Labour, how it is going to fail in elections in the next few years and the importance of keeping Starmer and Reeves.

Come Friday, I predict that the by-election to the Welsh Parliament in Caerphilly will result in the demolition of Labour.  I also think that this will continue for a year or two.  Labour are toxic.  They have been seen to fail on immigration, they have been seen to fail on helping the most vulnerable and they have been seen to fail on Israel and Gaza (depending on which side you are on).  

When it comes to immigration, I think that Labour are wrong.  I think that we need more immigration to help our nation, not just taking advantage of those who are leaving or are prevented from going to the USA, but also people to work in the care sector, the health service and other areas. However, the One-In-One-Out policy is working and is much more ethical than the Rwanda policy of the Conservatives.  Reform and the Conservatives hate the policy as it involves taking refugees from France in return.   If it is able to be expanded, it will bring about an end to those crossing The Channel as those who make the crossing will be sent back to France. 

The benefits system does need to be reformed.  Most people I see on benefits work or have genuine reasons why they cannot work.  But I see too many people who could work, but do not.  A lot can be supported into work, but that will require a carrot and stick approach to do so.  However, we still have huge levels of poverty, and any reform to the benefits system needs to ensure that we take more people out of poverty as opposed to pushing more into it.  And we will be able to see this when there is less of a need for foodbanks. 

Gaza and Israel divides the nation, people picking one side as the villain and the other as the victim.  We need to remember that Israel has been stealing Palestinian land since the Oslo accords, but also that there was no excuse for the October 7th attacks.  There can never be any justification for the atrocities that took place in Gaza afterwards however.  

But Labour have done a lot.  Roads are improving with less potholes being an issue.  The NHS, which I work in, is slowly getting better.  And the economy, despite it being hamstrung by Brexit, is doing surprisingly well.  Starmer basically has got down on his knees in front of Trump and 'earned' 10% tariffs, something few other leaders would be able to do.  While Farage could do the same, he would sell out a lot more to reach the same goal.  

What Labour are terrible at doing is communicating what they have done.  Starmer should be honest and say that Labour are going to have some terrible years, but if Labour can continue to deliver, and more importantly, deliver more, then it can retain power at the next election.  A change in leader would result in even higher debt repayments and I want tax payers money to go to making our nation better, not to bank shareholders. 

Spending on the military

Cheese eating surrender monkeys was a term that appeared to originate in The Simpsons.  I would argue that we have a new term now, that being Tofu Eating Surrender monkeys.  

After the end of The Cold War, a peace dividend took place.  After German unification, NATO promised no further Eastern expansion, but after the Russian invasions of Moldova and Georgia to liberate Transnistria and Abkhazia, which happened to have a large Russian population, other former Warsaw Pact nations wanted to join NATO.

Since the second invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Russia has been testing European defences.  While Russia has claimed it is innocent, this is the same Russia that promised it would not invade Ukraine before invading it again.  

When it comes to people who are concerned about out climate, I agree that more action needs to be taken on this.  However, if people argue that we should not increase our readiness to defend our NATO allies against Russia, or get rid of our nuclear weapons (as Ukraine did), I consider them fools.  

The Louvre

Just in case anyone is wondering, my wife has an alibi. Of course it depends what time the break in happened. Last night we went to Nadu, a restaurant in Bristol. My son, wife, dog and I had been there before, my daughter had not. We loved the experience before, we loved it this time, and of course, we loved watching my daughter see the sharing dosa that they serve. 

We returned to the hotel where my wife and daughter slept with the dog. My son woke early, the rest of us slept in, the dog enjoying having her older sister back.  But the weekend had to end and after getting some shopping for us and our daughter, we drove back. We had used by electric car for the journey. We needed to stop once on the way to Bristol, the change over being at Reading to charge. On the way back, although it was raining, I would have been happy to drive a lot more, but we needed to charge again.

Now it is time to wind down, and for my wife, dream about what could have been if she was part of the gang who stole from The Louvre.

Delta Hotels Bristol City Centre

We have returned to Bristol and brought the dog along. This hotel is more central than where we stayed before and last night I did not sleep as well due to the noise outside.  It is dog friendly, but also is not. The room has a dog bed but the rules here are strange. You are not allowed to take the dog to the indoor restaurants, which was the same when we stayed in Bristol before, but they will not accommodate you to eat just outside the restaurant.

