Maybe Kier Starmer Isn't As Bad As I Thought...

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of not listening to the Labour party’s adviser on race relations.

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, who is the mother of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence, is reported to have told a private meeting of Labour’s ethnic minority MPs and peers on Tuesday: “I wish Keir listened to me.”

It's to his credit that he doesn't, Frankly, we've all heard rather too much from you. And we've certainly spent far too much taxpayer money on you, yet I see we are about to waste even more. 

It is alleged Baroness Lawrence complained of “gatekeepers” around the Labour leader who had prevented her work,The Times reported, and said she no longer knew how to respond to complaints about the party from black and minority ethnic voters.

The way she always responds, I assume - excuse them anything if they are black. 

Her remarks — at a behind-closed-doors meeting of the black, Asian and minority ethnic section of the parliamentary Labour Party — come amidmounting disquiet about the treatment of Black and Asian Labour MPs and voters including long-standing investigation into Diane Abbott, Britain’s first black female MP.

She's not being investigated for the colour of her skin, but for the content of her character. A wise man once had something pithy to say about that. 

I Don't Want To Hear The Met Police Whining About Lack Of Funding Anymore...

...not when they are wasting it like this:

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recommended that the former Love Island presenter receive a caution after an incident with her boyfriend in December 2019, but this was overturned after an appeal from the Met Police and she was instead charged with assault by beating.

Flack was found dead in February 2020 aged 40 and a coroner later ruled she killed herself after learning prosecutors were going to proceed with an assault charge.

And why shouldn't they? Why should her status as a (minor) celebrity spare her the same charge that would be applied to some drunken Romford slapper reeling out of a nightclub having assaulted someone in the ladies?  

The Met has now said it is making “further enquiries” into potential new witness evidence relating to the actions of officers in appealing against the initial CPS decision not to charge Flack.

Incredibly, it appears the higher ups in the Met Police have got wind that some officers in their farce might just have carried out their job 'without fear or favour' and they are determined to nip that sort of thing in the bud in case it catches on!  

The TV star’s mother, Christine Flack, told the Mirror: “We won’t stop until we get the truth. Something very unusual happened to Carrie at the police station that night, but no one kept a proper record explaining why.”

“As a family, we have been left with important unanswered questions.”

Your daughter decided the police would never dare arrest her and charge her for assault on her boyfriend. Thankfully, she was wrong. QED. 

Even The Passengers Know The Truth

The 7A bus runs four times a day, six days a week. Its 12.5 mile (20 km) route connects four settlements in South Cambridgeshire. But it only runs thanks to a tax payer subsidy of £124 per passenger.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to give them all accounts with Uber? 

Jean Wakefield is three months shy of her 80th birthday. She is also - probably - the 7A's most regular passenger. Most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays she catches it to shuttle between her home near the Imperial War Museum at Duxford airfield and a friend's house in the village of Sawston. She is one of three passengers we meet on the 7A, as it completes two loops through countryside that straddles the M11. "There were more people who used to use it, but several of them have died," Mrs Wakefield, who trained as a nurse, says.

Yes. Yes, it would appear that it would be! 

She agrees it gives her some independence and says without it she would have to walk, take a taxi or ask a friend for a lift.

Which might be the only options available in future: 

Brian Clifford, A2B's owner and managing director, says he expects passenger numbers to be lower this year. Mr Clifford says "as much as you try and alter it and play with it" the 7A "just never seems to work". He adds: "It doesn't run from a high population area to a high population area. It doesn't run particularly where shoppers or commuters want to go." But it provides "links to villages and settlements that have nothing else".

Given them all Uber accounts and be done with it! 

Who Cares, It's Just Taxpayer Money Pt 4783248

The director of public prosecutions is appealing to the supreme court in an ongoing and expensive battle to overturn the acquittal of two protesters found to have acted reasonably in calling Iain Duncan Smith “Tory scum”.

The unusual move will add to the cost to the public purse of a case that Lord Justice Popplewell, who heard the case at the high court, has said has already taken up “significant and substantial legal resources”.

Tim Worstall thinks this is the system working as it should to establish legal precedent. I think it's a shocking waste of our money, and a poll of people in the street would be quicker and cheaper. What say you, Reader? 

