tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206613302024-03-08T00:40:27.763+00:00Fair Deal PhilFormer journalist Phil Dilks is chairman of Deeping St James Parish Council in south Lincs.
Served 8 years (2001-09) on Lincolnshire County Council (Labour lead on Education and Children's Services).
Former member Lincolnshire Police Authority (2002-09).
Member of Royal Anglian Association (former TA CSM), Co-operative Party, and GMB trade union.
Promoted by Phil Dilks, DSJ, PE6 8HD. A personal view and not that of any organisation of which I am a member or associated.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.comBlogger1467125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-21329894330296638752011-04-18T21:50:00.002+01:002011-04-18T21:53:32.181+01:00Bring back the Harrier - and save us millions!More evidence millions of pounds of taxpayers money wasted through government incompetence and the wrong cuts <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/3532222/750m-Harriers-idle-as-Top-Guns-struggle-in-Libya.html">exposed</a> today.<br /><br />I've always thought that the Conservatives decision to scrap the versatile Harrier jump jet was a false economy - and not just because of the Harrier's close association with our part of the world - with RAF Wittering near Stamford long known as 'The Home of the Harrier'. RAF Cottesmore - also close to Stamford - provided what turned out to be last UK base for the Harrier.<br /><br />Years ago, as a TA soldier on exercise, I recall being enormously impressed with seeing the Harrier close-up, and with the RAF ground-crew who kept them air-worthy, replacing engines in the middle of a forest in a couple of hours.<br /><br />I bet you can't do that with your new fangled Typhoon jets!<br /><br />But even I was shocked at reports today's Sun newspaper that 60 Harriers had just been given a £750 million revamp before they were decommissioned and stored in hangers at RAF Cottesmore near Stamford. <br /><br />What a waste of our cash!<br /><br />Even worse, as I have always believed, scrapping the Harrier would prove to be at best to be a false economy - and at worst a down-right incompetent decision.<br /><br />It seems that experts believe that instead of sending RAF Harriers to help enforce the NATO no-fly zone over Libya, what are described as 'inappropriate' Typhoons have been sent. <br /><br />Typhoons are operational as air defence assets - and can't be converted to an air-to-ground role until 2016. <br /><br />Even worse, the RAF is forced to operate long-range at huge expense from bases in Italy as UK has no carrier to use as a platform to launch operations over Libya.<br /><br />When Cameron committed UK in support of the NATO role in Libya, Tory politicians lined up to say we didn't need a carrier off Libya - even if we had the option of sending one, which we don't).<br /><br />So why has France sent a carrier - and twice as many aircraft as UK.<br /><br />Sadly, the most galling (forgive the pun) aspect of the whole debacle is the Sun's estimate that - despite massive cuts to public services across UK - we're shelling out £30 MILLION A WEEK to do the business in Libya against an estimated cost of 'only' £40 million a YEAR if we sent in the Harriers!fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-26680183707033706562011-04-14T11:36:00.002+01:002011-04-14T11:42:38.363+01:00Standing up for DSJI believe that Deeping St James has been the forgotten corner of Lincolnshire for far too long.<br /><br />As chairman of DSJ Parish Council for the past two years, I've seen how poorly our community is served by Grantham based South Kesteven District Council.<br /><br />So I've decided to stand up for DSJ and stand for election on May 5th.<br /><br />For more information, see my leaflet in this week's Advertiser...and watch this space..<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Promoted by Fair Deal Phil Dilks, 24 Church Street, DSJ, PE6 8HDfairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-64627310741300658072010-12-08T11:17:00.003+00:002010-12-08T23:44:42.418+00:00Questions our MP must answer...South Holland and Deepings MP John Hayes claimed more than twice as much as any other MP for mobile phone charges in the first four months of the new Parliament, according to the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/8176860/MPs-expenses-Gordon-Brown-claimed-2500-on-travel-after-leaving-Downing-Street.html">Daily Telegraph</a><br /><br />The Telegraph which blew the lid on the scandal of Parliamentary expenses by exposing abuse by MPs,reports : <em>"John Hayes spent £1,556 on mobile phone bills, twice the next-highest amount."</em><br /><br />The period covered expense claims by MP from May 7 to August 31.<br /><br />Almost £100 a week on phone bills sounds like a <em>staggering</em> amount, even for an MP.<br /><br />But when the money is claimed from the public purse by a member of a Coalition Conservative-LibDem Govermment that keeps telling us <em>'we're all in this together'</em>...surely those who are paying the bill are entitled to ask questions.