BETRAYAL OF THE VULNERABLE

his week, the government unveiled proposals to overhaul the welfare system, with a particular focus on those with illnesses and disabilities. In my opinion, and that of many others, these measures represent a deeply damaging attack on the most vulnerable members of our society.

2210.24 NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT

Where do I start? As I write this the conservative party are selecting a new leader, the 3rd in less than 2 months.

2207.18 BYE BYE BORIS

The Prime Minister has finally quit after years of lies and basically taking the piss out of the British people. But I have to talk about night's out, birthday celebrations, bike racing and of course, the weather!

1911.12 A CHRISTMAS ELECTION

It's been almost 100 years since the UK saw a December general election. But that's not the only thing different about this election.

1909.10 BREX-SHIT... WITHOUT A PADDLE?

I don't normally do political comment on my blog, save for a couple of posts in the past I try and avoid it.

1901.23 BREXI-McBREXFACE

I'm a passionate remainer. I make no apology for it, I believe that the path this country is on is wrong. Problem is I'm surrounded by "Brexiteers", it's difficult to have a decent conversation.

1810.22 ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

I'm not a big political commentator but no one in this world can escape the madness, it's like a Bond film where the villain wins. If I'm honest this kind of post is uncomfortable to write but I feel it must be said.

1804.08 WEBCOMIC: ROBBED!

A little bit of politics! We've all been robbed by the current government.

1704.21 SNAP VOTE

So our great oppressor, the wizened old crone in charge, has decided to take advantage of the current opinion polls and increase her meagre majority by throwing away the fixed term parliament act and calling a snap general election.

1703.31 ARTICLE 50 - SHIT JUST GOT REAL

On Wednesday our Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty starting a two year countdown to the UK's exit from the European Union. Britain's ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, hand-delivered a six page letter from Mrs May to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels to formally begin proceedings.

1612.31 THE END

As year draws to a close many reflect on the events of the year. Some say that 2016 has been a really bad year and in many respects. Political upheaval, celebrity deaths as well as the usual war and terror. It's difficult not to say it's been a bad year. 

1607.13 LEAKY TOILET

At the weekend I received a frantic phone call from Morticia telling me that water was dripping from the kitchen ceiling. I was just finishing work so I rushed home (as fast as my legs would pedal). The water was coming from the inlet pipe from the cistern of the upstairs toilet. I isolated the water supply to the toilet so I could repair the leak in my next day off.

My day off was Monday so I put my DIY skills to good use.* I purchase a new inlet pipe and some O rings. It took me a couple of hours but it's now fixed, it flushes and doesn't leak. I was pretty proud of myself and please we hadn't had to call anyone out.

Add this almost disasterous event to the fact that our vacuum cleaner (our trusty old Dyson) started to smell of burning and I could see sparks coming from the motor. They say things come in threes, what's next?

Today we got a new Prime Minister and rather than pay tribute to the outgoing Mr Cameron I thought I'd talk about my toilet.

*My DIY skills are pretty poor, although I have done a fair bit of home plumbing.

1606.24 DAY OF RECKONING

Yesterday the United Kingdom voted in a referendum whether or not to leave or remain in the European Union.

I watched the polls close last night at 10pm then listened to opinions and predictions until the first few results were called. I'd spend the day touring a number of polling stations (as part of my job) and it was clear that the turnout was unprecedentedly high. As I went to bed there had already been a couple of shock results in favour of Leave.

I set my alarm for 6:50am to catch the result only to find that the result was already in and that the United Kingdom had voted to leave the European Union.

In the two hours that followed the UK economy lost $350 BILLION. That’s equivalent to 40 years of EU contributions. Nigel Farage then came out and said it was a 'mistake' for Leave to claim there'd be £350M a week for NHS. Scotland (SNP) then said they may start looking for independence again and Northern Ireland may considering reunification.

Then Prime Minister David Cameron came out to say he intended to step down following his support of the Remain cause.

I voted remain. I have always thought that the EU needed reform but I would have liked my country to be part of that process. I didn't like the focus of the Leave campaign on immigration and the hate some of their supporters expressed. I believe this vote was a reaction to austerity by the working classes against the elite and was sometimes twisted by the so called 'experts'.

I'm guessing that Boris Johnson positioned himself in the Leave camp so that if this eventuality played out he'd be favourite to be the next Conservative Party leader and thus Prime Minister. The idiots of this country love Boris, he's comedy gold and seen as a harmless buffoon but be warned - he's the UK equivalent of Donald Trump.

As it stands now I feel numb. I fear for the future for my children. I can only hope that whoever ends up in charge manages to keeps the country together and to negotiate trade links with the world. 

1606.17 DEATH OF AN MP

It was really sad news yesterday to hear about the vicious murder of MP Jo Cox. It's still early in the investigation but the thought of being killed because you hold public office is frightening. She was the first sitting MP to be murdered since the 1990. A man is in custody, described as a loner with 'mental health issues'.

This is a crime fueled by hate, there seems to be a lot of that around lately.

“While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us”.

Jo Cox’s first speech as an MP 

BBC News story here.

1410.31 THE COMMISSIONER

Today was the election of a new Police & Crime Commissioner following the child grooming scandal and subsequent resignation of Shawn Wright. There has always been an apathy towards the role which is evident in the low turn out. I always vote for every election, I feel it's a duty that everyone should fulfill, and I made no exception here (although I almost missed it). Rotherham is the town I live in (although I still consider myself to be from Sheffield, the city of my birth) and has been damaged greatly by the recent events. The town, in my opinion, was already dying, I hope it will make it through.

This election is of course more important for me as the role affects my work. I hope I made the right choice.

1010.20 SPENDING REVIEW

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm no lover of the Tories. I watched Thatcher destroy the community I grew up in. The North has taken years to get back up on it's feet only to be knocked on it's arse again by Cameron and his Tory boy sidekick.

I sat and watched George Osborne deliver his 'smoke and mirrors' presentation waiting to see how far he was going to cut my department. Watching it turned my stomach and yet the information he passed was so vague that lots of public sector workers are still in the dark.

It appears that my job is safe at least for the next couple of years. The future for the whole country is in doubt now but what is clear is that while Osbourne says we are all in it together, it's apparent that some are more in it than others.