Where Are They Going To Find The Time..?

Keir Starmer has said he is “up for the fight” of defending the “nanny state” as he announced plans to improve child health under a Labour government, including supervised toothbrushing in schools.

What are they going to drop from the national curriculum to shoehorn this in then? I bet it isn't going to be any of the diversity bollocks or the eco-brainwashing...

The Labour leader said that children were “probably the biggest casualty” of the Tories’ sticking-plaster approach to politics over the past 14 years, adding that, if the government were a parent, they could be charged with neglect.

Why not charge the actual parents with neglect, then?

Labour’s action plan includes a 9pm watershed for junk-food ads, banning vape adverts aimed at children, a free breakfast club in every primary school, better access to mental-health support, cutting waiting times for hospital care for children, and guaranteeing more dental appointments.

Might as well promise a pony for every child as well... 

Let's Start Cutting The Child Benefit Payments Then...

A baby born in the midst of the Covid pandemic is now three years old. Just think of those crucial first years of a child’s life: meeting family, forming attachments, learning to walk and to talk, making your first friends. During successive lockdowns, many of these children missed these crucial experiences. It’s no wonder that headteachers have spoken of children arriving at school who are still wearing nappies, whose communication abilities are limited, or who are still unable to use a knife and fork.

...after all, if they aren't parenting, why should they be paid for it?

Prevention is better than cure, which is why we need to intervene early to prevent educational gaps from developing before they can grow.

Yes, this is another Labour push to claim that they, and they alone, have the answer to this.  

Transformation is an overused word in public policy. But it is not hyperbole to use it here. It will take transformational change, along with a relentless focus on driving high and rising standards for every child, to achieve Labour’s ambition for half a million more children to meet the early learning goals by 2030.

While still paying the useless 'parents' their taxpayer cash. So they'll keep voting for you, eh? 

When Will The SFO Start To Take Notice?

GP surgeries in Sussex could be receiving payments for almost 150,000 "ghost" patients, new figures suggest.

No, I know what you're thinking, this is not, however, patients that GP incompetence has killed off! 

This is when more people are registered with GP practices in an area than the estimated population.

So those dragons guarding the front desks at GP practices aren't even doing the basic job of keeping proper records, are they?

The Royal College of GPs said practices "try hard to keep their patient lists" up to date and are not deliberately profiting by keeping more patients on their lists than are registered there. Some of the disparity could be down to changes in the local population, such as people moving away.

Which is a problem with all services, of course. But we pay GPs by the number of patients on their books.  

The Taxpayers’ Alliance said the public is unfairly subsidising GP practices for patients who may not exist. It called for lists to be amended accordingly if the unknown users cannot be found.

And if they aren't, given we are talking about our money, perhaps stronger action is required? 

Oh, Gosh, It's Another Hard-To-Fathom Puzzle...

...surely the answer can't just be 'because they aren't very bright' again, can it?

With the announcement this week of her death at 61, the mystery remains of just how she enthralled prime ministers and princes, celebrities and the gullible rich who were all seduced by her crazily flamboyant outfits and equally fantastical claims about her charity.

David Cameron was said to have been inspired for his famous 'hug a hoodie' declaration by her work and she became a symbol of his Big Society concept. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were both fans. Cherie Blair and Samantha Cameron, who named her as her Inspirational Woman of the Year, lent their support from Downing Street. The then Prince Charles was another fan.

Oh, I guess it can. 

Miles Goslett, the journalist who first raised concerns about Kids Company in print in 2014, told how two former staff members said drugs and designer clothes were often purchased with these cash handouts. 'The people who were being given the money were the very opposite of the picture most charitable people would form in their mind if they heard the words 'vulnerable children',' he said.

The picture that forms in people mind's when they hear that phrase these days? Well, actually... 

You Mean 'By The Ratepayers', Don't You, Luke?

Luke Charters, the Labour Party parliamentary candidate for York Outer, which includes Haxby, said: “‘I had numerous conversations with many bereaved families and from October 16 have called for a public apology and for the cost of repairing the toppled gravestones to be met in full by the council.”

Because we all know that's who will be getting the bill in reality, don't we? 

Just like they got the bill for them to be toppled in the first place...