Before, the place we stayed allowed us to eat in the bar area. Also, you have to sign to state that you will not leave the dog alone in the room! Which means that the only way to eat in the hotel is to pay extra for room service! 

However, the hotel is a nice place to stay.meeting up with our daughter was great, we went a dog cafe where both children told me off for stressing out our dog by talking to others. Our dog even got stressed when I went to stroke the dog statues!  She is very affectionate, loves other dogs and humans, but I am not allowed to pay attention to other dogs! After this, it was lunch and we returned to the pub where we had been to before. For dinner tonight, we are going to a Tamil restaurant. My son, wife, dog and I have been there before, it will be the first time for my daughter and we are sure she will enjoy it. 

Van Helsing

I have been watching vampire films for inspiration when it comes to being a Games Master and running Curse of Strahd. So I watched this as part of my homework.

What a terrible film. I had heard that it was a bad film, I should have listened, but a review of the sexiest film vampires had mentioned this, so I thought I would give it a try, but I should not have bothered. It had a few lines and ideas that showed a glimpse of what the film could be, but an overly complicated plot and terrible direction made this a film worth missing. It was not truly awful, the ballroom scene was beautiful, the brides are alluring, but cannot be compared to classics like Dracula, or From Dusk Till Dawn. 

This is a film I cannot see me watching again, ever. If you are ever tempted to watch it, don’t. There are loads of other films to watch instead. 

Pulp fiction

My son felt this film was overrated. My wife and I think that he was wrong.

I remember watching it when it first came out. I was apprehensive that I would enjoy it as much as Reservoir Dogs or True Romance.  Remember liking the film, until Uma Therman woke up. After that, I loved it.  As with all Tarantino films, it has great dialogue and memorable characters. While my wife and I disagree about other productions by Tarantino we both love this. Like any classic film, this is one I would watch again, and have done several times.  

I suspect that he will not like many of the films which I consider to be classics. I do not know if this is a generational thing, but time will tell. He is keen to watch Kill Bill, my wife hates it, so I will he watching it with him. It will be interesting to see if he wants to watch the second instalment afterwards. 

The Nobel Peace Prize, Trump and Gaza

Over the last few days, there has been speculation that Trump has ensured that a ceasefire takes place in Gaza so that he can win the peace prize. The idea of this is ludicrous, especially with how he has backed Israel since they broke the last ceasefire this year. Since then starvation has hit Gaza with the murder of those seeking aid after the UN was banned from helping those n Gaza.

What Hamas did on October the 7th was horrific but does not justify what is happening now.

I hope that this peace will last. I suspect that Israel will find an excuse to return to violence once the hostages are released though. 

Saying that, if Trump can force Israel to return to The Oslo Peace Accords, then he will deserve that prize. 

Kemi Badenoch, the current leader of the Conservatives

I almost feel sorry for Kemi Badenoch.  She is a woman in politics which means that she is under more scrutiny than a man would be.  She is a woman of colour which means that she will be judged on that.  Both however will not be overt, there will just be something off about her.

Some mistakes are not down to her, the most recent one (at the time of this being posted) being the chocolate bar with incorrect spelling.  Others are though, such as her comment about Northern Ireland and the Brexit vote.   

This may be her first and last conference as leader.  I imagine that she is hoping to last until Reform implode, infighting being an issue with Nigel Farage and his tribute acts in the past.  It may not happen, but I hope it does, as do those who have stood by the Conservatives.

For those who would like to listen to her in some easy interviews, I hope this post is of interest.

Is Keir Starmer complicit in genocide?

Two years ago, an attack was launched from Gaza that brought about a response from Israel.  The attack was intended to remind Jews in Israel what happened to Jews during the Holocaust.  Images were taken of Israelis being murdered and hostages (though not all of them being Israeli or Jewish) were taken.  Israel responded, initially with the backing of much of the world.  But Israel went too far and openly worked towards the Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza, its actions now being considered by many to be genocide.  

I do not think that there is any justification for the attacks two years ago, just as there was no justification for Israel breaking the ceasefire that had been previously negotiated and would have freed people on both sides.

