h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Morning Blues, haven't seen you around for awhile.

I think what is coming is a louder call for an English Parliament as my favourite Son of the Manse ascends the throne. The spinning has already started as they try to British up Gordons credentials. What was he calling for -a British day or something?

Your complaint, as always, is about Brown, not the Scots. If you made that plain you wouldn't look quite so objectionably racist.

As far as I am aware, by the way, Scotland is part of Britain, so why shouldn't a Scot call for a celebration of Britain? Or can only the English do that as well?

why can't I call for a celebration of Britain?

Blues,

Compared to the abuse the English have to endure in Scotland my comments are accurate, considered and usually political. As I have stated before I have had the good fortune to live and work in many countries and my opinions are formed not second hand from journalists or from hearsay but from living with and talking to the natives. I'm surprised you use the word racist your arguments are usually way above such a cheap shot.

My dislike of Gordan Brown stems from years of watching him snipe from the sidelines, his redistributive fiscal policy, his demolition of the pension industry, his increase in taxation by stealth and his basking in the sobriquet of the nation's finest chancellor. Luckiest maybe; best no way. His luck may now have run out.

No, it's not bemeath me. It's a comment based on long experience of your comments about and to the Scots.

I don't care whether you like otr dislike Gordon Brown. I think he's a fine chancellor. Even if I didn't I wouldn't continually snipe at him for being Scots. Lamont wasn't Scottish and he was as inept a chancellor as I can remember, for example. And I seem to recall he had a bag carrier and advisor called... Cameroon, or something similar. But I don't blame that on the English, or even on those members of the population that resemble startled badgers. I blame Norman Lamont.

Lamont was a Shetlander which administratively is Scottish.

I *still* don't blame the Scots. I blame the idiot called Lamont.

"or even on those members of the population that resemble startled badgers"

I'd never made the connection, but now you mention it

And then you come across this:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1072-2049791,00.html
"The boring title of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill hides an astonishing proposal. It gives ministers power to alter any law passed by Parliament. The only limitations are that new crimes cannot be created if the penalty is greater than two years in prison and that it cannot increase taxation. But any other law can be changed, no matter how important. All ministers will have to do is propose an order, wait a few weeks and, voilà, the law is changed."

"The Government claims that there is nothing to worry about. The powers in the Bill, it says, will not be used for “controversial” matters. But there is nothing in the Bill that restricts its use to “uncontroversial” issues. The minister is asking us to trust him, and, worse, to trust all his colleagues and all their successors. No one should be trusted with such power."

I'm really not too happy about this. In fact, I find it very concerning. And I feel so should all UK residents. And yes, my MP will be hearing about it.

This almost makes Thatcher look like a liberal. To actually creep into law the ability to change laws at will makes a mockery of democracy(well, what goes for democracy these days).

It would still have to get through the Lords and they do not seem to be letting everything though these days but the government can easliy use the Parliment Act to put it through as they no doubt will with the ID cards.

but people continue to vote for the Labour Party.

The leader is exposed over his statements on Iraq - they still vote for him.

The economy is being ruined and taxes are higher than ever, without benefit - they still vote for him.

Now its been shown that he was borrowing money that not even his own treasurer knew about - and still people say they'll vote for him.

Why ?

Because he's not Thatcher ! There really ought to be an sanity test on the top of the voting slip.

I think I suggested something similar elsewhere.

Only allowed to vote if IQ above 90, (which is the average mark I believe).

IQ 70 - 90, barred from voting

below 70 - sterilised. Let's clean up the Gene Pool.

Oh, being English and living in Scotland should be a barring offence too!

*has never voted Labour*

I could not believe that, Ictoan, so I went to the text of the bill itself and it appears to be as told! For the first time ever I wrote to my MP about this. Until later...
BCNU - Crescent

I also wrote to the beeb about it a couple of weeks ago to ask why pm had missed it - they still appear to be missing it

Crescent, Kelli, good n yer both. The only way to counter this is by such action.
Do let us know if either of you hear anything back (especially you crescent from your MP). I, as yet, haven't heard owt.

I have also written a letter to my MP I have yet to hear back. I also have not heard back. Never thought I'd say this but the House of Lords is becoming the only defender of democracy here.

"Never thought I'd say this but the House of Lords is becoming the only defender of democracy here."

No wonder Tony wants to fill it with his cronies/bankers.

Now that New Labour has fessed up to receiving £14m how come nobody noticed or documented how it was spent. It isn't, after all, an inconsiderate sum.

Who signed the cheques? Who audited and signed off the accounts? Was there VAT involved? Was there income tax involved? These are the type of questions us simple voters have to answer.

Or is there one law for the rich, £14m, and one for the poor?

>The economy is being ruined<

Well, other than the fact that unemployment, interest rates and inflation are at their lowest for decades, yeah, the economy is an absolute wreck, obviously.

>Now that New Labour has fessed up to receiving £14m<

And the Tory party has fessed up to receiving £18m without wanting to tell us who the lenders were and which of them are presently in the House of Lords.

(Oh, and being a moaning Scotsman in England should be punishable by immediate deportation back north of the border.)