It's Not Going To Be A Labrador, Is It?

The attacked dog suffered minor injuries and both Bozo and a second dog belonging to Walters were seized by police.

No details of Walter’s second dog have been released by South Yorkshire Police .

Those things take a lot of feeding. Just how is a 'homeless man' earning enough by begging to feed them? 

Following the hearing , the judge deemed it safe to return Bozo to Walters under the condition that he isn’t walked off his lead or by anyone under the age of 16 and must wear a muzzle to prevent further biting of a person or dog.

Walters was also fined £150 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £60 surcharge.

I guess, like the tins of Pedigree Chum, the taxpayer's footing the bill for that too? 

H/T: The Jannie via email

How Many More Of These Are There..?

A man who used a letter from the UK Border Agency to create a false identity and claim £349,000 in benefits has been jailed for fraud. The Crown Prosecution Service said Hossein Ali Najafi received a letter to Hussein Ali Nagrafi in 2010.

No checks on accuracy before they pay these huge sums out, then? Clearly not. It's only taxpayer's money, after all....

Prosecutors said his claims for employment support allowance, disability living allowance, personal independence payment and housing and council tax benefits included stating that he had extensive physical disabilities, "which surveillance disproved".

I wonder what prompted the surveillance? And why there's no mention of asset recovery?

He was also found to have 26 bank accounts in his two identities.

/facepalm 

H/T: Ian J via email

If It’s So ‘Vital’, What Have You Done With It?

On Monday, the EU commissioner Olivér Várhelyi unexpectedly declared – in a social media post – a freeze on EU development assistance to the Palestinians worth €690m. The scale of terror against Israel was “a turning point”, Várhelyi wrote. Providing around €300m annually, the EU is the occupied territories’ largest international source of aid.

Of course it is...I mean, why shouldn't Hungarians and Poles be taxed to pay for Muslims in another country? It makes sense, right? 

The Hungarian commissioner’s solo, and seemingly unauthorised, move was later reversed after a backlash from several governments, along with objections from the EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, and the European Council president Charles Michel. The EU will now review its aid, not formally suspend it.

As expected from this wretched institution, which every days proves how right we were to come out of it... 

That suspending aid was even considered, and remains a possibility, is mind-boggling. If the goal is to punish Hamas, stopping European aid makes no sense. The EU and its member states do not fund Hamas. Freezing assistance would instead punish the EU-backed Palestinian Authority (PA), which is Hamas’s chief rival.

Sure, sure...so, what has the PA done with all this largesse? 

As Israel now proceeds with an all-out military retaliation against the Gaza Strip, resulting in yet more civilian bloodshed and destruction, Palestinians urgently need more aid, not less. The EU’s money funds teachers, doctors and other public servants employed by the PA in the West Bank.

Which it why it rivals Israel for the infrastructure and facilities it provides for its citizenry, right? Oh, wait, my mistake. Of course not.  

Gaza has been driven into a state of high dependency on international support – more than 80% of its population rely on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs – mainly as a consequence of an ongoing 16-year blockade and a series of devastating Israeli military offensives against Hamas in the densely populated enclave.

Yes, yes, it's all the fault of you know who. They have prevented you from building infrastructure to reduce that dependency. 

Well, Stop Paying For Them!

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has axed its Christmas lights display...

Wait a minute, wasn't that the one featured just a few days ago in this very blog? 

Yes, Reader. Yes, it was.

...despite spending £32,000 on beach art which was later removed.

*sighs* 

Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, said the decision to scrap Christmas lights was 'short-sighted and damaging' and called the council's decision making 'bizarre'.

He said: 'Much as we all enjoy public art, I suspect, given the choice, local taxpayers would prefer to see the Christmas lights continue rather than spend most of its budget on a seafront art exhibit. It is an illustration of the bizarre financial decision making in BCP Council.

'This approach is extremely short-sighted and will damage our local economy in the long term - subsequently placing greater financial strain on the council.'

Perhaps it's time for a ratepayer strike? 

The New Hierarchy Of Complaints...

Council lashes out £32k on a pointless 'art installation' on the beach, and taxpayers aren't happy:

Taxpayers had previously criticised the public-funded art installation as being a waste of money that could be better spent of things like fixing potholes.

