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

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

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

March 8, 2006 (1033 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 2304US - 103UK - >>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

How Scottish MPs could save Blair in vital schools vote

by Kirsty Walker, James Chapman & Graeme Wilson - Daily Mail, March 11, 2006

Tony Blair will have to rely on the votes of Scottish Labour MPs if he wants to pass his education Bill for England without the help of the Conservatives. The Daily Mail has found that the Prime Minister has the backing of nearly all the 39 Scottish Labour MPs for next week's crucial vote on trust schools - even though the issue does not affect Scottish voters.

Our survey shows only once Scottish Labour MP - Michael Connarty. - is planning to vote against the Government while three are undecided. The others, who include a large number of ministers, have openly declared their support.

Rosemary McKenna, one of the backers, said: "I will be voting for the Government. I see no problem whatsoever with doing so as a Scottish MP. I was elected as a UK MP and vote on UK legislation."

The Scottish votes are crucial as ministers close to Mr Blair have warned that his position will be 'untenable' if he had to rely on the support of David Cameron's Tories. The Prime Minister faced that embarrassing prospect after scores of his backbenchers threatened to rebel.

Initially, 91 signalled they would vote against the Education Bill but this has dwindled to around 40. And in the last few days, three prominent critics - former minister, Lady Morris, Martin Salter and Angela Eagle - have announced they are backing the Government. The number of rebel Labour MPs would need only to drop to around 32 for Mr Blair to be in the welcome e position of winning the vote with the help of the Scots.

The issue revives debate over the 'West Lothian question' of whether Scottish MPs should decide on English issues. This has caused mounting resentment among English voters. But support from Scottish MPs has become even more crucial to Mr Blair after Labour's majority was slashed from 117 to 43 in last year's general election.

Oliver Heald, Shadow Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, said: "It is not sustainable to have measures imposed on England on the back of the votes of Scottish MPs, when the same measures in Scotland are the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament. The consequence will be to stoke up profound dissatisfaction in England. The unfairness risks being repeated more frequently as Mr Blair tries to push through unpopular measure with a reduced Commons majority. The Education Bill is a clear example of where this could happen."

However, Jim McGovern, a Labour MP in Scotland, said: "Every MP has the right to vote on every issue that comes before the House. There is a double standard here from some English MPs. Where would it logically end up? Should rural MPs be barred from voting 0n urban issues? Must you have a coastline in your constituency before you are allowed to comment on fisheries?"

In the last Parliament, Blair regularly relied on the 'Tartan Army' to push through controversial plans on issues such as foundation hospitals and university fees. It triggered accusations of hypocrisy as Scotland's Parliament has ruled out tuition fees.

Senior Tory Ken Clarke said the issue of Scots voting on English matters must be addressed. He will tell GMTV's Sunday programme: "The Scots are the most docile, easily whipped, lobby fodder on English Bills. This isn't a criticism of Scots MPs. Of course, it doesn't affect their schools, there's nobody lobbying them, nobody's complaining among their party organisation about what's being done, this is English. And so Labour whips can always relay on the Scottish MPs turning up to strengthen their position. This has to be addressed."

The Lord ~Chancellor yesterday ruled out giving the English their own Parliament or barring Scottish MPs from Commons votes on issues only concerning England. Lord Falconer, an unelected Scottish peer, spoke at a conference which also heard that a study has found a rise in the sense of English identity since Scottish and Welsh devolution.

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