Silent Majority Speaks

Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship

Spin, not face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's chosen method of communication. Ordinary people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she might tell the truth. Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September 16, 2004 Blair wants to leave his mark on history - looks more like a stain to me. Peter Thorndyke, Diss, Norfolk - Daily Mail, May 23, 2005 I know I'm me - why do I need an ID card? "Sorry, officers, I don't have an ID card. I never applied for one. It seemed a bit steep at 300 quid. I do have my free passport, my driving licence and my London freedom travel pass, each with my photograph. I have my NHS medical card, with its lengthy number, given me at birth, my RAF service book with my Armed Forces number, and a chit authorising me to wear a few gongs -including a General Service Medal with Malaya bar, for fighting communist terrorists on behalf of my country, or so they told me. "I've also got various credit cards and store cards, all with my signature on the back, generally good for buying the everyday requrements for life as well as the odd luxury. If you decide to arrest me, I suppose I'll have to be photographed and given another number, besides my PINs. "I'm afraid I haven't got a pension book; it was taken away." "By thieves, sir?" "No ... well, not exactly. By the Government. By the way, may I see your warrant cards please, gentlemen?" Oh dear, they've disappeared. E. Harry Gumer, Romford, ESSEX - Daily Mail, June 1, 2005 NO means NO When does NO mean MAYBE? When it's not the answer the EU wants. With the courageous French NON resounding in their ears, shabby, undemocratic self-interested leaders of Europe propose ignoring the part of their precious constitution that requires ratification by all members and continuing without one of the biggest founder members to prevent derailing the gravy train. As in Ireland, they refuse to accept any NO votes, ignoring the will of the people, and re-stage votes until they can engineer the 'correct' answer. Sadly, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw dances to their tune like a puppet on a string. With tactics such as these, how can anyone really believe the EU has our interests at heart. Letter from Steve Penny, Kingsnorth, Kent - Daily Mail, June1, 2005 Surely the French result makes the £1million the EU recently spent on a treaty signing ceremony seem a trifle premature and extravagant. Letter from Keith Wiseman, Bury, Lancs. - Daily Mail, June1, 2005

May 11, 2005 (741 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,610 US - 88 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media 

May 31, 2005 (761 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,657 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media

June 3 , 2005 (765 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,670 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media

June 17, 2005 (779 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,716 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300? civilians - 25 media

June 26, 2005 (788 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,737 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300? civilians - 25 media

WWW silentmajorityspeaks.com

Britain has traditionally been one of the biggest net contributors to the EU because we do not get as much money back from Brussels in farm and regional subsidies as our rivals. According to Treasury figures, between 1995-2002, Britain's average contribution taking the rebate into account, was £2.6billion, or £43.55 per head of population. The French - the biggest recipient of farm subsidies - contributed £1billion a year or £16.08 per head of their population.

STOP PRESS

Drinking is to blame for half of violent crime

By Matthew Hickley - Daily Mail, July 1, 2005

Drunken louts are responsible for a record half of all violent crime, Government statistics revealed yesterday. The figure, released in a series of Home Office reports, represents a rise of a quarter since 1998. Alcohol is also to blame in 62% of fights between strangers - up from 53% five years ago.

Last night, critics claimed it was 'madness' for Ministers to push ahead with plans for 24-hour pubs in the face of overwhelming evidence linking binge drinking with thuggery. The report estimates 14.7 million crimes are committed each year - three million more than the Government previously admitted - costing individuals and households more than £36 billion.

Recorded violent crime has been rising for more than 5 years, with latest figures showing a 9% increase year-on-year. More than 500 people per hour become victims of violence across England and Wales. Home Office research claims that 44% of young adults aged 18 to 24 are binge drinkers.

They accounted for only 6% of adults questioned in a survey, but were responsible for 24% of violent crime, and 30% of overall adult crime. One in five binge drinkers admitted committing a crime over the past year, compared with one in 17 'regular drinkers'.

The study concludes: "It is young adult male binge drinkers who have highest rates of offending. Any measures to reduce alcohol-related offending should consider tackling binge drinking."

Critics claim the Government's policy of relaxing licensing laws risks achieving the opposite. Ministers believe lengthening and staggering pub closing times will reduce disorder by stopping customers from racing to get drunk by 11 pm and then all spilling out on to the streets.

But police chiefs have warned that could lead to '24 hours of hell'. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "What on earth is the Government doing? In the face of these figures, its policy of 24-hour drinking is nothing short of madness."

Andrew McNeill, director of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: "The Government promised to be tough on the causes of crime. Alcohol is clearly a cause of crime, and they are getting 'tough' by letting pubs stay open 24 hours a day. Their assumption seems to be that the easier it is to drink, the fewer problems there will be. That goes against all the evidence."

A spokesman for Alcohol Concern said: "If the Government are serious about reducing crime, they need to be serious about changing the drinking culture that underlies it."

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