David Cameron has left the country. Once again he is in Europe trying to secure changes to the UKs EU membership before he calls a nationwide referendum for the people to decide to either Brexit or Bremain. In order to fulfil this one election manifesto promise Cameron has clocked up more air miles than a 24/7 globe trotter and you have to wonder why. He appears set on a June 2016 referendum but could wait until the end of 2017. It's a fact an extended period of uncertainty about the UKs EU future is not good and may affect big business but we surely do not want to act in haste. No matter what deal he secures some in the UK will vote to leave the EU. For them the right and proper future is an independent one out of the EU. If the nation as whole agrees the future of the EU could also be at stake. One sticking point appears to be the City of London. Cameron wants the banking sector of London ring-fenced; protected in a way that he will not protect the NHS from TTIP. He who pays the piper plays the tune on this one. BBC News has published what it sees as his four key objectives and they are: Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not materially disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that steps to further financial union cannot be imposed on non-eurozone members and the UK will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts. If you analyse those four objectives closely you can see how is achieved they will be open to political interpretation here in the UK and could be used for the wrong reasons.
However if the UK leaves the EU any such fears will be real as the country withdraws for the good aspects of the Union as well as the not so good. Today as leaders from the EU meet it should be to sign off Cameron's reform package but agreement is still some way off. Today there will be more posturing, chewing the fat and political spin from Cameron when he returns to the UK or even from the EU summit as he attempts to create positives out of any negatives. European Council President Donald Tusk is chairing the crucial summit in Brussels today and has said he feels the EU has little choice but to agree Cameron's reforms. But no matter what EU leaders and PM Cameron agree what will the people opt for - Brexit or Bremain?
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Op-Ed: The young Asian junior doctor tried again to talk to the patient being admitted to the cardiac ward of a busy inner city hospital in England. The man responded with "fuck off Paki" and worse but she was not deterred. The male patient was elderly and looked like life had handed him a raw deal. The doctor carried on with her work undeterred, polite at all times, even though she had worked a long shift. This writer witnessed this incident and others during 13 years working in hospital ward administration roles for the NHS in England. Last week Tory Health Minister Jeremy Hunt decided the negotiations on new junior contracts were going nowhere and he would simply impose them. He then cleared off having timed the imposition with a parliamentary ten day or so recess. Scared that protesting junior doctors may get into a planned event "Local Tories told ticketholders the event had been cancelled - but it was moved down the road and held for party members only." Hunt's parting shot to the junior doctors at imposition was that his door would remain open for debate but it was been slammed shut and appears locked. Apart from the current recess Hunt and other ministers pushing for an on-the-cheap 7 day fully functional NHS do not work seven days a week. Like NHS staff they may do some work at weekends but parliament is not fully functional seven days a week. As the fallout continues playing fair is ditched. The NHS has always tried to deter its staff particularly medical professionals from overuse of social media. That has been to protect patient confidentiality but now it appears it will be used to hold some of the protesting doctors to account. ASDA a subsidiary of American firm Walmart monitors social media activity of its employers and hauls them over the coals if they dare bad mouth the company or a member of staff but that of course is open to abuse. It seems Mr Hunt and his officials are trying to turn NHS England into Asda. Health Education England is all but abandoning its junior doctors; the Guardian reports "Health Education England says implementation of contract will be key criterion for making decisions on investment in training." Staff and the general public are being blackmailed, scared and their minds are being manipulated in order for Hunt to win his latest battle. As one person tweeted "HEE are supposed to be representing trainees, not a govt whipping stick to bully through reform." NHS staff and sensible citizens already realise it is about more than the junior doctor new working contracts. It is about Hunt creating a lean money making health service that will be ripe for harvesting come TTIP. It is about dismantling the NHS bit by bit in order for some to make money. And the junior doctors are just the start. Hunt has committed to further changes in the contracts of other health service