Britain PLC

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

Do They Intend to Privatise Great Britain?

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21st century Britain is quietly been sold-off, part-by-part, to the private sector and no one seems to have noticed. Except you’re truly of course.

The problem of having public assets (or state-run ownership) is they are rich for the picking by the private sector. They are cash-cows, perfect for breaking apart and asset stripping.

This concept of deregulating public-owned companies was first put forward by the Tories in the late 70s and early 80s. When British Telecom, Water, British Gas and electricity giants N-power were all privatized. Along with British Rail and about half a dozen others. (Visit the Guardian's Comment is free for more about privatization during the 80s.)

The famous 1986 "Tell Sid" British
Gas Privatization campaign.

Now we have the slow but steady breaking down of the NHS, the Police, the probation service, and all aspects of the welfare state. The government seem obligated to deregulate the whole of Britain.

Once we have the devolution of Ireland and Wales (with their own parliament -like Scotland- then PLC Britain could almost be a reality.

The Nanny state will turn into the forgotten state. Or worse, just another satellite state of Europe or the US. PLC Britain will be as ripe for takeover as the public owned companies are currently. And just like the post-privatised state-run organisations, PLC Britain will inevitably be run into the ground with a loss for all British Tax payers.

PLC Britain won't be a utopia. Just ask the workers for any privatised company. There will be uncertainty and injustice which far outweighs those of present British justice.

If you want to see policing by the likes of G4S, and a government run like one of Lord Sugar's companies, and the NHS sponsored by Glaxo or Bupa, then keep supporting the present coalition. Or if like myself, you want a return to a Great Britain then vote out the deregulators of out one Great country.

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UPDATE:

The new buzzword for privatization by the backdoor is 'outsourcing'. Whenever you see this word in the press connected to public owned companies, they're craftily making it easier to sell-off the public sector!



You have been warned!

Cyberpunk65

Remploy Workers - No Rights to Work

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

No Rights to Work

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Remploy - putting ability first

When all they want is to work it seems a disgrace that the disadvantaged should have another setback.

The staff of Remploy factories, across the country, are on strike today, due to threats of job losses. Remploy was setup to be a place disabled workers could find gainful employment with employers that took their disabilities into account: Under the scheme of Access to Work.

Now these same disabled individual find they longer have an access to work. Some of these workers have been working for two to three decades for Remploy.

Disabled workers have a hard enough time getting work, without their main resource becoming privatised. Some workers have been offered a pittance in redundancy and severance pay, but it will leave them poor and unemployable. When jobs are at their scares in nearly thirty years, the loss of this government-backed employment is a major loss.
The Remploy factories are going to be closed or be privatized. Those with New bosses could face a reduction in the severance pay -if further cuts in the work force take place at a later date. 

None of these disabled workers have a very bright future -that is why they are taking industrial action.



Support their strike 

Cyberpunk65

G4S Debacle Continues

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

OLYMPICS: Have Police Saved G4S Security Crisis?

Of the 12 police forces around the Olympics venue, 9 are believed to have been drafted in to shore-up the shortfall in G4S security staff at the 2012 Games.

Olympic Police
Pic: Daily Mail

Sky News have reported that the police have “deployed hundreds of officers” – but that might change in the next few days.

The Police National Olympic Security Coordinator, Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, says that plans “were put in place” so that the police officers could deploy these officers, because  “delivering a safe and secure Games is priority…”

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UPDATE:

It appears that the G4S fiasco could have been prevented. A leaked memo from G4S Head of Olympic Security has revealed that advanced training of new recruits was 'too expensive'.

With 3,000 unpaid volunteers, and students and others in current employment (who's training will have to be rushed before the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games); it isn't surprising that this fiasco has taken place.

RAF On Standby

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

RAF & Navy On Standby -
But No Know Threat? ... So Far...

After reports yesterdaythat G4S have a shortfall in security guards, London 2012 chairman, Lord Coe, told BBC Radio 5 live.

"The reality is ... G4S expected people to materialise ... when they didn't ... we moved very quickly to fill that gap,"

"We will work very hard, we will remedy this - security will not be compromised..."

Lord Coe said he would not comment whether Mr Buckles should quit, saying it was "not" for him to "speculate on."

