On the Daily Politics show on 20.06.2017,  overseen by Jo Coburn, the insufferably pompous Barry Gardiner insulted Digby Jones twice during a discussion on Brexit approaches. Lord Jones admirably kept his demeanour, whereas lesser men would have reacted more precipitously in reply.

Gardiner’s assault on Lord Jones opinions was, as sadly has become the norm in these times, directed at the man and not the ball. This admittedly is a common tactic now used by both major political parties; the veracity of the argument is not of consequence. He first asserted that the noble Lord was on the “periphery” of events (implying therefore that his opinions had no weight, and by implication that his presence on the program was that of a token, but long outdated, ‘name’) and secondly that he had had no involvement with business for “20 years”, further implying that his qualification to be a spokesperson for industry and commerce (to which Lord Jones comments were directed) was zero.

Coming from Barry Strachan Gardiner this was astoundingly arrogant, as  Grumpy can see no obvious record of him ever having any material role in industry, and certainly not in any capacity even tenuously connected to the generation of value to the GDP or anybody else. Tellingly, therefore, he did not answer Lord Jones primary assertion – or in reality, to all but a Corbinista the fact – that governments have no money. The largesse that they dispense is provided almost in its entirety by taxpayers, both individual and corporate, and hence, as Digby Jones pointed out  to the irritation of Gardiner, industry surely had a qualification for expressing opinions on the direction for Brexit.

So full points to Digby Jones for maturity, professionalism and calmness.

Dateline July 2015: Welfare Bill and labour ‘leadership’ contest

Andy Burnham announced that he was abstaining from the vote on the Conservative Welfare Bill, and then stated that the party was ‘crying out for leadership’.  However, in abdicating responsibility, he demonstrated that by failing to declare his position on such an important issue he had absolutely none of  that commodity.

It was left to Jeremy Corbyn to at least go into a lobby (predictable) instead of hiding, and Harriet Harman to set  the right direction to  avoid the obvious trap set by  George O to evidence that she at least sought to prevent labour from showing they were hell bent on obscurity for the next 10 years or so.

Although it is wholly irrational and unfair, I can’t see Yvette C/B without the word ‘prissy’ coming to mind. It’s totally irrational because she has a first from Balliol, and a masters from LSE, as well as having studied at Harvard, so she is seriously s-m-a-r- t,  which would normally be enough to have me grovelling in admiration at her intellect.

I am more impressed by her colleague in the ‘sisterhood’, Rachel Reeves, who on paper is just as smart, and was a chess champion. She also irritates the crap out of me which surely qualifies her as an ideal labour leadership candidate, unlike Yvette, who is about as inspiring as lift music.

If Jeremy wins, they only have themselves to blame. DC / GO must be chuckling.

A horrendous physical attack took place in broad daylight recently on the streets of Britain, in which the attacker attempted to decapitate an innocent citizen who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The attacker was known to the authorities, but in spite of many obvious indications that the public was at risk, they failed to do anything about it.

There was, however, no mass media coverage of this tragedy; the prime minister did not cut short important international meetings to return home; and politicians did not clamour to re-instate draconian measures to spy on citizens. This was the death of  Sally Hodkin in Bexleyheath late last year at the hands of a known schizophrenic.

Compare this with the appallingly brutal  death of a soldier, Lee Rigby, this month. David Cameron immediately flew back from  meetings with the French premier, and Home Secretary Teresa May appeared on nationwide TV denouncing the crime and promising immediate action.

Why the difference over these equally violent crimes ? Sadly, poor Ms Hodkin had no political  value to the government, but serviceman Rigby presented an ideal opportunity for  Cameron to make grandstanding speeches about the resolve of the British people never to bow to terrorism etc., which were plucked straight from a phrase book of well worn clichés in the chapter entitled  ‘How to exploit opportunities to look statesmanlike’.

Teresa May was conspicuously quiet when the known mental patient who killed Ms Hodkin,  and who had called 999 to indicate her intent to slaughter someone,  produced no response by the very authorities for which she was ultimately responsible.

However, she was happy to exploit the media frenzy surrounding the tragic soldier Rigby incident (driven of course by the government)  to  cynically advance her agenda  to call for the reinstatement of  pointless and draconian legislation to the restrict personal liberties of  every citizen, which had already been democratically rejected; this from a woman who had failed during the whole of her period of office to extradite Abu Qatada, certainly in part from errors made by her own department.