Other than the production of parts for the F-35, I think that the UK should be offering no aid or support to Israel.  And the F-35 parts being produced can only be justified due to the role of the UK in the production of the fighter.  I think that I understand why Starmer has not cut off all support, I suspect this being that he can try to influence Donald Trump, the only man who can actually force Israel to stop the continued murder of so many Palestinians.  That and doing so may cause Trump to raise his tariffs on the UK. 

While the world is focused on the brutality in Gaza, it is important to remember how Palestinian land is being taken for Living Space (I know the use of this term will open me to accusations of antisemitism) by settlers in The West Bank. Palestinians have been attacked BEFORE the horrors of two years ago, little or no action being taken by the IDF to stop settlers from doing so. 

Do I think that he is complicit in genocide?  No more so than many other world leaders.  But I am fed up of people saying that he is.  There are actions that people can take on this matter, they can report Starmer and if he is guilty, action can be taken against him.  Will people do that?  I doubt it.  

When should direct action be limited?

Direct action has been part of protests in the UK for some time. The Suffragettes took part in direct action, some of which was more violent than others. This matter is in the news again because many have been arrested for protesting while supporting Palestine Action. My views on them and how they have “accidentally” supported Russia n the invasion of Ukraine have been posted before. 

This post is about if direct action is okay depending on the group engaging in it.

In August there was a story about how demonstrators had tried to enter a hotel housing asylum seekers to take part in direct action. Other actions have been taken since then, not just in Scotland, not counting the criminal damage that happened during the Farage Riots last year. Charities who have been trying to help refugees have reported abuse and intimidation by those who care about what they stand for. 

Palestine Action have also taken part in criminal damage, breaking windows of offices in Milton Keynes, but also targeting Jewish businesses in Stamford Hill. And of course there are the actions which have accidentally hindered Ukrainian efforts to defend against the invasion Russia. While there will be those who will say I am wrong to compare Kristallnacht to what is happening now, but many of those who are considered to be Jewish were concerned about history repeating itself, that being before the appalling murder of Jews in Manchester. 

I will finish on two points. Loads of organisations are protesting the brutal ethnic cleansing of Gaza and are staying within the law to do so. The other point is if it is acceptable for one group to engage in intimidation and criminal damage to bring about change, is it also acceptable for others to do so? 

A trip to Bristol

My wife, our son and I went to Bristol yesterday to see our daughter. Sadly, she and I are now unwell. While I would love to blame my daughter, I started to feel unwell in the morning before we left.

We are getting used to the drive and our son ensured we were entertained by talking to us and picking music to play on Spotify. As we approached her halls of residence Leia, our dog, realised where we were. The dog and my daughter were overjoyed to see each other. When there, we got to meet the two girls she stays with in her flat and later, one of the boys.

We went out for a meal (which was great and we will return), took down some items that my daughter wanted and after spending some much appreciated time with her drove back.  Unlike last time, the drive back was relatively event free, as usual, there was a lot of traffic on the M25 between the M4 and the M40, due to an accident this time.

It was after I handed over to my wife that our virus hit me. When at home, I went to bed, with a fever though later I did get to watch the Arsenal game, before passing out on the sofa!

Paracetamol and vaccines

The world we live in is becoming a joke.  A sad tragic one for many as they are to die sooner than they should.  People in power should not be claiming that paracetamol (Tylenol/acetaminophen in the USA) causes Autism when the overwhelming evidence states that it is safe.

But this is from an administration that is spreading lies and half-truths about vaccines.  And a president who commented about using bleach in bodies to cure COVID.  

Remember that thanks to misinformation that had been spread about COVID, more Republicans died of COVID than Democrats in the USA.  Also, in the UK, we have our own morons who have an 'interesting' view on science, let alone Farage refusing to accept that paracetamol does not cause autism.

Should Blair be a Middle East peace envoy

There appears to be hope on the horizon for peace in Gaza. I say hope, we had that before until Israel broke the agreement. There is an argument about the suitability of Tony Blair in this, but if he is involved in a just peace, so be it. 

It is a surrender by Hamas if they accept it, considering how the Palestinian Authority wanted to remove them by force in the past, when they had a democratic mandate, it will be an issue for them.  I am this will not stop the horrors in The West Bank. But it is a step to ending the ethnic cleansing in Gaza.