From 14th July a month of airspace restrictions (of about 30 miles wide) were imposed around London and south-east England, which should not affect commercial air flights.

It has been reported that the RAF has 'lethal force option', if the Olympics are threatened. Sea King helicopters and Typhoon jets are ready to be deployed in a "worst-case scenario". Air Vice-Marshal Stuart Atha said that a plane could be shot down, but the order would have to be given at the highest level of government.

Even the River Thames is covered with Royal Marines returning to Londonon board HMS Ocean providing more security.

The Home Office have planning in place for a severe terrorist threat; although, they add that there is no “particular threat or risk to the Games" known about.

• For more on RAF precautions, see BBC article: London 2012: RAF has 'lethal force option'

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Related Stories

Are G4S a Homeland Security Risk?

The Police Debating Directive

Olympic Security Shambles

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

Are G4S a Homeland Security Risk?

The chief exec of G4S, Nick Buckles, has been quoted as saying that their private security firm only realised at the beginning of the week that they wouldn’t have enough guards to protect the London Olympics 2012 (which starts July 27th). He went further; publicly apologising for the firm’s failure.

Olympic Games 2012

He as admitted to the BBC, that they are “sorry for what happened”, adding that the firm is “bitterly disappointed”. The mess could loose G4S up to £50m to fund the deployment of British troops, and has felt a drop in their share price over the week (with nightly news reports fuelling the Games furore).

 This problem has required the government of Britain to meet this deficit in security by deploying over 3,000 troops. (G4S was supposed to supply over 10,000 guards; but blamed application processing for the blunder.) The troops will be on stand-by in case they’re needed.

Some of the would-be recruits have been contacting media outlet to report that G4S recruitment and training of X-ray scanning for the Games security was a fiasco. A lot of the security guards may not be able to speak English. Some students and others in current employment – which means that training for these individuals, will have to be rushed, closer to the opening of the Games. There are even 3,000 unpaid volunteers amongst the ranks of G4S’ security staff for the Olympics.

There will be police at the venue also; there are 12 police forces working with the London Organising Committee (the Locog) –and the military and G4S– to ensure the necessary security is in place.

This only proves how the government is letting-down the country by their bid to privatise policing. If ‘the world’s leading security solution’ –as the G4S Group describes itself– cannot handle a world event like the Olympic Games, then no one can.

The government should leave policing to the professionals. Not cowboys and incompetents, who only aim is profit at any cost. (The contract for the Olympics’ security, which G4S Group won, is worth a cool £284m.) So even with a fall in share prices and a bill of £50m to reimburse for troop deployment, G4S find themselves on a massive earner. This loss to British taxpayers would have been better invested in British policing which is under threat from privatisation by the government.

The privatisation of policing in Britain may soon be in the hands of private security firms like G4S – who have already proved they aren’t competent enough to replace the good old British bobby.


If you too believe that the public deserves better, please go to The Police Debating Directive and show your support for Britain’s Police force.

Ofsted Report - Colleges & Jobless

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

OFSTED: Colleges fail Jobless

The watchdog, Ofsted, have warned (in its “Skills for Employment” report) that unemployed adults are been offered college courses that do not lead to work. Jobseekers are taking courses where the priority is not to successfully find work at the end the inspectors have warned.

According to the Ofsted report, the courses being offered to jobseekers were basic and simply wouldn’t lead to qualification that will help them back into work. Less that one in five are successful it gaining employment after taking these FE (Further Education) courses.

The report goes on to say that more must be done to get people on FE that lead to jobs – as finding employment is ‘non’ considered a high ‘priority’ with these courses. This comes in the wake of the Government pressing colleges into vocational training for unemployed adults.

see the OFSTED website for more info.

Ofsted | Courses for jobseekers are not leading them into employment

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UPDATE 12/07/12 15.45:

The Association of Colleges have commented, saying that the ‘Skills for Employment’ report only ‘addresses’ the Colleges’ own concerns. The trouble they have been having is arranging ‘work experience’ for students.

They also blame the ‘generic’ nature of FE for jobseekers. Stating that programmes (implemented by Jobseeker Plus) need to be more flexible.

