UK DOMESTIC PRODUCT SHRINKS, OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS

The U.K. Office for National Statistics (ONS) reckons the U.K. domestic product has shrunk by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2012. Consequently, and at last, it looks like the gloves are off .The Conservatives and the Liberals have a nice little punch-up in the offing!  I'm going to say the big boy will win!

I'm a bit confused though.  Back to the ONS. Can they be trusted?  For example, who collects and presents the statistics?  

Well I think I may have the answer to the first question. Currently ONS is looking to employ researchers at Bristol Airport and the Port of Holyhead.  Hmm....... They'll be part-time employees, paid at an annualised rate of £15,601 (based on 37 hours per week) but required to work only 6 hours per week. Budding Public and Commercial Service Union members. (see my blog on Striking Border clerks on the eve of Olympics). Plenty of takers there then,  interviewing passengers.    And of course we can rely upon these well-motivated part-timers to collect data in a most diligent way given the in-depth training offered.  

Nevertheless I can't help wondering what useful statistics (i.e statistics benefiting the economy) will be extracted from hurrying travellers intercepted at the ports; and to what extent would  the statistics be reliable?

Mind you think about it. Deduct the time these part-timers could be required to comply with Union orders to withdraw labour, and they probably wont have any time to collect themselves  let alone statistics! Is it safe to assume that similar arrangements are in place to collect a broader spectrum of economic statistics? Statistics which now indicate, as presented, that the U.K. domestic product has shrunk in the second quarter.

Well I'm an optimist. Who cares about the statistics anyway?  We know what you can do with them. I'm more worried about the bizarre suggestion that dear old @Vince Cable is up to being Chancellor. And bless him, when asked, he thought that he "probably would". Such a nice chap eh?

With luck this expected Liberal Conservative punch up (behind closed doors no doubt) will soon be over and @Nick Clegg, @Vince Cable and....and.... (well most people can only think of two of them) will lie low for a bit while they lick their wounds. Will they have learned to be more careful in future?  Will they have the sense to let the Conservatives get on with things? If not they may end up in the trash: there's currently no way @Ed Milliband and his mates would need to let these lads in!!

  

OLYMPICS - GRIDLOCKED GAMES?

On your marks, get set, bang!  

O.K.  I might have to eat my words and apologise to the Der Spiegel correspondent who ridiculed U.K. arrangements for the Olympic Games. Maybe the reaction wasn't anything to do with a ticket mix-up. In fairness there are a few minor irritations: gridlocked roads; reduced Underground service; and Border control strikes.

But the Brits welcome such irritations. They love it! It gives them a chance to show the rest of the world what magnificent ability they have to muddle through. Champions of the duck and weave event!  

Gridlocked roads? No problem. It'll sort itself out. Give it a couple of days and you'll see what I mean. 

A threatened work to rule by Underground "workers"? Well regular travellers on the Underground are unlikely to notice much difference. It's always chaotic when plenty of customers turn up.  Visitors will enjoy the experience.  

O.K. then,  Border control strikes? Forget it. People will come and go as usual; just like a busy day at Burger King. 

It will be as refreshing as a bottle of Pepsi. No...... I'll sit on the der Spiegel apology a bit longer.

DAVID GAUKE AND CASH PAYMENTS

Well well. Who would have thought @David Gauke (U.K. Conservative Minister) would be the sort of chap to give Tories a bad name?  Does he really think that paying a few quid in cash to a tradesman is as morally wrong as avoiding millions through legal tax avoidance schemes ?  

Morally wrong to pay tradespeople in cash he says. Just as bad he implies as the multi-millionaire tax avoiders!   What's he going to do? Name and shame the cleaners and tradesmen who've been paid in cash ?? What makes him jump so quickly to the quite false conclusion that cash always go undeclared as income and as a ruse to avoid value added tax? Sounds a little bit disrespectful to me.

Another own goal for the Tories methinks.  Will these chumps never learn? 

Oh - and by the way - how many of us are wondering if someone, somewhere, is working hard to find a tradesman or cleaner who's done work for the Gauks? Or maybe a taxi driver he's tipped? Oh dear!! And heaven help him if someone turns up a bit of unintentional tax avoidance.  Worse still if he has a burst pipe!!

If I was @David Cameron I 'd call the bloke in for a damn good smacking (I mean a verbal bashing of course). He needs to get a grip on these loose canons. As every day passes  UKIP  is becoming more attractive to voters leaning right of centre. 

