The third depression is upon us?

Just spotted a really interesting economics/politics article (you can see it here) from the New York Times a few days ago ...

... clearly, I'm sympathetic to the arguments being put forward in this piece, but I was also fascinated to note the general quality of the comments board - you can check out some of the 805 comments here!

What a contrast with some of our own comments boards - I needn't mention which local papers I have in mind :-(

All eyes on Edinburgh?

Those Labour Leadership candidates just can't keep away from Edinburgh ;-)

Ed Miliband was up again this morning.

Actually, I don't really think their main point of attraction is the City of Edinburgh Council :-(

... they all know that the first big, electoral test of whichever one of them becomes Labour Leader will be the Scottish Parliament elections on Thursday 5th May 2011, and they've all been spending quite a bit of time wooing the MSPs down the road!

And they're right to do so - ensuring Iain Gray becomes First Minister will indeed be ever-more important to the next UK Labour Leader.

Blogging about blogging

Here's a blog post about blogging!

A few months ago I was interviewed by the 'Improvement Service' who have subsequently produced a guide to blogging, the full text of which can be found here - as you'll see, this distinguished publication gets a minor mention ;-)

... and since then I've had several further requests for interviews (one completed earlier this morning), from a variety of individuals and bodies, who are all undertaking research into blogging.

Personally, I think its good that a bit more serious attention is at last being paid to elected Members having an on-line presence - because, for me, those that don't (and the majority still don't!) are at a distinct disadvantage in terms of their potential interaction with those we owe our existence to ... the voters.

Heading in the wrong direction?

Since the General Election, I've been trying to slowly break my addiction to endlessly studying polling-data ...

... I was doing quite well until Saturday, when this post from Political Betting caught my eye!

I'm now back to my bad old habits of checking the figures every day - and they haven't got much better for the Libs since Saturday :-(

I really don't think they get it - this isn't comparable to going in with Labour during the two-terms of 1999-2007 of the previous Scottish Executive ... this is the Government of the United Kingdom that has now budgeted to completely remove the structural deficit by 2015!

That's almost twice the rate of deficit reduction that the previous UK-Government had planned, and almost twice the rate of deficit reduction that most other G20 nations have now agreed.

It's simply not credible to claim there's no alternative.

Equally - I just don't think its credible to claim that active Lib-Dem backing for this unnecessarily brutal programme isn't going to have a catastrophic effect on their vote at forthcoming polls ...

... it will - and I think they'll be in really deep trouble come next May's Scottish election; which will happen just as this October's Comprehensive Spending Review is starting to bite :-((

Allotment in sunshine

Managed a short visit down to the allotment today ... and, if I don't mind saying so myself, I think its looking in pretty good shape just now ;-)

Everything is fairly dry (given all this sunshine!) but had just enough time to give most stuff a really good water; before having to return to the grindstone.

Roll on Friday the 9th July; and our main holiday period!

Not a risk worth taking?

One can't but help notice, that behind all the hype the G20 has just agreed it would be really rather good if developed countries cut their deficits by half by 2013 ...

... seems like rather a sensible idea to me?

Abolishing the deficit completely by 2015, on the other hand, seems totally laden with very, very real dangers ... dangers that won't affect those making these decisions (nor people like me, it has to be said) but will certainly affect millions of others if the British economy tanks ...

... it is, quite simply for me, not a risk worth taking.

But taken it has been :-(

Gutted, totally gutted :-((

Well, they say a picture paints a thousand words - and just what else can you say after England's performance earlier this afternoon ...

... no wonder Gerrard is hanging his head :-((

ERS AGM in London today

Electoral Reform Society AGM in London today, so down in the metropolis for a day (by train, of course!) ... weather absolutely baking; and 'St. George Cross' flags all over the place ;-)

Come on England ...

Labour Group Away-Day

One of our periodic Labour Group Away-Days held this afternoon ...

... used the 'Engine Shed' as our venue once more - nothing to do with the food of course ;-)

Healthy discussion about political priorities for the next 23-months, with the Group in pretty good-heart after last month's Edinburgh results.

Full Council today

Full Council today - and, unsurprisingly, it was totally dominated by the tram report ...

