Well, almost.
His conversation with Peter Hennessy this morning revealed that he had been one of Iain Macleod's followers, a one-nation Tory, when at university. He was also proud of the fact that he had virtually single-handedly persuaded President Bush snr. to attend the Rio climate-change conference which resulted in the USA acceding to the terms of the first international climate-change agreement. Mr Howard remains a believer in humanity's making a major contribution to global warming.
He had also been a supporter, along with other members of the "Cambridge Mafia", of Britain's membership of the European Community. He asserted that he would still be a supporter of a reformed European Union, but what changed him into a Leaver was David Cameron's dramatic failure to achieve any changes just before the referendum. To my mind, this was evidence of Mr Cameron's weakness - and previous UK ministers' failure to engage in Europe - rather than an immutability on the part of the EU.
He also claimed to have reduced crime in England & Wales. This is somewhat disingenuous. Some of his reforms at the Home Office may have been worthwhile, but statistics show that crime rates throughout the western world showed a similar decline in the same period.
His long-standing support of Liverpool FC was already well-known, and that he had tried to organise a soccer team at Llanelli Grammar School. However, in a much earlier interview he had revealed that he had also been a vice-president of Swansea Town. It would have been good to know if he had continued that interest.
Thursday, 31 August 2017
I remember where I was ....
... when Richard Nixon said on live television that he had never been a quitter. In August 1974 I was on a course in the residential training centre of ICL* in Old Windsor. Probably after a late-night snooker session I was prowling the lounges in search of a coffee pot which was still warm, when I noticed that a TV was still on, and Nixon's face was on it. He was delivering his famous "I am not a crook" speech and it was being relayed live by BBC.
Mrs May has not so far confirmed our worst fears by declaring that her administration is not criminal, but she has echoed his line about not being a quitter. She is tempting fate, as Nixon did.
* In those far-off days when the UK still had a major computer manufacturer, before Mrs T came along to declare that it was not necessary for Britain to make computers, in a foretaste of Patrick Minford's assessment that UK would thrive outside the EU without industry.
Mrs May has not so far confirmed our worst fears by declaring that her administration is not criminal, but she has echoed his line about not being a quitter. She is tempting fate, as Nixon did.
* In those far-off days when the UK still had a major computer manufacturer, before Mrs T came along to declare that it was not necessary for Britain to make computers, in a foretaste of Patrick Minford's assessment that UK would thrive outside the EU without industry.
Regional cheeses back at our local Tesco
I do not suppose that Dave Lewis reads my blog - more likely there was a wave of protest by dissatisfied customers - but a month after I posted about Cheshire disappearing from the Neath Abbey store, it is back on the shelves along with Wensleydale and Lancashire.
Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Reporting the floods
One can understand the extensive coverage of the effects of hurricane Harvey: a dozen people have died, 30,000 families have been displaced from Texas' most populous city and inundation records have been broken. Clearly global warming played its part in the disaster which has struck in the back yard of the world's most significant climate-change denier, Donald J Trump. Besides all this, video footage from multiple sources is available.
But spare a thought for India, Nepal and Bangladesh where extreme monsoon rains have led to the deaths of 1,200 people, destroyed agriculture and removed over 100,000 homes. The relatively rich India has set up a £78m disaster fund, but Nepal and Bangladesh will almost certainly need outside help. A bit more publicity by the BBC would help the aid agencies provide this.
But spare a thought for India, Nepal and Bangladesh where extreme monsoon rains have led to the deaths of 1,200 people, destroyed agriculture and removed over 100,000 homes. The relatively rich India has set up a £78m disaster fund, but Nepal and Bangladesh will almost certainly need outside help. A bit more publicity by the BBC would help the aid agencies provide this.
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
Conservative son of Southwark
John Leech, who seems to have been the man who popularised the change of the original meaning of the word "cartoon" , was born off Stamford Street in Southwark 200 years ago today. He is probably best known today for his illustrations of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but he was also a major contributor to Punch magazine. His archive shows a conservative bent, inveighing against free entry of foreigners, bans on smoking and free trade among other things. To his credit, he also attacked the exploitation of poor workers (though he seems to have been against trade unions) and the pollution of the Thames, with its attendant diseases.
