First up has to be yesterdays lovely pictures of Greece's smiling Prime Minister with the European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker's arm extended warmly around his shoulder. What great body language. "We'll sort out something for you my boy" it says. Unlikely to see David Cameron get quite the same sort of warmth but we can live in hope. If keeping Greece in the Eurozone, for which it was never really financially eligible and in the EU is so important, how much more so is it for Mr Junker and friends to keep the UK in the EU? We should never forget that the unlamented Gordon Brown did the country one enormous favour when he rejected Tony Blair's wild enthusiasm for the UK adopting the Euro and thereby becoming welded into this disastrous one size fits Germany straitjacket. At least he saw where that one was coming from.
Talking of the relics of the 1997-2010 Labour dynasty it is no surprise to see that Lord (There's a true socialist title for you,- once they've tasted the good claret) Mandelson was beaten into third place in the election for the Chancellorship of Manchester University. He and his co-loser Sir Mark Elder a locally distinguished musician, will though be heartened by the Times report that Dame Nancy Rothwell, the President and Vice Chancellor has said that "other prestigious roles" are being sought for them. One has to ask why? Is the university not doing perfectly well without them ? Why create new roles just because you've got a couple of nice "terribly influential" celebs hanging about? Are they short of a crust or prestige so need new pedestals ? Even if they were why should Manchester University come to their aid, especially if it costs them any money? It all sounds a bit luvvie. Clearly anybody to do with this circle to have a title anyway and that's another growing British social problem worth a study of its own.
Also looking a bit luvvie is Richmond's golden boy MP Zac Goldsmith's declaration today that he will be running for the Tory nomination for Mayor of London. While current incumbent Boris, complete with an Eton and Oxford background, has a great man of the people touch and above all is seen as fun, Goldsmith, is different. He is undoubtedly popular in Tory quarters especially the Richmond sort, but is very much the man of the gilded cage and may struggle to find common ground with swathes of other Londoners. He's not exactly the sort of man you might expect to possibly bump into in the greasy spoon, newsagents ,on the bus or train whereas with Boris, perhaps it's unlikely in reality but you feel you just might and its the impression that counts.
That reminds us that Sir Harold Davies is in the next few weeks,- probably as close to Parliament breaking up for the long hols as possible,- due to reveal his recommendations on new runways for southern England. This is a tough one for an establishment man conscious of what is asked of him. We mean what is really asked of him .The first thing ,- and this bit was utterly clear,- was the absurd demand by the last government three years ago that he should not report before the May 2015 General Election.So began the longest essay in history. Three hours should have been enough, or three weeks in non exam conditions. Everyone knows the best answer for UK Plc is Heathrow and even better for both Heathrow and Gatwick so that a) There really is enough capacity and b) The two airports can slug it out competitively for growth. Everyone also knows that the recommendation will most likely be a fudge and unsatisfactory to everybody. The need for more runway slots is immediate,- or rather at least ten years ago. The report is more likely to talk about ten years hence,- which is about the earliest we could expect actual concrete anyway,- and point towards Gatwick while leaving the options open to review Heathrow again " in the long term" . That's to say to do absolutely nothing about it within the lifetime of most people now on the planet. Although it is a national issue and the UK has a population of 63.8 million and an electorate of 46.1 million the decision could rest on just three inside the M25 west London people the Prime Minister doesn't want to upset and who might cause him grief. Such is sometimes the reality of democracy. Zac Goldsmith, Boris Johnson and Justine Greening all west London MPs. A nonsense? Of course. It would never have come to this if it hadn't been for Cameron's wobbly knees before the 2010 General Election. Under Lord Adonis as Minister for Transport Heathrow was almost ready to start digging. Cameron thought that the only way to secure West London constituencies was to say no to Heathrow expansion. He was wrong as he would have won the seats anyway without that commitment. Ever since he has been squirming on his self made rack. Now is the time to take command and tell the recalcitrants to get off the runway but when push comes to shove he's not very good at that.
Down in the Med another storm is brewing. Her Majesty's Royal Navy and others are fishing "refugees" out of the water in ever increasing numbers. That's right and fine but instead of landing them back in North Africa they being transported to Italy where nobody is really clear or sure about what should happen next. For the vast majority who are economic migrants rather than escapees from the real Syrian and allied Middle East conflicts the answer should be simple quick flight home , the only place from which applications can be considered. The almost universal underlying belief is that this is unlikely and eventually they will be able to move northwards to the desired goals of the more welfare generous countries. Once established they would expect to be able to bring in their, often large, families. This is incentivising the traffickers to step up their efforts. They now know that they barely need to equip their boats with engines but just push them off the Libyan coast and the passengers will be taken care of. There is a real possibility of not millions but tens of millions heading north in a short space of time. European heads fail to grasp this and instead talk for ever about "desperate people". They are stuck in idealistic quasi liberal sand refusing to think through the consequences and doing nothing concrete while a real human crisis builds. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has given the advice one might expect. Inevitably he has his human rights critics at home and abroad but his policy of making it absolutely clear that the vast majority of the boat economic migrants will never be able to settle in Australia is working. This is probably the only recipe that will. It might seem tough but it means that nobody setting of on these often hazardous and expensive journeys is under any illusions that their journeys will almost certainly lead right back home after a lot of discomfort along the way. If Europe is prepared to be changed utterly, ,impoverished and overwhelmed by numbers then its present policy is fine. If not, not. The whole thing seems to be way beyond most EU politicians, and hey, its nearly hols time in Brussels too.
