One-nation conservatism

This week I was taught what a one-nation Conservative is by my daughter. She was quite patient with me considering it started me on a rant. Apparently, David Cameron is part of this view, the Prime Minister who brought about austerity to our nation as is Jeremy Hunt, the man who has overseen the decline of our NHS. 

I have to thank my daughter on teaching me about this despite my interrupting her with my views on the two. I am going to learn more as time goes on from both my children. 

A vote to Stop the Boats and ignore those we should be helping

I am proud that our nation took in refugees from Ukraine, many of whom were in safe nations such as Moldova and Poland when they needed sanctuary.  There was a need and the applications for asylum were processed quickly.

I do not understand why the same is not being done for people from Afghanistan, notably, those who are linked to the UK when we had a presence there.  We have Afghan soldiers who face execution if returned to Afghanistan waiting in Pakistan among many others we have a duty to help.  I suspect that the reason that they are being left to rot is because they are Muslim.  

We have shown that asylum applications can be processed quickly.  Instead, the government have allowed loads of asylum seekers to be held up in hotels while more cross The English Channel. A cynic would argue that the reason that they have done this is to make this into an election issue...

The NHS on YouTube

There is an interesting article on the NHS on YouTube. 

I disagree with bits of it. The use of the private sector resulted in improvements in NHS performance during the Labour years, not seen in Wales, where private sector involvement did not occur.

It also mentions PFI in brief, without looking at the reasons that loans had to be taken out to rebuild the NHS.

Also it does not mention how the Conservatives cut the numbers of doctors in training, removed the NHS bursaries and have watched as UK trained staff leave for better pay and conditions abroad.

But it was very good overall.

A Dog's Purpose

It was the Christmas Party for my work last night. I decided to drive which was good for two people at my work who live nearby. We returned to the place we had our party last year, the food was a lot better. But after we ate our main course, there was a power cut. We did get served dessert and ate by the light of our mobile phones. However, mobile reception there was very poor but some did find out that the power was not expected to come on till the early hours of the morning. This meant that we left early, and being the nominated driver, it also meant that if was easy to get home. Others had to wait for pre-booked taxis.

I had rested in the day before and even got a nap. Before I did so, my daughter and I watched A Dog’s Purpose.  My daughter was right in that I would never have watched it before we had a dog, and while predictable, it did tug at my heart strings. If you love dogs, it is worth considering this as a film to watch, but there is no point in doing so if you are not a fan of dogs.

COVID and lockdowns

On BBC Any Question last night, the matter of lockdowns during COVID came up. Some idiots on the panel doubt that they were needed.

They ignore what happened in Italy, or Iran. While Sweden avoided a lockdown, they put Social Distancing guidance into place before we did. A few days before the UK went into lockdown, the Cheltenham Festival took place, 60,000 people in close proximity spreading COVID. 

Also they forgot to mention how unprepared the NHS was to face a pandemic, this despite Exercise Alice and Exercise Cygnus showing the problems being faced. 

The Tories are finally ending Mail Order Brides and Forced Marriage, unless you are rich

At long last, action is being taken on forced marriage which will essentially end this.  Until April 2024, couples will need the UK based spouse to earn £18,600. From then it will be £38,700.  This will also end the practice of mail-order-brides which I consider a morally grey area.  

Of course, this is going to affect many people in our country who do fall in love when abroad and could result in a brain drain due to love.

I think that the policy has promise, but it will harm loads and will also affect the attractiveness of the UK when it comes to encouraging people from abroad to work in the UK. 

If I called Stockton a shit-hole, I would admit it

I have no idea what Stockton is like.  I do know that I have negative views of a local town, that being Clacton.  I view it as being nice, until a certain demographic of the population wake up.

If James Cleverly described it using a term which is not a flattering one, he should admit it.  Instead, he has stated that he described the MP as being one.