Golden power
For the last three years, Glastonbury (and a few other) festival-goers have contributed to renewable electricity generation via their excreta. Bristol BioEnergy Centre's Microbial Fuel Cells were installed under urinals and provided electrical power for lighting. An article by BBiC's Jonathan Winfield and Ioannis Ieropoulos in the CAT magazine Clean Slate earlier this year looks forward to how the technology may develop. It concludes:
It is our hope that it won't be too long before microbial fuel cells are a part of our lives. Perhaps we'll have charging ports in our toilets? So back to you, the reader's bladder movements. Perhaps you're ready to go now? When you do, just remember that what you're flushing down the pan could one day be a means for lighting your yard or charging your phone.
Monday, 28 August 2017
Labour's timid approach to the elimination of poverty
Caron Lindsay points up a discrepancy between Labour's image of wishing to narrow the gap between rich and poor, and Corbyn's actual commitment. She reports that, ahead of a speech in Cambridge, the Labour spin machine briefed reporters that Corbyn would promise to end the freeze in already meagre benefits which, as prices go up, makes it even harder for people to survive. Instead, Mr Corbyn rolled up and said only: “We are confident that we will be able to end the benefits freeze.”
Anyone would think that Corbyn and McDonnell want to keep the poor that way.
No such equivocation on the part of Liberal Democrats. Caron quotes the 2017 manifesto:
"The Liberal Democrats are clear – balancing the books on the backs of the poor and disabled, and demonising people who claim benefits, is neither acceptable nor responsible. Although all government budgets must be scrutinised to minimise waste and ensure value for money, this must not be used as an excuse to attack the poor and vulnerable. In any case it is more effective to tackle the causes of the benefits bill – low pay, high rents, unemployment and ill-health.
"That’s why we will reverse unfair Conservative policies like reducing support for younger people and cutting the benefits of people not fit for work. We will reinstate the legally binding poverty targets of the Child Poverty Act. We will:
"Uprate working-age benefits at least in line with inflation."
It has become clear that the Liberal Democrats held the Tories back from doing all sorts of horrible things with benefits. Osborne wanted to implement the benefits freeze during the Coalition but Nick Clegg wouldn’t let him. We stopped them taking Housing Benefits from young people and set the benefit cap, which many of us vehemently disagree with, at a much more humane level. Since we’ve been off the scene, the Tories have shown their usual disdain for those who need the vital safety net that social security provides.
While I would be the first to admit that our record in coalition was far from perfect, there is simply no excuse for the Labour Party to carry the benefits freeze on.
Anyone would think that Corbyn and McDonnell want to keep the poor that way.
No such equivocation on the part of Liberal Democrats. Caron quotes the 2017 manifesto:
"The Liberal Democrats are clear – balancing the books on the backs of the poor and disabled, and demonising people who claim benefits, is neither acceptable nor responsible. Although all government budgets must be scrutinised to minimise waste and ensure value for money, this must not be used as an excuse to attack the poor and vulnerable. In any case it is more effective to tackle the causes of the benefits bill – low pay, high rents, unemployment and ill-health.
"That’s why we will reverse unfair Conservative policies like reducing support for younger people and cutting the benefits of people not fit for work. We will reinstate the legally binding poverty targets of the Child Poverty Act. We will:
"Uprate working-age benefits at least in line with inflation."
It has become clear that the Liberal Democrats held the Tories back from doing all sorts of horrible things with benefits. Osborne wanted to implement the benefits freeze during the Coalition but Nick Clegg wouldn’t let him. We stopped them taking Housing Benefits from young people and set the benefit cap, which many of us vehemently disagree with, at a much more humane level. Since we’ve been off the scene, the Tories have shown their usual disdain for those who need the vital safety net that social security provides.
While I would be the first to admit that our record in coalition was far from perfect, there is simply no excuse for the Labour Party to carry the benefits freeze on.