<br /><br />For there appears to be more than a whiff of hypocrisy in an MP spending more in a single day on phone bills than most of us spend in a month:<br /><br />At the same time, Mr Hayes' Government is TREBLING tuition fees to make Uni students pay up to £9,000 a year, SLASHING funds for local policing by a staggering 20 per cent (despite Mr Hayes personally campaigining for more money for policing in Lincolnshire and getting re-elected on a promise of 'more police on our streets...').<br /><br />Then there's the eye-watering 28 per cent CUTS to local councils here in Lincolnshire - on top of SCRAPPING the world renowned school sports partnership hailed by teachers here in south Lincs and across the country as achieving fantastic results.<br /><br />Could this be the same Mr Hayes who launched a <a href="http://fairdealphil.blogspot.com/2007/05/mp-hayes-sinks-to-new-low-in-personal.html">shameful personal attack</a> on me a couple of years over 'expenses'.<br /><br />In a desperate attempt to stop me being elected to South Kesteven District Council, Mr Hayes personally deliver disgraceful leaflets down my street the day before polling.<br /><br />The wholly misleading leaflets suggested that as county councillor for DSJ, I had claimed a <em>staggering</em> amount in expenses.<br /><br />As Mr Hayes well knows, unlike most county councillors - and unlike him - I never claimed a penny over eight years despite regularly driving the 90-mile round trip backwards and forwards to the council's offices in Lincoln. <br /><br />I was entitled to thousands of pounds over the years. In fact, the public record shows I never claimed a single penny.<br /><br />And by the way, in my seven or so years as a member of Lincolnshire Police Authority, I never claimed either for travel expenses, or the £20 an hour on offer that others claimed for doing the job.<br /><br />Not looking for plaudits, but under false personal attack, it's important to me that the truth is known.<br /><br />Sadly, the truth didn't stop Mr Hayes delivering his eve-of-election leaflets smearing my personal character.<br /><br />If I was rich, I could have sought legal remedy in the courts. To be frank, I would have accepted a simple apology.<br /><br />It never came - despite Mr Hayes claiming in his leaflets at this year's General Election: <em>'I'll never attack my local political opponents personally...'</em><br /><br />Not sure what he would call his unjustified personal attacks on me over 'expenses'. I'm fairly certain that a court of law would call it an personal attack on my character made without justification.<br /><br />In any case, it is surely reasonable to ask Mr Hayes why he now thinks it is right that taxpayers have paid his rather large phone bill.<br /><br />Some might even say his bill is <em>'staggering'.</em><br /><br />Footnote:<br />Of course, there may be a simple explanation and I'm sure that in the interests of transparency and accountability, Mr Hayes will now wish publish the offending phone bills.<br /><br />Watch this space...fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-89072522293354702982010-10-25T18:58:00.004+01:002010-10-25T19:08:26.904+01:00Police numbers to be cut in LincsPolice numbers in Lincolnshire are likely to be <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-11607683">cut</a> as a result of the draconian ConDem Coalition austerity package.<br /><br />So what does Tory MP John Hayes for South Holland and the Deepings have to say about that, I wonder.<br /><br />I distinctly recall him promising MORE police not less in his general election leaflets which dropped on my mat only a few months ago.<br /><br />Mr Hayes and his gang can't say they didn't know there was a big deficit - after all they campaigned on that very issue to get elected.<br /><br />And after the election, official figures showed that the deficit was not as big as forecast before the election.<br /><br />So will Mr Hayes be campaigning against the austerity package which is resulting in his election promises being broken within months...?<br /><br />Let's hear it Mr Hayes!fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-79270980546444938022010-10-24T15:39:00.001+01:002010-10-24T15:41:34.027+01:00Is Construction Company casualty of Coalition Cuts...?D. A. Green's are a well-respected local construction company which has a record of delivering prestige projects in both the public and private sector.<br /><br />Or at least they were - until they were forced to call in the <a href="http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/local/construction_firm_goes_into_administration_1_1562961">receivers </a>this week, throwing 80 people on the dole.<br /><br />No doubt our MP John Hayes who cheered on the age of austerity in the House of Commons this week will tell the jobless workers we're all in this together.