What did Ed Davey and Keir Starmer know about the Horizon scandal?

The Conservatives and others are having a great time blaming Keir Starmer and Ed Davey for the Horizon scandal. This morning, on the Today programme, I heard that the CPS dealt with three cases when Starmer was in charge. These cases, sadly, resulted in prosecutions, based on the inaccurate information the courts were given. 

When a miscarriage of justice takes place on such a scale, it is right that we look into the causes. But just as we do not hold the judges and the juries in the cases to be liable for this, I do not think that we should hold Ed Davey or Keir Starmer to be liable either. People lied, many were lied to and too many lives have been ruined. Justice will involve trying to get to the truth, not blaming those with no blame. 

Does it matter what Trump and Bill Clinton did on Epstein island?

More allegations have been made about how famous men had sex with women on Epstein Island.

There is no doubt that the allegations are horrific, but based on how the law was interpreted at the time, a question of what action would have been taken at the time comes to mind. Some have denied the allegations (as they have in the past), some are dead. But I think that any who are guilty of dishonourable behaviour will get away with it.

Look at Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. One has boasted at that he can get away with, another misled the world about a consensual affair. Both got away with allegations at the time.  I do not think that these new allegations, even if proven, will result in any consequences for those named. Time will see if I am right or not I guess.

Wokeism

I have seen a YouTube video looking at Ricky Gervais and his comments on people being woke.  Needless to say, it has caused offence.  My view is that some, who consider themselves woke, will argue about smaller details while ignoring a bigger more pressing matter, as shown in the joke.  

‘I think the people who most use the phrase ‘woke’ are the ones that are the most censorious’

Armando Iannucci discusses writing satire and the need to challenge audiences with @vicderbyshire#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/RZekHywpvR

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) January 4, 2024

It is not something that I come across often, but I do at times in my job.  My children will say that I cannot use a term now and while language does evolve (look at how the the term gay is used in the Narnia books and what it means how as one of many examples).  The issue of how SOME people who use the term 'woke' has been used to censor others has been raised by Armando Iannucci.

Basically, when it comes to making society fairer and more just, it does involve discussion, listening to the concerns of others and trying to find a solution that is the least worst option.  

At least we get to concentrate on Europe now

Yesterday I was sad towards the end of the day.  Arsenal lost against Liverpool.  I was hoping to watch it with friends, but sadly I felt a bit unwell and therefore felt that it would be best not to spread germs.  This also applied to the pub quiz later which I also missed.  Going back to the match, looking at all the chances we missed in the first half, it probably is time to buy another striker as Havertz does not seem to be the player we need.  

My son has returned to school, revelling in the fact that he has no mock exams while my daughter has them herself.  She has taken breaks by driving my car.  Apparently, on the videos that she is watching, many learn to drive in a Honda E.  She is much better than I was when I was learning to drive, but she was not too pleased when I said that I might try to get my son to learn to drive soon after he is able to do so.

Anyway, time to go home now as I have just finished at work.

Priscilla

My wife and I watched this last night. We had differing views about it, though it would have been more appropriate for the film to be named Elvis and Me, the memoir the film was based on.

I have to admit, that when my wife suggested that we watched it, I thought that she meant Priscilla Queen of the Desert. I was pleasantly surprised when I booked the tickets to see what she wanted to see.

It addressed the issue of how the underage Priscilla met Elvis, her being 14, him being 24, though the actual age difference was not mentioned. Like in the Elvis film that we had watched a while ago, it told of a story of nothing improper having taken place at that age. I am not sure the same story would have been told if Priscilla Presley had passed away, but then such a retelling may not be accurate anyway. I thought it showed the issues she faced really well, her being alone, the affairs and the drugs as well as the love both had for each other.  My wife did not like the way he was shown in the film, but this is her story, not his. 

The reason I think that it should have been renamed is that ignored so much. The relationship between her and her parents after the marriage was ignored, it briefly touched on her bringing up their daughter, and of course, the film ended once she left him.

Bloating

My wife was really nice and bought us bread and a jam doughnut for me. The bread she bought was awesome and as I have done before, I ate most of it for breakfast. And then I experienced bloating. I have never really been troubled with it before, but this was quite marked, so much so that my wife enjoyed being able to balance cups and a bottle on my stomach! The kids enjoyed making fun of me, but the bread was awesome and certainly worth it. 

Striking Junior Doctors

After being elected in 2010, the government cut the number of places in Medical Schools. In 2016, we had the first Junior Doctors strike. The government also abolished the NHS bursaries for groups such as student nurses. They have reversed decisions on the numbers of doctors and nurses being trained but they way they treat staff has resulted in many leaving, either leaving healthcare completely, or many have left to work abroad. 

The bottom line when it comes to the Junior Doctors strike, is that the UK can continue to train doctors for nations like Australia and New Zealand, or we can do something to retain the GP’s and Consultants of the future. The 35% increase that is being asked for, is one that is staged over several years, not a hit to NHS finances now.

There are some who blame those who strike for the state of the NHS, or want to hold strikers accountable for patient harm, but they ignore how the NHS is faring under the Conservatives when there are no strikes. 

The sad thing is that the Conservatives have been ruining the NHS for so long, that many cannot remember how it used to work so much better when Labour was in charge of it.