UK Local elections give some hope in a dark time

In a time when the Country has the worst collective political leadership since we had mad kings on the throne, the local election results coming through offer a small glimmer of hope.


In the north of England, voters have finally begun to turn away from both Labour and the Tories. This is good news, both parties are led by incompetent and perhaps even malevolent cabals - not voting for either at the current time is good. Perhaps a message will be communicated that they should both radically change their approaches.


In addition, the independents have risen, across the Country lots of councils have fallen to groups of independent people, tired with the poor and partisan service from Labour or Tory and keen to take on responsibility at grass roots level. So far Independents have won 25% of the seats they have contested - a huge movement.

Sadly, the Lib Dems have done well as they return to their traditional role of the protest vote. In many places, there are only 3 candidates and so if you don't vote Labour or Tory then the Lib Dems get your protest vote as a sort of anti-vote. We will see if there are euro elections in a couple of weeks as to how people vote when there are some positive alternatives such as the Brexit party for of the CHUK group.


Still, the populace is at least reacting to the mess that is Westminster, hopefully next time out we can make sure they are all de-selected. That will be my take on it, every MP from the 2017 slate should be kicked out so we can start afresh, none to be spared after the worst Parliament in two centuries.

Scots win Independence, delayed by one year to 2017

If Cameron now wins the election narrowly in 2015, as is possible, there will be an EU Referendum in 2017. England will vote for withdrawal and Scotland will not. Scotland will then demand to be 'free' within the EU (oh, the irony) and the devolved Parliament will demand it.

Chances of happening, not that low really, 8-1 perhaps?

NEISR...shhh

What is it with these people. There we are pootling along, all happy in the knowledge that the people of Scotland are merrily talking themselves into Independence. Braveheart, Bannockburn and all the other other rubbish being spouted by the SNP...along with some more salient points about the poor quality of leader on offer from Westminster.

Then NEISR interrupts with yet another credulous doom and gloom report on how Scotland will face years of austerity and hard times if it leaves the UK. Where is the balance here? What about the years of hard times Scotland has already faced as it is part of the UK?

Scotland is a basket case of an economy, rapidly deteriorating towards a Middle Eastern model of non-competitive jobs and subsidies for all on the back of oil revenues, all the while knowing that these are going to end in a generation or two. Equally though, the people of Scotland are fixated on this issue and the key driver for them appears, from ballot box results, to be arguing over the distribution of said monies. This is why Labour and the left wing SNP do so well. Neither are too fussed about business or the wider economy, instead its all about re-distribution.

Scotland is welcome to this game, its a democratic one and its their choice. English scare stories about their loss of oil revenues are just that, there will be strong oil revenues for Scotland from the North Sea for at least one more generation. If then they want Independence, they should have it.

In fact, it should be encouraged, there is much to be said for losing the Scots from the UK. They will be better off emotionally whilst the rest of the UK will be better of financially. We just need to stop all this crazy talk of them being in penury forever, lest they believe it and decide to shackle themselves to the Union forever....