Hammersmith & Fulham to cut council tax

Hammersmith & Fulham council is cutting its council tax by 3%. This is good news for council tax payers as council tax accross London has gone up by 86% since 1997.

Council tax is set to rise across London again this year, so Hammersmith & Fulham are bucking this trend. What is more they are not cutting front line services to do it. Here is what they are cutting:

• £3 million saved from improved efficiency like contracting out some services and sharing others with other boroughs
• £5 million from reducing bureaucracy, staff and office costs including cutting political advisers and policy officers.
• Over £1million from increased income from expanded controlled parking, events and selling advertising space.
• £3million from getting better value for money from suppliers and from using new IT systems to cut costs.
• £0.5million from reduced debt payments.

What is impressive is that they are doing this whilst Ken Livingstone is increasing his share of the take.

Well, I suppose if Wandsworth can do it, so can Hammersmith & Fulham.

Of course all this has happened since May 2006 when Hammersmith & Fulham decisively changed hands from Labour to Conservative. We will have to see if central government reduces their grant now they are a Conservative council. Seems to be the way it works elsewhere.

You can also see this interview with Cllr Mark Loveday, Cabinet Member for Strategy on 18doughtystreet.com.

Update 12:36

I forgot to mention that Hammersmith and Fulham councils website is here, and their press release on the subject is here.

What Conservatism means to me

Is an article that I wrote for the Birmingham University Conservative Future blog here.

Please have a read.

The home Improvement Tax

This story seems to surface from time to time. You can read what the Sunday Telegraph had to say here.

Basically it seems that there is a trial in Northern Ireland (no Labour seats there) for a new way of doing what amounts to council tax.

They seem to want yearly valuations. Except these won't actually be proper valuations, because to send a qualified valuer around every year to asses the tax would have in 1997 have cost between 50 and 150% of the tax collected and would now still be a bit silly.

No they are talking about taking a base line valuation then adding for "home improvements". This would be various ways of finding out if you have done up your bathroom or put up a shed. Apparently Sir Michael Lyons who is leading an inquiry into local government finance is in favour of annual revaluations as we have the technology.

One of the problems we face is those who will not learn from history and those who have no idea how other people live. I can see two problems with this policy.

Firstly, there is the window tax case. When the window tax was introduced to raise money it was a great idea. You can now see houses built in this period because they have small windows and windows which would be there but for the tax. The ultimate result will be a cut in the home improvements business, as in DIY shops and builders. It will also mean that people who have struggled to get on the housing ladder will get penalised for fixing up their house. Not good for the economy or hard working families.

However there is the second and I suspect unintended consequence which is this: The effect on social housing.

The householder in a council or housing association house is responsible for the council tax, unless there is no adult in the house working. These houses are getting money spent on them albeit sporadically, on things like new bathrooms and double glazing. The tenant's do not get much of a say, but will be hit by an increased tax bill for some thing they have not done. Some of these people work in marginal jobs as it is, and this may push them over the edge.

You have to ask though what is the main motivation for the reform? The answer will look like a new way of raising tax, it will hit a sector of the economy and will also hit people in social housing with unexpected increases in tax. In short it will be a disaster.

Blair catches up, but after the dog

It appears that Tony Blair will say that the manner of Saddam's execution was a bit wrong. This is after Gordon Brown, John Prescott, and everyman, and their dog has already made comment on the issue.

Just goes to show that not only is he the lamest of ducks, but he is behind the times as well.


You can read the BBC on it here, and the Telegraph had this here.

I hear that other co defendants face execution during the week. If any one from the Iraqi government is reading this, the trick, people, is this: Make sure that there is only one official version, and make it look as good as possible.

Home Office Still unfit for purpose

It appears that the head of the prison service, Phil Wheatley has admitted that his service has no idea of how many escaped prisoners have been recaptured. Originally he said he did not need to know because they know who they are looking for on a local level. This has unsurprisingly drawn incredulous remarks from both the media and opposition parties who find this position a bit bonkers.

