Published on
8 June 2012
Posted in British Politics, Civil Liberties
From a guest blogger: Regular readers will probably not be surprised to find that we at Blog for All Seasons had a splendid time over last weekend celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In good cheer we bunted, we sang and we toasted Her Majesty’s (and Prince Philip’s) health. Long may […]
Published on
10 May 2012
Posted in British Politics, Political Economy
There has been speculation in recent days that the Prime Minister will alter or drop legislative proposals that were expected to be included in the forthcoming Queen’s Speech to Parliament. This reflects growing disquiet among Conservative backbenchers many of whom feel that the Liberal Democrats are exercising excessive influence on coalition policy. The unease has […]
Published on
18 April 2012
Posted in Big Society, British Politics, Public Policy, Social Commentary
One measure announced in the recent budget has provoked much discussion, namely that proposing to remove unlimited tax relief on donations to charity. Tax relief on charitable donations was introduced by the Thatcher government as a means of encouraging philanthropy among high-earners. If an individual donates a suitably large amount to charity, the relief means […]
Published on
30 March 2012
Posted in British Politics, Culture
George Galloway, the socialist politician and member of the RESPECT party has won the Bradford by-election by more than 10,000 votes. This has been reported widely as a vote against Labour, but, given the similarities between the three main parties, it might just as well be viewed as a vote against the status quo and […]
Published on
28 March 2012
Posted in British Politics, Built Environment, Public Policy
Harold Macmillan was Minister of Housing and Local Government 1951-54 in Winston Churchill’s Conservative Government. He had been given the target of building three hundred thousand new homes every year. The UK was still suffering from the social and economic effects of the Second World War and the demand for clean and safe modern housing […]
Published on
21 March 2012
Posted in British Politics, Political Economy, Public Policy, Social Commentary
All who read British newspapers will have noted fevered speculation over potential measures that may appear in today’s Budget. The suggestion that Britain’s road network of Britain be opened to private investment has attracted much interest. The idea that the Government might lease key routes, such as the M1, to private corporations. These would be […]
Published on
16 March 2012
Posted in British Politics, Europe, Political Economy, Social Commentary, World Affairs
From a guest blogger: Draghi is fuelling inflation like the Bank of England. Greece cannot ever repay even the reduced debt after last week’s managed default and target of 120% of GDP by 2020. Greece must leave the Euro. The election this year may precipitate this. Then Portugal (public debt at 93%, and private debt […]
Published on
7 March 2012
Posted in Abortion, British Politics, Human Life, Legal Affairs, Religion, Social Commentary
A nation is governed –and partly defined — by the rules and regulations on its statute book. Laws are supposed to regulate so as to ensure fairness and justice, as well as to prohibit behaviours deemed contrary to the good of society. They have a purpose: development and protection of the common good within the […]