The World Is Red

Trouble in Court

2010-01-12T22:38:00.002Z

Normally, I tend not to get too over-excited by events in the courtroom, mainly because of a shameful lack of interest which probably stems from a shameful lack of knowledge over how the system actually works. But a few issues this week really made my blood boil.

The battle for the 'soul of America' (something I'm not entirely sure exists anyway) looks set to be fought across the courtroom. No two issues divide America more than abortion and same-sex marriage. And in the same week, cases crucial to both issues have reached the courtroom. In Wichita, Kansas, Scott Roeder is set to stand trial for the murder of Dr George Tiller. All very normal, you might think. A crazy American with a gun, what's new? Except Dr Tiller was one of the few doctors in the U.S. to perform late-term abortions, and this was the very reason why Roeder shot him. He readily admits doing so, but he and his legal team claim that he should be tried for voluntary manslaughter as he performed the act to save the lives of unborn children. There have been the inevitable difficulties in selecting neutral jurors for the trial. It does not need explaining what a dangerous precedent this would set if the court found in Roeder's favour. We must hope that this first battle for America's soul does not put doctors who perform abortions in danger.

The second battle, over same-sex marriage, is taking place in a California courtroom. The notorious Proposition 8, the California referendum against gay marriage, is being challenged at the U.S. Supreme Court in San Francisco. The court will have to decide whether same-sex unions are protected by the constitution. Supporters of Proposition 8 have outright claimed that this is a 'battle for the soul of America'. With same-sex marriage suffering setbacks in New York and New Jersey recently, let us hope that the battle is won by the forces of progress rather than the darker, reactionary half of America. Those that argue that this is not the latest American civil rights case are wrong. It is, simple as that. And in both these cases, the American courtroom, its judges and its jurors, must come to the right decision, to prevent both anarchy and reaction.

So, the courtroom is set to be crucial in America, but apparently us Brits no longer have a need for it. Today, the first criminal trial to take place without a jury in 400 years began, with four defendants accused of an attempted robbery at Heathrow airport in 2004. The Court of Appeal's ruling that "the danger of jury tampering and the subversion of the process of trial by jury is very significant" means that Mr Justice Treacy will be both judge and jury in the case. The lives of these four men, innocent until proven guilty, are in the hands of just one. And all this without the evidence of jury tampering ever being presented to the accused's lawyers, but presented in court by the police under 'public interest immunity'. Hardly a brilliant example of democracy, is it? I am part of the public, and my interest is in making sure a fellow citizen gets a fair trial.

A crucial week in the courtroom on both sides of the pond, then, with 'America's soul' at stake on one side and the fair hearing of John Twomey and his associates at stake on the other. And never before have I had quite so little faith in the Western courts of law to make the right decision.

Owen Coyle: Hypocrite

2010-01-08T17:36:00.003Z

Before I start getting angry and ranting, I must just say one thing. What Owen Coyle achieved in little over two years in charge of Burnley Football Club was nothing short of remarkable. When he took over in November 2007, Burnley were languishing mid-table in the second tier of English football and had been doing so for nearly a decade. He reinvented the side's style of play, instilled belief into the players and the fans that something could be achieved and, against all odds, achieved what had previously been unthinkable. A brilliant run to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup was followed in May by victory over Sheffield United at Wembley which ensured a return to the top flight for the first time in 33 years. It was the best of times. Burnley have coped well in the Premier League, with excellent home form in sharp contrast to dire results on their travels, and Coyle had obtained god-like status with the supporters.

Until now. Owen Coyle is the new manager of Bolton Wanderers, having joined the club this week. Every Burnley fan with a brain knew that he would one day move on to bigger and better things, his ability certainly deserves it. We didn't think for a minute that he would stay at Burnley for years to come. Clearly an ambitious man, Coyle is capable of managing at a much higher level. But the manner of his departure leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, and has lead to the freefall of Coyle's reputation amongst fans that used to idolise him and, dare I say, football fans in general. Burnley supporters could have accepted him moving upwards, to an Everton or Aston Villa for example, but the sideways move he has made to join Bolton Wanderers is stunning. Bolton, in spite of their greater funds, are two points below Burnley in the Premiership table and play a horrendous brand of football that Coyle will have his work cut out to change. They are in huge debt, and have unloyal supporters who, as was proved with the unfortunate Gary Megson, will turn on their manager at the first opportunity. Nobody other than Bolton fans, and apparently Owen Coyle, believes this is a good move for a manager with such talent and reputation. I do not buy the idea that Coyle is a Bolton man through-and-through. He played for the club for two seasons, not even as a first team regular, in a career that saw him play for many clubs. He was in a win-win situation at Burnley. Relegation would not have damaged his reputation, and he could have departed in the summer with our best wishes. If he had masterminded a survival, he would have had his name etched into BFC folklore even more than it had been already, and his reputation would have been increased tenfold. At Bolton, he must keep them up. It is as simple as that. Relegation would deal a tremendous blow to his reputation.

The timing of the move is another issue. To leave the club at the start of the January transfer window- a crucial time for any club, particularly one looking for reinforcements to help stave off the threat of relegation- is cruel, and extremely damaging. Best-laid plans will have to be re-thought, and the new manager, whoever he will be, will have very little time to get to grips with the current squad and add to it. And to leave for a relegation rival, a club in direct competition, doubles the blow. Coyle has, on the face of it, boosted Bolton's season, while at the same time potentially crippling Burnley's. That is inexcusable.

But more than anything, what niggles at Burnley the fans the most is that we never expected this of Owen 'God' Coyle. Coyle was a man who appeared to buy into the history of the club. He built a rapport with the fans. He railed against footballers motivated by money. He described himself as an honest, loyal, family man. He spoke of the 'project' he was involved in at Burnley. And, ridiculously, he said a few days prior to his move that he was focused on his job at Burnley.

One Owen Coyle quote that really stands out for me is this: "As soon as a player mentions money my interest in them has gone. What kind of man would I be if I sold this club to a young player when signing him, offering him the chance to progress into a Premier League-quality footballer, if I jumped ship as soon as a better offer came along?". I'd like to put that question to Owen Coyle now, if he is ever good enough to discuss the way in which he has handled this situation without going through his faithful stooge, Mirror journalist Alan Nixon. What kind of man do I think it makes him? A lying man. A fraud. A hypocrite.

Owen Coyle gave Burnley supporters some of the best times in leaving memory. And we loved him for it. But to leave in this manner, at this time, for this destination, after all that he had said, is nothing short of betrayal. If he is moving to Bolton to prolong his Premiership career, as some have claimed, then he is a quitter, a man who did not trust his own ability to finish what he had started and keep Burnley in the big time. And if he left for the money, then he is a liar and a hypocrite, dumping on Burnley from a great height at a crucial time.

What is certain is that the supporters won't forgive. Most of us will now look out for Bolton results in the hope that Coyle makes a fool of himself. Burnley surviving at the end of the season would mean that little bit more if it meant we consigned Coyle and his new side to the Championship. Some Burnley fans have already started labelling him 'Judas'. I personally think this is unfair. Judas at least waited until Easter to take his thirty pieces of silver.

More airbrushing, David?

2010-01-07T18:56:00.002Z

How embarrassing for David Cameron! His ugly mug needs some airbrushing to make him look presentable for the British public. What's next? A wig to hide his receding hairline?

I find it strange how everybody seems to have picked up on the fact that Cameron's face has been airbrushed, everybody seems to have missed the fact that for years he and his party have been airbrushing their policies, to hide how muddled and reactionary they actually are

Labour shooting itself in the foot (again)

2010-01-06T17:57:00.003Z

So yet another 'coup' against Gordon Brown appears to be underway. What is the point? This one was destined to fail, due in part that the ministerial careers of Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon are over due to their own failings, and in part to the fact that nobody in the Labour Party really thinks this is the right time for such a ballot.

Lo and behold, the people that actually matter within this government have backed Brown. He's not an ideal leader, and he will most likely lead the party into an electoral defeat. It is my view that a hung parliament is the best that he, and indeed the rest of us that fear the effects of a Cameron government, can hope for. This latest challenge to his leadership, feeble as it was, only confirms the public's negative opinions of the party, and hinders Brown as he attempts to claw back at the Conservative Party's lead in the polls. Is it sabotage from Hewitt and Hoon? Perhaps, only they will know. It is certainly stupid. Regardless of differences of opinion and squabbles over leadership, now is the time for the party to shut up and give as good an account of itself as possible in the election. Otherwise, it is doomed, and who knows what damage a reactionary and inexperienced Tory government will do.

Mud-slinging over Iraq

2009-12-09T17:49:00.002Z

Predictably, the Chilcot inquiry has descended into a farcical escapade where everybody blames everybody else for the disaster that was the war in Iraq. Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Viggers has called the people running the war 'amateurs', appparently oblivious to the fact that he was, erm, one of them. It doesn't take a genius to realise that the planning for the war was very poor, and though the responsibility for this must ultimately rest at the very top, people lower down the pecking order must take a portion of the blame. They did not question what was happening, and engaged in their task with gusto.

Even John Prescott is breaking ranks, wondering how he went along with it in the first place. A pervasive 'Blame Blair' atmosphere has even affected the former Deputy PM, it seems. In implicitly suggesting that he was conned, noting the attorney general being 'troubled' (note that Lord Goldsmith kept his opposition to himself) and distancing himself from Blair, Prescott tries to lay the blame for the war elsewhere. Tony Blair must indeed take a huge amount of responsibility (and I pray for the day that will surely never come where he and George Bush are up before a war crimes tribunal), but other people were culpable too. Prescott, in the position he held at the time, certainly was, and so too was the attorney general. But it goes beyond even that. Parliament voted for the war, afterall, even though many MPs are doing their best to convince us otherwise. And the fiasco that the occupation has turned into must be due in part to errors within the leadership of the armed forces.

Plenty of people are to blame. And though I welcome the inquiry, I just wish it could actually achieve something genuine and worthwhile in the future rather than degenerate into chorus of "Not me, guv!" from people to whom we have entrusted British and Iraqi lives.

Tory Bloggers

2009-11-30T11:23:00.001Z

An illuminating discussion with the Mirror’s Kevin Maguire last week, during which he referred to how the blogging world has become dominated by right-wingers. He attributed this to the fact that the internet in general, and the act of blogging in particular, has grown-up at a time when a supposedly left-wing Labour government is in power. Hence the opportunity offered by the internet as a means of expressing opposition has been used mainly by the Conservatives and other right-wing parties. The likes of Iain Dale and Paul Staines (ak.a. Guido Fawkes) have used the internet to great effect, and left-wing bloggers have remained incapable of catching up.

Fair enough, perhaps Labour activists have before now not deemed the avenues of the new media important to them, given that they have been in power for 12 years. Now, with the party in disarray and a Conservative government seemingly inevitable, a demoralised left-wing doesn’t seem to have the energy to establish a powerful online presence of its own. Labour List was controversial from the off, due to the Damian McBride scandal, and is fairly poor anyway. Liberal Conspiracy has its plus points, but any real influence has eluded it so far. The right-wing continues to dominate the online debate, both in terms of the size of its online presence and the quality of its platforms.

