Thoughts on peace

I was brought up to think of war as evil. So it won't surprise you that I am against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have no interest in whether it's illegal or legal, moral or justifiable.

We've been at war now for most of my twenties. Over two hundred soldiers have been flown back to the UK in coffins. The equivalent of an entire secondary school full of children have lost a parent. For what?

Many readers will be aware of the ethical dilemmas that ask people whether it's ever ok to kill one person if you save two. A surprising number will answer yes. But it's not right. It's not right to ever take a life purposefully. After all how could you ever be sure 100% that the two people you are trying to save would definitely die? For the entirety of the last century we poked our nose into ethical dilemmas, deciding that we would sacrifice life for 'freedom', and have ended up continuously re-sitting the lesson the hard way.

Today, as people remember the war dead and think of those still dying painfully and in ways most of us won't be able to imagine and which won't ever be broadcast on BBC news, I hope they think about the dilemmas we face and how precious life is...

Poppy Expenses

SNP Tactical Voting has expressed outrage at a new ruling that MSPs will have to stump up the costs of a poppy wreath from their own pocket. He thinks that "the real reason for people taking exception is to do with what poppies represent but this misty-eyed patriotism is both mystifying and misguided."

Personally I don't think enforcing a donation to a charity which remembers the war dead is 'misty-eyed patriotism' at all - particularly when those who return from fighting wars are so underfunded. I find this view quite callous - and why should I pay for my own poppy and my MPs poppy wreath on top of it? After all, being in public life incurs certain charges sometimes.

Jeremy Browne MP fell foul of the ruling for MPs that poppy wreaths shouldn't be charged to the public purse shortly after being elected in 2005. According to the comments below my post, Jeremy was informed by the Mayor that claiming the money back on expenses was OK and that's why the mistake happened. I'm sure he lept for joy when he realised he had to dig into his shallow charity pocket to donate...

NUS calls for Student Loans CEO to resign

It looks as if the Student Loans Company saga of complete incompetence is set to continue, probably exacerbated by the postal strike if reports of their inept website are anything to go by. Tens of thousands of students are still waiting for money that most of them will rely solely on for food, rent, books and clothes. Apparently it is all due to the SLC taking over the entire admin for the loans from local authorities. Requests for a pilot scheme which would have ironed out any problems were refused by the Labour Minister in charge.

Only when you click in to the specific BBC education section do you hear comments from parents and students who are worried sick:

'My Daughter applied for a student loan in May this year, she hasn't even received her reference number to access her application on-line. She started University last saturday without any money, I cannot pay her fees or rent, I am just managing to give her some money for food. This is extremely stressful for her. Another student has told her that her form has been lost at the loans office and she is being asked to complete the form again. The goverment need to do something urgently, this is not fair on students who are already anxious on starting university. I am really disgusted at the way they have been left to chase up loan applications with no help or hope that it will be sorted asap.
Deborah, London'

It was good to see the President of the National Union of Students, Wes Streeting, calling for the Chief Executive of the SLC to resign:

“If they had been open about the extent of the problems, universities would have been able to plan contingency funding more effectively. It is time for Ralph Seymour-Jackson to take full responsibility for this shambles and resign immediately.”

However, why they have waited a month or two into the student term to voice this opinion, and why his is the second story on the NUS website shows the absolute misunderstanding that the SLC loan is the sole financial support of many students. I would like to see more importance attached to this issue.

It's time student poverty was taken seriously.

Interview with Matt Sellwood PPC

This is the first in an occasional series in which I interview (OK email) a Green Party parliamentary, European or council candidate. Matt Sellwood is the Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Hackney North & Stoke Newington, and a council candidate for Clissold ward.


1. What do you think is the single most important issue in the 6 months until to the General Election for the Green Party?

There is one messaging issue, and one strategic. The messaging issue is that we must find a way to communicat the broad range of our progressive, social justice and democracy orientated policies to the public - we are not just about climate change! The strategic issue is that we must stay focused on targetting our key seats - the ones where we can make a real impact.

2. What inspired you to get involved with the Green Party?

I was inspired to get involved with the Green Party by the fact that they were the only party on the left with any kind of democratic policy making process - and by my increasing knowledge about the massive global justice impacts of climate change. Being in Oxford, and therefore around inspiring Green councillors like Craig Simmons, Paul Ingram, and the late Mike Woodin, didn't hurt either!

3. What finally made you decide to stand as a candidate?

My council ward in Oxford had been represented pretty poorly by a couple of Lib Dem councillors from 2002-4 (both of whom beat Green Party friends of mine by only a handful of votes) - so I was determined to win in 2004, which I did. :) I wanted to actually get stuck in and be one of the people that I was always lobbying!

