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

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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.

December 28, 2005 (959 days since Iraq war ended)

Death Toll: 2,172 US - 98UK - >>30,000? Iraqi - 25 media

Janyary 10, 2006 (972 days since Iraq war ended)

Death Toll: 2,209 US - 98UK - >>30,000? Iraqi - 25 media

STOP PRESS

Hewitt's reforms for GPs 'flawed'

MP's damning verdict on Health Service overhaul

By Graeme Wilson, Political Correspondent - Daily Maily, Jauary 11, 2006

Patients will suffer from Patricia Hewitt's 'flawed and incoherent' plans to overhaul GP services, MPs warn today. The Health Secretary is urged to abandon the 'ill-judged' and 'ill-thought-out' reforms.

There is little evidence the benefits would outweigh the costs, the Labour-dominated Commons health select committee warns. It also criticises confusion over plans to contract out some services to private firms. Miss Hewitt wants to overhaul primary care trusts, which run GP surgeries.

The 302 trusts were created three years ago to replace local health authorities. But Labour wants to replace them with larger trusts. Critics say this amounts to a return to health authorities. Ministers have also said they want to contract out trust services such as community hospitals and district nurses, to private firms and other 'non-NHS' providers. The chances would improve services and save money, they say.

But the all-party committee warns: "There are well-founded concerns that patient care will suffer because of the proposed reforms. The cycle of perpetual change is ill-judged and not conducive to the successful provision and improvement of health services. Major restructuring should only be undertaken if there is an overwhelming argument in its favour - in this case there is not."

There is evidence staff are leaving the trusts and moving to other jobs to escape the reforms, the MPs say. Although ministers claim the blueprint will save £250million a year, today's report says the figure could be as little as £60million.

The MPs question whether such savings could justify the chaos the reforms will create. "The risks of the proposals contained in (the reforms) are high and there is little evidence that costs will be outweighed by the benefits," the report adds.

The way the changes were drawn up and unveiled is also criticised. Ministers are accused of 'flawed and incoherent' policy-making". The report says Labour increasingly appears to be making policy 'on the hoof'. The NHS was only given 11 weeks to produce the reform plans, it says, adding that the lack of consultation with staff, patients and other interested parties was 'unacceptable'.

Criticising the proposal to contract out community health services to non-NHS providers by 2008, the committee says: "We are appalled at the continuing lack of clarity about whether or not PCTs will eventually divest themselves of their provider functions."

The lack of consultation on a major policy change made a 'mockery' of ministers' pledges to stage a full and open debate, the report adds. Since the trusts were created only three years ago, it would be 'ill-judged in the extreme' to propose more reforms so soon, the committee says.

It recommends the Government should allow trusts to 'develop organically', focussing resources on ensuring they had the skills and information to do the job properly, rather than pressing ahead with another reform.

Last night, Miss Hewitt said: "This is not change for change's sake. We aim to create stronger and more effective primary care trusts which can secure the best possible health and healthcare for all patients in every local area."

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