Twitter is one site that appears to have retained a liberal nature. Yet it remains weak in terms of influence. Much has been made of Labour’s Twitter tsar Kerry McCarthy, but how great can her influence be when she only has 3,570 followers? It seems the left has really missed the boat on this one. For what use is a progressive, modern tool like the internet when it is only utilised to its full effect by parties who have historically been opposed to such progress?

Obama, China and the Internet

2009-11-22T17:39:00.000Z

It will be a long time before the people of China have democracy, but how long will it be before they can gain uncensored access to at least a small bit of it, the internet. Some form of dissent on the internet does take place, but nowhere near enough. And it is good news to see that Barack Obama has called on the Chinese government to put this right.

Obama hasn't been the amazing success most progressives wanted and expected him to be, and this could possibly be another example of talk rather than action from a president who still has much to prove. But these words at least chime with Obama's own actions at home, where he has used the internet to go straight to the voters. He has been able, in this way, to set a context and frame an argument without having to go through journalists. By talking straight to the people, Obama has been able to ditch the soundbites that characterised the New Labour spin operation and swing public opinion before he goes to Congress.

The other great strength of the internet is that it allows people to hear primary sources for themselves, meaning it is harder for politicians or even the media to distort the facts. I just hope that one day the people of China will be able to experience the full benefit of this.

Trial by Fury?

2009-11-15T16:15:00.000Z

Yet another esteemed commentator has jumped on the bandwagon of condemning the ability of the internet to whip up feelings amongst the general public about one topic or another. Dominic Sandbrook, an historian who I greatly admire, has used his column in the New Statesman to speak out against the opportunities offered by the internet for ‘trial by fury’.

He suggests that blogs and Twitter are the new purveyors of ‘mob violence’, and complains of the difficulties in distinguishing between spontaneity and co-ordination through this medium. Admitting that many people would have been offended by Jan Moir and her thoughts on the death of Stephen Gately- the stock example for many at the moment, it seems- he asks the question: “But how many read her column only after they had heard about it on Twitter, and how many complained only after they had read the Guardian’s Charlie Brooker?”

So what? If the internet allows social networking sites and commentators to highlight ignorance and prejudice and quash it, then I for one am pleased. I have gone into this before, and do not intend to again. Sandbrook, Cohen et al should give the public some credit, and allow them to make up their own minds, rather than demonise the circulation of news and opinions on the internet as a chance for troublemakers to whip up a stir about irrelevant things. In aiding the spread of information and opinions, and offering people the chance to make up their own mind, the internet is a valuable democratic asset. It is tenuous at best to compare it to the ‘blood-hungry mob of ancient Rome’. Calm down, man.

The case for 100% Inheritance Tax

2009-11-14T17:19:00.000Z

Taxation has been, and will continue to be, a major topic of discussion for politicians and commentators in the wake of the worst financial crisis since the Wall Street Crash of 1929. With a huge budget deficit and a general election looming, the case for increased taxation will be debated by the two major parties until all of us listening shrivel and die of boredom. Yet, in spite of this, one of the most serious issues that faces this country, inequality, and the one method of taxation that could make a real dent in the deficit while causing no harm whatsoever to the person that earned the money, the inheritance tax, remain inexplicably neglected.
Well, not so inexplicably, as it happens. Inheritance tax is not a vote winner, and the self-serving politicians of today, just like the self-serving politicians of yesterday, are far more concerned with prolonging their own political careers than tackling in earnest the problems facing this country. This applies to this Labour government in particular, under whose watch the inequality gap has widened further than even Margaret Thatcher could have imagined and the taxing of estates has declined. In 1997, when Tony Blair’s brave new era began, the inheritance tax threshold was £215,000. It is now £325,000. The inheriting of money, however much or little, has become one of the major causes of economic and social inequality in this country.
This idea is undoubtedly radical. It would also undoubtedly be seen as an assault on the rich. This is why my proposal is that this tax would apply to all, regardless of the size of their estate. The idea that a person’s incentive to work would be diminished by the fact that they would not be able to pass their accumulated wealth on to their children is, in my view, untrue. The incentive would still be there- to do the best you can for yourself and your family while you are still alive. The 100% tax rate on the estates of deceased citizens would merely be a method of levelling the playing field. No more would unskilled or lazy people be able to stay ahead of the more deserving and capable simply as a result of their inherited wealth and status. A person’s incentive to work would be increased: with the ability to fall back on inheritance removed, one would have to work harder to succeed. Government’s role, in my eyes, is much like that of a ruling body for sporting competition: to set the rules of the game and make sure that nobody manages a head start due to artificial means. A 100% tax on inheritance would go a long way in denying anybody an unfair advantage, resulting in a fairer, more equal and meritocratic society.
The benefits to the Government would be immense. With less incentive to save, people would spend more, thus reigniting a stagnated economy. Revenues would be significant, and allow for large scale investment in public services as well as, yes, cutting the budget. Clearly safeguards would have to be put in place to ensure that this money was used for such positive ends, rather than unwinnable wars and lining the pockets of our elected representatives. The public would not stand for anything else. The move is unlikely to be popular- nothing regarding increased taxation ever is- but it would be easier to implement and provide more of an incentive to work than increasing income tax would. To put it crudely, it is an awful lot easier to prise tax dues from the fingers of the dead. It is also easier to enforce, with rigid rules regarding the ‘unloading’ of wealth as a person’s death appears imminent.
This appeal will almost certainly fall on deaf ears. But current taxation methods are not satisfactory. The 40% rate of taxation of estates worth £325,000 and over is not enough. A brave move on inheritance tax goes some way to realigning our divided society while providing much-needed revenue to a Government brought to its knees by economic mismanagement. It’s a pity none of our political leaders, primarily drawn from the middle and upper classes, have the gumption to do it.

I Don't Like Nick Cohen

2009-11-10T13:40:00.002Z

I stumbled across Nick Cohen well before I even started to pretend being interested in columnists and the like, after i reading his cynical and miserable view of the state of left-wing politics. I thoroughly recommend for you not to buy it here, though I note that it is available at the slightly more realistic price of 35p. Having managed to avoid any kind of comment of his for a couple of years, I was unfortunate enough to stumble across one of his latest offerings the other day.

Cohen has managed to come to the conclusion that the opportunity offered by the internet to protest and express dissatisfaction is, somehow, bad. I agree with his initial thoughts on the taking of offence. I remember once hearing an obscure comedian remark (his name escapes me): "So what if you're offended? Nothing happens". People that actively choose to take offence are, again I agree, infuriating and wholly pointless. But if Cohen genuinely cannot see why people might be offended by Andrew Neil's reference to Diane Abbot as a chocolate HobNob or Jan Moir's hateful comments regarding Stephen Gately, then he is clearly missing the point. Cohen may not be black or homosexual, in fact I'm pretty sure he's neither, but plenty of people are, and may well have, believe it or not, taken offence at remarks such as those from Neil or Moir.

Cohen recognises some of the positive aspects of the internet, but the suggestion that protesting through the internet could impede free speech is erroneous. Neil and Moir, along with countless others, had their right to speak, and then the rest of us had our chance to respond. That opportunity was provided by the internet. Cohen claims that "a mob fighting a good cause is still a mob". Fair enough, but so what? So what if the internet has made it easier to protest and raise complaints? People with lives to be getting on with, by which I mean those who have jobs other than sitting at a computer and blogging about whatever takes their fancy, have too much time on their hands to express their views about something that they are offended by (Apologies, the heinous phrase again!). If the internet lets these people express their views- and remember, those views can be positive as well as negative- then it gets my vote every day.

Now, I'm off to resume my retirement from anything written, uttered or farted by Nick Cohen.

Stay Away, Blair

2009-10-29T11:31:00.002Z

Lots of people have plenty to say about the prospective EU Presidency of Tony Blair, the one-time golden boy of British politics (c. 1997) turned villain of the piece. That is, everyone but Blair himself. The warmongerer remains noticeably quiet while the rest of the continent whips itself up into a frenzy (well, almost) over the prospect of the former prime minister straddling Europe.

Gordon Brown is ready to back his old colleague, and David Miliband has been particularly vocal today in stressing the positives of 'President Blair', should such a thing come to pass. The idea that Blair would not be a divisive choice, however, is frankly absurd. Blair's war in Iraq has certainly divided Europe, and his campaign now hangs on whether or not he can obtain the support of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, with Merkel in particular believed to be doubtful over the sense of the appointment. These two leaders have the power to make or break Blair's chances of obtaining the position.

The prospective role for the former prime minister has also proved divisive domestically, with Conservative opposition well-known. Even within the Labour Party itself the idea of Blair returning to full-scale public life in this way has provoked some disquiet. Charles Clarke's opposition was perhaps predictable, but there are undoubtedly serious doubts amongst backbenchers over whether or not this appointment makes sense. The very name 'Blair' provokes a plethora of reactions in this country now, and it is unlikely that his face returning to television screens and his voice to debates on policy would be any different.

Nile Gardner's blog on why Blair should not become President is incoherent and comes at the issue from an angle of staunch Euro-skepticism, something which I am not prepared to indulge in here. But I do find myself in agreement with the right-wing press, even the Daily Mail, in thinking that a Blair presidency would be too contentious and divisive for the man himself to ever be able to make a decent fist of his new job. Europe needs a less controversial figure with a lower profile. In any case, with Merkel and Sarkozy meeting to potentially jetison his hopes, and Blair not doing himself any favours by remaining quiet on the issue, the possibility might not even threaten to become a reality.

Jan Moir and the wonders of the internet

2009-10-19T15:35:00.001+01:00

The 'Jan Moir' incident of last week was a perfect example of everything that is wrong and right about the importance of the internet in modern journalism. Her article appeared in Friday's Daily Mail, but it was the internet and the reaction of people using the internet that gave it a substantially greater audience than if it had remained an anonymous item written by a fairly anonymous journalist buried somewhere in the paper. Instead it was read and passed on numerous times, both my bloggers and tweeters, until it had become a one-day internet phenomenon.

So why is this bad? Well, clearly there are some people out there who share Moir's ridiculous views, and who read the piece with relish. There would have been others who had not really thought about the subject in any great detail or within the larger context and found themselves convinced by her one-sided arguments. The possibilities of the internet are endless when it comes to propagating views that would, without it, not achieve anywhere near as big an audience as Moir was able to achieve without even really trying. So difficult is it to police the internet in the way that Ofcom and the Press Complaints Commission do with broadcast and print respectively, that undesirable views can find an arena in which they can go unchecked. The internet is the domain where the racist, homophobic and fundamentalist can spread whatever evil they desire without facing much condemnation from a higher authority.

Except this isn't totally true. For the other side of the coin is that though the internet allows henious positions such as Moir's a platform from which they can be vocalised, it also allows such positions to be tackled, in a variety of ways from a variety of different angles. There is no 'higher authority' than public opinion, and as a bastion of free speech the web allows public opinion to be expressed vehemently. Moir was immediately subjected to immediate condemnation, on other news websites, in numerous blogs and in thousands of tweets. Though bloggers and tweeters allowed Moir's crude rubbish to reach people it could never have dreamed off had it merely been published in a newspaper, these same people were able to react more quickly and more forcefully to the article than had they been forced to wait until the newspapers the next day. The vast majority of those in the blogosphere would never have had a chance to challenge Moir without access to the internet and the opportunities it opens up. Thus Penny Red was able to hit back at Moir in much the same way Charlie Brooker was.