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-64266150171082050652010-10-08T18:41:00.000+01:002010-10-08T18:42:48.809+01:00I have a dream...Women fill half of posts in Ed Miliband's cabinet - headline from tonight's <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23885913-yvette-cooper-in-line-for-shadow-chancellor-job-as-ed-miliband-picks-his-frontbench.do">London Evening Standard</a>.<br /><br />I have a dream that one day the gender of those in top jobs is not news. <br /><br />The gender agenda has made leaps and bounds in almost three decades since I became the proud father of two beautiful daughters - now both teachers.<br /><br />But there's clearly a way still to go...fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-50914055944698602912010-10-08T12:15:00.001+01:002010-10-08T12:17:02.438+01:00How to save millions on teacher redundancies and supply teachers...Lincolnshire County Council spent more than £2 million in <a href="http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Redundant-teachers-paid-163-2-million-months/article-2736599-detail/article.html">redundancy</a> payment for teachers in the past year.<br /><br />In the same period, the same Conservative-controlled authority also spent £3.5 million to hire supply teachers and agency staff in the county's schools.<br /><br />Could I suggest some joined-up thinking at county hall that might just save a few million quid of our money...?<br /><br />Instead of sacking teachers when schools close or merge, would it not be possible to create an internal 'supply team' to fill in for sickness and some of the other inevitable emergencies faced by schools?<br /><br />They could also be used as a team to assist head teachers in schools which need extra help raising standards...<br /><br />What do you think?fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-85843351373440172342010-10-06T23:31:00.002+01:002010-10-06T23:36:31.868+01:00Cameron talking Balls...David Cameron spoke much about 'fairness' in his speech today. Sadly the Prime Minister failed to practice what he preached...<br /><br />His attempt to ridicule Labour's Ed Balls doesn't stand up to scrutiny and in my humble opinion, was disgracefully unfair.<br /><br />Judge for yourself.<br /><br />Here's verbatim what Mr Cameron said about Mr Balls:<br /><br /><em>"I want to give you an idea of the mentality we're fighting.<br /><br />"Ed Balls, the man who used to be in charge of education in our country, said one of the dangers of our schools policy was that it would create 'winners'.<br /><br />"Winners? We can't have that.." said Mr Cameron. He went on: "Anti-aspiration. Anti-success. Anti-parents who just want the best for their children. What an unbelieveable attitude from the Labour generation..."</em><br /><br />Really??<br /><br />Tonight, BBC Newsnight asked Central Conservative Office for the source of the PM's attack on Mr Balls.<br /><br />Newsnight then played the tape of what Mr Balls actually said.<br /><br />Here's the transcript:<br /><em><br />"The danger is there will be some winners but it's dishonest to say their will not be losers as well."</em><br /><br />If Mr Cameron thinks his attack is 'fair', isn't our Prime Minister even more out of touch with reality than he demonstrated with the unfairness of scrapping child benefit for families with an income of £44,000 while continuing to pay child benefit to families with an income of £87,000...<br /><br />What do you think...?fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-57305543474516673682010-10-06T00:22:00.001+01:002010-10-06T00:24:22.179+01:00Cameron on the back foot...First, in the backlash of the child benefits debacle, he was forced to <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/8045038/Child-benefit-I-should-have-warned-you-admits-PM.html">apologise</a> that axing benefits for more than a million families was NOT in the Tory election manifesto.<br /><br />(In fact, the Tories spent the general election campaign accusing Labour of scurrilous scaremongering after the Tories' secret plans to cut child benefit were exposed).<br /><br />And secondly today, the Prime Minister was forced to <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jLbKNTV8LLlHLOnGbM1reLNWcTUw?docId=N0108321286303701251A">defend </a> his Chief spindoctor, former editor of the News of the World Andy Coulson after more <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/04/tom-watson-cameron-coulson">revelations</a> in the phone-hacking scandal.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-35156553922405311782010-10-05T18:01:00.002+01:002010-10-05T18:07:32.225+01:00It's the 'End of' as Tories go on the run...Just 24 hours after the ConDem axe fell on more than a million families, Tory Children’s minister Tim Loughton has come up with the understatement of the year...<br /><br />In the face of the storm and as the Mail splashed today on "Fury of Stay at Home Mums", Mr Loughton admitted that the move <em>'could be in need of more work...'</em>!!!