Sunday Sizzlers

SUNDAY SIZZLERS: THE BEST OF THE BEST< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Last week wasn’t exactly ‘sizzling’ in the political kitchen, things will definitely heat up next year though as Britain heads for the polls, likely to be on May 6, (or at least that is what the BBCs Andrew Neil is predicting) others, think that Labour could possibly call a snap election, (doubtful though, as Gordon will want to cling on for as long as is humanly possible.

GOOD WEEK, BAD WEEK< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

HOLIDAY BLUES?

If you were a holidaymaker, then last week started off bad with the news that unions were to strike for twelve days over XMAS. Bit over the top? Derek Simpson, of UNITE union thought so, for a bit anyway, but then vowed to fight for another ballet in the New Year. The High Court ruled that a union ballot for the proposed 12-day cabin strike at BA was invalid as it included people who had already taken redundancy.
These strikes are a nuisance, aren’t they, and should be banned?

BAD WEEK FOR< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

16-YEAR-OLDS

Figures released by the National Audit Office have shown that one third of 16-17 year olds not in education are unemployed. Should we make education up until 18 compulsory then?

MPs’ KIDS

MP’s sprogs will now be able to go with them to work. Costing £400,000, and paid for by us, the Houses of Parliament will soon have a creche for the little ones to play around in. It’s hoped that this move will encourage more parents to enter parliament. We’re already paying to house the big kids in luxury, so why not pay for their sprogs too? In the real world, they’d be carted off to the local underfunded – expensive creche, where the parents scrimp and save to just afford childcare. Better off just staying at home on benefit, eh?

SHOCK HORROR: WILLIAM HAGUE WAS ALL SERIOUS IN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS QUESTIONS LAST WEEK

Deputy Opposition leader and Shadow Foreign secretary William Hague was less than convincing last week in PMQs. Normally, when the Deputies are around, you expect the political banter from baldy Hague, against the equality freedom fighter Harriet Harman, but this time HAGUE was serious. Gordon Brown was in Nohopenhagen, so it was Harman pulling the punches for the government. And yes, Vince Cable was on fine form standing in for Nick Clegg. He asked where £40 million of tax revenue had gone. Harman loved that. Good excuse to harp on about inheritance tax and the Tories funding their rich friends. Where’s the money gone? In the Tory’s back pockets apparently.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

That old chestnut again. This time Yvette Cooper promised an extra £400 million to help tackle unemployment, £100 million of that would go on tackling youth unemployment. They love spending money they don’t have, don’t they?

DEEP CUTS IN DEFENCE< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Bob Ainsworth put on a brave face last week as he tried to gloss over major cuts that would have to come in the future, a kind of 're-mortgaging' of the defence budget. 22 Chinook Helicopters would be deployed to Afghanistan, but they won't get there until at least 2012/13.

On the lighter note, the MOD has set up a pilot programme to give help to families of soldiers by offering them legal advice on questions they have, related to their rights and responsibilities. It's run by the Royal British Legion.