professionals once he has the junior doctors done and dusted. One junior doctors view at the Guardian - Jeremy Hunt must back down – the survival of the NHS depends on it - Hannah Mitchell [One doctor who went missing last week continues to be a casue for concern] [Junior doctors can and will move to other parts of the UK or abroad as this contract imposition only affects England at this time] Great Britain has gradually surrendered its colonies, sometimes peacefully and other times after conflict. Two outposts of the Empire that seem forever locked to the UK are Gibraltar and the Falklands Islands. Neither is located remotely close to the UK but both have populations that on the whole see themselves as British. They do however not want to come and live in the UK but would rather this country spends a fortune maintaining the status quo and plenty of people in the UK may agree; some will not. The quandary of the future of the Falkland Islands is providing the torygraph or is that the Telegraph with yet another Labour and Jeremy Corbyn hitting headline Wednesday. In an effort to portray Mr Corbyn as a die-hard protester who has nothing to offer modern politics they go for the title "From Trident to the Falklands, Jeremy Corbyn is still fighting the battle of the 1980s." How wrong they are and how politically biased. The fact that Corbyn has retained his lifelong principles, not ditched them to the first person with a big enough wallet, speaks oodles about the man and explains why he is supported by so many people and in some cases idealistic young people. We noted "David Cameron hypocrisy regarding death of Nelson Mandela." Times and people can and do change. BBC News reported David Cameron's reaction to the news that Mr Mandela has died saying: "UK Prime Minister David Cameron has paid tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela, who has died aged 95. He said: "A great light has gone out in the world. Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time." The flag above 10 Downing Street will be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect". David Cameron though did not always believe that Mandela was a great man. Ahead of Mandela's death a quote on Facebook read [Peter Thomson] "Nelson Mandela will die soon. Today, tomorrow, this week, next week. It won't be long. Remember this, he out-lived Thatcher. When he does die, and David Cameron on the Mandela bandwagon, remember that in 1985 he was a top member of the Federation of Conservative Students, which produced the "Hang Mandela" posters. In 1989, Cameron worked in the Tory Policy Unit at Central Office and went on an anti-sanctions fact-finding mission to South Africa with a pro-apartheid lobby firm sponsored by PW Botha. Remember this when he tells the world he was inspired by Madiba". The Telegraph simply uses old news to further its aims which consist of undermining Jeremy Corbyn and aiding and abetting old Labour Blairites who do not like the direction the party is moving. Now back to the Falklands. Wednesday Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, on a visit to the Falklands, has claimed Jeremy Corbyn is a bigger threat to the Falklands than Argentina. He said "The biggest threat at the moment isn’t Argentina, it’s Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party who want to override the wishes of the islanders." But that is the latest fuel for right-ring media scare-mongers. "Labour said his comments were "silly" and that Mr Corbyn was committed to "self-determination" for the islanders. And Falklands Legislative Assembly chairman Michael Summers said he did not think Mr Corbyn was a threat." This is the same Michael Fallon who as UK Secretary of State for Defence opted to use the Labour election leadership contest which involved Ed Miliband and his brother David to highlight what he perceives as back-stabbing qualities in Ed ahead of GE 2015. The same Michael Fallon in this story of "Mission creep, Fallon commits RAF tornados to another Iraq year." Little wonder he is at odds with Mr Corbyn. Corbyn prefers debate, peace and agreed solutions while Fallon prefers conflict, disharmony and verbal attacks. Mr Corbyn is committed to "self-determination" for the islanders but has not ruled out sensible debate which could involve the UK and Argentina. Wikipedia claims "In February 2016, the week after a leaked UN report had found the Saudi-led coalition guilty of conducting "widespread and systematic" air strikes against civilians in Yemen including camps for internally displaced people, weddings, schools, hospitals, religious centers, vehicles and markets - and the same day the International Development Select Committee had said that UK should end all arms exports to Saudi Arabia in light of ongoing, large-scale human rights violations by the Kingdom's armed forces in Yemen, Fallon was criticised for attending a £450-a-head dinner for an arms-industry trade-body." That probably says it all about what motivates Fallon. In 2013 the Guardian reported: "The UK still has a major military presence on the island. At last count it was: • 1,300 Service personnel plus around 50 MOD civil servants. • Four