tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4771431014217116062024-02-07T14:20:54.547+00:00Dear Dave and Nick...Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-84387122642322084292015-04-25T17:01:00.001+01:002015-04-25T17:01:51.574+01:00Letter 153: Dear Dave and Nick, here's an invitation to a Private View<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFH93CJE0o4UEJbJ2q83IxN4EQEXagyJQ9uG5GFbGOgQt1C_ku5CaPZNa31BWoMq5JZc5zCk0cCDI6HiW2TwXqp9h8avt_u5m3MFaBPitRLDSFV7dSVBt-DXVuY6SFApdoFi3nHrzDu4w/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFH93CJE0o4UEJbJ2q83IxN4EQEXagyJQ9uG5GFbGOgQt1C_ku5CaPZNa31BWoMq5JZc5zCk0cCDI6HiW2TwXqp9h8avt_u5m3MFaBPitRLDSFV7dSVBt-DXVuY6SFApdoFi3nHrzDu4w/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>'Dear Dave and Nick,</i></span><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The general election is fast approaching and I for one am mighty pleased it's just around the corner. Since 2010 I've written over 150 letters to you about the social impact of your government's policies, because too often it's seemed as if you've been driven by ideology and Party interest rather than the needs of society and ordinary voters. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> As</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> it’s so easy for people to forget what has happened between one election day and the next,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I have copied every letter I've sent to you, in order that they can be exhibited before polling day. I've made a website featuring them, which has been viewed over 83,000 times, but now I think it's time to actually display them all in one place; a</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> timeline of letters may help jog all our memories now that you, dear politicians, are offering sweeteners and making unrealistic promises.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The exhibition will run for a week, from Saturday 2nd - Friday 8th May 2015 (11am - 6pm) in our gallery at Blank Studios, 108 North St and I'd like to invite you to attend a Private View on Sunday 3rd May, between 3pm and 6pm. I realise you're probably quite busy, but I do hope you'll be able to come and join us. I look forward to hearing from you.</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>With very best wishes, etc'</i></span></span><br />
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<br />Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-44453735952849193212015-04-24T12:59:00.000+01:002015-04-24T12:59:00.744+01:00Letter 152: Dave is stupid to keep us in the dark on £30 billion spending cuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVYqnS1UWMjndV_YAozIflF7OIc-WqTw_9OyPHwmWUpg8adoc9f0G5LgEWIQM35Q-AcVnxmu3srP2qBFgVrIsLC_Jv_V93dkEi4emrHrg1VJeGrSJlucqBE9KSMwyvD5KzoTnNCbeG54/s1600/IMG_0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVYqnS1UWMjndV_YAozIflF7OIc-WqTw_9OyPHwmWUpg8adoc9f0G5LgEWIQM35Q-AcVnxmu3srP2qBFgVrIsLC_Jv_V93dkEi4emrHrg1VJeGrSJlucqBE9KSMwyvD5KzoTnNCbeG54/s1600/IMG_0591.jpg" height="640" width="436" /></a></div>
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i>Do you think voters are stupid?<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/03/guardian-view-on-english-votes-for-english-laws-playing-with-fire"><span style="color: blue;">13 days away from the general election and are you wasting time on English votes for English laws? </span></a></span>Do you not understand that people are fed up that so close to polling day and you are still keeping us in the dark on the real issues? <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32424739"><span style="color: blue;">The IFS has clearly said that future Tory plans are based on "substantial and almost entirely unspecified spending cuts and tax increases" and could involve "further real cuts to unprotected departments of around £30 billion". </span></a>Let's not forget too, that last month, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/16/whitehall-oblivious-to-effects-of-cuts-says-spending-watchdog-chief"><span style="color: blue;">Sir Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office accused you</span></a> </span>of having no idea of the impact of the cuts in your FIRST term. </i><br />
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<i>Why would anyone vote for you in May 2015 if you're not even honest enough to admit where you've decided to impose harsher spending cuts? </i><br />
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<i>Yours etc'</i><br />
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<br />Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-10028391832562614762015-04-22T14:53:00.000+01:002015-04-24T10:44:45.925+01:00Letter 151: Manifestos, money trees and Right to Buy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OKlYS9f3Rekgh3xIHqceYaIlcgM9JSlvaIh_6qxgrWevvgCsEE99LSIhH8Cg36ZMz495MOU-TQ5kf78ddBzTJd9_mPbZuZYPumzt11XZ_5as9UoO4uO-m_9Mga2Cb00FkGvwvyxqt2g/s1600/IMG_0588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OKlYS9f3Rekgh3xIHqceYaIlcgM9JSlvaIh_6qxgrWevvgCsEE99LSIhH8Cg36ZMz495MOU-TQ5kf78ddBzTJd9_mPbZuZYPumzt11XZ_5as9UoO4uO-m_9Mga2Cb00FkGvwvyxqt2g/s1600/IMG_0588.jpg" height="640" width="454" /></a></div>
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i>Manifesto week, eugh! Am I glad to see the back of it. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32388316"><span style="color: blue;">Never have so many trees been sacrificed for so little return</span></a>. <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.channel4.com/news/tories-under-fire-over-unfunded-nhs-promise"><span style="color: blue;">Don't you just hate it when politicians make unfunded promises?</span></a> </span></i><br />
<i> I've delayed getting in touch as I was holding out for clear idea of<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32295970"> <span style="color: blue;">where all the money is coming from for your lovely election promises</span></a> (evidently, the track record just isn't enough to reassure most of us or you'd be polling higher). Worryingly, <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-chancellor-george-osborne-ducks-questions-as-to-where-8bn-nhs-fund-will-come-from-if-tories-are-reelected-10170622.html"><span style="color: blue;">George failed to enlighten us 15 times</span></a> chatting to Andrew Marr; you chose to absent yourself from the election debate on tv on Thursday and then gave nothing away <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/19041503.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">yourself in that animated and tetchy interview, again on the Marr Show</span></a>. So, money tree or projected growth it is. And like my drawing, both appear too sketchy to be taken seriously.</i><br />
<i>By the way while we are on election promises, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/12/tory-inheritance-tax-plan-human-instinct-george-osborne"><span style="color: blue;">why complain that people think you're the Party of the rich if you announce plans that benefit high earners disproportionately?</span></a> </span>Raising the inheritance tax threshold on family homes to £1,000,000 may please your core voters but won't do anything for your reputation with the rest of us. Nor will extending Right to Buy. Announcing a plan to sell off much needed housing stock at huge discount in the run up to an election looks like the work of a spiv, especially when<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/2015/04/focus-home-ownership-blinds-us-real-issues-uk-housing?utm_content=buffer7969f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer"><span style="color: blue;">home ownership has nothing to do with sorting out the UK's chronic housing crisis in the first place</span> </a>. According to the IFS, extending Right to Buy will actually contribute to higher rents, homelessness and a higher Housing Benefit bill. Almost as embarrassing to read as the <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-camerons-right-to-buy-scheme-branded-5556472#ICID=sharebar_twitter"><span style="color: blue;">letter recently leaked (and written in 2013) by your Housing Minister Kris Hopkins, to Tessa Munt</span></a>. In it he admitted that, "Any increase to the discount available under the (right to buy) would only be possible through upfront central government subsidy, potentially incurring a higher liability for the public purse". You'd have been told that was a risk before including the policy in your manifesto, surely?</i><br />
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<i>Yours etc'</i><br />
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<br />Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-64092684557590369432015-04-10T20:14:00.001+01:002015-04-10T20:14:29.584+01:00Letter 150: Concerned about the NHS? Doctors advise using your vote to make it better.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3oPEUzwb18dotRf8rw0sepTkLvzedGf41ha4CfumYWVA5eGup_U5ZQHlmCq_w0XgAlHidPAcE63GjEjN7zLvowxjKa_xnO3Ry3yYtxfFg-kJioScnfgWwHNVUriMHwwKIiq14fffpZc/s1600/IMG_0581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3oPEUzwb18dotRf8rw0sepTkLvzedGf41ha4CfumYWVA5eGup_U5ZQHlmCq_w0XgAlHidPAcE63GjEjN7zLvowxjKa_xnO3Ry3yYtxfFg-kJioScnfgWwHNVUriMHwwKIiq14fffpZc/s1600/IMG_0581.jpg" height="640" width="454" /></a></div>
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i></div>