The story developed over the day, and now Phil Wheatley says there is an urgent need for a database. It seems that this is the case so hat he no longer has to face the incredulity he has faced today, rather than the more obvious reason that you need the feedback to know what is going on. We need to know how many people are left to catch, and of what class of criminal they are in order to know how big the problem is. The fact that he thinks he needs a database as some sort of PR exercise rather than the more obvious management feedback, indicates that he does not understand why he is doing what he is doing and goes to show just how bad things in the Home office really are. It is clearly still not fit for purpose, and as John Reid does not appear to have made it better I think it is safe to say that the Home office will have ended another ministerial career early. I wonder if the betting prices on John Reid becoming Leader if the Labour party will start to drift out now on the betting markets.

You can read the BBC's article here, and the Telegraphs here.

Israel's planned Nuclear attack on Iran

The Sunday Times carries this story claiming that Israel is planning a tactical nuclear strike on Iran if something is not done about Iran's nuclear program.

As the article suggests this may be a bit of brinkmanship or bluff on the part of Israel, however it is also seriously deranged.

I think most people would agree that Iran getting nuclear weapons would not be a good thing, but it is precisely this sort of threat that makes it politically justifiable in Iran to strive for a nuclear weapon. Further more nuclear weapons have not been used since World War two, and for good reason, they are an unacceptable escalation. lastly of course Israel does not admit to having nuclear weapons, and has rightly maintained "ambiguity" on the issue as a matter of policy for decades. Undoubtedly this was the right course as they could not be criticised for having something no one could prove they had, but would not be attacked as they might have it. The policy did have the issue of legitimising others in the area trying to go nuclear though. However recently Ehud Olmert in a casual slip of the tongue admitted having nuclear weapons. That clearly was a mistake.

A nuclear attack on Iran would also have much wider and more serious implications. There is already an Islamic bomb, in Pakistan, who's government would come under severe pressure in the event of a nuclear strike. It would also justify North Korea's position on nuclear weapons as well.

Interestingly Syria realised long ago that it could get away with building up chemical and biological weapons to threaten Israel with almost unnoticed until it was too late, thereby assuring that across the Golan Heights there is Mutually assured destruction. In some ways that looks positive.

Clearly what is needed is a comprehensive peace in the Middle East and a nuclear umbrella over it provided by the USA and UK. Unfortunately our record in stopping genocide since World War two probably means that won't be trusted.

Gordon Brown And Saddam Hussein

Interestingly after john Prescott condemned the nature of the hanging of Saddam Hussein as deplorable last Wednesday, Gordon Brown has joined in agreeing.

In an interview with Andrew Marr to be broadcast tomorrow, he will also describe the nature of the execution as deplorable. Good. Meanwhile Tony Blair remains silent on the issue whilst Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says he will review relations with any country which criticises the execution. Umm... Well, if there is nothing to criticise, then why hold an enquiry?

Gordon also admits that there have been some mistakes in Iraq policy. It is so jolly good of him to notice. I wonder how that will go down in Washington though. You can see AM with Andrew Marr at 9 AM Sunday the 7th of January, or read the BBC report here or you can do both!

However on the upside, the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki did announce a crack down on all militias no matter how they are connected politically or from what sectarian group they come from. Good I say, lets hope it works. You can read the BBC report here.

My other predictions for 2007

Politicalbetting.com is running a prediction competition for 2007, and here is my entry:

On Christmas Day 2007 who will be…?
1. Prime Minister Gordon Brown
2. Leader of the Opposition David Cameron
3. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Menzies Campbell
4. Deputy Leader of the Labour Party None
5. Chancellor of the Exchequer Douglas Alexander
6. President of France S Royal
7. Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond
8. Leader based on average of the three latest polls in race for the Democratic nomination Barak Obama
9. Leader based on average of the three latest polls in race for the Republican nomination John McCain

For how many days during 2007 will…?
10. Tony Blair serve as PM 280
11. Ming Campbell serve as Lib Dem Leader 365
12. David Cameron serve as Tory Leader 365
13. Lembit Opik serve as LD party spokesman on Wales and Northern Ireland 365
14. The “Cash for Honours” investigation continue without any current members of the House of Commons or the House of Lords being charged 125
15. The Conservative Party candidate “A-List” continue in its current form 365

What increase/decrease in the monthly Guardian ICM poll will there be for…?
16. Labour, compared with an average of the party’s ratings for the previous three months, when the new leader takes over the office +3%
17. Labour in the third month after the new leader has taken over compared with the first month. -5%

What will the Guardian ICM Poll report as..?
18. The Tories highest rating during the year 42
19. The Tories lowest rating during the year 34
20. The LDs highest rating during the year 22
21. The LDs lowest rating during the year 24

Seat losses and gains in the May 3rd elections.
22. Net SNP seats won/lost for the Scottish Parliament +6
23. Net PC seats won/lost for the Welsh Assembly +4
24. Net Labour seats won/lost for the Scottish Parliament -7
25. Net Labour seats won/lost for the Welsh Assembly -4
26. Net Labour seats won/lost for the local elections -550
27. Net Lib Dem seats won/lost for the local elections -75

Which is also here.

