Roads for the rich? Cameron's plans for Zil lanes on motorways won't do anything to ease congestion. We in the West Midlands know that better than anyone - the toll road having done nothing whatsoever to reduce delays on the M6. Oh and I notice the M6 round Junction 10 is lined up for an experimental 80 mph limit. Is this some sort of joke?
****
After all the ridiculous hype and hysteria over the Budget, we are left with a modest measure which makes hardly any difference. It's all about symbolism and image-making; economically, what really counts is taking place elsewhere. The more sound and fury there is, the less it signifies.
Mind you, scrapping national pay rates is a good idea – provided the Government pays workers in London and the South East less than those elsewhere in the country. This is to redress the balance and stop the capital becoming even more of a foreign country than it is already.
****
The C of E's gay lobby should be very pleased with itself. It's getting marriage and bishops and it's now claimed the scalp of the Archbishop of Canterbury himself. No matter how liberal Rowan Williams may be, it's not liberal enough for the flock of fanatics which now dictate terms in the supposedly conservative, establishment, old-fashioned Church.
****
Why on earth should rag and bone men be exempt from the new laws cracking down on the scrap-metal trade? Is it because they are “travellers” and the Government is afraid of offending one of its favourite minorities?
****
At last, someone in authority has had the courage to rule that it is unacceptable for women to expect to be treated in the same way as everyone else if they insist on wearing a face-covering niqab. This is not a religious necessity – it is a symbol of rejection and alienation and should be treated as such. Good for Judge Aidan Marron QC.
No comments:
Post a Comment