As a supporter of free speech, I feel the online response to Moir's piece vindicates me. She was given a platform to exhibit wild homophobia, yes, but the same platform then enabled her to be shot down in a much more effective way. The reaction has been one of widespread condemnation, with the PCC receiving more complaints in one weekend than it ever had previously. In a perfect world Jan Moir would not feel the need to ramble so outrageously and falsely in such a way. But she was able to, and her remarks become widely known very quickly due to the internet. But this same tool allowed her to be quickly challenged by a chorus of angry voices, and it is my view that the fact that the internet allows this to happen makes up for the sad fact that people like Moir find it easier to disperse their rubbish in the first place.

Fall on your sword, Georgie Boy

2009-10-10T13:43:00.000+01:00

Oops! A fairly major error from George Osborne, who seems absolutely determined to prove that he is completely incapable of being even shadow chancellor, yet alone the real thing. It's high time the Tories dispensed with this fool. Maybe he should do the sensible thing and step aside. Afterall, he is in line to get a fairly important job.

Will this latest gaff halt Cameron's long march to Number 10? Doubtful, the press are so loved-up with the Conservatives and the public so sick of Brown and his sellout party that even repeated displays of incompetence won't be enough to stop Osborne from being elected to incompetently 'serve' his country next Spring.

Government-in-waiting?

2009-10-04T18:41:00.000+01:00

Excellent coverage in the IoS today of the build-up to this week's Conservative party coverage. Highlighting the divisions within the party, the variations in David Cameron's thinking and the darker side of the 'decontaminated' Tories, the paper does a real service to the voters in Britain by breaking with the norm and writing critically of Cameron and his party.

The conference will be important, as whether or not the party can remain united in the face of the eternal 'Europe question' will determine the future of the party in the next few months. A Tory pie-fight in Brighton is surely too much to ask for, but we can always hope. I just hope the IoS has now raised the bar for press coverage of the Conservatives, as the British public need to know a lot more about the backgrounds, motivations and, above all, policies of the people that currently look most likely to form our next government.

Sorry to keep banging on about this...

2009-10-01T14:02:00.000+01:00

... but this is getting silly now. Fair point from Livingstone. And surely Boris has more important things to be doing?

Murdoch at it again

2009-09-30T16:19:00.000+01:00

Most people of a political persuasion will remember, or at least be aware of, the 1992 claim that it was the Sun 'what won' the 1992 election for John Major's Conservative Party. The campaign against Neil Kinnock is as infamous as it was vindictive, though I have my doubts whether or not a newspaper, even one with such a huge circulation, could play such a huge part in winning a particular election.

1997 saw the Sun Rupert Murdoch has always been a clever man, and a brilliant throw its support behind Tony Blair and his New Labour project, the very project that it today ditched in favour of cuddly Cameron and his 'new' Tory party. Do not be fooled, however. Rupert Murdoch is an extraordinarily clever businessman. Switching support between the two major parties is not a case of genuine national interest from Murdoch and his paper, but rather a cynical attempt to get onside with the party he feels will form the next government. He did it with Labour, and was rewarded with unparallelled influence in Downing Street over the next twelve years as his business escapades, questionable in terms of press ownership, went largely untouched by Blair and then Brown.

This new change of policy is no different. The coverage in today's paper was crude and self-serving. But it worked. Brown is on the backfoot after a decent display at the party conference. The Tories are jubilant. Sales of the paper went through the roof. But nobody will be able to claim come May, or whenever the next election is, that it was the Sun 'what won it'. Today's move was purely cynical. Murdoch and his cronies do not shape public opinion, they follow it in the hope of establishing the Murdoch empire with the next administration so that his ventures can continue to go unchecked. Part of me hopes for a Labour victory in the spring, if only so that this odious man's influence on British politics and the media worldwide can be debated and criticised at a higher level in a way that has not happened as yet. I doubt that will happen, and it is my bet that the Sun and the greedy opportunists who run it will continue to trumpet their own importance for decades to come.

They're at it again!

2009-09-24T21:14:00.000+01:00

More outrageous claims of a left-wing bias at the BBC. As I've suggested here before, this claim is a complete fallacy. It's a clever ploy from the right, an attempt to further consolidate their hold over the media. But I wish they'd give it a rest.

They work for you

2009-09-24T18:33:00.000+01:00

A valuable tool, one that I have not taken proper advantage so far, is They Work For You, a website that keeps an eye on how exactly your MP is voting in Parliament. It's certainly worth playing with, if only to shatter your illusions about certain politicians.

I've always admired Jon Cruddas, for his principled deputy leadership campaign and his continued pressure from the backbenches for Labour to return to its grassroots. Yet a glance at his voting record is illuminating, with his credentials not as impressive as I thought they would be. Support for the Iraq war and opposition to an investigation into it are dipleasing, as is his strong support for Labour's anti-terrorism laws. His fence-hopping exploits on the climate change front are inexplicable.

On the other hand, the pin-up boy of progressive politics, Vince Cable seems to justify his current popularity with a voting record that would please many on the left. Maybe the Lib Dems, with a figure like Cable leading the policy debate, really are the best of a bad lot at the current time.

...

2009-09-19T23:18:00.001+01:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/sep/19/liberal-democrats-tuition-fees

Arseholes

Afghanistan

2009-09-17T17:12:00.000+01:00

I've always struggled to find a coherent position on the war in Afghanistan. I have swerved between support for it, given the positive goals of tackling terrorism and establishing democracy and human rights in the region, and opposition to it, given the scale of the commitment and the inevitablity of many deaths, both military and civilian.

I have now come to a conclusion, eight years in the making. I oppose the war in Afghanistan for the following reasons.

1. The argument that we are fighting in Afghanistan to make Britain a safer place has lost all its legitimacy. Recent events show that terrorists are just as likely to come from Luton or Walthamstow as they are from the mountainous areas of Afghanistan. Indeed, our presence as 'infadels' is perhaps serving to radicalise people to the point that they consider terrorist action. The fact that neighbouring Pakistan is as much, if not more, responsible for the harbouring of terrorists makes the continued focus solely on Afghanistan nonsensical.

2. Another argument for forcing the Taliban out of power was that it would herald a new era of democracy and human rights in Afghanistan. The puppet President Hamid Karzai has recently passed anti-women laws reminiscient of those of the Taliban, suggesting that the new regime is less focused on bringing Afghanistan into the twenty-first century than previously intimated. The current elections, it is agreed, are unreliable, and Karzai and his people have been accused of corruption. Our government, so vocal in its condemnation of similarly flawed elections in Iran, has until recently stayed quiet. If Karzai and his regime is what we are fighting for, then it seems lives are being needlessly wasted.

3. Public opinion is against the war, and animosity towards it is only increasing. A mere glance at the history of military intervention in Afghanistan, both British and Soviet, demonstrates that victory is neither inevitable or swift.

4. The danger of intervening in sovereign nations to establish democracy is difficult, in that there is then an issue over which country is most 'deserving' of such intervention. If we are in Afghanistan, why not Burma?

For these reasons, I have now decided to set my stall against the war in Afghanistan. I will, therefore, be attending the national demonstration against the war on 24 October, and I suggest you do too.

Let's make the most out of cuts

2009-09-15T17:06:00.000+01:00

So Gordon Brown has finally brought himself to utter the dreaded word. No, not 'resignation'. 'Cuts'.

Well done Gordon. As a leftie I have a natural aversion to cutting public spending, and would much prefer continued investment. But the nation's debts are massive, and the three major parties now appear unanimous as to the need for cuts, if not for what exactly will face them.

For my part, I would like to make three suggestions, and welcome any more.

1. Trident: Billions of pounds to maintain, and even renew, a missile system that we have never used and are unlikely ever to use. Scrapping it would save extraordinary amounts of money. The Liberal Democrats, and Vince Cable in particular, are spot on in arguing for this. It would also give us bthe opportunity to reopen the debate on scrapping nuclear weapons altogether, relieving ourselves of the hypocrisy we exhibit when criticising the likes of Iran and North Korea for seeking such weapons.

2. Pull our troops out of Afghanistan: Costly both in terms of money and human lives, the war in Afghanistan has lost its justification. Pakistan seems as fertile a breeding ground for terrorists, Karzai's government are corrupt, and anti-women legislation similar to the Taliban era has returned.

3. Scrap plans for ID Cards: Hideously unpopular, ID cards are totalitarian in nature and a threaten our civil liberties. Also very expensive, Brown should take this opportunity to ditch the unpopular scheme while he has a valid excuse that would not embarrass him further (if such a thing were possible).

Now, I'm no economist, but I'm guessing that that lot would save a few quid. Leave the NHS and school systems alone for now, and let's take this opportunity to get rid of the truly pointless wastage that this 'Labour' government has accumulated.

Time for a re-think on immigration?

2009-09-10T20:20:00.000+01:00

A couple of interesting slants on the immigration issue caught my eye this week. Mark Steel raises some excellent points, not least in noting that the conservative press are noticeably quiet about British people residing abroad and reminiscient of Alistair Campbell in his pomp when it comes to reporting only the facts that will back-up their anti-immigrant viewpoint.

My personal view has always been that immigration is vital to this country's economy, a view shared by Philippe Legrain. And I am in full agreements with this blogger, particularly with regard to his comments regarding his being a migrant labourer himself, moving from Leicester to London.

There's an awful lot of hysteria when it comes to immigration. I'm not going to go down the well-trodden route to accusing all those who advocate stricter immigration controls of racism. Yet a greater attachment to reality is needed. A housemate of mine once suggested to me that Morrissey, who I usually respect, was correct when he argued that immigration was responsible for the erosion of the British identity. Yet she was unable to give me a coherent response when I asked her what 'British identity' actually involved.

What do I think the British identity is? It's a pretty hard concept to pin down, but I would argue that a major part of it is multiculturalism.

Decisive Dave

2009-09-08T12:10:00.000+01:00

So, David Cameron has finally sacked Alan Duncan from a position he clearly wasn't suited to given his remarks about MPs being treated like "s***".

About time, Dave. This comes after a month of waiting about and seeing what way public opinion would swing. And after you had previously been adamant that you would not be sacking him.

Very decisive. Just what we want from our future Prime Minister.

The BBC and the BNP

2009-09-06T15:14:00.001+01:00

Somehow or other the BBC is cropping up a lot at the moment, this time because of its controversial invitation to BNP leader Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time.

The whole 'No Platform' idea, for me, needs a rethink. The BNP have now achieved some level of electoral success, suggesting that the previous tactic of relegating it to the sidestream of British politics was not working. The BBC invitation recognises this new status quo, and is a brave move from the under-pressure corporation.

Maybe it is better to think of the invitation not as giving the BNP a platform, but giving other parties the opportunity to argue against them on national television. 'Lenin' disagrees, but I believe that the way to defeat the BNP is not to act like fascists ourselves, but to challenge them in free debate.

Privatised rail travel strikes again

2009-09-06T13:31:00.000+01:00

Another shambles on the railways, where London Midland seems genuinely surprised that drivers aren't volunteering to work on Sundays.

Double-pay on Sundays has recently ended, and with it the impetus for drivers working on that day. This seems to me yet another example of customers suffering because the firms in charge of the railways are more concerned with cutting expenses and making maximum profit. Surely Britain's rail system should be geared towards providing a good service rather than making as much money as possible for those to whom the government has given up the responsibility of running them.