Read AoC’s Colleges respond to Ofsted 'skills for employability' report

Finding Employment 2012

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

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Who’s Un-employable?

Finding employment in recession hit Britain is getting harder. With more and more not affording college and university fees.

@SmartReuiters tweeted this morning (12/07/12) that:

“48% of job seekers have done one social job hunting activity on Facebook in the last year”

With newspapers like The Sun lambasting the unemployed with terms like ‘scroungers’ and ‘benefit frauds’ the stigma of the under classes is total. Having been unemployed during the last 5 years (even though I’m currently under-employed), I understand how demeaning these type of jibes are. So when the aforementioned newspaper prints stories like ‘Human right’ to benefits it doesn’t help anyone.

The @EtonOldBoys tweeted:

“Number of female jobseekers reaches highest level in 23 years”

This seems to be a trend, with the jobless number multiplying by the day.

Placing the Mitre on Female Heads?

Women Bishops

Dr Rowen Williams

Dr Rowen Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Church of England, was urging the General Synod to resolve the issue over women bishops (36 years in the making).
The vote was taken on Friday in Parliament. It has initially been allowed - 123 in favour and 53 against (If the vote hadn't been passed it would have been shelved until 2015!).
When it comes to women in roles within the church, the men of god seem hell-bent on shooting themselves in the foot.
Anglicans (content with female priest) do not wish for them to pursue leadership positions.
While, in the past, the Anglo-Catholic's have gone as far as saying one may as well "ordain a pork-pie".

Speaking to the church's legislatory body, Rowen Williams said.

"...I, like most of you, long to see women bishops in the Church of England."

Even though he acknowledges that there were others "who continued to have theological reservations".
The descent in the church's ranks might produce the similar muddled get-out clauses that so often come when it tries to please everybody with its legislation. The understanding has been to legislate for full women bishops, but where there is parish objection to their roles, they are to step-aside and allow male bishops to take over. Thereby, avoiding a spit of the CofE. (It's this sort of muddled fudging that the liberal majority are used to seeing.)
However, their are concerns from senior women clergy (some prospective candidates for the roles of women bishops) who take offence at not merely been asked to step-aside but demanded by church law (due to clause 5(1)c).

Lay preacher Christina Rees

The high-flying crusader for women bishops, Christina Rees, objects to clause 5(1)c as it has "been rushed through". This discrimination of females and the further favouring of males over females bishops will cause fundamental problems if it is allowed to take place. as it is down-playing the roles of female bishops within the CofE.

Maybe Rowen William's words, when taking prior to the Friday vote about it, ring true.

"...it's important we look into the Abyss here."

But will the "Abyss" prove to be the gap between Liberal (left) and Conservatives (right) within the church, splitting their camps further?
However, with the measures being debated on Monday, only time will tell what women bishop’s full roles might be...

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UPDATE 09/07/2012:
Church of England seen delaying women bishop see article here from reuters.

Do you agree with women in positions of power in the CofE? Tell me your views.

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Crisis? What Crisis?

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

Thought I'd give a rundown of how the establishment are handling the banking crisis.

All these posts came from Twiter during the PM's question time and the questioning of Bob Diamond - ex-chief executive of Barclays. (Concerning the LIBOR interest rate scandal.)

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Michael Dugher -- Labour MP for Barnsley East

"Cameron talking about Labour's paymasters. The Tories are in the pockets of the bankers."

 (@MichaelDugherMP)

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The Guardian -- Top stories, special features, live blogs

"Libor scandal: David Cameron hints at flexibility over banking inquiry http://t.co/CNHFskYL."

 (@guardian)

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BBC News (UK) -- BBC News (UK edition)

"PM David Cameron called Labour's Ed Miliband to discuss how to set up banking inquiry, @bbcnickrobinson reveals http://t.co/XoPChNQ4"

 (@BBCNews)

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Hugh Pym -- Chief Economics Correspondent for the BBC

"B of E says Tucker keen to clarify the position with regard to the events involving the Bank of England including 2008 call to Bob Diamond"

 (@BBCHughPym)

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BBC Breaking News -- Breaking news alerts and updates from the BBC.


span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">

"Baroness Vadera, UK Labour minister in 2008, tells #WATO she did not speak to BoE about fixing #Libor rates - LIVE http://t.co/JRWq0f3B"

 (@BBCBreaking)

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The Independent -- News, comment and features from The Independent.