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<i>These days the NHS is never far from the news and sadly, for all<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-england-misses-waiting-times-target-for-routine-operations-for-second-time-in-a-year-10165863.html"> <span style="color: blue;">the wrong reasons.</span></a> Back in January this year, Rob Galloway wrote about his concerns and now this week, over 140 leading health professionals contact The Guardian to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/07/senior-doctors-assess-governments-record-on-nhs-letter-in-full"><span style="color: blue;">outline with damning clarity how your Coalition government has failed to keep it's NHS pledges, underfunding the service, leaving it more fragmented and less able to perform it's role than at any time in NHS history</span></a>.</i></div>
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<i>And what does your NHS protector, Jeremy Hunt do? Does hake a deep breath and face up to the mess your top down reorganisation has produced? No. Instead, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/10/tories-accused-of-being-desperate-in-seeking-nhs-doctors-support"><span style="color: blue;">he tries to cobble together a lame countering letter</span></a> in an attempt to spin away the fact that your government's policies have undermined and weakened our National Health Service. And you wonder why we don't trust you with it? </i></div>
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<i>Yours, etc'</i></div>
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-2861779433007354722015-04-09T19:57:00.000+01:002015-04-09T19:57:18.363+01:00Letter 149: How low can Dave go to distract voters from the real issues?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad9WPN0Niy71Ee7kQg9Zt7IRjT2BXzBQiYxJf9ljFmExZpjE70gSpYOG7yt_maeC0kfiChPfw3zbeII9bagLHQNmWSfZfkfIPi6odynHiPo7WlDpegmbxI4_xBfdTinoUjVhfg5l2aG0/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad9WPN0Niy71Ee7kQg9Zt7IRjT2BXzBQiYxJf9ljFmExZpjE70gSpYOG7yt_maeC0kfiChPfw3zbeII9bagLHQNmWSfZfkfIPi6odynHiPo7WlDpegmbxI4_xBfdTinoUjVhfg5l2aG0/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
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<i>'Dear Dave, </i><br />
<i>Election time or not, you've got to have standards you know. Comments like <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/09/trident-row-cameron-defends-fallons-attack-on-miliband"><span style="color: blue;">Michael Fallon's on Ed Miliband and Trident </span></a>pollute the political process and smack of desperation in your camp. How about trying to win with truth and reasoned argument - the polls will love you for it and god knows <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/small-child-perfectly-sums-up-how-we-all-feel-about-our-options-this-election-10162455.html"><span style="color: blue;">the electorate deserve better campaigning than you're currently offering</span></a>. Mind you, is the reasoning in Central Office that while we're all thinking about <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/09/bury-back-stabbing-miliband-myth-tories"><span style="color: blue;">your backstabbing myth</span></a>, at least voters will be distracted from <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/9545f01c-be78-11e4-8036-00144feab7de.html#axzz3WelOqVj4"><span style="color: blue;">non-doms</span></a> and news out today that <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/09/nhs-hospital-waiting-time-figures"><span style="color: blue;">NHS hospital waiting times are the worst in seven years</span></a>?</span> I have to tell you, it hasn't worked.</i><br />
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<i>Yours etc,'</i><br />
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-72195979556429625292015-03-25T12:02:00.000+00:002015-03-25T12:02:20.447+00:00Letter 148: How to buy a meeting with a Minister<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJJf4NBFNlahMcrtd2DUdCpqEWOaBlDAkAsZ15oD-37jgSOhq1JJkav6BICAhw6fHDYPEW3CwXJKyGel-CMMcfu5MsB7ZqOZkSgj6LpafN2PsCyfUpoQ6J6gLnhn1kxm8DIlsMid1KVY/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJJf4NBFNlahMcrtd2DUdCpqEWOaBlDAkAsZ15oD-37jgSOhq1JJkav6BICAhw6fHDYPEW3CwXJKyGel-CMMcfu5MsB7ZqOZkSgj6LpafN2PsCyfUpoQ6J6gLnhn1kxm8DIlsMid1KVY/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" height="640" width="440" /></a></div>
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i><br />
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<i>Hooray! Today is the last PMQs before you break for the general election campaign trail. There must be a tremendous sense of relief throughout the House and probably a real end of term atmosphere, a little like you see in schools. Why not break with the Punch and Judy tradition then and do as teachers up and down the land do when their charges have been working too hard? Why not show a film as a little treat? The one I'd recommend to you all is a new release "<a href="http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/on-demand/59665-004"><span style="color: blue;">Dispatches: How to Buy a Meeting With A Minister</span></a>" And the beauty of it is, it's really educational.</i><br />
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<i>Yours, etc'</i>Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-32830064778753424382015-03-24T12:06:00.001+00:002015-03-24T12:06:58.516+00:00Letter 147: From redbox to ballot box, everyday the Tories fail to talk about the economy is a wasted day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9ZZH6F01b0SYxbEkP3V6hjshyphenhyphenyfACeN7dwYCTLIjriHLXK7cny6EnbnGaK7cF8U6s3q8epuPTbLX6PADZOvTZDcT2ur4wHIY0wDkcoEAFU3WXPub9eU98KAoWrU9JOT0HSuM9dFB-sE/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9ZZH6F01b0SYxbEkP3V6hjshyphenhyphenyfACeN7dwYCTLIjriHLXK7cny6EnbnGaK7cF8U6s3q8epuPTbLX6PADZOvTZDcT2ur4wHIY0wDkcoEAFU3WXPub9eU98KAoWrU9JOT0HSuM9dFB-sE/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" height="640" width="446" /></a></div>
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i></div>
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<i>Forty five days to go 'til election day and since last Wednesday I've been thinking a great deal about the Budget, described by many as George's most politically motivated to date. The bribes and jibes were predictable enough, so weren't of particular interest. What was of more consequence though (and which has been so difficult to find), is evidence of <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01/12/george-osborne-cuts-charts-ifs_n_6454368.html"><span style="color: blue;">your Chancellor's competent consistent management of the economy</span></a>.</span> </span></i><i>He does however, deserve some credit. Let us count the ways...</i></div>
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<i>Since 2010 we've had the weakest economic recovery in the last two hundred years and there's <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v37/n04/simon-wren-lewis/the-austerity-con"><span style="color: blue;">no doubt at all George most certainly had a hand in that</span></a>. </i><i>He inherited a debt of £760 billion from that </i><i>pesky Labour Party in 2010 and by 2014, George managed to reduce it to £1,260 billion - and all without having a financial crisis of his own to play with. Awe-inspiring.</i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/03/what-was-missing-2015-budget-anything-do-child-poverty"><span style="color: blue;">Child poverty down?</span></a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/09/revealed-wealth-gap-oecd-report"><span style="color: blue;">Inequality down?</span></a> Not quite. Georg's self-deceit is as remarkable as <span style="color: blue;">t<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/deprivation-britain-major-new-survey-reveals-that-poverty-is-getting-worse--even-among-working-families-9547039.html"><span style="color: blue;">he number of people living in poverty in the UK </span></a></span>today (of which there are about 13 million, half of those in working families). Shout loud, shout proud that the <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/uk-has-higher-fuel-poverty-problems-than-most-of-europe-8905159.html"><span style="color: blue;">UK is second only to Estonia in the European fuel poverty league</span></a>.</span></i></div>
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<i>Should he congratulate himself privately on his economic triumphs of a <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-socalled-inwork-poverty-soars-by-59-under-coalition-as-more-people-with-jobs-are-forced-to-claim-housing-benefit-9340907.html"><span style="color: blue;">59% rise in working people claiming housing benefit</span></a>, or<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27219654"> <span style="color: blue;">1.4 million people on zero hours contracts</span></a><span style="color: blue;">, or even on the astounding </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/15/food-banks-used-by-one-million-brits_n_5152005.html"><span style="color: blue;">million using foodbanks</span> </a>? Probably not. He's too busy defending <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/18/osborne-unprecedented-cuts-welfare-meet-targets-ifs"><span style="color: blue;">the "unprecedented" cuts he still intends to impose if re-elected</span></a>.</i></div>
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Just a moment... check with Lynton and see if you're still <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/03/tory-strategists-enforce-rigid-discipline-lynton-crosby"><span style="color: blue;">focussing your election strategy on the economy</span></a>. After all, George wants us to judge him on his record and <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/anthony-hilton-the-tories-should-shut-up-on-the-economy-10085475.html"><span style="color: blue;">as Anthony Hilton of The Evening Standard said recently</span></a>:</div>
