The EU – On the same planet as the rest of us?

The Times Online reports that not only do the EU want a 5.8% increase in funds from member nations but they also want to see the UK’s budget before it is announced in Parliament.

Taking the second point first.  It was bad enough that the last government would announce policies during chat shows.  To have a “foreign power” expecting to have a right to a first look and then expecting to have input is even worse.

As for the 5.80% budget increase.  Why on Earth should the EU have an increase when all its members are seeking reductions in their domestic budgets?  What savings or efficiencies are the EU implementing to meet the current financial situation?  There is also the “small” matter of the EU’s account not being signed off by auditors.  To my mind no member State should be obliged to up its contribution until such time as the accounts are duly audited.

HIGNFY – Prescott’s Performance

I watched John Prescott chair last night’s “Have I got News for You”.  I overcame my initial inclination to watch anything something else.  All in all it wasn’t too bad, although it did seem to be hogged by Prescott and Hislop at times.  I almost warmed to Prescott but memories of the past few years brought me back to reality.

Mad Hattie’s Equal Rights.

I see from Guido Fawke’s blog at Order Order that Harriet Harman is trying to bounce the Parliamentary Labour Party into having 50% of the Shadow Cabinet reserved for women. 

According to Wikipedia (I know, I know) there are, out of a total of 22, 19 seats up for grabs.  Assuming that the Leader and the Leader of the Lords will both be male following internal elections, that will leave 9 seats available for male MPs and 10 for the women.  Excluding the male Leader and Harriet, the available pool of candidates will be 176 male and 80 women.  That will make the odds of getting a shadow post about 1 in 19 for the blokes and 1 in 8 for the girls.  That’s equality Harriet style.

Cumbrian Troubles

You cannot but be saddened and shocked by recent events in Cumbria.  First there was the school coach crash and now the shootings.  I think there is sufficient sense of community to work through the aftermath of these tragedies.

Random Thoughts

I have commented on a number of blogs over the past few months and finally felt it was time to inflict my ramblings on the world. No doubt I, like thousands of others, will be blogging to ourselves.

Presupposing I can be be bothered to post anything.