Pigeon Spa

Cool Bird
It’s a mini spa for pigeons.

Yesterday, in Batthyany Square Budapest, a dozen were drinking and splashing in the fountain. Some raised their wings to enjoy the cooling droplets. Others were resting their beaks on the cool stone, closing their eyes and wallowing in the ecstasy inducing spray. You’ll have to take my word for it. There was less activity at 9.00 am today when I turned up armed with my camera. Yesterday, it was probably the midday heat that enticed them.

One solitary bird obliged with a demonstration of the value of pigeon height fountains for quality drinking opportunities.

Force-feeding
A hired hack in the Telegraph denounces ‘dim-witted MPs’ for coming up with a bright idea. Seen through the distorting prism of the paper’s tooth-grinding prejudice, the idea is a plot to confine the teaching of religion to thickos. They work hard to twist the truth so poisonously.

The surest way to produce sixth formers with baccalaureates in atheism is to force-feed them religious education. So sickened are they by a surfeit of absurdities, they retaliate by questioning everything – the incredible and the sensible. Of the many South Wales ‘cradle Catholics’ MPs, only those who avoided catholic education still profess the faith. In their school days, they had to defend their minority positions.

A parliamentary Human Rights Committee has called for mature schoolchildren to exercise their human rights and opt out of compulsory religious education. Why not?  Indoctrination of atheist  students by atheist teachers increases resentment and invites rebellion.

Talent drain
Another blow for thinking Labour.

The greatly respected Chris Mullin is standing down as an MP at the next election. So are other incorruptible idealists. It’s a doleful list including Alan Simpson, Michael Clapham, Lynne Jones, Neil Gerrard, Des Turner, David Lepper, Clare Short, David Taylor, Keith Hill, and Chris McCafferty.

Chris Mullin was briefly a minister. When he resigned he told a puzzled Tony Blair that he could influence matters more from the backbenches. ‘That’s a serious indictment’, Blair replied.

Chris steered the Home Affairs Select Committee to produce their best report in 20 years. It was a brave intelligent denunciation on 35 years of failed illegal drug policies. It was too good to be adopted by any party. David Cameron was a committee member and played a strong supportive role.

Chris has consistently promoted the idea that MPs’ salaries should be linked with changes in the level of the basic pension. His departure will be a grievous loss. Many of the freethinking escapees will be replaced by lobotomised Blairite clones. The prospect is nightmarish.

Why am I hanging on? Partly it’s a hope that I have something unique to offer, however modest that may be. Additionally I enjoy the friendship and trust of other MPs who remain loyally true to the best of Classic Labour. We may be a powerful force for good in the parliament of 2010.