that the english are racist and so is any attempt at fostering an English identity.
Well no... Surely rather than criticising the behaviour of people around the world cup and other big events, why not encourage people to come together under a shared English identity?
Rather than encouraging people to describe themselves as "Afro-carribean" or Muslim, or "Anglo-Saxon" why not just say English?
Maybe that gay English flag is just another example of the latent fascism of the English people...
The Visual Front
On a lighter note, I've found this cool site that gives me an excuse to attempt posting my first picture!
It's full of posters (mostly republican) from the Spanish Civil War, probably the last time republicans, socialists, communists, and anarchists were all too briefly united in a common front against the true enemy.
This poster says that "saving the crop is the same as defeating the enemy in battle".
Where's the logic?
One question that keeps returning to the lips of politicans and journalists during this terrible story
is "How can a tiny police force like Suffolk handle such a large case?" "Wouldn't a merged East Anglian force be more efficient?"
Well, at the moment Suffolk is able (and is doing) to call neighbouring forces for any help they require. If the forces had been merged considering one of the arguments in favour of merger (the main one in fact) was economies of scale if anything they'd have to go even further afield to find the manpower they needed since departments would have been merged and cut and officers would have been redeployed all in the name of effiency.
Still it wouldn't surprise me if this was the news story required to reignite the debate.
is "How can a tiny police force like Suffolk handle such a large case?" "Wouldn't a merged East Anglian force be more efficient?"
Well, at the moment Suffolk is able (and is doing) to call neighbouring forces for any help they require. If the forces had been merged considering one of the arguments in favour of merger (the main one in fact) was economies of scale if anything they'd have to go even further afield to find the manpower they needed since departments would have been merged and cut and officers would have been redeployed all in the name of effiency.
Still it wouldn't surprise me if this was the news story required to reignite the debate.
The West Lothian Answer
The West Lothian Question was named after the MP for that constituency the mighty democrat Tam Dalyell.
"For how long will English constituencies and English Honourable members tolerate... at least 119 Honourable Members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on British politics while they themselves have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?"
I think it's a stupid question - why should English MPs who have consistantly refused to back an English parliament punish our neighbours for demanding their democratic rights? The real question is not about so called celtic over-representation at Westminster, but English under-representation in our own country.
Tam was a fantastic politican, a true blue old school representative - but he was wrong on this issue.
"For how long will English constituencies and English Honourable members tolerate... at least 119 Honourable Members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on British politics while they themselves have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?"
I think it's a stupid question - why should English MPs who have consistantly refused to back an English parliament punish our neighbours for demanding their democratic rights? The real question is not about so called celtic over-representation at Westminster, but English under-representation in our own country.
Tam was a fantastic politican, a true blue old school representative - but he was wrong on this issue.
St Edmund, rightful patron of England?
St Edmund Blog
According to this fellow St Edmund, an east Anglian king was the patron saint of England until the 13th Century and was only replaced with St George the Palestinian as part of erasing the anglo saxon heritage of England.
Well I'm not sure about that, some of my fellow English patriots seem to have an unhealthy obsession with the idea of a Norman conspiracy to destroy the anglo saxons. I reckon St George was actually made patron saint to help drum up support for the crusades if anything. If I wasnt very tired at the moment (I am) I'd try and make a joke about George Bush and George Galloway but I really can't be arsed.
Anway whatever the reason, I'm not bothered really the idea of a patron saint at it's best should be so we have an excuse for a piss up and a day off work on their holiday - maybe we could have two patron saints.
Wikipedia article here
According to this fellow St Edmund, an east Anglian king was the patron saint of England until the 13th Century and was only replaced with St George the Palestinian as part of erasing the anglo saxon heritage of England.
Well I'm not sure about that, some of my fellow English patriots seem to have an unhealthy obsession with the idea of a Norman conspiracy to destroy the anglo saxons. I reckon St George was actually made patron saint to help drum up support for the crusades if anything. If I wasnt very tired at the moment (I am) I'd try and make a joke about George Bush and George Galloway but I really can't be arsed.
Anway whatever the reason, I'm not bothered really the idea of a patron saint at it's best should be so we have an excuse for a piss up and a day off work on their holiday - maybe we could have two patron saints.
Wikipedia article here
An English National Anthem
Billy Bragg, singer songwriter and leftwing English patriot on the subject, for the Daily Mirror.
How right he is as well It's a hoary old cliche to point out that at football and rugby internationals the Scots and the Welsh have their own national anthems to proudly sing, English players have to mumble and mime along to a British song about a god they mostly don't believe in saving an elderly German immigrant...