'Poor old Chelsea'

2009-09-05T13:48:00.000+01:00

It is hard to find too much sympathy for mega-rich Chelsea as they face a transfer embargo for tapping up a young player. They've been accused of it before and it's good to see some action being taken.

It is a little harsh, however, that it is only Chelsea that have been singled out. There is little doubt that most of the bigger clubs engage in such illegal activity, using their greater reputation and financial muscle to tempt players away from smaller clubs. If Chelsea are facing such sanctions, then surely the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool must also expect recriminations? It remains to be seen whether this will be the case.

I suspect that Chelsea's ban will be lifted upon appeal. Football's governing bodies will not want to risk offending such a major side. Sanctions seem like a good idea to me, though. Maybe the richer teams should all be banned from adding to their squads and give everyone else a chance to catch up. If the Big Four all get banned from signing players, the Premier League might actually get interesting within the next year or so.

Focus on the BBC

2009-09-03T17:15:00.000+01:00

The BBC has been the subject of two excellent articles this week, though both approach the topic from different angles. Jonathan Freedland blogs on the importance of the Beeb as a national institution at guardian.co.uk, while the New Statesman's Mehdi Hasan challenges oft-repeated claim that the BBC is left-leaning by nature.

Both articles are, to my mind, excellent. Freedland highlights the extraordinary nerve displayed by James Murdoch in arguing against state interference in the media as if he were not somebody that stood to gain to the tune of billions should the BBC be privatised. Murdoch's father, media mogul Rupert, has been a constant critic of the BBC, and it seems that his son is a chip off the old block. Freedland, though, notes that Murdoch junior is destined to fail where his father also failed. The BBC will survive, regardless of whatever David Cameron claims he will subject it to upon his likely accession to power. It is popular and respected in the eyes of the public enough to withstand the attack of any politician.

The free market has already shown itself to be unsatisfactory in giving people what they need, and the recent recession has further demonstarted its incapabilities. Further extending it into areas such as health and the media, therefore, would be nonsensical and deeply unpopular. Institutions such as the NHS and the BBC are welded onto this country's soul, and rightly so. We should be tremendously proud of them. Yet the BBC must do more to help itself stand up to attacks from the right, as Freedland notes. Director General Mark Thompson and his colleagues cannot possibly justify their astronomical salaries. The BBC needs to reconnect with licence-fee payers, whom it is there to serve. It will survive rightist attempts to dismantle it, but it needs to work harder in order to justify its survival.

On a slightly different note, a common rightist bleat with regards to the BBC is that it has a Liberal bias. I myself have read a book on the subject, the interesting but fatally flawed Can We Trust The BBC? by Robin Aitken. As a leftie myself, a left-leaning BBC is by no means repulsive to me. But that is not the point. The BBC is supposed to be neutral, and it is important it fulfils its remit in order to justify the continuation of the licence fee. Yet the fact that the continued complaints of numerous right-wingers tend to obscure (though perhaps this is the point) is that, if anything, the BBC has a bias towards the right. I will restrict myself to quoting the following from Hasan's article, but reading it in full is extremely illuminating:

'Can you imagine, for example, the hysterical reaction on the right if the BBC's political editor had been unmasked as the former chair of Labour Students? He wasn't - but Nick Robinson was chair of the Young Conservatives, in the mid-1980s, at the height of Thatcherism. Can you imagine the shrieks from the Telegraph and the Mail if the BBC's editor of live programmes had been deputy chair of the Labour Party Young Socialists? He wasn't - but Robbie Gibb was deputy chair of the Federation of Conservative Students in the 1980s, before it was wound up by Norman Tebbit for being too right-wing. Can you imagine the howls from the Conservatives if the BBC's chief political correspondent had left the corporation to work for Ken Livingstone? He didn't - but Guto Harri did become communications director for Boris Johnson within months of resigning from the Beeb.'

The BBC must improve, of this there is no doubt. Like Parliament, its purpose is to serve the country. Ridiculous salaries and unnecessary ventures do not fulfil this remit. But it is also time that the left started standing up for the BBC, both by defending it from claims of bias that are so palpably untrue and by helping it find itself a constructive role in modern society. Like the NHS, it is a great institution that retains the support and affection of the general public. It will take more than support and affection, however, to protect the Beeb from the greedy fingers of capitalism and conservatism.

Oasis should get over themselves

2009-09-02T13:04:00.001+01:00

So, the inevitable has finally happened and Oasis have split. Am I the only one who is a little bit relieved? The endless rows between the Gallagher brothers were getting repetitive and boring, while the bands recent albums were exceedingly poor compared to the masterpieces of their heyday.

Those hoping for some phoenix to rise from the ashes will no doubt be disappointed. Liam was for long parts of his career carried by his more-talented brother, who in any case seems creatively spent these days. More likely is yet another kiss-and-make-up session, followed by a 'renunion tour' that will further fill the pockets of the brothers and whoever the rest of the band is.

I say they should just leave it at that. The attention-seeking brothers have finally parted in the most public way possible. Brit-pop was oevr years ago, and the Oasis of recent years was a pale imitation of what went before. Thanks for the memories boys, but go and stay gone.

Lockerbie bomber goes free

2009-09-01T17:25:00.000+01:00

The political drama surrounding the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi rumbles on and shows now sign of abating. Despite its best attempts to portray the decision as one for which the Scottish government should accept total responsibility, it has now been called upon to deny that his release had anything to do with a prospective trade deal between the two countries.

I, like many, have my doubts as to whether or not al-Megrahi is in fact the one responsible for the reprehensible events of 1988. There are many that share these doubts. What is clear, however, is that he was found guilty, and therefore must be treated as a guilty man. To release him after serving so little of his sentence so he can die in his own country seems to me a slur on the memories of those he was found guilty of murdering.

The reaction of our government is equally as disappointing as the decision by the Scots to release him. In attempting to avoid responsibility for the decision and refusing to express agreement or disagreement, Brown and Shaw have acted in a cowardly manner that does not befit their positions. It could be that this is all a ploy to discredit the Scottish Nationalist Party. If so, politicising such a matter is shameful in the extreme. To suggest that anyone involved in this decision was unaware of the welcome al-Megrahi would receive in Libya is frankly absurd. Libya may now be considered 'friendly', but for years Colonel Gaddafi has been a tyrant who supported terrorist efforts abroad. The return of Libya's most famous export only serves to increase his prestige on the 40th anniversary of his rise to power, and further cover up the shameful human rights abuses of which he is guilty.

I hate, in most circumstances, being on the same political side of David Cameron. Here, though, I agree that the release is "completely nonsensical". Not because I do not beiieve in compassion, and not because I fear the disapproval of the Americans, who I feel long ago forfeited any right to the moral high ground. It is because I fear that this decision was motivated in part by the lingering feeling that the bomber was in fact innocent. Though I myself have my doubts, other means should have been pursued of securing his release by those who share them. I also regret any continuing appeasement of Colonel Gaddafi's regime, which may now be considered 'friendly' to Western interests but is certainly not considered to be so by many Libyans.

We're all going on a summer holiday

2009-08-20T21:04:00.000+01:00

Well, I am. I won't be writing anything for the next 10 days or so, for tomorrow I fly to Biarritz for a few days of sun, sea, sand and (dare I dream?) sex. Money-no-object frivolities will occur, guaranteed.

Until later, so long.

Good news for train passengers?

2009-08-18T17:17:00.001+01:00

News today that train fares are set to fall next year, which on the face of it is good news for those of us who like using trains. Cheap, easily accessible train travel is important to this country, not only in providing a way for those without cars to get around but also in limiting emissions. Surely thois anticipated drop in train prices is a good thing?

Well, no, actually. Firstly, the drop will be a tiny 0.4%, though Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has done his best to put a bit of Labour spin on it. This reduction is by no means enough, as train prices remain astronomical unless tickets are booked a long way in advance. The prospect of getting a £60 train ticket from London to Leeds 0.4% cheaper is unlikely to persuade people to revert back to travelling by train.

Secondly, the private companies in charge of the trains will look to recoup their loss, such as it is, and thus unregulated rail fares will no doubt increase, meaning that savings made by booking tickets in advance will be wiped out. The problem with privatised rail travel is that the service providers are always unwilling to risk a loss of profits and will therefore find new ways to milk the travelling public for all it is worth.

Train prices have increased significantly since the railways were fully privatised, though this has occurred at the same time as a great improvement in services. Delays, cancellations and woefully inadequate trains are still as commonplace as they were when the system was under state control. The only change is that services are infinitely more expensive. If the government is really serious about encouraging people to use the trains, and therefore about cutting carbon emissions, then they should stop attempting to portray mediocre price cuts like this as a great step forward, and instead go for greater regulation, or preferably, though I realise this is very unlikely under the current government or a Conservative one, renationalise the networks.

Is the recession almost over?

2009-08-16T12:12:00.000+01:00

Recently, some ecomomists and financial experts have predicted that the recession is drawing to a close and will soon be at an end. I will disregard the question of whether or not, given the economic debacle such 'experts' created for us, these optimists can be trusted, and instead focus on whether or not this claim has any justification in reality.

The BDO Output Index for the UK has predicted that the recession will end sooner here than it will in Europe, claiming that the speedy introduction of a fiscal stimulus package and bank recapitalisation scheme accounts for the relatively swift recovery. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research has suggested that the low point for the British economy came back in March, and that the British economy would be the first to come out of recession. If such predictions could be trusted then it would without a doubt be a positive one for the government, and Peter Mandelson was quick to seize on such positive forecasts last month. Yet it seems that the Index's argument has already been disproved, with reports in the last few days that France and Germany have already exited the recession. So far, so incorrect for the optimistic economists, then.

There are those that are not prepared to admit the recession is at an end but can at least declare it to be softening. The IMF is a case in point. The prevailing opinion, however, is that the recession is set to continue, and some more pessimistic experts have even suggested that the worst could be yet to come. Begbies Traynor's Red Flag Alert suggests that the recession is still in full swing, with the most-affected sectors being Financial Services, Property Services and Construction. The likes of Retail, Advertising and Manufacturing also remain seriously affected. Though the recession does appear to be slowing in some sectors, for a large percentage it continues unabated. Given the negativity of such findings, it is wholly inappropriate for the likes of Mandelson to be giving struggling families false hope. Positivity is necessary to stimulate the economy, but barefaced lies are not. It could even be that the recession is not softening at all, but rather tightening its grip. Research has demonstrated that business leaders are less confident than they once were that Britain is on the way out of the recession. Indeed, there is a genuine fear that Britain could be heading for a "double dip" recession.

Not all government ministers are spouting false optimism, with Harriet Harman for once correct in expressing caution over the state of the economy. What is overwhelmingly clear is that there is huge disagreement and confusion over the scope and durability of this recession, and that nobody is sure how long it will last. The sensible money, however, appears to be on it continuing for a little while longer at least, and we must hope that fears over a "double dip" recession are wide of the mark. In the mean time, ministers should stop jumping on any positive forecasts they stumble across, and focus on steering the country through it. The real danger for all leftists is that a continuing recession could lend more weight to calls from readers of the Daily Mail in the minds of otherwise progressive people: "cut all the billions of foreign aid to zero, don't renew any work permits for non-EU workers, no more legal appeals for asylum seekers, give British workers priority for council housing, put British workers first". In the face of confusion over the recession and the possibility that it may drag on longer than many expect, let us focus on not letting economic recession translate into social regression.