Abalina Lane said: 'Who paid for this and where was the public consultation? Even if this is from another pot of money surely it could be put to better use.People are homeless and hungry for god's sake.'

Carole Wakeman said: 'What a waste of money when everyone else is cutting back Bournemouth splashes out on non essentials.'

Chris Martin added: 'Another waste of our Council tax for this over priced rubbish. Is not even gonna last for very long. 'Meanwhile many shops having to close due to council over pried rents!'

But nothing happens, until...

The move to dismantle the 15 metre-high mirrored archway follows a complaint by Vanessa Abbess, Joe's mother, who described it as 'disrespectful'. She said in a statement: 'As a family, we were shocked and astounded to see news reports of the disrespectful 'Arts by the Sea' installation at the Bournemouth beach yesterday.'The 'Portal of Hope' was badly located and thoughtless, as it frames the area of sea where our son Joe and Sunnah Khan got into difficulties.

'In addition, it is sited on the area of beach where emergency services cared for all casualties on May 31 and the tragic circumstances unfolded. This is not a suitable area to celebrate the sea or to place a tourist attraction.

'We emailed BCP Council, as owners of the beach, to express our distress and upset yesterday evening. 'We fully appreciate that this project may have been planned for many months, but due to the tragic circumstances and ongoing inquest, we feel this (is) entirely unsuitable and plans could have been easily adjusted in the last 17 weeks.

'Last night, Graham Farrant (council chief executive) confirmed the installation would be immediately shut down/relocated.

'We are grateful that BCP Council have acted so quickly...'

I wonder if everyone else is grateful that their legitimate concerns are discounted in favour of council virtuesignalling? 

Please Don't Give Them Ideas...

...Rishi's government is just daft enough to try, Matt!

Remember, Folks, The NHS Is Desperately Short Of Funds...

Swansea Bay University Health Board say their new Trans and Gender Diverse service will support transgender and gender diverse people with voice and communication skills.

A dedicated speech and language therapist (SLT) will teach them about voice care and explore different aspects of communication associated with gender.

Funny, I wonder how this sort of service is somehow immune from economic factors?  

Rebekah Gabbitas, the service’s speech and language therapist, said: “SLT services have always offered services to transgender and gender diverse people.

“Those referrals were previously few and far between but since the Welsh Gender Service was set up we have been receiving lots more.”

Well, of course you have, since the madness is spreading daily. 

“Gender affirming services support people who feel there is a physical incongruence between their physical appearance and their gender, but that can be in their speech and their voice too.

“It can be very distressing for somebody – even hearing their voice, because it doesn’t match who they are or their sense of self.”

Well, of course it doesn't. It never can, can it? No matter how much those in authority collude to try to make everyone else believe they are the ones in the wrong for not going along with the insanity... 

“It can also mean that other people will misread their gender causing embarrassment and distress. Unfortunately, gender diverse people regularly experience transphobia, which can manifest as harassment and violent attacks.

“You can see how that has very important impacts on their participation in society as it can result in a lack of confidence to speak.”

But they aren't 'misreading their gender', are they, Rebekah? They are correctly reading their sex, which is the real issue.  

H/T: Binky via Twitter

You Must Think We're The Mugs...

A fraudster who conned the taxpayer out of £195,000 in Covid loans by making fake applications purportedly on behalf of legitimate businesses including High Street bakers Greggs has walked free from court with a suspended jail term.

What..?! How? 

Rais Kayani, 31...

*sighs* 

...'dishonestly benefited' from the scheme, pocketing the cash and transferring it to accounts overseas, Southwark Crown Court was told. On Monday, the keen amateur cricketer pleaded guilty to a single count of entering into a money laundering arrangement and received a 16-month term, suspended for 18 months.

I would say 'you couldn't make it up', but I'm getting sick of saying that. 

And this is yet another consequence of the Tory Government's failure to get a grip on the covid response.. They are coming in thick and fast now, and they show no signs of stopping. 

Speaking after the case, Ben Reid, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'At a time of national emergency during the COVID-19 crisis, vast Government funds were released to support struggling businesses across the country.'

With little to no oversight and despite the warnings. A failure to be laid directly at the door of then-Chancellor Sunak. 