4. Best political book you’ve read?

Tough question, as there are lots! In terms of influence on my political thinking, probably 'Obsolete Communism: A Left Wing Alternative' by Danny Cohn-Bendit...who, ironically, is now miles away from the political position he adopted, correctly, in that book.

5. What age did you become interested in politics?

Probably about twelve - as soon as I worked out that the concept of people 'getting what they deserved' was a complete myth, and that the world was systematically unjust.

6. What’s the best way to deal with the BNP?

Take away the conditions which allow them to get votes and help ferment their brand of hate - i.e. build many more council houses, create a more equal society, and give people power over their own lives. Many people vote BNP because they have been abandoned by the mainstream political parties as well as by the traditional left. A progressive politics with vision could win them back and leave the BNP floundering - after all, they are an incoherent shambles, not just ideologically, but also when they get elected.

7. Strictly Come Dancing or The X Factor?

Neither please! I'm not an anti-TV or anti-popular culture person by any means, but this kind of show drives me bonkers.

8. Do you think blogging is a waste of time when other bloggers are more likely to read your posts than your potential constituents?

No - firstly, because it is possible to build a readership that isn't just fellow bloggers (Cllr Sue Luxton does quite well over at Green Ladywell, for example) - and secondly, even if it isn't, I find that it helps me to develop and articulate my response to the political issues of the day and my locality.

9. What do you think about when leafleting?

I *try* to keep alert and spot stuff for casework/the next leaflet - but quite often I end up singing songs in my head. Occasionally they spill out into actually singing them, at which point I look like a lunatic....

10. Favourite politician? (Green or otherwise)

Historical - George Lansbury.
Contemporary - Sen. Bernie Sanders, Caroline Lucas, John McDonnell. I can't choose just one!

Donate to the Hackney campaign here

Pro-foetus - Anti-women

This post on Liberal Conspiracy by Dina Rickman last week reminded me that there can be no complacency where abortion law is concerned. Rather than attacking the legal right to abortion as a whole the pro-life alliance will chip away slowly at women's rights and liberty. While I don't think Dina should be quite so concerned about a routine request for data on late term abortions I agree we should monitor the media intensely on this issue. Already there are articles floating around, inspired by this action from the campaigning group.

I have found a very biased, almost unbelievable, article from the Times who have published stories of women abusing the abortion procedure which perpetuates the nasty myth that women who have unprotected sex on purpose use this painful procedure as contraception. In this article they ignore the women's obvious mental health problems and focus entirely on her sexual activities and lack of a responsible upbringing. She needs help, not a media interview with the Times.

The reason why any debate on abortion irritates so much is that it is rarely balanced and calm. Too often the Catholic religion wades in, sometimes stifling debate with financial donations, as it is thought to have happened with Amnesty International. What should be a debate about women's liberty and health is suddenly hijacked by men, religious faith and accusations of murder. The right to assisted suicide has rarely been hijacked in such a way.

Most abortions happen when a woman is in her teens, a one-off incident never to be repeated, but you wouldn't think so from the media reports. The Department of Health have some very interesting statistics such as '89% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation; 68% were at under 10 weeks' - this despite the pro-life alliance getting in a fury about late term abortions. '2,000 abortions (1%) were under ground E, risk that the child would be born handicapped' a minuscule percentage.

I have never had an abortion myself but can easily imagine what a frightening experience it must be for a women with legal abortion available, never mind an illegal procedure.

I hope people who read this article, and Dina Rickman's, will be reminded of the constant struggle for understanding on this subject and not become complacent.

BNP - Illegal Fascist & Offensive

I've been listening closely to the arguments for and against the BNP appearing on Question Time tonight on BBC1.



Arguments against a ban:

*To ban the BNP from Question Time would be to censor a political party who have moved into the mainstream and have an MEP

They haven't moved into the mainstream. The Green Party are still viewed as being on the outskirts of politics so why is the BNP suddenly acceptable because they have an MEP? With the public's disinterest in European politics, the low voter turnout and the anti-European feeling in Britain it didn't take a huge effort from Nick Griffin.

*We need to expose the BNP for what they are

A poor and silly argument. Most people are fully aware of what the BNP stand for. I don't need to read the party's policies to know that they are fundamentally racist and that this is against the law. They evolved from the National Front which was in the full glare of publicity in the seventies. People don't forget.

*They are a legal party - if the electorate want them then in a democracy they should be allowed free reign

They are not a legal party. Nick Griffin is a criminal and it won't be long before someone takes the BNP back to court.

*We shouldn't push them underground but listen to what they have to say

They're illegal. They're racist. They should be underground. Criminals are pushed underground for a reason.


Arguments for a ban:

*Incitement to racial hatred is against the law

Remind me, why do we have laws again? This makes an absolute mockery of our legal system. Why did the Labour government pass a law making it illegal to be racist?

