Defunding the BBC

There are those on the right who wish to defund the BBC.  Many, both on the left and the right consider the BBC to be biased.  It is hard for any news organisation to remain impartial, and while the BBC does engage in propaganda at times, it is less partial to this than other parts of the media which tend to parrot the messages of the right. 

The BBC is a way of projecting soft power.  The World Service is listened to across the globe and has been important in letting those in nations where the media is very controlled, another perspective on life. Cuts mean people are then listening to the media that states that Everything is Awesome, even when it is not.  Cuts have been made in the past, and that means the voice of our nation is not as loud.  

When people watch shows like Dr Who, they view the UK in a better light.  After Brexit that is even more important. 

Argylle

I try to know as little as possible when I watch a film.  Normally, I will want to know somethings so I can tell if I want to watch it.  My wife wanted to watch this and we went, me not knowing anything about the film.  

I enjoyed it. I would not say I loved it, this being more comedy rather than spy film.  I you are watching it expecting a film like Kick-Ass, you will be disappointed, but if you are after something like The Kingsman, then this is a film for you to watch.  

Would I watch it again?  No.  But it was nice watching it with my wife.  And I would watch any sequels.

Conscription, Trump and NATO

The issue of conscription has come up in the news.  The official reason is the threat that Russia poses. To be fair, Russia does not pose much of a threat at present. Most of its available troops are tied down in Ukraine.

But that is at present.  I think that Trump will be elected this year and I do not trust him to defend Europe if Russia decides to liberate the Baltic States in the way that it has with bits of Moldova and Georgia.  If that happens, the USA may or may not fulfil its obligations as part of NATO, that is of course, if it stays part of NATO.

The odds are that the conflict in Ukraine will be resolved if Trumps takes power with the surrender of yet more Ukrainian territory, and that means that Russia will then rearm and prepare for its next land grab.

Jess Phillips on Rwanda

As those who have read my views on this topic know, I am in favour of deporting those who cross the channel to Rwanda.  

This is once we have a system were asylum applications can be processed abroad in a quick and fair manner.  I would be stricter on some applications, one patient I have seen fled Iraq to come here after falling out with a family in the town he lived in.  I think it is wrong for him to come here when he could have moved to another part of Iraq.  To put things in context, the surgery I work in has lots of women who have had to flee relationships due to feeling unsafe, some of whom are still subject to harassment.  I do not see them claiming asylum in France etc.  I do think that it is silly that those in Afghanistan who helped UK forces directly, or by serving in the Afghan security forces before the Taliban took it over, are not given automatic rights to live here. So while I would make it easier for some asylum seekers to enter the UK, I would make it harder for others.  Also, it is silly that the UK government is not working with other countries across the globe to come to a fairer solution to this as this is not just a UK issue.

But Jess Phillips has communicated things so well in Parliament in a few short minutes. 

The nanny state and teeth

Labour have been criticised for trying to ensure that children are taught how to brush their teeth. We are in a nation where it is harder for people to access NHS dentistry than it was in 2010, not that it was easy back then. 

We are luckier in Colchester compared to other areas on this matter, but it is interesting hearing Conservative politicians criticising the plans of Labour on this when they have made things worse for so many. 

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.