Saturday, 26 August 2017
State of public libraries
I am grateful to 4imprint's Public Sector News for a review of the state of public libraries in England (and
presumably Wales, since the same legal and financial imperatives apply, even though the administration is separate). The writer points out that:
According to recent figures from the Carnegie UK Trust, 1 in 2 of us still visit our local library. Interestingly, 15 to 24-year-olds are the most likely group to use a library, with over-55s being least likely to do so. That's perhaps the opposite of what many might have initially assumed, and a good example of why library operators must understand the specific needs of the people they can serve.
However:
The library service has come under huge pressure in recent years, with many being closed as councils aim to absorb public sector spending cuts. In fact, a recent study by the BBC found that between 2010 and 2016, more than 300 have closed. But all has not been lost, as the number of volunteers helping to keep libraries operational has nearly doubled from 15,861 to 31,403 over these six years. It's an indication of how library services are seeking to adapt to changing times.
One appreciates the public spirit of those volunteers, in spite of the perception that local authorities are exploiting cheap labour, but there must be a concern that the experience and knowledge of trained librarians is being lost. A key finding of the Carnegie UK Trust study was that most people believe providing better information on the services that libraries offer would encourage greater use. Clearly, having expert advice on-hand must be part of that provision.
The writer is on the whole optimistic:
In a sense, the traditional role of the library has been diminished. But that doesn't mean they've outlived their usefulness. Instead, they can look to see where they might be able to add genuine value to the local community in other ways. For instance, is there a large proportion of unconnected people in the area who could benefit from having affordable computer access?
[...]
Many libraries are starting to position themselves as a community hub and place where local people can gather and interact. For instance, some offer cafe facilities alongside their traditional books and computers, giving people the chance to come in for a slice of cake and a mug of tea as well as a read! This can be an effective revenue generator, raising funds that help to subsidise every aspect of managing a library, and an appealing USP that gets people inside and learning about the services available. Alternatively, libraries could reach out to local schools and businesses, offering themselves as a venue for events. Again, this could get people who might not otherwise visit to come inside and learn what else a modern library can offer.
Some local libraries in Neath Port Talbot indeed offer additional facilities - for instance, the family history sessions at Taibach Community Library. However, the continued downgrading of the borough's libraries with the aim of saving money in the short term must be resisted.
According to recent figures from the Carnegie UK Trust, 1 in 2 of us still visit our local library. Interestingly, 15 to 24-year-olds are the most likely group to use a library, with over-55s being least likely to do so. That's perhaps the opposite of what many might have initially assumed, and a good example of why library operators must understand the specific needs of the people they can serve.
However:
The library service has come under huge pressure in recent years, with many being closed as councils aim to absorb public sector spending cuts. In fact, a recent study by the BBC found that between 2010 and 2016, more than 300 have closed. But all has not been lost, as the number of volunteers helping to keep libraries operational has nearly doubled from 15,861 to 31,403 over these six years. It's an indication of how library services are seeking to adapt to changing times.
One appreciates the public spirit of those volunteers, in spite of the perception that local authorities are exploiting cheap labour, but there must be a concern that the experience and knowledge of trained librarians is being lost. A key finding of the Carnegie UK Trust study was that most people believe providing better information on the services that libraries offer would encourage greater use. Clearly, having expert advice on-hand must be part of that provision.
The writer is on the whole optimistic:
In a sense, the traditional role of the library has been diminished. But that doesn't mean they've outlived their usefulness. Instead, they can look to see where they might be able to add genuine value to the local community in other ways. For instance, is there a large proportion of unconnected people in the area who could benefit from having affordable computer access?
[...]
Many libraries are starting to position themselves as a community hub and place where local people can gather and interact. For instance, some offer cafe facilities alongside their traditional books and computers, giving people the chance to come in for a slice of cake and a mug of tea as well as a read! This can be an effective revenue generator, raising funds that help to subsidise every aspect of managing a library, and an appealing USP that gets people inside and learning about the services available. Alternatively, libraries could reach out to local schools and businesses, offering themselves as a venue for events. Again, this could get people who might not otherwise visit to come inside and learn what else a modern library can offer.
Some local libraries in Neath Port Talbot indeed offer additional facilities - for instance, the family history sessions at Taibach Community Library. However, the continued downgrading of the borough's libraries with the aim of saving money in the short term must be resisted.
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