<br /><br />The Tories are so out of touch with normal people that they thought their back of a fag packet ruse would get positive headlines for their Conference...<br /><br />But hitting women and children first is not even popular with their own MPs.<br /><br />A backbench revolt is already brewing as Tory MPs realise the move squeezes 'middle England' and threatens their survival at the next election. The revolt is likely to be led by David Davis, the MP who callenged David Cameron for the leadership of the Tory Party. <br /><br />Today, he went on the airways to hightlight the unfairness. He says it cannot be right that a family with a single earner on £44k a year and a partner staying at home to look after the kids loses their child benefit while neighbours with both partners each earning £40k - a total income of £80k - KEEP their child benefit. <br /><br />LibDem Susan Kramer dismissed suggestions of Coalition unfairness saying "That's the way the tax system works"!!<br /><br />It's astonishing is how the lackey LibDems support scrapping the principle of universal benefits for children. They sold their principles for a taste of power...<br /><br />Labour's Yvette Cooper hit the nail on the head when she said cutting child benefit for over a million families gives the lie to the ConDem's justification that deep cuts are needed now to protect the future generation. <br /><br />The ConDems are making the next generation pay now.<br /><br />I also heard London Tory MP Mark Field admit earlier today that the ConDems would have a political price to pay to cut child benefits. Her admitted that the £44k threshold would hit many 'ordinary' hard working families in the capital.<br /><br />Even Tory Children's Minister Tim Loughton told Channel 4 News the move could be in need of more work.<br /><br />He said: "If there are ways we can look at compensating measures for those genuinely in need, that will be looked at in future budgets."<br /><br />But the prize for most entertaining piece of telly today has to go to Sky who broadcast Loughton desperately trying to escape the media spotlight who wanted to clarify his thoughts on a rethink.<br /><br />Fast-trotting through Birming convention centre trailed by a media scrum, he didn't want to take the opportunity to explain what he meant. <br /><br />Later, when the cameras caught up with him, Mr Loughton said:<br /><br /><em>I am very happy with the policy that George Osborne announced yesterday. It’s tough, it’s a difficult choice but it’s fair. End of. End of. </em><br /><br />And to every other question, Mr Loughton replied: <em>End of. End of.</em><br /><br /><br />Question: …does that imply you’re going to try and bring in measures to mitigate this? <br /><br />Tory Minister: <em>End of. End of.</em> <br /><br />Question: End of what? <br /><br />Tory Minister: <em>End of.</em> <br /><br />And that was the <em>end of</em>fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-58360864744689660832010-10-04T23:27:00.003+01:002010-10-04T23:45:31.190+01:00Women and Children first for cuts...The unfairness of detail in Tory cuts in child benefits shows that while the Conservatives claim to support the family, they haven't got a clue.<br /><br />Despite promising to keep universal child benefit BEFORE the election, they've come up with a complete dog's breakfast to force families and children to pay for the deficit. <br /><br />Under the plan announced today, if one parent earns over £44k a year and the other stops at home to raise the kids, the Tories will take all the child benefit away - over £30 a week if they have two kiddies.<br /><br />But if they put the kids in day-care so and both go out to earn £43k each - a household income of £86k, under the Tory plan the family will keep all child benefits.<br /><br />Crazy or just Conservative?fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-55317940929940317832010-10-04T18:09:00.005+01:002010-10-04T18:28:23.439+01:00Tory heartlands 'pissed off' over latest cuts...?The Tories are 'pi**ing off' the Conservatives core vote by cutting universal child benefit.<br /><br />Not my words, but those of a Tory Minister, according to Channel 4's <a href="http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/cutscheck-the-end-of-a-universal-benefit/4120">CutsCheck blog</a> fronted by Cathy Newman.<br /><br />She says CutsCheck is:<br /><br /><em>'...getting wind of a ministerial revolt over George Osborne’s announcement this afternoon. <br /><br />One minister told me just now he had four emails from constituents complaining about it within an hour of the chancellor leaving the stage. He said: “We’re p***ing off our core vote. <br /><br />We’re supposed to be the party of the hard-working family.” He went on to protest that the chancellor had sprung the decision on ministers, and that it appeared to have been hurriedly put together. <br /><br />A cabinet minister has just told me the cut was a “complete bombshell” – he hadn’t been given any advance warning either....