Thursday, 11 August 2011

Consider it a rehearsal - by Richard... Friday, August 12, 2011

"David Cameron, Ed Miliband and the entire British political class came together yesterday to denounce the rioters", writes Peter Oborne: "They were of course right to say that the actions of these looters, arsonists and muggers were abhorrent and criminal, and that the police should be given more support".

In like vein he continues, telling us that, "there was also something very phony and hypocritical about all the shock and outrage expressed in parliament. MPs spoke about the week's dreadful events as if they were nothing to do with them".

"I cannot accept that this is the case", he says. "Indeed, I believe that the criminality in our streets cannot be dissociated from the moral disintegration in the highest ranks of modern British society. The last two decades have seen a terrifying decline in standards among the British governing elite. It has become acceptable for our politicians to lie and to cheat. An almost universal culture of selfishness and greed has grown up".

We, of course, got there first, and have been saying as much for days. But, if the great Peter Oborne says it, it really must be true – who are we lowly bloggers to complain? And that said, you can't really fault the message.

The double standards from Downing Street, adds Oborne, "are symptomatic of widespread double standards at the very top of our society". While the so-called feral youth seem oblivious to decency and morality, "so are the venal rich and powerful – too many of our bankers, footballers, wealthy businessmen and politicians".

Thus does the Great Man conclude: "It is not just its damaged youth, but Britain itself that needs a moral reformation". Nevertheless, as long as we have ruling classes that don't look in mirrors and have no self-awareness, this isn't going to happen. These are the people who think everybody's shit stinks, except their own. "Phony and hypocritical" they most certainly are, and their stench gets stronger every day.

But they can be so brave and so righteous because they are beating up on the children. And you can be soooooo brave doing that when you have your concrete barriers, your armoured limousines and your machine-gun toting guards. By evading their own responsibilities, though, they are turning the last few days into a rehearsal.

To get rid of the stench, the people are going to want their own independence day, doing it properly this time. And the grown-ups won't be such an easy push-over.

COMMENT: NEW RIOTS THREAD

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Still more looting - by Richard... Thursday, August 11, 2011

It just never stops. But never fear ... Ed Miliband is on the case. "There can be no excuses, no justification. This behaviour has disgusted us all. It cannot be allowed to stand; we will not allow it to stand", he says.

BBC executive Caroline Thomson spends £2,800 on taxis

A senior BBC executive has increased her spending on taxi fares despite the corporation's efforts to cut back overheads, new figures reveal.

Chief operating officer Caroline Thomson
Chief operating officer Caroline Thomson Photo: BBC

2:24PM BST 11 Aug 2011

Chief operating officer Caroline Thomson, one of the corporation's biggest cab users, claimed £2,814 on cars in a three-month period - £100 up on the previous quarter.

The claims, for quarter four of the past financial year, were disclosed as the BBC said expenses claims were down overall on the previous year.

It also pointed out the number of senior managers and the amount they are paid has been reduced.

Ms Thomson - who receives a salary of £307,000 - had claimed £2,715.59 for the previous quarter.

For the full financial year she ran up a total taxi bill of £10,381, the newly-disclosed expense claims show.

Another big taxi user was BBC creative director Alan Yentob, who used cabs to the value of £1,766.55 in the claim period. It included nine fares which exceeded £100, the biggest of which was for £180.

Figures released today show BBC1 controller Danny Cohen made a claim of £38.50 for water at an awards ceremony hosted by Broadcast magazine earlier this year.

The BBC said the latest figures show the total amount of expenses claimed by leading senior managers is down 15% on the previous financial year.

Since August 2009, the BBC said its senior manager paybill has been cut by £17.6 million (22.4%) and the number of senior managers by 117 (18.3%).

The BBC is aiming to reduce the paybill by 25% and headcount by 20% by the end of this year.

Figures also show that BBC drama commissioner Ben Stephenson took a flight costing £3,459.07 to New York in March.

The BBC said that Ms Thomson's claim was down 17% on the same quarter last year, while her annual claim was down by 27% for 2009/10.

A spokesman said: "Total taxi use by senior managers is down 19% on last year.

"Naturally we expect senior managers to take the most efficient route to and from meetings but it isn't always feasible for senior managers to use public transport every time.

"Not only does a taxi afford the opportunity to make most use of their journey time but public transport doesn't afford the confidentiality or accessibility that is sometimes required - and it can be quicker."

The spokesman said Mr Yentob's £100-plus claims were for weekly block bookings.

The BBC said Mr Stephenson's flight had been booked at short notice to attend an emergency production meeting.

"Robust and more effective policing" - by Richard...

We will not let a violent few beat us, says the Big Brave Cameron, from behind the concrete barriers, protected by his machine-gun toting guards.

The fight back has begun. To the lawless minority, the criminals who have taken what they can get, I say: we will track you down, we will find you, we will charge you, we will punish you. You will pay for what you have done.

We need to show the world, which has looked on, frankly, appalled, that the perpetrators of the violence we have seen on our streets are not in any way representative of our country, or of our young people.

We need to show them that we will address our broken society and restore a sense of stronger morality and responsibility in every town, in every street and in every estate. A year away from the Olympics, we need to show the world the Britain that does not destroy, but that builds; that does not give up, but stands up; that does not look back, but always looks forward.

Posted by Britannia Radio at 22:17