Join Labour And Vote For The Leader - If They Like You

The Labour Party has always been a strange animal in my eyes but now it is turning into an absolute joke. Some may think it always has been but a political party that ruins the economy of this country whenever it is in power does not make me laugh.

Why is it becoming a joke? Simply because there are now calls from within the Parliamentary Labour Party for the leadership election to be stopped, suspended, cancelled or whatever word you wish to use.

You can if they like you and your politics!

Is this the Labour Party?

Why is this happening? Simply because you can join the Labour Party for £3 and then have a vote in their leadership election. Why is that bad in the eyes of Labour? Well because it might well mean that they will finish up with a leader that they don't want.

It would appear that this Democratic Socialist Party, according to the official Labour website, does not actually want either a Socialist Leader nor Socialists joining the Party. Anybody see the logic in that because I can't.

If the Labour Party, a Democratic Socialist Party, does not want a socialist leader nor socialists in the Party then what does it want? If it isn't socialist then what actually is it? What does it actually stand for? Does it stand up for its Democratic Socialist principles or does it understand that voters in this country are highly unlikely to ever elect a truly socialist government and therefore they are not going to be socialists in reality so that they have a chance to get elected? Does anybody really know?

Or is this the Labour Party?

It appears to me that Labour is a political party with neither heart or soul and without a clear path to follow. It is in disarray now. It was once explained to me that under that great Socialist Tony Blair, the left wing of the party made a decision to keep quiet, not rock the boat and not actually look to socialist principles whilst he was leader so that they could get into government. The latest debacle relating to the leadership contest would appear to confirm that to me. Don't be socialist because socialist policies are not popular. What are they then? Conservatives in dead sheeps clothing?

Speaking English Not Enough To Become A Police Officer In London!!

Now I am pretty middle of the road when it comes to all things to do with race and immigration etc. This however has really pulled my string.

The Metropolitan Police have decided that new police recruits must be able to speak at least two languages!

Being able to speak only English in this part of England is not good enough! Really, I kid you not.
This is taken from a document available online entitled "Who we're looking for".

From Monday 20th July, we’re launching an initial month long pilot campaign where, in order to be eligible to apply to become a new police constable in the Met, you must also be able to speak one of the below 14 languages (in addition to English)

It comes to something when a person born in this country and speaking the native language is not considered suitable to serve in the force that polices the nations capital! Now I fully understand that the ability to speak more than one language is an asset but surely to insist upon it is a step too far?

The document referred to above is available here: http://content.met.police.uk/Site/whowearelookingfor

Skegness Has A Cathedral

Yes indeed it does and here it is in all it's glory!

Skegness Cathedral

Well if Lincoln can claim to have a beach then why can Skegness not claim to have a cathedral? Both are pale imitations of the real thing!

Back To The Forties - Woodhall Spa

Attended the Woodhall Spa 40s weekend yesterday and I have to say it was a really enjoyable day. I was taken aback by the amount of people who were actually in costume. My estimate is that about a third of all the people, and there were a huge amount of them, were dressed in the clothing of the period. I would have thought that those in military garb would have been in the ascendency but in reality it was people that were in normal civilian clothing of the time that were most numerous. There were some really surprising outfits. I noted two guys dressed as miners complete with miners lamps and knee protection and also a couple of policemen, one of whom must have been the most photographed person there as he was standing in front of a police box and was complete with a Raleigh cycle of the period. In addition there were a group of cleaning ladies complete with cleaning equipment! It was quite obvious that many people really go to town with the costuming and the accessories and they looked fantastic.

The following images are not mine and I do hope that the photographers that took them are happy for me to use them. Mine are still not available.

This 40s thing really does appear to be big business. I was surprised by the amount of stalls that were located in Jubilee Park dedicated to retro clothes and household items such as crockery etc.

There were a lot of Militaria stalls which I did expect and they all seemed to be doing a roaring business.

Woodhall Spa really lends itself to the 40s theme with the history it has relating to World War Two. Jubilee Park is an absolute gem of a place and if you have not been it is worth an afternoon in the sun. The town seems to have a really strong community ethos. Shops were decorated as were some of the streets with the Union Flag out in abundance. I am led to believe that the whole event is organised by the community themselves and they really did themselves proud.