MARKETS WOBBLE AGAIN AS SPAIN STRUGGLES

Sorry to be so simplistic but it really is time for struggling European countries to revert to their own currencies - and their own unhindered governance. (N.B. if you would like a grand view of what's wrong with Europe then look up Nigel Farage on YouTube)

So, who knows how to govern Spain best?  Certainly not a multi-national European coalition of "experts" cavorting under the influence of a wasteful European Parliament ! Who then?  Why the Spanish people of course!! 

Likewise the other financially struggling countries of Europe - Portugal, Greece, Italy, and Ireland - each know best how their people will react, and what is really needed to get each of their countries through these difficult financial times.  But they have very little say in matters. Look at Greece for example.  

We can guess what will happen when shortly representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Commission (EC), and the European Central Bank (ECB) swoop.  They're going to check up on the poor buggers' recent performance.  I'm going to wager that not much has changed ( bless the Greek people and jolly good luck to them ) and the so the Representatives will leave dissatisfied and in a dilemma. To be frank, I would like to see the EC and the ECB despatched with a flea in their ears. ( I see the IMF in a quite different, more favourable, light - but maybe that's a blog for another day.) 

Left alone to govern their country, and reverting to their own currency,I am sure the resourceful Greek people would find an acceptable solution to things.  That is a solution acceptable to the Greek people; not a solution acceptable to the rest of the collapsing Eurozone participants. 

Wow ! How splendid would it be to see the courageous, proud, and magnificent Spanish and Portuguese revert to their own currencies and then deal, without interference, with their own issues absolutely through their own Parliaments?

TORIES, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL IMAGE, AND THE OLD BOY NETWORK

Why are so many people shy of voting Conservative?  And why are so many Conservative supporters defecting to UKIP?

I reckon it's down to two things. First a disastrous impact caused by forced collaboration with the Liberals in Coalition.  Liberals many view with embarrassment as politically correct,  namby pamby members of a decrepit Party comfortable only in opposition. Second a mistrust many voters have of the Public School set, its natural association with the aristocracy, tricky Bankers and other City types.

There's very little doubt in the writer's mind that a good Public School education is second to none. It should be no surprise that many excellent politicians, bankers, lawyers,City entrepreneurs and so on have a Public School background. Why should such a good education be seen as a threat?   The U.K should welcome such expertise. 

Unfortunately the Conservative's have an image of unhealthy association with the "Old Boy" network; a network many perceive as somehow evil(I'm sure they're mis-informed), and having Public School roots. Believing that image, and disliking it, they search for a more old fashioned, in your face, firm but fair, UK-first, undiluted conservative approach, and defect to UKIP. A party where the image is more Grammar School than Public School.

The Conservative Party must deal with the unfortunate perception if ever they want to get voters back. (N.B. The Labour Party has an equal number of members of the aristocracy and old boys from Public School but a completely different image!) 

The Conservatives must also deal with their very unfortunate association with the watery Liberals.  I recently blogged that Liberals are involved in government only to make up the numbers - and I'm sure we're all pleased for them.  They are all such nice people.  But @David Cameron is fast getting tarred with the same brush!!  It's losing him votes.  

As I've said before it's time to invite Cleggy to Assembly and, before prayers, to give him a damn good public whacking  !!  On your Barracuda Bike !!

"SABOTAGING" OF THE OLYMPICS

On the brink of welcoming Olympic athletes and visitors  to the U.K we hear of a rather silly attempt by a minority of U.K. Border staff to screw up things. 

Could this simply be a cry for attention by a few budding under-achievers?  Sad cases maybe  who will never fully understand quite how they've ended up in the job anyway. Those disruptive few, bless them, appear to have delusions of grandeur fuelling the unreasonable belief that somehow the U.K. taxpayer owes them something: maybe higher wages, or a job for life? Dream on dears!!

Obviously border control at this level is important. But its not rocket science!  Airport Clerks swiping passports must find it quite a challenge to fend off boredom, remain polite, and yet still do their job properly.  But I'm sure the majority do.  And that majority, unlike the remainder, probably know, career-wise, exactly why they are where they are, and what work is needed, what behaviour is required, to achieve their eventual career ambitions.   

Meanwhile as I said the other day in response to the unhappy Der Spiegel correspondent,  the U.K will no doubt muddle through somehow and eventually come out smelling of roses. I am sure, for example, that desk-bound Civil Servants would delight at taking over from absent Border staff.  In fact it might well be their ambition.

If there is to be any further talk about pay then maybe it should be performance-linked and based on the number of  migrants caught trying to enter the U.K. in contravention of regulations? 