This quote in particular sums up the case for Jerusalem
"Jerusalem would also make a great anthem for England because it's a song about idealism. While the Scottish anthem, Flower of Scotland, goes on about beating the English 600 years ago, Jerusalem talks of the future, of fighting for something yet to be achieved "till we have built Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land".
How right he is as well It's a hoary old cliche to point out that at football and rugby internationals the Scots and the Welsh have their own national anthems to proudly sing, English players have to mumble and mime along to a British song about a god they mostly don't believe in saving an elderly German immigrant...
This quote in particular sums up the case for Jerusalem
"Jerusalem would also make a great anthem for England because it's a song about idealism. While the Scottish anthem, Flower of Scotland, goes on about beating the English 600 years ago, Jerusalem talks of the future, of fighting for something yet to be achieved "till we have built Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land".
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
Trade Union funding of Labour to be slashed?
BBC story here...
"Labour anger over funding plans
Chequebook
All the parties say they want more transparency in funding
There has been an angry response from Labour MPs to the suggestion that there might be a £50,000 limit on political donations, including from trade unions.
Sir Hayden Phillips, who is reviewing political funding, has suggested such a cap be phased in over four years.
Labour MP John McDonnell said this would break the "historic link" with unions, and suggested this was Tony Blair's "hidden agenda".
An emergency meeting of Labour's ruling body has been called for Thursday.
I see no reason why donations from trade unions should be exempt from the cap
Sir Hayden Phillips
There has been no official word from Downing Street on whether Mr Blair supports a cap on donations.
But Mr McDonnell, a left-wing Labour MP who has said he will stand against Gordon Brown to replace Mr Blair when he steps down, said "it looks as though the prime minister is backing these proposals".
Sir Hayden was asked by Tony Blair to examine whether agreement could be reached over changes to party funding following the emergence of the "cash for honours" allegations.
Those allegations, which are denied by all concerned, are that honours have been given to people in return for people donating, or lending, money to political parties".
Well my immeadiate knee jerk reaction as a trade unionist is good! It's depressing seeing money which goes into the union's political fund to be used for campaigning for the members being used to bankroll a party that sent working class lads out to kill or be killed on behalf of the US, a party that is selling off council housing, and robbing the pension fund.
Of course McDonnell (who is a decent bloke, though a complete dreamer) is right that Tony wants to cut the link and abandon the unions for good, well maybe it will work out in the interests of union members in the end.
"Labour anger over funding plans
Chequebook
All the parties say they want more transparency in funding
There has been an angry response from Labour MPs to the suggestion that there might be a £50,000 limit on political donations, including from trade unions.
Sir Hayden Phillips, who is reviewing political funding, has suggested such a cap be phased in over four years.
Labour MP John McDonnell said this would break the "historic link" with unions, and suggested this was Tony Blair's "hidden agenda".
An emergency meeting of Labour's ruling body has been called for Thursday.
I see no reason why donations from trade unions should be exempt from the cap
Sir Hayden Phillips
There has been no official word from Downing Street on whether Mr Blair supports a cap on donations.
But Mr McDonnell, a left-wing Labour MP who has said he will stand against Gordon Brown to replace Mr Blair when he steps down, said "it looks as though the prime minister is backing these proposals".
Sir Hayden was asked by Tony Blair to examine whether agreement could be reached over changes to party funding following the emergence of the "cash for honours" allegations.
Those allegations, which are denied by all concerned, are that honours have been given to people in return for people donating, or lending, money to political parties".
Well my immeadiate knee jerk reaction as a trade unionist is good! It's depressing seeing money which goes into the union's political fund to be used for campaigning for the members being used to bankroll a party that sent working class lads out to kill or be killed on behalf of the US, a party that is selling off council housing, and robbing the pension fund.
Of course McDonnell (who is a decent bloke, though a complete dreamer) is right that Tony wants to cut the link and abandon the unions for good, well maybe it will work out in the interests of union members in the end.
Buy this book!
http://books.guardian.co.uk/extracts/story/0,6761,1252913,00.html
'The Likes of us' by Micheal Collins (no not that one!) it's about the history of the white, english working class from a class based stand point. Very inspiring and well worth a read, though the conclusions in the last chapter spoil it a little bit!
'The Likes of us' by Micheal Collins (no not that one!) it's about the history of the white, english working class from a class based stand point. Very inspiring and well worth a read, though the conclusions in the last chapter spoil it a little bit!
