Monday, October 27, 2008

Silence of the Lammys!

When David Lammy wonders why there are still "too few black students studying for a degree in England", does he blame a lack of scholarships to former grammar schools that have retained a degree of academic excellence!?!

"He won an Inner London Education Authority choral scholarship to The King's School, Peterborough."

Patient Satisfaction Scores

Would NHS patient feedback schemes be required if funding followed the patient and poor quality hospitals were allowed to fail!?!

Borrow today, borrow even more tomorrow?

How many bankrupts spend their way out of bankruptcy!?!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Sterling work?

Would sterling have suffered it's biggest devaluation in 41 years if Gordon Brown's economic policies had been more prudent!?!

PS Why has the BBC overlooked the devaluation? Is it inconsistent with it's view of a global financial crisis!?!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Post off!

How many HMRC offices don't have letterboxes!?! Is this a new HMRC security feature to prevent CDs getting lost in the post!?!

"HMRC warned taxpayers not to rely on this leeway, as some of its offices do not have letterboxes."

Monday, October 20, 2008

In a spin!

How can Gordon Brown have the gall to defend "record levels of Government borrowing"!?!

It suggests control when public finances are really spinning out of control!

PS If increased spending will bring the UK out of recession, is it better to reduce taxes so that UK consumers can decide how they spend the windfall rather than the Government!?!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Come on down!

How reliable are house price indices when sales volumes are the lowest in thirty years!?!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Never a lender be!

How many landlords offer their tenants loans to pay the rent!?!

One Hull of an idea!

Why spend £400,000 on a yacht for unemployed youngsters when a few cricket balls are equally effective in curbing bad behaviour!?!

Names

Lap dancing clubs 'no trouble' - Chief Inspector A. Studd

Monday, October 13, 2008

Poor Grammar Schools?

Is anyone surprised that Grammar schools "take relatively fewer bright, poor pupils than schools that do not select by ability" when they tend to be situated in broadly middle class areas!?!

The best way to overcome this would be to create new Grammar schools in the poorest parts of the country.

It would also have the unintended but beneficial consequence of arresting the current decline in social mobility!

Playing the system

Why is Government shocked that dentists are "playing the system" to maximise their profits!?! Officials should assume all people will seek to maximise returns for minimum effort!

How does it differ to MPs "playing the system" to maximise their allowances!?!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Gordon's Economic Mirage?

As Gordon Brown single-handedly saves us from the global financial crisis, does he ever pause to reflect on whether his ten years of "consecutive economic growth" were nothing but a sham!?!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Ice-cold in Councils

Why haven't all County Councils got surplus funds invested in Icelandic banks? Were they nervous about the risks assoicated with the high rates of interest on offer or not aware of the high rates available!?!

Why did Kent County Council need a 3.9% increase in council tax this year when they had £50m tucked away!?!

PS Where are the gunboats!?!

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Education - a cut below?

If educational funding per child has doubled since 1997 in real terms and there are an extra 200,000 adults in classrooms, why do Universities need to reduce entry criteria for students from challenging schools whose full potential has not been realised!?!

The Fat of the Land

Should obese people be charged for their treatment on the NHS to encourage them to lose weight!?!

Monday, October 06, 2008

Metropolitan Black Police Association

Does the racist Metropolitan Black Police Association know of any white Police Officers who should have been suspended for inappropriate behaviour!?!

"The MBPA said the current suspensions of Commander Ali Dizaei and Britain's most senior Muslim officer, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, were proof that ethnic minority officers were treated less favourably than white staff."

If anything, I would have expected ethnic minority officers to be given the benefit of the doubt wherever possible to avoid such a rumpus!

Vaccinations

How effective are they!?! Are they worth the risk!?!

Beware October stockmarkets (2)!

Only four days into October and "The UK's top share index chalked up its biggest ever one-day points fall as Chancellor Alistair Darling attempted to reassure financial markets."

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Ups and Downs of Politics?

What does Peter Mandelson have on Gordon Brown that means he is welcomed back into the Cabinet with open arms!?!

"The move triggered controversy among MPs not only because Mr Mandelson has twice been forced to resign, but because he and the prime minister are known to have been locked in a long-running feud."

Poisoned Pill Politics?

If a policeman can be "forced to resign" after he was seen wearing a BNP badge when off-duty, why can't a pharmacist be sacked for refusing to help a customer!?!

Friday, October 03, 2008

Income tax savings plans?

Is income tax merely a savings plan for some public sector workers?

Having worked "hard" for twenty five years, former Met. Police Chief Sir Ian Blair is eligible for a tax free pension lump sum payment of £600,000 and £115,000 index linked annual pension!

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Tax poverty

How many people are living in tax poverty (defined as those who spend more than 30% of their income on tax) if those living in fuel poverty are defined as those who spend more than 10% of their income on fuel!?!

No mor skool spellin

Ow wil chilldren lern propa spellin wenn they ave no tests!?!

There are no alternatives to learning how to spell, you even need to know how to spell to use a dictionary!

No such thing as a free lunch!

Why spend £40m offering free school meals to Scottish primary children when it only increases the take up of meals by just 21%!?!

53% of parents who were already paying for school dinners!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Miracle at St. Anna

If Italian veterans really want to protest about Spike Lee's latest film, Miracle at St Anna, there's a simple solution, firebomb his home!

Gay cheek!

Are gay people really "net contributors to public services through their taxes, because very few of them have children" when they are more likely to require expensive NHS treatment to fight HIV than the rest of the UK population!?!

Beware October stockmarkets!

Welcome to October, traditionally the most volatile stockmarket month of the year!