A highlight of the day was the battle re-enactment that took place in the grounds of the Petwood Hotel. It was very professionally done and attracted a large crowd. It was an excellent way for some of the Military Groups to show off their prowess. As the commentator said it would have been acceptable if the guy playing the bagpipes had been taken out early!!

The whole day was topped off for me and for the large crowds that went almost completely silent and became enraptured when the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in the shape of two Spitfires and a Hurricane provided a display over the town. It lasted about 15 minutes and included some really low passes. It was fantastic to see.

More details of the day can be found on the Event Website at http://woodhall-spa-40s-festival.com/
If you have not been to this event, which I had not prior to yesterday, I would thoroughly recommend it. Hugely enjoyable and I will be back!

Skegness Town Crier - Do We Have One?

I am seeing more and more references to the Skegness Town Crier. I was not aware that we actually have one. Do we?

Here is a picture of the "Mablethorpe Town Crier" that I picked up from the internet that was originally posted by the Louth Leader newspaper.

This is the gentleman who now appears to be described as the Skegness Town Crier.

If this gentleman is being good enough to give his time for free (I imagine) and is being mentioned on the Town Council's website as attending functions then perhaps it is time that he was officially invited to be the Skegness Town Crier perhaps in an Honorary capacity which is something that has been done by numerous councils throughout the country. If not then, perhaps, it is not appropriate to term this gentleman as the Skegness Town Crier as it should be an official position.

I personally believe that to have an official Town Crier would be very beneficial to Skegness.

So I say "Oyez, Oyez. Would a Town Councillor please propose that this gentleman, if he so wishes, becomes the official Town Crier for the town of Skegness. Oyez, Oyez"? I hope that this can be done, possibly by way of a motion to council?

Here is a link to The Ancient and Honourable guild of Town Criers, an organisation for Official Town Criers! http://www.ahgtc.org.uk/

Public Sector Pay - 1% Increases Will Cause Problems

Those of you that know me will be well aware that I am a Conservative supporter. I support the need for austerity in the UK because it is a path that needs to be followed for the long term future of this country. I am, however, pretty concerned with the plan for Public Sector pay going forward. When I say Public Sector I mean across the whole of the Public Sector and not just the NHS which appears to get all of the publicity when this matter is discussed.

Why am I concerned? I am concerned because the level of pay rises in the Private Sector is now running at an average of over 3%. Public Sector pay for the next 4 years will be restricted to a rise of just 1% per annum. This is over and above the pay freeze that has been in place already. This means that the differential in the pay between the Public Sector and the Private Sector that, historically, has been 2-3% in favour of public workers will not only be removed, not a bad thing, but will reverse in a very short space of time. The Private Sector pay will be higher on average than the Public Sector.

What will this mean? I am concerned that there will be a move away from working in the Public Sector by the more able members of staff. I am also concerned that it will make it much harder to recruit into the Public Sector if the pay on offer is not as attractive as in the Private Sector. I know that Public Sector staff are much maligned by some but, having worked with them for the last 4 years as a councillor, I can say that without them this country would grind to a halt very quickly.

Tough decisions need to be made by the government and they will continue to make them. I am just concerned that, perhaps, this extension of pay restraint at this low level is a step too far!

How Long Before Someone Is Killed Or Maimed?

Great to see that Drummond Road in Skegness has had the surface replaced even if it is with that horrible grey stone stuff. A vast improvement on the chasms, ravines and canyons that have plagued the road for the last number of years.

What I would like to know is how long is it going to take the County Council to put the road markings back in? The parking along Drummond Road is now atrocious with cars parking down both sides of the road because the yellow lines have been covered over.

This afternoon an emergency blue light ambulance was parked in the middle of the road on a call because the road was parked up on both sides. In addition there are idiots who have become used to driving along that road at 50 and 60 miles an hour and they are still doing it despite the cars parked on both sides. I tell you now someone is going to get killed along there if this situation lasts much longer.

Where is our esteemed County Councillor Robin Hunter-Clarke when you need him? I doubt very much whether he has actually been in his division lately and if he has then his eyes are glued shut. He needs to get onto the Highways Department and get this sorted ASAP!