</em><br /><br />Tune in to C4 at 7pm!!<br /><br /><br />UPDATE: Among those urging the ConDems not to make children pay off the deficit today was the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11470161">Centre for Social Justice</a>.<br /><br />The think-tank' chief executive described the cuts announced today as a 'dirty' way of paying off the deficit and urged a re-think.<br /><br />As the BBC reports, the Centre for Social Justice was founded by Iain Duncan Smith, the Conservative's Welfare Minister!!fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-10700294228241947432010-10-04T17:40:00.003+01:002010-10-04T17:47:18.351+01:00Swimmer on the run...?More daft misuse of words from lazy journalists - this time by a BBC sports commentator at the Commonwealth Games in Dehli who should surely no better. <br /><br />He's just broadcast on Radio4's PM programme that a particular swimmer was so fast that "she has stolen the medal - and I do mean stolen the medal".<br /><br />How unsporting!fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-5638392211592210002010-10-03T19:05:00.006+01:002010-10-03T22:32:52.436+01:00Tory Baroness backs off on allegations of voting fraud...Conservative chairman Baroness Warsi came out all guns blazing against Labour this week, claiming that voting fraud had cost the Tories three seats at the general election. <br /><br />But having achieved the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11441382">headlines</a>, under scrutiny she now appears to be <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/03/baroness-warsi-allegations-electoral-fraud">backing off</a> from her allegations.<br /><br />I hope anyone who abuses our democracy by attempting to deceive voters is prosecuted. And I welcome the fact that some ex-members of the Labour Party - and incidentally, Liberal Democrats too - who were guilty of voting fraud have felt the long arm of the law.<br /><br />But why Baroness Warsi's attempt to dilute her comments from earlier in the week...?<br /><br />Could it be that someone has told her the facts: that the worst ever case of electoral fraud prosecuted in this country resulted in SIX guilty people going to prison - for their part in a scam to oust a former Labour Mayor and replace him, by...wait for it....er, a Conservative!<br /><br />Glasshouses and stones come to mind...fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-11633020944638644162010-10-03T18:56:00.001+01:002010-10-03T18:58:58.098+01:00Tory MPs attack LibDems...A Tory MP says she would <a href="http://www.epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/tory-mp-would-rather-die-than-form-electoral-pact-with-lib-dems/">'rather die'</a> than form an election pact with the LibDems - an idea recently floated by Nick Boles, the newly elected Conservative MP for Stamford and Grantham.<br /><br />It seems Mr Boles' suggestion of the Tories getting even more familiar with their LibDem Coalition partners has gone down like a lead balloon among both Tory grandees - as well as rank and file members of both parties.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I had to chuckle at Tory MP for Wellingborough Peter Bone was on the Politics Show at lunchtime attacking the LibDems, saying they couldn't be trusted.<br /><br />Self-confessed right-winger Mr Bone generously said he thought he could trust Labour, but not the LibDems!<br /><br />Well, with friends like Mr Bone (once dubbed the meannest boss in Britain - after bragging of the poverty wages he paid his staff), who needs enemies...?fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-40610127981262604362010-10-03T17:09:00.001+01:002010-10-03T17:12:09.268+01:00Hack puts phone-hacking scandal back in the news...An interview with a former News of the World journalist to be broadcast on C4's Despatches programme tomorrow night will put more the phone-hacking scandal back in the headlines.<br /><br />Andy Coulson, now the Prime Minister's chief spin-doctor, resigned as editor of the NotW when one of his journalists went to prison for phone-hacking. <br /><br />Coulson himself has always denied any knowledge of illegal activities when he was editor.<br /><br />But <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/03/phone-hacking-scandal-andy-coulson">The Guardian</a> says that on C4 tomorrow, a senior journo who worked alongside Coulson will claim - albeit anonymously - that Coulson not only knew his reporters used intecepted voicemail messages, but that he was actually involved.<br /><br />The journalist, said, like Coulson to be a former editor of the paper, claims when Couldon was told of intercepted voicemail messages of public figures, he demanded that he hear the tape or an email transcript to be sure they were authentic.<br /><br />No doubt as Mr Cameron stands by his man, I'm sure he was hoping the phone-hacking scandal would go away - at least during the week of their Conference.