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"It takes nerve for a political party to ask the country to re-elect it on the basis of its economic competence, when it knows perfectly well that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/mar/23/austerity-policies-disaster-majority"><span style="color: blue;">the majority of people it is asking to vote have become worse off under its rule"</span></a></div>
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<br />Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-49477781066882516562015-03-18T11:07:00.000+00:002015-03-18T11:07:21.337+00:00Letter 146: The poor will never get Stinking Rich on minimum wage peanuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowpgEF9R525xoEiu996boQkddUZaFnVQGNPaF3x0sOAAdvfeL2fCCQrAjt8G2gzGemVhHK1N9k9xuDOQdgqKOGPBpHCbiBjRKNohTLy1VBTol8VFKNwCDGC15lwL5Hv_IUQRGsfLcsng/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowpgEF9R525xoEiu996boQkddUZaFnVQGNPaF3x0sOAAdvfeL2fCCQrAjt8G2gzGemVhHK1N9k9xuDOQdgqKOGPBpHCbiBjRKNohTLy1VBTol8VFKNwCDGC15lwL5Hv_IUQRGsfLcsng/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
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<i>'Dear Dave, </i><br />
<i>Today, fifty days before the general election, rather than spinning your <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/mar/17/minimum-wage-to-rise-to-6-pounds-70-pence-an-hour"><span style="color: blue;">increase to the minimum wage</span></a>, why not be refreshingly honest and just post people on low earnings a few peanuts with an apology? After all, George hasn't kept his promise to bring in a minimum wage of £7 by the end of this parliament, has he?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Talking of apologies and honesty... Grant Shapps, now there's a tricky one. He's getting a lot of media attention and with good cause. Reading all that stuff about LBC interviews, over-firm denials this and Stinking Rich that, multiple identities, mysterious testimonials and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/16/revealed-grant-shapps-threat-to-sue-constituent-over-michael-green-post"><span style="color: blue;">threats to a constituent using a law firm retained by the Tory Party</span></a>, all I could think was, having <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/16/guardian-view-grant-shapps-chancer-chairman"><span style="color: blue;">the Party Chairman carry on in this manner does not reflect at all well on the Conservatives</span></a>, especially at election time.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>With Grant's behaviour laid out so embarrassingly in the press, aren't you concerned that that <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11475611/Questions-over-Tory-law-firm-used-by-Grant-Shapps-to-silence-constituent-in-second-job-row.html"><span style="color: blue;">people will question your judgement when you profess such fulsome confidence</span></a> in him? <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/16/grant-shapps-gullible-voters-michael-green-second-job"><span style="color: blue;">I doubt I'm the only voter who is asking, where's the integrity</span></a>?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Yours, etc'</i><br />
<br />Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-90516845093827128252015-03-17T12:20:00.001+00:002015-03-18T00:03:13.515+00:00Letter 145: How can the Tories be "warriors for the dispossessed" while denying legal aid to the vulnerable?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Day 53 of the election countdown and so far this week, apart form the ugly spats at<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b055f0lr/prime-ministers-questions-11032015"><span style="color: blue;"> PMQs</span></a> , we've witnessed the Party <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/justine-thornton-no-ordinary-political-spouse-10107571.html"><span style="color: blue;">leader's wives</span></a> (</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02lw6zj"><span style="color: blue;">and unedifyingly, the Chief Whip's</span></a>)</span>, transformed into political handbags; <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/13/samantha-cameron-desperate-husband-david-win-general-election"><span style="color: blue;">accessories on the still unofficial campaign trail</span></a>. It's enough to put you off your<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2959433/Tories-host-dinners-45-donors-90-days-Group-meals-Cameron-senior-ministers-given-40m-2010.html"> <span style="color: blue;">supper</span></a>, whether or not it's in the smaller kitchen.</i><br />
<i>Keeping to the domestic, do you not think you should mute <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/13/michael-gove-tories-must-show-warriors-for-dispossessed"><span style="color: blue;">Michael Gove's rallying cry for the Conservatives to be "warriors for the dispossessed"</span></a>? His idea of fighting for social justice for <a href="http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2015/03/12/how-a-failure-to-gather-evidence-meant-spending-cuts-actuall"><span style="color: blue;">"the vulnerable and the voiceless"</span></a> is an interesting one, but surely quite pointless when you realise that thanks to your coalition government, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/dec/12/domestic-violence-victims-government-restrictions-legal-aid"><span style="color: blue;">40% of victims who've suffered domestic violence no longer satisfy the criteria for legal aid?</span></a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Yours, etc'</i><br />
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-63125550154840037592015-03-10T16:21:00.001+00:002015-03-10T17:16:22.176+00:00Letter 144: Shambolic Universal Credit and suffering little children.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxkTRkM39u1eUIjFHqgBobb-BJDBfgwkB82GHEH9fHkWYI7S2F-dPHDEMEtQ3V_5GmtISW4lbx1G091j_FsDwI6hUpCBjWWSyaZFAx9krygNjl97DJW2236Nltf6GreRYaEJKFswtsqY/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxkTRkM39u1eUIjFHqgBobb-BJDBfgwkB82GHEH9fHkWYI7S2F-dPHDEMEtQ3V_5GmtISW4lbx1G091j_FsDwI6hUpCBjWWSyaZFAx9krygNjl97DJW2236Nltf6GreRYaEJKFswtsqY/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">'Dear Dave,<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Fifty eight days to the general election and counting, my head was swirling with questions last night as I watched <span id="goog_1466162587"></span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches"><span style="color: blue;">Channel 4's Dispatches</span></a> </span><span id="goog_1466162588"></span>programme about Universal Credit. Questions such as: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/19/universal-credit-failings-pac-accuses-dwp"><span style="color: blue;">has Iain Duncan Smith</span></a></span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/19/universal-credit-failings-pac-accuses-dwp"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">lied to Parliament about Universal Credit</span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">? If so, should he be made to explain himself? At the very least, he should surely</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> be investigated by </span><span style="background-color: white;">Trading Standards</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for his shameful misrepresentation of the efficacy of his flagship policy? </span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/26/coalition-universal-credit-it-scheme-wasting-billions-watchdog"><span style="color: blue;">He doesn't exactly have the golden touch does he</span></a>?</span> There seems <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/17/church-of-england-bishops-pastoral-letter-key-points"><span style="color: blue;">to be increasing alarm about the reforms he's masterminded.</span></a> I've read somewhere that he's a devout Christi</span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">an, but maybe he's misunderstood the Scriptures. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nearly-100000-of-britains-poorest-children-go-hungry-after-parents-benefits-are-cut-10079056.html"><span style="color: blue;">100,000 children going hungry due to their parents benefits being cut orsanctioned, now that's just criminal, </span></a>isn't it?</span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a word, won't you - after all, we all know </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus said "Suffer the little children", but I doubt He meant for your DWP to take Him literally... </span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yours, etc'</span></i><br />
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-72972605653409723002015-03-05T11:25:00.000+00:002015-03-05T21:41:50.295+00:00Letter 143: Dave might have one last way to escape the televised Leaders debates...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i>I feel for you, I really do and can see you need some help. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfbC4-cKFko"><span style="color: blue;">Obviously you don't want to do the TV debates </span></a>and even a fool can see that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/04/david-cameron-offer-broadcasters-election-debates-television"><span style="color: blue;">all those feeble excuses from the SpAds have just made matters worse</span></a></i><br />
<i>So I have one last idea, which might work. Why not get Lynton to forge your Mum's signature on a letter like this:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> </i><span style="color: #073763;"> March 2015</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Dear BBC, ITV, C4 and Sky</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763;">Please would you excuse David from the TV debates as he is a sensitive boy who </span><span style="color: #073763;">isn't able to defend his policies. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"> Yours with best wishes,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"> Dave's Mum</span><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Yours, etc' </i><br />
