Labour, UNISON and workers rights

Listening to the radio, I was surprised to hear that the leader on Unison has said been "handing money over to the Labour Party and getting absolutely nothing in return" as Labour have brought about changes to employment rights. It is fashionable to bash Starmer, but doing this plays to the stance of Reform UK Ltd that they represent workers. 

The facts are simple. Labour have improved workers rights, Reform have promised to abolish the changes. If Unsion want a Reform UK government after the next General Election, they need to keep forgetting how Labour have not done absolutely nothing for workers.  While I understand that unions want more done, union leaders need to tell workers what Labour have done for employment rights now, or they will lose them after Farage gets elected in 2029. 

Suspended from Twitter, again

I have not posted on Twitter in a while. Today I found out that I have been suspended. Again. My last post was in May, this being a message to someone I follow, to migrate to BlueSky. I guess that post could be viewed as a violation of the terms and conditions.  I still lurk on Twitter, but make my posts on BlueSky. Twitter is too toxic, and while BlueSky is a lot quieter, it is a nicer place. I still manage to be blocked by people and have been added to lists allowing me to be blocked by many without seeing any posts by me. Some do not like this feature, but while it is annoying, it is better to allow those who prefer not to be engage in civil debate, the option to do so. Anyway, someone has offered to help me to get back onto Twitter, but I have declined that help, at least for now. 

Crime and migration

JD Vance, the man married to an American woman of Indian descent, the US vice-president, blamed the appalling murder of the British teenager Henry Nowak on mass migration.  Technically, immigration causing murder is something that Native Americans would have every right to agree with. So, when it comes to the USA, he is right.

I have discussed race and migration before. In summary, our Royal Family are descended from immigrants. Immigration benefits our nation and countries with low immigration rates then not to do as well as those which make the most of managed migration. 

Soon, England will be playing in the World Cup. Many of our players are not ethnically white British. But few would want Saka out of the team.  Our nation is stronger thanks to immigrants and their descendants. Not just with The Royal Family, not just with sport, but with so many areas.  

I want our nation to take advantage of the Trump presidency to attract talent to the UK. And of JD Vance becomes President, I want to take advantage of that as well. 

Ava Santina, grooming gangs, rape, religion and race

First of all, let me say that the murder of Henry Nowak is wrong, the actions of the police officer in handcuffing him appears to be inexcusable, and all rape, no matter who engages in it is wrong.

The issue of ethnicity/religion and crime was to be the topic of my post before the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa made the news.  I think it is important to point out, that there is a huge bias in some when it comes to reporting certain crimes, while overlooking others.

I recently had a discussion about the Grooming Gangs and the initial lack of an investigation into them, despite there being an investigation into them, in fact, more than one.  In that discussion, I was accused of ignoring rape by stating that there has already been an investigation.  Doing this is an argument by many to try and occupy the moral high ground on flimsy terms.

Religion and child abuse are linked.  People have quite rightly looked at those who claim to be Muslims who have engaged in appalling acts of grooming and rape. What I have not seen are investigations into the cover up of child abuse over a far longer period of time by both the Catholic church in the UK and the Church Of England.  Some do not care about this, and instead just want to focus on Islam.  

I have disagreed with Ava Evans in the past, notably when it came to having a Minister for Men, as I think that having one will help to combat the evil influence of the manosphere. I disagreed with her in this interview about how someone who is racist can repent as well. 

But, I do not think that she should get abuse, again, for what she did in the interview.  The irony of those on the Far Right (or patriots as they call themselves) wanting to protect our girls when so many are domestic abusers is sad.  Let alone how many of them defend a stalker who has convictions for assault, fraud and travelling on a false passport.  

In summary, rape is not confined to just one religion, but only one religion has been investigated.

Ladies First

We are all back together. We drove back today after collecting my daughter and loading up my wife’s car. Arriving at my daughter’s flat, we found one girl had lost her keys the night before and was to be charged for the replacement. Another parent, a mother in a Land Rover had decided to block someone in and walked off for ages leaving them trapped. Earlier she had parked just behind my wife but moved when I told her to do so. Fortunately for me, I did not ask. One person had hired a van and some men to help move him, and while they parked blocking people in, one person stayed with the van so it could be moved if needed.  

The drive back was an uneventful one, other than terrible traffic as we hit rush hour.  But when we got home, we relaxed and watched Ladies First. I liked it, my wife and daughter did not. My son who left during the film made no comment. But it appears that I am in the minority as the film was given terrible reviews by The Guardian and The Huffington Post, a score my daughter agreed with. I suspect it was more of a lesson for men, which is ironic considering the topic the film.

Bristol and the Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin

We are in Bristol. Tomorrow we collect our daughter and bring her back to Colchester. This hotel is not as posh as the one in the centre of Bristol, but is in a lovely area for dog walking, which our dog loves. The views from the nearby Clifton Bridge are fantastic as well.  I would definitely return, but I doubt I can walk as easily to restaurants in the town centre from here. 

Does Tony Blair support Starmer?

My view is going to be controversial. I think Blair does support Starmer.  The intervention of Tony Blair in politics today actually raises awareness of what Starmer has done, in a way that Starmer has not been able to get across, to those on the left. 

Thanks to Blair, people have been reminded of the stance of Starmer on employment rights, net zero, the NHS and Trump. 

I do not know if this will bring back voters to Labour, notably from The Greens, but it is free publicity.