Thank Bevan for the NHS

2009-08-14T17:16:00.000+01:00

The recent American attacks on the NHS strike me as faintly ridiculous. The attempts of a largely discredited US Right to undermine Barack Obama's healthcare plans by pointing out defects in the British system would be laughable anyway, even if they had not resorted to the most surreal language imagineable, branding the NHS 'Orwellian' and 'Evil'.

We should try to avoid embroiling ourself in domestic American politics, but I feel it is important that we express our support for Obama as he attempts to extend the reach of American healthcare. That 50 million Americans have no access to healthcare is, in the richest country in the world, frankly disgusting, and if we were to resort to the outlandish language of the American Right we might call such a system 'Darwinist' or 'elitist'. That Daniel Hannan, an otherwise unknown Tory MEP, has chosen to weigh in reflects badly on both him and his party. I don't buy into the argument that his comments were unpatriotic, but to suggest that he would not wish the NHS on anyone is appalling and indicative of a culture of villification that has developed in this country towards the health service. Stating that the NHS makes people 'iller' is a ridiculous propsition, and one cannot help but think that Hannan is either lacking a degree of intelligence or self-promoting, perhaps both. The National Service may not be perfect, far from it, but I am willing to bet anything on the fact that millions of taxpaying American citizens wish a universal, free health service of its kind would be wished on them.

Premier League

2009-08-13T21:30:00.000+01:00

My thoughts on the upcoming Premier League season, which begins on Saturday.

Arsenal

To my mind Arsene Wenger's side are the most vulnerable of the Big Four, with the departing Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor, the latter especially given that the club appears to lack someone capable of scoring 20+ goals a season, not adequately replaced at the time of writing. Too much depends on the highly-rated youngsters at the club raising their game, and to me it seems that Wenger is misplacing his faith. Signings of the calibre of January acquisition Andrei Arshavin are necessary if Arsenal are once again to challenge for the title, yet Wenger continues to favour younger talent. This is admirable, but one wonders how much longer Arsenal fans can cope without a trophy. Wenger's aura of invincibility has worn off, and it will take more than Thomas Vermaelen, the only signing of note, to make Arsenal a force to be reckoned with once more. More investment is needed, though the return from injuries of Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky should add some quality and experience to the squad. I still see them holding on to the last Champions League place, this season at least, given the likely teething problems at Manchester City and the lack of potential challengers elsewhere. A title challenge of the sort craved and expected by Arsenal fans, and allegedly by Wenger, looks unlikely though.

My prediction: 4th

Aston Villa

Looked like they might break into the Champions League places for large parts of last season, but ultimately their small squad and the loss of Martin Laursen to injury counted against them. The same will probably derail their challenge this year as well. Stuart Downing is a solid acqusition, though it remains to be seen how Martin O'Neill intends to fit him into a side that already includes Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young. Fabien Delph is another excellent acquisition that fits the bill in terms of the sort of player O'Neill prefers to bring to the club. The retired Laursen is replaced by Habib Beye, and much depends on how he beds in and shores up a defence that shipped goals galore in the second half of last season. Skipper Gareth Barry, however, remains unreplaced, and without investment in his small squad it seems unlikely that O'Neill can inspire Villa to improve on or even replicate their sixth-place finish of last year. Their biggest asset, however, remains their manager, and with him at the helm stability is guaranteed, though further strengthening is necessary if they are to progress.

My Prediction: 8th

Birmingham City

Promotion last season was a largely joyless affair, with dour football and a manager that remains unloved by the supporters. Takeover talk is rife, but Birmingham must not let it distract them in the way it did during their last season in the top flight, when it cost them the services of Steve Bruce and their Premier League status. Alex McLeish will swiftly be under pressure should Birmingham not immediately adapt to life back in the big time, but his summer transfer policy suggests that a season of struggle is ahead. £8.5m is a huge amount to spend on an untried Ecuadorian striker (Christian Benitez), while the likes of Roger Johnson, Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer hardly inspire confidence. Joe Hart, on a year's loan, is a shrewd acquisition, while most of the promotion squad has been retained. Uncertainty is in the air at St Andrews, though, and it is my opinion that both manager and club will struggle to keep their heads above water this season.

My Prediction: 18th

Blackburn Rovers

A quiet summer at Ewood Park, where the major business was the unsurprising departure of Roque Santa Cruz for the Manchester City bench. The new arrivals are largely uninspiring, and a lot rests of Nikola Kalinic's ability to step into the shoes of Santa Cruz. Sam Allardyce's track record of establishing small, unfashionable northern clubs in the upper reaches of the Premier League bodes well for Blackburn, however, and the current squad is strong enough to finish comfortably in mid-table, expecially if Benny McCarthy can rediscover his goalscoring form. Solid defensively, much will depend on whether Allardyce's side can find enough goals to secure their primary objective, avoiding the sort of relegation battle they found themselves in last season.

My Prediction: 12th

Bolton Wanderers

Gary Megson must feel like the most unloved manager in Premier League history, but his achievement last season in making sure Bolton avoided a survival struggle was significant. One feels that Megson's main crime is that of not being Sam Allardyce, but Bolton remain as dogged and resilient as they were under Big Sam, and signings like Sean Davis, Paul Robinson, Sam Ricketts and Zat Knight are certainly consistent with the sort of players the former manager used to sign. Megson would do well to stick with the tried and tested formula, and not give in to fans calling for a more visually appealing style of football. Bolton have been well-served by their combative, hard-working but hardly fluent style for a few years now, and there is no reason why they cannot again defy the critics and finish strongly. More goals from expensive flop Johan Elmander would be appreciated by Megson, however.

My Prediction: 13th

Burnley

I have to admit to an element of bias here, as I am myself a Burnley fan. Yet I will not deny feeling a certain degree of optimism as the smallest town ever to have a team in the Premier League prepares to welcome the country's finest for the first time in 33 years. The nucleus of the promotion-winning squad has been retained, while the signings have been largely low-key: Steven Fletcher (at £3 million from Hibernian) is the club's record signing, while the likes of Richard Eckersley, Tyrone Mears, David Edgar and Fernando Guerrero and Brian Easton fit with Burnley's policy of signing young, hungry players whose value will increase. The cup performances last season gave an indication of what Burnley are capable of, and with talented young manager Owen Coyle at the helm there is no reason why Burnley, in spite of low expectations, cannot repeat the achievements of Hull and Stoke in staying up against all odds.

My Prediction: 16th

Chelsea

Is Carlo Ancelotti the man to re-establish Chelsea as the force they were under Jose Mourinho? His record at Milan doesn't suggest so, for though he won two European Cups his league record was less convincing, as he collected just one Serie A title. Even so, the squad he inherits at Chelsea is laden with talent, and the additions of the mercurial Yuri Khirkov and pacey Daniel Sturridge can only enhance it. The club might regret not, thus far at least, being able to land the 'galactico' that Ancelotti has supposedly been chasing, but there is enough already at Stamford Bridge to suggest that a title challenge is certainly on the cards. If Ancelotti can pick up where Guus Hiddink left off, then the Blues are certainly a force to be reckoned with.

My Prediction: 2nd

Everton

Another quiet summer at Goodison Park, where David Moyes continues to work wonders in keeping his tiny squad competitive in the upper reaches of the league on a shoestring budget. Jo, returning on loan, is the only acquisition so far, but I'd expect Moyes to spend money on at least one player before the transfer window closes, especially if Jolean Lescott leaves. Injuries damaged them last season, especially up front, but a midfield up there with the best meant they were well worth their fifth-place finish. If Tim Cahill, Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta can maintain their form, and Yakubu, Jo and Louis Saha start pulling their weight in the goalscoring department, then another high finish is likely, though Manchester City will undoubtedly be looking to overhaul Everton and Moyes will certainly be linked with any larger posts that become available.

My Prediction: 6th

Fulham

Roy Hodgson worked wonders in leading Fulham into Europe last season, but a repeat looks less likely this time around. There is no money to add to the squad, and that the most famed of their summer signings is known only for being the brother of former-Liverpool defender John Arne Riise tells a story. Hanging on to Brede Hangeland is crucial to their ambitions, though the Norwegian continues to be linked with a move away. The nucleus of the side is strong, however, with Andy Johnson up front and Danny Murphy pulling the strings in midfield, and the ability of Hodgson to get performances out of his players suggests that Fulham will not struggle while he remains in charge. A season of quiet consolidation seems most likely.

My Prediction: 11th

Hull City

'Second season syndrome' seemed to kick in halfway through the first for Hull last year, with the side winning just one of their last twenty-two games as they clung desperately on to Premier League safety. A summer of frustration has followed, with numerous players rejecting the chance to move to the KC Stadium. Phil Brown, once touted as one of the best young manager's in the country, seems to have lost the respect both of his players and those looking in from outside, and his summer signings do not inspire confidence. Hanging on to Michael Turner would be a boost, but the lack of quality additions and the likelihood of his players going into the season low on confidence suggests that Hull are in for a tough season, with Brown a strong bet for being the first managerial casualty.

My Prediction: 20th

Liverpool

The kind of season Liverpool had last season, they were very unlucky indeed that they did not collect the Premiership trophy at the end of it. If Rafa Benitez and his side can repeat such levels of performance, then another serious title challenge is surely a certainty. There is no reason why Liverpool cannot do so. Glen Johnson is an excellent, though overpriced, acquisition, and Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres form a partnership comparable in its lethalness to any in Europe. The loss of Xabi Alonso is a blow, however, and questions have been asked about the ability of injury-prone Alberto Aquilani to step into his shoes for any long periods at a time. Injuries to Gerrard or Torres would be devastating to Liverpool's ambitions, as there is nobody of any real note to step into their boots. Over the course of the season, Liverpool might struggle to repeat the exploits of last time around, though they seem certain to be there or thereabouts in the end of season shake-up at the summit.

My Prediction: 3rd

Manchester City

Manchester City provide the intrigue for this season's Premier League. Will their expensively-assembled squad blend? How will they fit their numerous strikers into their starting XI? Will Mark Hughes survive August? Either way, it looks like being a fascinating season on the blue side of Manchester. There is no doubting the quality of new recruits Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, while Joleon Lescott would further improve the squad. Add them to the likes of Robinho, Micah Richards, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland, Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy and Shay Given and, on paper at least, you have a squad capable of challenging the best in Europe. Such hastily-assembled sides, however, take time to blend together, and it is unlikely Hughes will be given much time to get his team playing the way he wants. The quality evident in the squad means City will not struggle, but those expecting an immediate title challenge might be disappointed.

My Prediction: 5th

Manchester United

The main discussion has been about how Manchester United will deal with the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. Both are huge losses, particularly Ronaldo, and the acquisitions of Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia do not, on paper at least, compensate for them. Sir Alex Ferguson will have to find a new way of playing, and goals will have to come from elsewhere. He is relying on a lot: Nani developing in the same way as Ronaldo did a couple of years ago; Owen keeping fit and rediscovering his best form; Anderson starting to hit the net. If all these things happen, then United have a chance of being nearly as good as they have been for the last two years. It seems unlikely though, yet United's saving grace might be that none of their major challengers seem massively stronger than last year. The title chase will be even closer, but Ferguson has lost big players before and kept United competitive, so there is little reason to suggest it won't happen this season.