<br /><br />Not a chance. <br /><br />It may be a slow-burner, but it seems this one will drip, drip and drip again for some time to come...fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-19987930954060636072010-10-02T00:58:00.003+01:002010-10-02T01:00:00.929+01:00Roll up for your plants...Plant sale and coffee at DSJ Church Hall this Saturday 10-1 to raise a few bob for next year's DSJ in Bloom effort...all welcome.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-32900249516216567162010-10-01T18:24:00.002+01:002010-10-01T18:27:30.017+01:00Let's hear Cameron's excuses...New Labour Leader Ed Miliband today demonstrated the nonsense of The Tory Sun's 'Red Ed' label when he urged union leaders to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/01/ed-miliband-bbc-strike">call off</a> a planned broadcast black-out of the Prime Minister's Conservative Conference speech next week.<br /><br />Everyone should have the opportunity to hear Mr Cameron's words. We all need to know how he can justifies unfair cuts to make pensioners and the low-wage workers pay for the mistakes of the greedy bankers who sent us into world recession.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-32972784128591144072010-10-01T12:50:00.001+01:002010-10-01T12:52:31.923+01:00Catch the bald pot-bellied flasher...Hope local police catch this <a href="http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/local/sex_pest_exposes_himself_to_two_girls_in_deeping_st_james_1_1213645">offensive flasher</a> quickly so other young girls in our village don't become victims of his abuse.<br /><br />I remember my anger some 20 years ago when one of my daughters came home after a similar incident - and as a result was forced to explain things that little girls should not have to know. <br /><br />On that occasion, Deepings police caught the offender. <br /><br />I hope the latest offender is made to realise that his selfish cheap thrill could lead to long-term damage to innocent lives.<br /><br />We must protect the innocence of children and allow them to grow up free from abuse.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-87008818220841458962010-09-12T11:28:00.003+01:002010-09-12T11:34:49.155+01:00Heritage Walk today...Looks like we have been blessed with good weather for today's Heritage Walk.<br /><br />Meet at The Cross for a 2.30 start.<br /><br />As chair of DSJ Parish Council I've been spammed to say a few words on the history of our unique monument...<br /><br />A guided tour of Priory Church is next followed by a trek round the village featuring 'Hostelries of the Past' with John Bloomfield.<br /><br />By which time I'll be ready for a pint in one of our hostelries of the present...fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-37161398377368167082010-08-28T20:19:00.002+01:002010-08-28T20:40:39.919+01:00ConDems dismantling NHS...So, the Tories have let slip their secret plans to <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/08/28/condems-axe-nhs-direct-phone-line-for-cheap-service-115875-22519925/">scrap</a> the professional, much-respected NHS Direct Service.<br /><br />So when you phone NHS Direct in future, you are unlikely to get a trained nurse responding, but a call centre operative instead.<br /><br />It's another of Cameron's pre-election promises broken and threatens to reverse the achievements of the past few years in reducing waiting times at Accident and Emergency departments.<br /><br />The Tory determination to cut the NHS is not so surprising given their record - they fought tooth and nail to prevent Labour creating a National Health Service for all in the first place - then starved it of cash and almost destroyed it in the Thatcher era.<br /><br />What I find surprising is the apparent willingness of Nick Clegg and the LibDems to roll over, dump any pretence of principles, and campaign for the Tory agenda to cut public services under a thinly disguised veil of 'cutting the deficit'.<br /><br />Of course we need to cut waste where it can be identified and improve services, but the ConDem Coalition has no mandate to cut the NHS itself.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-71844171899247719372010-08-13T20:28:00.003+01:002010-08-13T20:31:36.894+01:00Tories take revenge by scrapping Audit Commission...The Tories have finally taken their revenge on the Audit Commission which played a key role in uncovering scandals such as the criminal ways of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2005/mar/17/localgovernment.bestvalue">Jim 'Jailbird' Speechley</a> in running Lincolnshire County Council - and of course illegal gerrymandering by <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/aug/07/conservatives.politics">Shirley 'homes for votes' Porter</a>.<br /><br />Staff at the Commission, <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jyiMzKaRJXtscGgGDL0CUJDs6WMw">told by email today</a> that the ConDem Government was scrapping the Audit Commission, leaving no national body to step in when there's a major failing in a local council by politicians of any persuasion - whether right here in Lincolnshire, or anywhere else in the country.