Notwithstanding personal tragedies in these events,  and the acknowledged threats from Islamic radicalisation, it’s hard not to whiff the skin-crawling scent of opportunism here.

Sally Hodkin, Lee Rigby and their families deserved better than these mealy mouthed self serving responses.

Here’s Ed Miliband on 31st january 2012

“if you are paid a bonus it’s for exceptional circumstances”

Ok, let’s look at the Civil Service (100% controlled by the government, not just 82% as with RBS) under Labour’s rule.

In 2008/9, civil servants were paid £130m in bonii. The department which received greatest proportion of this largesse was the Ministry of Defence, which is a byword for incompetence and waste. So were the recipients one or two shining lights delivering outstanding and ‘exceptional’ excellence in an otherwise dark morass of sub-standard performance ? No, the largesse was distributed broadly;  just civil servants taking advantage of Gordon Brown’s money shower on the public sector and displaying the same feral greed labour accuse the bankers of.

This just underlines the two-faced and opportunistic approach by Miliband, who was part of the bonus benefits expansion during Labour years.

Well, several this month as a postscript to the UK’s effective withdrawal from the EU, which dates back in Grumpy’s view to the signing of the Lisbon Treaty and the lack of a referendum thereupon. Here’s just a sample across the political spectrum of politicians talking democracy and then abandoning it when they realise it won’t produce the answer they wanted.

“Today, I will give this cast-iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations.” — David Cameron MP, The Sun, 26th September 2007

(Dave’s cast iron is obviously very malleable)

“There is no question of any constitutional treaty going through without the express consent of the British people . . . Regardless of how other members vote, we will have a referendum on the subject.” — Rt Hon. Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister, speech to the House of Commons, 21st June 2004

(See Angela Merkel’s comment on the Lisbon Treaty – “The substance of the constitution is preserved. That is a fact.” — Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, speech to the European Parliament, 27th June 2007)

“We will put it to the British people in a referendum.” — Gordon Brown, General Election Manifesto, 2005

“… ratification must be subject to a referendum of the British people.” — Liberal Democrat Party, General Election Manifesto, 2005

Alistair Campbell’s brass neck

Alistair Campbell recently appeared at the Leveson Inquiry into press behaviour, having been called to comment on the integrity of the industry. One can only assume this is rather like car manufacturers using ex car thieves to test security measures on vehicles, but it still grates.

Almost every aspect of his responses would merit an entry here, but just as a taster, this retired uber spin meister for Blair uttered the words which must sure qualify him for this months entry

” … The question is whether they allow their zeal for the campaign to infect their commitment to accuracy …”

Do Iraq dossiers come to mind here ?

It amazes Grumpy that Mr Campbell always communicates with such conviction (whereas his ex-boss was always transparently uttering the words without bothering to show any real belief), but the word ‘slimey’ always comes to Grumpy’s mind when watching him.

Oakeshott on Stephen Hester and Bonus payments

Lib Dem big mouth Matthew Oakeshott has been lambasting Stephen Hester for being ‘rewarded for failure’ and demanded that he forfeit his bonus awarded by the RBS Board. Under enormous pressure from all sides, Hester eventually did so.

In his tirade, Oakeshott largely focused on the failure of RBS to lend to small businesses. The implied state here  is that RBS could actually find enough small businesses with a suitable credit profile to lend to, but such considerations would hardly have been of concern to this ex-labour pinko.

Lest one should think that he has some empathy or experience  with the struggling small business sector, Grumpy should remind readers that this is really Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, and that following his privileged upbringing by schooling at Charterhouse and reading PPE  at Oxford, he largely spent his whole career either as a bag carrier for politicians or in the investment banking world. Yes, read that latter part again – he’s a banker (check out www.olim.co.uk )

It may strike the owner of a small business as slightly odd that this scourge of the wicked casino operators and  defender of fairness for the small metal bashing shop and kebab takeaway  actually makes his living in the bowels of the very money grubbing hell he would have us believe the banking sector is.

Quite what his qualification to opine on the difficulties faced by small business seeking credit having never actually worked (as far as can be ascertained by his bio) for any organisation that actually created value for UK plc is a mystery, but hearing him lambasting Hester on Radio 4 on the 29th of January earns him this hypocrisy slot. The moral is, beware the rich and privileged carrying the flag for the lower orders.