My Prediction: 1st

Portsmouth

The outcome of Portsmouth's takeover saga will be crucial to determining the outcome of their season. Without it, a squad that has already lost Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch will be further depleted as the club attempts to balance the books. If it does happen, Paul Hart can look forward to being able to strengthen his squad- a striker is the priority- and stabilising a club that has been in turmoil since the departure of Harry Redknapp to Tottenham. Portsmouth have a solid squad, but how their season goes depends on whether they are able to add to it or forced to sell more of their prize assets.

My Prediction: 15th

Stoke City

The difficult second season has arrived for Stoke City. Manager Tony Pulis worked wonders in steering the club to twelfth place last season, but there is no doubt things will be tougher this season. Dean Whitehead, the only major arrival so far, hardly sets pulses racing, though Pulis will surely spend more before the window closes. Key men are Liam Lawrence, who will be looking to keep fit and supply some of the creativity that helped Stoke stay alive last year, and James Beattie, whose goals were vital after his January arrival. Much has been made of Rory Delap's long throws, but chances are that sides will be more prepared for Stoke's tactics this year, so Pulis will have alter his approach a little. It will be tough, but there are worse teams in the league this year.

My Prediction: 17th

Sunderland

Sunderland fans are this season placed in the bizarre situation of relying on a self-confessed Newcastle fan to help them avoid the relegation struggles of the last two seasons. In Steve Bruce, however, they have a manager who proved at Wigan that he was capable of guiding teams to safety, and the funds placed at his disposal mean they have the ability to attract players capable to taking the club to the next level. Frazer Campbell and Darren Bent are excellent additions to Kenwyne Jones in attack, Lee Cattermole came on leaps and bounds under Bruce at Wigan, and Paulo da Silva should add some steel to the defence. More additions are surely likely, and while Sunderland’s squad lacks the quality or depth to suggest they can seriously challenge for Europe, they should have enough to easily avoid a relegation battle.

My Prediction: 10^th

Tottenham Hotspur

Under Harry Redknapp, Spurs will not struggle, but the question is whether or not he will be able to lead the club to the kind of heights they feel they should regularly be reaching. Peter Crouch and Sebastien Bassong are quality additions that should make sure Spurs keep moving in the right direction, but the ‘revolution’ spoken about during his honeymoon period is surely not now worthy of the name. In true Redknapp style, more additions are surely on the way, and if he can start getting the best out of Luka Modric, David Bentley and Robbie Keane on a more regular basis, then European football is well within the club’s grasp once again.

My Prediction: 7^th

West Ham United

Gianfranco Zola made a promising start to his managerial career last season, with his West Ham side playing fluent attacking football. With no significant departures and the signing of Luis Jimenez on loan from Inter Milan, Zola seems set to pick up where he left of last year. Much depends on whether Carlton Cole can continue the goalscoring form that has propelled him into the England setup, but with youngsters such as Jack Collison and Mark Noble complemented by more experienced players like Robert Green and Scott Parker, another season comfortably sitting in mid-table beckons, while the club will eagerly await the outcome of discussions that could determine their financial future.

My Prediction: 9^th

Wigan Athletic

The loss of Steve Bruce to Sunderland was a blow to Wigan, but Roberto Martinez did enough during his time at Swansea to earn himself a reputation as one of the best young managers in the country. Securing the signature of James McCarthy from Hamilton was something of a coup, but Martinez is pinning a lot of his hopes on former Swansea players Jordi Gomez and Jason Scotland recreating their Championship form at a higher level. The losses of Antonio Valencia and Lee Cattermole will also be felt, to the extent that Wigan are unlikely to finish as highly as they did under Bruce last year (11^th). There is money to spend, however, and Martinez has enough ability to ensure Wigan avoid a dogfight.

My Prediction: 14^th

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Champions of the Championship last year, but the prospects appear bleak at Molineux this season. Mick McCarthy hardly covered himself in glory during either of his two previous management stints in the Premiership, while his summer signings, though numerous, suggest Wolves will struggle. Following their last relegation from the top flight, the board admitted to regretting not spending enough money. They cannot be accused of that this time around, backing McCarthy to the tune of around £15m. A lot depends on Kevin Doyle, overpriced at £6.5m, rediscovering the form of his first year in the Premier League with Reading, while well-travelled full-back Greg Halford was one of Roy Keane’s expensive flops at Sunderland. Ronald Zubar, Nenad Milijas and Andrew Surman are all untried at this level. Michael Mancienne is a quality addition, but only a temporary one, and if Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly fail to make the step up, then struggle is likely.

My Prediction: 19th

Damn the exchange rate

2009-08-11T22:29:00.001+01:00

Just back from a few days in Barcelona, a brilliant city but perhaps amongst the most expensive on earth at the moment! A combination of general expensiveness and the awful exchange rate made it an expensive weekend.

Oh well, you can't take it with you.

Meeting the real world..

2009-08-03T20:47:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow I start work at the Times for a few days, in a vain attempt to find out if (a) I can actually function as a journalist and (b) if I actually like functioning as a journalist. My nerves are jangling.

Don't worry, though, I'm not taking Murdoch's money. I would never sacrifice my principles in such a way. I'm doing it for free.

Terrible television

2009-08-01T17:46:00.000+01:00

An evicted Big Brother contestant has slit his writs while watching the reality television show.

Not wishing to make light of this in any way, but has he not just become the first person to actually do what thousands of us have contemplated while watching the show?

RIP Sir Bobby

2009-08-01T11:21:00.000+01:00

Football has lost one of its true gentleman. The death of Sir Bobby Robson, former manager of Ipswich, Newcastle and England amongst others, has lost his long battle with cancer at the age of 76.

Bobby Robson was a massively successful manager and, let us not forget, player. But he combined this success with such a tremendous amount of good humour, kindness and gravitas that, for once, the overwhelming amount of trubutes are all richly deserved. The world of football, and the world in general, will be a poorer place for the loss of this great man.

RIP.

Camp Bestival 2009

2009-07-29T17:29:00.000+01:00

Family festival? Well, yes, but that doesn't really describe what Camp Bestival is all about. There are kids, yes, loads of them. And plenty of stuff for kids to do. But for those who haven't yet experienced the delights of having their lives ruined by a sprog or two, this festival offers plenty by way of fun.

First of all, thankfully, non-families don't have to camp with the families. There is a handily positioned campsite for those without little ones, right next to a bar and the entrance to the arena. There are also plenty of other people looking to enjoy a relatively child-free weekend.

Last year, Camp Bestival was voted best new festival. This year, it did nothing to dispel that billing. The weather held, for the most part. The music, Will Young aside, was excellent. Highlights included a UK-exclusive 2009 set from PJ Harvey, a bouncy performance by Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip and, perhaps best of all, a brilliant dose of Phoenix on the Saturday night. As with most things like this, my memories are slightly nullified by excessive amounts of £3.70 cans of Tuborg and lack of sleep, the latter of which was hardly surprising since I left my sleeping bag at home.

All I can say, really, is when you see it advertised next year, go. You won't regret it. Hi De Hi!

Strange old world

2009-07-22T17:23:00.001+01:00

A couple of interesting news stories today, not least that nobody wants to buy the infamous Watergate Hotel in Washington. Shut since 1997, you would have thought the hotel's past would make it an attractive prospect, but clearly prospective buyers are put off by its past. Maybe the U.S. government should buy it and open a museum dedicated to the criminal activities of American Presidents throughout history? That should fill a large proportion of its 250 guest rooms and 146 suites.

Today also sees the return of Sven-Goran Eriksson to English football. Notts County may be the oldest football team in the country, but last year they finished 87th in the football league. Arab investors have seen an opportunity, however, and Sven has been persuaded to sign up. He cites the challenge of advancing Notts County as his reason for joining, cynics will say it was the money. I'm a born cynic. Either way, it's a fascinating story, and I certainly applaud everyone involved for investing in a club that is still some way from being the finished article rather than taking the easy option and buying an already well-established side. Success will be all the more fulfilling, should it come. This is by no means assurred, however, and you have to feel a little bit for County manager Ian McParland, who has been granted what can only be considered a stay of execution and must cope with one of the most successful club managers in European football looking over his shoulder.

The legacy of 'labour'

2009-07-21T17:47:00.000+01:00

A report into social mobility led by uber-Blairite Alan Milburn has concluded that 'glass ceilings' are preventing young people from less affluent backgrounds from establishing themselves in top professions.

This hardly comes as a surprise. After twelve years of a Labour government, Britain is more unequal, not less. The gap between rich and poor has grown at a rate that would make a Conservative government blush, a point made by Lord Hattersley on last night's Newsnight. What will it take to make this government realise that the only way to reconnect with the general public, and win back some much-needed support, is to take a turn leftwards and make Britain a fairer place to live and work? There is a special need for such a change in this time of economic crisis, yet the only people making this point seem to be on the fringes of the party, such as Charles Clarke or John McDonnell, or already compromised, like Milburn or James Purnell.

Maybe it's about time that those of us on the left gave up on this party as a vehicle for our aims and ambitions for this country. New Labour sold its soul to big business and the Murdoch media over a decade ago, and it seems that the new guard is unable or unwilling to reverse this sellout, even when the alternative is a class-ridden society that would make any Conservative proud and electoral desecration.

Off With Their Heads?

2009-07-19T15:40:00.000+01:00

The New Statesman was extremely brave last week when it went out on a limb by demanding the end of monarchy. Republicanism as an ideology has been dormant in this country for far too long now, yet the magazine felt able to dedicate an entire issue to why this country would be better off without Queen Elizabeth II and her extended family.

The extraordinary position and power of the Queen, though somewhat concealed by the ability of Elizabeth herself to appear to reflect the views of the population at large, is evident from the smallest glimpse of any official websites. She owns huge swathes of land across the country, 340,000 acres in all. The royal family is indicative of a wider situation in the United Kingdom, where 69% of the land is owned by 0.6% of the population, and where the gap between rich and poor is increasing every year. Yet this remains largely undiscussed by politicians, the media and the population in general.

Not only do they own so much land, but they also expect the British taxpayer to help with the upkeep costs. Kensington Palace, St James Palace, Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Windsor Castle cost a total of £14.2 million per year to run, and the royal family itself contributes very little towards this. At the best of times, least of all during a recession, should the state be paying millions of pounds to maintain the propertiws of a family that has not been elected by the British public?

The silence of the Windsors during the recent MP expenses outcry was notable, as a glance at their own expenses serves to incriminate them, along with the majority of Westminster, in the outrageous waste of taxpayers' money. A recent poll by Republic, whose campaign for an elected head of state is to be commended, demonstrated that 62% of Britons want the expenses of the royal family to be published. With the Queen currently in the process of asking for a significant increase to the civil list, this demand doesn't seem too unfair, especially as little of the money handed over to the Windsors does anything at all to benefit her 'subjects'. The little we do know about the spending of the royals makes the mouth water over the juicy possibilities of a full disclosure. Prince William spent £86,000 on 'training' flights to a stag party and to visit Kate Middleton's family. His father's trips to the Far East and South America cost £700,000 each. Princess Beatrice has recently obtained a place at Goldsmith's, but she will be quite unlike any other student at the college when she moves into an apartment at St James Palace, renovated at the princely cost of £256,000. The Queen's total income from the state is £41.5 million, and yet she still wants more to keep her vast family living comfortably. Surely there is something more worthwhile that this money could be spent on?