'We have already recovered £155,000 of taxpayer's money and will now seek a confiscation order for the remaining funds.'

What do you want, a cookie? It should never have been paid out in the first place... 

Speaking outside the Kayani family's £280,000 semi-detached home in Luton yesterday, Kayani's brother Anis, 34, said: 'He was a mug and he didn't make a penny out of it.'

Sure, sure, Anis, whatever you say... 

He implied that his brother was in a vulnerable state when he committed the offence saying it happened soon after their mother had died.

*yawns* 

No, 'We' Didn't, Unnamed Neighbour...

"We left two people in a very vulnerable situation and it could've worked out a lot worse than it did."

It was the people taking taxpayer's money to do a job that caused this. We're just the mugs left with the bill regardless.

The man had been due to be housed in a property with other asylum seekers and arrived in the North East on the evening of 20 June.

He spoke very little English and it remans unclear which country he had come from or how long he had been in the UK.

He spoke enough English to claim asylum, though, you'll note...

Mears Group said it was investigating what had happened and had met the asylum seeker on site as soon as staff knew he had arrived.

...

The company's annual report shows its 22% increase in revenue in 2021 was "largely driven" by its work finding hotel accommodation for asylum seekers.

It's money for old rope, isn't it? 

H/T: CJ Nerd via email

Funny Way To Show Gratitude...

Court proceedings against a woman refugee accused of attempting to murder a social worker have been delayed, after she claimed the alleged victim attacked her.

Appearing for a committal hearing at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court today was Fiyori Kesete, now established to be aged 24. She had claimed to be child refugee, however her real age has since been established.

And only when it's far too late, and she's buried herself like a tick into the system, you'll note. 

At a previous hearing last November, a detective constable explained Kesete is a refugee who travelled to Northern Ireland by herself in 2021 from Eritrea in East Africa.

Without any parental or responsible adult input, she was assigned support by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust 14+ Team, residing in specialist accommodation in Dungannon.

'Support' actually meaning 'life of comparative luxury' compared to her life in Eritrea... 

Prior to the incident she was reported missing seven times including the days running-up to her arrest. On that occasion, she was located in Belfast by police who alerted her social worker and took her to her accommodation, which had been cleaned and prepared for her return after being missing for several days.

The court heard she entered the property with her social worker who went into the kitchen and began unpacking groceries telling her, “I’ve bought you all your favourite things.”

And was she grateful, unable to believe her good fortune? Reader, we already know, don't we? 

It is alleged Kesete without warning, “Immediately struck the social worker to the back of her head with a knife.” The victim screamed and was struck again to the head, then once to the neck and twice to the arm.

I guess you can take the woman out of Africa, but... 

The social worker was rushed in an ambulance to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

At that stage the court was told Kesete’s identity remained unconfirmed and there are five different dates of birth and six variations of her age registered with the Home Office.

And did that not trigger some sort of warning on the computer systems at the Home Office? And if not, why not? 

Covid, The Gift That Keeps Giving...

Is it 'gold plated'..?

Wait, what?

More than £8,000 has been spent by the borough council on a closed water feature in Basingstoke that has not been in use for more than three years, the Gazette can reveal.

Why hasn't it been in use? Did it have a fault?

The fountains near Eastrop Park were closed in 2020 when the pandemic hit, because of restrictions.

/facepalm 

In response to a Freedom of Information request to the borough council sent by the Gazette, it revealed that last year it spent £8,110 on the fountains, including installation of a sign asking people to keep out of the water installed last year.

Asking people to keep out of water that isn't actually there? 

In 2021, while preparing the fountains for reopening, the council said it found high levels of condensation in the plant room which powers the fountains which had led to a number of parts corroding. Specialist parts were ordered, but the council said these were “subject to long lead times”.

*sighs* 

In February 2022 the fountains were inspected again, and some preliminary work was done to prepare them to be switched back on. This cost the council £6,620 plus £1,432 paid to a supplier for returning parts ordered in 2021. However, the council said this work revealed that further, significant damage had been caused to the plant room because of the length of time the fountains had been switched off.

Covid - or rather, the hysterical overreaction to it - is going to be responsible for so many things, isn't it? 

H/T: Ian J via email