Iain Dale has his here.

You can view the whole thread here.

John Prescott and Saddam Hussein

I seldom agree with John "Two Shags" Prescott, but here I do.

I do not agree with capitol punishment, but if you are going to execute someone it must be done with some sense of dignity. This clearly was not the case here.

If you are going to execute some one, then the last people the condemned man sees are his hangman and religious minister. Witnesses are kept separate. There is no record other than the official record. No one has a camera other than the official recorder.

The Iraqi government has launched an investigation. Well, it is too late. The horse has already bolted. The man has been hanged, the die has been cast.

Less haste more speed. More brains more success.

You can read the BBC article here.

Ellie Lawrenson and the pit bull terrier

I have to say I think every ones heart has to go out to the parents of Ellie Lawrenson. Her tragic and very violent death must be painful. They will live with this for the rest of their lives. Ellie's grandmother clearly fought bravely to save the girl and was badly injured. I am surprised she fared so well.

What is it about people? take the hint from the name. A pit bull terrier is a dog that is bred to fight a bull in a pit. hardly a cuddly family pet, more like a sworn off shotgun with a hair trigger.

I understand the police are looking at criminal charges for the owner, who may be an uncle. Good. Leaving a sworn off shot gun lying about with kids around would could be negligence amounting to either manslaughter or murder.

However people should note that children and dogs need to be supervised as children can do things to dogs that may cause them to bite. Provided the dog is good tempered and the child able to learn it is not a problem, but that is seldom the case.

You can read the BBC's article here.

Smoking age set to rise

As a smoker I feel heavily put upon these days. I can work in an environment where the air is not fit to breath but can't smoke. I won't go into the rights and wrongs of that now though.

I understand the government intends to raise the age at which it is legal to buy cigarettes from 16 to 18 in October.

The reasoning seems sound. Retailers say that it is difficult to tell a 16 and 1 day old from a 16 less one say old, as there is little valid ID. If they only had to serve people above 18, then it would be easier to tell and so sales to underage children would be reduced.

Fine, I can see the logic, and I agree with the aim. However I do take issue with how it is being done. What is going to happen is that people who could legally buy cigarettes on one day may have to wait up to 1 year and 364 days to buy their next pack. That is wrong. Those who are addicted will find ways to get their cigarettes and pass them on to younger children. It would be so much better to phase in the age rise over a couple of years so as not to end up with the anomaly.

You can read the BBC's article on the subject here.

My Predictions for 2007

Here are my predictions for 2007:

• 2007 will start on January the 1st.
• There will be charges in the Cash for Peerages/Honours scandal.
• The threat of charges will cause canaries to sing.
• Charges will be brought for obstructing the police investigation.
  
• Gordon Brown will end up with a coronation in about September.
• There will be no deputy leadership election either on grounds of cost.
• There won't be a snap election, or indeed any in 2007.
• Labour will lose 350 to 500 seats in the May locals.
• Labour will lose control of the Welsh and Scottish Assemblies.
• There will be no consensus on party funding so Labour will force something through which will be unpopular in the country and will be reversed when the government changes hands.

I could go on, but I think that covers it. I think the first prediction is a cert as well ;)

Update 22:14

I forgot to say Happy New Year to every one! I hope you all had a good Christmas!

Saddam Hussein and Gerald Ford still dead

I have not said anything much about Gerald Ford, who died at 93. Seemed like a good bloke and seemed to do a good job. I was only 8 at the time he lost the election in 1976 though so I won't go on and on. Good job well done, Gerald, you had a good innings, we wish you well and may you rest in peace.

Whilst I don't agree with capital punishment, but I give no eulogy for Saddam.

What bugs me though is the 24 hour news coverage which seems to ignore all other news.