Send 'em back where they came from!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/default.stm
According to this BBC report there are 5.5 Million British born people living outside the UK, bloody immigrants!. Seriously though, it does put some of the anti immigrant hysteria in proportion!
Country name Resident Britons
Australia 1,300,000
Spain 761,000
United States 678,000
Canada 603,000
Ireland 291,000
New Zealand 215,000
South Africa 212,000
France 200,000
And according to this...
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1312
In 2001 4.9 Million of the UK's population were born outside the country! And of course quite a few of those born outside were actually born to forces personel and surely can't be classed as immigrants.
According to this BBC report there are 5.5 Million British born people living outside the UK, bloody immigrants!. Seriously though, it does put some of the anti immigrant hysteria in proportion!
Country name Resident Britons
Australia 1,300,000
Spain 761,000
United States 678,000
Canada 603,000
Ireland 291,000
New Zealand 215,000
South Africa 212,000
France 200,000
And according to this...
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1312
In 2001 4.9 Million of the UK's population were born outside the country! And of course quite a few of those born outside were actually born to forces personel and surely can't be classed as immigrants.
An excellent leftist defence of Scottish Independence
http://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization-institutions_government/scottish_independence_4141.jsp
This statement pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter...
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/iain_macwhirter/2006/12/scotland_isnt_subsidised.html
This another decent article on why Scotland isn't subsidised by England.
Both these articles were found on Kevin Williamson's excellent blog, which can be found on the links list.
This statement pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter...
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/iain_macwhirter/2006/12/scotland_isnt_subsidised.html
This another decent article on why Scotland isn't subsidised by England.
Both these articles were found on Kevin Williamson's excellent blog, which can be found on the links list.
Victory for anti-war protestors and civil liberties!
This sort of thing is all too rare nowadays, fairplay to the Law Lords for upholding the right to protest
What is Republicanism?
"Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, with an emphasis on Liberty and ruled by the people. Republicanism always stands in opposition to monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy and dictatorship. More broadly, it refers to a political system that protects liberty, especially by incorporating a rule of law that cannot be arbitrarily ignored by the government. Much of the literature deals with the issue of what sort of values and behavior by the citizens is necessary if the republic is to survive and flourish; the emphasis has been on widespread citizen participation, civic virtue, and opposition to corruption. Supporters of republicanism argue that it demands a citizenry that puts a premium on civil virtue and opposes corruption, republicanism is incompatible with office holders using public power for personal gain".
The extract above pretty much sums up Republicanism for me.
The extract above pretty much sums up Republicanism for me.
England Abandoned?
For too long it seems as if the idea of an independent England has been ignored by the 'Left' and the field had been abandoned to the right and far-right lunatic fringe. Scotland has the pro-independence/nationalist parties, the SNP, SSP, and Greens, all of them are progressive and centre-left or far left, Wales has Plaid Cymru a proudly democratic socialist nationalist party, even Cornwall has Mebyon Kernow who describe themselves as 'green social democrats'.
An independent English Republic, that no longer flies the butcher's apron, that is free from the dreadful legacy of monarchy and empire, that can take it's place alongside free and independent equal neighbours, in the world community of Nations is surely a goal many Socialists and Democrats can identify with?
The fact is as Scotland and Wales move towards greater devolution and possibly outright independence, the rumblings of discontent in England will grow. Well that's fine, but at the moment the only political organisations capitalising on an increased desire for English self government are reactionary and rightwing, and sometimes openly racist and fascist.
An independent English Republic, that no longer flies the butcher's apron, that is free from the dreadful legacy of monarchy and empire, that can take it's place alongside free and independent equal neighbours, in the world community of Nations is surely a goal many Socialists and Democrats can identify with?
The fact is as Scotland and Wales move towards greater devolution and possibly outright independence, the rumblings of discontent in England will grow. Well that's fine, but at the moment the only political organisations capitalising on an increased desire for English self government are reactionary and rightwing, and sometimes openly racist and fascist.
Welcome to the English Republican
The idea behind this little blog is to provide a space for Republicans, Socialists, Liberals, Libertarians, and anyone else who is interested in English independence, and fed up of all the 'Celt bashing' the rightwing pro-independence movement seem to go in for.
I was born and brought up in England, and I still live here now, however I support the goals of Scottish and Welsh independence and a united Ireland .
In order to achieve an independent England we need to work with the nationalist and republican movements in our celtic neighbours.
I was born and brought up in England, and I still live here now, however I support the goals of Scottish and Welsh independence and a united Ireland .
In order to achieve an independent England we need to work with the nationalist and republican movements in our celtic neighbours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
