We recently reiterated that regionalisation doesn’t stop just because the ruling parties at Westminster have an ideological blindspot about it. Budgetary pressures are forcing all the emergency services to think about sharing work to spread the burden. The ambulance service is now fully regionalised, apart from the Isle of Wight. Fire brigade mergers are allContinue reading "The Value of Difference"
Toward a Truly Free Market
Guest contribution by Nick Xylas, WR Council member The following is a review of Toward a Truly Free Market: A Distributist Perspective on the Role of Government, Taxes, Health Care, Deficits, and More, by John C. Médaille, published in 2011 by ISI Books of Wilmington, Delaware, USA.When in my wife’s home town of Weirton, WestContinue reading "Toward a Truly Free Market"
Only the Desperate
Today in 1320 the Scottish nobility issued the Declaration of Arbroath, with its ringing line about fighting not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself. And the contemporary response is Frenchgate. Nicola Sturgeon says she didn’t say it. TheContinue reading "Only the Desperate"
Being Selective
Most parties select a candidate for a chosen seat. We do it the other way round. The current shortlist includes constituencies in Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Somerset. The website yournextmp.com think they’re one step ahead of us in listing Colin Bex under Eastleigh as a candidate there already. Not so fast. We’ll let you know soon enough…
Ready, Steady, Go!
Today, the 55th Parliament of the United Kingdom was dissolved, marking the official start of the campaign to elect its successor 38 days from now.Our President, Colin Bex, issued a final appeal yesterday for candidates to stand with him in defence of Wessex:“Now is the time for all good men and women to come toContinue reading "Ready, Steady, Go!"
Review of 2014
Every year when we submit our accounts to the Electoral Commission we are also required to provide a ‘Review of Political Activities’ covering the year just gone.The 2014 Review has recently been forwarded to the Commission and here is what it says:“Coming between elections – Eastleigh in 2013 and the General Election in 2015 –Continue reading "Review of 2014"
Cider House Rules II
We don’t often get to discuss the politics of cider. Politicians are usually smart enough to leave cider alone. But it did make the headlines this week, with news of changes in EU rules that could have a devastating effect on small producers. This, of course, is the opposite of what should be happening, evenContinue reading "Cider House Rules II"
Useful Idiots?
This week saw a rally at Westminster in support of housebuilding. There’s no denying the heartache if you’re not adequately housed, but many demanding a cull of our countryside are being dupedby those who stand to benefit financially from a yet-more-bricks-and-mortar solution. There’s no sound case for adding to our housing stock if we can’tContinue reading "Useful Idiots?"
Wanted: an NHS
“The power which causes the several portions of the plant to help each other, we call life… intensity of life is also intensity of helpfulness — completeness of depending of each part on all the rest. The ceasing of this help is what we call corruption.” John Ruskin, Modern Painters, Volume 5 (1860)Cornish academic BernardContinue reading "Wanted: an NHS"
Building: the Resistance
The resistance to building is building. There’s now a national alliance, Community Voice on Planning. Here’s what’s currently centre-screen on their home page: “Please don’t forget our DAY OF ACTION on 12 APRIL. The theme is ‘Listen to the People’s Voice on Planning’This is a sample of some of the Events that we know ofContinue reading "Building: the Resistance"
Wessex Regionalists 