Blairism error

Inciting hatred
There is a refreshing breeze of change in British foreign policy. Today also saw a  welcome flurry of anxiety and activity urging MPs help Burma.

A triumph for blogging, e-mails and videos have relayed the raw courage of the monks and nuns to our homes. Eastern Europe’s closed society was opened by the penetration of satellite television. With the exception of North Korea, all other countries are now visible and their excesses are exposed.

The new Foreign Secretary delivered his speech awkwardly but he crucially denied the major Blair myth on Iraq. Our intervention has antagonised Muslim opinion world wide. Blair has passionately denied this.

In March 2003 I wrote to Tony Blair.

“Pre-emptive attack of the kind we have on Iraq will only deepen the sense of grievance among Muslims that the Western/Christian/Jewish world is out to oppress them. This will provide a propaganda victory to Osama Bin Laden and can only increase his support and the likelihood of more acts of terrorism.”

Miliband came close to admitting as much.  We can look forward to the first intelligent policies from a Foreign Secretary that we have had since Robin Cook did the job.

We are hampered on our ability to intervene by our support of Bush’s war in Iraq. Much of our worlds moral authority has been eroded. Like all other MPs, I urge the Government to use our diplomatic pressure on China and Burma.

Neil right

The Cardiff ASW pensioners are not helping their case by attacking politicians. Neil Kinnock was so angered by what one one them said about that he turned up courageously to confront him at today's beach demo.  ‘Bugger off’ was the best that one of then came to presenting a well argued case.

Another protester outside parliament a few weeks ago had a sign saying ‘Gordon Brown stole my pension.’  Both claims are outrageously untrue.

The ASW and other pensions collapsed because their firms and their trustees let them down. We are all sympathetic. Blame has been put on the Government for encouraging faith in occupational pensions in the late nineties. They did. But so did everyone else. Firm’s pension were a far better bet than the alternative dodgy personal pensions.

Since then Government has put £8billion of taxpayers’ aside that will pay between 65% and 80% of the lost pensions. Not good enough,  but it’s better than the original prospect. Blaming the Government is nonsense. The great majority of the pensioners had joined their fund decades before this Government advice was published.

Along with two other Welsh MPs, I serve on the select Committee that favourably adjudicated on the Ombudsman’s report. Teaming up with opportunistic Tories and vastly overstating their case will  not help their case now.

Supercare cost
The Lords Science Committee was persuasive today when it suggested that our neurotic avoidance of nuts at an early age could be the source of Britain’s record allergy.

Yes, there may be other new threats in modern life. But avoiding contact with life’s hazards probably does leaves our bodies more vulnerable to attack later in life. There seems no other explanation for the difference between the rates here that are higher than other countries.

Sadly the story flagged towards the end of the day, when it deteriorated into another dreary plea for more medicalisation as the only cure. Common sense has worked better for our past almost allergy-free history.

Comments

[Paul Flynn]

Indeed and happy to stick by it, Johnny. Neil did not have to go and confront the protesters on the sands - egged on, as they were by Tory spokesmen. urging them to have a go at him. He could have ignored them.

The Cardiff MPs and others have performed wonders in getting the money out of taxpayers. The present deal is fragile. Are all future failed pensions funds to be repaid by taxpayers with free insurance? It cannot happen without the economy collapsing. There are only 125,000 in the present schemes. if a big company failed -like BA- with half a million members, the pay out scheme would be finished. We do not yet have a national insurance scheme that covers both the basis and occupational pensions. £8 billion for 125,000, how musch for 35 million workers. It's all part of the Utopian dream of universal compensation for all life's losses.

Providing full compensation invites other schemes to go broke.

[johnny foreigner]

Paul says....

"Another protester outside parliament a few weeks ago had a sign saying ‘Gordon Brown stole my pension.’ Both claims are outrageously untrue."

johnny says....

Curiously, the image, alongside this statement, has an outrageous truth that just can't be denied:

Northern Rock bailed out -
Pensioners still waiting

Whilst I note your efforts on the select committee, nevertheless, it still remains an outrageous truth that 65% to 80% of the pensions that were paid for, is not really good enough, and is no more than an attempt to deny these ASW pensioners their rightful dues.

I further note that you describe Kinnock as 'courageous' for confronting the pensioners.

Is this the same 'courage' that enabled and ennobled him after his years of criticism of the House of Lords?

Just how many pensions does Kinnock have?

Your polemic pal.

johnny.