That's the week so far. And it's only Tuesday.
Talking of the relics of the 1997-2010 Labour dynasty it is no surprise to see that Lord (There's a true socialist title for you,- once they've tasted the good claret) Mandelson was beaten into third place in the election for the Chancellorship of Manchester University. He and his co-loser Sir Mark Elder a locally distinguished musician, will though be heartened by the Times report that Dame Nancy Rothwell, the President and Vice Chancellor has said that "other prestigious roles" are being sought for them. One has to ask why? Is the university not doing perfectly well without them ? Why create new roles just because you've got a couple of nice "terribly influential" celebs hanging about? Are they short of a crust or prestige so need new pedestals ? Even if they were why should Manchester University come to their aid, especially if it costs them any money? It all sounds a bit luvvie. Clearly anybody to do with this circle to have a title anyway and that's another growing British social problem worth a study of its own.
Also looking a bit luvvie is Richmond's golden boy MP Zac Goldsmith's declaration today that he will be running for the Tory nomination for Mayor of London. While current incumbent Boris, complete with an Eton and Oxford background, has a great man of the people touch and above all is seen as fun, Goldsmith, is different. He is undoubtedly popular in Tory quarters especially the Richmond sort, but is very much the man of the gilded cage and may struggle to find common ground with swathes of other Londoners. He's not exactly the sort of man you might expect to possibly bump into in the greasy spoon, newsagents ,on the bus or train whereas with Boris, perhaps it's unlikely in reality but you feel you just might and its the impression that counts.
That reminds us that Sir Harold Davies is in the next few weeks,- probably as close to Parliament breaking up for the long hols as possible,- due to reveal his recommendations on new runways for southern England. This is a tough one for an establishment man conscious of what is asked of him. We mean what is really asked of him .The first thing ,- and this bit was utterly clear,- was the absurd demand by the last government three years ago that he should not report before the May 2015 General Election.So began the longest essay in history. Three hours should have been enough, or three weeks in non exam conditions. Everyone knows the best answer for UK Plc is Heathrow and even better for both Heathrow and Gatwick so that a) There really is enough capacity and b) The two airports can slug it out competitively for growth. Everyone also knows that the recommendation will most likely be a fudge and unsatisfactory to everybody. The need for more runway slots is immediate,- or rather at least ten years ago. The report is more likely to talk about ten years hence,- which is about the earliest we could expect actual concrete anyway,- and point towards Gatwick while leaving the options open to review Heathrow again " in the long term" . That's to say to do absolutely nothing about it within the lifetime of most people now on the planet. Although it is a national issue and the UK has a population of 63.8 million and an electorate of 46.1 million the decision could rest on just three inside the M25 west London people the Prime Minister doesn't want to upset and who might cause him grief. Such is sometimes the reality of democracy. Zac Goldsmith, Boris Johnson and Justine Greening all west London MPs. A nonsense? Of course. It would never have come to this if it hadn't been for Cameron's wobbly knees before the 2010 General Election. Under Lord Adonis as Minister for Transport Heathrow was almost ready to start digging. Cameron thought that the only way to secure West London constituencies was to say no to Heathrow expansion. He was wrong as he would have won the seats anyway without that commitment. Ever since he has been squirming on his self made rack. Now is the time to take command and tell the recalcitrants to get off the runway but when push comes to shove he's not very good at that.
Down in the Med another storm is brewing. Her Majesty's Royal Navy and others are fishing "refugees" out of the water in ever increasing numbers. That's right and fine but instead of landing them back in North Africa they being transported to Italy where nobody is really clear or sure about what should happen next. For the vast majority who are economic migrants rather than escapees from the real Syrian and allied Middle East conflicts the answer should be simple quick flight home , the only place from which applications can be considered. The almost universal underlying belief is that this is unlikely and eventually they will be able to move northwards to the desired goals of the more welfare generous countries. Once established they would expect to be able to bring in their, often large, families. This is incentivising the traffickers to step up their efforts. They now know that they barely need to equip their boats with engines but just push them off the Libyan coast and the passengers will be taken care of. There is a real possibility of not millions but tens of millions heading north in a short space of time. European heads fail to grasp this and instead talk for ever about "desperate people". They are stuck in idealistic quasi liberal sand refusing to think through the consequences and doing nothing concrete while a real human crisis builds. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has given the advice one might expect. Inevitably he has his human rights critics at home and abroad but his policy of making it absolutely clear that the vast majority of the boat economic migrants will never be able to settle in Australia is working. This is probably the only recipe that will. It might seem tough but it means that nobody setting of on these often hazardous and expensive journeys is under any illusions that their journeys will almost certainly lead right back home after a lot of discomfort along the way. If Europe is prepared to be changed utterly, ,impoverished and overwhelmed by numbers then its present policy is fine. If not, not. The whole thing seems to be way beyond most EU politicians, and hey, its nearly hols time in Brussels too.
That's the week so far. And it's only Tuesday.
