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

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.

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

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

January 16, 2006 (978 days since Iraq war ended)

Death Toll: 2,219 US - 98UK - >>30,000? Iraqi - 25 media

February 16, 2006 (1011 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 2273 US - 101UK - >>6,164? Iraqi - >>17,300? civilians - 25 media

Tony Blair should know that respect comes by example - from the top. If a country's leader has no respect for the rule of international law and no respect for the truth, how can he expect anyone to have respect. Letter from P.J.Atkinson, Ashford, Kent - Daily Mail, January 12, 2006

STOP PRESS

Another pensions retreat as Labour caves in to firemen

By Kirsty Walker - Political Correspondent, Daily Mail, February 17, 2006

Labour caved in again on public sector pensions last night after agreeing to let thousands of firemen continue to retire early on full gold-plated pensions. Ministers were forced to withdraw plans to increase their minimum pension age from 50 to 55 after fire unions threatened strike action.

Campaigners last night attacked the costly U-turn, which comes as private sector workers face the prospect of having to work until 70. In October, Trade and Industry secretary Alan Johnson abandoned attempts to push up the retirement age from 60 to 65 for three million civil servants, teachers and NHS staff.

And in December, Ministers announced that hundreds of thousands of local government workers would also be allowed to continue retiring early. The average fireman's salary is around £25,000 and many work a ten-hour day shift for three days a week. The shift patterns allow some to take second jobs to boost their incomes.

Fire staff with 30 years' service can currently retire aged 50 with a full pension of two-thirds of their final salary. But more than half currently retire early on the grounds of ill-health. Matthew Elliott, head of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "Things have gone too far in favour of public sector workers. They now get paid higher salaries than most of us, have shorter hours and take more sick leave. They also enjoy gold-plated final salary pensions schemes. Taxpayers working in the private sector are getting frustrated and it is time the government stood up to public sector unions, including the firefighters."

The Fire Brigades Union last night announced it would halt plans to ballot 55,000 members after ministers said they would withdraw plans to raise the minimum pension age from 50 to 55 by the year 2013. Union leaders had warned of a further dispute with the Government, following the series of pay strikes in 2003/4, and said there was 'huge anger' among rank-and-file firemen and women.

The cave-in comes only weeks after the other concessions to public sector workers over pensions and a warning that employees in the private sector are likely to have to work until nearly 70. A recent report has also accused ministers of seriously underestimating its retirement liabilities for three million public sector workers.

Actuaries Hymans Robertson warned that the true burden of public sector pensions stands at £620billion - £180billion more than official estimates.

Tory work and pensions spokesman Philip Hammond said that public sector workers should share some of the 'pain' that would be caused by coping with Britain's pensions crisis. He said: "The Government has called for a national debate and we are willing to engage in that debate, but public sector workers as well as private sector workers will have to share sometimes painful adjustments that may be needed if we are to have a solution that is lasting and fair for all."

But Matt Wrack, general secretary of the FBU, attacked the attempts to raise their retirement age as 'completely ridiculous'. He added: "It is not sustainable on safety or health grounds and will not be supported by the public."

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