<i><br /></i>Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-61036489746698970922015-03-04T12:54:00.000+00:002015-03-04T13:51:35.885+00:00Letter 142: Cuts to agencies dealing with child sexual abuse. Time for Cameron to also be held accountable for wilful neglect?<i><br /></i>
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i>Yesterday, sixty four days before the general election (I know, your timing looks very cynical)<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2015/mar/03/cameron-professionals-should-face-consequences-failures-over-child-abuse-video"><span style="color: blue;">you demanded a change in culture in dealing with the sexual abuse of children</span></a>, </span>homing in on what you describe as the<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/mar/03/imprisoning-social-workers-will-worsen-plight-of-vulnerable-children?CMP=share_btn_tw"><span style="color: blue;"> 'wilful neglect' of professionals</span></a> dealing with it. I was struck by your insistence that<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11447263/Oxford-sex-grooming-ring-Police-dont-have-time-to-keep-girls-safe.html"> <span style="color: blue;">if professionals fail</span></a>, there should be consequences and I couldn't help wondering if we need to take that approach with those much higher in the accountability chain. Shouldn't politicians cutting resources for the<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/social-work-budget-cutsare-putting-children-at-risk-says-nspcc-9224796.html"> <span style="color: blue;">overstretched social services</span></a>,</span> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16833527"><span style="color: blue;">police</span></a> and<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/2014-12-01/ceop-failures-over-paedophile-doctor-could-be-repeated/"><span style="color: blue;">CEOP</span></a></span> also be held accountable and punished for the consequences of their 'wilful neglect'?</i><br />
<i>Yours, etc'</i>Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-42061007608486221542015-02-27T14:51:00.000+00:002015-02-27T15:11:15.677+00:00Letter 141: Ava Jolliffe experiences DWP's compassionate conservatism firsthand<div class="activity-truncated-tweet" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 18px;">
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<i>"Dear Dave,</i></div>
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<i>This morning, sixty eight days before the General Election, I read in the national press about <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/26/eight-year-old-with-rare-disorder-has-personal-care-benefits-rescinded"><span style="color: blue;">Ava Jolliffe, the eight-year-old blind, deaf, mute, wheelchair user (her mother's words, not mine), who has had her DLA withdrawn.</span></a> Ah me, if only Ava and all those like her, was as important to you and your Party </i><i style="font-size: 13.63636302948px;">as the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/23/universal-pensioner-benefits-conservatives-cameron-general-election"><span style="color: blue;">wealthy ring fenced pensioner</span></a>....</i></div>
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<i>Yours with best wishes, etc"</i></div>
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-76261346149028808382015-02-15T04:27:00.001+00:002015-02-15T04:29:10.323+00:00Letter 140: David Cameron's election campaign; weak against the strong, strong against the weak<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>"Dear Dave</i><br />
<i>Whoo! Quite a rollercoaster of a week you've had - it's made a few of us<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2948470/Porn-barons-Shady-financiers-Hedge-fund-kings-Welcome-secret-Tory-ball-ANDREW-PIERCE-reveals-went-closed-doors.html"> <span style="color: blue;">nauseous</span></a> watching. Who is channelling Marie Antoinette at Tory central office? And what a brave PR stunt, auctioning off luxury villas for the wealthy at the same time as signed copies of budget speeches outlining austerity for plebs at the illustrious Black and White Ball!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Then the next day, there was that strange speech you gave to business leaders urging them to<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/10/david-cameron-britain-pay-rise-cough-up-public-sector-welfare"> <span style="color: blue;">give employees a pay rise</span></a>. Have you forgotten that for the last five years, your own decision has been to freeze wages for public sector workers? Or that, so it would appear unemployment has decreased, you've deliberately encouraged an environment in which short term contracts and zero hours are the norm, forcing people to accept working hours and rates of pay that are impossible to live off without recourse to benefits; for which claimants are then pilloried for needing. Come clean; if you really believed in employees having a pay rise and 'making work pay', you'd legislate for a <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.livingwage.org.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Living Wage</span></a>.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Is hawking for votes also why you've announced your intention to explore <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/14/david-cameron-obese-addicts-accept-help-risk-losing-benefits"><span style="color: blue;">cutting sickness benefits for those who are obese or suffering from addiction issues</span></a>? Strange that at the same time you're protecting universal credit for OAPs, regardless of their lifestyle or health issues. What's all that about, another expression of compassionate conservatism, or a nostalgic yearning for the return to Victorian values?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You might have to rethink your plans though, Dave. So far it would appear that the Tory campaigning consists of rich people telling middle class people to blame poor people for the greed and wrongdoing of a handful of rich people. Very ugly. Do tell us now if next stage of your reforms include an introduction of the workhouse for <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jan/27/rich-poor-deserving-undeserving">t<span style="color: blue;">he undeserving poor</span></a>.</span> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Though you may feel the end justifies the means, it doesn't, especially round complex issues such as addiction and mental health. People do not pull themselves together to tidily suit a political agenda. We'd all be better off, you morally, us financially and socially, if you chose to chase after those billions of<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://pounds%20of%20uncollected%20tax%20that%20are%20owed/"><span style="color: blue;">pounds of uncollected tax that are owed</span></a> </span>instead - or is that likely to affect your core vote in an unhealthy way?</i><br />
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<i>Yours, etc"</i><br />
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-5457637191085925092015-02-09T13:55:00.001+00:002015-02-09T13:55:56.792+00:00Letter 139: Here, kitty kitty... fatcat donors are always welcome at the Conservative Black and White Ball<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Dear Dave,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">So tonight it's your big fundraiser bash, the Black and White Ball. The big event in the run up to the 2015 general election, where though you will be addressing 'the big donor culture', unfortunately for the rest of us, not in the way you suggested when Leader of the Opposition. But then again, wasn't it you that also promised:</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
"Our economy, our society, welfare, schools all reformed, all rebuilt with one aim, one mission in mind - to make this country at long last and for the first time ever a land of opportunity for all"<br />
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2015/jan/27/health-housing-poverty-the-coalitions-social-policy-record-audited"><i><span style="color: blue;"> And look where that's got us eh?</span></i></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />
<br />
<i>Let's face it, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/06/tories-pumping-facebook-advertising-email-ukip"><span style="color: blue;">that Facebook page</span></a> and the 2015 election aren't going to pay for themselves, are they? Do you not see the irony though, for a Party promising transparent politics, yet again the Tories seem to be excessively secretive about who will be<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/08/city-conervative-party-election-campaign-funding"> <span style="color: blue;">bankrolling you</span></a>? If there's nothing to hide, why be so coy about who'll be there? If there's no connection between Party donation and cash for access to Ministers, why not show us your seating plans? I dare you,<span style="color: blue;"> </span></i><i><u><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/27/cameron-tax-cuts-voters-labour-austerity"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">let those hard working families you love so much put their noses to the window</span></a></span></u></i><i><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/27/cameron-tax-cuts-voters-labour-austerity"> </a>and see who's<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/04/tories-hedge-funds-tax-avoiders-ed-miliband"> <span style="color: blue;">eating from your table</span></a> (or lap). Then we might give a little wave to Henry Angest. Is it true that before the last general election Everyday Loans, (the high-cost credit company he controls) gave the Conservative Party a £5 million overdraft facility at an interest rate of just 3.5%. How did you get a better rate than the rest of us? (74.8% if you're asking) </i><br />
