Tag Archives: Democracy

Silenced in Court

The Torygraphyesterday reminded us that the Conservatives may be in coalition with the Liberal Democrats but they are far from being liberal.  (Democracy isn’t often their strong point either.) Theresa May’s proposal for ‘Extremism Disruption Orders’ could see courts banning speech that’s judged to be a bit too free.  George Osborne has described this newContinueContinue reading “Silenced in Court”

Now It’s Our Turn

“The media may have succeeded in creating Essex Man, but they would be hard pressed to resuscitate Wessex Woman.” John Redwood MP, July 1992If that is still the view of the Right Honourable Member for Wokingham, then Wessex Woman may wish to have a word with him.  (Just visualising the power bracelets and maybe aContinueContinue reading “Now It’s Our Turn”

Nudge Nudge, Wonk Wonk

The Conservative regime that came to power in 1979 – continuing without interruption through 13 years of ‘Labour’ rule – draws its political philosophy from economic theory.  A theory as deeply flawed as anything emanating from Marxist sources but far more of a challenge to anyone seeking to confront it. In this theory, all individualsContinueContinue reading “Nudge Nudge, Wonk Wonk”

Whose Hospitals?

“I don’t know how much any of you realise that with the Lansley act we pretty much gave away control of the NHS… we don’t really have day-to-day control.” Jane Ellison, Public Health Minister (June 2014)In Scotland and Wales, car parking charges at hospitals have been largely abolished.  That’s one of the consequences of devolution.InContinueContinue reading “Whose Hospitals?”

Democracy’s Debt

Malmesbury – the oldest borough in England – is one of many Wessex market towns on the front line in the struggle against London overspill.  The Coalition, for whose parties all constituencies in Wiltshire mainly voted in 2010, is doing its best to make sure that Malmesbury loses. The National Planning Policy Framework – theContinueContinue reading “Democracy’s Debt”

A Voice in Europe?

Postal ballot papers for the Euros have started to arrive, allowing some of us to see what ‘choice’, if any, the ‘democratic’ process has thrown up this time. Although WR has contested European elections in the past, this was when the constituencies were smaller, single-member ones that did less damage to regional identity.  We haveContinueContinue reading “A Voice in Europe?”

Anybody Listening?

The following extract from the current issue of Population Matters Magazine is written by its editor, Norman Pasley: “There is great concern in Fareham about plans for a new town called Welbourne to be built on farmland north of the M27 motorway.  The debate is giving rise to many letters in the local paper, TheContinueContinue reading “Anybody Listening?”

Is Democracy Legal?

The European Free Alliance is well worth following onFacebook.  Especially this month, with the EU’s José Manuel Barroso demonstrating exactly why it’s time he retired. Barroso’s attempt to put the entrenched interests of Member States above the will of their peoples attracted a withering response from John Palmer in the (London) Guardian, one that concluded:ContinueContinue reading “Is Democracy Legal?”

Our Silent, Supine Cities

It’s been a good week’s viewing for fans of Wessex history.  On Monday the BBC ran a repeat of Michael Wood’s portrait of Alfred the Great, warming up for Neil Oliver on Tuesday, who wove a documentary about the king’s bones and their present whereabouts.  If it was supposed to be an exclusive, it didn’tContinueContinue reading “Our Silent, Supine Cities”