We are told by almost every economics commentator in the main stream media that the markets panicked because, on 23rd September, Kwasi Kwarteng failed to explain how the government would fund the increase in spending implied by putting a cap on energy prices and reducing taxes. Kwarteng’s fiscal statement was unusual. Kwarteng understood that national debt would … Continue reading The Budget Statement Was Not Unfunded—Editorial 1
An Unconvincing Labour Party—Editorial 2
It remains a distinct possibility that the Labour Party will form the next government. It is a position it will win because of the chaos in the Tory party rather than because it has won the hearts and minds of the electorate with brave, radical policies. Labour are prepared to talk in generalities about creating a … Continue reading An Unconvincing Labour Party—Editorial 2
The Banshees of Inisherin
Eamon Dyas Popped into the local picture house for a matinee performance not realising it was a special showing for the hard of hearing. It seems that these places offer all kinds of special matinees including for people with Autism and Tourette’s so I have to think that my mistake could have been worse. Anyway, … Continue reading The Banshees of Inisherin
Trauma Zone
Trauma Zone—Russia 1985-1999 Catherine Dunlop Comments on a Documentary by Adam Curtis, shown directly on BBC iPlayer, 13th October 2022 This is a documentary about Britain’s current Enemy, Russia, made in the form of a collage of clips from suitably ugly and doom-laden old films. Yet what strikes the viewer is the sight of Bush, then Clinton, then … Continue reading Trauma Zone
Politics, the State and the Market in Land
LABOUR AND HOUSING – Part 10. Politics, the State and the Market in Land By Eamon Dyas A core component of the post-war political delineation between Labour and Conservative policies was formed around the question of the relationship of the State to the market. Ever since the foundation of the Labour Party this had been … Continue reading Politics, the State and the Market in Land
Poem
POP IN HERE A MINUTE It is said the sap of the white poppy makes you high but not as high as the propaganda of the red poppy. In the dark side streets of a city just go and buy the other one in a well-lit high street, a copy. but far more … Continue reading Poem
Notes on the News
By Gwydion M. Williams Fall of the Last Thatcherite Parliamentary Democracy – Always an Illusion China – a Very Different 20th Congress Xi’s Hardening Line Snippets Lukewarm Guilt Over Russia Xinjiang: the UN Accepts Normal Police Methods Militant Pensioners? Have Fun, Kill the Poor? Finding That Damn Asteroid! Feed-the-Rich in ‘Free’ Ukraine Fall of the … Continue reading Notes on the News
The Kwarteng Budget
Kwasi Kwarteng’s Budget Adventure. Dave Gardner Did the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwarteng mention the need for extra borrowing when he presented his tax cutting plans to the House of Commons on 23 September? The answer is NO he didn't - although opposition speakers (including Rachel Reeves) did assert that substantial extra borrowing would … Continue reading The Kwarteng Budget
LNG Tankers and Speculation
The markets and speculation: the case of LNG trading Eamon Dyas More than 35 vessels laden with LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) were drifting around the Mediterranean in October. The explanation I read was the limited landing slots in Spain. I suspect the reason is a combination of inadequate landing facilities and shippers taking advantage of this … Continue reading LNG Tankers and Speculation
Labour on Ukraine
Labour on Ukraine in Parliament Parliament Notes Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, replying to a statement on Ukraine from Ben Wallace in Parliament 20 October 2022. This is just a sample, to show that Labour and Conservative speak with one voice on Ukraine. On that particular day, both congratulate themselves on the British ability … Continue reading Labour on Ukraine
Mick Lynch in His Own Words
Mick Lynch In His Own Words Mick Lynch at the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, 12 October 2022 Transport CommitteeOral evidence: Travel Disruption Wednesday 12 October 2022Ordered by the House of Commons to be published on 12 October 2022. Watch the meeting Members present: Huw Merriman (Chair); Mr Ben Bradshaw; Ruth Cadbury; Robert Largan; Karl McCartney; … Continue reading Mick Lynch in His Own Words
Italy, Greece and Ukraine
Italy, Greece and Ukraine Italy and Greece, support for the Ukraine war, the least enthusiastic in Europe YouGov-Cambridge has published the results of a survey of international opinion regarding the Ukraine war. https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/0ma5boayqk/Globalism%202022%20-%20The%20info%20war%20for%20Ukraine%20-%20All%20markets.pdf Looking at the table of results (all on one page, magnifying glass required) Greece, Italy and Spain to a lesser extent give … Continue reading Italy, Greece and Ukraine
The Labour Movement and the Arms Trade
The Trade Union Movement and the Arms Trade at the TUC Conference In 2017 the TUC passed a motion calling for the diversification of the arms industry. In 2022 the TUC annual conference debated a motion to reverse this stand, in view of the war in Ukraine and the new possibilities for military contracts from the … Continue reading The Labour Movement and the Arms Trade
Animal Spirits, Taxing and Borrowing — Editorial
Kwasi Kwarteng is clearly a believer in animal spirits, or more specifically, the animal spirits of the UK private sector. The term ‘animal spirits’ was used by the economist J. M. Keynes to describe the spontaneous forces of vitality that drive human action. Apparently these animal spirits have been held back by too much taxing and … Continue reading Animal Spirits, Taxing and Borrowing — Editorial
Labour under Blair and Starmer
The Labour Conference and the Party under Blair and Starmer By Eamon Dyas What can we take from the Labour Party Conference at Liverpool? Keir Starmer acknowledged the importance of trade unions several times in the course of his speech and he indicated that he understood the relevance of proper training schemes and apprenticeships for … Continue reading Labour under Blair and Starmer
The Cost of Rail Privatisation
by Pete Whitelegg With the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979 most of the state-owned industries were privatised including many of the businesses operating within the umbrella of British Railways. Sealink Ferries and British Transport Hotels were sold by 1984. Travellers Fare catering by 1988 and British Rail Engineering (train building) by 1989. But it … Continue reading The Cost of Rail Privatisation
Ukraine’s Borders
Eamon Dyas An aspect of Gorbachev’s disastrous arrangement with NATO on German reunification was the implications it went on to have for the borders between Russia and its post-Soviet neighbouring countries. However the continuing existence of that border arrangement would not have been so problematic had the US honoured the unwritten agreement with Gorbachev not … Continue reading Ukraine’s Borders
Notes on the News
By Gwydion M. Williams Trickle-Down – a Swindle Who Needs the Multi-millionaires? The World Shanghaied? Russo-Ukrainians Forbidden Democracy? Sweden and Italy, Overstrained Communities Italy, Also Overstrained Two Nice People, Unfit For Their Jobs Snippets More Tory Failures Turkish Inequality Trickle-Down – a Swindle President Biden recently denounced Trickle-Down.[A] Then Liz Truss affirmed the idea: tax cutting … Continue reading Notes on the News
Labour Affairs 