<i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: inherit;">No doubt you're aware that you've been accused of cynically trying to buy the election several times already, most recently by<a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/08/uk-britain-politics-pensions-idUKKBN0LC0Q420150208"> <span style="color: blue;">Mark Littlewood in relation to pensioner bonds</span></a>. Let's not forget either,<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/13/tories-david-cameron-buy-election-campaign-spending"><span style="color: blue;">that sneaky change in the law in December 2014, which seems to have bypassed the democratic process, to bring about a 23% increase in campaign spending</span></a>.</span> I heard it was passed without parliamentary debate - seriously, shame on you. (One has to wonder if that's a misuse of the legislative process)</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><br />
<i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you rolled out your<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/27/poorest-hit-hardest-coalition-changes-report"><span style="color: blue;"> austerity plans for, let's face it - those less likely to vote for you</span></a>, I did say to a friend to put a tenner on the possibility you'd top said miserable time for the scapegoats with<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/01/26/britain-politics-cameron-idUKKBN0KZ18620150126"><span style="color: blue;">tax cuts for the better off, just before the General Election</span></a></span>. Sadly, you've proved me right. Yet again, "cuts for the poor, so the rich can have more" strategy seems just too irresistible to you. But note - such policies impoverish ALL of society.<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/09/david-clapson-benefit-sanctions-death-government-policies?CMP=share_btn_tw"><span style="color: blue;">Wilful blindness of the effects of Coalition policy on the most vulnerable in our country </span></a></span>and a morally bankrupt disregard for just <a href="http://rt.com/news/uk-food-poverty-emergency-721/#.VMdJyPA87wk.twitter"><span style="color: blue;">how frayed our social fabric has become</span></a> is not just a financial issue; it's an ethical one, which any politician who calls himself <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/pmqs/10525690/David-Cameron-Our-welfare-reforms-are-compassionate.html"><span style="color: blue;">compassionate</span></a> must surely find impossible to justify and totally repugnant.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yours etc" </span></i><br />
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-19852440069938217472015-01-26T11:56:00.000+00:002015-02-09T08:07:33.229+00:00Letter 138: Lynton & the SpAds think the PM's not up to GE15 televised debates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>'Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i>I was reading the <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guardian last night</span> and came across <a href="http://gu.com/p/456ez/tw%20via%20@guardian"><span style="color: blue;">yet <u>another</u> article on your reluctance to take part in the televised election debates</span></a>. Is it true that your aides think that the last tv debates were such a disaster for you they're now doing their utmost to keep you out of the 2015 ones? Tricky if it is true, because according to an independent ICM poll, the public think you're not up to much if you take your aides advice and stay away. The suggestion is, voters will punish anyone who chickens out of taking part. Have you heard that there's a call for non attenders to be refused the chance to air party political broadcasts? That seems fair - after all, you're constantly saying you're the man for the job and if you don't take the chance to prove it, your Party's election broadcasts would seem little more than propaganda you're unable to back up</i><i>. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> But that can't be true surely? What have you got to hide? This could be THE chance for you to stand by your pre election words of 2010: </i><br />
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"I want to, if I'm elected, take the whole country with me, I don't want to leave anyone behind. The test of a good society is that you look after the elderly, the frail, the vulnerable, the poorest in our society. And that test is even more important in difficult times, when the difficult decisions have to be taken, that it is in better times."<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Some have said that you might be too far outside your comfort zone. After all, PMQs is such a different kettle of fish; backbenchers behind you, cheering on the appearance of Flashman whenever a difficult issue surfaces, while week after week so many voters tune in, craving a direct answer to a direct question only to be disappointed. The electorate want to see how you stand up to scrutiny and if you could openly defend your current policies and future plans without the protective shield of the House of Commons panto, Lynton and the SpAds.</i><br />
<i> Think about it: a televised debate would be the ideal opportunity to explore why there seem to be <a href="http://www.blog.rippedoffbritons.com/2013/12/graphs-at-glance-how-local-authority.html?utm_content=bufferaceef&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer"><span style="color: blue;">bigger cuts imposed on deprived areas than affluent areas</span></a>. Did you know that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/14/uk-inequality-wealth-credit-suisse"><span style="color: blue;">Britain is the only G7 country with wider inequality than at the turn of the century</span>?</a> Maybe the TV debate could dig deeper into the privatisation , cuts and crisis in the NHS , or discuss whether people (including those with mental health issues) are being<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/23/benefits-sanctions-bullied-dwp-claimants"><span style="color: blue;">bullied off benefits</span></a></span>... or <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2015/jan/22/food-banks-mps-call-for-fresh-inquiry-into-scale-of-uk-food-poverty"><span style="color: blue;">explore the full effect of food bank poverty</span></a> and <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coalitions-tax-and-benefits-changes-hit-low-income-families-harder-than-any-other-group-9996470.html"><span style="color: blue;">how tax and benefit changes have hit low income families</span></a><span style="color: #8899a6; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span></span>or look at <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/21/spending-watchdog-criticises-dfe-finances?CMP=twt_gu"><span style="color: blue;">whether or not in terms of finances, the DfE is meeting the requirements of Parliament</span> </a> for a bit of light relief.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Blimes, so much to talk about Dave - and that's just off the top of my head! You really ought to be there - otherwise all these difficult issues will be discussed and you won't be able to put the record straight... Unless of course an empty chair says it all for you?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Yours, etc'</i><br />
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-10495629014605758462015-01-13T05:10:00.001+00:002015-01-13T05:47:07.099+00:00Letter 137: What happens when ideology & self interest are put before patients? An A&E crisis of course.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>'Dear Dave and Nick,</i><br />
<i>As an asthmatic who recently had an emergency admission to A&E, I naturally have great admiration for the doctors and nurses who choose to work there. I could talk as a patient about my concerns regarding the news of the current crisis, but sometimes I think it's best to leave it to the people who are there day in and day out. You may have seen the following letter before, but I know that you have a tendency to ignore unpalatable truths when they don't back up Coalition policy, so forgive me if I place it under your noses once again. After all, you both declare your commitment to the NHS. And no doubt, as the election races towards us, you'll both make promises and present figures to attract votes. Before you do, re-read this letter to remind yourselves of the facts:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>7th January 2015</b></i><br />
<i><b>Dear Mr Cameron and Mr Hunt</b></i><br />
<i><b>As someone who works in A&E, I hear with interest that you have sad that<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/e-crisis-labour-mp-andy-burnham-blames-david-cameron-putting-nhs-intensive-care-1482151"><span style="color: blue;">things in A&E are just busy</span></a></span> and we are performing well and not in a crisis.</b></i><br />
<i><b>I though would disagree. Maybe it is just your sense of reality, which has made you say this or perhaps a lack of comprehension of the words busy V crisis.</b></i><br />
<i><b>Is it not a crisis that up and down the country thousands and thousands of patients are being looked after in corridors because there are no free cubicles for them to be seen in?</b></i><br />
<i><b>Is it not a crisis that many hospitals are declaring major incidents ( to just cope with normal winter pressures) and some are having tents built in their car parks? </b></i><br />