"David Cameron slams 'spivvy and probably illegal' interest rate rigging ahead of Bob Diamond evidence session http://t.co/0AVAqz23"

 (@Independent)

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roland watson -- The Times political editor

"big day for MPs on TSC, who are a) grilling bob diamond and b) auditioning for seat on parly banking inquiry. not necessarily in that order"

 (@rolandwatson66)

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Sky News Newsdesk --

"Barclays says it has a recording of 2008 phone call between Bob Diamond and Paul Tucker"

 (@SkyNewsBreak)

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roland watson -- The Times political editor

"Diamond blames 'an unfortunate series of events in the last week' which saw Barclays named and shamed first over Libor"

 (@rolandwatson66)

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Gaby Hinsliff -- Used to be a political editor.

"according to @andrewsparrow btw, Barclays now saying there ISN'T a recording of the disputed call between Barclays & BOE's Tucker. weird."

 (@gabyhinsliff)

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Political Scrapbook -- Voted UK's #2 left-wing blog

"Despite having resigned, #Diamond's testimony so far has been an unflinching defence of Barclays."

 (@PSbook)

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Nick Robinson -- Political Editor, BBC News

"Diamond Bob visibly uncomfortable - clearing throat, rubbing nose, pulling down jacket, now reaching for tissue to wipe face ..."

"Bob Diamond says 'Whitehall' in his memo meant government officials but Chairman cuts him off before he can expand"

 (@bbcnickrobinson)

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Political Scrapbook -- Voted UK's #2 left-wing blog

"Diamond says that he meant 'officials' when he wrote 'Whitehall'. Does that mean ministers? Not terribly clear."

"#Diamond says that he was worried that the government might nationalise Barclays if it felt their #LIBOR rate was too high."

"#Diamond says he's 'a little old' to be a 'derivatives person'"

 (@PSbook)

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Helen Goodman -- Labour Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland in County Durham since 2005 and Shadow Media Minister.

"If Diamond trying to persuade public he's reasonable, not going right way about it. Phenomenally combative and to no point!"

 (@HelenGoodmanMP)

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Nick Robinson -- Political Editor, BBC News

"Is that it? Committee moves on before proper answers on crucial call from Bank of England. If this is dry run for parliamentary enquiry ...."

 (@rolandwatson66)

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Political Scrapbook -- Voted UK's #2 left-wing blog

"After all that, it doesn't look like Andrew Tyrie is going to go any deeper to discover who #Diamond's Whitehall 'officials' were."

 (@PSbook)

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Nicholas Watt --

"Bob Diamond relaxing as he realises this is walk in park compared with US senate hearing @bbcnickrobinson"

 (@nicholaswatt)

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Fraser Nelson -- Editor of The Spectator

"It's already clear that tight-lipped Diamond is not on a mission to take others down with him. Collective sigh of relief at Threadneedle St."

 (@frasernelson)

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roland watson -- The Times political editor

"#diamond says he did NOT believe he was being urged by Whtehall to fiddle Libor figures"

 (@rolandwatson66)

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Jason Beattie -- Daily Mirror political editor

"Two Tory MPs quizzing Diamond are former employees of Barclays"

 (@JBeattieMirror)

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Nick Robinson -- Political Editor, BBC News

"Members of public leave Diamond hearing. Move along - nothing to see here...."

 (@bbcnickrobinson)

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John Prescott -- Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

"Tory Deputy Chairman Michael Fallon's partisan questioning of #Diamond has just proved we need an independent judge-led inquiry"

 (@johnprescott)

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Nick Robinson -- Political Editor, BBC News

"Bob D says it wasn't Alastair Darling who he feared would nationalise Barclays but hints feared someone else. Who?"

 (@bbcnickrobinson)

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Paul Waugh -- Editor of PoliticsHome.com News

"It's taken an hour for Diamond to say 'I'm sorry'. Which PR firm is advising him?"

 (@paulwaugh)

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After reading these posts, maybe you're more informed than you were.
Wish I was!!

lol

Please leave a comment below - I'm intersted on your thoughts...