Typhoon fast-jet aircraft • VC-10 tanker aircraft • Hercules C-130 aircraft • Rapier surface-to-air missiles • Frigate or Destroyer (currently Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose to be replaced by Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless) • Royal Fleet Auxiliary Gold Rover • HMS Clyde permanently stationed in the region as Falklands Patrol • Infantry company currently from 2 Scots The cost has been rising, although the figures below do not reflect coming cuts in the MoD's spending." As the population of the Falkland Islands declines sooner or later a settled agreement must and will be reached. On Friday April 2, 1982 Argentinian forces entered the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. The Falklands and South Georgia are sovereign lands of the UK and Great Britain responded. A Naval task force was dispatched and a conflict followed. It was never called a war, but it was a war in all but name. It lasted 74 days, and almost thirty-four years on an uneasy peace still reigns. It may not last much longer though. In the 30th anniversary year of the conflict other South American countries offered support to Argentina. Since the 19th Century Argentina has claimed that the Falkland Islands are part of their country. The location of the islands is close to Argentina and many miles from Great Britain. However Great Britain has historical rights over the Falklands and is loath to surrender them. The Falklands have strategic importance for the UK and there have also been mutterings about valuable resources. That said there is nothing to say that in the future a negotiated agreement may not be reached. Great Britain would probably react again should hostilities be instigated by Argentina. Although the issue of sovereignty was not resolved after the last furore it was set to one side so the two countries could restore diplomatic relations and move on. In 2012 there were rumblings from South America which suggested the issue of the Falkland Islands could flare up again. As if to add salt to the Argentinian wounds Prince William was conveniently stationed in the Falklands for around 6 weeks, early in 2012. As part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations Edward Duke of Kent visited the islands. He may only be a minor Royal but it would no doubt aggravate the situation further. Falklands history here From our archives: Argentina Falkland Islands Oil Falkland islanders vote to stay with the UK Peru joins in Argentine Falkland argument with UK Argentina accuses UK of Falklands militarisation Falkland War hero decorated by Argentina and UK Op-Ed: It is Monday February 15, 2016, and UK PM David Cameron is trawling around Europe again trying to get agreement on changes to Britain’s European Union membership, or is it EU reform - full stop, but he is attempting to do it all on his own terms. Nigel Farage has accused Cameron of playing 'chicken' Monday as the PM dodged a meeting with the Ukip leader. The report is in the Express which is a Ukip supporting publication; if you do not believe that check out this BBC report from April 2015 days ahead of the last UK General Election "Express owner Richard Desmond gives UKIP £1m." That does not mean we do not agree that Cameron plays 'chicken' and all too often. Also ahead of GE2015 Cameron did the chicken run to escape televised leader's debates and for him at that time it seemed to pay off; he was after all elected to run a majority Tory government albeit with only a 12 seat majority. While Cameron is flitting around Europe grabbing headlines relating to Britain's EU membership his government has been quietly pushing through damaging changes at home. Last week the imposition of new junior doctor's working contracts was timed to fit in with an upcoming parliamentary recess and hide negative policies. Take these "Five pieces of bad news the Tories tried to bury" from Mike Sivier at Vox Political. They are Boundary changes, Public health cuts, Court closures, Universal credit roll-out speeded up and Short money and all of us will be affected by at least one of the measures but probably more. The Conservative party is in disarray over Europe and the upcoming EU referendum and David Cameron is hoping the Labour party will help him out. Old Labour die-hards or is that Blairites have published an "Open letter from five Labour heavyweights who have changed their minds on Europe" but who does that letter help? There is nothing wrong with them having changed their minds on Europe along the years but why did they need to post this letter? The Labour party decided last year that it would support the UK staying in the EU but posting such letters ahead of an agreement is simply damning to new party leader Jeremy Corbyn. This could and should have waited until after Cameron gets an EU deal agreed or rejected. Until he does there will be no referendum. Cameron could pull a fast one and let the nation decide on half-ass policies but that depends how much he really want the UK to stay a member of the European Union. Renegotiation terms could be finalised at an EU meeting this week or they may fall flat. The mainstream