<i><b>Is it not a crisis that patients who need discharging from hospital can't because social services can't cope with the demand? This mean there are no free beds for the patient to go to and so they stay in A&E for hours upon hours.</b></i><br />
<i><b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/10/a-and-e-doctors-warn-patient-misery-planned-surgery"><span style="color: blue;">Is it not a crisis when thousands of patients are having their operations cancelled because there are no beds for them to get into?</span></a></b></i><br />
<i><b>Is it not a crisis when everyday A&E staff up and down the country think it is a good shift if we get a cup of tea, no member of staff is in tears and no-one dies in the corridor on our watch? ( As opposed to deliver the standard and dignity of care we wish).</b></i><br />
<i><b>Or are you saying it is not a crisis because you don't want to admit the real problem and you are a tad embarrassed by your mistakes? Because when you came to power you promised to invest in the NHS and not reorganise it. But actually you lied.</b></i><br />
<i><b>Health and social care are inextricably linked and you stripped money away from social care whilst still finding the money for tax cuts for millionaires. But worse still, instead of trying to modernise and improve the NHS ( which it needs) and working to prevent an absolutely predictable crisis, you spent the time and billions of wasted pounds on an ideological drive to increase the role of the private sector in the NHS, which has just put profits before patients.</b></i><br />
<i><b>The reality is that the crisis ( yes it is a crisis not just busy) in the NHS, is shown in the corridors of the A&E departments.</b></i><br />
<i><b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/guardianwitness-blog/2015/jan/08/surviving-night-nhs-hospital-a-and-e-doctors-story"><span style="color: blue;">And if you don't believe me, please join the thousands of A&E staff up and down the country whom are all going through the same problems.</span></a></b></i><br />
<i><b>Then reality might kick in; seeing people in their 90s lying in a corridor as there is no bed to go to, patients who need to go to intensive care staying for hours upon hours in A&E whilst their condition deteriorates, ambulance staff not being able to get to 999 calls because they are waiting to get their current patients into A&E, nurses not having time to care for patients - just provide treatment, and for consultants on the shop floor trying to create order and safety in a chaotic environment.</b></i><br />
<i><b>We are so lucky to have the training and skills to do the job - but we just need you to make it possible for us to perform the job we love to appropriate standards.</b></i><br />
<i><b>It may be hard for all of us who work in A&E, but it is nothing compared to what our patients have to endure. But amazingly it is them who keep us going - with humor and goodwill and not complaining about us despite everything going on, along with a diabetic inducing amount of chocolate being bought for us.</b></i><br />
<i><b>Mr Hunt and Cameron - I also want to ask you why you think we are performing well? You say it is because around 85-95% of patients get seen and discharged or admitted within 4 hours ( still the worst figures since we started recording this data).</b></i><br />
<i><b>But that hides the reality. It is easy to boost this percentage with easy patients with cuts and colds and minor injuries but what about the care for patients who are genuinely sick - the ones who need admission. How quickly to they get seen and admitted? That is the figure that should be made available but isn't. I don't know what the numbers are, but from recent experience from up and down the country, I doubt that at the moment half of patients who get admitted do so within 4 hours of when they arrive; remember delayed admission leads to worse outcomes. Please start releasing this important figure as it will give a much better barometer for how the NHS is doing.</b></i><br />
<i><b>So Mr Hunt and Mr Cameron - come down to any A&E and see the crisis/'just busy' and when you do so, listen to the staff who can explain what needs to be done, as opposed to listen to your political advisers.</b></i><br />
<i><b>In A&Es throughout the country, we are buckling under the strain and it is only because of everyone's hard work and dedication that patient care is being maintained to the extent it is and morale hasn't yet cracked.</b></i><br />
<i><b>It feels that we in the NHS ( from porters, to managers, to nurses, to support staff, to paramedics, to hospital doctors and GPs) are lions being led by donkeys. We are facing 1930s public sector cuts driven by politicians with the mentality of World War One generals.</b></i><br />
<i><b>So in summary - please Cameron and Hunt, stop thinking about your political ideology and start thinking about our patients, Remember the NHS was set up after World War Two during a period of unprecedented austerity - stop destroying it under the name of austerity.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Rob Galloway</b></i><br />
<i><b>(A&E Consultant)</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>P.s. it must be quite easy going on question time and the likes debating fellow politicians and public figures who everyone knows have their own agenda. But the shop floor workers in the NHS have only one agenda - our patient care: so the debate may not be quite so easy with us, I would love to debate with you about the NHS crisis and offer some solutions. Are you up for it?"</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i>There's too much in this Consultant's letter to refute or explain away with statistics re-framed, or blamed on the previous government. You have both asked to be judged on your achievements. <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/71-coalition-mps-who-voted-for-nhs-sell-off-linked-to-health-firms/"><span style="color: blue;">What will it take for you to put patients before ideology and self interest?</span></a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Yours, etc '</i><br />
<br /></div>
Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-65219378142642704212014-09-18T23:18:00.000+01:002014-09-19T00:01:58.138+01:00The Indyref - forcing more accountability in Westminster?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9NsozSH6MF6rpHae4gyomoDFrz2A4NvsghfuBLpaOTPefyDMV-BKINBkQq4DQUFhl91vlYwW14YOotkXRZxvh04nBCcj3QqTqwcOz4hyphenhyphen1yw7tAir2keanZIit7YCP3MyjZsB8hMHnSA/s1600/IMG_8382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9NsozSH6MF6rpHae4gyomoDFrz2A4NvsghfuBLpaOTPefyDMV-BKINBkQq4DQUFhl91vlYwW14YOotkXRZxvh04nBCcj3QqTqwcOz4hyphenhyphen1yw7tAir2keanZIit7YCP3MyjZsB8hMHnSA/s1600/IMG_8382.JPG" height="640" width="444" /></a><br />
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"Dear Dave,<br />
How long has it been since I've been in touch? Ages, I know... I'm sorry, but can you blame me? The last few PMQs before the Summer recess were SO depressing - all those dodged questions and dodgy statistics, instead of the transparency you keep promising. Then there's the <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/opinion/news-opinion/national-health-sell-off-dont-believe-3752792"><span style="color: blue;">continued dismantling and sale of NHS</span></a> and <a href="http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial-issues/education-and-schools/free-school-and-academy-bureaucracy-costing-taxpayers"><span style="color: blue;">education</span></a>, plus the only banking initiatives you've successfully delivered involve <a href="http://www.trusselltrust.org/media-coverage"><span style="color: blue;">food handouts</span></a> - who wouldn't be feeling down?<br />
Do you want to guess what nearly made me throw the towel in completely, Dave? It was the news that Boris is back (<span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAxA-9D4X3o"><span style="color: blue;">well have you seen THAT Eddie Mair interview</span></a>?)</span> and as your partner,<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/160000-for-a-tennis-match-between-david-cameron-and-boris-johnson--with-lynton-crosby-as-ball-boy-9585584.html"><span style="color: blue;"> in a tennis match bought by the wife of Putin's former deputy finance minister</span></a>. All to bankroll your election campaign. Shameful. You know the Conservative Party Summer Ball gives one a real sense of the decline in UK democracy and the value of my vote. You very nearly made me cry.<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/11/referendum-registered-voters-scotland-four-million-97-per-cent"><span style="color: blue;">But thank God for the</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/11/referendum-registered-voters-scotland-four-million-97-per-cent" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Scottish people - what an inspiration!!!</span> </a></span><span style="text-align: center;">Turning out in their millions they've given me renewed hope, as has the sight of</span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11084374/Scottish-independence-David-Cameron-cancels-PMQs-to-go-and-listen-to-people-of-Scotland.html" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">Westminster's three main Parties sweaty attempts to lovebomb Scotland to keep us together</span></a><span style="color: blue; text-align: center;">. </span><span style="text-align: center;">What's so exciting, regardless of whether or not Scotland gains independence, is that the Referendum has brought the possibility for change to all of us in the UK who want a political system based on equality and social justice rather than the Market, cash for access and the Finance Sector.</span><span style="color: blue; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/18/9-things-scottish-referendum-campaign-taught-us"><span style="color: blue;">Scotland has reminded the rest of us of the power of each man or woman's vote</span></a>. </span>O</span><span style="text-align: center;">nce the count is over, maybe England will start asking more of Westminster. </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/11/referendum-registered-voters-scotland-four-million-97-per-cent" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Just imagine how accountable you'd have to be if England woke up to that power the way Scotland has.</span></a><span style="color: blue; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't it be fabulous if 97% of the English population registered too and engaged with the political debate? You guys would have no time for tennis then.</span><br />