The Queen's own personality has been vital in maintaining respect for the royal family, even after her annus horribilis of 1992 and the death of Princess Diana in 1997. Yet it is unlikely that her successors, and let us not forget that the Windsor dynasty has been a particularly mediocre one in terms of abilities and achievement, will display such abilities. As the New Statesman points out, we are within one explosion of King Harry, a circumstance that makes the idea of King Charles III seem positively ideal.

What I have written above suggests that my main issue with the monarchy is its cost. Yet this only forms part of my objection. The monarchy as an institution, as long as it remains, prevents Britain from becoming truly democratic. As I write, we are 'subjects' of an unelected head of state, and our laws are subject to the wants of 92 hereditary peers in the House of Lords. After twelve years of a Labour government, this is unsuccessful. I wish to be a citizen, not a subject. I will bow to nobody, least of all because they had the good fortune to be born into a 'higher' social status. Traditionalism is not a reason for keeping the monarchy, and neither is tourism, given that the likes of Versailles continue to be flooded with guests years after their royal inhabitants have departed. Therefore, as the time grows ever closer where King Charles III will rule over us, is it not time to consign the monarchy, as other countries have done, to history and elect a head of state of our own?

Is it real this time?

2009-07-14T22:51:00.001+01:00

After spending the last few months writing off the chances of swine flu causing the human race any major issues, and comparing it to the likes of bird flu in terms of what a fuss over nothing it was, I am no slightly concerned that it might, after all, be a serious problem.

One third of us may be affected by it this summer? This figure is so startling that at the moment I heard it on the news I was actually silently debating which of the three family members in the room at the time I would have contract the illness rather than myself (if you're interested, it was all three). But, scary as the figure sounds, not everyone that gets swine flu will die of it. That should help you sleep a bit easier at night, even if you are slightly concerned about that niggling cough.

If you think you might have swine flu, check your symptoms here.

Working in the belly of the beast

2009-07-13T17:28:00.000+01:00

This summer I have sold my soul to the devil. Socialist by word, I am confirmed capitalist by deed. In desperate search of money, this holiday period I am 'earning' money in one of the only businesses in the land actually making money out of the economic downturn, the insolvency business.

Insolvency practitioners are actually nicer than you might think. Yes, they profit from the financial misery of others, but they're actually quite decent people to hang around with. They are friendly, generous and in possession of an impressive gallows humour. My favourite example of such humour was when a colleague, reflecting on the financial collapse of one older lady who had lost her house and most of her savings, almost shed tears at the sheer sadness of such a thing occurring. The moment briefly passed, however, as said colleague then strolled over to a large bell attached to the office wall in order to ring it loudly and mark the arrival of another few thousand pounds of profit for the devil.

I console myself with the fact that I myself am not pickpocketing these poor souls, but merely packing boxes and filing papers for those that are. I also like the people I work with, so will not judge them too harshly. I just hope that in the future, whether I be writing leftist polemics, earning a wage at the Socialist Worker or unsuccessfully running for election as a 'labour' candidate, by dark capitalist past does not come back to haunt me.

Impotent UN

2009-07-10T13:52:00.000+01:00

Aung San Suu Kyi is back on trial today in Burma after a failed attempt by the UN to have her freed.

Did anyone really expect the UN to help in the slightest? Surely this is just another example of how impotent and inept it has become?

And how about this for a bit of irony, with UN Secretary General telling junta leader General Than Shwe: "I appreciate your commitment to moving your country forward."

You just couldn't make this stuff up. Meanwhile a country remains enslaved and its democratically elected leader, who has lost everything through her commitment to freeing her country, imprisoned.

The Dark Side of Journalism

2009-07-10T13:28:00.000+01:00

It comes as a shock to nobody that the News of the World is in hot water over an alleged phone hacking operation. Such activities on behalf of the paper were exposed more than two years ago when editor Andy Coulson was forced to resign after the paper's royal editor Clive Goodman was sent to prison for four months for illegal phone tapping. The paper is also so obsessed by celebrity scandals (obsessions with the private lives of the likes of David Beckham, David Blunkett and Sven Goran Eriksson have been par for the course over the past few years) that it does not come as a surprise that the paper would go to extreme lengths to dig dirt on prominent public figures.

But the scandal leaves a bad taste in my mouth for two reasons. First is the great disservice that the News of the World has done to journalism. Often journalists are unpopular, yet I feel this unpopularity is unfair given the great service that most journalists provide to the public. A free and active media is an essential part of any democracy. Yet when journalists entirely lacking in morals employ the likes of Glen Mulcaire to illegally dig up dirt, trust in the profession diminishes and every other journalist, however honest or fair they may be, is tarred by the same brush. Honesty and integrity within the world of journalism are essential if the reputation of the profession is to be upheld and journalists are to be able to do their job properly, and the likes of Rupert Murdoch, Piers Morgan and Andy Coulson (not that they'll care) besmirch the reputations of journalists everywhere.

The second reason why this story is important is that it has exposed the hypocrisy of the Tory party. For all the party's complaints about the role of Alistair Campbell within New Labour, David Cameron was remarkably keen to hire Andy Coulson, damaged reputation and all, in the first place, and even more keen to stand beside him as more allegations regarding his crooked past emerge. What what Cameron be saying if it was Campbell who was facing such allegations? Would he be arguing that "everyone deserves a second chance"? Of course not. This issue has emerged not long after Damian McBride, an advisor to the Prime Minister, was forced to resign after a failed smear campaign. McBride's actions were despicable, and Cameron correctly demanded that he be removed from his job and questioned the morals of a government that allowed such people to operate within it. What, then, does his continued dalliance with Coulson say about his own party? With backbenchers expressing discomfort over Coulson's role, the next few days are sure to be interesting.

The phone hacking scandal has damaged the reputation of journalists and also, though perhaps to a lesser extent, the reputation of the Conservative Party and its leader. To my mind, it would be a great shame if excellent and honest journalists, of whom there are many, had their reputations damaged by poor standards at an appalling paper, as not all journalists are as bad as each other. Cameron's hypocrisy, however, shows that the same cannot be said for the politicians.

End Elitist Education

2009-07-09T18:52:00.000+01:00

It emerged yesterday that the government is considering "no fee degrees", a scheme whereby students in this country would pay no tuition fees but also be ineligible for any sort of financial support from the government. The plan would primarily benefit students who choose to remain living at home with their parents, as well as students continuing their education beyond their initial degree.

I choose to ignore the obvious point that students remaining at home during their time at university miss out on vital aspects of university life, such as the process of leaving home, making new friends and living an independent life away from the watchful eyes of their next of kin. This point is crucial, yet I believe it to be relatively insignificant when we consider the larger issue- the elitism that has becoming noticeably predominant in Britain's education system.

It is my position, and that of many on the left, that education should be a right rather than a privilege, and therefore New Labour's introduction of tuition fees was one of Blair and Brown's greatest betrayals. Student loans make the fees slightly more bearable, but in some cases they are not enough, and most students still leave university with crippling amounts of debt. Saddling the future of this country with such debt is criminal enough as it is to my mind, but leaving poorer students who have shown great ability and work ethic to better themselves in such a sorry financial state is unforgivable. Young people seeking to further their minds and their experiences should, in my opinion, not have to pay for it, particularly under a so-called 'labour' government. The same goes for private schools. Privately-educated myself, I run the risk of being labelled a 'champagne socialist' here, but in the interest of fair play it seems to me that one child should not be entitled to a better education than another simply because their parents earn more money.

The latest review of the university system looks set to increase the levels of elitism that are already evident. The debate regarding tuition fees is not over whether they should be disposed of, but rather whether the fixed cap on fees should be raised or, god forbid, removed completely. Such a move would only serve to make the best universities less accessible to less privileged young people. The "no fees" system being mooted currently would make it easier for poorer young people to study at university, but at the same time deny them the chance to leave the communities in which they grew up. Also, in spite of the government's arguments to the contrary, I find it impossible to believe that such a scheme would not simply lead to a system whereby those entering higher education through receive a lower quality education and a less valuable degree.

I am in agreement with James Greenhalgh of the UK Youth Parliament, who argues: "It is frightening to think how many students would end up choosing a local university, regardless of whether it is the right option for them, because they want to avoid paying tuition fees." Rather than allowing a gulf to open up between those able or willing to pay and those who are not, why not revert back to a completely fair system where anyone who wants a university education can get one, funded by the government, regardless of their wealth or social status. Those who argue that there simply isn't the money for that are either blind or stupid. Our government spends lots more money on fair more useless things every year. Some people argue that too many people are going to university, especially in times of job sparsity such as today. Many even refer to current levels of university applications as a 'crisis'. I don't buy these arguments. Young people wishing to educate themselves is something that should be encouraged, especially in a recession. They should be encouraged by a free and universal education system with the potential to benefit each and every young person in exactly the same way. It is these values, my values, which make it so depressing to note that current rethinks of the way people are educated in this country will serve only to alter, and most likely further entrench, Britain's elitist education system, with the real shame being that it was Tony Blair and his 'labour' government that took perhaps the most decisive step.

Are we approaching the time of the Liberal Democrat?

2009-07-06T19:25:00.000+01:00

Much has been written about the impending fall of the Labour Party and the seemingly inevitable rise to power of David Cameron's Tories. The press focus on the death throes of Labour while questioning what exactly a Conservative government would do. Analysts debate whether next year's election will be about spending vs cuts, as Brown would have it, or honesty vs dishonesty, as Cameron would). Yet, though the polls show a significant lead for the Conservative Party, a Cameron premiership is by no means inevitable.

Current polls suggest that the Tories hold a lead of ten points, or thereabouts, over Labour. Should these polls prove correct, then Cameron's party would indeed be the strongest in Parliament. Yet the party is by no means guaranteed a majority. Labour ministers are by all accounts seriously contemplating the possibility of a hung Parliament, a scenario which would result in Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats holding the balance of power. The possibility of a so-called 'progressive alliance', such as the one that Tony Blair unsuccessfully attempted to build after the Labour victory in 1997, would then rear its head. The difference between 1997 and 2010, however, is that Labour would need Lib Dem support to stay in power. In order to guarantee this, they would have to give in to some long-term Lib Dem demands, most notably proportional representation.

A Tory victory, it seems, is very likely, though a year is a long time in politics and there is no real evidence that the unpopularity of Labour necessarily means popularity for Cameron, Osborne et al. There is no positive aura around the Tories now of the sort that surrounded New Labour pre-1997. Smaller parties could yet gain more than one might expect, and we saw the signs of this at the recent local and European elections. Even if the Tories do win, however, an absolute majority is by no means guaranteed, and the Liberal Democrats would then find themselves in a pivotal position to determine the course of British politics. One should not rule out a Tory-Liberal agreement, but the smart money would be on a progressive alliance between Brown (if he survives) and Clegg. With both Brown and Cameron still not at all certain of their own power within both the country and their respective parties, it could just be that Nick Clegg, a figure so seemingly powerless that he is for the most part neglected by the media and by the leaders of the two major parties, becomes the most powerful man in the country come May next year.