media are waiting-in-the-wings to attack the Labour party one more time and especially the party's leader Jeremy Corbyn. But as we said at the start of this report the Tories are in disarray. They are not a unified political party when it comes to Brexit or Bremain. The big five Labour so-called heavyweights or should that be middle of the roaders should have waited until after any deal is agreed or not and let the Tories show their disunity for the entire world to see. Why instead did former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, Margaret Beckett, David Blunkett, Jack Straw and Hilary Benn, who is a current member of the Labour shadow cabinet feel the need to post this open letter in yesterday's Sunday Mirror. Hilary Benn is probably the only MP who has much credibility in the eyes of current Labour voters and it is fading fast. His speech at the end of the parliamentary debate on bombing Syria was applauded by some as inspirational but assessed by others as a fairly meaningless rant. Yes even politics is in the eye of the beholder. People need to remember however that just because Benn's father was a great Labour campaigner and left-winger Hilary may not be. As Cameron turns the spotlight on Europe freedoms at home are being sacrificed and any remaining social security safety nets available for the poor and vulnerable of the UK removed. With that in mind do you really care about Cameron's sometime referendum, on vague EU reforms? Monday his government has furthered the police state of Israel and the UK by this attack on democratic freedoms in the UK; Israel boycott ban: Shunning Israeli goods to become criminal offence for public bodies and student unions. You can of course operate your own boycott of goods and services from wherever you like, or at least you can at time of writing. Israel changed the barcodes on some of its goods following a BDS campaign but check online for latest codes. This writer managed to ditch some mints that hail from Israel; it may not be much but as Tesco used to advertise 'every little helps'. Check out the BDS movement here Commentary: At the end of a rollercoaster week for NHS England news when, following a collapse of negotiations, Junior Doctors staged a one-day strike and Tory Health Minister Jeremy Hunt responded by announcing he would forcibly impose new working contracts in August in a like-it-or-lump-it move we ask 'who is Jeremy Hunt.' According to Wikipedia "Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt was born November 1, 1966, and is a British Conservative Party politician, who is the Secretary of State for Health and the Member of Parliament for South West Surrey. He was previously Culture Secretary (2010–12). As Health Secretary, he has been criticised for, amongst other things, his support of homeopathy, dangerous advice on meningitis, and imposing a controversial contract on junior doctors." He arrived on the national political landscape at the 2010 General Election but was first elected as an MP in 2005. Prior to this he was a language teacher in Japan and moved on to PR; he co-founded a company now known as Hotcourses, a major client of which is the British Council. He retains 48% of the shares in the company. He also has under his belt a failed attempt to export marmalade to Japan. He came onto the Conservative scene as Shadow Minister for Disabled People in December 2005. As Wikipedia continues "In the same year [2005] he was a co-author of a policy pamphlet Direct Democracy: An Agenda For A New Model Party which included statements supporting denationalising the NHS and suggested replacing it with "universal insurance". Hunt later denied that the policy pamphlet expresses his views." Hunt may have moved roles as part of Tory re-shuffles but he has retained senior positions in spite of obvious failings; he did however support David Cameron when he made his bid to become leader of the Tory party. So what qualifies Hunt to hold a senior ministerial position on health? Expenses accusations set the ball rolling in 2009 and then in 2010: Hillsborough comments in June 2010, saw Hunt attract controversy for suggesting football hooliganism played a part in the death of 96 football fans in the Hillsborough disaster; when it has been suggested that a lack of police control and the presence of terraces and perimeter fences were established as the causes of the tragedy. He later apologised saying "I know that fan unrest played no part in the terrible events of April 1989 and I apologise to Liverpool fans and the families of those killed and injured in the Hillsborough disaster if my comments caused any offence. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tax affairs in April 2012, the Daily Telegraph disclosed that Hunt had reduced his tax bill by over £100,000 by receiving dividends from Hotcourses in the form of property which was promptly leased back to the company. The dividend in specie was paid just before a 10% rise in dividend tax and Hunt was not required to pay stamp duty on the property --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In April 2012 we reported: UK Leveson Inquiry, Revenge of the Murdochs "The UK Leveson inquiry into corruption and sleaze is turning into a rollercoaster affair we wrote. It is bound to see at least one political casualty and right now that person seems likely to be Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Just how many more Government Ministers can survive is difficult to assess. In most people's eyes the likes of Theresa May should have already been given the chop. Yesterday the son, James Murdoch, testified at the inquiry and today it is the turn of father, Rupert Murdoch. What is it they say? Hell hath no fury like a Murdoch scorned? Peter Cruddas was one Tory Minister sent packing after a recent undercover sting by the Times newspaper. The Times of course is part of the Murdoch Empire." But Hunt survived even though Labour tried to spearhead an investigation into the man. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In June 2012 there was a Labour motion regarding Jeremy Hunt which was defeated UK parliament debate and vote on the Labour motion that Jeremy Hunt should be investigated-UK MPs have voted against a further investigation into Tory Minister Jeremy Hunt. The defeat of the motion is all the more incredible as during today's debate he admitted he may have, 'inadvertently misled' MPs", though never lied. The result of this vote was always going to be so. Once Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg advised Liberal Democrat MPS to stay well clear of the vote the writing was on the wall. David Cameron's Tory section of Parliament has enough of a majority to win through such a vote. Labour's last chance was that Lib Dems would have a free vote or vote by way of their conscience. Mr Clegg's advice to abstain from voting can be viewed in two different ways. One claim is that the Lib Dems abstained as their relationship with Rupert Murdoch and his media empire was almost non-existent. As a UK political party that failed time and time again to win an election they were probably seen to have little to offer. Further in the report we wrote: David Cameron will for now breathe a huge sigh of relief. The flames lapping at the heels of Hunt were beginning to scorch the PMs legs too. Many Lib Dems have accepted that as far as the BSkB bid went wrongdoing was not a problem. For them it is the subsequent resignation of Hunt's special advisor Adam Smith which is a cause for concern. The issue is just who was ultimately responsible for Mr Smith's dangerous liaisons with the Murdoch Empire. Did he act alone? That question in most people's minds remains unanswered; as to whether the ministerial code of conduct was breached there seems to be a case to answer. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 2012: Jeremy Hunt favours 12-week abortion time limit Tory MP Andrew Lansley spearheaded the disastrous NHS reforms and was then moved to another post. You have to laugh we commented. They shuffle from one post to another proving that they are Jack or Jills of all trades and masters or mistresses of none. After all how can you be a specialist in health then transport then home affairs and then the military? You cannot obviously. Lansley was replaced by Jeremy Hunt. There have been many allegations in the media regarding Mr Hunt so we can only assume that he has friends in the right places. It seems that he manages to survive and be promoted even though his work record is appalling. Today he has shown why he is not the man for the post of Health Secretary. Ahead of the Annual Tory Conference Hunt has said that he would be in favour of reducing the time limit for abortions from 24 weeks to just 12. Is he insane? If he is against abortions then he should say so. Talking of unacceptable time frames is non-productive. Following his words he was quick to say that these were his personal views. Tory leader Dave Cameron was also quick to point out that the Conservatives have no plans to reduce abortion times further. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 2014 we had Virtual doctor appointments trialled in care homes thanks to Mr Hunt and NHS salary rises capped at 1% "In July 2015 Jeremy Hunt became the subject of the first petition on a new UK Government website to reach the threshold of 100,000 signatures required for a petition to be considered for debate in Parliament" but this week he has broken that record. Also in 2015 this crackpot health minister announced that "NHS drugs would carry UK taxpayer funded reminder" and released figures to show the "Weekend effect increases NHS deaths dramatically" but that study was proved false. He has also overseen "NHS has plan to beat Brit fat chart success." But perhaps this Wikipedia claim says it all about Mr Hunt who "has also declared that patient choice was not key to improving NHS performance, in a major break from a policy favoured by Conservative and Labour governments over the past 12 years. He stated that "there are natural monopolies in healthcare, where patient choice is never going to drive change". Following a pre-election report in April 2015 that hospital chiefs shared an average 6% pay rise totalling £35 million, Hunt promised to investigate if the Conservatives won the