*We do not have free speech in this country. Free speech is removed when people's liberty or safety is in question

This links with the point above. Racist incidents could increase as a result of the BNP appearing on a mainstream political chat show. Seeing them alongside the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour participants could strengthen the criminal racist element in our towns and cities.

*Nazis in recession ridden Germany were given free reign. We live in unstable times economically - will we be able to live with ourselves if we let fascism grow just to defend an idealistic notion of 'free speech' that doesn't even exist?

Despite what people like to think, an appearance on a mainstream show such as Question Time is more dangerous than an appearance on the news. Nick Griffin won't be challenged enough directly and he will only speak on the subjects provided by the audience of the show.

Overall I don't see that any arguments for free speech outweigh the danger of fascism in the UK. The effects of fascism in Britain will be far far worse than any erosion of free speech. Even more so because we don't have free speech. I dislike my right to free thought being taken away from me because it is becoming 'right-on' to allow the BNP to inflict fascism on the UK population.

The Tories are not Green

This article proves that for all their green rhetoric and hand painted tree logos, the Tories evade green action at local level. Like the Lib Dems opposing wind farms when nationally supporting them, what the Tories say nationally needs analysing in closer detail at local level. Out of the 47 councils who are thinking of joining or have already joined the 10:10 campaign only 6 - yes, count them on two hands (unless you are deformed) - are Tory councils. Now, considering the sheer number of county councils that are blue that's quite a frightening figure.

The article states that:

"Franny Armstrong, founder of the 10:10 campaign, has expressed surprise at the lack of Tory sign-ups: "I think the phenomenal support for 10:10 shows that Britain is ready to take much stronger action on climate change."

"I'm disappointed that the Tories, who have made such positive strides on environmental policy, are acting as a roadblock to the campaign locally when their leadership has been so publicly supportive of 10:10.""

What it comes down to is that national politics gets far too much attention in London. What the media should focus on in more detail is how it is being implemented at local level like the Guardian have done here.

What are you doing for No Pay Day?

It's been two years almost to the day since I wrote to my local paper on behalf of the Fawcett Society's campaign for Equal Pay. It felt as I imagine it must feel for an ant trying to move an igloo. No-one was interested much, especially women. The paper printed my letter. Life carried on as before. Perhaps it's a fear of portraying myself as a 'hatchet-faced lesbian' that holds me back from blogging about women's issues more often on this blog. I don't see why it should - it's an issue of pure discrimination similar to the Jan Moir article and I didn't feel embarrassed about my anger over that. Much more serious, of course, but will we see No Pay Day or the Fawcett Society as trending topics on Friday Oct 30th? This is the date that we stop being paid as we earn 17% less than men. It remains to be seen. Follow them here.


Please do Sign the petition

Jeremy Browne MP - Legg Letters

Stephen Tall has published the amount of Lib Dem MPs who have a 'clean bill of health' after the Legg expenses letters were sent last week. 24 MPs have been given this result and can hold their heads high while lecturing the other parties on expenses. 8 Lib Dem MPs have confirmed that they have had to repay expenses. 4 of these are South-West MPs - Annette Brooke, Don Foster, Tim Farron and Adrian Sanders. Also notable is that this list contains Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne, the leader and twice previously leadership candidate. 9 Lib Dem MPs are supplying further information to Sir Thomas Legg (which therefore could bump the total amount of Lib Dem MPs repaying expenses to 17). This leaves 22 MPs who haven't contacted Stephen. Jeremy Browne is on this final list along with Andrew George, who has been letting his daughter stay in his flat and Richard Younger-Ross, whose argument for hideously overspending on his furniture at the taxpayer's expense was that he must have got used to luxury due to his time as 'a middle-class architectural consultant'.

It would be good if this list could be completed. Has Jeremy Browne been given a clean bill of health? Been asked for more information by Sir Thomas Legg? Or been asked to pay back your money?

Blog Action Day - Reheat Britain

Tom Chance has already blogged on this and Sian Berry has been championing this on Twitter and Facebook which initially caught my attention. I thought I'd highlight it here as well.

It's Blog Action Day and all bloggers have been invited to blog on a climate change issue. Reheat Britain is a campaign inspired by the car scrappage scheme currently in operation. As all new homes are required by Building Regulations to have efficient condensing boilers they want to see all older less greener boilers scrapped and for these to be fitted in all homes. This could also save the household £200 on gas bills and reduce fuel poverty drastically - something I feel very passionate about.

One of the questions put to Caroline Lucas today on the Guardian website was whether the party has expanded from a single issue party to a party also concerned with social issues such as poverty. This is simply an outdated view and one firmly put to bed when the Green Party are seen to support vital social issues such as fuel poverty.

Please sign the petition today.