Show them how you feel

2009-06-17T13:34:00.000+01:00

I have never been to a protest. There is no footage anywhere of me marching with a banner demanding an end to war, nuclear weapons and child poverty. This is not because I don't want an end to these things, but rather a lack of opportunity and poor geographical positioning. London might occasionally overheat in the glow of a demonstration, but York and Southampton are hardly political hotbeds.

As soon as I get to the capital, however, I intend to take advantage of the right to protest. People just don't do it enough these days. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are pivotal aspects of our democracy, and opportunities to loudly express discontent should be cherished. As long as any demonstration remains non-violent, I see no reason why they should not be encouraged. When MPs are not speaking for the people, and not acting in a way the people like, then the people must take some kind of direct action themselves. Protests have been known to have positive effects, notably with the poll tax in the 1990s, though it is regrettable that violence occurred in this case.

People don't seem too bothered about protesting or demonstrating these days. This situation developed due to a number of reasons. The great demonstrations of the 1960s, in reality, achieved very little. Anti-war and nuclear disarmament campaigns have generally been met by deaf ears in the corridors of Whitehall. Disillusionment with the political system may also play a part in people becoming estranged from taking part in the process in any way at all, and the recent expenses revelations will only exacerbate that situation. Fear might also play a part, with the police response to the demonstrations earlier this year perhaps discouraging people from taking part. I also blame Margaret Thatcher, as I am inclined to do with a lot of things. In declaring the 'end of society' and the era of individualism, Thatcher initiated an era of selfishness, where the majority of people do not care about issues unless they are directly affected by it. In this world where everybody is out for what they can get, regardless of other people, demonstrating over more distant issues becomes less important.

I stand by the importance of demonstrations. People have a right to gather and speak out, especially in days such as these where members of Parliament seem wholly incapable of representing the views of the people. In a political system where the creep to the right has been severe, demonstrations and rallies should become a particularly important tool for the Left as they seek to get their views across. People's disillusionment from politics should also encourage them to demonstrate. If politics is not doing it for you, don't retreat. Do something about it. And let's declare an end to this horrendous Thatcherite consensus. Our world is wholly unequal and getting worse. The recent economic crisis has shown the dark side of neo-liberalism. While we're at it, let's bring society back. Look around, and see that people are worse off than ourselves. Rather than thanking our lucky stars that we are not as unfortunate as others, let's take it upon ourselves to go outside and tell our government what we think. I'm almost certain they aren't listening, but if the clamour is big enough and loud enough something might get through. We owe it to ourselves and to our society, our global society, to try and make ourselves heard.

So keep signing those petitions, and get yourself out on the streets next time an event is organised to promote a cause you're passionate about. I'll see you there.

Note to self

2009-06-02T20:26:00.003+01:00

Once this flipping degree is over, I must find some worthwhile stuff to chat about.

Revision is cheating

2009-06-02T20:21:00.000+01:00

Apparently they make University kids do exams these days. As if it isn't stressful enough wondering where your next meal, drink or sexual partner is coming from.

For my part, I try not to get too stressed about exams. I work for them, yes, but not to excess, and once they're over I forget about them. Life's too short to worry too much about stuff like that, and there's more pot luck to these kind of situations. You're in the hands of the examiner, you might not like the questions, it might be too hot, you might need a wee. Do what you have to do, prepare a bit, but for heaven's sake don't give yourself a coronary. Just bash out a bit of revision, bullshit a bit, and hope for the best.

And no matter how badly it goes, you can always look forward to the celebrations afterwards and the fact that life will always give you another bite of the cherry.

Hot and Bothered

2009-05-31T20:46:00.000+01:00

God, isn't it hot? Certainly not the weather for getting down to that vital revision or work on my dissertation. Definitely the weather for ciders in a beer garden. Not wanting to commit to either of these extremes, I committed to an alcohol-free day in the sun, walking in the countryside.

There's so much countryside about. Much to my surprise, a twenty minute walk or so from the University campus at York brings you into glorious countryside. Another few hours and you're in the middle of bloody nowhere, lost and parched. Trust me, I know. The lesson I learned from an epic 'stroll' that eventually turned into an unsuccessful attempt to walk all the way to Elvington (what were we thinking?) is that too much of a good thing is not good. Initially, the animals, flowers and the fact that we were away from civilisation is novel and enjoyable. After a while, though, with the sun beaming down on pale skin, the animals appear to be mocking you, the flowers all look exactly the same, and the lack of civilisation is not as good as you first though when all you're after is a cool drink, a toilet or a lift back to where you came from.

It's sunny, and that's great (though I'm sweating like a paedophile in a playground and smelly to match). Venture away from the stuffiness of the city to the surrounding areas in search of peace and quiet, by all means. But, and this is a lesson that we can all learn with respect to life, for heaven's sake don't go too far.

Living The Dream

2009-05-26T16:19:00.000+01:00

It isn't so much 'hallowed turf' anymore, given the well-known state of the Wembley pitch and the farce that surrounded getting the stadium built in the first place, but a trip to the national stadium is special for any football fan. Not least for the followers of Burnley, who have sampled the delights of Walsall and Plymouth more than they have Wembley over the last few years.

With several London pubs behind us, we joined the throngs of people walking up Wembley Way for what was bound to be one of the most nervous, intriguing games of football many of us had seen in a long time. This Roses battle, between the Clarets and Yorkshire's Sheffield United, would not only decide who would grace the Premiership next year but was also worth a significant monetary reward, around £60 million.

As it was, we needn't have worried. Wade Elliott curled home a beauty of a goal early on and Burnley were so comfortable that they proceeded to squander several great chances. United never looked like scoring, and the final whistle confirmed Burnley's return to the top flight of English football for the first time in 33 years. As the Sheffield United supporters ebbed away in disappointment, Burnley's 36,000 fans stayed behind to watch the team lift the play-off trophy and celebrate their return to the elite of English football.

A little over twenty years ago, Burnley won a vital game at Leyton Orient that meant they retaind their football league status. The finances of the club were so dire that had they dropped out of the league that year they probably would never have returned. A founder member of the football league, this would have been a catastrophe for the town and the fans. The climb back to the top has been slow, but that it has been completed is remarkable. In their 61st game of the season (only Manchester United have played more), Burnley's players put in a tremendous effort in sealing the vital win. All the more impressive is that the club have used a mere 23 players this campaign, less than any other Championship side, with five of those playing no more than once. Overpaid Premier League players complaining about the strains of a long season, take heed. For players like Graham Alexander (38) and Robbie Blake (33), this achievement is all the more amazing, and they more than deserve such success near the end of their careers.

A word about the fans. Burnley's average home attendance this season has been around 12,000, not impressive in itself, but when one considers the competition for fans' allegiances in the area, not at all bad. With Blackburn, Preston, Bolton, Wigan, Rochdale, Accrington Stanley and Bury, not to mention the two Manchester clubs, all within easy reach, Burnley are always going to have to work hard to persuade people to come. The town, however, only has a population of 73,000, and with this brought into the equation, only Middlesbrough can consider themselves better supported. Yesterday, Burnley must have been a ghost town, as 36,000 Clarets converged on London. After years of only being associated with race riots and the BNP, Burnley is now back on the map for the right reasons.

The money is crucial, it secures Burnley's future and puts less pressure on the wallets of benefactors Barry Kilby and Brendan Flood. But from a football point of view, Burnley's elevation is tremendous. A club steeped in history, with a great fan base and who play the game in the right manner, the Premier League will be a better place for Burnley being there. They will be written off right from the start but, mark my words, this little club will cause some big surprises next year. Up The Clarets.

Priorities

2009-05-24T12:25:00.000+01:00

The end of your time at University is a funny old thing. On the one hand you have the excitement at the prospect of leaving, for a new place, new friends and new experiences. On the other you're leaving behind places, friends and experiences that for the most part have been good to you. If we had any more hands we might talk about the frankly horrendous prospect of having to get a job, the vaguely intriguing idea of actually having some of this 'money' stuff that people go on about, or the even more far-off possibility of getting tied down to partners, kids and mortgages. But there are simply not enough hands to go around.

For my own part, I wonder whether life will ever be as simple again. I'm not yet ready to accept the old dictum that your student days are the best of your life, half because I don't want to write off the rest of my days just yet and half because at points (notably during relationship problems, vomiting on your flat floor and open exams) University wasn't all that great. But it's certainly been a good crack and, as a I face the frankly absurd prospect of coming out of a good institution with a good degree, I contemplate whether the rest of life is as much of a breeze of this. I'm not going to deny that I have put in some work, for no student can avoid that without coming a cropper, but studying for my degree has certainly taken a backseat to socialising with mates, supping the rusty brown water (and occasionally the clear stuff: vodka or gin) and jetting off to watch football all over the country. Something tells me that once I get one of these job things the same level of non-committal attention is not going to cut it.

No matter though, there's more to life than knuckling down all the time and reaching the very top. It's easy to say now, but I don't think I have the ambition to really pull my finger out at whatever I end up doing. If any prospective employers are reading this, don't think I'm just a lazy, layabout reprobate who would be much happier slumped on a sofa with his dole cheque. All the same, variety is the spice of life. People at University who have worked their fingers to the bone and come away with a first-class degree but no friends and no stories have, to my mind, wasted the experience. Striking the right balance is essential. And this extends beyond the fast and furious student years. I don't intend to come out of life with the career version of a first if it means sacrificing other things that are important to me. Because, at the end of the day, things are only as important as you want them to be.

The Loosest Of Cannons

2009-05-23T18:39:00.000+01:00

My opinions have never been popular. My friends call me a champagne socialist (which really hacks me off, especially as poorer people who vote for right-wing parties never get labelled in a similar way- Vimto conservative, anyone?). My own mother regularly asks me, given that I seem to disagree with everything and everyone, what it is that I actually do like. My forthright opinions get me into trouble with plenty of people, my refusal to be censored in any way doesn't make for a very popular person within student media, and I even seem to get stick for the things that I don't have an opinion about either way, like 'student politics'. Whatever the hell that is.

I see nothing wrong with being dissatisfied, however. I am not a naturally unhappy person. Anyone that has ever spent time with me, been to an event with me, had a beer with me, will know that I'm pretty easy going, like a laugh and enjoy myself immensely. The things that make me happy are multiple. But there is no good in being happy with everything. Countless things in this world make me angry, irritable or upset, from the serious stuff like nuclear weapons and MPs ripping off the public with their expenses claims, to the extremely mundane everyday occurrences like people walking slowly in front of you when you're in a rush, vegetarians that eat fish, or pesky girls that mess you about. The purpose of this blog is to give me a forum in which to vent my fury and distaste at certain aspects of life. In a way, it's therapy. In a way, it's an attempt to save numerous friendships that are nearing disaster because I can't keep my (mostly cynical and negative) thoughts to myself. If I choose to vent my feelings, people around me have no choice but to listen, or create a row by not doing so. If I write what has particularly irked me here, then you are choosing to read it. Which of course makes you a very sensible human being.

So, here it is, 'The World Is Red', a blog devoted to the ramblings of a man who is very possibly insane.