Really chaps, we get the message, there dead, and barring a miracle they will stay that way. Any chance of any news?

Saddam Hussein Al Tikriti executed today

Saddam Hussein was executed today. I can't say I will mourn him. He was never nominated for the Novel Peace prize, or Humanitarian of the year. I doubt he will be missed.

However I don't agree with the death penalty. That said he was tried and executed under Iraqi law. Unfortunately he was executed on an Islamic holy day for Sunnis, when prisoners are normally released or pardoned. The timing was wrong.

He also managed to go to the gallows with dignity, in short some sot of propaganda victory for his cause. We do need to learn.

You can read the BBC's article here.

World War II debt repaid

You will no doubt have heard this on the news. You can read the BBC article here.

What interested me about the war debts we have is that we stopped paying of debts for the First World War in 1934. These debts are huge. However we are actually owed more than we owe. So the US could bankrupt us by ending the repayment moratorium, but then we could avoid that by bankrupting others, including I believe the French!

I was also staggered to hear we still owe for the Napoleonic wars, though who to, I have no idea.

Wars are very very expensive in terms of blood and treasure. They should only be entered into as a last resort, rather than because your mate the illiterate idiot across the pond thinks it is a good idea.

Interesting fact about World War one is that we finished it with 22,000 serviceable aircraft, most of which were sold off as surplus.

Hazel Blears opposes and supports government policy at the same time!

You could not make this up. Hazel "Chipmunk" Blears supports the reorganisation of the NHS which will result in the closure of hospital units, but not in her own constituency of Salford where she opposes it.

Well if she opposes government policy she should not be in government and certainly not the Party chairman responsible for discipline.

She says she has every right to fight for her constituency. Well fair enough behind the scenes in cabinet, but to take to the streets is bizarre. That said Dr John "Comrade" Reid has done the same.

Is Labours party discipline so shot to bits that cabinet ministers can protest against their own governments policies? (To be fair to Comrade Reid, he is not part of the Scottish executive that makes those decisions)

See this in the Guardian or this on the BBC.

Hat tip to Andrea on political betting for the links to the story.


Update: 11:50

Apparently Jacqui Smith has been at it too. See here. So what of cabinet government?

Megaphone conversation goes on, this time from Iraq

I wrote here about what I thought was the bizarre megaphone conversation between Tony Blair and our troops in Afghanistan here. He said they could have what ever they wanted, through the press and the answer came back through the press.

We now have the commander of British forces in Southern Iraq, Major General Richard Shirreff, adding his tuppence worth here.

It appears he feels the armed forces are under resourced. He puts it down to a generation of under funding and to be fair blames both this and past governments.

This all started with the peace dividend. This was the stupid idea that the end of the cold war would lead to a fluffy cuddly world where we did not need quite the military we had before. Of course the cold war was swiftly followed by the first Gulf war, chaos in Somalia and Afghanistan, the Balkan wars and lots of other conflicts.

You would have hoped that at some point in this obvious lack of peace politicians would have stopped taking the peace dividend and realised it was a folly from start to finish, but the fact is that our troops are now engaged in more places at one time than they have been since the Second World war. We just do not have the troop numbers and I don't care what the MOD say, the equipment to do the job at hand.

Not only do we need to look at defence spending again, but it is also clear that we need to un merge some regiments and rebuild our army.

Allergy Advice Contains peanuts

On what was this advice given you might ask?

A packet of dry roasted peanuts.

Funnier than any of the jokes in the Christmas crackers!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Just thought I'd say that. I hope you have a good Christmas and that those you love have a good one too.

Met Chief talks rubbish again

In Fridays Today program on Radio 4, reported in the Telegraph yesterday (Sorry can't find the article, the Telegraph's search engine does not seem up to much), Sir Ian "I really am the most ignorant pratt you will ever meet" Blair said the threat of terrorism was greater than the cold war and second world war.

Iain Dale here, argues that this is scare tactics. I disagree. It is merely proof that Sir Ian Blair is one of the most ignorant people in any position of power in the country. I called for his resignation here and I do so again. The man is an ignorant git.

For the avoidance of doubt, had the cold war kicked off as a nuclear war we could have lost millions in minutes, and in one raid on Coventry during the blitz 568 civilians died in one night, in one city.