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-36799467000578782742010-08-13T18:02:00.006+01:002010-08-13T18:10:30.507+01:00Tory says she'll fight the ConDem playground cuts...A senior Tory on Peterborough City Council says she'll fight playground cuts announced yesterday by a Tory Government Minister.<br /><br />Fifteen childrens play areas in Peterborough have already benefitted from Labour's Playbuilder programme - each getting £50,000 from the Government. But yesterday, Tory Minister Michael Gove took the decision to order Peterborough City Council - and 131 other council across the country - to stop all work.<br /><br />In tonight's <a href="http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/business_2_1815/playground_cash_on_hold_for_eight_sites_1_800458">Peterborough Evening Telegraph</a>, Sheila Scott, the Tory councillor responsible for childrens services in the city said the news was 'very disappointing' and went on:<br /><br /><em>“I will be doing everything I can to get the appropriate people to change their minds about this funding.<br /><br />“We know these are very difficult financial times but children are our future and we need to protect that.”</em><br /><br />I'm sure her Tory colleagues will be reminding Sheila that <em>'we're all in this together and children shouldn't be exempt...'</em><br /><br />But the truth is, she's absolutely right and I wish her the best of luck in persuading the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats at Westminster to stop the daft cuts.<br /><br />I hope that the first step in Sheila's campaign is to let the ET know where all the affected playgrounds in the city are located - information apparently so far denied to them.<br /><br />The ET also highlight the positive difference parks built under Labour's Playbuilder scheme are already having. In Werrington, anti-social behaviour has been cut.<br /><br />And in Peanut Park, Orton Goldhay, which was provided in partnership with Cross Keys Homes, who matched the Government grant, the ET reports that the community came together to design the park which is now making 'a tremendous difference' to the area’s children.<br /><br />The ConDems <em>talk</em> about building 'the big society' but it seems to me their <em>actions</em> are destroying it.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-42298776600627125952010-08-11T22:55:00.007+01:002010-08-11T23:15:33.581+01:00Deepings Rafts for Heroes...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv5NChzxkvLyD6omcHiQrgWMTRngPrKCSn5ifpg7UJSl2tkZqJG4sGvpaQzitnInmpLKd9VJWKGi0yzjZ7hLHzIIFOG3O5Zn0yl9ZZcsuXOQjywOaRkWRrCF3_B3nGmwVy3Kj/s1600/help4heroes-756408.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv5NChzxkvLyD6omcHiQrgWMTRngPrKCSn5ifpg7UJSl2tkZqJG4sGvpaQzitnInmpLKd9VJWKGi0yzjZ7hLHzIIFOG3O5Zn0yl9ZZcsuXOQjywOaRkWRrCF3_B3nGmwVy3Kj/s400/help4heroes-756408.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504278063114334498" /></a>Congrats to organisers of the weekend's <a href="http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/Thousands-enjoy-Deepings-Raft-Race.6464365.jp">Deepings Raft Race</a> for providing another great Deepings day out for thousands, helped put our community on the map, and raised a decent wodge of cash for a hugely worthy cause - <a href="http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/">Help for Heroes</a> which supports wounded soldiers, sailors and airmen (and women) returning from fighting for our country in Afghanistan.fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-1149816742893492252010-08-11T16:31:00.005+01:002010-08-11T16:39:16.639+01:00Why 'Every Child Matters' should be banned...As a former county councillor, I know what a huge and positive difference the previous Government's 'Every Child Matters' programme made to transform and modernise childrens' services, not only here in Lincolnshire, but across the entire country.<br /><br />But it seems the ConDems are so rattled by the success of 'Every Child Matters', that they want to <a href="http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/08/11/leaked-memo-details-words-that-gove-wants-to-ban-at-doe/">ban its very name</a>.<br /><br />Isn't there something deeply worrying - and rather Stalinist - about Tory Ministers who moaned endlessly about political correctness and spin prior to the General Election, but now spending their time writing pointless edicts to ban phrases they don't like.<br /><br />Isn't it even more worrying when you learn the author is Michael Gove, the man who scrapped 700 school buildings projects - and had to issue FIVE lists because he kept getting his facts wrong?<br /><br />Would it be churlish of me to suggest that his time would be better spent concentrating on getting his facts right, rather than on spin and political correctness...?fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.com0