OLYMPICS AND DER SPIEGEL

My word !  Something's upset the editor of Der Spiegel.  Publishing such vitriolic comments about the U.K's Olympic organisation does seem to be rather "over the top".

Maybe these fellows should pay more attention to the fact that the Euro is collapsing, and with it the struggling financial "centre" of Frankfurt !  German export subsidies ( courtesy of the poorer countries of the Eurozone ) will before long begin to dry up as sensible countries desert the Euro and revert to their tried and tested currencies. 

No.  More likely it's just a mix up with the Der Spiegel application for tickets?

Whatever. It's a fair bet something's shaken the poor fellow's cage, bless him.  As for the Olympics he can rely upon the U.K. to cope somehow. We've muddled through several world-class events and managed to come out smelling of roses.  So I'm going to wager that everyone involved will look back with fondness on a splendid Games.......unless of course they didn't get the tickets they wanted or carry the Der Spiegel chip !! 

UK NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE AND GP'S

Anyone who's had the misfortune to try to make an appointment with a doctor on a Monday morning ( or actually pretty much any morning ) will know just how broken this bit of the National Health system has become.  Even if eventually you get hold of an often rude receptionist you'll be lucky to get an appointment. More likely you'll be told a nurse will phone you back at some indeterminate time. Object too strongly and you risk being removed from the Practice register. Nice eh ? 

Take the case of a bit of back trouble.  Now any intelligent person knows that back trouble can vary as between minor and bloody nasty.  But if you get caught with a bit of back trouble on a Monday morning then God help you. Chances are that the best you'll get is a call from a nurse.  

This happened to a family member recently. Following about six questions they were told "...it's probably a muscular problem.  Take some paracetemol and put a hot water bottle on it."  Well, guess what? Yep, this intelligent adult had already come to the conclusion that it was probably a muscular issue and knew how to deal with such things.  The reason they wanted to see a doctor was to have an examination by a doctor to determine whether or not it was muscular; and if not was it some other minor disorder or was it bloody nasty!? And by the way if I wanted advice from a nurse I would call NHS Direct and avoid the frustration of telephone contact with a GP surgery.

But why such a problem getting an appointment with a General Practitioner? 

It seems obvious that GP's in aggregate no longer work the hours they need to provide a service patients can reasonably expect. I'm not interested in why they don't work the necessary hours.  Some say it's because there are insufficient or inefficient doctors; maybe it's because some GP's are idle or part-time; maybe they no longer really care about patients' well-being; perhaps they refuse to work a full day on Saturdays and Sundays; or quite simply they are badly organised.  One thing looks certain: they are not underpaid and neither are they overworked.  Just an fyi guys many people work in excess of 80 hours each week, and many work weekends and evenings and at night; and we're not talking about being "on call," and we're not talking about special overtime or other payments to compensate.

Is the apparent difference between some General Practitioners (and nurses) of today and those of the fifties, sixties and seventies (when the problems were less acute) the difference between a job being work and a job being a vocation? How many young GP's and nurses even understand the difference ? And they wont find the difference by looking in a dictionary.  

Of course some GP's and Practice nurses do care. All we can hope is that their especially high ethical and moral standards rub off on the rest.  I fear however these well motivated GP's are in the minority.   

COALITION DOOMED TO LAST......

@Boris Johnson is often correct in a zany sort of way.  On the coalition, however, I have to question his judgement.

Sooner if not later ( but probably later ) the Liberals and @Nick Clegg in particular will realise that their party is very much a junior Coalition partner;  it's there simply to make up numbers. Putting dear old Vince in the background would do nothing to improve the growing Liberal image of being decrepit.

So when the penny drops, so will the realisation that Liberal voters are deserting in huge numbers because they are fed up with their image of ineffective hangers-on and  fed up with being publicly humiliated by more highly skilled political partners and opponents.  The longer Nick Clegg lets this go on, the fewer punters will vote for the Liberals in any upcoming election - Local or General.

So, Boris, you might be wrong on this occasion.  On the other hand a sort of illicit encouragement for things to muddle along until 2015 might well be a rather clever ploy. One which I have yet to fathom. 

I've never voted for the Liberal party, and I don't much like the namby pamby liberal views I read about in the UK and Europe.  But, bless them,  I can't help feeling sorry for Nick Clegg and for dear old @Vince Cable;  by all accounts they do appear to be such very nice people. But "nice" just doesn't cut it when difficult decisions have to be made.