election. In July 2015, he broke patient confidentiality by tweeting a publicity photo with patient details visible on a board behind him." There are a fair few petitions relating to Mr Hunt online currently; Consider a vote of No Confidence in Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary on the government's own petition website has 265,894 signatures which means parliament will be forced to debate. [minutes later it stands at 266,246 signatures] We wonder when that will be and what bad news may be buried simultaneously, a common Tory government trick. Follow this link and sign the petition Monday February 15, 2016, the Independent reports "Jeremy Hunt is the most disliked frontline British politician of any party, new poll shows-The Health Secretary is even less popular than his predecessor Andrew Lansley" and that is saying something. [There are just so many Hunt reports including "Andy Burnham: Why is Jeremy Hunt supporting a lifetime ban on gay men giving blood in Northern Ireland?" from 2014]
Jeremy Hunt you are mishandling and have mishandled the NHS and in particular the imposition of new junior doctor working contracts. This is not the first ministerial job that you have screwed up but your political career survives. Could that be because you were one of those who supported Cameron in his bid to lead the Tory party? This is what this retired NHS employee thinks: On the back of Jeremy Hunt's announcement Thursday that he will impose new working contracts on junior doctors after failing to reach an agreement the fallout continues. #dimposition was trending on Twitter Thursday as tweeters in England took to social media to express their anger. Junior doctors in NHS England that means not in Scotland, Wales or Ireland will have new non-agreed working contracts forced on them in August unless Hunt is forced into a U Turn. The Tory tactic of public letters that appear to show support from people linked to the debate are falling flat Friday. In April 2015, days ahead of the UK General Election, #lettergate blew wide open. As we reported it was a case of "Business leaders dodgy Tory letter more mind games." The Tories won the General Election but with a majority of just 12 seats. But that letter included people who later distanced themselves saying they had not been asked but rather just included by Tory campaigners. Seems this may have happened again. Friday the Guardian reports "Health chief: letter backing 'whatever is necessary' on contracts was not agreed -NHS trust chiefs distance themselves from letter supporting plans to impose new contracts on junior doctors." Is that down to misinterpretation of 'whatever is necessary' or something sleazier? Either way Jeremy Hunt’s claim that he has the backing of 20 NHS bosses to impose new contracts on junior doctors quickly unravelled overnight; at least half said they had never agreed to support forcing the deal. Health Minister Hunt joined a Tory Shadow Cabinet originally as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. He made a pig's ear of that role and was moved on to Culture. After a second pig's ear he was rewarded with the role of Health Minister. The only qualification Hunt has to oversee healthcare in the UK appears to be that he co-authored a book calling for NHS to be replaced with private insurance. How come Ministers need no qualifications? What next for Hunt - Chancellor? That fits with the way he is handling NHS England while pretending that he is simply trying to fulfil a Tory manifesto pledge for a seven-day NHS. The NHS of course is already a 24/7 NHS each and every day and night of the year. Currently some services are limited at the weekend a bit like in parliament-Ministers only attend willy nilly during the week and it is closed weekends. If and when parliament are recalled during vacations due to a national crisis the taxpayer foots the bill and it is a costly one. If parliament wants a seven day working week that is a one pay fits all then they should lead by example but moreover they should reward staff. Junior doctors already work far too many hours; they may get some sleep on a long night shift but if they are working on a busy hospital ward or department they may be run ragged covering more than ward across a huge site. They already work weekends, nights, bank-holidays and more but on a shift basis; as these same doctors have to fit in lectures, study, training and more that is understandable. They also rack up debt as they undergo extensive training which lasts for years. The conclusion has to be Mr Hunt that the new junior doctor working contracts, with the promise or is that threat of further changes in the working contracts of other staff, is only about cutting the service to the bone. In allegedly trying to make a 24/7 NHS you are in fact wrecking the service - either so that it will be ripe, ready and cheap for your buddies when they come on the scene to privatise or undermine it completely in the minds of voters. But either way you will fail. The NHS has its problems but remains much loved and the pride of Britain and long may that continue. |
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