... and despite it containing only four 'to note' recommendations (see page 14); it took up several hours of debate and generated acres of negative newsprint.

A tactical masterstroke :-(

My 1, 2, 3, ...

OK - I've listened very carefully to (whom I consider) are the three serious contenders for the Labour Leadership and have now finally decided on how I'll place my 1st, 2nd and 3rd preferences whilst casting my vote later this year:

1. David Miliband
2. Andy Burnham
3. Ed Miliband

Frankly, I really do believe any one of the three could do the top job - but someone extremely capable is going to be required to bring down the Conservative Government (and IT IS a Conservative Government!) before it gains any political-right to a second term ...

... on balance, I think David Miliband is the most likely to make sure that second term never happens: he's passionate, sincere and has the skills to work across the many differing levels of today's modern politics.

And, absolutely crucially for me, he's not 'unnecessarily' partisan or an old-fashioned tribalist.

But, whatever the final outcome in September - this whole leadership selection process will definitely have strengthened the Party for the challenges ahead in the run-up to the Scottish elections in May 2011, and beyond ...

Germany here we come;-)

Well, was there ever really any doubt that England would qualify ??

... and despite having been born in (West) Germany, I'm afraid my English bloodline will take precedence on Sunday when I've every expectation of Germany leaving the tournament ;-)

Andy Burnham visit

Following the Miliband brothers beating a path to Edinburgh's door; Andy Burnham has been in the Capital today ...

... believe he spent the morning in the Scottish Parliament; then a bit of campaigning with local colleagues up in Gilmerton (scene of the very soon-to-be by-election!); then an open session with Councillors.

Andy handled a wide variety of questions, at the last session, in a refreshingly frank fashion.

I've now, personally, been very impressed by all three of the leadership contenders that I've met and heard speak first-hand ...

... I'll now decide ASAP on my 1st, 2nd, 3rd preference order.

The rush to austerity

I know I'm biased on the politics of all this ...

... but I really fail to see how:

• an increase in VAT to 20% (netting some £13billion per year)
• and a reduction of some £11billion per year in welfare payments

- can do anything but damage the lives of the most vulnerable in British society?

And, astonishingly, I've just heard a Liberal-Democrat Minister say he is "genuinely comfortable with the approach we've taken" :-(

In all due respect, over the coming months, when the reality of these decisions hits home, I am fairly certain that many, many, many people who voted Lib-Dem last month will feel far from 'genuinely comfortable'.

Not a time to be poor, old, disabled, a working parent, or in socially-rented housing ...

... no wonder Clegg and Cable looked like the proverbial 'sick parrots' as George Osborne outlined his rush to austerity :-(

They know full well that if the economy does double-dip (which looks highly likely to me), then there's no Plan B to all of this :-((

Craiglockhart Surgery

Last Monday-night surgery, for a few weeks, held this evening ... next Monday sees the P7 leaving-Party taking over the whole school and thereafter, the school Summer holidays will be in full swing ...

... couple more Tuesday-nights at St.Cuthbert's (prior to those school holidays); and my Wednesday-night (6pm) in the Local Library will continue right over the Summer --- except for the couple of weeks when I'll be on holiday myself!

All back to normal in late August.

Gullane beach today

Family visit to Gullane Beach this morning ... five kids in tow this time (four of them not mine!) and the weather was just perfect ;-)

... even better; managed to fit in a swift visit to the Old Clubhouse - and just in time to see New Zealand score a goal against the World Champions!

Foxgloves and fire ...

Managed to spend a bit of time down at the allotment today - all the veg. still going great ...

... and, as you can see, some really stunning foxgloves have completely taken over one of the main flower-beds. Looks good to me ;-)

Had four kids in tow (three of them not mine, I hasten to add!) and they all had great fun burning up some surplus wood in a small fire :-))

Thankfully the fire didn't spread to the neighbouring, wooden compost enclosures!

Excellent time had by all - nearly made me forget all about last night :-((

Dear oh dear :-(

There's really not much else to say?

I just happen to be in Bristol on Sunday the 11th July and was looking forward to watching, whilst on English soil, the man on the left pick up the 2010 World Cup :-((

His P45 might be the only thing he'll be picking up if England don't get their act together for Wednesday?