Yours etc,"Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-71089307446817637742014-06-19T14:23:00.000+01:002014-06-19T14:23:15.720+01:00Letter 135: The uncomfortable truth; Tories believe in free speech, unless you're Oxfam or the Trussell Trust <br />
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<i>"Dear Dave,</i><br />
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<i>Did <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/17/oxfam-advert-campaigning-charities-stifled-by-government"><span style="color: blue;">Conor Burns get your blessing to refer this poster to the Charities Commission</span></a> on the grounds that it was too political? Do the Conservatives expect charities to stop <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://pic.twitter.com/YUKmbG9sJI"><span style="color: blue;">drawing attention to poverty and the causes behind it</span></a>,</span> simply because it embarrasses your government? </i><i>Seriously, w</i><i>hat's politics coming to - next we'll be hearing that someone at the DWP could turn ugly and threaten to close down the Trussell Trust over campaigning on food poverty. <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-food-bank-charity-was-threatened-with-closure-by-ministers-aide-9533456.html"><span style="color: blue;">Now that really would be bullying behaviour, wouldn't it?</span></a></i></div>
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<i>Yours, etc"</i></div>
Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-43368201331266622152014-06-10T18:13:00.001+01:002014-06-10T18:14:55.163+01:00Letter 134: Transparently, it's time for Dave's tax returns to be published<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"Dear Dave,</i></span><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #292f33;">In the name of transparency, please </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gary-barlow-tax-avoidance-david-cameron-refuses-to-publish-his-tax-returns-despite-pledge-9358823.html"><span style="color: blue;">won't you publish your Tax Returns</span></a><span style="color: #292f33;">, so I won't have to sign this e-petition: </span></span><span class="invisible" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://</span><a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65237"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="js-display-url" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65237</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="invisible" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; line-height: 0; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span class="tco-ellipsis" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"> </span></span></span> </a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #292f33;">to encourage you to do so? </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9218119/David-Camerons-inherited-family-wealth-based-in-foreign-tax-havens.html"><span style="color: blue;">Surely you've nothing to hide</span></a>.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">..</span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: #292f33;">(After all, if we're all in it together, what's </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/governments-welfare-benefits-and-tax-changes-amount-to-speededup-thatcherism-8723079.html"><span style="color: blue;">50p</span></a><span style="color: #292f33;"> between friends?)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: #292f33;">With best wishes, etc"</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="invisible" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span>Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-79855591484818046142014-06-06T08:35:00.000+01:002014-06-06T08:35:20.947+01:00Letter 133: Yes, the Coalition has increased growth, but in all the wrong areas.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OUuXUYgQPRGxl2rQ0B9BIktqNUH27bQc3mZw3EDzs_83AniO23NrDFWosj-V8jsTj8aeq64n-jFvdmWqNDsPYHvbe6ptp09363UZith4gIp5XV51jU_3I19kSJGRHhUIPIPxI1xUWu0/s1600/IMG_7789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OUuXUYgQPRGxl2rQ0B9BIktqNUH27bQc3mZw3EDzs_83AniO23NrDFWosj-V8jsTj8aeq64n-jFvdmWqNDsPYHvbe6ptp09363UZith4gIp5XV51jU_3I19kSJGRHhUIPIPxI1xUWu0/s1600/IMG_7789.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>"Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i>You probably don't want to hear this, but there seems to be real confusion over <a href="http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/58814/queens-speech-summary-the-bold-new-bills-for-2014"><span style="color: blue;">the speech you wrote </span></a>for the Queen. Is it as you say, "the packed programme of a busy and radical government", or as the Leader of the Opposition claims, evidence "that you are presiding over a zombie parliament which has run out of ideas"? This morning I listened to Radio 4's Today programme, in the hope of some clarity. Pundits there described it as "Queen's Speech lite" suggesting that <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2625533/Coalition-branded-zombie-government-prepares-MPs-19-days-run-laws-debate.html"><span style="color: blue;">you're playing safe because there's so little that the Coalition Government can agree on having fallen out on so much already.</span></a></i><br />
<i>There is one thing both sides of the Coalition cling to, which is your claim that through commitment to austerity we can have growth. But in all honesty, growth could be problematic for you too. Back in April<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/29/awkward-gdp-facts-uk-economy_n_5231179.html"> <span style="color: blue;">the Huffington Post </span></a>highlighted a few awkward facts about your GDP growth figures. Employment is also troubling, as your boasts of job growth aren't what they seem. Though you insist that the best way out of poverty is work, since 2010 the number of people<a href="http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2616675/Most-zero-hours-contract-workers-earn-living-wage.html"> <span style="color: blue;">working zero hours contracts has increased to 1,000,000</span></a>,<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2014/05/three-quarters-of-new-housing-benefit-claimants-have-jobs/">t<span style="color: blue;">hree in four housing benefit claims are now made by people in work</span></a></span> and the<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/06/self-employment-uk-job-figures-analysis"> <span style="color: blue;">surge in self employment you so proudly announced recently masks the decrease in traditional employee job</span></a><span style="color: blue;">s</span>. It would seem that the growth you prize is to be found in the <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/working-poor-trapped-in-unbreakable-cycle-of-poverty-turn-to-food-banks-in-their-lunch-breaks-9117820.html"><span style="color: blue;">increase of working poor</span></a> and<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-real-costoflivingcrisis-five-million-british-children-face-life-of-poverty-thanks-to-welfare-reforms-9442061.html"> <span style="color: blue;">children living in poverty</span></a>. Maybe it's Ed who's right after all; those 11 Bills in your Queen's Speech don't begin to address the UK's problems at all. </i><br />
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<i>Yours, etc"</i><br />
<br />Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-34704520298893439992014-06-04T21:27:00.001+01:002014-06-04T21:37:00.177+01:00Letter 132: Universal Credit woes swept under Election14 woes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZNhEBwJuoykGjjr0RAx278I7IhY6WA9Z8sUGYMHKgie3_gpADErbjH-FyU0rZGHrT3BKiGnsO0nI011ZC8XhrLBJx9pMG4YB8tnAPcelyHE_OOHxWYxGUZGeErDmBSsmW-YH-NiI0Q4/s1600/IMG_7781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZNhEBwJuoykGjjr0RAx278I7IhY6WA9Z8sUGYMHKgie3_gpADErbjH-FyU0rZGHrT3BKiGnsO0nI011ZC8XhrLBJx9pMG4YB8tnAPcelyHE_OOHxWYxGUZGeErDmBSsmW-YH-NiI0Q4/s1600/IMG_7781.JPG" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
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<i>"Dear Dave, </i><br />
<i>So <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/99011/queens_speech_full_text.html"><span style="color: blue;">your plans for the Coalition's final year in office were set out</span></a> </span>today in the <a href="http://pic.twitter.com/nU2XgWQaeQ">Queen's Speech</a>... Forgive me if I don't give it my full attention, something else is distracting me...</i><br />
<i>What's all this about bad news regarding Universal Credit that <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/iain-duncan-smith-accused-of-hiding-bad-news-on-universal-credit-after-damning-report-is-hushed-up-9428732.html"><span style="color: blue;">Iain Duncan Smith was accused of hiding whilst the local and European elections were taking place?</span></a> There was a report published - described by The Independent as "damning " I believe, which showed that Mr Duncan Smith's project isn't going as well as he'd like us to think. Is it true that Downing Street released the Major Projects Authority report on the day of the local election results to minimise adverse publicity? Surely not, when you aspire to be the most transparent government. Ever. </i><br />
<i>Has the MPA rated Universal Credit as "red" and does this signify that it is"unachievable within reasonable timescales and to a reasonable budget without urgent remedial action"? Lots of questions I know, but then UC will cost a fair whack to implement won't it? There was some suggestion that it would be £12,800,000,000 - over £10.000,000,000 more than the DWP said in 2010. Taxpayers have a right to know what's going on - after all, they're paying for his folly...</i><br />
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<i>Yours with best wishes, etc" </i><br />
<br />Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-90400751377439828882014-05-24T15:52:00.000+01:002014-05-24T22:17:29.686+01:00Letter 131: Who let foxy old Farage in the hen house, Dave? Look in the mirror, Dave.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i>Now voting is over,</i><i> <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/local-and-eu-elections-2014-with-the-voting-over-the-coalition-tries-to-shift-focus-to-growth-9421322.html"><span style="color: blue;">I hear that you're trying to shift the country's attention to growth.</span></a> </span>Unsurprising, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/may/22/local-elections-2014-live-results-updated"><span style="color: blue;">considering the Coalition has lost 13 councils and 426 seats, whilst Labour's gained 5 councils and 339 seats</span>.</a> </span>Like many, I was revolted by that pernicious UKIP election campaign. It was intentionally divisive and misleading - but i</i><i>t's not just UKIP that's played on people's fears, is it? </i><i>I'm tempted to ask: do you ever wonder if the drip, drip, drip of <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/22/racist-van-home-office_n_4141382.html"><span style="color: blue;">ugly dog whistle politics (including that of your "go home vans")</span></a> </span>has <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/24/more-than-half-ukip-voters-disenchanted-tories-ashcroft-poll"><span style="color: blue;">backfired on you</span></a>?</span> Were I a Westminster politician, I'd be alarmed that <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/21/never-mind-ukip-electorate-anger-alienated"><span style="color: blue;">turnout</span></a> </span>is so low. I'd also be shamed that the electorate's trust is diminished to such a degree that</i><i> UKIP can grab so much media and voter attention despite it's vote falling from 23% to 17%</i><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span><i> But who let the fox in the hen house? Dog whistle politics in the Westminster Bubble has helped build a platform for UKIP. Instead of saying that you <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/23/tories-ukip-pact-david-cameron-local-elections"><span style="color: blue;">"share their pain" on immigration</span></a>, maybe it's time to cut the tough talk. Just admit that both the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/11/whats-eu-ever-done-us"><span style="color: blue;">EU </span></a>and <a href="http://niesr.ac.uk/blog/impacts-immigration-niesr-director-jonathan-portes-summarises-evidence-video#.U4BsM61dVbw"><span style="color: blue;">immigrants contribute</span></a> more than they could ever detract from the UK and elevate the quality of your political debate.</i><br />
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<i>Yours, etc"</i><br />
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-54013235884116303122014-04-18T11:46:00.000+01:002014-04-18T11:46:04.872+01:00Letter 130: Parents are becoming enemies of promise now, Dave<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72OBcEWTNiB___Zoza_TeV7AcM7BavVTvNly2gQiUbkZfnmfQwzfExQ0JKrdH_h05F7item4pqRVJVh2ktEhZ3B2lf84v_JlrccHD9Ht_7VrjBdGvrdxn3ZdvMsvjT-cE6JdmINyIcvg/s1600/IMG_7475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72OBcEWTNiB___Zoza_TeV7AcM7BavVTvNly2gQiUbkZfnmfQwzfExQ0JKrdH_h05F7item4pqRVJVh2ktEhZ3B2lf84v_JlrccHD9Ht_7VrjBdGvrdxn3ZdvMsvjT-cE6JdmINyIcvg/s1600/IMG_7475.jpg" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
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<i>"Dear Dave,</i><br />
<i>There seem to be alot of teachers in Brighton this Easter... It must be the annual NUT Conference. They're rather chipper - do you think they've heard that an increasing number of parents are enemies of promise now, having <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/14/poll-opposition-education-reforms?CMP=twt_gu"><span style="color: blue;">doubts about Michael Gove's education reforms</span></a>?</span></i><br />
<i>What could be the cause of the growing opposition? The rise in the number of unqualified teachers in state-funded schools? Or maybe that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/apr/12/schools-parents-pay-supplies-paper-books"><span style="color: blue;">families are being asked to provide contributions for basic materials</span> </a>normally covered by school budgets? Imagine - people struggling to put food on the table and now they have to equip the classroom with pens and paper too! Could it be that voters are angry Michael has<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/exclusive-anger-over-new-free-school-that-may-be-be-britains-mostexpensive-9222364.html"> <span style="color: blue;">approved plans to spend £45 million on a school for just 500 children.</span></a> That's <b>SIX</b> times the average cost! Any you talked about learning to do more with less!</i><br />
<i>Public distrust points to your Education Minister's politicising of education and a lack of transparency, I think. Ask<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10766041/David-Laws-in-veiled-swipe-at-Goves-education-revolution.html"><span style="color: blue;"> David Laws</span></a> if you don't believe me - he's already said how "challenging and at times disruptive" the "permanent revolution" can be. By the way, why are struggling free schools being earmarked for special attention? Not <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-26335206"><span style="color: blue;">a leak in the flagship</span></a>, surely? If only there was <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/apr/06/michael-gove-failing-free-schools"><span style="color: blue;">a secret document that could explain it all.</span></a>..</i><br />
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<i>Yours with best wishes, etc"</i><br />
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477143101421711606.post-18709177279684178852014-04-16T19:03:00.000+01:002014-04-17T12:54:14.896+01:00Letter 129: The Lord said "Suffer the little children" & lo, CameronJesus took him literally & caused foodbanks 2 proliferate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Dear Dave</i></div>
<i>I am totally baffled by your logic (and I'm sure I'm not alone) Could you possibly explain the following? Recently you said,<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-claims-jesus-invented-the-big-society--he-is-just-continuing-gods-work-9250449.html"><span style="color: blue;">"The Bible tells us to bear one another's burdens" and that "Jesus invented the Big Society 2000 years ago; I just wanted to see more of it."</span></a><br />
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<i><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/food-banks-britain-handed-out-3417601"><span style="color: blue;">How can it be then that under your Government, there has been such a massive growth in the need for food parcels?</span></a> It is beyond shameful Dave, that one million have been handed out in the UK to date. Not quite what Jesus meant by "suffer the little children", you know. Add to this the startling contrast of how you treat your own.<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/09/maria-miller-timeline-how-the-row-over-her-expenses-unfolded"> <span style="color: blue;">Your support of Maria Miller</span></a><span style="color: blue;">,</span> combined with<span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10747122/Benefit-cheats-face-higher-fines-and-losing-their-homes.html"><span style="color: blue;">Iain Duncan Smith's new plans for dealing with <u>ordinary</u> people claiming benefits they are not entitled to</span></a>, suggests </span><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/maria-miller-no-honour-no-3385581"><span style="color: blue;">your Government will always have the rich (rather than the poor) with you</span>.</a></span></i></div>
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<i>Make no mistake, the huge increase in the need for food parcels and food banks is not a sign of increased civic responsibility, regardless of your insistence. It is a sign of the failure of your economic and social policies. You seem to be paying down the deficit on the backs of the poor - what would Jesus say? I doubt he'd think that passes the "smell test". Reflect on that over Easter as well as finding "time for our whole country to reflect on what Christianity brings to Britain". <a href="http://ontheplatform.org.uk/article/poverty-action-group-calls-end-unfair-benefits-sanctions"><span style="color: blue;">I'm also praying that you'll see Easter as an opportunity to honestly assess just what your moral mission and welfare reforms bring to the UK's most needy and vulnerable.</span></a></i></div>
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<i>Yours, etc"</i></div>
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Bern O'Donoghuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08966271773147120299noreply@blogger.com0